Bon voyage, Scarlett! I hope you enjoy a wonderful reunion / visit with your son

emd, your note re: your 12 year old made me laugh--one of my brothers went through the EXACT same thing with his daughter when she was 13--good news, this too shall pass! Hang in there

Rave: My youngest brother and his family are coming to visit in two weeks!

Rave: The prospect of adult skate camp in Aspen, CO this summer

Rave: Spring is in the air

Rant: The kind, helpful, knowledgeable posters on this board who are subjected to crap on a seemingly weekly basis.

Rave: Went to see Hitch this week--fun movie

Enjoy a nice weekend everyone! >-

RANT, BIG RANT: All this about identity theft, in both cyber and real life, what is wrong with people? It's sick and sad.

I also have found allll my hotmail messages deleted. How interesting. Could that be a computer issue, a hotmail issue or is that thanks to another **lovely** NOT person? Anyone else having a problem with Hotmail today?

RAVE: We're healthy and here.

RANT, BIG RANT: yes, I don't like identity theft either, especially on Fodors forums. It happened to me, and it left a sour taste in my mouth.

RAVE: there are more nice people on Fodors than the crummy creeps who steal identities and mess with people's passwords.

RAVE: my 16 year old daughter is getting a new passport so she can go to Italy with her school!

RANT: because my daughter is a minor, I had to apply in person for her passport renewal (technically not a renewal) instead of mailing it off like mine. The post office had the gall to charge me an extra $30 fee for applying in person, even though we had no choice about it!!! And the passport is only good for five years and they still charge full price!!! It's not so much the money as the principle of it.

RAVE: my daughter is seeing bella Italia again.

Rave: the courts overruled The Governator's attempt to throw out nurse-patient ratios.

Rave: Short day today. We're off to the wine country for dinner with Fodorites who are barrel tasting.

Rant:It's still raining here in the SF Bay area.

Raveut oh such beautiful daffs. Our front yard is covered with them!

Rave:how lucky I am, with rants like this!

One more rant: icons that show up when not intended!!!

RANT- SPRAWL- If you ever had plans to come tour Virginia soak in some history do so quickly. We are paving over our heritage faster than you can say Walmart.

RANT- The Virginia Supreme Court ruled yesterday to overturn ALL of Loudoun County's recently adopted Comp plan. This will have national implications on land preservation.

http://www.leesburg2day.com/current....1&newsid=10322

http://www.leesburg2day.com/current....1&newsid=10325

It was in our paper this morning that some insurance companies are offering identity theft policies. Allstate, for one, has a $40 a year policy that covers expenses incurred up to $25,000 (attorney fees, credit report fees, loss of wages, loan reapplication fees0 This is a rider on your homeowners policy.

Rave-Thanks everyone for your caring support. 99% of people on this board are great!

Greenfieldhunter-There is a historic old barn sitting on 4 acres on the shores of Lake Erie, beautiful barn and property. Some condo developer is buying the property and razing the barn. Just makes me sick...

Rave: Fodorites who encourage you to spread your wings and leave your comfort zone behind.

Rave: Although we still have several inches of snow on the ground, spring can't be far behind (can it?).

Rave: Only 18 working days until my retirement from full-time work.

Rave: Trip planning - so much fun!

Rants: Identity theft, troops dying daily, and mean spirited people who harass the good people on this board.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Interesting about the $40 insurance rider for identity theft from All-State. Given the relatively low cost for that coverage, maybe the real risk is far less than the perceived risk?

I assume they studied the risk and have priced their policy to reflect that risk.

RANT: It's raining :-<. We SoCal's are sick of rain,

Rave: We really do need the water.

Rave#2. Oldest grandaughter accepted by first choice college

:-B

Good morning all!
RANT: All of the illness and hard times some of our peeps are having. Definately in my thoughts.

RAVE: Its official! Booked our tix to England for early September. Taking baby girl so reading all the past threads about taking a baby overseas.

RANT/RAVE: My little one will be 1 next month. How quickly this year has flowsn. Seems like yesterday that I was counting down the weeks to her due date each Friday on this thread.

Rant: Tysabri pulled from the market.

Rant: Snow. Nice when it's the first one of the season, or around the holidays, but enough already please!

Rave: Visiting a friend in Honolulu in four weeks and counting. Don't know how to make the little rainbow symbol!

Rant: Four weeks 'til Honolulu...and just got a good look at myself in a full-length changing room mirror...under flourescent lights... Sigh.

May all those battling ailments (and teenagers) have a peaceful weekend - and everybody else, too.

Rant: Bonniebroad's mention of creme brulee with fresh mango is making me drool. It's been a long time since I had reaallly reaally good dessert.

Rant: At lunch they put way too much hot sauce on my tacos. What are they, masochists?

Rant: My 3-day weekend (THIS weekend)in LA was just cancelled due to BF's work. Pbbbffhtt!

Rave: Despite these trivial disappointments, life is good. I already made plans to fill up my weekend (ArtExpo, Brooklyn Museum, brunch w/friends)!

Ryan-From the Insurance Institute:

http://www.iii.org/individuals/other...identitytheft/

I agree with some of the above posters that the number of 1500 means very little to some people so I have found a list of almost all the Casualties, which shows a photo of the soldier, age, hometown, and other details. Cut and paste this address into your browser to see the real people instead of a number. The list changes daily after each family is notified.

The names and faces that some people do not want you to see...

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/ira...s/2004.08.html

The Washington Post publishes pictures and bios of the dead about once every 6 wks. or so. It takes up many pages of the paper now.

Jor, thanks for the link to that site. It does help to understand the magnitude of the lives we've lost.

What's the scoop about the Home Depot Aprons? Can't find any info on this...

Rave: West Coast living!

Rant: Moving and leaving an unsold place in the East.

Rave: It sold today!!!! Great weekend to all.

Rant: Here it is March 4th and I'm still waiting to be paid for February

Rave: This is my first posting for "Rants and Raves"

Rant: It's fifty degress today here in Colorado and still no precipitation in sight--we need snow!

Rave: It's fifty degrees today here in Colorado!

Rant: Wondering if I still have a job

Rave: Will take a month long road trip down the Seattle, Oregon, and California coast if I'm laid off!

AL

I will refrain from posting my political opinions. Just wanted to let anyone who is interested know that the Navy Times newspaper publishes pictures along with the list of casualties in every issue. I think we receive it once every two weeks.