Freaky Friday Rants & Raves 4-28-06
 

Rant: Skin Cancer season is here again. Thousands of people will be diagnosed with malignant Melanoma again this year because of "sun tanning". All sun tanned skin is an indication that your skin is being attacked by ultra violet sun rays. There is no such thing as a healthy tan or a so called base tan. Parents of children have a responsibility to protect their children and themselves with sun screen from UV rays and skin cancer.

Rave: Sun screen and awareness of Melanoma in recent years. I wish people would have known about it when I was a kid.

Rant: That totally amateur portrait of Bill Clinton for the National Portrait Gallery. I can't understand how such a bad painting can come out of what should be the best of American portrait artists. If I were the director of the gallery I would have it burned and get a new artist.

I agree,Jorr..being 3/4 Irish, I don't tan, I just burn...hard to tell most of the year where legs stop and socks begin! Daughter's donor(oops,I mean biological father)is Ecuadorian,so while she has the ability to tan, I have always lubed her up right after myself with the block! I notice alot of people here in my area go to the fake and bakes- just as bad for the skin, I assume,and a horribly fake look half the time, anyway!

Dare I rant about gas prices?? Just consider klr6773 annoyed about that every week! Officially spent $312.70 on gas last 4 weeks....how high is it going??
Rave: DD comes home Sunday,and I can't wait! The whole "time for yourself" theory, while definately true for some, just had me sitting around not knowing what to do with myself. If I let her go back to Jersey in August, maybe I'll have an easier time w/o her around...

I hope all of the news is good!

Yes, jorr, thank you for the reminder.
* I saw my dermatologist today. Happy to say, everything is fine :)
*Baby boy got super duper new job ( still in Japan but not for long)
*Baby girl is spending the weekend in Las Vegas celebrating her birthday with 5 girlfriends.. ( watch out Las Vegas! lol )
*Plans for Buenos Aires trip are coming along..
*Weather in Portland has been faaabulous..
Pup and the Yankee and I are having Fun. Wishing all my Fodorfriends the same ((F))

Scarlett,I' sure you agree that this is the weather that makes dealing with that terrible rain all Winter worth moving here in the end..(among other things, of course! :)

Rant: Mom is in the hospital. Nurses and doctors are so inconsistent. Some are amazingly kind and patient. Others need to consider another career. Hopefully she will be discharged soon.

Rave: DD struck out 4 in her two innings of pitching last night. One hit and one unearned run. Team lost though.

Rave: We really are experiencing Spring here in New England. Spring is a rare event and its wonderful.

It's Friday and this board is still a little freaky!

Rant: Taking meds all week that alter my level of energy and clarity with one more week to go.

Rave: With so many people in need I am grateful for the health care I receive.

Rant: Feeling overwhelmed by the plights of the world.

Rant: I'm at work.
Rave: I'm off the WE! :-)

Rave--The beautiful weather we are having! I even planted a bunch of flowers yesterday and am hoping to find some peas to plant today.

Rave--Had a friend from WA here this week. Always good to see old friends.

Rave--No rants:)

jorr--I agree with the tanning. I have a teenage daughter who thankfully slathers the spf on each day. So happy she understands!

Rave: We're in Paris! And it's sunny! (for the moment)

Rant: We leave Sunday.

Rant: DH is getting over bronchitis, still not up to speed, so we had to cut trip short and didn't get here til late last night

Rave: I didn't catch it (knock wood)

Rant: Sister-in-law (also in Paris on business trip with her husband) has been suffering all week from a urinary tract infection. She had an absolutely miserable flight from U.S. and terrible first few days of her trip. She's just starting to get better (saw a very helpful French doctor on Tuesday) but feels like the trip was wasted--she spent the first half holed up in the hotel room. Had to cancel reservations at all the restaurants they had wanted to try; has been living on soup and cranberry juice instead.

Rave: Their 5 yo daughter has been a model of patience and sweetness, entertaining herself quietly in the room for four days while Mom slept (when she wasn't throwing up) and Dad was at meetings. Didn't complain once, just said she hoped she was "helping Mommy feel better." Her Dad rewarded her with a father-daughter day trip to EuroDisney.

Rant: Still can't get sunscreen with Mexoril in the U.S. I bring over bottles for Mom in Florida. What's the holdup?

Rave: After a frustrating week of negotiations and redrafting I've finished an annoying work project yesterday.

Rave: Tight "Kate hugs" from the daughter this morning. Hugs are rare in the mornings as she's usually too busy chasing the dog or wheeling her bear around in the baby stroller to pay me much attention. :)

Rave: Skin cancer reminder. Thanks Jorr. I've been trying out the Jergens healthy glow; it works but it smells bad.

Rant: Working this weekend.

:)

Not really any rants or raves here. Just wanted to check in and say hi. Hope everyone is having a good week.

Isn't that just an awful picture of Bill Clinton? And who told Clinton to pose like that anyway?
The artist should have been drawn out, quartered and shot! >:O

Rave: I'm in Jamaica...the weather's perfect. Blue skies abound...not a cloud to be seen anywhere...It's 10:15 on Friday and it's the last workday of the week! The Ten Commandments Day Events start next week in DC! I can't wait! \:D/

Rants...dear cousin, like a sister, having surgery for breast cancer next week. very early stages, should be very curable. 3 of 7 1st and 2nd generation descendents of our dear departed grandma (who lived to be 89)have now had breast cancer. I hope I missed the gene on that one.

Raves...the early diagnosis and great chance for beating this monster that my cousin has. DH is involved in the oncology/radition business and was able to provide lots of info, leads, support, MD recmommendations for my cousin and her family.
...What gorgeous weather we are having. I'm stopping at the nursery on my way home from work to get some herbs to make an herb planter. too early for annuals here, but the herbs will be a great start to the gardening season.

...have a good weekend all.

rave
the hummimg birds returned this week. Swallows are eyeing the new box we put up for them.

Jorr, I don't go outside without smearing my arms, face and bald head with sunscreen. I had several pre cancer spots removed last year. As a teenager, I was a beach rat and tan as could be.

kureiff, I get a high off of the smell of Coppertone sun screen. It smells like its summer and I'm having fun. OK maybe that sounds strange!


klr6773, "fake and bakes" LOL I've never heard of that term and its a perfect fit for tanning salons.

Some of my Fellow Freaky Friday Fodorites know this but I have survived malignant melanoma since 1987. That is why I am so determined to pass along the word just as someone did for me back in '87. That person survived it because of a person a few years prior who passed the word to her. Hey, I'm trying to save a life here!

Rave: Leaving for France Monday.

Rant (sob) Retinal degeneration no better after laser treatment :-B

rave: my mothers bday this week. moving forward after loosing both of her parents in the last 16 months.

rave: saw dear friends last night.

rave: was at friends poetry reading event. the theme was political/economic, but it was just nice to hear the voice of my piers, and not negativity. (re: anything in the news)

rave: countdown ireland!

yes jor...as a kid, i would get a deep, brown color when i tanned, naturally. i've been on hormone treatment for 15 years now, and it has done a number on my skin. incredibly dry (at least no blemishes), and i burn now, never burned as a kid. i burn easily too. i've found using bain de soleil 4spf or 8spf (may still not be enough) gel works great, and i still get great color.

rant: trouble getting on the boards this morning.

:-D

Jorr, I agree about wearing sunscreen. I wish I could get my girls to use it regularly. I constantly remind them. Unlikely they have more my DH skin than mine. I wish I knew about the dangers of sun tanning when I was young.

Rave: The Prince is with me, and he is a fabulous dog. He looks like a fluffy teddy bear. He gets so excited when I come in the door. I wish my family greeted me that way.

Ed, I wish there was better treatment for retinal degeneration. I hope you get some treatment that helps you.

Rave: My DH's birthday is tomorrow. He and his twin are going to celebrate it at our house. They will cook the dinner because they want this special seafood dish I don't know how to make. I would have just made reservations!

Rave: The beautiful weather in New York

Rave: Younger DD had a good report card.

Rant: A slow day on the board. I want to hear from my fellow FFRR'ers!

Rave: Jorr's mission--I am a reformed sunworshiper. Now I'm a self-tanner fan and hopefully healthier for it.

Rave: Scarlett's going to BA. I was there 3yrs ago--let me know if I can help you w/anything. I really enjoyed Argentina and BA was a place I'd go back to someday.

OttO--Big hugs! How much longer til you kiss the Blarney Stone?

Rave: Am off to see the Mets whip the Braves tonight and get to sit in a corp. box thanks to one of my husband's customers and his boss deciding not to go w/OWJ2!

Rave: No more IEPs til next year! (That's special ed paperwork, for those not in the know!)

Rave: Unexpected surprises

Rave: Having our neighbors over for dinner tomorrow

Rant: Have lots of running around Sat. before then

Big hugs to all who need them. Wishing everyone a peaceful, enjoyable weekend

RAVE:
Seeing Scarlett's BA!!! When?? Pay per view?

WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
:-" :O):-" :O):-" :O)

Rant: 3-4" keeloid scar across my chest as a reminder to use 30+ SPF AT A MINIMUM!

Just didn't feel like ranting or raving today. I won't until I have some good news. I do like reading others good news, as it proves there is some out there.

I join the "just saying hello" group. You know, sometimes the dreaded 4-letter W-word "work" interferes with the E-life :)

Hugs for everybody who needs them.

Rave: As part of "Remembrance Day", I attended a Holocaust exhibit at a local gallery, and the documentary "Paper Clips". The film is about students at a high school in Tennessee attempting to collect 6 million paper clips, representing the Jews that died during the Holocaust. They ended up collecting about 27 million. The citizens of the town then got a rail car that had transported people to the death camps shipped from Germany and it now holds 11 million of the paper clips (representing the Jews, plus gypsies and other minorities that were killed), as well as other Holocaust items. The exhibit and film were both very moving.

Rave: Jorr reminding people of the dangers of tanning.

Rant: Gas prices and oil company profits.

Rant: After spending four hours stripping wallpaper, my back is aching. More of same tomorrow!

My best wishes to all Fodorites. Thanks for making this such an enjoyable place to visit!

Rave: my mainland vacation got extended by a week!

Rent: not by choice. While visiting our kids in NYC & Boston, we got word that a wall on our San Diego property collapsed, damaging the house next door.

I had to buy all new tickets NYC-San Diego-Honolulu and dump my NYC-Honolulu return.

RANT: Now I'm in San Diego, having to deal with AWOL contractor and nasty neighbor. Plus, I've got nothing to do and no one to see once the work day is over. AAARGH!

Guess I could work on a trip report for the Bosotn & NYC days.....

Rave: getting to eat lots of good Mex food!

jorr, thanks for the reminder and congrats on your survival. ((y)) Like OWJ, I am also a reformed sun worshipper.

bennie, wishing your mom a speedy recovery.

Rachel, I hope your cousin will indeed beat the monster.

Ed, also wishing you the best with the retinal degeneration.

lcuy, that stinks!! I hope things will be in order soon.

seetheworld: Thinking of you. >:D<

Rant: BTilke is in Paris and I'm not. Also ranting that BTilke's SIL was sick throughout her trip. :-( I should have gone in her place. :-)


Rave: A cool front blew into Austin and brought temps down to the 70's. Brrrr!! :-)

Rave: The Alamo Drafthouse, our new favorite movie cinema. Each row of seats has a cabaret table so you can order dinner and/or bar drinks while watching the movie. We are so spoiled to having wine and dinner with a movie, it would be awfully hard to go back to popcorn.

Rant: Spending $40+ for going to the movies. :-(

Happy weekend, all!!

Thanks for the reminder, Jorr. Living in New Mexico, we should probably buy stock in some sunscreen company. :-)

Rave: 18yo dd graduated from high school last week and also did well on her finals at community college.

Rave: 10yo ds's team is 5-1 so far.

Rant: I got pinkeye in both eyes.

Rave: Thanks to meds, I no longer look like the Eye of Sauron. :-D

Rant: Still can't get on Fodor's except from Mr. Pickle's work computer.

Rave: Going to my dad's in CA next month, with a too-short hop to San Francisco and Monterey!

Lee Ann

Another rave for sunscreen. Dad had melanoma,but has thankfully gotten rid of it. I have his skin. :( and was fried of course as a child.

Well tonight my girls went to their first ever middle school dance and had a great time! Time flies and they grow up so fast!
Have a good weekend all. :)

Rave: Only one more week until DS is through with college enough to get a full time job!

Rant: He dropped French II so he won't actually graduate yet.

Rave: I love the sushine that Springtime brings. Yes, I do use sunscreen.
Do you know that Rit dye makes a product that you can use in your regular laundry to add sunscreen protection?...some clothing manufacturers charge big bucks for this feature.

Rave: Everyone's fairly healthy at the moment here.

Rave: I finally finished jury duty after 9 days, spread out over 3 weeks.

Rant: Jury duty could have been shorter if one of our group could have kept an open mind and applied logic to the evidence given. It was an open and shut case.

Rave: I feel good and confident about the decisions I made.

Rant: One guy had his own agenda coming in, became alienated from the pack, and decided to hang the jury on one count out of 4.

Rave: I've been away from the office for 9 blissful days.

Rant: 4 days of deliberation, trying everything we could to ask him to help us understand his thinking, but instead we got harassed. We requested the court to read every shred of evidence and testimony he requested. I wouldn't call it a waste of time, but it was an exercise in futility.

Rave: I was not the foreperson!

Rant: The defendant stared me down daily. He took extensive notes during jury picking, and since we were asked extensive questions regarding where we worked, he now knows where I work! And I'm getting paranoid!

Rave/Rant: I don't remember a thing the judge said after we gave the verdict. I would have loved to hear and remember what he said. Instead, I think we were all just relieved things were over, although I think all of us secretly wanted one last chance to get the hold-out to work it out with us. None of us were satisfied with walking away without a final resolution on that last count.

Rant: Someone else is jumping on the coattails of something I had already successfully negotiated, another grant for $1.5 mil. The way things are going, I hate my boss and I need out.

Rave: My boss was doing the Homer Simpson panic dance. He deserves it after what he's been doing!

My thoughts to all who are in pain and in need. My happiness to all who have joy in your life.

And Jorr: are you talking about the National Portrait Gallery in DC? If so, then your concern (and others) will not go unheard. I can pass your concern to the Director if you'd like. You all have connections. ;)

Sun screen, thank you for the reminder jorr. This week we went from winter weather to 91 degrees overnight. And how I enjoyed the warm weather. But ooops, forgot to put on sun screen. I too spent decades baking in the sun, from laying on beaches and around pools to boating. So far I have not had a problem and none of my family or ancestors have but that doesn't mean anything I would imagine.

Raves: I got a lot of "spring cleaning" done this week.

Rant: I sure was tired and achy after a lot of physical activity that didn't take place during the long rainy winter.

Rave: It looks like I will be going to Paris late September. I have never been to France so I am so excited!

Rant: I need to spend some time learning how to learn and pronounce some important phrases. I don't think just knowing "bonjour" and "merci" will do it, LOL.

Rave: A Fodorite and his dear wife from Australia will be here over Labor Day weekend and I will be spending time with them. They are so special and I can hardly wait for their visit.

Rant: A dear Fodorite who is going through so much physical and mental pain. She is on my mind and in my prayers constantly.

Rave: BTilkes' little five year old niece being an angel when her mother is so ill while in Paris. I was ill in Albuquerque, NM years ago and my little angel five year old daughter was the same way..she even learned how to order room service.

Rant: Getting ill when away from home..not fun and what a waste of valuable travel time.

Rave: All the beautiful people in my life, I feel so fortunate.

Rant: People that go out of their way to cause harm, stress and worry to others.

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend and may you all have hope and faith that your future is bright even if you are dealing with adversities at this time.

mcnyc, I would very much appreciate you forwarding my concerns to your connection at the gallery. I have created hundreds of portraits in pencil, watercolor, and oil over the years so I do know a bit about what makes a good portrait.

The Clinton portait is so wrong on so many levels, composition, style, focal point, and positioning of the subject. The portrait has also become the laughing stock of TV programs such as The View, The Jon Stewart Show, The Tonight Show and others. The painting also has sexual connotations plastered all over it. I can site at least four. Thank you in advance.

Jury duty. What a pain. I've done it, and a few friends have done it as well. One said she got very stressed out from the constant arguing in the jury room. Another friend said he was the forman and when the guilty of murder in the first degree verdict was anounced for the gang member defendant the judge told everbody in the court room the full name of the foreman. He was really afraid for his life after that.

I am usually a lurker but have been reading the FFR&R posts faithfully. I think of you all often but today (I'm a little late reading as I had some work issues yesterday) Jorr you struck a nerve. I lost my dad at 50 yrs old(and I can't believe it has now been 15 yrs since he passed - I still miss him so) to Melanoma and urge all of you to keep up with the sunscreen.

Other than that no specific rants or raves.

lindsyb, so sorry for your loss. If only people would be as wary of skin cancer as we are of other cancers. Thanks for sharing your story.

Happy weekend, everyone. I didn't post last week and haven't earlier this weekend 'cause I really can't think of much to say. Except, of course, that you're all in my thoughts and prayers. Especially Tiff and JJ5. And you too, stw, if you're reading! Glad your IEPs are done, OWJ. Just from my short time working as a special ed aid, I know what a relief that must be!

But I do want to make a point of thanking jorr and lindsyb for their warnings. You've reminded me that I need to start wearing sun screen everyday when I walk. I remember reading that most of the damage is done in short, everyday type exposure.

I've seen so many PSAs lately for breast cancer and colon cancer awareness. Can't remember seeing any about skin cancer. With the warm weather upon us, I hope the American Cancer Society will have more to say about it as well.

One more thing! Since I didn't post last weekend, I want to add that I'm so glad you had a good trip, P_M. And that your husband recovered well from his surgery.

Thank you CAPH. :-) I hope your husband is still feeling well?

Consider it done Jorr. :D I've not seen it yet, but when I'm in DC later this month, I will definitely go see it. Sounds like a farce of a painting.

This particular jury duty stressed me out completely. I couldn't sleep a wink. There was almost fist fights among the jurors and the holdout, who was determined unreasonable. I had to ask our guard if anyone heard our arguments in the courtroom since it did get quite heated (thank goodness no one did). I think I'm paranoid, but I could swear that the defendant was staring us down and looking for revenge once he's out of jail. Is that still considered jury tampering?

And thanks for the Melanoma awareness. I always use sunscreen but a good reminder here and there is of the upmost importance!

Thanks for asking, P_M! Yes, I'm happy to say that he's feeling great! All his hair is back (including eyebrows and nose hair!). And his appetite and taste buds are back. At this point, there don't seem to be any lasting effects (affects?) of the chemo.

I know we're not out of the woods yet. The dr. told us right at the beginning that, if it's going to come back, 80% of the time it'll be within the first two years. So he still has the porto-cath. And they'll be watching him closely. But, for right now at least, things are very good. And we're very grateful!

Rave: As a lurker here, my thanks to Jorr for the reminder. I also have had MM. May I suggest nothing less than SPF 15 for everyone :) More is better IMHO. Please pass it on. And if something doesn't look "right"..please mention it. I have and it has made a difference.

I have a neighbor who had skin cancer on her nose. She had medical care for it (before I knew her). Just a week ago she had "something" burned off again on the same spot so she now has a big scab on her nose.

But she doesn't wear sunscreen even now because "she just doesn't remember to buy it", sigh. What is that old saying about "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink".

I have given up..I tried to talk to again today about using sunscreen, but my conversation fell on deaf ears evidently.

P.S. I haven't seen the portrait of Bill Clinton or even heard about it. Who is the artist?