Rant: People who stop at an intersection while talking on their cell phone and there's no stop sign or stop light.

Rave: Watching the guy figure it out after everybody starts honking.

Rant: People who talk on their cell phones while they're driving, period!!

Prayers and good thoughts to all Fodorites going through a difficult time right now.

I rarely rant but: The parents of a kid in my neighborhood bought him a really nice car when he got his license. Within months he was pulled over and drugs were discovered in the car so it was sold at a sheriff's auction. This week I saw him driving a Mercedes. Yep, his mama bought it for him. Wow!

Rave: DH and I celebrate our anniversary next week. He lost his Independence on the 4th of July 19 years ago and we see fireworks every year on our big day. Whoo hoo!

Congrats on your anniversary, amwosu!

Thank you CAPH. Whats really amazing is how much we really like one another after all this time.

I hear women complaining about their husbands frequently at work and in my neighborhood(he's a baby when he's sick, he can't do anything without me, he never pitches in, he's tight with money, he doesn't appreciate me, blah, blah, blah)and I'm sure some don't like it when I say, "Not mine!"

Rave: Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates

Rave: Leaving tomorrow for Switzerland!!

Big Rave: Three weeks vacations and I'm not even taking a cell phone with me!!!!

Bigger Rave: My bosses (I seem to have at least three of them) are all in agreement that after putting on at least 80hr weeks for the last two months I deserve that vacation and not one them has made a comment about the 'long' vacation.

Major Rave: Im all packed since last weekend, DD is packed and the clothes in the suitcase are mutually agreeable, mail has been placed on hold, airport shuttle is arranged. WOW! This is a first for me!!!

Absolute Rave: the people that get blank looks when I say that Im going to CH for three weeks....why? Actually, where is Switzerland? Right next to Finland right? Are there things to see? Mountains? Why would you go see mountains? HIKE?!?!YIKES!!! and so on and so forth.

The more people that dislike or are not interested in my travel destinations, the less crowded it will be

To all Fodorville...have a great weekend and see you in three weeks!

Happy Anniversary, amwosu!

Rant: discrepencies of life--amwosu, there's a young girl at the rink where I skate with great deal of talent but her family struggles financially. Some of us try to help as much as we can to keep her skating but there's only so much a few of us can do. Then I read about this young man--ugh!

Rave: Warren Buffet and Bill & Melinda Gates!

Enjoy a wonderful trip, marigross!

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Rave: Germany playing Argentina in today's quarter finals! The pre-mature final of this year's World Cup! Rave may be transformed into SUPER-Rave if our guys put a new meaning to the song of "don't cry for [us], Argentina"!

Rave: Argentine steaks for dinner tonight to match the occasion.

Rant: None - so far. Hope it stays this way, but it's largely dependant on the outcome of said match.

rave: annual family picnic this weekend

super rave: never thought it would happen, but got a call-back second interview for dream job!!

Rave: all the cats in our neighborhood are so sweet and friendly, they love to come up to say hello and get petted. And they don't fight with each other at 3 am.

Rant: They've all figured out that our English cocker is absolutely no threat whatsoever and don't even budge when she goes by. In fact, two of them now "stalk" her when we're out walking. Very bruising to her cocker ego.

Rave: hedgehogs! They're now out in full swing every night. Funny little things. They fascinate our cocker--a wild animal that neither runs away nor fights, just freezes into this prickly shape.

Rant: Flooding in the mid-Atlantic. What a mess.

Rave: So far, knock wood, no major hurricanes in Florida (or Gulf Coast). Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Good morning' yall,

jorr: it's not just the stop lights. It's everywhere anymore. The other day a woman at the grocery store was chatting quite loudly on hers while going up and down each aisle, totally oblivious to the fact the entire store culd hear her. Not a "what do you want for dinner" conversation either; just a chitchat. Amazing. And then there's the one pulling out of her spot, driving her SUV, backing up, 3 kids in the car, and already on the phone. Ughhh..

amwsou: Happy 19th!

marigross: Switzerland, my fave! Have a truly wonderful time. Enjoy the hiking, cows, chocolate, and bratwurst!

hsv: German food for us tonight!

steviegene: Good luck on that interview!

Big Rave: Dear friend Genie is recovering from her cancer surgery, now preparing for the chemo. You're strong, Genie. Hang in there, gal!

Best wishes and prayers to all those in need.

Happy 4th of July!

Rave: I won a Major Award for excellence at work yesterday.

Rant: I don't get a leg lamp - just a regular placque.

Rave: Red Sox are on a roll.

Rave: I went skeet shooting this week in Mississippi. I've always wanted to yell "Pull" and shoot at flying targets.Cross that off my list.

Amwosu - Congratulations!

Marigross - 3 weeks in CH sounds like heaven. Have a great time.

steviegene - good luck with the next interview. happiness at work is a wonderful thing.

Happy 4th of July - I hope everyone appreciates the tremendous foundation for a country that was created in the Declaration of Independence. A great country was born on that day and ultimately solidified in the US Constitution. We all need to continue safeguarding our freedoms - whether through military action or through the actions of our Supreme Court. Each branch of our government has a role to play to ensure that the citizens and residents of this country continue to live in freedom. We "ordinary citizens" need to play our role also in being informed, critical, and thoughtful in exercising our freedoms.

Mini rant: being awoken from a sound sleep at 3:44 am by a bumblebee the size of a helicopter!

Rave: all the nice people on this board who share a slice of their life and put up with some of my flights of fancy

Congrats to amwosu from another happy camper. I like to tell people I'm still with my first husband.

Have a nice dry weekend and stay healthy, J.

Rave: All of the nice people here on this board who are willing to think of and pray for others. Thank you, thank you. And to the "sounding board"...

Rant: Still grappling with difficult decisions.

I hope everyone has a peaceful weekend (me included).

Rave--The Oregon State University Beavers won the College World Series! WOOHOO!!!

Rave--Spent the week playing tourist in downtown Portland.

Rant--DH was to take a day off so we could go hike, but work got in the way.

Rave--My best friend flies in this weekend to stay with us for a few days then we all go to the coast for a few days.

Hi Kopp---tell Genie I ran my little legs off for her; I still keep her in my thoughts every day and send her strength.

And now a huge RANT (my first, I think): Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich are out of the Tour de France. What a shame.

Big Rave: 4th of July coming up and I'm making an extended weekend out of it. Happy Birthday America!
jorr: glad to know I am not the only one who gets aggrevated with "cell phone idiots". I leave my house sometimes as early as 6 a.m. and often pass people talking on their phones. Who the heck do you talk to at that hour?

Rant~ my mom has to have surgery on Thursday

Rant~have to return a library book today that the kiddies checked out, can't find it anywhere!

Rave~taking the kiddies to the water park this weekend

Rave~going to let the kiddies by some fireworks

Rave~DH got a raise last week, today is payday!

marigross, have fun, that sounds WONDERFUL!!

Rave
Picked four tomatoes this morning. First time we've had them this early. BLT sandwiches for lunch.

Hot air balloon flew over the house this morning while I was outside getting the paper. It operates out of Woodstock and was gaining altitude while heading north over the valley. Quite a sight.

Rant

No firework display in Woodstock this 4th. With all the homeland security regulations regarding explosives, proper storage facilities could not be found for the fireworks.

brief but fast moving thunderstorm yesterday took out more of our bradford pear tree. Waiting for the tree service company to come and take down the rest of it.

rave.
town maintenance came thirty minutes after I called this morning to haul away what I had cut up and curbed.