Caph: Congrats to your son!

Bennie: I hope you're baby is feeling better soon. It's so hard when they're sick and you can't do a thing to help.

Mms: My husband and dad are climbing Mt. Hood in a few weeks. They plan to snowboard part way down. It ought to be interesting as my dad's not a very good snowboarder. :)

Rave: For all those who serve their country, happy Memorial Day!

Rant: It is rainy and cold with winter storm warnings here in Montana.

Rave: I'll be in Portland with my husband next week. I can't wait to get away!

Rant: Potty-training. This has been an on-going rant for me. As I was changing my daughter's diaper last night, I was extolling the virtues of using the toilet. She patted my cheek and said, "Mommy, just change Kate's diaper."

Have a good weekend everyone.

rave: i'm going to the beach for the first time this season.

rave: for long weekend, even took off tuesday!!

rave: dinner w/best friend tonight!

that's all the raves i need. ;-)

rave: enron. eh-eh! anyone familiar with the bully on "the simpsons"? i'm thinkig of his laugh. it's a relief to know at least some justice right now. must be a relief somewhat for the former employees as well. there was a listing of the charges against them this morning in the paper. good for the jury. although from what i can tell, they were totally busted. proof and everything!

rave: i think i'd like my next trips to be yellowstone/glacier/jackson, mexico, and italy is on the list as well.


:-D

kureiff--Please let me know how their climb goes! My husband has done it several times, but has never snowboarded down. That would not be a pretty sight to see I am sure, lol! have a great trip out here:)

mms: I'll let you know how it goes. My dad has done Hood a couple of times but never with the snowboard. I'm afraid it won't be a pretty sight for my dad either, but I guess it's his neck. Lol.

LOL about potty training, Kureiff! I remember the days when my daughter would only "go" if she could stand up -- like her big brother! :)

Rave: Going to Chicago next week!

Rant: The Spurs lost -- :(

Rave: Broken foot will not need surgery, and custom-fitted boot is making walking tons easier! Hurray - no crutches or wheelchair in Chicago!!

Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day everyone!

Rant; Being in the hospitality business, I don't get Monday off.

Rave; Mr. GoTravel and I are spending the weekend shacked up at a resort near one of his restaurants! Room service and fruity boat drinks by the pool for me!

Rave; Hotdogs for lunch!

Rant; My silly kitty (the older one who is 16, is turning into a picky eater and has decided she will only eat baby food. Oh well.

RAVE: **== Regardless of the various issues in America, we're still FREE to live wonderfully full lives, which include the great joy of TRAVELING. **==

**== A heartfelt thank you to all our veterans and to all our service people around the world. God bless you! **==

Wishing the wonderful fodorite community a safe and peaceful weekend! **==

Had a good week. Last Friday the younger daughter arrived home from BU, voerlapping Older sister's one week week visit by two days. We were able to have a couple of nice meals together before sending older daughter back to NYC on Sunday.

Older daughter had come home to see a doctor, and she was examined carefully and declared fine! On top of that, she got a paid internship in NYC that schedules nicely around her classes!

By Monday, younger daughter was enrolled in classes at UH, joined a paddling team, resumed dance classes, and scheduled social events with other friends. Thank goodness we kept our extra car!!

I try acupuncture today. Friends swear by this woman, so I go with an open mind!

Fodorite Ronkala learned I was hunting down some military medals of my late Father, and sent me one of his own! For a web site that should be full of axe murderers, we sure have some nice people here, don't we?

Have a nice holiday weekend everyone!

Rave 1: Son earned his first-level brown belt in karate this week. I'm so proud of him.

Rave 2: 2nd brood of bluebirds hatched in our backyard.

Rave 3: Gotta go with Enron. Hope they use up all their money on appeals and then go to jail anyway.

Rave 4: Huge admiration and respect for Melinda Gates, wife of Bill.

Rant 1: Co-worker of husband died unexpectedly Tues night. Husband is very sad.

Rant 2: Another case of packing paralysis. Decided to cook up all remaining food in the fridge instead. Now we'll get a late start for sure.

Rant---new jeans that should fit and are a bit too tight.

Rave-- really good espresso in the morning and not having to share the office with my co-worker who usually plays music too loud.

Rave - the younger son is at his first week of work after graduating the Berkeley University with honors, and they've decided to keep him :) He's doing some research work there.

Rave - finished air/train/hotel reservations for Chicago in September, GTG anyone?

Rave/rant - going to South Tahoe for an extended weekend, with Mr Again, but with my father and his woman, why did I need this additional stress?

AnnMarie_C, get this. Back when I lived in Texas I discovered that my license plate was expired I and drove to the Leon Valley TX DMV to get it renewed. A cop actually gave me a ticket in the DMV PARKING LOT for the expired plates. When I walked into the building the fine was already added to my bill on their data base as well as an expiration fee.

mms. I am an employer in a contracting business (no not building contracting!). I use a web site created for employers to do background checks on prospective employees. You must be an employer to use the site and I can not give the site name. One of the search options is by license plate number. I can type in the plate number of someone driving onto my property and know their name, address and other info before they even get to the door.

My cousin had a bad habit of flipping the bird to people on the freeway who she thought were getting in her way. One time when I was riding in the car with her she did it and I told her that the person she just got done ticking off could easily know who she was and were she lived before she even got home. I don't think she flips off people anymore.

jorr, are you sure you are not violating any privacy issues by using the license plate tracking program for uses other than its intent?

This is when "big brother" type issues REALLY concern me.

Sounds like I'm preaching to the choir, but it never hurts to say it:

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

For all those who have served and died, like my son Airman 1st Class David Gregory; like those of the greatest generation like my Dad JTT; like my son's buddy Airman Jason R who is in Iraq now...

Thanks....

lcuy--That is great news that DD is fine! Very cool that Ronkala did that!!!

jorr--Wow, that can be good or bad, depending on who has access to it.

rncheryl--My thoughts are with you.

Hi Jorr, I believe I was at that same office on Bandera Road! When the clerk asked me if I had received a ticket for the expired sticker I told her no--she had a funny look on her face and I thought, oh no, here it comes! But nothing--not even a late penalty which surprises me. I drive through Leon Valley all the time--as you know, that police dept. has quite the reputation! I truly am mystified as to how no one, myself included, noticed the expired sticker!

Hi mms, our girl is 17 now, she's had a great life and it makes us happy to know she can go in peace at home. I hope other pet owners who are interested in doing this can do so.

I'll spend the weekend catching up on everyone's rants and raves. Sending good thoughts to all those who need them. ((f))

Rave: My DH is home early from his trip!

Rant: My DH has pink eye, ugh!

Rave: He wasn't stubborn and went right away to the doctor for eye drops.

Rant: Men behaving like children when you have to put drops in their eyes, lol. :)

Rave: I had two interviews this weeks. One was a second interview and the other was a first.

Rant: Trying to keep up with both working and the job hunt is tiring. The job hunt is becoming my second full-time job. :(

Rave: The DH mentioned something about a flower show in Newport, RI at the end of June -- might head up for the weekend. :)

Rave: Youngest son likes being an intern.

Rave: Oldest son visiting on Monday before heading up to Boston for his next grad school module.

Rave: Resting for the next 3 days.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

Rave---It being friday.

Rant--- No plans made. :(

rncheryl - Thanks for the reminder. My thoughts are with you and your family this Memorial Day Weekend. Take care.

Rave: It's FRIDAY of a long weekend, woohoo!

Rant: OK, this is long and I knew it was a rant all the while it was happening today.

I went to get a manicure, which is something I don't do often enough and is a treat for me. I was really looking forward to this little bit of pampering (mostly the free massage that comes with it), anyway, after I sit down a mom, freshly pedicured, in her bathing suit and coverup plops down next to me with her 2 kids, a daughter about 6 and a son about 9, ALSO freshly pedicured! (OK, I've seen my share of overindulged little girls getting mani-pedis, but a BOY?), anyway, while I'm trying to destress, mom is loudly encouraging kids to get their massages, then she whips out the check book and says "OK, so it's $39 each for the kids, right?" and starts totally up her broods day of beauty. I don't know, the whole scene just made me....well, ill.

The whole family (except dad who no doubt was at work funding his pampered loved ones), was in their wet bathing suits, getting the works and ruining my peace and quiet. I had to hear all about their fab day at the club. AAAARRRGGHHHH.

I don't care if your last name is Gates, for godsakes don't let your little children get mani-pedis, especially if their name is Michael!