P_M, Aloha! Enjoy a wonderful trip!! ((#))

Brandie, that is so cool! Last week I heard an owl loudly whoo whooing outside our bedroom window so I ran outside; across the street at the top of a large oak tree sat a huge owl doing his thing--looking for a date. ;-)

marigross, congratulations!

cmcfong, sorry to read about your ankle, ouch. No dancing with the stars for you! I hope you heal quickly.

Rave: DH and I leave dark and early Tuesday morning for Santa Fe.

Rave: The sight and sound of unexpected rain.

Rant: Our mouse, to date, continues to ignored his eviction notice. He's really cute--maybe I'll place an ISO ad for him. "in search of new den--free food and shredded bedding a must!" :-)

I hope everyone enjoys a nice weekend!

Waaaaahhhhhhooooooooooo! Our marigross is getting married! How fun, and what a thrilling turkey day it will be at your house this year! I think surprise proposals are the best and that was a true surprise. Your soon to be "DH" hit a home run (sorry I am still in baseball mode, lol)

cmcfong, Now, in no way, shape or form, do I have the desire to lecture you (lol) BUT, when you are hiking in the Patagonia, would you please wear a ace bandage like ankle support? Remember your friend here, three sprains on her right ankle,I know that which I speak of far too well. The good news? My doc said long ago, it would have been so much better if I had broken it instead of sprained, heals way better, so there you are, you WILL heal better than your MN pal, lol!(Just a little ace ankle support, available at a pharmacy near you.) K, I'm done now.
((L))

bonniebroad, darlin, speaking of support, yours for our MN Twins will be greatly appreciated. They remind me of Red Sox team a couple years ago (was it two or three?) They are all so part of the team, no individual egos on this field, they rock! And you can tell they really care about each other.

Good morning kopp!

Good morning AnnMarie!

(we were posting at the same time)
((C))

alya, a purple house with a turret??? I'd love one of those ... buy that and kopp and I will come visit, right, kopp? :D

Hi Tiff, you can lecture me any time! However, I cannot cheer for your Twins, just yet. I am a Dodger fan through and through (I bleed the Dodger Blue!). My dad used to swear my first words were "Duke Snider".
Bonnie, I am as stunned as everyone else by those Deacs. They have been referred to as the worst unbeaten team in football! I won't mention that other team a bit east of here.......
Thanks for the good wishes, friends.

Rave: My dad MIGHT leave the rehab facility this week for his new home in an assisted living facility. It's been a month since mom died, and dad is finally feeling and looking better. And he's ready to move on. YEAH!

Rant: The process of figuring out your parents finances, finding the right place, etc. Eldercare is an awful process, and I have learned a lot in a few weeks. If you have elderly parents, talk to them NOW about what they want and what their income is, etc. You're in a much better situation if you know what you're dealing with ahead of time. These things come on fast. Trust me.

Rave: I'm planning a weekend away with my hubby. Just someplace close - maybe Chautauqua Lake. One of the hotels there has a nice room/spa package. I need to de-stress.

Rant: I still have to clean out my parents' house, get some work done on it, and sell it!!! Not to mention their car. Anyone want a little old ranch in an old suburb just one block over the Buffalo city line? Anyone? How about a 97 Chevy Lumina? Good condition. Anyone?

Rave: My son is managing well on his crutches. And I already have a few friends and family lined up to take him in for the weekend when we go away!

Rave: The VA (Veteran's Affairs)! We found out about a little known benefit to war time veterans. The VA will pay up to $1,470 per month for an (any) assisted living facility to a war time vet. It really helps because the nice places are costly! My dad is a WWII vet, and we all know the numbers are dwindling. He deserves this benefit!

Rave: My brother, SIL, and I are still talking about ITALY! I'm pretty sure we're going to do it, but it may not be for a year or more. That's OK. It gives me plenty of time to dream and get REALLY excited and drive my friends nuts.

Marigross: Congratulations!

Did I mention I'm going to Italy? Oh yeah, I did mention I'm going to Italy. :-)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Whoa Marigros....congrats!!! That is so sweet!

PM--Say ALOHA to paradise for me...I am now 9 months post my last HI trip and envious! You deserve it though.

Rave: FRIDAY!

Rant: I am no longer allowed to turn on the stove without supervision. After years of torching dish towels, pot holders, and anything else I left on the stove, I finally burned a small wooden hot plate. I let it burn for a good 30 minutes before I came out of the office and could NOT SEE due to the amount of smoke. Luckily, children and DH were not home to witness the episode. DH came home hours after and it was still smoke ridden, and for the whole week it has smelled like a campfire in our house.

Rave: DH still loves me and is affectionately calling me “Sparky.” Speaking of DH…..

Rave: Date night Saturday! DH called the babysitter (!) and got tickets to a show along with dinner reservations. I asked if he was either dying or planning to leave me. It is not even an anniversary, birthday or any other special occasion I can fathom.

Rant: People that can’t/don’t have children that so deserve them. Tiff, your story made me cry last week! I am hoping you are pg (and it is safe and healthy) very soon. And OWJ, I hope you and my SIL have adoptions that come through STAT. Patience my arse.

Rave: My boys—gosh, I just adore them lately and I know I am blessed. My 2 year old is so calm and sweet (what terrible 2s?) and my 4 year old is hilarious and compassionate. I feel so lucky to have them.

Have a nice weekend everyone. And don’t leave things on the stove if you can help it.

Oops, forgot something......

Bonniebroad: ESPN, and others, have all predicted the SABRES to win the Stanley Cup! You behave yourself, girlfriend!

alya, just had to scroll up and see the turret bb was talking about, how wonderful. You will still get the house, and now all the paperwork/permits/work etc will be complete. Good luck.
(And your comment about your typing skills because of your crossed fingers was so cute, I giggled)

cmcfong, have you checked out Petsmart, Petco or Target for Catie's costume? OMG, I would she and Soph would be in such trouble if I was in charge of making them, lol.

((f)) Good mornin', Tiff! ((f))

StephCar <<It is not even an anniversary, birthday or any other special occasion I can fathom.
>>

Sweetie, YOU are the special occasion!
((L)) Enjoy.

BuffaloGirl, remember, all those same people predicted Carolina would be in the basement at the end of last season, too! :-d We are gonna have a ball this season, aren't we??? :D

Rant: By BIL who is one of the nicest guys on this planet (I always refer to him as a gentleman because he is), was fired yesterday.
I cannot imagine it was with cause. He is one of the most honest people I know. My first guess was that he was sabotaged by his boss. My sister confirmed that last night. Why do the bad guys prevail?
I mean he and my sis take my widowed mom on a vacation every other year. They pay her airfare and hotel.

Sorry, I'm in such a crappy mood because of this I have no raves right now.

BuffaloGirl, I didn't realize your Mom died a month ago. Many hugs to you @};- ... I am so sorry for your loss. Your Dad will be fine with such a caring daughter as you.

Wow-you all are fast this morning!
Congrats Marigross!
Have a wonderful trip P_M!

As for me...
3 weeks
3 weeks
3 weeks.

Just a thought...

ethel - if you're around, isn't this your big weekend?

Congratulations! ((M)) ((M))

Have a great honeymoon! ((k)) ((l))

For Catie:
http://tinyurl.com/zh3bu

For her Mom:
http://tinyurl.com/hozrp

Rave ~ Tinyurl dot com! I learned about it here on Fodors.

angethereader ~ It may appear that your BIL's boss has won this battle, but really, if this is the kind of boss this guy is, your dear BIL will be better off not working for him. I hope that this will end up being a blessing. I once worked for someone of this character, and it was the best thing when I got out. It will be scary for your BIL to be without work right now, but he has honor and good luck on his side. Please tell him we all say best wishes.

BuffGirl ~ I do so hope you all make it to Italy, need help planning??? I love it there SO much. It is my safe place.
:)

Marigross, your post brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations! ((F))

cmcfong, hope your ankle heals super fast! Loved your rave about being sixty and still being lectured by your mom!

BuffaloGirl, keeping you in my prayers.

Seconding kopp's post to ethel! We're all attending your wedding in spirit, ethel!

Rave: Tiff

Rave: DD, who has been sick all week, finally seems to be on the mend. It's tough when they're so far away.

Rave: It's Friday!

Wishing you all a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! :)

Rant - I can't pick a color for the new addition. Trying to find just the right shade of khaki that is somewhat (but not too) yellow. Have to get over this hurdle in order to get the painting done. The painting has to be done in order to hang the cabinets. The cabinets have to be hung in order to get the granite installed. Granite has to be installed in order to get the plumbing finished. Plumbing has to be finished in order to install the floors. Maybe just maybe we will be done by Christmas. Christmas 2007!

P_M - have a great trip!

Tiff- just make sure the Twins take care of the Yankees for us Red Sox fans.

ayla - Purple cottage with a turret? Sounds like what dreams of made of. Good luck!

marigross - Congratulations!

Buffalogirl - That's good advice regarding parents!

Thank you, Tiff! Catie would be so cute as a little witch.
Thank you, too, for the brace suggestions. The doc gave me one which only cost $180 yesterday! Velcro and straps for $180? Mercy. I will wear it and it is helping keep my leg in line. He told me to resume excercise on Monday so I am ready to hit the shops of Newbury St. and the mountains of Patagonia! Thanks for the good suggestions. You really are such a friend. And that's a RAVE!