I'm whopped after putting out fires all day and am still "at work" on my patio...on 24/7 call minding the fort alone while awaiting another ship to arrive so I can update Grecce when she does.

GoTravel, no you aren't the only "loser." (Saw your thread from last weekend after the fact, even though I was in St. Maarten entertaining two teenaged girls there)

My DH is being awfully patient as we sit here having a cocktail on the patio, listening to Neil Young, as I answer phone calls and emails.

No specific question tonight, but feel free to talk about your recent travels. Vodka club soda for me, and only one since I have to keep my head on straight.

What's your poison and tell us about your recent travels. I gotta manage to stay up until at least 2300 berthing hour, so please help me do such, my Fodorite friends.

Statia, you do a lot worse than sitting on a patio in paradise with a vodka tonic and a handsome hub, even if you do have to wait for work details!

Thanks for reminding me. I think I'll pour a glass of wine. The wonderful trip report about the Grand Canyon reminded me of my most recent travels. I wish I had what it takes to climb up out of it. I might replicate the trip. You think I could be airlifted out?

Drinking an icy mug filled with Abita Amber beer. Perfect for the heat. DH and I are about to watch Memoirs of A Geisha (read the book so I'm sure I'll be disappointed).

Hi dear Statia, my only "travels" have been to the attorney's office in another city..thanks to my daughters "it is all about ME!" exhusband. But we make it fun, driving around the lovely neighborhoods after the appointments.

Did you hear about the LARGE Fodor's GTG..everyone is thinking about landing on your beautiful island. Won't you be thrilled, lol. A joke of course.

Just having a glass of chardonnay and will have a chicken "chileconcarne" I prepared last night..it is soooo good.

Hi Statia.

Nice to see a "poison" post. Keep beatin' the flames. I do it all day long too then try to shut it down for the evening. Doesn't always work.

I was in Charleston, WV last weekend. Just posted a mini-trip report. I don't expect much chiming-in. No biggie. I'm used to trodding where others wouldn't bother to go.

Statia,
Yes you should read the other thread concerning everyone on Fodors taking a red eye flight on a giant 747 with everyone in first class,etc.... landing at the end on your island paradise....LOL. it is a good thread. I believe JA Girl has sent you a note concerning it all on the Caribbean board... All in good fun of course.

I am traveling no where this weekend and I might open a beer later or opt for a cup of tea..

Hello Statia! I've missed you. (And you'll never be a loser!!)

Just finished up a nice Merlot. Most of it went into the pot for dinner (Lamb Shanks with Carmelized Onions and Shallots with Risotto Milanese - are you drooling yet???)

Only a few weeks until 5 week summer trip: Berlin, Dresden, Prague, and Switzerland!

I've missed this thread Statia, thanks for doing it again

I could really use some poison tonight! Having a nice salad for dinner, after dealing with difficult people all day. So a drink is in order!

Dealt with an idiot from the DMV today.
Then DH's flight home was delayed, so he missed his connection...so he won't be home til tomorrow. So we can't leave for Seattle til then. Poor guy...we will pick him up at the airport, and keep driving!

Then dealt with a jerk in town regarding sports gear for our son. Long story short...the wife got testy and hung up on me, lol! I was so mad til I realized how childish she was.

So batting 1000 today, lol!

We are headed back up to the Seattle area tomorrow for a party at our old friends/neighbors. It will be so good to see everyone all at once, and there will be a LOT of poison there She is a nurse and makes jello shooters out of those little pill dose cups, lol!

Statia, I was thinking about an hour ago about this old Friday night thread and how I miss it. And I have been thinking of you as I am trying to put together a trip w/my teen son to see family and some baseball games in Houston later this summer.

Speaking of putting out fires, I have been consumed this week w/the Sedona/Oak Creek wildfire, as I know people there and I travel there twice a year to hike and relax, and just love the place, plus we are thinking seriously of retiring there part of the year. This has been a stressful week, watching the fire unfold from afar while getting updates from my friend who owns a place in Oak Creek Canyon. But it appears that the firefighters are getting a good hold on the fire and really starting to get it contained as of today.

AND THAT IS A GREAT REASON TO CELEBRATE!! I am going to have a glass of something or other right now, since you have reminded me to do so.

Oh yes- the topic. I went to Japan in April w/my 13 yr old daughter, and mah1980, guess what, Momoirs of a Geisha was one of the movies on the plane (I had read the book also). I liked the movie- but then I am not a purist in that way. And in Kyott my daughter and I had tickets to Miyako Odori (spring dance) and saw the top Kyoto geisha do a really classic dance and musical performance! It was wonderful, and my daughter and I met up w/a fellow fodorite friend from the Asia board for that performance and dinner afterwards in Gion. A stunning evening that we will never forget.

Good evening all -

Not familiar with all of you but enjoy your scintillating posts tremendously.

I paid homage to my southern roots this evening with a dinner of chicken and dumplings, followed with a highball of Jack Daniels and diet Sprite. Will continue this tribute on Grayton beach in a few weeks -

It's unusually cool here for June. I think I'm going to take it outside - I hear the chiminea calling.

Wishing everyone peace and happiness on this lovely night ...

We'll be having an Oregon Pinot Gris and seared tuna as soon as my husband returns from tennis. Can't start without him. . .

Kopp---tell your friend Genie I will wear her name and carry high hopes for her in my heart. The run is on Sunday, a beautiful course along the lake.

About Zermatt---I found a 3-night possibility in Chalet Allegra; I don't know where it is but if you happen to see it, please let me know if it is well-situated. I didn't know you were going to Berlin, Dresden, and Prague as well---good choices (my son's favorites, all).

Catbert---unless you have severe problems wit health or joints, you CAN do the hike. You will need to get in shape for it, a worthy goal. Go in April or other times when it is cooler. I was amazed when we were down there in April, waiting for dinner at Phantom Ranch, listening to the ranger talk. She said that of the 5 million!! visitors who come to the Grand Canyon each year, only one-half of one percent see the canyon bottom. That includes rafters, mule riders, and hikers. Are you the one who said the average person spends 15 minutes at the rim? What a shame. We've already made reservations to hike it again next year (there's the travel part, Fodors).

You can also pay to have a mule carry all your stuff up, so you don't have to.

Have a great weekend, everyone---it's lovely here in Seattle.

Hi Brookside, welcome!!! It is real hot in our Sacramento Valley, 103 today. So I envy you with your cool weather, it sounds delightful.

LoveItaly--It is supposed to be roasting here this weekend, so I am really looking forward to Seattle with the cooler temps. Course next week will still be hot. Will be meeting Scarlett though...so we will have to stop for lemonade somewhere to cool off

Hi mms, I sure wish I was up there in your beautiful PNW. 103 is a bit hot, lol, it has been this hot for a few days and yesterday our local radio station said it will stay like this for at least the end of next weekend (not this weekend), sigh.

LoveItaly--They say it will be over 100 on Monday here! Way too hot for us wimps. Our son will be at football camp too during that...I do not envy him at all. I am just so happy that we had a/c installed last year

enzian, I'll copy the info on Allegra. The location is very near the Kleine Matterhorn lift, which would be at the far top end of the village. Not a problem, just an FYI. I'll check out the place, also the views to the Matterhorn. Have you received their handy dandy map, with locations of the hotels and apartments? Really helpful in planning.

Good luck on your run on Sunday, and my heartfelt thanks for remembering Genie!

Hi, everyone! I too am glad to see the return of this Friday night thread! Thanks, Statia. Hope we can return the favor by keeping you entertained enough to stay awake!

My poison is a good, albeit inexpensive, dark beer. I'm happy to say though that I'm not drinking it to combat heat. After several days that required a/c, it's actually almost chilly out this evening. A nice change!

Speaking of heat, mms, 100 is too hot for football camp! Especially in an area of the country where you're not used to extreme heat. If they don't postpone it, I hope they're at least very, very careful to keep the kids hydrated. The one year that my son played, the coaches made a big show of being very concerned about water when they were talking to the parents. But apparently they were not so concientious about it when we weren't around.

I think I'm suffering from debilitating wanderlust! I know I have no right considering the wonderful trip we took to Ireland in March. But it's summer, school is out, which means I'm not working... I always have a tendency to feel this way in the summer. But I think the terrible summer we had last year is feeding into it too.

I've got to find some way to shake it though. I have so much to do in the house and I'm accomplishing nothing. I feel like I want to be out and about all the time. Even if it's just running errands.

We're going to be taking some weekend college visit trips soon. Maybe that'll help to get this out of my system!

Have a good weekend!

CAPH--Thanks for your wise words This camp, they are verygood about the water breaks. A lot of parents stay and watch, so they are under parents eyes all the time. They bring iced water around, even though the kids are to bring their own. Two years ago we had a heat wave the same week. Last year it rained, lol!

kopp---yes, I have lots of maps of the town, but they can't tell you about the views, etc. There are some places in Switzerland we know so well, but we have never been to Zermatt yet (except for one of my sons, who skied the Haute Route last March, and ended up in Zermatt). We had a Swiss friend of my husband's here for dinner last night; he's in town for a big RNA meeting at UW. He loves Saas Fee and goes there for 2 weeks every summer, and thinks I'm crazy for considering Zermatt instead. But I've wanted to go to Zermatt ever since we started skiing at Snowbird (Utah), and then started spending summer weeks there too---it is a "sister city" to Zermatt. So maybe it's a loyalty thing. And I've always wanted to see the Matterhorn, and hike in full view of it. We've admired the mountain from afar at Bettmeralp many times. . . It would be nice to see it up close.

and mms---it's supposed to up around 90 this weekend in Seattle. Welcome!