Hugs to my fodor friends, who I truly love. I am having a trying time now and now need lots of prayers and good wishes. My oldest DD is having problems which I think started when I tried to get her to realize she was gaining weight when in High School. (which is an issue I went through myself and tried to help her) I am sure I lowered her self esteem which has lead to some major problems with college and work. She is self destructing and we are trying to pick up the pieces. Right now I just need love and support from my new friends and any good advice. I guess I screwed up, but was well meaing at the time. Help, I am drowning! love to all of you.

JJ5, sending prayers and good thoughts your way. I prayed for you at Knock Shrine.

So happy to see mostly raves this week!

Rave: A wonderful, magical week out of time!

Rant/Rave: And now it's back to reality!
But with a better perspective on things!

I'll start my trip report on the Europe Board as soon as I can get myself and my notes together!

Oldmyst, prayers and lots of good thoughts your way too. I don't know exactly what your situation is, but am sure that blaming yourself isn't the answer. Have you tried family counseling? That might be a big help for both you and your daughter in terms of self esteem. Sending you a big hug!

Thanks Chaph, We are trying family therapy. We all need some therapy and hopefully are getting the help we need.

Rave: We are all going out to dinner to celebrate my birthday, which makes me happy. By the way, I gave my daughter yesterday my birthday money since she needed to buy a monthly railroad ticket to her unpaid intern job. Last night I told my husband for my money back!!!

Another Rave: My best friend from sixth grade and I are going out for brunch in NYC to celebrate our mutual birthdays. I can't wait!

Thanks again for all your wonderful support. I really feel the love.

Good thoughts for you and your daugther Oldmyst!

Faina, we'll have to see what we can work out. Our time there is so brief, I don't know if Mr. Pickle will want to work in a GTG or not - but who knows? :-)

Lee Ann

I didn't feel much like ranting or raving yesterday, so I blasted Andrea Bocelli and pranced around the house, dusting and cleaning, and weeping, just slightly -- always a therapeutic combination for me. Feel much better today.

Rave: Thank you P_M, my son feels so much better -- still a little week, but better. Now his best friend has it. Knock wood, I'm okay.

Rave: Tomorrow evening is my youngest son's concert at college. This year his brother is able to attend. :)

Rave: Had a wonderful day shopping in Manhattan -- bought a fabulous handbag at Macys. Both my husband and I picked up our new perscription glasses. His look really sharp. Mine too.

Rant: My opthamologist not only looks like Mr. Magoo, but he is starting to act like him too. The ding-dong switched my astigmatism on my perscription. So my reading glasses are not quite right. :(

Rant: <i>Too</i> many weeping children this week.

Rave: Nice compliment from my administrator this week. Only wish this weren't a temporary position.

Rave: DST!!!! I cannot wait!!!! I sleep in the ultimate tanning bed -- way too much sun in the bedroom. My window treatments have been delayed again (rant), and I'm worried my crimson chairs will fade if they are not installed soon.

Rave: My husband. He makes me laugh when I least expect it. ((l))

Rave: Escargot, I'm glad to hear your daughter is on the mend. It's always nice to see them start acting themselves -- then you know it's going to be okay.

Happy Birthday wishes to Ani and Oldmyst. ((f)) ((f))

JJ5, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Melissa, glad you are okay!

LoveItaly, Cheers to good health!! :D

Welcome Back to Faina, MMS, and CAPH!!!! :D

Can't wait to read your trip report, Caph! :)

divingaggie, good luck on your new job!

Wishing everyone a peaceful week! :)

just got back from dinner with my family from a nice new restauant. Had two cosmopolitans with champagne added to it!!!! Came home to Pepperidge Farm coconut cake, my childhood favorite with strawberries all around it! I guess I will keep my family afterall!
By the way, I asked for my birthday money back!! Maybe I will use it to buy a ticket to a foreign city???

bennnie thank you - and Caph we are on needles and pins for the trip report - and Seetheworld I hope Mr Magoo gets it right and lets you see...the...world...clearly.....too funny, been a long time since I thought of Mr Magoo !! wonder if he's still on ....

oldmyst--happy b-day to you! Best wishes and prayers to you and your daughter. My sister and mom's relationship was similar to how you explain yours. But they both were able to get past it with much love and patience, and I hope the same happens with you.

Caph--Welcome back! Can't wait to read your trip report!

seetheworld--what a hilarious image! I cleaned and shopped today too. Always a good combination on a Saturday. I can't wait to shop Canal Street again in July! Dallas has good shopping, but nothing beats Jersey and Manhattan. :-)

I've just realized that I forgot to add a big rave. My husband and I have tickets to see Ray Davies (of the Kinks) at a fairly small venue tomorrow night. Should be fun! We've seen the Kinks at many places, large and small, over the past 30 years. It'll be very interesting to see how this compares.

Rave: Experienced yet another wonderful concert. A variety of folk music from around the world and an excellent ensemble of songs from &quot;Miss Saigon&quot; -- really very nice. :)

Rant/Rave, don't know yet. Lucent's news.

Rave: The stunt pilot is out again. I did some research online and found out his name and learned that when not flying loops above the fields near our house, he flies 747s out of Birmingham for British Airways.

Rant: His friend and fellow stunt pilot, Mark Walden, died while flying similar stunts above the same fields on July 11, 2005. Captain Walden had also flown for BA as one of the elite Concorde pilots.

BTilke, I have enjoyed reading about your stunt pilot! We get excited when we see crop dusters on the way to the coast so I think the stunt pilot would really be a thrill. Where in England do you live?

In the outskirts of Maidenhead, a commuter town roughly halfway between London and Oxford (by train). The current stunt pilot flies a Sukhoi 29 (http://www.snaproll-sukhoi.com/su29.htm) and does some amazing things with it--double loops, flying upside down, quarter turns, VERY steep dives, etc. Flying a Boeing 747 must feel like driving a truck to him.
Capt. Walden, who crashed last summer, flew a Sukhoi 31 http://rafaero.free.fr/su31-eng.html
Interesting that they chose a Russian plane for their acrobatics. The Sukhoi has a distinctive sound, so it's easy to tell when it's out there.

Oh, you're in England. Now I <i>really</i> want to be in your neighbourhood!

BTilke, A few years ago we were hiking in the mountains of Scotland (yes everyone, there are mountains in Scotland and some have snow on them in July!). On two occasions the Royal Air Force came jetting low through the vallies and swooping up the mountain sides. It was increadible. They came so fast and so close it scared the hell out of us! We found out later that they do these exersizes as part of their training.

Aside from the stunt pilot's aerobatics and the UK's close proximity to *real&quot; Europe ;-), our neighborhood isn't the type to warrant much envy (actually, there are several homes for sale nearby). It's a basic commuter town, with typically overpriced SE England housing not built to particularly high standards. And it's also on the main commuter line to Slough, which aside from its association to The Office, is home to a good number of juvenile delinquents who come up here to commit mayhem. Our corner grocery store was robbed at gunpoint two weeks ago; the woman working the late shift at the local Blockbusters (an off duty policewoman) was held up at knifepoint in the store last week. England, at least our neck of it, has little in common anymore (if it ever did) with the stuff one sees on Masterpiece Theatre. There are days when we would love to be back in Philadelphia or Portland. OTOH, it's only couple of hours driving (plus a short car-train journey) to get to France or Belgium.

Marlow, a town just a few miles away, is MUCH nicer--pretty, green, prosperous, with excellent restaurants, shops and cafes.
http://www.marlowtown.co.uk/ THAT's the neighborhood you want to live in!

BTilke, thanks for posting the links! Let's hope that 747 pilot gets &quot;it&quot; out of his system before crossing the pond or wherever he is headed when he goes to work ;-) My husband spent two summers at Lakenheath--I joined him for part of those summers and fell in love with the country side. And we did make it to France and Belgium...and the Netherlands...and... via the ferry between Dover and Calais. What I would give to be back there...watching a stunt pilot do his thing. Very cool. :-)

I have a big Rave!

I was in Mexico City last week (flew down on corporate jet, woo-woo!) and we stayed at the Four Seasons.

We were done early on Friday so I went sightseeing. I went back to my room, changed into sightseeing clothes (no heels!) and when I got onto the packed elevator I stood right next to a guy in a bathrobe, headed for the health club and spa. Y'know how you glance at everyone then assume &quot;elevator pose&quot;. Well, this time I glanced, then did a double take.

One of the Gallagher brothers! I didn't say anything until he got off then just remarked to the elevator that it sure looked like the guy from Oasis. Another person affirmed that it was.

well well! I asked the concierge to secure tickets for me, got a driver, and had a great time at the concert that night.

The music gods always smile on me when I travel...

ps. Corporate jet is the only way to go. Here is how you go through customs:

You order a mimosa or bloody mary from the flight attendant. She collects everyone's passport. You relax, drink your drink and continue talking and laughing with your colleagues. About 15 minutes later, she comes back with your passports, all stamped and ready to go. You exit, your luggage is collected for you and taken to the terminal while you amble around and take photos of the pretty mountain scenery.

ahhhhhhhhhh........