Rave--DH is home from a business trip. He also had a successful climb last weekend and made it to the summit and back down safely.

Rave/Rant--Both kids "graduations" this coming week, elementary and middle school. I am NOT old enough to have a high schooler, lol!

Rant--Kitty was on a spree this week and brought me 7 birds.

iceeu2--Have a great time!

Bonniebabe--I would be the numbers will be great and will give you more inspiration

Sam--Happy birthday! I know the party planning feeling...we are doing our daughters the day after graduation. What was I thinking? lol!

I hope everyone has safe travels this weekend and that everyone has good health

Rant: And I never started with one before, but this week I could have skipped. Sick as a dog for the first time in years and car breaks down when I'm coming home with a 101 degree temp.
$514 for the car, and doctor again for me today.

Rant: My workplace because THIS counts as vacation days, can't even remember yesterday as fever was 102 most of it.

Rave: 90 degree weather and all the flowers are blooming in my gardens. 2 Grandsons' birthdays this weekend and one Grand-daughter's as well. Brother home from Iraq for 10 days. And I too sick to visit- that's all he needs.

You KNOW I am NOT a hot weather person. It could be 10 degrees for months and I never get sick, only in summer.

jorr: agree with you totally. That cost should go to the renter/ lab operator. We just had a young couple burn down an entire rental house in a small MI lake town running a meth lab. And guess what, now all our our home owners' insurances will be more costly as well.
It's always easier to attach funds from the above board and honest source, than it is from those that are hidden and illegal. SAD and wrong.

For those of you doing routine bloodwork/ medical tests, know that bad news doesn't mean all that much. Since I was 22 years old, I've never had red blood cell counts and other levels come back in normal range. I've gotten bad news more times than I could count. They are all just numbers.

One doctor helped me to realize that they are just normal for me. Many of us have genetic or other conditions that don't allow for normal ranges, and this can also change as you age.

johnthedorf: You should see I-80 at the IN/ILL border getting around LK Michigan. Trucks: right lane only. HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! As far as the eye can see and for 25 miles beyond: 16 wheeler to 16 wheeler in BOTH lanes. You need another whole highway system for them in the Midwest, for sure.

Everyone have a safe and fun summer weekend.

Rave:
These new fangled modern devices, called Telephones!
I spent the morning talking to my son while having my morning coffee and he had his late night tea, in Tokyo
(we miss him )

House selling moving right along, reservations for flights to Portland and at the 5th Ave Suites are being made..look out, here we come!
Might get to be in Portland for the 4th of July!!

Rant:
Grudges, people with grudges, grudgey behavior,grudgful grumps, grudgey faced meanies LOL

I congratulate all the parents of little ones going to that next grade, the Big school growing up, it is so wonderful and at the same time you want to grab them , hold them close and tell them to stop growing up!!


For all who don't feel good, here's some hot tea! Scarlett

Rant: Layoff notices to 15% of my group going out next week

Rant: Brother in Law undergoing chemo and radiation for throat cancer.

Rave: Gave him Lance Armstrong's book and it helps build strength and hope.

Rave: Vacation in White Mtns of NH starting Jun 19.

mm

rave
meeting with some shipmates from fifty one years ago next week.

Rant

Washington DC schools are falling apart, there's no money for repairs, but the city is getting a new baseball stadium.

Rave: Going to St. Martin for the weekend. Condo on the beach, lots of shopping and pampering, not to mention Indonesian rijstaffel.

Rave: DH's daughter will be here Sunday night for a month long visit.

Rave: Rainy, dreary day here today. The rain fills our cisterns and makes the island green, not to mention it's a nice change from the constant sun.

Rant: Arlene heading for the Gulf Coast. Stay safe everyone.

Rant: Natalee Hollaway still hasn't been found.

Happy birthday Sam and atlswan! Good luck on your test results, Bonnie! I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Have a great weekened Fodorites!

mm, sorry to hear about your BIL. Wishing him the best for a healthful recovery.

Rant: I think I broke my cell phone last night -- tried plugging in my headset into phone to charge it instead of the car charger -- haven't told my husband yet.

Rant: I am feeling particularly stressed and making idiotic moves such as the one listed above.

Rant: Crying at my computer -- it's just messy.

JJ5: Hope you feel better soon -- timing is everything and sometimes it just stinks.

Good luck Bonniebabe with your tests.

Best wishes to all the "little ones" who are leaving their schools and heading off to new school adventures.

Ronkala, I agree with you. The city has no business paying for stadiums when the schools suck. Take your complaint to a higher level and do well.

Rant: Yes, the kids are out of school and bored already.

Raves: When my kids returned to school in the fall, all the mothers on the street said, "God bless the American school system," and were tempted to form a parade carrying American flags up and down the street!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Rave/Rant: Missed FFR&R last week as we are on vacation in FL!

Rant/Rave: Not missing FFR&R this week because TS Arlene is near Key West and it's rainy & windy...so I have time for internet cafe!

Rave: Fabulous business opportunity offered to me by my boss...more details to come in following weeks. Let's just say this is the chance of a lifetime for me, with almost no risk.

Rave: Having fun in Key West...but getting tired of drinking & eating out already! Go figure!

Missing my time on Fodors too...

Rant: Not looking forward to ferry ride from KW to Fort Meyers tomorrow night, if the ferry runs! amp;

Have a great weekend! Trish

Rave: pulling off a surprise dinner cruise/party for my parents' anniversary this wkd! My brother and I are flying home (they have no idea), we found the wedding party, they are all coming... it's all quite hush hush. can't wait to see my Mom's face! she probably thought we forgot. Dad will be bowled over.

Rave: Read two good books this week.

Rant: Back from vacation and now the next one seems so far away!

Rave: Daughter is learning new words everyday. It's so much fun for us!

Rant: Some of the new words include "No" and "Not at all!"

Rave/Rant: DH and my Dad poured a patio last weekend and stamped and dyed the concrete. But the concrete dust was a little rough on the grass. Our backyard is starting to come together!

Rave: Mojitos on the new patio this evening!

Rant: Delta not calling me to tell me that my flights to Alaska had been changed.

Rave: Once I noticed it on their website, I called and they were able to cut out one stop and a 5 hour layover with no change fee (frequent flier tix).

Rave: seatguru.com

Rant: 95 degrees, 95% humidity.

mojitos..... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Rant: had to get some dental work done this morning

Rant: my car was sideswipped while parked in the dentist's lot! (at least very minor scrapes, but still!)

Rave: its Friday, its warm out, finally. I have no plans this weekend except relaxing, and working in the yard.

Rant: I know that many people have complained about the "downer" posts. And I certainly understand their point of view. But I'm having a very difficult time thinking about anything else right now. My husband had a CT scan Tuesday. His doctor thinks it's lymphoma.

Rave: I truly do believe in the power of prayer and good wishes. I sure could use those of anyone so-inclined!

Rave: Something like this certainly does put things in perspective. I swear if we get through this okay I will never again "sweat the little things"!

Rant: it's still raining here in the SF Bay Area!Summer eludes us.

Rant: the death of Anne Bancroft

Rave: Our neighbors! We babysat for them last pm. Oh how lovely the world looks through the eyes of a 51/2 and 2 1/2 year old. Such hairdos one can craft with a mound of bubbles in the tub The older one told us she was wishing there were curtains on some of the windows. Then, she could run all over the house naked.

Rave: with living room walls now covered with stripes of a myriad # of paints, we have finally(?) decided on the colors to paint.

Atlswan: I remember tending to an elderly gentleman who had been hit in a crosswalk and was just a bit dazed by it all but ok. I needed to get to the office so asked if there were any other health care professionals in the crowd who could stay with the man until the ambulance arrrived. Out from the mass stepped a lovely young woman who stated earnestly "I'm a sex therapist, does that count?" That day it most certainly did

Have a good weekend everyone and may Arlene keep her distance!

CAPH52,
I am so sorry to hear about your husband. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. It's quite possible that it may not turn out to be what the doctor thinks. Try to think positive until you know for sure. A big hug goes out to you!

ethel,
Thank you so much! And I'm trying hard to take your advice!

Bonniebroad,
My guess is your numbers are going to be great. I lost only 10 pounds but, I think largely because of exercise (and maybe daily oatmeal and heart wise OJ), was able to get my cholesterol down from 271 to 217. And my good cholesterol up from 40 to 54. So I have to think you're going to have even better results.