>:D< to all in Fodorville.

:D It's Friday. No work tomorrow.

:D Had a family get together last night. What fun! ((l))

:D It's <font color="orchid">Fri</font><font color="green">day</font>. No work tomorrow. :D

:O There's a Tropical Depression named # 5, soon to be renamed Ernesto, who seems intent on visiting this weekend. ((n))
We have been fortunate this year...

X-( Just looked out my window and saw the traffic. What a nightmare! X-(

((y)) Have had the flu this week...and the only remaining signs of it is a cough. This the only health complaint. I am grateful.

To all with health issues : &gt;:D&lt; ((l))

((f)) have a great weekend folks! ((f))

JaGirl, sweets help to keep cough at bay, seriously!

Now, if you can find Swiss chocolate, maybe even liquor-filled...

What a great thing..(Fridays, I mean)

Mary's Violet Eyes Make Johnny Stay Up Nights. Oops, no period needed!

Rave: reservations almost completed for Sonoma/SF trip.

Rave: we had a great Happy Green Card party for my wonderful DIL, and she was so surprised!

Rant: Boss, aka Wicked Witch.

Thanks Budman and Trish...same great place on the 21st? Pencil me in.

Rave: 11yo DS can still play baseball even with a cast on his arm - he's really excited.

Rave: He will get the cast removed and be able to play about half the season without it.

Lee Ann

Rant: Ernesto appears to be headed for the Gulf.

Rave: The buzz on the streets of New Orleans today was, will you be staying to watch the Gulf come into town or will you be evacuating? [Humor helps a lot, but people will be out of here if that thing does enter the Gulf.]

Faina :D
Alcohol, is a definite no-no for me.

But that &quot;sweets&quot; theory has my attention. Wonder if chocolate works the same way? ;)

Bayougal,
You know that feeling right before a hurricane? Hot and humid? Well that's the feeling in Jamaica right now.

And the wait is just awful! Not knowing where that beast will go is the worst!

It looks like we'll get Ernesto at a tropical storm level.

But I'm seriously hoping that it doesn't strengthen after it moves on from here. If that thing gets into the Gulf only God knows where it will go from there!

I hope all is well with you and yours there in Jamaica this weekend, JAGIRL. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

The problem for N.O. is storm surge. With holes in the levees it won't matter much where it goes, especially if it builds up and pushes any surge at all in this direction.

Rave: It is Friday evening!!

Rant: Everything I have received in the mail this week has pretty much been a problem. And I don't have to tell any of you the stress of calling businesses with their &quot;push this button, push another button&quot; etc. and hardly ever being able to reach a human being. I was going to say a live human being but at one point a dead one would have worked, lol. You can tell the mood I am in!

I am late posting but just want to wish everyone a joyful weekend.

And hugs to all of you dealing with problems, may things get much better for you.

And my thoughts to all of you in NOLA. You are truly in my thoughts.

Raves: Mini-coopers, kids coming home, good hubbys

Rants: Fodorites have surgeries, challenges, ill friends and struggles with life - in real time and months afterwards

Raves: The laughter in Fodorville - truly a gift!

Rant and rave: ahhnold is back! Glad you are back - getting ready to disagree per Jetset's recommendations above :-)

It's been a very good and very hard week for me. So much appreciation for &quot;real life&quot; friends and cyber friends who offer support and laughter.

HUGE RAVE: AMY GRANT CONCERT TONIGHT!!! I've been a fan since 1981.

tpatriccio - can you give more info on the Volvo Tshirts? Hard to buy for nieces drive Volvos - maybe a birthday present for them?

I'm an Amy Grant fan, too, Starrsy. Have fun!!!!

The first concert I took my oldest daughter to was to see Amy Grant at the UNO arena in New Orleans. We had so much fun! :)

hi starry ~ she posted this link in an above post: http://home.comcast.net/~1volvogirl/

JAGirl, BayouGirl and everyone that may be in the path of Ernesto my prayers are with you.

I get to go to the soundcheck this afternoon too. I've very excited!

Hi Starrsville, I had listed the link to a little website I put together above. It is: http://home.comcast.net/~1volvogirl/

Fodors didn't highlight the whole link so I think you may have to cut and paste to get it all into your web browser. Otherwise e-mail me at [email protected]

Thanks for the interest!

Hi tpatricco, the reason your first link was not highlighted as a complete link is because of the ~ thing.

LoveItaly, Maybe the dead one is when you get put on &quot;The approximate wait time is 20 minutes.&quot; LOL. The worst ones are the people who get an attitude. I contacted Dish Network once to maybe change my service to them and the guy was a real jerk and he was a Salesman. I actually had to ask him why he was so negative.

Thanks Jorr. The tilde (~) symbol is part of the link Comcast uses for web addresses of personal web pages under their hosting. There's no way I could have omitted the symbol and had the link work.

Hi Love ~ A little trick I do when I know I am going to need to speak with someone is to press Zero. That usually works.

On the rare occasion when that doesn't work, I hang up, hit redial and this time don't press a thing. When you don't touch any touchtone keys, it assumes you have an old dial up, and directs you to an operator or customer service rep.
((L))

Cars:
Had a leased Volvo 740T Wagon for four years 1980-84. Returned it with 59,
900 of the allowed 60,000 mi and it cost only the maintenance.
I thought I would seriously consider the Volvo European delivery plan should I buy another.
We have done that for BMWs, but I'm currently hooked on Subaru WRXs even 'tho I have no dealers here in central MX and have had to relearn much after 16 BMWs.
Buen viaje.
M