Rave: Beautiful Friday and the Firm picnic tonight.

Rant: Our dog has had a couple of 'accidents' lately. She used to pee/poop in the same spot, but has peed in the house a couple of times and no longer uses the right spot in the yard.

We had her fixed two weeks ago -- does anyone know if this is a side effect?

Have a good weekend!

Margot~ahh baby Quincy. We got a new computer and I lost your e mail address. Arles is a great place to "center". Now you can include the Camargue which is one of my "favs" in the SOuth. Do absolutely make lunch reservations at La Chassagnette in Sambuc for your day trip explorations.
It goes on for hours. I think lunch is around 40 euros pp. You eat what they serve but what they serve is delicious. A great many aspects of the meal come from the large organic garden just outside the "house".

If you have any questions please e mail me again.

Rave: moving my office tomorrow and I am all packed by noon today.

Rave: dinner with good friends tomorrow evening then motoring up to Sonoma for a rendezvous with R5 and Mr R5.

Rant: the state of the world.

Rant: a vibrant and fine man recently diagnosed with ALS. All in his circle are shattered!

Rave: those neighbor girls of which I've written before. They came by last evening for ice cream, red riding hood and sparkling crowns. Oh what a joy they are.

Rave: my sister called to quote my nephew who recently visited" You wouldn't believe my aunt Pam..she's 55 and really cool". It made my day, made me laugh out loud and made me feel a wee bit older. As if being 55 makes you a rarity at being "cool". Ten again, thank god for youth who thinks this is "cool". It used to be I was "classically hip" :)

Have a good week everyone. Good thoughts to all in sorrow and yippee to all in the throes of great news.

Jersey, good luck with your daughter. Hope you get a diagnosis and a cure today.

Happy Birthday, Tiff!

Enjoy your puppy, Margot!

Congratulations, swalter! I know what a wonderful, reassuring experience that must have been for you. And have a great trip!

I seriously considered not posting today as I'm having a very "rantish" day. But then I realized that coming up with raves was a very useful exercise!

However, for the sake of all concerned, I'll keep it to one rant, one rave!

RANT: A couple of days ago, our 19 year old daughter was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD). We're glad that it wasn't the Lupus they were looking for. But haven't been able to find out enough about this disease to know whether to be relieved or worried.

Because she's over 18, she spoke with the doctor. I had no chance to ask questions.

RAVE: A few weeks ago we thought we'd have to give up my husband's two week vacation scheduled for the end of this month. Turns out we don't!

No big, exciting trip. We'll spend most of the first week visiting family, sneaking away for two nights in a cabin in Giant City State Park. The second week we plan to stay home and take several day trips to Chicago. But, at this point, we're just really grateful to have the two week vacation!

Vicky, you're not alone I feel exactly as you do. Our girl is 16, too, and I am so attached. I don't know what would happen to her if something were to happen to us--she is the only thing I worry about when we travel ((l))

Tiff, ((8)) Happy Birthday to you! ((8))

kywood, how exciting for you! :-)

CAPH, we must have been posting at the same time--I am so very sorry to read the news about daughter. Blessings to you and your family.

Thanks, dcespedes. We obviously still need those blessings and prayers! But I just keep telling myself that very soon our luck has to change. And then we're due one hell of a streak of good luck! Think I should start buying lottery tickets?!

Caph, prayers to you and your daughter-you're right though-buy those lotto tickets!!! Have a nice trip!

CAPH, I say if you're feeling lucky then go for it! Just don't forget the little people when you hit it big ;-) In the meantime, I hope you enjoy a wonderful vacation. Best wishes to you.

MEGA RANT - Smoke from fires burning on the Kenai Peninsula has enveloped Anchorage. It's awful up here!

CAPH, best wishes for your daughter. I hate that over 18 rule! When my son was being tested for his swollen lymph nodes, it nearly drove me insane having to get the information "second" hand from my DS instead of the doctor!

Have a restful vacation with your family :)

RAVE: Going to Finger Lakes Wine Festival this weekend with best friends!

RAVE: I LOVE hot weather -- get to jump in the lake!

RAVE: Campfires & cookouts all weekend long!

RANT: I still have 90 more minutes of work (ok, that one is not even close to what some of your rants, best of luck to all of you!).

PamSF (and to anyone else who wants it): my e-mail address is [email protected] ...I think you're pretty cool for 55, too!! ;)

CAPH52 - OY YOY YOY! We need to find a "Cloudbuster" for your household! However, then again, as has been true to form for you, you are handling your travails with class and a wonderful outlook, thus making you the real ((#)) in your household!

BIG RAVE: I cannot thank you Fodor Friends enough for your support and encouragement during my frequent FFRR "rant" postings about my mom and my late great Willie-dog. I send those cyber-hugs right back to you! >:D<

Rave- I sold my first BIG deal at my fairly new job. It is so exciting.

Rant - None..except for the obvious world terror crap.

Dang, CAPH! I'll buy you a bunch of lottery tickets...I promise nothing but if it's a big payout, we split it and run away from home for a bit ;-)

Am sending you all the good thoughts and prayers I can.

michellenyc...where on long island are you from? i'm from patchogue.

Blessings to Jersey and Caph's daughters. May health and healing be theirs.
Congratulations Swalther!!!
Margot, Hope that new puppy gets trained. :-)
Happy Birthday Tiff!
Hugs to all.

Hey otto -- not originally from LI (from Spain) but went to H.S. on LI. I lived in Woodbury.

This is from Scarlett...

rave>found gorgeous new home in portland
rave>how friendly and great everyone is here
rave>the sun shines here lol
rant>we miss Pup
and congrats to all who have babies and good news and good thoughts to all who need them.

That's great news, mms! Congratulations to Scarlett and the Yankee on finding a new home! I bet pup misses them too :D

seetheworld, thanks for the good wishes. Sounds like you understand my frustration! I take it the outcome was okay with your son?

Margot, thanks. But, really, what choice do I have? My husband and my daughter (son too, for that matter) need me to be strong right now. Down the road, I may just fall apart! But I can't do it now. It's those prayers and good wishes that are keeping me going!

Thanks, OWJ!

Congrats to Scarlett on the house!