Greetings all.

OO, I think you should go to Wendy's and buy a couple of those 99¢ items on the value menu.

congrats to jorr, Alisa, and Florida1!!

ethel, I will be in Hawaii on your wedding day but I will be thinking of you and sending good wedding vibes.

GoT, so sorry for your kitty.

angelthereader, I hope your sister will make a speedy recovery.

AMC, mice--EEK!!!! Mice are cute in a cage, but not when they are roaming around your house.

Rant: By the end of today I will have logged about 60 hours this week. This is why I've been off the board all week. I am really burnt out.

Rave: A few minutes I decided to reward myself with an ice cream sundae.

Rave: 2 weeks from Aloha!!

Rave: DH has had some nibbles on his resume.

Rave: It's almost fall here in TX, which means it's cooled down to temps in the 90's. Thank God summer is over. Summer is not a good thing when you live here, but the other 9 months of the year are glorious.

Happy weekend to all.

AnneMarie, there is something that you plug into an outlet and it emits a sound that is supposed to keep mice out and make them leave it you have them. People can't hear it. I've heard good things about it. You might check it out at your hardware store. I hate mice!!

P_M, you are a hoot! 99 cent menu items? lol.

gomiki, thank you! Now that you mention it I remember seeing that device in a catalogue.

Those little stinkers have taken liberty with some the Christmas ornaments. They even ate the ornamental fruit off the wreaths! We hear them scratching in the ceiling above the kitchen which is not good because that means they are where we can't get them so we will give that device a try and report back.

jorr, congrats on the weight loss! I know how hard it is!

OO, that would really tick me off too! It shows such gross inconsideration for their customers. But, then, they're the only game in town and they know it.

MelissaH, good luck getting through the week ahead. And enjoy your trips! Assuming you went for the haunted lodging, I'm expecting to hear all about it when you get back!

Alisa, congrats on your pregnancy!

Congratulations on that 2nd place win, Lee Ann! Aren't you glad you decided to enter?!

Good luck to your pup, travel_addict!

LOL on the skinny jeans, StephCar!

GT, I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. But hoping that Jack will help to ease your sorrow. Good for you for going right out and getting another companion for Jen.

Great news about your sister, angethereader. Hope all continues to go well for her. And continued good wishes for your DH.

Hang in there, ethel! I know how nerve racking those last minute things can be. But try to enjoy it!

BuffaloGirl, prayers and good wishes to you at such a difficult time. Maybe it's a good thing that you won't be able to go to Italy for awhile. More time to plan and savor the experience! Thank God you have something like that to help you get through your current struggles.

Enjoy the Natchez Trace, Ronkala. We covered just a small part of it on our way to New Orleans in 2001. Would love to drive the whole thing someday.

Ani, hang in there! It'll all be over soon. And, oh the rewards! Not to sound like a broken record, but...Enjoy every precious moment. It all goes by so fast.

Welcome, CheBird!

Good luck with your new job, otto!

It's hard losing good neighbors, PamSF. I hope the people who bought the house turn out to be friends too.

Congrats, Florida1!

P_M, I'm praying that your husband's search will be short and very productive! Thank goodness you've got thoughts of Hawaii to get you through your long hours at work!

gomiki and AnnMarie, unfortunately, we didn't have any luck with those electronic noise things.

Rave: DH had his bi-monthly check up with the oncologist. He has to have more blood work in a month to follow up on a minor concern. But, on the whole, a very good visit. No scans this time! His sed rate was very, very good. I hope I'm remembering this correctly, but I think anything under 20 (or is it 10?) is good. When he was first diagnosed, his was 110! This time it was 3!

Rave: My tooth has been smoothed down and is no longer killing my tongue! It needs only a cap, no root canal. Hooray!

Rave: The sun! Our second day of sunshine after several miserable, rainy ones. Which leads me to a rant...

Rant: Our roof is leaking. We're keeping our fingers crossed that it only needs a little patching.

Mini-rant: DH is going downstate this weekend for a Mass on the anniversary of his father's death. He's staying until Monday and neither DS nor I can afford to miss school again so won't be going along. The mini-rant is that I'll be without a car. I told him to take it 'cause I'd be worried to death about him making the trip in his truck. And I really am fine with that. Just not really looking forward to being stuck here without wheels! However, there are restaurants, grocery stores, etc. within a mile or so. And heaven knows I need the exercise!

Mini-rant: Am finding it a little harder to adjust to DD's absence this year. We spent a lot of time together this summer and I miss her! But the new school year seems to be going well for her and that makes me very happy. And, as much as I hate to admit it, being back in the school year routine is probably better for me too, in terms of both finances and health. We had a lot of lunches out!

Wishing you all a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Additional Rant: I've been having trouble eating this week (something has killed my appetite which is extremely unusual for me) and today it returned.

My Friday Diet has consisted of: Processed Sugar, White Flour, Salt, and Lard/Animal Fat.

Again, no rants. Actually I probably have a zillion of them, but I'm tired of ranting, I want to be more positive.

So Rave: it's almost Saturday
Rave: we had a cold snap. In the 90's a couple of days ago and 68 today. I'm ready.

Rant: mice. You MAY have to bring out the "big guns" at some point. Several years ago we were practically over run with mice. One problem is, we have chickens and the feed and the table scraps we feed them attracts mice. A GOOD reason why we are't supposed to have chickens where we live. Anyway, we tried to nicely ask the mice to leave and of course they refused, having a veritable "borgesmorg" presented to them on a daily basis. We tried humane traps etc. to no avail. So the night I saw three of them run across the living room, and there were "doodles" in my cupboard, I'd had enough and Decon it was. I know..I HATE using that. I'm not at all afraid of mice, ONE mouse is actually quite cute but there is no such thing as ONE mouse!!!! LOL So, I have kept Decon at the very back of several of my cupboards, behind the washer and dryer, in the garage, and of course the chicken coup, and we have had no more mice for a few years now. You DO have to be careful to put it where other animals and your pets can't access it.

So on THAT "happy" note, have a good weekend everyone.

crefloors, we had to come to the same decision you did. A few years back we had a really bad Fall. Something about the way the first freeze fell caused mice to come into houses at an alarming rate! We tried everything and finally found that the only thing that worked was Decon. As you said, I hated to use it. But it works! I still keep a couple of boxes in strategic places and we haven't had a problem since. I think the trick is in placing it so that they eat it as soon as they come in and immediately go back out searching for water.

I do feel bad that it's probably not the kindest way to get rid of them. But I don't want them in my house!

Re: Night calls - try being a very large hospital based physician every third night and every third (all) weekend for nearly 40 years.
M

GoT...I think I know what it means when you eat like that. LOL I am so sorry about your kitty. Hugs, chica.

Ani...it seems like just yesterday you were expecting your first. Does this mean we've both been here a long time? Oh, and what Caph said about it going so fast! Does it ever.

Alisa...what a wonderful wonderful time. Congrats.

PM...that was so funny. Wish I'd thought of that when she told me we'd get a $2.10 credit next month.

AM...sounds of little feet going pitter patter over your head is not a good thing in your case!! Funny story about those sound emitting things. DHs hotel in Tampa had a restaurant on the top floor with a roof top patio for desserts and/or cigars. Pigeons roosted in the plantings along the perimeter and made a mess daily. Some business swore their sound emitting box would do the trick, yet could not be heard by humans. They set it up and turned it on, then called DH up to see the demonstration. LOL...when he got there and they all went outside, what should they see but a pigeon sitting on the activated box. Salesman didn't have to say a word...took his box and went home.

OH yes...AM tells stories. There is absolutely no junk in her trunk.

Rave: Going to Akumal, Mexico in 2 days

Rant: Trying to get enough hours in this month to make up for the fact that my billables will be missing a whole week b/c of vacation.

Rave: Buying a bunch of books to read while on the beach.

Rant: People like Semperfid (if he is in fact serious) who just don't get it. Ugly American anyone?

Rave: Project Runway! Love that show! I hope Michael wins.

mah, I'd guess semperfid was being sarcastic...

mah1980, here are the pictures from the Project Runway runway show this morning at Olympus Fashion Week.

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/

Loved Uli's collection, was underwhelmed by everyone else.

annesherrod,
AA has a $95.10 rt fare from St Louis to Dallas Love 23-26 Sept.
M

Huge Rant: Oblivious drivers. I just came from after school crossing guard duty. A woman came zipping through my intersection (I seriously doubt she even realized there was a stop sign) and proceeded to make an immediate left turn into a street that is very clearly marked NO ENTRANCE and zoomed down the street where many of the parents park to pick up their children.

Thank God most of the children had already crossed before she went through my intersection. Because it's a school of only preschoolers through second graders, many, many of the parents come to get their students with one child in a stroller and another, barely older, walking along beside it. It's not at all unusual for the walking child to run ahead and out into the intersection. Judging from what I saw, if a small child had run out, she would not have seen him.

Come to think of it, I'm damn lucky she didn't hit me! Because the little ones are so fast, I try to make sure I'm out in the intersection well ahead of them. Despite my bright orange vest, looking for all the world like a huge pumpkin, I doubt she would have seen me either!

I suspect she was lost and so caught up in trying to figure out where to go that she was totally oblivious. But when you're driving near a school at dismissal time...Well, I would think that's a no-brainer.

Thanks for letting me vent! The only thing that would totally make me feel better would be to get ahold of that woman and scream at her! But I do feel a little bit better.

Rave: After 20 plus years, had to go to new dentist..despite all the fears and trepidation, it was a GOOD experience!

GoT: I'm confused. Why did Laura, Jeffrey, Uli, and Michael all have runway shows? It's usually the top 3.

I looked at the pictures and I like Uli and Michael's designs the best. I think Michael will probably win because the judges think he has more range, while they feel Uli is a one trick pony.

WHAT - what - what?????? You know who makes it to Fashion Week on Project Runway????!!!!!????

Man, it is one of those things, you want to know, but then you want to wait to find out.

I'm loving the mouse stories--always good to know you're not alone. This morning as I backed out of the garage "doodles" came streaming down the front wind shield! What the heck?!? One of the mice must have heard the circus is coming to town and tried out his high wire act along the garage door mechanism attached to the ceiling. I take it he scared himself doodle-less.

Deacon is poison? I hate the thought of using it which is why we started with humane traps but in the end I'm a realist...

OO, haven't I told you the story about the time a sales lady tried to convince me to try on a smaller sized skirt until I turned around...then she got it and said, "girl, you're right, you got booty!", lol.

Tiffany- I didn't know but I'm inferring since I saw pictures for 4 of the designers...which is odd b/c they usually only do 3.

Happy Friday!

Congratulations to everyone celebrating good news and hugs to those who need them.

Ethel, the countdown is very exciting for us here on Fodors!

Ani, hang in there!

GoT, so sorry about your kitty.

PM, thinking of your DH.

Congrats Jorr. I think I lost a couple of pound this week too.

Caph, BIG HUGS. I know exactly how you feel. I miss my boy too Sending good thoughts for your DH's continued good health.

I don't mean to overlook anyone. I hope everyone has been well.

Rave: Celebrating our 27th wedding Anniversary tomorrow.

Rants...too many to list, lol.

Peace!
Happy Weekend!
Safe Travels!