Ok, Whew! As I just posted, I now see that you posted Jorr, while I was typing my post. Sooooo happy all is well!

\:D/

Hello!

Rave: I've finally decided to buy a new and better camera-Canon Digital Rebel XT. I've been agonizing for months over whether to buy and what to buy. I am going to get it this weekend and start playing with it so I'm ready for my next trip!

Rant: I have either an annoying head cold or bad allergies.

Ethel, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

Have a good weekend everyone!

I am so sorry Ethel, Sophie and I send our love.

Perhaps Sophie was presenting her "little present" yesterday in honor of your beloved Hector...

We here in this house are among many of you here that feel pets are family members, so you have our sympathy.

They are loyal, love only unconditionally and can make you smile on your worst day. Bless all of their hearts!

Sorry, Ethel.

Rave: bennnie got the expression "row to hoe" right - how many times have you heard someone say "road to hoe" - just a little pet peeve of mine. And that's great about your daughters, bennnie, and congratulations to you for your healthy perspective on it.

Rave: Big day tomorrow with my friends touring historic homes in Chester County, PA.

Rave: Beautiful weather here in the Brandywine Valley.

Rave: Husband surprised me with a night away at bed and breakfast for my birthday. Now that's a good husband (but maybe not quite as nice as the guy surprising his wife with the trip to NYC). :)

Rave: Tomatoes are ripening nicely indoors.

Sorry to hear about your kitty Ethel.

Suki - thank you for your kind words.

Ethel - my sympathy to you. Pets are dear to our hearts too.

Kurieff - that's sounds like a wonderful surprise to me. Happy Birthday!

Otto - I'm jealous - Barcelona has been a dream of mine since they hosted the Olympics. Have a great time.

JJ5 - Congratulations to the White Sox - enjoy the playoffs!

Ethel,

My sincere condolences. Pets are very often much better than people! They are so dear. I still cry for my little cockatiel Ollie, who died 10 years ago. It does get easier with time but never really goes away.

Pets are so dear, you really do miss them so much.

Leona, my cockatiel is almost 24 years old and acts like a very young dude. Sydney travels well with me back and forth from IL to MI every week or two. His original owner flew with him on ATA every year from AZ to Chicago; he had a special underseat cage. Someday when he is gone, I will try another but he will be impossible to replace.

Rave: Chicago White Sox!!

Rave: Heading to Pittsburgh next week - can't wait to see "Falling Water" again and see my DH see it for the first time - he is going to love it.

I would be happy to see Jorr not starting this thread. Not because I wish any misfortune, but since the forum is about travel, I would assume that Jorr was busy TRAVELING and enjoying his self. I cannot fathom getting oneself all worked up because the thread wasn't started at or near the stroke of midnight. Anyone can initiate a thread here; start it if it isn't there - obviously Jorr won't mind.

Rave: going to Williamsburg for both the CW activities and "Occasion for the Arts"
Rave: visiting DC on Saturday & playing tourhost for 2 travel companions who have never been to DC before. I fly to BWI tonight, and would have rather headed straight to WBurg, but friends won't be into BWI until Sat AM. We all have $25 "Ding" fares.
Rave: it looks like great weather thru Tuesday, when I return.
Rant: gotta return to work Wednesday
Rant: why can't I find an IRA that pays me now and lets me contribute later??

Rave:
Leaving tomorrow for a three day USS Trathen DD530 reunion in Warwick RI. Then on to Cape Cod and Maine for the rest of the week.

Birdie, I can appreciate your excitement seeing the bald eagle. Several years ago we were canoeing the Shenandoah River when one flew over. All the canoeists started shouting "eagle, Eagle". It was very fitting as it was the fourth of July.

Rave: Just back from a fabulous ten days in Oregon. We put 1400 miles on our rental car (and also discovered cheaper gas there than home in NC!!)

Rant: Haven't found time to complete my trip report, but no one responded to my initial post yesterday so I guess I'd better find a more provacative title.

Rave: Gorgeous weather has followed us back from the west -- temps are in mid 70s today. (my neighbor told me it was back up in 90s all the while we were gone)

Rant: We are in the midst of a drought!

Rave: My new dining room set is to be delivered today! Now we can eat someplace besides the breakfast bar and our screened in porch!

Ethel - I am SO sorry to hear about Hector. We lost our beloved Worf about 6 weeks ago, after doing everything we possibly could to help him get better. Even the vet was tearful when he told us what the situation was. Pets are definitely family members and the feeling of bereavement is genuinely difficult to bear. My thoughts are with you.

Rave: Our remaining kitty handled the cross-country move beautifully! Rainbow is now a seasoned traveller with a definite preference for Best Western Hotels. She even seemed to enjoy going around curvy mountain roads. For the last few days she didn't even protest about being crated for the day's drive. I'll post a trip report one of these days but we all made it to our new home safe and sound.

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

Ronkala - on your way from Warwick to the Cape, you might want to visit "Battleship Cove" at Fall River MA. Thev've several ships and boats, including battleship Massachusetts.

I'm a Tin Can Sailor too, DD-702, CGN-37. I'm a plankowner of CGN-37, now decommissioned; sure makes ya feel old!

Rave: more fabulous weather. 80 degrees and people are dressed for 20. Not me! It's a day for shorts.

Ethel --so sorry to hear about Hector. Maybe my little Reba was at the gate squeaking a welcome to him. (She squeaked instead of meowed.)

Rave: going to see "The Aristocrats" tonight. Hope no one brings a kid to this movie!

Rant: husband traveling a few days next week.
Rave: hope to tackle a few chores around the house while he's gone. Cleaning house is not my forte. A friend has loaned me "I, Claudius." Beats dusting, I'll bet.

Here's to Hector!May he be met by all our beloved pets.

Rave: New York City,The Hudson Valley and The Berkshires in 4 days!! We are both scurrying actually dashing about working,meeting and getting organized for 2 weeks away.

We watched the Bob Dylan documentry on PBS this week as well. LOVED IT!! What a a journey down memory lane. I'm certain there were many other folks like us thinking we were in our 20's all over again.

While writing to our friends about our upcoming trip I said we hope to remember the words to "Alice's Restaurant" while dining tres chic in Lenox and its surround. Here's another testament to time, that swift bandit: the last time I was in Lenox was to see Janis Joplin at Tanglewood.


Rant: the usual

Have a good week everyone.

ethel, I'm so sorry about your beloved Hector! Give yourself a couple of days and go to the humane society and adopt! While no kitty will ever take Hector's place, a new family member will go along way to healing your heart. I went through the exact same thing two days before Christmas.

Jorr, where are you?

Rave: Only 12 miles tomorrow!

Rant: 20 next Saturday!

Rave: I'm in the best shape of my life!

Rant: I am the biggest I've ever been!

Rave: Went out and bought 4 new pair of really rock and roll kick ass jeans.

Rant: What kind of idiot gains weight training for a marathon?

Rave: We're in Maine for 2 weeks!
Rant: Our first week is almost up.
Rave: Going to a Chowderfest in Ellsworth tomorrow.

So sorry Ethel...they are such family members.

GoTravel:
That extra weight is all the muscle you have put on. Gold stars for the training!!
RB - We will be here for the Occasion after all. Rave!!!

bennie...i had a few places higher on my list, (switzerland, wyoming, mexico)
but my father wants to go,(as my parent, he gets the same travel benefits i do w/my job)...and we've both never beenshould be great!
i keep forgetting life doesn't go as planned! :D