Congrats to everyone with anniversaries and special days coming up this week. Add us to the list--today Mr. Tess and I are celebrating #22. For being married at a ridiculously young age (21), it was one of the best decisions I ever made--what a great guy I found.

Those of you struggling with health problems--you are in my thoughts. Hang in there.

Rave/Rant: A transformer in our neighborhood blew last night right as it was getting dark. Our immediate area was pitch black for several hours which turned out to be a huge blessing. Neighbors congregated outside to chat, which we never seem to do and we all had a great time. A tiny part of me hated to see the lights come back on...but the air conditioning was pretty nice. I would have made a horrible pioneer.

Rave: World Cup! I've missed it the past two days.

Rave: all the great Foforites who always have prayers and best wishes for others.

My wonderful husband who seldom has an unkind word, puts up with everything, and folds the laundry.

The fact that he is a Red Sox fan and I am a Yankee fan, and we get along so well!

Sunshine in the Northeast finally!


Rant: People who criticize other people's ideas of a great vacation...some like hiking and camping and exploring an island, while others love sitting around the pool at an AI. It's all good.

Greetings all my patriotic FFR&R'ers ~

Happy Fourth of July weekend all


Huge Rave ~ I have been waiting ALL week long to rave as my fellow rants and raver's before me - Mr. Warren Buffett, and Bill & Melinda Gates. And to all who have volunteered their time or funds. Well done!


Rant ~ The poor little 12 year old boy who passed away at Disney World this week.

Rave ~ Fodorite friends that make you smile.

Rave ~ I picked up a golf club for the third time in my life last weekend with my DH and hit a bucket of balls. One third were super hits, one third were ok hits and one third I made no contact with the ball. (lol) The biggest rave of it is that I was able to do it with no pain (old neck injury has prevented me from this before now) so watch for me on the LPGA, folks, I'm a comin!


amwosu ~ Happy Anniversary! And I couldn't agree more with your. I too, rarely rant, but to your story I will add that someone in our neighborhood gave their 17 year old a new Audi one week after she got a speeding ticket and was caught shoplifting from our mall. Nice, huh? Lazy parents that want to be their kid's friend if you ask me.

Marigross ~ I big happy bon voyage to you sweetie. And what a peaceful journey you will have now to know your Mom is healthy yet again. That is so great! 3 weeks - how grand!

STW ~ or , your choice doll, hang in there! We're here for you!

kopp ~ continued prayers for your friend, Genie, from all of us!!!!! I have thought of her often since your post last week.

And strength for our dear Mimi and Jerry!

For my dear friend that had a tough June - you have my heart and admiration!

ronkala ~ I LOVE blt's! Yum. And every time I smell a fresh tomato off the vine, it reminds me of my Grandfather's garden. He was a superb gardener and had lovely tomatos. Enjoy your blt's!

Hope for all.

Strength for all.

Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend!

Rant: My next door neighboor having a party on her deck - at 4:30 this morning!

Rave: them taking it back inside after I oh-so-nicely asked them to keep it down

Big Rave: No work until Thursday!

Bigger Rave: Trip to Diamond Lake in 2 weeks! Can't wait!

Rave - I can't wait to go pick up my daughter at sailing camp in Michigan, she has been there 3 weeks! it is her passion (14 yrs) this is her 5th year doing it too!

Rant- speaking of drivers and cell phones.... Last evening we saw a guy in his expensive sedan pull a U-turn in the middle of a busy intersection. I have never seen that here in STL. He had California plates!!!!

I may go watch some of that World Cup that will come on in about 20 min!!

amwosu & Tess: Happy Anniversary! You both sound like very happy women!

stevigene: good luck with the interview.

marigross: I love CH. Have a wonderful time!

bennie: Congrats!

vegasnative: good wishes for your mom.

ronkala: home grown tomatoes are such a rave!

Rave: All the great people on this board.

Rant: Some are struggling. Prayers to those in need.

Rave: 4th of July!! Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

annesherrod ~ if your daughter attend sailing camp again next year, can I go with her?

rave: 4th of july! One of my favorite holidays, i'm so excited.

rave: nice dinner out last night w/cousin and fiance.

rave: heading out of the city this w'end!

rave: trying to get to freeport, maine for a long w'end. i'd have so much fun!

rant: can't they change it so the 4th always falls on a saturday?

marigross...i'm envious! switzerland is one of my top 3 places, and sometimes people ask me the same thing. how strange! what's not to see? what's not to do? enjoy it.

on cellphones...perhaps i am guilty sometimes, but i always try to be cognizant. i never bought a hands free piece, because i knew if i had one, i'd use it. it did reduce my use of the phone in the car. but i use to commute on a 7:19 train, and was shocked at the people having conversation (to what ever degree) at that hour!

Tiff - Every year I ask if I can go too!!
My neighbors daughter who goes to the same camp wants to split the price of a small sail boat for the girls, but there is not that many big nice lakes near by.... Hmmmm.... decisions...

enzian - O ><

Prayers for Cigale and husband.

Happy Anniversary Amwosu and Tess!

Bennnie: Congrats but too bad about the leg lamp.

STW: Hope things are looking up for you.

Rave: Taking off in a bit to go camping with mom, sister, two nieces and my daughter. Quite the all-girls trip!

Rave: Husband, Dad and brother took off for Mount Hood and Mount Adams this morning. I told Husband to look for your lost sunglasses, MMS.

Rave: A five day weekend.

Happy Fourth everyone!

Rave:
Everyone in Fodorville.

Good thoughts for those who need them, which seems to be more than there should be...this is just a bump in the road...wishing you nothing but Good News!

Portland Oregon, 4 days of celebrations, great places to eat, warm dry weather!! and Jazz and fireworks on the river, who could ask for anything more?

OK, I will ask for one thing more..
Stay safe & stay well.

BIG RANT: Kopp left ice-cream off her list for Marigross to enjoy in Switzerland

Happy holidays, everyone! Stay healthy!

Ooops--- I forgot my rave. . .

A rave for all the wonderful trip reports on Switzerland we've seen recently. I'm looking forward to yours, Marigross. Have a wonderful time.

And joining others in the raves for Warren Buffet and the Gates Foundation.

Prayers and good thoughts for STW, Genie, and Mimi's husband.

And thanks for the cute icons, Kopp (but I don't deserve that halo; it did me more good than I can express to run with someone else in my thoughts).

I can't seem to find what's happening with Mimi and her husband. Can someone fill me in,please.

Rave:Glad tidings to all on this extended weekend. I break it up with work on Monday but otherwise have a 3 day"vacance" and then the 4th. We head up to Healdsburg on Tuesday for backyard bbq and fireworks at the high school. It makes Healdsburg feel like the small and lovely town it was before "BIG WINE COUNTRY" became its name.

Rave:the founding fathers(the women behind them) and all their intentions. In the spirit of same, we gave $$$$ to ACLU and cancelled our Verizion cells transferring service to Working Assets. If only I could find a way around AT&T.

Have a splendid summer weekend everyone.

Check the Europe forum, Pam. There's a thread there.

Pam, the thread about Mimi/Cigalechanta is here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34824925

It's "frozen", maybe that's why it's not so easy to find.

Why on earth was it frozen? I realize it's not "travel related". But it certainly wasn't doing anyone any harm.

Rant: Disgruntled government employees that could care less about their job or the people they are supposed to serve.

Rave: 4 days of t-shirts, baseball caps and swim trunks!

Rave: 8 days until Kauai and more T-shirts, baseball caps and swim trunks!!

Rave: Thanking God for being born in the greatest country in the world. Happy Independence Day!

Rave - Headed to the Mts. for the weekend w/the wife & kids. Celebrating our 13th tonight, sans kids, before we leave in the morning.