Good morning!
missjanna, my daughterhad gall bladder surgery and breezed right through it, I expect you will too. ((F))
bonnie- sorry about the sore back, a little rest and pampering would be good at this time ((F))

Rave:
My son emailed (finally!) from India!

We left NY last year when it was 7 degrees, I am still not sorry I am in Florida where "cold" means 60 degrees :D
We painted a big red brick wall, in our family room, white and it looks Fab!
What would we have done if it had looked bad ?? :O

Paris, here we come-6 weeks to go!!

Rant/rave: It's Friday and I'm here.

Rant: Gallbladder surgery. I had mine removed about 10 years ago. My life improved after the surgery. Won't go into the yuckiness before surgery, but it needed to go.

Rave: Good family and friends. Seeing some people I haven't seen in awhile Saturday.

Rant: Might have more bad weather by then.

Rave: most people will help someone when they are in crisis. (insert applauding emoticon here)

*PS*
Patrick, I am glad your mom is settled once again, there are enough things to concern her/you so at least she can be tucked in, in a familiar and secure spot ((F))

more like jasbbbbbrrrr...

it's friday!

rave: my mom arrived safely in ecuador for an unusal vacation! :-"

rave: snow this w'end? o.k by me as long as a have a dvd, snacks, and pinot noir. >:D<

rave: had a very nice post-holiday holiday party for work this week. :->

rant/rave: overslept this a.m! (didn't set the alarm. my fault) but kitty was my alarm clock and jumped on my bed and licked my chin as if to say "wake up!"
((@))


have a nice, warm and safe weekend!

:D

Rant #1: Like jor, "I'll keep it to myself?"

Rant #2: People who make fun of the South's response to winter because they haven't experienced what actually happens here. The word is ICE!!!!! Being on the transition-line between snow and rain, which we often are, means a very hazardous mix of freezing rain and snow and sleet and stuff-whose-name-must-never-be-mentioned. The problem in the Triangle Wednesday was ICE topped with a bit of snow. Not the forecasters' fault, not even the street-crews' fault because they couldn't get out on the streets for all the traffic from the people who panicked during the squall and headed home (or closed school). If you want to make fun of TarHeels, it has to be because they didn't wait until the squall passed and the trucks had a chance to sand/salt the roads. As for the number of "plows" each town should own? Taxpayers get antsy about buying expensive equipment that may not even be used in some years, only once or twice otherwise -- and anyway, inches (1 or 12) of snow aren't the problem, it's the ICE!!!!

RAVE: Amid the dank chill and gloom of a Tar Heel winter day, when I miss the pretty dry flakes of an actual, "real" snowfall, it's great to 1)have gardenias blooming in my study and 2) be planning a trip to Bella Italia for the spring! Those websites of Capri, Amalfi, Como! Bellissimi!

Rave: Andrea Bocelli tkts go on sale Mon at 10am for March 26th show....I will be the first to buy, I hope! Rave: Had a great dinner at Greek Island Taverna last night! No Rants :-D

Cassandra: I don't think anyone makes fun of the south on their plight of icestorms. I live in Richmond and that is headed our way. I am hoping to keep electricity. Other than that, a few days at home with no activities or school are fine with us!.
I think what cracks me up is everyone driving like maniacs to get somewhere on icy roads in minivans! Go home! The roads are not salted or sanded (side roads) and therefore are super hazardous. So my Rant: People driving on icy roads in excess of the speed limit thinking that braking will stop them before they plow into me!
Rave: the fact that everything shuts down and we get some very needed family down time!

Rave: It's Friday and we are staying home for the first weekend in a very long time!

Rave: Glad I don't live in Raleigh with bonniebroad...Did you get caught in your snow "flurries"?

Rave: 113 more days until we spend a glorious 5 days on Oahu and the remaining 9 on Kauai! Plans are progressing oh so well.

Rant: Friend leaves for Argentina on vacation tomorrow. Wish I could go!

Happy Friday one and all.

missjanna, believe me the gall bladder surgery is mo betta than the attacks!

Rant: My beloved pooch is in surgery. I was so anxious, I couldn't sleep last night.
Rave: I went out for the first time in over a month.

Thanks again guys...

I find the more people I talk to, the more people I find that have either gone through it or know someone who has. And you're right iceeu2, there's no way the surgery can be any worse than the attacks!!! The pain is worse than anything I've ever known, and to last for hours on end! Ugh, it hurts thinking about it!!

Anyhow, this sucker has to come out. Now I just gotta watch what I eat until then....

Iceeu2, we are retired.... so we keep our behinds off the road when we hear the *ice word.* :-d Cassandra, you explained our weather situation very well! Thanks.... Scarlett & TandooriGirl, good advice! I'll listen... ;;)

Rant: Had to be at work at 7 a.m. for early meeting and have another one at noon.

Rave: Get off work at 2:00 because of the meetings.

Rant: It was 2 degrees, with wind chill of -12 when I left home at 6:45 a.m.

Rave: This is my last winter of having to brave the cold early every morning - April 1st is my last day of full time work.

Rant: January, February and March - the most depressing months of the year - unless you get to travel at some point.

Rave: April - no work and two trips - one to Montreal and Quebec City and the other to New Orleans.

Missjanna: I had the gall bladder surgery at 30 also, after two attacks. I've always said that a gall bladder attack is worse than going through labor. Ouch!

Keep warm, everyone, and have a great weekend!

missjanna, good luck on surgery!

MizScarlett, Happy One Year Florida Anniversary!

Ciggle, doggy will be fine, don't worry!

Rave: All is good!

Rant: Ocean's 12 wasn't a longer movie. Couldn't tell you the plot. The whole movie was eye candy.

Another Rave: Going to see Oceans 12 tonight! Now I am double-excited! (and we're celebrating our anniversary too..yet another rave!)

Happy Friday!!!

Rant: Jor doesn't want to complain today...

Rant: It's about 15 degrees and windy here in NJ! Brrrr!

Rave: TGIF! With a big snowstorm predicted here in NJ, we're getting ready with movies & snacks and some good wine to relax & stay home!

Rant combined with Mini-Rave: DH now has the cold that's "going around"...We had to cancel plans to "come see the baby" of our friends tomorrow night. Boo-hoo.

Missjana - good luck with your surgery. I'm sure you'll feel alot better. We need you healthy to come to the next NJ/NY GTG in May!!

Patrick: Glad to hear your Mom isn't in the hospital, and sympathetic to the healthcare politics too.

Ryan: Gotta love quick witted kids! Great story!

Jersey: Hope DH's dad will be ok & that your kids will help shovel!!

Chigalechanta: Saying prayers for your doggie!

Scarlett: Glad your wall came out beautiful!

Have a great weekend everyone! Trish

Rant:Forgot my cell phone at home and I will be in a blizzard during the long drive home without a phone.

Rave: That I have overcome my fear of driving in this stuff and have become quite expert at it. But do wish I had a bigger car for winter. I wish I could afford one that fits what I do and where I go also.

Rave: That weather doesn't bother our plans unless we are actually frozen to the ground at some point. And that God keeps giving us the good health to continue.

Rave: Less than a month until the Caribbean.

Rave: I got my cockatiel Sidney to say "Hello, Killer". Something he has not said for many, many years. He is 24 years old this Spring.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Happy Friday!

Rave: I need a quiet weekend

Rave: Next week is my last week at my job. I then have a week off before I start my new one. The hours will be good, the pay is great and I can put more money down on my student loans!

Rant: I really like the people I work with now and I am sad to leave!

Rave: Leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow for a week!
Rant:??????

Rant:the state of the health care delivery system absolutely!

Rant: the hullabaloo in DC

Rave:more daffs springing up and the tulip leaves have begun to pop up as well.

Rave:Budman is coming to California for barrel tasting in the wine country. Some of the usual suspects will be dining and/or tasting with him.

And about the gallbladder surgery..count me in as one who had the "old"procedure before the laproscopic one. I cannot tell you enough how much better you will feel.
Expect to be a bit gun shy at first about the foods that set you off pre-op..that fades:)

emd, Got to know. How cold was it in DC for the schools to open late on Tuesday?

girlonthego, "The south does not own any plows!LOL" I'm a norterner but I lived in San Antonio in 1985 when they got a freak snow storm of 15 inches!!! The city has no snow plows and the entire city, streets, freeways, and six military bases were closed for two days.
There were barracades blocking access to all the freeways and larger streets. 15,000 cars were crushed by covered parking roofs.

And the really bad part. While I was stranded away from my apartment two army buddies were stranded in my apartment and they ate an entire large box of Fillet Mignons I had recieved as a Christmas gift!!!!! Horrors! They somehow survived whithout eating the junk food. Those pigs!