Rave ~ All of you. From my heart, I thank you for the support you gave me especially this past Tuesday and the days to follow. Whenever I felt sad, or restless, anxious or scared, I came here and there was a new message of hope. The comfort I felt brought me an overwhelming amount of strength. Thank you so very much.

JJ5, Otto, BB, OWJ2, you continue to be in my prayers.

May you all have a blessed Easter weekend and find sunshine and joy in those around you.

((L))

Hi cmc! No, not Charleston.

His management company has taken over one of the busiest restaurants on the Eastern Seaboard as well as their cooking school, on and off site catering, gourmet food and housewares store (you can purchase commercial equipment from Viking Ranges to cookware), and several other restaurants.

He got an offer he couldn't refuse to come out of retirement.

Wishing the best to everyone that is going throug hard times. Seems like last week was rough for so many.

OWJ--Good advice...one foot in front of the other. Sometimes that is all you can do.

STW--LOL! I remember as a teen our parents went away and we had a party. They returned home on Saturday night and promptly called us at our friends homes. We wondered how they could tell what we had been up to, but now as a parent I understand, lol!

Rave--It's Friday, and I have no rants:)

Good thoughts and prayers for Otto, Bonniebroad, JJ5 and Tiff.

MMS: How's the knitting coming along? I've been working on the same project since February -- ugh.

Rave: Spring! I've been getting up early every morning just so I can take a walk and check out the daffodils before going to work.

Rant: I forgot to get my daughter a dress for Easter. And my husband, the stay at home dad, just doesn't think about these things. I suppose she'll look cute in overalls.

Rave: We're spending the weekend with family and extended family.

Rave: Sunrise service Easter morning at my husband's grandparent's ranch.

:)

Rant: All the saddness and losses affecting good Fodorites.

Bonniebroad--I didn't realize you had loss your beloved Trissie until I read it on here. I'm so sorry. I know what you're going through. We lost our Hector last September it still feels like yesterday.

Rave: Cocktails with good friends tonight.

Not much else going on here.
Happy Easter everyone!

Oops, I guess that wasn't very pc of me. Happy Easter to everyone it applies to!

kureiff--LOL! Maybe knit her a pretty scarf to go with those overalls:) The knitting is going well. I am attempting a new project...a cami for our daughter. Hopefully it will be done by summer for her! Too bad you don't live here...you could go to class with me.

Rave - College daughter coming home from Dallas to spend Easter wioth us!!

Going to the new Stadium to see the Awesome Cardinals play tonight with good freinds!!!

Rant - The sadness other fodorites and freinds are feeling.

Dumb things they ask me to do at work!!

My prayers and positive thoughts go out to all who need them.

Bonnie, I too missed seeing that you'd lost your beloved dog. I'm so sorry.

Tiff, I'm so glad you gained some comfort from Fodor's. I know how much you and the others helped me!

STW, I'm sorry to hear about the party. I know that had to be a real dissappointment for you. Kids will be kids and these things happen. But I think you and I have very similar philosophies about our kids. And I suspect that you're feeling betrayed. Unfortunately, trust is such a difficult thing to regain.

Rave: Yesterday I finally went for the mammogram I've been putting off for over three years. I know I'm terrible. But, with insurance changes and everything else going on, it was easy to keep pushing it to the back burner. I have to admit that it was partly fear of being yelled at by my doctor that finally got me there. But being inundated with all those commercials definitely had an impact too. Pretty effective advertising!

Rant: Not getting the results for a week or so. That, of course, is what I was really nervous about! I'm not sure why people joke so much about mammograms being uncomfortable. I think dental x-rays are worse!

Rave: Having today off. And its a gorgeous, warm day!

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter, a Happy Passover or just a wonderful spring weekend!

Kureiff, I meant to add that I'm sure your daughter will be adorable no matter what she wears!

Spring and Easter/Passover: God's promise of renewal. After a horrible 2005 with the deaths of my only brother, my father and my youngest son, the clouds are lifting. We leave tomorrow for Punta Cana for son's wedding.

DH is puffed-up proud as our DIL to be asked him to walk her down the aisle (ok, so its a pathway in the sand!).


Peace to all who are hurting. I know what you are going thru.

GoT, sounds like Mr.GoT will be VERY busy indeed. I am visiting Charleston in a couple of weeks and was just hoping. Not that I will suffer from lack of choices, there! Have a good weekend.

Tiff, I was glad to see your post. I am thinking of you.

Rave: It's my birthday and it's a beautiful sunny day.

Rant: Paying in for taxes. (Oh well, at least it won't break my bank.)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Rant: All the ongoing illnesses and problems among friends and families.

Rant: XOM bashing - take an ownership position and VOTE against corporate greed.

Rant: Pemex's Mexico only ownership. International investment would revolutionize/revitalize infrastructure and produce lots more crude for US consumption (not to mention natural gas for internal use).

Rant: US Senate vote re: US immigration.

Rave: SO returns tonight from her layover in Dallas after our return from China.

Rave: NYC in late April for DIL's new book release parties and two Broadway plays.

Rave: Recent strength of the USD (v. MXN peso).

Rave: No US Fed'l tax surcharge to pay for Katrina, etc.

Feliz Semana Santa.

M

Rant: I, too, am very sad about the news on last week's post. I am sending good thoughts to all those folks!
Rant: Last day of my spring break vacation.
Rave: Teacher workday on Monday, no little ones until Tuesday. I have to work my way back in slowly!:)
No real complaints, except for gas prices and house chores!

Happy Easter, or whatever holiday you celebrate, to all!

Rave: Passover!!

Rave: this weekly thread

Rave: the new exhibit at the Jewish Museum in San Francisco, great pictures!

Rave: it looks the rain season is close to an end

Rave: a fellow Fodorite will have a 3-D presentation tomorrow, not sure if she posted it here or on other websites only

Rave: my first crown of glory... errr... a tooth crown is not as bad as I've expected

Rave: the pictures taken in Israle, can't believe it was only a month ago!

And I wish everybody would have raves only, good health and no sadness.

((^)) Happy Birthday, Poohgirl! ((^))

Rave: Wonderful Passover with family. We have both seders here in our home - special times and memories being made. A little bittersweet as this was the first Passover since my mom died and the first time that my MIL (with Alzheimers) couldn't travel from FL to be here. Still, both Dad's were here with all their grandchildren and that made it all worthwhile.

Rant: I had not been on last week's FFR&R's....just went back and read through along with this week. I am so sorry for the difficulties and sadness some of you are experiencing right now.

Tiff- My heart goes out to you. Please take good care of yourself. Your warmth and caring for others comes through even in cyberspace. Just know others are thinking of you.

JJ5- I am truly sorry to hear of your situation - my heart aches for you. My mother just died in November which was burden and sorrow enough...to have several family members so ill...well, words escape me. I wish you strength and comfort.

klr - Hang in there. It may be hard, but you sound like you are doing the right things for the right reasons. Your daughter is very lucky to have you.

Peace, comfort and healing to all who are in need of it. I had such a sorrowful night last night - this thread keeps all in perspective and warms me with the hope and knowledge that there can be so much goodness, caring and kindness in people, even among "strangers."

Rant: STW itching and having to deal with post party :(

Hope OWJ2 is feeling better. Happy Birthday, Poohgirl.
CAPH - Big Rave - good for you getting your mammogram.

Rave: Spring and a Free Weekend (ok, well, at least a chance to get some chores done around the house).

Rave: rncheryl - here is to your son's wedding and renewal!

Everyone - Have a great weekend/Easter/Passover!
And, jorr, I got such a laugh over the groceries....so glad all seems to have dried out.

Poogirl, happy birthday!

Tiff, Still thinking about you!

Scarlett, Buenos Aires sounds wonderful!

Caph, Glad you had your mammagram. I had one recently too. I also had a bone density test. Glad I did because I have Osteopenia, which is before you get Osteoporosis. I am now on special medication to prevent Osteoporosis.

Rant: Not doing well with personal problems which I don't want to get into right now and extremely depressed. I am getting help, but sometimes therapy doesn't change the facts.

Rave: Proud of younger DD who is very involved with Winterguard competitions on weekends.

Rant: Her coach is replacing her because I won't let her go to Wildwood, NJ. I want her to take her SATs at her high school in May. Coach wants her to take them in Wildwood, NJ during a crazy, hectic, and tiring weekend. We said NO! DH promised to drive her after her SATs 3 hours to NJ to perform in the finals Saturday night. Coach is still replacing her.

Rant: Having to pay taxes.

Rave: Happy Passover and Happy Easter to all!