Rave: Out to a tappan-yaki dinner tonight with eight of us celebrate a birthday today! Should be fun.

Rave: DD finished out her water polo season and is up for MVP at the awards banquet. They had a great season.

Rave: Lots of new snow up in the mountains, snowboarding season is starting early this year. Our condo is booking fast for the Dec. months, I hope we get to use it! LOL

Rave: Had a fun dinner with DD & DH last night our local Red Robin. Lots of strawberry lemonade and Red Robin fries before birthday shopping!

Rave: Started swimming more laps at the gym after my bike/weight training workouts.

Rave: I'm starting to plan for our Santa Barbara anniversary trip in early December. I'll have lots of questions later on about that.

Rave: On Tuesday, George Bush will be re-elected for another four years!

Rant: Farenheit 911 was a horrible movie. I just got around to watching in last week, and turned it off before it was even finished. I can't believe that made it to the big screen last summer.

Rave: Kids are off to concerts and Magic Mountain for the weekend. It will be rather quiet around our house for a couple of days.

Rave: The rain! We needed it so badly here, now everything looks like Oregon, LOL! Have a spooooooky weekend! ***kim***

Faina--Do you mind me asking a personal question about your stillborn? My email is [email protected]

I've never been through this and none of my friends have experienced it so hope you don't feel I'm invading your privacy...

This has been one helluva sucky day but I appreciate everyone's good wishes.

GoTravel--a friend is making calls but I needed to tell my parents myself. It was so hard but they were more worried about me than anything. My poor mom and dad are so sad. That's why I didn't want to have to tell them...

OWJ, I'm so glad your friend is able to take that burden off you and your husband! Your parents will be fine and now is the time to concentrate on you.

One tip, when I went through a very serious illness with my husband, I let my friends and family take over. I told one person how I was feeling, what I needed and God Bless them, they sprang into action. If you aren't up for company, don't feel like you can't tell your friend and let him/her spread the word. Ditto if you are feeling opposite. Let the people who love you take care of you.

{{{{OneWanderingJew}}}} Cyber hugs. I am so sorry to hear your news. That is heartbreaking. Prayers that you'll find comfort and consolation from those all around you who love and grieve with you. Your parents will surprise you, their anguish will be for you and your husband without a thought of disappointment, other than yours. Their hearts will ache for you. As you will find years from now, you will feel your grown children's anguish almost as acutely as when they were still at home with you.

cd...sorry too for what is going on in your lives. These things end as suddenly as they begin--one day, one fortuitous contact--good luck in the hunt.

And Bonnie--Terrific!

Nasty little buggers aren't they Scarlett! Ouch...then itchy itchy. My bites normally clear up with no problem.

GoTravel...wow, welcome to FL! Will he start another restaurant?

And now some rants and raves...

Rave: I voted today

Fact: I stood in line for 2 hours 20 minutes to do it. But we all knew lines were long and growing by the day. We came and enjoyed a sunny day and visited with everyone standing in line with us. Fine morning, really!

BUT...RANT: ABC news was outside our polling place with an anchor animatedly and loudly discussing the long lines and how people are growing frustrated and angry. SO untrue!!! Most of us were having a reasonably good time and everyone was just waiting patiently. The reporter was the only one who sounded frustrated and angry! LOL

Rant: Press trying to make news, rather than simply report it.

Rave: Next week at this time we won't have to suffer through anymore political ads.

OWJ, seconding GoT - please do take care of yourself this weekend and let others help, too, if you need them. Do you have a rabbi you can talk to down there?

Many, many hugs, remember that you did nothing wrong, and also remember you've got a heck of a lot of people sending prayers to you and your husband. You are not alone.

Rave: We are on vacation in beautiful Big Sky, Montana.
Double Rave: 12 inches of beautiful snow here. Look out one window and see the lake...look out the other window and see the snow covered mountains!
Rant: Have to go home on Sunday and report back to the real world.

OO
"Rave: Next week at this time we won't have to suffer through anymore political ads"

No, but depending on your side of the line, half of us are likely to be suffering from one of the parties responsible for those ads.

OWJ - I am so very sorry for your loss.

OWJ, I am very sorry for your loss. The supportive comments by fellow posters should be helpful in some way I hope.

OWJ, It's hard to come up with the words and to say "I know how you feel" sounds so trite and shallow. Sadly, many of us women, including myself have had things go completely wrong during pregnancy. It IS devastating and you will hold that little spirit close to your heart for the rest of your life.

Please know I do feel for you and wish you the best in the future.

OO I'm not sure! The company that bought him wants him to go to work for them and it would be in South Florida.

I think right now he just wants to take a couple of months off and consider his options.

He's heading to Palm Beach next week to spend some time with his best friend which I'm sure involves fishing, brown liquor, and a golf course or two or three.

I told him to do whatever makes him happy because he's really worked a lot over the past couple of decades which I'm sure you can totally relate to. The hospitality service industry can suck the life right out of you.

Thanks for asking!

Oh, OWJ, my heart is breaking for you. I have family and close friends who have been through this and I know how utterly devastating it is. I pray that God will give you peace and comfort.

OWG-My deepest sympathy. I miscarried at exactly 3 months when I thought everything was going to be ok. I understand what you are going through. Is there a support group in your area?

I was going to post some rants and raves but after reading OWG's post, my rants seem trivial.

BTW Ladies-October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (even though it's almost over.) Don't forget to get your mammogram.

OWJ- I'm so sorry for your loss. Please know that lots of us care and wish we could help you at this terrible time. Cant remember the hugs, so here's a kiss

OWJ~ I am so sorry for you & your husband. I don't know what else to say except that my thoughts & prayers are with you....please take care of yourself & each other!!!

OWJ - There are no words. Our prayers are with you.

OWJ..so sorry to hear the news.

OWJ, What devastating news to hear.
You are in good loving hands here. Some who have been through the same heartache.
We all send you love and hugs and as Scarlett said real ones.
This event took the rant out of me, too picayune.

OWJ,
Words are inadequate at such a sorrowful and difficult time. You will both be in my thoughts. STW

Ryan,
Good luck to your brother and may his time apart from you and your children go by very quickly.

All I can say is that I will be happy to see my husband when he comes home from his trip and thankful that during this week I will have an opportunity to hug my sons.

Rave-Fodors People

Rant-Having to live through life's unforseeable tradegy's.

OWJ-I join the rest of your Fodors friends in sending love and peace.