The kindness of people in the world seems small compared with some of the horrendous details we are bombarded by in the papers and on TV every day. But I refuse to let the naysayers and pessimists rule the way. The small acts of kindness expressed daily on this forum alone are what keep me in the game.

God bless the kind people who readily step forward to help others with out being asked. We are all rewarded by these acts of kindness.

Statia
Thanks for sharing your email with us. So glad the water is beginning to flow under the bridge. :-)

OWJ, I am so sorry. You did the best for her - both in spoiling her during her illness and in making the hard decision. I drove up to the mountains to take the pups to the best vets ever. They want to clean my schnauzer's teeth and I'm still stalling. I can't help from tearing up when I'm in there remembering when my dear sweet Grace lost her fight. I'm a wimp, I know. Just can't handle another loss - and Gracie's been gone for over a year now. My heart goes out to you and Mr. OWJ. I wish you peace.

Haven't had time to read all this thread yet, but happy weekend to all Fodorites.

No rants. The three pups are all certified healthy. Well, maybe one rant - the bill for said certification! :-)

I'm late on the FF R&R again. We're technically still on vacation! (And, I confess, I've been caught up in the new Harry Potter the last few days!) So I haven't carefully read through all the responses. Sorry if I miss responding to some of the posters. But my best wishes go out to everyone.

OWJ, I'm so sorry about your kitty.

Margot, I'm very glad to hear your mother is home. But I know it can't be easy for her to accept having to exclusively use the feeding tube.

P_M, I hope your interviews went well!

RAVE: We had a great week playing tourist in Chicago! (I may do a trip report.)

RANT/RAVE: Our "baby" turns 16 tomorrow! Where does the time go?!

RANT: The cost of insuring a 16 year old male to drive!!

HUGE RAVE: My rants are much less ominous than a few weeks ago!

I forgot to thank Tiff for her good wishes!

Hey CAPH--Glad you found a minute to post. I've been thinking about you guys and was wondering how the trip was and everything else. We have two teenage nephews who can drive--can't imagine what my BIL and SIL pay each month for car insurance!! Eek!

And thanks everyone for the kitty cat thoughts...Yesterday, we went to donate Shayna's meds and special food to a no kill animal shelter and fell in love with a little sassy black and white female. The woman who was fostering the kitten rejected us b/c we would consider declawing the kitten and b/c we have another female at home--fears of two alpha cats in the same house or something...I think she didn't want to give the kitty up!

CAPH: Your baby turns 16 tomorrow (August 8th) and my baby celebrates his birthday tomorrow too -- 19th.

Happy Birthday to our babies ((l)) ((l))

Actually, seetheworld, when I posted my message I forgot to account for the fact that it shows Eastern time! My son's birthday is today, the 7th.

Happy Birthday to yours tomorrow though!