Meant to say "daughters", plural, Icuy! Why don't I catch these things when I preview?!

Rave - the landscape doctor has finished the front yard's extreme makeover, and it's gorgeous. He said we were trying to grow an English garden in a location that was more like Utah. So adios lawn - just drought-resistant grasses, shrubs, creeping thyme for ground cover, flowering perennials… MOW NO MO!! Yo!

Rant - and now the bill…

Rant - DW off this weekend to Chicago on a trip she really didn't want to make (as we have the mishpocha arriving next weekend for son and future DIL's engagement party, and there's still plenty to obsess over.)

Rave - at least her upgrades both cleared, so she won't get back all grumpy and cramped. Or, maybe less grumpy…

Rave - making bookings for England/Africa/Prague trip in Aug/Sept. Am I alone in taking almost as much joy in planning travel as in traveling? (Oh wait, who am I talking to?)

Wishing good health and happy days to all creatures, human and canine…

Rave--It's Friday!

Rant--Got a call yesterday and my dad is in the hospital.

Rave--Spending the day watching DD play tennis, then tonight watching DS play lacrosse, and tomorrow watching nephew play baseball (against our town). Big family bbq after baseball tomorrow at our house.

Wishing everyone who is going through tough times, best wishes.

CAPH--We have beautiful weather here today, and wouldn't you know it, the girls tennis districts are being held at an indoor facility. Oh well, at least I get to go and watch her I am taking my knitting for the waiting parts, lol!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Rave: We leave for two weeks in St. John TOMORROW!! Woo-hoo!

Rant: Clients have me working a million hours this week to get them what they need before I leave.

Rave: It's rainy in NJ (good for my gardens! - especially when I won't be around to water.)

Rant: Back Pain - even with drugs. Not fun.

Mini Rant: I'll miss my kitty babies while I'm gone! A whole contingent of friends will keep them well cared for and loved in our absence.

See you all in a couple weeks!! Trish

Rave: all posters here who know each other and very detailed intimate things they share
Q: how are newcomers posting rave and rants received here? Would someone who posts here for the first time be ignored?

Incognito--Everyone is welcome here. We were all new at one point

Greetings to all my FFR&R'ers ~

divinaggie ~ good to hear your Dad is out of the hospital and doing better!

STW ~ Congrats sweetie on your awards!

Scarlett ~ Hopeful wishes that Pup's little 'thing' will continue to get smaller and go away completely.

marigross ~ Good thoughts for your Mom next Tuesday and the days to follow.

Ani ~ Congrats on your baby boy, you'll be great with a boy!

iamq ~ I loved your goslings story. I could totally picture them! Thanks. p.s. Have fun in St. John!

Gardyloo ~ I SO So so would love to visit Prague - can't wait for your trip report!

Rave ~ Slipping away hopefully unnoticed to AZ in 12 days to soak up the sun for a week. First part of journey with my darlin DH and then my best friend from Cali is flying over to meet me for the remainder of trip. Yeah!

Rave ~ Finding little ways to bring Italy to me. I miss her so!

Rave ~ Slicing into a cantelope to find it sweet and delicious and not a dud - ahhhhhhh the simple things!

Rave ~ cmcfong, just because!

No rants, hugs to all, good wishes and blessings too all for Mother's Day this weekend.

p.s. Welcome Incognito!

p.s.s. I like your screen name!

Congratulations STW!

Good thoughts for your mom MariGros.

Congratulations on your baby boy Ani!

Mms: Hope your dad is feeling better soon.

Rave: Lilacs should bloom tomorrow.

Rant: An unexpected announcement yesterday at work; one senior partner and one associate leaving to start their own firm. Both are friends, and I feel kind of betrayed by their decision to pick up and leave.

Rave: Wine. Expensive Oregon pinot noirs and cheap California Zins. I feel like having both today.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and all those that love and bless the children around them.

"decent bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir" is that an oxymoron? (wink wink)

No Rant, just a RAVE: to the doctors at the Mayo CLinic who are separating 2 conjoined twins today. Glad to live in a country where we value life and have the technology to perform these types of procedures.

Raves:

Ani's appreciation of funny posts. =D>

Going to Pigeon Forge Tuesday for a ship's reunion. Oh how the sea stories got embellished over the years. The most memorable topic is always our around the world cruise in 1953.

Oh...I have 2 rants!
1-I'm NOT going to St. John tomorrow (congrats!) and

2- I really REALLY want a margarita.

mms, sorry to hear your dad is in the hospital. I hope all goes well and it'll be a very short stay. Enjoy the tennis and good luck to your daughter!

Have a great trip, Trish!

Welcome, incognito!

Enjoy that AZ sun, Tiff! Still sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

Enjoy the reunion, Ronkala! Sounds like a lot of fun.

Rant: I hate to get political here, but the government is screening my phone calls? Calls to my girlfriends, kids, doctors, take out orders, schools, stores, etc. I sure I am a huge threat to the security of this country! Come on, Get serious.

Rave: Good friends invited my family, and a few others for Mother's Day. All of the invited Moms have lost their Moms and we are lost on Mother's Day, not having a Mom to celebrate. Husband and sons greatly relieved as now they only have to bring something for the potluck dinner rather than come up with an entire meal themselves.

Rave: Even after many years without them, I miss my mom and grandma so much, but I have two great boys and two fun puppy boys who make me proud to be their mom!

Good wishes to all.

Rant: Last week posting from my own computer in my own home

Rant: Broken molar requires a crown. Insurance will pay 1/2- so I'm still in for $500. It might as well be a million!

Rant/Rave: Stuck working on Mother's Day. I would love to spend it with DD, but we are paid time and a half,so it's hard to say no to 8 hours

Rave: Single motherhood leads to lots of unofficial Mother's Days!

Best wishes to all this week!

Rachel, contrary to popular belief, the Government is not listening in to your phone calls, unless you are talking with some terrorist organization overseas.

There's a Billion (with a capital B) phone calls made every day. Do you really think someone really cares what your conversations are with your girlfriends, kids, doctors, take out orders, schools, stores, etc.

Rave: Making dinner for Mom and Grandma (and, of course, dad and grandpa and fiance) on Mother's Day. It's become a little tradition I have.

Rant: My back and neck are killing me. Fibromyalgia is no fun!!!!

Rave: My wedding dress came in this week. I'm going to try it on next Sat. I'm so excited!
Rave/Rant: It may be too big now.
Rant: I'm really starting to feel the pressure of wedding planning now. Not to mention the financial stress. Maybe I could auction off advertising space at the reception on EBay.

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mother figures!!!!

HI All,

STW- Congratulations! Enjoy your night out!

Ani- I understand...I came from all girls and had 2 boys. They are the best - boys are such fun. You will be a great boy mom

Incognito - Welcome. We all had our first FFR&R post and mine was not that long ago.

Scarlett - Glad to hear pup is already getting better. It is amazing how much joy a dog can bring.

LoveItaly- It is always so wonderful to hear of your constant love and devotion to your grandsons -they are very lucky. My mother was so important and special to my boys - what a difference a grandmother makes.

marigross- hope you Mom does well and the pathology is clear. I am thinking of you and her.

lcuy - enjoy your time with your daughters

CAPH - cheers to your son! It is tough to do the right thing. You must be very proud

divingaggie- glad your Dad is doing better.

Tiff- It is so wonderful to hear from you. You are strong and sound great. Have a fabulous trip to AZ and CA - you deserve it!

tpatricco- Have a fab time in St. John's . So sorry a trip up from VA is not in the cards for the GTG. Say "hi" to Mr. tpatricco.

mms- Hope your Dad is ok.

Rachel - Thanks for sharing about your gathering. It sounds like a great idea. This will be my first Mother's Day without my mom and it is tough. I, too, have 2 wonderful boys that I will focus on enjoying and appreciating, but there is definitly a hole in my heart.

Gardyloo- Love the sound of that new lawn.

Rave: Older DS turns "15" tomorrow . He is amazing and so full of life (read laughter and contrary teen attitude both). Time flies!

Rave: I hadn't really been training a ton (other than my regular workouts and 3 mile runs), but at the last moment I ran the Apple Blossom 10K with a bunch of my friends during our town's big festival. I have run 6 of the last 7 years and I am so glad I didn't let the opportunity pass by. I was slow, but I did it.We had fun and wore funny headbands while we ran (mine was pink with 2 pink pigtails streaming down my shoulders )

Rave/Rant: Having 20 JV soccer boys at my house for dinner on Sunday night...they are calling for rain.

No major rants, just some little stresses. My best to all.

Rant: Goofy Disney characters blocking the screen when posting.

Budman, don't get this thread terminated again.