JJ5: Defensive? No. There is an implication that "all people who graduated from public colleges are still honest and happy people" a snip to those who attend private schools - I dunno, maybe, maybe not. HOWEVER, I was simply pointing out that the same holds true for those who graduated from private colleges. And yes, people who have not had the opportunity to attend college are also happy and honest people.

Trish & bamakelly: Thanks for clearing that up! SO - it now seems so obvious.

rjw: I'm sorry to hear your sisters news - keep fighting! I will print out your post and wave it in front of my husband who is fighting tooth and nail to get a Colorectal screening - he turns 50 in May. I keep telling him that his fear should not lie with the test, but with the ignorance of not knowing.

Rave: it looks like Spring may rear her beautiful head this week-end, happy Easter to all, even, if only a bunny day for you.
Rant: The price of vet meds. We changed the dogs Alzheimer's (canine Cognitive disorder) A whoppin $150 and $35 for an inch and half tube of eye cream.

Rant:All the madness around Terri Schiavo. When Randall Terry shows up there can only be more trouble!

Rave: I live in a state where Palliative Care training is mandated for MDs.

Rave: A long day at work today then three days off.

Rave: A house full of dearly beloved friends for a Spring dinner on Sunday. Wild king salmon is being flown in overnite from Seattle for the fare. It will be a wonderous feast! The rain here is not supposed to start again until late Sunday evening.

Rave:Daffs are nearly over but the japanese irises are popping out.

Rave: a new baby boy next door! "babies are such a nice way to start people".
And, a good thought for you OWJ!

Have a good weekend everyone!

A Cherry Blossom Festival special for visitors to DC:

Rave: The improved Metro signs which tell you ETAs for the next several trains to your station.

Rant: Backpacker wearers who crowd into trains or elevators, don't account for the space they take and bash folks with their humps. Just saw a small kid smashed as one of these fools wheeled around in the Metro train.

Also, please stand right and walk left on the escalators. Remember escaltor repair season runs from January to December in even- and odd-numbered years, so a limited number operate during those times.

Rant: The split on the Schiavo thing. Everybody seems to have an opinion. Just what is the right answer? I feel for the both the parents and the husband.

Rave: Headed to the mountain home in Smokies and we are finished with our renovations that started in 2001!!

SmokeyBoy,
Well, if you get bored now that all the renovations are done, feel free to venture down my way and help with my mess. I've bounced around the idea of a floor sanding party but no one has taken me up on the idea!

The YMCA "spa" isn't Isakson by any chance is it?

Enjoy the mountains. I'm not getting up there this weekend...renovations instead.

Rave - Mrs. Dan is due to deliver our first baby (a son) next week. Whoo whoo!

Rant - how can I complain!?!?

Rave: Congrats to Dan on your arrival next week. I expect to see this news on next week's R&R's.

Rave: One Wandering Jew, I think I know what your news is, and I wish you the best.

MAJOR RAVE, PLEASE READ: I have a friend who is diabetic. Her kidneys began failing a few months ago, and she was put on dialysis. They told her she can only get a kidney transplant if she also gets a pancreas transplant. Yesterday she got the call she's been waiting for, and jumped on the first plane to Denver to have the surgery. This morning I received an update. The surgery went well, and the new organs appear to be functioning. This news brought me to tears.

Rant/Rave: I feel deep sorrow for the family of the donor for losing a loved one. I hope they will be blessed with the knowledge that their loved one will live on, in some small way. God bless the donor and his/her family for this extraordinary gift.

Rave: Tax stuff going to account TODAY! Real life can resume.

Rave: Started a new yoga class this week. Time to get back on the fitness train after too many months of sitting in front of the computer.

Rant: The Terry Schiavo situation is so sad, but made truly horrific by becoming the bone in a political dogfight. Ugh.

OWJ, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Rant: I hate to keep dredging up this Terry Schiavo thing, but I just heard the most amazing statement from a protestor on TV. She questioned how the goverment can interfere with "God's will" by allowing the feeding tube to be withdrawn. Huh? No matter what your personal feelings are, I can't imagine how anyone in the world could think it was GOD'S will to INSERT a feeding tube. Wouldn't anyone have to admit that GOD was choosing to let Terry Schiavo die years ago, but it was MAN who interfered with that plan by inserting a feeding tube? So how can anyone think it is GOD'S will that she be kept alive with the tube?

On the other hand I CAN understand (just barely) the idea that man shouldn't now cause or let Terry die, but to turn it into "God's Will" that she is alive, when it was an interference from man that prevented her from dieing to begin with, is what I just can't understand.

Patrick,

I don't want to get into the Terry Schiavo discussion either, but the previous poster mentioned a friend on dialysis, and I have to ask you what you think the difference is between dialysis and a feeding tube? If you say one isn't God's Will, don't you have to say the same about the other?

Rave: bikram yoga tonight!

Marilyn, I'm with you on getting back to a fitness regimen - I have to MAKE time again - no more of this being chained to a desk. But yet, as I speak, I have lemon bars baking in the oven!

Bonnie - I bet with your mouth surgery you will reach #40 very soon! C'mon inspire me babe!

Two babies are about to be born very soon (Dan and someone on the Europe board)- how exciting!

yawn boring, presumably the person on dialysis is not in a vegetative state.

seetheworld, lemon bars -- YUM. Want to trade recipes?

Rave: Beach season has arrived! Yesterday was officially the first day on the beach for us! Yippee!

Rave- My daughter is in from college for Easter, DH just flew in from Syria in time for EAster. The whole family is here!
Rant- It is cold and foggy. I need to start an exercise class -
Marilyn, - Good for you and the Yoga class. Is it beginners or advanced?
Rant- All the bad news on TV.

Can you believe it is almost April???

Mariyln, I've posted the recipe for you on the "Easter" thread, in case you are up for one more last hurrah!

Thanks, seetheworld! I'll post mine as well.

Anne, definitely beginners! Having met you, I really have a hard time picturing you with a daughter old enough to be in college.

Rave: OWJ's upcoming news!

Rant: rjw's sister's news. So sorry to hear it. Keep the faith and prayers.

Rave: PM's friend's news. Glad to hear it!

Rant: My friend's son-in-law fell and hit his head on asphalt this week. The doctor's feel that he may be brain dead due to swelling. He's young, is married and has a 4-year old daughter. I hope he recovers.

Rave: A four day weekend for me! My DH has two days off, as well.

Rant: Cluster headaches. Arrgggh.

Rave: My sister just got a new phone service where she can call me for 14 cents a minute vs. the previous 47 cents. She's calling me twice a day now on HER dime! ;)

Rave: My sister and I living in two different countries, yet working in the same industry since her new job started. Boy do we have a lot of shop talk with dealing with so many of the same people and companies all over the world.

Rave: My mother and her SO are loving their new place and their new retirement life, which is a huge burden off of me after a year long medical ordeal.

Rave: Home for awhile after back to back trips. Looking forward to staying put.

Rave: Planning a trip back to magical Venezia!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and a blessed Easter holiday if you are celebrating. :)

Rave: Kids are out for spring break.

Rave: Thinking of taking a quick roadtrip for a few days while they're off school.

Rant: Day four or five of rain and overcast skies. I'm getting sick of grey days.