Another rave: This morning I finally got the go-ahead for architectural plans for a McMansion on Cape Cod for presentation and approval by an architectural review board. I don't live there. I provide architectural services. the only thing similar about this house and my own house is that they are both clad with shingles (shakes) and my house is really really smaller and older.

Faina - I printed the thread last night to mail to Jerry and Mimi and am putting it in the mail today.

Rave - Glad to see PamSF posting!

Happy 4th One & All

Rave: Watermelon Having some for lunch and it is delish!!!

Sending prayers and well wishes to those Fodorites that need them.

Rave: People who give of their time & talents to charitable organizations.

Rave: I'm off of work until Thursday next week! DH is golfing for work this afternoon (tough life huh?) and then is off until Wednesday next week.

Rave: Going for a couple of nice long drives this weekend in the convertible - it's suppose to be in the 80's and sunny

Have a safe & wonderful weekend and for all of those people working this holiday weekend (medical field, service industry, etc) THANK YOU! We appreciate you being there when we need you.
Pam

I'm back from 3 weeks in Coronado. Camped out in the old family home. It was lovely having no "stuff". Spent the time cleaning out the storeroom in anticipation of selling the house.

And there was a lot of stuff out there. My dad saved every single tax return he ever filed, starting in 1941! Also saved every cancelled check, contract, warranty and letter (he wrote over carbon paper).

It took me eight bags of trash for the generic papers, two days of serious shredding of the personal stuff, and I still have a footlocker of things to save for posterity. Guess that's the downside of having a huge storage room...you fill it!

Rant: I didn't have Internet access and Coronado hasn't any free spots. I had to cruise around the town looking for unsecured wireless. I was always afraid the cops would come and ask me who I was stalking!

Rave: I loved sleeping in my old bedroom, having no one else in the home and the weather. Californians complain of June gloom, but I loved the cool mornings before the afternoon heat. Did some serious gardening before noon each day!

Hope everyone has a great fourth of July!

Marigross, H
Have a great trip. We'll be there next year for two weeks unless I can convince DW to extend it to three..

MMS.
I can share your excitement over the Beavers winning the college world series. I felt the same way when the George Mason Patriots basketball team pulled those upsets to reach the Final Four.

kureiff--LOL! That would be pretty funny if he found them I thought of you this morning as we had breakfast at Everett St. Bistro.

ronkala--Isn't it great when a pretty much unknown school defies the odds?

rave : It's Friday. Tomorrow I get to see my beautiful orphan babies!

rave: It's sunny outside. Not a cloud in the sky!

To everyone: >-><

Rave: Life is good. Work is good. Dogs are good. Friends and family are good. Got to meet some great Fodorites at a GTG. Saw amazing things just walking around in the woods and pastures with the pups this week. Learned to color text on this board and post pictures on the web. (cmcfong - I may even upload some lab pics!

Biggest rave - about to load up and head to those cool mountains - and spend this holiday weekend on the lake!

Rants - Fodorites going through troubled times. Prayers and hugs to you all.

Happy 4th of July everyone! I'll eat some peach ice cream for you

rant: No peach icecream to be had anywhere here!

JAGIRL----make your own: equal parts pureed peaches and sour cream, a dash of vanilla, and just enough sugar to make it interesting (about 1/2 C. for a pint of sour crean and 6 peaches).

And then you need an ice cream freezer. . . That's the tough part.

rave: enzian's recipe for peach ice cream!

rant: I went to the shed to get a rake and there was a big black snake in the way

rave: a big black snake lives in the shed and eats the mice and other vermin

rant: it's a REALLY big black snake - about 4 feet long and pretty thick in the middle

rant: having to wait for a big black snake to slither away before I can get the rake - and wondering where it is when I return the rake

rave: I know enough about the balance of nature and cirle of life and yada, yada, yada to know it's a good thing - but it's still a big snake!

For some strange reason the snake in Harry Potter made this a little easier. How weird it that?

Starrsville, do you have big rubber boats? If so, wear them! If not, well....

LOL...I meant "boots" not "boats"...but maybe that might work too!

starrsville...

I do believe your big black snake just made it into the three word story ont he Europe board.

Too funny.

Yes, jorr, and what about the co-worker(s) who share a 6 X 10' office. Each has their own cell, besides the 4 house phones. Some take/make their calls and speak in their normal, loud voices about personal matters! What are the other persons in that office supposed to do?...Besides, we are trying very hard to keep our minds on what we're getting paid to do, but they are making it very hard. And then there are the umpteen dozen different tunes/rings that go off all the time...Ugh!

Tiff, you are right indeedy.

STW, no, my "yard shoes" are old Bass Weejuns. I'd come out of 'em if I turn and ran fast enough.

Geez. I still have the shivers. I'm GLAD he lives there - I just don't want to have to see him.

Faina - didn't you know this was a test? I left the yummy stuff out just to see if you read these! Somehow I knew you'd ask about the ice cream

And guess what? You passed. I'll buy a scoop just for you next month when I'm there!

ewe two place nice. I run with a scissors..........