Rave: It's the top of the fifth we are winning 5-1.

ronkala,
Agree in spades. Do a google: Annie Wayte my DIL.
I find reunions depressing (not unique to reunions, however).
M

Rave: The good health news for our Fodor pals! Smiles for Scarlett and Caph. :) :) :) :)

Rant: Bad health situations -- keeping good thoughts for those in need.

Raves: A shout out to Bonnie and Tiff -- nice to "see" you guys! Trish, have a great vacation!!! ((#)) Congrats to Ethel for losing 10 pounds! Have a great trip Lee Ann!! Welcome to new FFR&R posters! :)

Rave: P_M's Portugal pictures! Thanks for sharing (I passed them along to another friend)

Rant: My husband has left for a trip today -- won't see him until next weekend. :'(

Rant: Assessments.
BIGGER Related Rant: Scoring Assessments. I'll have the whole weekend alone to do so. 8-| #-O

Rave: I have a second interview this week. :D I'll have the whole weekend alone to prepare, lol.

Rave: Our London/Portugal trip -- the hotel is booked, tickets booked, and finally the car is booked. <i> ((8))I'm so excited, I just can't hide it...((8))</i>

Rant: Elliot being voted off AI!!! I think he is great and would definitely buy his CD!

Rant: Gippielou's poor dog and others who have lost their pets. :(

The Bestest Rave: My youngest moves all of his stuff home tomorrow. :)

Happy Weekend, everyone! :D

stw,
We went to NE Portugal - London via Oporto in July '04 and it and Galicia were spectacular (the temp in Sevilla, ESP was 50 C/122F the same week while we were in the '70's F.
If you get to N PT, the Pousada de Sta. Marinha da Costa (Guimares) - maybe the best Pousada; P. de Monte de Sta Luzia (Viana do Costello); and the remote P. de Sao Bento in Canicada are wonderful, BUT highly recommend you spend a day or two at the Parador in Baiona, ESP in
Galecia. We seriously considered buying a house there.
A really amazing Parador on the beach, with tons of great restaurants (less salt) there.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

Rant: Bill O'Reilly threatens to boycott Mexico.

Rave: Well at least I know I won't be running into him down there this summer ;)!

Frankie-
Lucky Mexico

Mikemo-
Very interesting about your DIL

We always have good times at our reunions. Those who attend were on board anytime betwen 1943 and 1965, and we all get along great.

stw, good luck on the interview. A 2nd interview is a very good sign. I'll do a happy dance if you get the job. \:D/ Funny you're planning a London/Portugal trip just after I returned from a London/Portugal trip. :-D Copycat!! ((@))

sundowner, what a busy week you have ahead!! I hope your child's eye surgery goes well. As you may recall from the SA GTG, the job I had at that time was ending. I have since found a new job, but my old job would have ended on May 31, like yours. What's up with that date? :-? Anyway, I know how hard it is to leave a job you've enjoyed for so many years. It's sad at first, but life will go on.

Congrats to Baby Again!! =;

Rave: My electric lawn mower. No gas needed, very little noise, and no exaust fumes. I'm surprised electric mowers aren't more popular these days.

Rave: jorrs elderly snapping turtles.

Rave: My mom is here visiting for two weeks!

Rant: She arrived this morning after an awful flight from Florida on BA, very cramped, uncomfortable seat, they were out of the meal she wanted, etc. She's never flown anything but economy :-( My husband and I are determined to get her a biz class seat or PE at the very LEAST for her next trip if she can make one.

Rave: Glad she arrived today instead of yesterday...it was REALLY windy and rainy yesterday, would have been quite a bumpy landing, the winds died down just enough this morning for a smooth landing, although they're back now.

Rave: Mom &amp; I are going to Salzburg at the end of next week for six days and it looks like the weather will be sunny and mild. She's never been, so it should be fun.

Rant: The weather in our part of the UK will be windy and rainy for the next several days.

Rave: our cocker likes Mom. She has been known to dislike some visitors and just sits on the sofa sulking at them during their stay.

Rant: Wasps in the converted attic! Ugh. I killed one BIG one and covered up what I think was their access point. Fingers crossed there's no return. I don't like bees but I really hate wasps. Esp. in the house.

Rave: all of our family and friends are in basically good health. A real blessing.

Rave: Beautiful day in Chester, Va.! Going to meet my mom in a few minutes for a quick update!

Rant/Rave: School will be over in a month and off to St. Kitts/Nevis/St. Martin......those 13 boys in my class at school (2nd grade) are driving me crazy!!!

Sorry for all of the rain in the northeast...hope all are doing well.

Nothing major to report here...hope everyone is having a great weekend!

&lt;&lt; beautiful day in Chester&gt;&gt;
The times I spent in Chester in '54 and '55 with some very wonderful people were always beautiful days.

Rave rave rave rave rave rave rave rave rave rave rave rave:

I found I got in the NYC Marathon again!!!

Yea babeee!

I'm running again!

Congrats!! You go, GoTravel!! :-D

Congratulations GoT!! My son will be running too!!! :D :D :D

I'll have to make a sign for YOU also!!

Thanks for the &quot;good luck&quot;, PM. Hee,hee,hee on the London/Portugal thing...as they say &quot;Imitation is the best form of flatttery&quot;... ;) :D

GoT!!!! ...and I mean that literally, GoT!!!! Congratulations! :-)

Thanks!

I'll be running for Fred's Kids which is for Memorial Sloan Kettering Pediatric Cancer.

RAVERAVERAVERAVERAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just at my friend Kelly's wedding (we have known each other for 20 of our 25 years) and I CAUGHT THE BOUQUET!!!!!

Rave: Got to see two Broadway plays this week, The 25th Annual Putnam Valley Spelling Bee, and the Drousy Chaperone. They were both very enjoyable. My sister was in New York from Maryland chaperoning 30 8th graders, and she had a extra ticket to both shows.

Sad: On Thursday I received a call that my dear Uncle Jack passed away suddenly. He was my mother's brother. It is the end of an era. Now my mom and her two brothers are together in heaven. They were so close as siblings.

My sister and brother are coming here to my house tomorrow and sleeping over so they can attend the viewing and the funeral.

Rave: My DH presented me with a DVD of many of the pictures I took in Italy using special video effects. He put the pictures to Andrea Botcelli's singing. He even made a beautiful cover for the case of a map of the world. It was the most thoughtful gift I have ever received.

Rant: I crack my first molar the other night eating Chinese chopped chicken with lettuce wraps. There must have been a tiny piece of bone that I bit on. The tooth must have been very weak to have broken like that. The pain was agonizing. I had to get prescription meds fast, I was in tears because the tooth ache was so intense.All the medication made me have bad dreams that my teeth were disintegrating! My dentist was out of town, so I went to an Endodonist who was very nice. He cleaned out decay under my filling, and doesn't think I need a root canal. I will definitely need a crown put on.

Rave; Younger DD got her first job! She will be working afterschool and weekends at our local gourmet bakery. Yumm!

Rave: Chaph and Scarlett's good news!

Marigross, I am glad your mom is doing great!

Rant: Miss my Prince. Got to get my own dog. I am reading Marley and Me, so it does give me second thoughts!

Everyone, have a good, healthy, sane week!

OldMyst ~ What you said about your Uncle Jack, Mom, and their brother was so touching. What a pleasant (and unselfish) thought of yours that they are all together now in heaven. Hugs to you.

Hi STW and good luck sweetie!

GoT ~ I will ditto what AnnMarie delightfully and most literally stated and say &quot;GoT!!!!!!&quot; (wishing I had a little runner icon for you!)

Thank you to everyone who sent their condolences to my family and I on this post. I was exhausted both physically and emotionally when I posted on Friday, and barely remember doing so. I just checked back now for the first time and am so touched by the Fodor's community. I have been a fan and infrequent poster for years, and really appreciate all of the kind words. We are sad for our loss, but we do have many years of wonderful memories and are glad that we were with our beloved pet during her final hours.