Ani

Wow, Leelane...are you kidding me?
RAVE:
There is a lot of celebration on the board today! (bamakelly-my daughter turns 10 months today...happy bday to your little onw. Time flies, does it not?)

RANT
There is also much suffering. Patrick I'm so sorry about your partner. What devastating diagnosis. Your mom's request for a sweater with pockets made me laugh out loud!

RAVE: My sister is 1 month into a 3 month adventure in Thailand and having the time of her life.

RANT: I haven't heard her sweet little voice in a month.

Patrick

In a way, I see what leelane is driving at. I don't mean this thread to be a "can you top" this sort of thing. jor was so right last week when he asked that there be no comments on his personal "drama" and people respected that. I wasn't asking for sympathy here, and now wish I too had asked for "no comments" about my post, but I consider Fodor's my family and I share. Who's to say where we draw the line with mundane events in our lives and where we go into the really important stuff? That doesn't make any post any less dramatic or special than any other.

Ani

Oh how could I forget
HUGE RANT:
People who throw newborns out of moving vehicles. I just do not get it.

leelane911

Meant no offense to anybody. My point is that once someone says their cousin died yesterday, if the next post is a rant about somebody's cat having too many hairballs, that person sounds insensitive. Maybe it is just me?

eileenleft

Rave: My daughter and I are taking the train to Chicago tomorrow for an overnight.

Rave: We'll see One Man Lord of the Rings. We're both huge LOTR nerds

Rave: Reneeinva-after Chucky Cheeseyears, your kids may not want to travel with you for a short while. But then they're back, more fun than ever

Rant: Can't get my mother to go to the doctors. I believe she may be facing an Alzheimers diagnosis. It's a tough one

Rave: I'll have fodors/traveltalk to keep me distracted.

Ani

Leelane: I see where you are coming from.
A while back someone posted a very serious rant...life and death, etc... and later I posted one about the weather in Vegas being crappy as we were headed there in 2 weeks. Someone followed admonitioning me (not specifically) for bitching about something as trivial as the weather when clearly there were more important issues abound. Ugh.
First, everyone should be able to rant/rave about whatever they want.
Second, no one's RR's should be judged!

Iregeo

Ani, did you see that baby? He's gorgeous! And, thank God, he's doing great. Amazing.

mikemo

More Rant: So much interim bad news.

Another Rant: SO's missing car was not "borrowed" by her children. It was stolen from the circular drive in front of the house. Her super sensitive dog and I slept through everything. Probably gone to the parts bin by the time I contacted anyone.

M

emd

Peace, and I'm sorry I jumped so high. I think it may be part of being uncomfortable about the hard things in life. But life continues and we get up from the keyboard and go make lunch. And post on the cat's hairballs. If I am going through a tough time, it is actually helpful to read the cat hairball posts, the stupid teeth posts, etc. Sometimes you get a chuckle or just get out of your situation for awhile.
So I think we should post away on the cat's hairballs. I would but I don't have a cat. I do have a Netherland dwarf bunny, but he tells me he has no rants or raves today, he's a happy little fella.

GoTravel

Patrick, try and get hold of the documentary "Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter".

It is a documentary about a daughter whos mother is battling Alzheimers and it is poignent, funny, sad, and shows another side of the disease that isn't so dark.

I think it won an Academy Award and know it won a bunch of other awards. The filmaker made the film with her life partner and I saw a wonderful interview with them on PBS.

One of the wonderful parts is where the mother went through a stage in her life when she thought she was still in college and thought her daughter was her roomate. The conversations were priceless.

My thoughts are with you Patrick.

Ryan

Patrick,
You certainly have been dealing with more than your share of bad news lately. Hope you're able to cheap your chin up while making the best of awful situations. Let's hope these boards stay collegial and provide a distraction for you.

Rave: My daughter's 2nd birthday yesterday. As I was putting the candles on her cake she launched into a chorus of "happy birthday to me."

Rave: Very good meal at a much hyped NYC restaurant DavidBurke and Donatella on Wednesday night. Ed Koch was having dinner with Ari Fleischer, would have been interesting to join in the discussion.

Rant: No offense to the non-New Yorkers on this board but that place may close to crossing over from NY trendy to guidebook favorite. We love tourists in NYC. Just not when we're trying to get a table at a popular spot.

Rave: The camaraderie that exits on the FDNY. Several of the guys from my brother's firehouse have stopped by my parents house to see if they need anything while he's deployed in Iraq. A rep from the Officer's Union gave them his home number and said if they ever need anything or any help, someone would be by right away no matter how trivial. You really can't find a better group of people.

FainaAgain

Oh, GoTravel, I saw this movie with the daugher appearing live, answering questions, it's chilling and encouraging at the same time! She explains "the stages" of her mom's disease progression, how to choose a proper care facility. Great movie!

michelleNYC

KK: Thank you to your son and everthing he sacrificed for all of us.

Rave: Finally home from a whole bunch of business travel -- it feels soooo good to be back.

Rave: Sleep

Rave: More sleep this weekend

Rave: Eating a home cooked meal and not room service

Rave: It's cold but it really is beautiful out... or is it just that I'm SOO happy to be back?!? sorry... said that already...

Rave: Going away next weekend... for pleasure!!

Rave: No rants for once!!! >

michelleNYC

Oh, Ryan, thank you to your brother as well. May he remain safe.

Ryan

Michelle,
Thanks.

Have you been traveling and working to the point where you're pulling out the back of the closet outfit? When I worked in investment banking, you could always tell when someone hadn't been to the dry-cleaners in a bit and they were down to their last clean shirt - usually something that was a few years out of style. Mine was a red striped one.

kimamom

Rave: We're the proud owners of 30 baby chicks! They are so cute, my son is raising them and they're adorable!

Rave: In Good Company was a very good movie! This weekend it's The Wedding Date!

Rave: The kids are having a great time on the Oregon Coast, they said the weather was gorgeous, they're now off to Portland for a few days to stay at the Riverplace Hotel, lucky ones!

Rave: DD started her rigorous swim training this week, tired but she's getting in excellent condition for the upcoming swim season!

Rave: More snow up in the mountains, we're going boarding tomorrow and the condo is ours for the weekend!

Rave: Planning a wedding for early fall is so much fun! Wedding dress is purchased, church is reserved, reception is set, now for the details, details, details! Looking for a place to host the rehearsal dinner, I've narrowed it down to two places, of course we have to check them out ourselves first! Brunch is planned for both of our families to all meet and get to know one another!

Rave: Going away up to Bass Lake for Valentine's Day weekend, staying in a spa suite with a nice steak and lobster dinner. Bought DH a really big teddy bear with truffles! All the kids get See's candy and cards, I picking out their stuff! DD got a pale pink frame for her formal picture, it has chiffon roses on it and it will look beautiful in her room!

Rave: It's Valentine's Day weekend, lots of and to everyone and happy travels to all! ***kim***

dcespedes

Hi leelane911, re: the rantin' and the raven', I don't see it that way but appreciate what you had to say. Everything is relative.

Patrick, I am very sorry to read about your partner and wish both of you peace and strength as you move forward.

Jor--it's about time! ;-)

michelleNYC

Haha, Ryan. Ah the joys of hotel dry cleaning, black suits, Hermes scarves and Thomas Pink locations everywhere. Also, I unfortunatly don't pack light when I travel even though I'm lugging a handbag, briefcase and laptop. I'm usually prepared. One of my favorite "jaunts" recently was waiting to board my flight in Phoenix and having my office call me and tell me that I HAD to get to London and they had booked me on the 8:15 flight that evening out of Newark, into which I was arriving thankfully. Thank god I was prepared albeit a little rumpled when I arrived...

buttercup

Rant: renneinva, I'm with you on the laundry. I have two fashionista daughters who like to try on everything they own and then call it dirty. DH just returned from a work trip yesterday with a suitcase full of it.

Rave: DH is back from his trip - I'm glad to have him, (and even his laundry) home.

Rave: He leaves again Monday - no romantic Valentine's day for me.

Rant: We're trying to decide where to go this summer. Always a fun conversation to have. I'm thankful we're able to travel.

Patrick, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles.

Leely

Patrick, I am very, very sorry to hear what you, your partner and your mother are going through. I too recommend "Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter"--a great film.

I hope the NYCFoodSnob provides you with more amusement than consternation. : ) By the way, your advice and suggestions on the Europe board are greatly appreciated.

Rave: Chaperoning at the Valentine's Day dance for the "special" teenagers at the Oakland Family Resource Center.

Rant: what happened to the great weather in SF?