Rant: Rita, Rita, Rita

Rave: Martha

Rant: Brown

Rave: The Coast Guard

Rant: People who prey upon people at their lowest point.

Rave: All the fine people who sacrifice to help people with their time and resources.

Rave: The superb landing at LAX.

Rave: I'm home. Spent the last 32 days going RTW- Thailand, India, Bosotn, Portland OR, Ventura and Anaheim.

Rant: I miss room service, cheap massages, and feel pressured to do my trip report and catch up at work!

Rave: It was an awesome trip!!

Welcome back, Lucy! Already sounds like an adventure and we haven't even gotten the scoop yet

Rave: The Atlanta GTG last Sat was a success!!! It was a wonderful time with a special group of interesting, fun people. I enjoyed meeting everyone and hope to see them again. (KSWL...) Oh and OldSouthernBelle is not at all old in chronological years or spirit--false advertising, OSB!

Rave: My Gators beat iceeu2's Vols. hehehe (She's a great girl who knows I'm teasing...sort of!!)

Rave: Saw Paul McCartney Tues night--wow! He played lots of Beatles and Wings, just what I wanted to hear. We should all have his energy at age 63!

Rant: I realized that I am getting older b/c I can't go out and stay up til 1am on a school night like I used to!

Rant: Hurricanes--the worry and chaos before, the damage during and of course the chaos and confusion in the aftermath. My thoughts and prayers to those in the path of Rita.

Rant: The trolls and resulting sniping

Rant: Tues. the special ed teachers in my dept. found out that due to recent revisions in the No Child Left Behind law, we are no longer considered "highly qualified" to teach--most in my school have years and years of experience. (The state changed everyone's certifications!!) We are expected to, appeal and take the necessary coursework or certification exams by JUNE!!! The district is offering no support--classes or financial help! What the heck are they going to do in GA when there are no special ed teachers next year??? At min., I need to take 2 exams. I've been out of school for eons and eons...what does my years of successful experience count for??

Rant: This BS is affecting my sleep!

I know my rant is small compared what others are going through and I appreciate you letting me vent.

To those with health issues or loved ones who are ill, I hope this was a better week.

And once again, to those in the Gulf Coast--my heart goes out to you and I wish you peace and safety!

Rave: It's Friday (and a payday one at that!).

Weather here in New England has been just lovely.

I have some great kids in my classes ans a generally good team overall which is good because I sometimes feel as though our school is going to h*** in a hand basket.



Rant: My procrastination keeps catching up with me and causing me to stress out (like right now).

Stupid mosquitoes causing EEE in our area.

Stupid budget issues with our school.

Stupid hurricanes.

Stupid mandates regarding NCLB.

Big Rave: My husband is home from Houston.

Big Rant: RITA. The impact on lives and property. The economic impact on the entire country.

Rant: Hertz. The penalty for bringing a car back to another airport location costs hundreds (can you believe that) of dollars. My husband is pissed and won't stand for it.

Rant: NCLB. OWJ, it's disgusting. I've seen it myself. Where's the money for the mandate??? Education is always last to get what it needs. Pisses me off - especially when districts don't support their teachers. No apologies for your rant, OWJ. Now here's the pep talk...you are never, ever too old to do it! Yes, it's hard work but your can do it, girl. You shouldn't have to, but you can do it. Big hugs.

Rave: Despite the fact that I have been working on about 3 hours of sleep per night this week and didn't actually know my husband made his flight out of Houston yesterday morning, I received an "Exemplary" on an observation that was conducted yesterday morning by my supervisor. Of all days to be observed!

Rave: The Jetblue pilots.

Rave: Both of my sons are coming home this evening and staying for the weekend. I can't wait to hear their stories.

Rave: Fodor friends! Thanks P_M for all of the information you have provided us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! May your family be safe

Welcome back lcuy from your trip! I look forward to reading your trip report.

God bless those in the path of Rita.

Peace and strength be to those who need it.

See you later, all.

Major rant: My relatives from Houston have now been driving 22 hours, and they are not quite halfway to Austin yet!! For those familiar with the route, they are still on I-10, about 3 miles from Hwy. 71. I am so sick about this. Please send them good Fodors vibes for their safety, as they are driving while so tired.

Rant: Damn Rita!!

Rant: Monday at 1:15AM the phone rang and it was a family friend telling us my FIL was rushed to the hospital with congestive heart failure. We jumped out of bed and rushed to the hospital. He was very critical upon arrival.

Rave: FIL pulled through. A few days later they did a heart cath and put a stent into his heart. He is feeling much better, except he's mad because now he must delay moving to West Texas to live with his lady friend.

Rave: Hospital workers who helped FIL.

Rave: seetheworld's DH got out of Houston yesterday.

Rave: Despite the nightmare of getting out of Houston, I am glad to know they will be safe once they finally get here.

For all those affected by Rita, God bless you and protect you.

seetheworld, we were posting at the same time. Thanks for your good wishes. And thanks to all of the good Fodorites who are wishing us well here in TX.

seetheworld
Glad your DH is safe at home. Wish my son was! He and grandson are riding out the storm in Houston. His car is out of gas and as you know,there is none around.
Rant today is Rita, I have a hard time thinking about anything else.
PM:
Sorry your family is still on the road, how awful! I hope for their safety.
Prayers today for our families to be safe.

Thanks, cd, and thanks for the birthday wishes, seetheworld. The only thing I want for my birthday is for the family to arrive safely. I'll post back when they do.

Rant: DH and I are having a disagreement. I say tomorrow is my 21st birthday. DH claims it's the 21st anniversary of my 21st birthday. But he stinks at math, so that can't be right.

Rant: I'm watching CNN and some moron in Galveston decided to go for a swim this morning. It's bad enough he didn't evacuate, but what kind of an idiot would be swimming today in Galveston? Anyway, he's being arrested as we speak. This isn't funny, but I can't help but chuckle at the stupidity of some people in this world.

Rant: My Senators Kennedy and Kerry against Roberrts just to send a message from Bush. Their vote is political and that is pathetic.

Rave:going to Chicago this weekend for a college reunion. Butch McGuires Saturday night.

Rave: Had a great sail yesterday in Massachsetts. The best September I can remember.

Rant. Red Sox. Nuff sed.

PM--Happy '21st' Birthday! This will be one bday w/e that you won't soon forget I pray the effects on Austin are less than expected. I've been thinking *a lot* about you and our other TX fodorites...and best wishes to your FIL

STW--Thanks for the pep talk. I feel so under the gun and have such a short time to study (1st test is in Oct.) that I'm really stressing and so angry that this is how it is. I told my husband he better get a good raise this year so I can stay home or teach in a private school that's asked me for years to come work for them...

NCLB may sound good to the voters but it's wrecking havoc on the schools; kids are suffering and good teachers are leaving the profession. If my school (a top performer) is any indication, the moral is loow all over and people are fed up! Can't imagine what it must be like a 'rough' school.

Rant--Rita..what more can I say. I just can't believe it could possibly happen again. My heart goes out to those people! I'm thankful that the worst I have to deal with are blizzards and below freezing temperatures--they pale in comparison to what a hurricane can do.

Rave--a fabulous day planned in Lake George tomorrow!!!!

Rave--finally decided on the date of 9/30/06 for our wedding. We've got the church already booked. Now, we just need to find a place for the reception. We're slowly making some good progress.

Rant: RITA

Rave: Making wonderful friends thru the Fodor's website. The Atlanta GTG was just superb!

Rant: My friend, OWJ, is in a tizzy. Keep that pretty smile, dear one.

Rave: Free therapy from my friend, Billyboyiamqster...smooches......

Rant - rita

Rave - my new neice

Rant - the prospect of Field's becoming Macy's

Rave - my cousin coming in from new england

Rant - watching the White Soxs choke

Rave - looking forward to Redmoon's Theater's 'spectacle' tonight.

Rant -- my inability to go back change Soxs to the correct "Sox".

Rant - Rita! May God help them.

Rave - thanks again to the MANY fodorites who helped me plan our amazing july road trip, of which i'm still finishing the trip report. As always, you guys ROCK and i'm forever grateful for your many years of travel help!

Rave - our wonderful Fodors community. Wish i had more time to hang out with you who share my great love of TRAVEL

Rant - Why can't life just be one travel adventure after another, followed by one long trip report after another? LOL Oh yes, i must work to pay for all our travel fun! I really can't RANT either as i'm thankful for so many blessings in my life!

Caph52, i read last weeks FFRR too late and want to send my sympathy and prayers to you and your family. I hope you're doing ok and life will start looking up for you.

OWJ - i Paul McCartney! You lucky lucky girl! Was his wife there, too?

P_M - Happy Birthday! (i still feel 21, too!) Hope your FIL continues to do well.

To all those facing burdens and worries, i send my thoughts and prayers. Hope everyone has a safe weekend and happy travel planning!

Also forgot to add:

MAJOR RAVE ~ TEACHERS and all educators! America's most un-sung and true HEROS!!!

RANT: The stress and misery caused by hurricanes! My heart goes out to everyone who's lives are turned upside down by Katrina and Rita. Prayers for your son and grandson in Houston, cd, and for your relatives there, P_M ...

RAVE: Happy Birthday, P_M, and many more!

RANT: It's Fall but you'd never know it in Raleigh. Feels a lot more like August ... too hot! (The State Fair open three weeks from today ... I want sweatshirt weather. )

RAVE: Carolina Hurricanes are 3-1 in exhibition games. Go 'Canes!

RAVE: UNC-NC State game tomorrow ... State will win but I will *mostly* pull for Carolina ... :-s

Have a good weekend, all in Fodorville ...

Rant: Like everybody else, Rita, Rita, Rita. Enough already!

Rave: All our friends and family are out of hurricane harm's way.

Rant: We were supposed to be spending all this coming week at a luxury spa hotel in the Alps, the Royal Trofana (www.trofana.at). Emailed them to reconfirm our room last week and got a note back saying the hotel was CLOSED due to damage from the earlier floods in the Alps. I never saw anything about this on their web site and never received an email or reg. mail from them informing us of the cancellation. Not what we would have expected from a family owned 5 star hotel that prides itself on its service. We had to scramble to find other accommodations. However, while we are disappointed, we also know that having to change hotels for a trip to the Austrian Alps is pretty small beer compared to what people in the Gulf Coast are going through. So it's a half rant.