AL_LaCarte - Lisa Wingate's novel, Language of Sycamores sounds like what you described. It was a good escape read for me this week. I'd be glad to send my copy to you if you are interested - or check the Book Club table at Barnes and Noble.

Happy Bday Iceeu2 and OO and have a stress-free move OO! Good luck finding the right job NCgrrl.

Rave: Took the kids to NYC Sat-Wed for spring break. We saw lots of the sights, walked miles and miles and had a great time. Bought tickets to Lion King and Wicked a couple of months ago and all we could get was Sat night and Sun matinee. We really enjoyed both of them. Then my son (8) asked why we weren't seeing any more plays. So I stopped by the ticket desk at the hotel and prepaid for tickets to Hairspray if they could find them for Tuesday. We ended up with two seats in center orchestra row H and two seats 6 rows behind those. How cool is that! Hairspray turned out to be the favorite and they were bought at the last minute.

Rave: My birthday was Sunday the 13th and for some reason I thought I was 47 last year and I was really 46. So I didn't get older this year - I get to be 47 for another year!

Rant: My 14 year old son got hit hard by a virus- 104 degree temp 2 nights ago.
Rave: Temp now normal, and he'll be well enough for his part as Skye Masterson in "Guys and Dolls" tonight! (I can relate, BuffaloGirl!)
Rave: Jor, I always agree with you- I think I love you!

Betsy

Rave:Spring rains are here (as opposed to the winter ones). The garden is loving it!


Rave:travel plans coming together for the next while: May we head to Seattle, September to Portland and October to NYC,the Hudson Valley and the Berkshires. We also just booked a 3 day getaway to Point Reyes for SO's bday.

Rave: I overpaid my taxes this year by a hair.

Rant: I always "overpay"

Rave:Going to see "Hotel Rawanda" this evening.


Have a good weekend one and all.

Rant: Those who defame Michael Schiavo claiming moral high ground.

Rave: Going to lake house in TN next week w/kids and DH!!

Rave: Grandparents agreed to watch kids so we can get away for a couple of days in July for our anniversary.

Rave: Finally got new pc and wirelss network running and 4 yr old ds can't get enough of educational websites.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Sundowner-- what you said about your age was so funny to me. My birthday is next month and up until a couple of days ago I thought I would be turning 43 when in fact I am turning 42 (born in'63--right?). While I was happy to learn I was a full year younger than I thought I was, I am now wondering if I am losing my mind.

Bennie-- Yeah some of the people haven't a clue. Recent conversation with a parent in the district--parent wants her kids in a good district but doesn't want her taxes to go up (Not from OUR town) and in the same conversation is discussing the 2nd home they are building!

Funny. I was having a disagreement w/dh the other day and was trying to indicate I was an adult and could make my own decisions. I said "I'm 32, um 31, um 32 years old." Then tried to remember which was right. Pretty pathetic!

I relate to the school district issue as well. We moved into one of the best disticts in the state only to see the first levy fail in 25 years weeks after the move. Luckily it passed a couple of months later. We have the highest $$ per student ratio in Southern Ohio so I imagine their might be some fat to be cut, but even folks without kids need to realize that the reason we have the highest property values in town is directly related to the quality of the schools.

sundowner & Eeva- I think you are smart to tell people you are older than you really are so they say, "D@#m she looks good for her age!"

Rave: I'm leaving this afternoon for DFW to attend a Fodor's GTG tomorrow. YIPPEE!!

Rave: Scott Peterson will be sent to San Quentin, if he hasn't already arrived. I saw on TV that when the inmates at SQ watched his conviction on the news a few months ago, they began chanting "Bring him here, bring him here." They just love good-looking child killers in prison. Scott will get a warm welcome from his new friends in SQ.

Rave: Beautiful, sunny day!!

Thanks amwosu, I never though of it that way. I do tell people I am taller than I am so if they ever find out my weight the'll think I'm thinner (insert several smiley here--I am on my work computer and don't remember the icon site).

rant-had to change my screen name-nosey people
rave-going to vegas soon
rant-wish i was there now
rave-its the weekend'
rant-old romantic entanglements that might still exist
rave-old romantic entanglements that might still exist
rant-things are sometimes messy
rave-but travel helps!!

Thank you, mms! :-)

Hi everyone!

Rave: It's finally Friday!!

Rant: I have to work tomorrow :'(

Rave: 2 more weeks till I'm in NYC for the first time :-D

Rant: Not sure what the weather will be like, I don't think I have warm enough clothes :-s

Rave: Comfy shoes that still look good!

Rant: Dogs woke me up at 645 in the morning because they needed to go out and pee. I didn't need to get up till 830!

Rave: University of Arizona Wildcats basketball team moving on after beating Utah ST last night :) GO CATS!!!

Rave: Going to Amelia Island tomorrow, and will try out Scarlett's suggestions.

Rant: Second guessing that I should have gone further south.

Bennie and Eeva,

Boy, I'm with you on the school thing. My husband is in his third year of serving on our local school board and he vows he will never, ever do it again once his term is up. Talk about a thankless job for someone who has no hidden agenda--just wants to do his part to make our schools as good as they can be.

People in our community gripe CONSTANTLY that not enough is being done (in academics, sports, arts, special ed, advanced learners--pick a topic, any topic) but are they willing to put their tax $ where their mouths are? Nope. Not a chance. They just want it done--today if possible. Our middle school is old old old and not even ADA accessible. It needs to be replaced but this town won't pass a bond issue to do it. In the meantime, the district has spent DOUBLE what a new building would have cost to maintain this wonderful old wreck over the years. Believe me, I could go on and on. After seeing what really goes on behind the scenes, I have a new respect for school boards and administration--people lose all sense of objectivity when you're dealing with issues that affect their children (and I'll include myself in that group at times) but they're not willing to walk the walk. It really steams me when my husband gets anonymous 'suggestions' in the mail from district patrons. If only they knew that he chucks them in the mail unread if there's no name attached. He'll work hard for anyone (all volunteer, of course) who takes the time to call or write after identifying themselves but anonymous gripers should just save themselves a stamp.

Wow, I guess this turned into quite a rant!!!!!!!

I also agree about the bad effects of K-5 schools. In my opinion, 6th graders have no place whatsoever in middle schools and 9th graders have no business being in the high school. A once trendy idea that just isn't working...

Okay, am now taking a deep breath. Exhale...

amwosu, eeva and sundowner - I wish I had that problem - I forgot I was 43 this year, I thought I was still 42! So that means I'll be 44 on my next bday and I don't think I like that.

Eeva - Its never OUR town ;-) - its that darn town across the river. I don't think people get that the extent of the drastic measures that will happen at the middle school - not sure I get it either and I've read everything. We need more publicity that doesn't skirt the issue and spells out in black and white what the cuts mean.

Rave: The second beautiful day in a row. I love being able to get out and walk again.

Rave: Almost Easter and Easter break. Kids will go to grandparents for a few days over break. A mini-vacation for them.

Rave: Planning summer vacation and a short weekend trip for first weekend kids are out of school. We did this last year and decided we need to do it again. It was a great start to summer.

No raves today - the clear blue sky and 60 degree weather have chased them away.

Rant: Just filled my car with a gas. A new alltime record -- broke the $50 mark at $50.27.

Rave: the traffic's so bad here in Naples, I'm driving as little as possible.
(Yes, I meant that traffic gripe to be a rave, not a rant, since it relates to the gas prices).

I can't remember ever being this happy that it's Friday!!!

Rave: Leaving for first real vaca in a looong time on Monday, going to Sedona and staying w/ lucky retired parents. I'll post a trip report when I return!

Rave: Have "banked" airline tickets that I need to make arrangements for so we're already planning our next vacation before we've taken this one! Deciding between Chicago, NYC, & DC. Leaning towards DC.....

Rave: There's something about getting snow just before leaving for a warmer destination that makes the excitement for the trip even more pronounced!

Rant: This has been longest, coldest, ickiest winter I can remember in a long time

Rave: Spring is just around the corner (or at least it better be)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Rant/Rave: Those who cheered the Supreme's decision last week re: execution of convicted minors are either on the other side of the fence or absent re: Scott Peterson.

Rave/Rant: Lipitor is less expensive in Canada than Mexico. I am among the very few with indemnity health insurance, but that is affordable only with a high deductible as catastrophic care insurance (unless, of course, you're a senior exec @ UAL, GM, ATT, USAir, or any number of other "sterling" US companies or a member of congress).

Rave: The last Lipitor I got in the US, was made by Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals (Dublin) in Puerto Rico. The stuff from the Canadian Pharmacy is made in and being shipped from New Zealand. Love the FDA.

Rant: Antibiotic treatment for self-limited viral infections. Check the history of MRSA.

Rave/Rant: SO leased her house for top $$, but we have to be out by 24 April, so dog and I'll be in MX in hot May.

Rave: Cool front expected this PM - no temp change, but reduction in strong S and SW winds. Low 70's all weekend.

Rant: Gringos who live in predominant Spanish speaking areas of the US and who cannot speak nor understand basic conversational Spanish. I am probably in the 10th or 20th %'tile among gringos in SMdA, but I study and "try".

Rant: Program stock/securities traders.

Rant: The US Senate's Medicaid vote.

Rave: The votes to extend tax cuts and keep taxpayer $$s out of the hands of the big spenders on both sides of the aisle in Washington. We shall see.

Rant: A near first retaliation assassination of three young bar brawlers in Dallas by peers with AK-47s fired from a moving Jaguar.

Rave: DFW GTG tamale.

Rave/Rant: W.E.B. Griffin (By Order of the President) tells essentially the same tale scores of different ways set in different places and times and makes a bloody fortune. I cannot put these books down.

Rave: Wow, my first Fed'l income tax refund check ever was DD 3 weeks 3 days from mailing the return.

OO: Be careful what you wish for in SA.

M