Freaky Friday Rants and Raves 4-7
 

Rant: spending over a hundred dollars on groceries.

Rant part two: putting all the grocery bags in the back end of my pickup then going through a car wash not thinking what I was doing.

Rant part three: driving slowly through the jet speed air blower which blows out half the wet groceries.

Rant part four and five: picking up groceries off the floor of the car wash and laying it all out to dry when I got home.

Rave: really clean and waxed groceries.

Jorr, that's the best laugh I've had all day. :-))

Rave: My travel date has arrived!! YIPPEE YI YAY!! I'm flying to London, then on to Madeira on Wed. Then on Easter Sunday I'll be attending the wedding of friends, and flying home the following Tue. I feel so lucky to be going on this trip because I very nearly cancelled for the following reason:

Rant: DH gave birth this week. Yes, you read right, my husband gave birth this week--to a bouncing, baby gall bladder!! But don't bother to congratulate us, we left the slimy little brat at the hospital. Last Sunday DH woke me in the middle of the night and said something was wrong. He was in a lot of pain and he thought it was severe indigestion. The pain was so bad I took him to the hospital. They immediately ran in EKG and found it wasn't a heart attack, but after many, many MANY hours of testing they determined it was the gall bladder. However, the pain continued to be so severe they did even more testing and they found a blockage to the pancreas so gall bladder had to come out pronto. They took him into surgery, cleared the blockage, and of course, removed the gall bladder and gall stones. By the next day DH was already eating solid foods and wanting his football magazines, so I knew he would be OK. But that was scary!!

Rant (but a funny one, in a twisted kind of way): DH's surgery was orthoscopic so he has 4 small incisions in his torso. It looks like multiple gunshot wounds. I told him he looks like he went hunting w/the VP. :-))

Rave: North Austin Medical Center. If you ever get sick in the city of Austin, I hope you're somewhere near that hospital. The staff were fantastic and they took very good care of DH.

Rave: Needless to say, if DH were seriously ill I would have canceled this trip, but he is now back on his feet, just a little slower. He's even going back to work tomorrow.

Rant: DH just started a new job in December and has no vacation time, otherwise he would be going with me. :-(

Rave: DH supports my travel habits, even though he doesn't quite share my passion for travel. :-)

Note: To a certain Fodorite, you know who you are. I will be thinking of you on Easter Sunday and hoping all goes well for you and your family.

Happy Weekend All, and Happy Easter/Passover/or anything else you celebrate!! Ciao for now, and I'll see ya when I get back.

Wow, Jorr, and I thought I was being dumb when I pulled up to the car wash and got out without putting my top on the convertible up (at least they called me back to do it).

P_M

Congrats to DH and his gall bladder.

Rave - after 5 years of 'retirement' I've been back at work full time for 3 weeks and I think it's going well.

Rant - after 3 weeks I'm not sure I'm cut out for working from home :-(

Rave - I don't have to commute and can work in my PJ's

Rave - the weather here in MA was wonderful last weekend and we spent a most of our time in the yard wearing shorts and t-shirts.

Rant - it snowed yesterday.

Rave - I love living in New England, the weather changes every hour or so :-D

Rave - DD has graduated from her college.

Rant - DS has started driving lessons and on his first lesson (never been on the road before) he was encouraged to wrap his right arm around the passenger seat while reversing!!!! The driving school didn't see this as a problem and the woman I spoke to actuall said that I could take my business somewhere else if I didn't like their training methods.

So I have! Am I unusual in that I would like my son to realise that he should keep BOTH hands on the steering wheel when the car is moving??

Backward or forward I don't think it matters - you are driving equipment that can kill somebody, you should always be in complete control!

He'll pick up bad driving habits when he's passed his test - I don't think he should be taught them from a driving instructor.

However, I think this explains why here in MA we see many drivers on the highways who drive at 65mph+ with one arm tucked behind the passenger seat (even if there's no passenger) and one hand on the wheel.

Scary

Posted early - but that's probably a good thing :-)

Rant should probably be over :-D

Ha, thanks for the laugh, Jorr!

Alya: I spent over 30 years in high performance driving and every, repeat every, high performance course I took required that the driver shift far enough in the seat that it was necessary to wrap the right arm around the front passenger seat in order to be turned enough to be able to see where you are backing.

While driving forward, it is strongly recommended to keep both hands on the wheel but that is not for normal control - it is because if you have a tire blowout or you indavertantly steer off the road, you have enough control to safely manuever the vehicle at whatever speed you are moving.

While backing, you are almost always moving at very low speed and do not need that emergency control. It is much more dangerous to not see where you are going than it is to have only one hand on the wheel in that situation. Without a significant body shift that requires the right arm to stablize, you cannot see enough of where you are going.

When I was doing traffic enforcement, it was almost an axiom that backing accidents were caused by or at least contributed to by inadequate rearward vision.

Raves:
A beautiful Tuesday and a pretty good Wednesday for my days off this week...seems to rain buckets on my days off most of the time!

Got 2nd row seats...to the Wiggles concert in Portland Easter Sunday! No, it's not exactly Bon Jovi, but DD is thrilled and that's why it's worth it. I couldn't bribe my sister enough to drag her along to this one!

Rant: New scheduling at work stinks. Lucky to get daughter in bed every night before 11pm. Put in another transfer to closer locations,but I'm sure it will be ignored like the last 2. Nobody above me willing to take the time to pull strings like my last set of bosses were.

Happy Weekend to all...thoughts and wishes to everyone who need them.Lord knows I need yours enough myself!

So funny Jorr!

Ayla-I also learned to reverse with arm around seat. 30+ years later it still works!

Rant- got to go to an arbitration tomorrow. A tenant was goofing around on her moped in a parking garage and ran into a concrete pole. I can't imagine the building owner (or us) will be found liable, but still such a hassle and waste of time for us.

Rave: I have a totally cool dog; the kind people want to steal. He's just a pound-puppy (3 years old!), but so smart and soooo eager to please. After a series of less than wonderful pets, we feel really lucky! Its a chilly night and he is asleep on my feet as I write...

Good health, good times to everyone this week!

LOL, Jorr! Well, now you have really clean fruit! :D :D

P_M, Congratulations! You and your husband must be very proud! ;) Seriously, I'm glad your DH is okay -- you both must have been frightened. Have a wonderful trip to England -- looking forward to reading all about it. Take good care! ((f)) ((f))

Rant: It's 2:12 a.m. and I am awake. Anyone who knows me will understand that that's not a good thing. ((O)) O-)

Rave: Leaving Saturday morning on a 7:00 a.m. flight to Palm Beach, Florida! Five full days with my DH! Yippie, it's in the 80's. What a welcomed feeling <i>that</i> will be -- it's been cold here all week long! :D

Minor Rant: What was I thinking when I booked a 7:00 a.m. flight? Oh yes, a very full day at the beach! Waking up at 4:00 a.m. should be a breeze after being up now, at two in the morning, no?? #-O

Beach Rants: 1) I have very white legs. 2) Wearing a bathing suit with very white legs. Oh my, not a pretty sight, lol. ((#))

Rave: My new and beautiful sunglasses should distract everyone from my very white legs! ((H))

Rave: My sons. &quot;Chalk and Cheese&quot;, my boys, the best! ((l)) ((l))

Rant: The &quot;merger of equals&quot; and the concern it causes our oldest son. Not so much the job (well, that is still a concern), but finishing the exec. education program. That would be a mess if it were discontinued mid-way through.

Rave: Spending five days with my husband. I know, I said that already. It's just the best. :-X

Alya, I will check about the arm thing when I back out of my driveway this morning. I don't think it's possible to do it with both hands on the wheel. But, as a mother of two sons, I understand your driving concerns.

Caph, How've you been? :)

Tiff, ((C))

JJ5, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Wishing everyone good health and a happy weekend!! :-d ((#)) ((f))

Rave: China tour - amazing as they will shortly eat the USA's lunch.

Rave: Back home in SMdA where beef tenderloin is about $3.00 a lb and fresh fruits and veggies are way less.

Rave: gas was $3.20 a gallon in SFO and is $2.60 (92 oct) here.

Rave: low taxes.

Rave: No one who has 1st dollar health insurance coverage knows a thing about health care: that will certainly change.

Rave: SO is going to Prague/Budapest in May and we are going to Sicily in Sept.

Rant: The US Senate/House as always.

M

Rave--Jorr's hilarious story! It got me going this morning!

Rave--Double up to $2 coupons at Albertsons...the little things make me happy.

Rave--A former student who just got his license for installing sprinkler systems &quot;practiced&quot; on my lawn. I just had to pay cost, and he did an awesome job. A great deal!

Rave--just now getting used to DST.

Rave--SIX more weeks of school!!! Woooo-hooooooooo!

klr--DS doesn't like the Wiggles anymore--big rave for me. Hope you and DD have fun. I hope also that everything is getting better for you and DD. Hang in there.

Seetheworld--here's to a great trip with your husband. I'm sure that you both will have an amazing time together. From all of your stories, I figure you'd have fun anywhere as long as you're with him.

Good thoughts and prayers to everyone who needs them. Have a great weekend, Fodorites!

P_M--Have a great trip...glad that DH is doing fine.

Jorr, LOL :-) Sounds like something I would do!

P_M, Bon Voyageeeee sweet friend. I hope you enjoy a wonderful time and safe journey!!

STW, enjoy a great trip, too!

Rave: DH is off today.

Rant: stuck my hand into a pile of fire ants hidden under a piece of edging that had toppled over and I'm allergic to the little dastards.

Rave: seeing the trees in full bloom again....the birds and the bees and the lizards in the trees. :-)

Rant: what a sluggish week--can't get to sleep at night and can't wake up in the morning. I really don't like daylight savings time in the spring though it is so nice to have the sun set later.

Rant: After a month of keeping our heat on as low a setting as possible without freezing, using the woodstove on the weekends, and using low wattage light bulbs our electric bill went UP. I can't understand it. It's like the harder we try to conserve the more our bill goes up.

Rant: After a beautiful weekend last weekend, we got about 8 inches of snow on Tuesday. Hopefully most of it will melt this weekend. It felt like Dec. all over again.

I think I could rant all day today. Just one of those days. Hmmm, a rave??? I know

Rave: Fiance going to visit his mom tomorrow and I'm staying behind to pet sit. I know to some it may sound like a rant, but when you're together as much as we are you look forward to some alone time. Just me, a bottle of wine, a dog and two guinea pigs.

Rave: All my bridesmaids have now ordered their dresses. One less thing to worry about. All that I really have left is the little details, ie. favors, reception decorations, etc.

Jorr--That is so funny! Sounds like something I would have done.

PM--glad to hear your husband is ok.

So many great raves today-and some awesomely hilarious rants...Jorr, I'm naturally a blond (but by choice a very dark brunnette) and that is absolutely something I would do....well done!

RAVE/RANT: My daughter's 2nd b-day party is this weekend (her b-day is 4/11) How time flies!

RAVE: AT 12 weeks pregnant I'm still able to run 5 miles with relative ease and can still wear my &quot;little&quot; jeans. Nice.

Rave: Construction has begun!

Rant: School budget still a big problem. Hard to fathom what town leaders are thinking when they make certain decisions.

Rave: Good news from my boss - too early to discuss but its renewed my enthusiam.

Rave: Softball season has started. I am not coaching thank goodness but still able to help out by doing administrative work like keeping the database, emailing parents etc.

JJ5 - we are thinking of you and your family. Stay strong.

P_M - I had my gallbaldder out in Feb - no fun. Got a good laugh out of the VP reference. Took me much longer to recuperate than your DH. I hope he's okay.

Alya - congratulations to your daughter.And listen to dwooden - he has proven that he knows what he talking about when it comes to driving and traffic and safety in the past.

To all ready to hit the road - have a great vacation!

Ethel - enjoy your &quot;me time&quot;

rave: it's officialy less than 30 days till ireland!

rant: job hunt continues.

rave: dinner with very special friends (birthday) tonight.

rave: my grandfather.

rant: my grandfather is dying. 85, comfortable, but ready to let go. i went to see him and say goodbye at home on tuesday and in a way it was quite peaceful. he has lived exactly the way he wished to have lived. the way we all should live, come to that. since then, all the memories (very very good) have been coming back.



jorr...great story! funny stuff!

alya...when i took drivers ed, our instructor let us get wendys before each class. i literally learned to parrellel park and three point turn while eating fast food from the drive through! um, i won't share how many accidents i've been in since, but...none of them were while i was eating or drinking from a straw! :-P

STW, you've got mail! Have a fantastic trip!

Oh my, Jorr. I'm with those who say it sounds like something they'd do. Some days I really worry about early onset alzheimers!

P_M, wow, what an experience you and your DH had! Sure makes you realize how quickly something major can happen! It must have been so terrifying at the time! But I'm very, very glad to hear it turned out well. And, as bad as it was at the time, at least your husband got the whole thing over quickly! Some people suffer gall bladder attacks off and on for years before finally getting the surgery.

Hope your trip is the absolute best! You deserve a break!

otto, you're gonna love Ireland! I'm jealous even though I just got back!

As to the DST rants...I love it but usually suffer the first week or two. This year, coming back from Ireland two days before it started made going ahead just one hour seem like a piece of cake! And I guess that qualifies as a rave!

Rave: Our flowers are blooming and it's supposed to get up to the 70's next week. Spring is here! Hooray!

Rave: Ray Davies was sensational this past Sunday! My first rock concert in over 20 years. What an odd experience being at one with an audience full of geezers! But thank God they were or I would have felt very out of place! And what a fun audience they were! Knew the lyrics to all the old songs!

Rave: Despite drinking rivers of Guinness and eating chips and other fried foods every day, I didn't gain any weight last week! Must have been all the walking!

Related Rave: When I called to make the appt for my physical, I found out my dr is out on maternity leave. My appt is in late July. I have an extra three months to get my weight down below what it was when I went last year. I feel I've been given a gift!!

Rave: Am rushing this 'cause my husband just asked if I want to go out for breakfast!

No rants!

Great weekend, everyone!

Rave
It is finally raining in the valley.

Rant
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn. :-d
:((

Rave: Jorr's boneheaded grocery move!

Rave: Going to Tortola with my best friend for a wedding!

Rant: US Airways FF miles. Argh.