Arrgh. My post got et!

Let's see: I keep forgetting to ask you guys. My parents have decided that they want to take all four Hildy Kids, their spouses and their spawn, (all 19 of us) on an all expenses paid vacation someplace warm this winter. Any suggestions? We're on the East Coast, so it has to be pretty easily accessible from there. We were thinking that it might be fun to rent either one big house, or a bunch of small ones all near each other. GrandKids range in age from 2 to 16, so we were thinking someplace beachy, although the dreaded term 'Disney Cruise' has floated up. I'd really like to have a better alternative than that, however. There's also the possibility that we might go someplace warm next summer, like the Outer Banks or some such. SO many possibilities, so little money.

Yogi, Yay! for you for going to your appointment in spite of your apprehension. I'm sure everything will work out fine, but it's kind of scary nonetheless. I'll be thinking of you, as I will Traceybee. I hope Sierra is comfortable and happy.
Skagirl, I really want to see that film too. I'm amazed and delighted at the overwhelming response it's getting.

ETA: a game that I'm very bad at: Penguin launch
Click on the Yeti to launch the penguin, and then again to bat.

I'm so glad that Sierra is home with you, Tracey Bee. I'm sending you both lots of warm thoughts and blessings.

I'm off to Vermont on Tuesday for the Yogi Family Vacation. Lots of packing and planning in my weekend. And rest. Lots of rest.

I actually love going to Disney World, Hildy. It's so kid friendly. Plus, Mr. Yogi and I can slip off for wonderful romantic evenings on the roller coaster type rides and leave Little Yogi with his grandmother. We go about once a year. It's so nice to get away in the winter. Are you thinking the Carribean or Florida? I wonder how much beach time you would get in Florida in the winter. Best to plan on having a nice heated pool nearby as winters in Florida are not that hot. I've never rented a house, so I don't have any recommendations in that area.

But Hurray for Ma and Pa Hildy! What a pair of swell parents they are!

I may have to head down to the parade this weekend to see if I can spot skagirl prancing and dancing!

Hildy, definitely go - I got lucky & Michael Moore did a Q&A afterwards since it was a special showing with the ACLU. He was great.

Wow, Hildy, lucky you! I'd definitely go. Although, assuming they're not paying to take 19 people out of the country, I can't offer much advice on destinations. But seriously, go.

Hey, TraceyBee, my Dad's a vet. He specialises in large animals (horses, cows, etc.), which is why I didn't ask him for any advice for you until now, but I just remembered a small handbook on cat illnesses that he has. I looked it up and one area said that a practical way of easing the pain of a cat that's coughing is to take her into a steamy atmosphere such as a bathroom where a large, hot bath has been run. The steam will reduce congestion. I know she's had an operation and everything already, but I just thought it might be of some help.

Tracybee I hope Sierra gets better really soon, and thanks for the info on cats and coughing. My parents have a cat, she just had a check up and everything is fine with her..thank god..My thoughts are with you and mr bee, and Sierra.

Hildy
can I be adopted by you guys???..I won't take up much room i Promise.hee

Aussiegirl. When are you going to Venuatu?? say hi too peachy for me..hee

Everyone have a great weekend

Wow, Hildy, that's great news! If you really want somewhere warm to go during your winter, why not come over here? Beaches, incredible wildlife and scenery, different (!) food, and great people who speak the same language (well, almost). I'm happy to be your translator!

Yogi enjoy Vermont. I only drove through a small part of it many years ago, and have always wanted to go back, so think of me while you're there! Green with envy!

ska, I'm waiting for that film to come out here, which I think is next week. I really liked his "Bowling for Columbine", which moved me to tears. I read in this morning's paper, there is a huge campaign to discredit Michael Moore, presumably from the US government, and I'm sure the same will happen here with our government. His movies and books sure make you think, really think, and they are done with a lot of humour too, so that it's not all doom and gloom.

teena I really wish I could hop over to Vanuatu. It's so close to here, only 1,000 miles or so. If you look at a map of Australia, go half way down the east coast and find Brisbane, where I live. And if you go a little bit east and then north over the Pacific Ocean, you will find Vanuatu. Lots of Aussies have been holidaying there over the years, but sadly, I am not one of them. Interestingly, Richard Branson's airline, Virgin Blue, are starting flights from Oz to Vanuatu in September, which is around the time S9 starts - I think they will have quite a bit of interest in Vanuatu from the show.

Anyway, I heard that Peachy arrived in Vanuatu yesterday, and that filming starts on Monday. Roll on September!!!!

HI EVERYONE! School is over and I am back on my bed working on my graduate (home)work. This is how I first met you all - playing on the internet instead of working on thesis.

I actually came here to post about the F9/11 movie too. I saw it yesterday and I am still thinking about it. It was so moving. Quite sad, quite scary but I highly recommend it. I came here to talk about it cause my friend I saw it with went off on her summer vacation and I am just sitting here thinking about that movie.

Ska that must have been really cool having Michael Moore answer questions. I am envious. I went to see it yesterday because of all the crazy movements to stop the movie from showing. Last I heard there were a bunch of websites with theater managers' emails so you could contact them and ask them not to show the movie. I read this morning that there is a movement to stop MM's movie ads on TV. Probably a waste of time at this point cause the word is out!

Ok I am done preaching. I really came here cause I knew you guys would care regardless of your beliefs! Let me know if you see it and want to discuss it.

Dodo - belated Congrats on the new job! My fingers and the dog's paws are crossed for Sierra. Everyone else, enjoy the weekend!

Well, we got the biopsy results yesterday from the vet. Sierrra has metastatic adenocarcinoma (sp?). We have decided not to pursue chemo, as it would most likely not give her any additional time, and we don't want to cause her any more suffering. The surgery seems to have relieved the pressure that must have caused the coughing. Sierra has been resting comfortably; she spent part of yesterday curled up next to MrBee, purring, and slept on our feet last night. She's also eating, not a lot at a time, but she nibbles throughout the day.

Our poor kitty. She'll be getting her stitches out in a couple of weeks, and we'll talk to the vet then about how best to take care of her during the time she has left with us.

Thanks again, MM friends, for all your good wishes.

Hey guys, I see a lot of people talking about Farenheit 911 but has anyone been to see that other documentary movie, Supersize Me? Sorry if this was out ages ago in the US, but I only just read about it in a newspaper over here yesterday. It's coming out here soon. I just wanted to know if anyone has seen it, and what did you think of it?

Oh Tracey Bee, my heart sincerely goes out to you and Mr. Bee. I was so hoping for a different, more encouraging outcome. I'm so glad that you do have time with your sweet Sierra to enjoy her. I remember feeling a particular special closeness during this period with my cat that was very meaningful to me. I hope that you and Mr. Bee experience this as well. I'm sending you blessings.

I must admit that I am a terrible documentary film goer. I find that every year I become more and more interested in stories and tales. What am I doing watching reality television then? I don't know. I'm a big fan of MB though, because his reality television really can take on an epic tale quality when he does it well - like with My Man Matthew, for instance. I suppose he tried to do that with Rupert, but I can't get beyond what I see as Rupert's abusive tendencies. Anyway, I am so MBs bitch. I would like to see Supersize Me, Chikochamp, but I probably won't because big plates of food make me feel sort of nauscious. I find that very unappealing. I also am not fond of thyroidal houses (houses that look like they have some sort of hormone issue) and overstuffed furniture. Maybe I spent too many years outside of the US, but I think too much of a good thing is frequently just too much. Except maybe chocolate chip cookies. And brownies. I'm pretty sure that F 911 would also make me unhappy and uncomfortable too, so I will probably go see The Notebook instead. Last night, Mr. Yogi and I watched John Travolta in Phenomenon, and that was very, very nice. Part of me wants to be more thoughtful, and the other part of me is just tired of thinking so much. On Friday nights, I suppose I end up taking care of the second part more than I should.

Chiko Supersize Me is out here right now, and is the #1 movie at the moment. Have not seen it yet, but am hoping too. I really want to see F 9/11 even before that. Also there's another movie that a friend of mine in the US emailed me about that she said was an absolute must-see - I think it was callled "What the *@%*# do we know", or something like that. I'll get the details and get back to you.

Ricci it's great to see you here again!

Dear traceybee, our thoughts are with you. I feel like I love this cat, I'm sure many of us feel like that.

Yogi I hope you are resting up this weekend. Sounds like you've had a full on week and now you need to look after yourself. Also, you need to be ready for Vermont, so take it easy, mate.

Well, I'm off to lunch with a bunch of friends, while Mr Aus gets to look after the chilluns!

It was a glorious weekend in NYC, and today is a gorgeous day. I hope skagirl had a brilliant time marching. I saw lots of paraders in various outfits walking around my neighborhood, but I didn't go this year. I stayed close to home. Mr. Yogi bought me the new Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum book. Oh, it's so good. Lots and lots of Ranger - and even better, he is Armani-ized. Yummy. Y'all go out and get this book!

Yogi, I was just coming here to post about my joy at seeing the new Stephanie Plum book at my local wholesale club. I snatched it right up and am in the middle of it. I don't approve of Stephanie and Ranger, however. Morelli is the Real Deal, as far as I'm concerned. I'm a Morelli 'shipper, gosh darn it!

Oh Hildy, how ardently can I disagree? Morelli, though appealing, has not the total toe curling, temperature raising intensity of Ranger. And now Ranger in cashmere and Armani? Oh my heck, it's almost too much to read about. I dated a few Rangers, back in the day, and Oh What Fun. Makes me tingle just thinking about it! We'll have to see what suctionprints thinks. She's a fan too.

By the way, Hildy if you have any golfers in the group, I can recommend Kiawah Island in South Carolina. It's a gated island and there are lots of houses on the beach to rent. The tide is low and gentle, perfect for children. Lots of turtles to watch. It's not that warm in the winter, but if you were to go in March or April, I think you would enjoy it very, very much.

Need to get stuff ready for Intern2, but wanted to drop a quickie. First, TraceyBee sorry about Sierra, and hope you have some good time with kitty.

Second, I did march, well, more of a snail-paced walk, which stopped every block. Really, the stopping at every corner for the second & third miles was frustrating. But it was pride-riffic, and it seemed kind of sedate from other years. However, lots of families with babies, lots of young people of every color & of many, many cultures, lots of positivity, which made for a good & new pride experience. While I'm not GLTBQ, I can't stomach the thought that anyone would be denied equal rights on the basis of how they were created.

After the parade & running home to wash my face & change shirts, I met up with a few TWoPpers, including Whereverthefk, DouginTx & our own Last Dodo, and had too many margaritas. Hee. Last Dodo says hello to all, and he is liking the new job & much more flexible schedule.

OK, need to get some work done. Hello to everyone!

See, here's my problem with Ranger: I dated a few Rangers back in the day, too, although sadly they did not drive Porsche Turbos. However, I'm oh so very happy that I didn't marry any of them. They would not be good for the long haul. Morelli, however, has that danger! Danger! Will Robinson sexy thing going on, but he'll stick around for the long haul, too. And deep down inside, Stephanie knows it.
All that said, Ranger is hot. Particularly his black silk boxer shorts.

How true - Ranger would not the perfect husband make. But let's face it, Stephanie is probably the worst wife material ever. Any man that marries her has to have a death threat. I don't want to ruin it if you haven't finished the book yet, but Ranger actually goes where Morelli fears to tread, and I love him all the more for it - black silk boxers or... not [fanning self]
I really enjoyed spending time in Ranger's apartment. I think between packing I'm going to try to make a trip to the store to find some shower gel....

Sending you blessings, Tracey Bee.



You go, skagirl! I understand there were lots of bridal gowns in the parade this year. I hope that next year we just have lots and lots of weddings to celebrate. I can't wait to give my first bridal shower all for men. Won't that be a refreshing change?

I am an idiot--what does GLTBQ mean? The closest thing I can think of is Gay Like The Barbeque Queen. And I know that ain't right.

Very close, Hildy: gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual, queer -- then some place add on "identified" at the end, and some add in various other acronyms. It took me a good couple minutes to remember the real letters, and not the way I usually write GLTBQRVWXYZ-*. Mmm....barbeque...

Here you go, yogi: Bulgari shower gel for men.
I wonder if there will be a run on this product. I'm certainly curious.

Have a lovely trip to VT! And thanks for the explanation, skagirl. I'm scandalized to find that I am not au courant in correct terminology. I still like BBQ, though.

Me too! Now I'm craving some ribs....mmm...ribby goodness.

Yogi you rock! And have a great trip.

Mmmmm, Bulgari shower gel - thanks for the link Hildy! Our anniversary is July 14th (Bastille Day!) I think I'll give Mr. Yogi some of that so that he can smell like Ranger. Yummy.

I can never remember what all the letters mean either, but now I want BBQ too, Skagirl!

Hey guys!

I didn't know what GLTBQ meant either; I figured it was another American term I hadn't heard, and I haven't heard it used here, but I'm glad to know now.

And Will Robinson? Surely you don't mean the little twerp from Lost in Space? Those books sound interesting, must see if they're available here.

skagirl good on you for marching! And make sure you send our love to Dodo.

Today we celebrated my nephew's 8th birthday with a party in the park. Lots of cake and yummies, pass the parcel and even a pinyata (hope I spelled that right, and luckily no one got clobbered). The kids ate nothing buy sweet things the whole afternoon. Big Little Aussie is staying over at the birthday boy's house for a couple of days, so I am here with Littlest Aussie and we're just hanging out together. Here's a little message from my sweet 3 year old (he's pleading with me)

oioiiu98dhweqnfwel;;;afwenvvvvvaaaa
p94iii[=4aaaaa4dfzzmfdswmmqqbbbbwe

There - did you get all that?

There is a freaking virus that has infected many computers at work. I've been here less than an hour and already my computer has restarted three times. That means all my TWoP arrows are outdated, and I haven't been here since June 18. What a pain in the ass.

It's one of those that tells you in advance your system will shut down in 60 seconds and has a count down on screen as you rush to save all your work and shut programs down. So annoying.

On the positive side, I had a good vacation last week.

oh IMissEthan it's goiing to be a mess. I had that fun too and it just destroyed things- back up asap!!!

Where was vacation?

And Aussie thank you for the message, but it's all Aussie to me :)

iuaadfksknknhoaaaaa right back atcha, Littlest Aussie!

Sorry about your virus, iME. That sucks. Hope you have a good IS person to attend to it.

Oddly, I am now craving ribs...

Littlest Aussie enjoyed his personal message, Heidihug, thank you.

iME, there are some terrible viruses doing the rounds. We get about 5 of them every day. Luckily Mr Aussie is a computer nerd and has all the latest virus protection in place, so they're all quarrantined.

Hey...just popping in for a brief hello! Thanks, skagirl, for giving my regards--I asked her to because I've been so swamped that I have barely had a chance to read here let alone post!! I listed this no-fee cheap apartment near me and my phone's been ringing off the hook. And since with this company our contact # is our cell #, I feel like I'm being pecked at by vultures and my time is no longer my own. Because they call day and night and all want no-fee studios in the same price range & neighborhood &...I mean, they just don't exist...that one was a rarity...and then they get all pissy. I've been so swamped with clients that between that and being new, my listing count is down and we got a group email ordering us to get it up. It's pretty easy to get them--you just make an appointment to go out and photograph the new listings, basically--but yesterday I made 4 appointments and ALL fell through--already rented, no photos allowed, yadda yadda. Rented two apartments, including the hot no fee one, but that one I spent until 9 at night the other day renting to someone where I didn't know they had a signed agreement with another agency to rent it from them. It seems to be just about all straightened out now, but along the way the landlord yelled at me that I was unethical and could lose my license for this. Which isn't true, but still--JOY.

I honestly don't know what I've gotten myself into. I did this to give me greater flexibility and control in my life, and now I feel like it's taking up my entire life, which is the last thing I wanted. I miss keeping up here, among other things...I feel like I'm out of touch with good friends. I'm just going to get through these next two days the best I can and then I have four days off to regroup and rethink...two personal, two where the office is closed. But right now, even though I'm happy I rented 2 places within my first 2 weeks, I am REEEEEEALLY stressed out!!!

Hope you're all doing well!

Hi Dodo, welcome back, we've missed you. It's great that you managed to find the time in such a busy and crazy week to post. Now, please, r-e-l-a-x......
Sorry it's been so hectic for you, but remember, things are usually like that in the first days of a new job, and I'm sure that things will settle down for you really soon. Here's sending you lots of serenity, dear Dodo, and success too. You deserve it! Enjoy your 4 days off, and don't forget to turn your phone off!

Okay, now you have hit on a subject about which I care deeply.

Morelli is the shit. Ranger is just messing with her head, and always has been. That kinda guy . . . man, you can fool around with him, but if she lets him get in the way of marrying the guy she ought to marry, she's a dummy.

In fact, I have long felt that the biggest threat to those books is that she's been dicking around for so long, unable to commit to her obviously fantabulous boyfriend that I'm starting to lose all respect for her.

Morelli 4-EVA!

Yaaaay Miss Alli! says the Other Morelli Supporter.

In fact, that is my big problem with this 10th book. It's become all about Stephanie the Relationship Waffler, and not Stephanie the Bounty Hunter. She just gets randomly buffetted about by events without particularly taking any action on her own. The early books had her learning, and figuring stuff out, and actually taking responsibility for her own actions. Now, it's all Grandma and Lula set pieces. (Of course, I still bought the book and have already read it, you notice. And if Morelli ever wants to play choo choo with me I will not argue.)
Here
is an interesting analysis of what's wrong in Plumland. I don't agree with all of it, but some is right on the money.

Okay, I've got to get me this book. What's the name of it again, and the author please? Too lazy to look back a few pages.

What a great article, Hildy. I would have to agree on almost every point. And yet? I still enjoyed the tenth book. I'm hoping the tenth was really a set up for something fabulous to happen in the eleventh. I think we were introduced to Ranger's inner sanctum because he is going to feature more prominently in the next book. At least that was what I was thinking while I read the book. Now after reading the article, I have to admit that it might be that Evanovich is just phoning it in.

Though I do think Evanovich is setting up Morelli to be the Marrying Man, I find him less desirable as a husband than Ranger. I hate the way Morelli tells Stephanie what to do. He really orders her about, and I can't stand this in a man at all. He also wants to dictate her comings and goings. Now some would say that this is love and some would say that Stephanie needs this because she is stupid, and I would have to admit that those points have a certain validity, but I would have the same reaction as Stephanie. If someone did that to me, I would move back to my apartment, or perhaps in with Ranger (mmm, a girl can dream!) But I would imagine that Stephanie's fiercely independent spirit is the part of her I relate most strongly to. (When I was first dating Mr. Yogi, a couple of his friends saw me at a bar. They went up to him the next day and told him that they "kept an eye on me for him." He told them that they didn't need to do that, and agast they said "you really keep her on a long leash, don't you." Mr. Yogi said "I don't keep her on any leash at all." And that was the truth. I traveled for four months at a time all over the place right up to two months before we married. He had no idea where I was most of the time, but he always loved hearing all my crazy adventures. He enjoyed the adventuruous part of me.) Now to me, that's much more Ranger's way of relating to Stephanie's than Morelli's, so I'm definitely a Ranger girl until Morelli lightens up a bit.

You definitely have to get these books, Aussie Girl. They are the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. You will recognize them because they all have numbers - One for the Money, Two for the Dough, etc. I turned my friend whose husband is having the kidney transplant on to these books. She is from New Jersey and her father is/was a narcotics cop, so now she insists that we have to have a Stephanie Plum Jersey weekend. I am apprehensive because we had a big joke about the hotel. I told her that I have to have clean sheets on the bed. She and her cousin looked at me deadly serious and said, "that's going to be hard." Heh. I guess I'll bring a sleeping bag. And hot rollers. And a curling iron. Does anyone have a curling iron I can borrow?

Please give Littlest Aussie a hug from Yogi Bear, Aussie Girl and tell him I think he is brilliant and has a great future as a political writer. Love to you, Last Dodo. I'm glad you have a vacation. I know that you will have a particularly fabulous time on Saturday, so I'm not worried about you. And welcome home from vacation, ImissEthan. I hope that virus isn't catching. It sounds awful.

And on that note, when a hotel says they have DSL, they should have DSL. I'm just sayin'... Sheeesh.

I'm not sure what the virus was, but it did shut down my computer 6 times in less than an hour before the techies were able to install some kind of patch. I don't pretend to understand stuff like that, but I'm sure the originator is some 15 year old in a remote section of the world. Whoever you are kid, screw you for messing up my Wednesday.

Tonight is Sting + Annie Lennox at Jones Beach. I got tickets for me and my mom (she loves them both), which is the only reason I would spend the $ they're daring to charge for this tour. Remember when rock concerts were $20? Yeah, I'll just use my walker to make it over to the rocking chair...

Okay, I see your point about the macho bossiness of Morelli., Yogi. That would yank my chain in a large way, too. I come from a long and distinguished line of bossy, independent women, and nobody is allowed to put me on any leash of any sort.
All that said, I can't help but wonder if Ranger doesn't shut her down as much b/c he doesn't care as much. And when he does shut her down, he does it through his men, as though it's not important enough for him to do himself.

ETA: imissethan, I'm pretty sure I had that same virus quite some time ago. It came in via my broadband instead of email attachments, and it was a pain in the arse to get rid of. Hope your concert provides solace! How very cool that you get to go with your Mom. I love my mom big buckets full, but I can't imagine her at an Annie Lennox concert. Lenox China Tea party, yes.

When I explained the love for Stephanie Plum to my boyfriend (that my mother and I both have), he proceeded to tell me a story about a private eye in Trenton. She is an older lady (white hair) and carries a dog leash in her bag. When she finds the mark, she wanders around his/her yard looking for Spot.

It's true, and it is in Trenton (where Stephanie works). Lawyer-boy is pretty active in the area and has heard numerous stories regaling this woman.

relax Dodo, big changes take a few weeks to get used to IMO.

Speaking of changes, I have to go live in a DORM for July. BLEAH. Classes from 8-5:30p.m. but I will try and sneak on-line. At least the entire school is wireless. And of course I will be a big step closer to a big old doctorate. Ciao

Yogi are you enjoying Vermont? Thanks for the book details, I will see if I can get them here. Littlest Aussie has been hugged from you! I too think he would have a great future as a political writer - his aunt, my sister, who is also his godmother, lectures on international relations all around the world, and writes columns for the paper etc, and he does tend to take after her. Her writing however, makes a lot more sense than his!

iME Sting and Annie Lennox? I would love to see them! We get artists coming here so infrequently because we're the other side of the world, and tickets are so pricey, that I rarely get to see any of them. I did see Sting way back in 1989, and it was a good concert. Annie Lennox has an incredible voice, and I love her music.

Ricci the time in the dorm will go fast, and just keep thinking of that doctorate. Try to check in when you can.

Have a great weekend!

Hi Meet Marketers!! It's been a while since I've had time to post. Tracey I'm so sorry the prognosis for Sierra kitty isn't the best. At least you do still have some time with her.

Dodo I'm so thrilled about your new job! You'll be missed around here though, post whenever you can.

I definitely want to check out the books that y'all are talking about. I'm a voracious reader, have been since I was just a little kid. How old is the first book in the series? Would it be hard to find in my local bookstore?

iME that Sting/Annie Lenox concert sounds fabulous! I went to see Van Halen last weekend in Albany. They ROCKED!! I had a fantastic time. Alex Van Halen's drum solo just blew me away, that man is just so awesome!!

Well, unfortunately, I have to go get ready for a wedding. One of my best friends is getting married today. The unfortunate part is that she's marrying a total asshole. I just can't stand that guy! But he likes himself well enough for the both of us, so it's all cool I guess.

Have a great weekend everyone, happy 4th!!

Happy Birthday USA! A fabulous 4th of July to everyone, especially Aussie Girl in the Land Down Under! I hope you are finding especially festive ways to celebrate your special day!

I am enjoying the green-ness that is Vermont. It's a seriously verdant place. And it's so odd there are miles and miles with no roads, houses, anything on them. What's that about? I can't believe how tightly packed we all are onto the little isle of Manhattan whilst folks have land that isn't even on an electrical grid! Can you imagine?!? And I get upset when I have to use dial up rather than DSL. And! They don't serve bottled water in any of the restaurants. They seem to believe that water from the spring up the property is perfectly good!?! It's a crazy place, but I love it. I want to get an old farmhouse and live in it with a generator. Of course, I'll have to find some ski crazy person to take care of it all winter. I find it hard to believe that anyone can transverse these mountains once the snow comes. I know they would have to dig me out for sure come spring. I would run out of Evian and everything before they found me!

I can't believe that ImissEthan is off to such a terrific concert this weekend. If I could choose a voice to have, I would want to sound like either Annie Lenox or Janet Joplin. I know, they sound nothing alike, but I think they both sound great. Annie Lenox is one of my all time favorites. We listened to her in the car on the way up. And Sting? So good. You know, he is my celebrity soul mate. Yes. It's true. Move over Trudy, he's all mine. I think it's the yoga thing. And your Van Halen concert sounds great too, birdlady. What a great weekend. I hope everyone is enjoying it immensely (especially Aussie Girl)

Ricci, I hope there are lots of nice folks for you to play with in the dorm and you end up enjoying a month long slumber party. That would be just the ticket for a great July. Also, I love the story about the PI with the leash. Maybe we should e-mail Evanovich to include her in the next book?

Plus Mets Won, Mets Won!!! Twice!!! Hurray for the Mets!

Hello, everybody! Just back from Hawai'i, where I had a marvelous time ("duh," as my 11-year-old niece would say). We snorkeled four times, took the nieces to the water park, saw Harry Potter 4, did some house-related stuff (our house is finally almost ready to be rented!), had pedicures, and really enjoyed the girls' week. I'm glad to be home with Mr. Lu and the hairy little Lus, though.

TraceyBee - I'm so sorry to hear about Sierra. I hope she remains pain-free. I brought you some li hing mui - both regular and the salt kind. I wasn't sure if you wanted more, but if you're going to make a mistake, try to make it on the side of generosity, is what I always say.

I'm a complete Morelli-phile. He's even more sexy to me than Ranger is. I've just started the 9th book and am disappointed to hear about the regression to Ranger in book 10. I kind of hope that Stephanie and Morelli have a baby, but I know that Steph is way too irresponsible to be a mother, so I think Joe would probably assume the sole parental role.

Wishing everyone some fireworks tonight - of the public or the intimate variety!

Happy Birthday USA!!!! Hope you have all had a wonderful weekend!

I had one of the best birthdays I've ever had! 3 lots of flowers (roses!), CD, book, perfume, chocolates and a clothing voucher at my favourite clothes shop. My sister made a gourmet picnic lunch which we had at a beautiful park with all my family and some friends there. Then mum baby sat while Mr Aussie and I went to dinner and then a movie (The Day After Tomorrow). And Mr Aussie was so sweet, he really went all out to make sure it was a special day. So I'm feeling thoroughly pampered. And it was great to be with those I love and who love me. My 3 year old said to me this morning "Happy Birthday, Mummy", even though it's now the 5th! So it looks like I'll be greeted with that for awhile!

Babalu welcome back!

Happy belated Birthday, AussieLady!. Sounds like a wonderful day for you. And I see no reason not to have little Aussie give you birthday wishes daily.

Welcome back, Babalu. Sounds like a wonderful visit to the new abovde.

And want to hear of everyone's excellent concert adventures, Birdlady & iME.

I had a quiet weekend, but had a lovely Saturday thanks to a bear with a heart of gold watching an amazing Mets/Yankees game. Hee. Yankees lost...because they smell!!!!

bizarro double post...haven't done that in eons!

Hurray for skagirl! No doubt the Mets won because you were there to cheer them on! Anything to defeat the Evil Empire.

I can't wait to hear about the concerts too.

I'm so glad you had the fabulous birthday that you deserve, Aussie Girl. There were lots of fireworks in your honor here in your honor.

The Yogi family took a day trip to Fort Ticonderoga and had a blast. There was a fife and drum band? corp? bunch of young men and women? that played away all morning. It was very moving. Ticonderoga means land between the water; it's a very important piece of land that has been in the hands of numerous different governments and peoples, but the best story is not the famous one by James Fennimore Cooper, but the story of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. The Green Mountain Boys are some of my favorite historical heros. Eighty-five GMBs took the fort from the British turning the tide of the revolution. Oh! And there is also a bagpipe playing Scotish ghost from the Black Watch Batallion. So much fun.

Welcome home from paradise, Babalu. Sounds like a perfect holiday. Your neice is one lucky girl to have you in her life, but I'm sure she tells you so all the time. I do have to question your desire to see our Stephanie pregnant however - Stephanie, with that diet, pregnant?!? The horrors! The child would be born with three eyes, one that looked like a donut or a pizza or something and one of the child's ears would look like a tasty cake. I love Stephanie, but lord, please don't let her birth control fail. I hope Evanovich keeps her blissfully unresponsible so that she can be irresponsible with impunity.

And also on the Morelli vs Ranger question, Hildy said:

I really believe it takes more love to let someone go their own way, make their own mistakes, than it does to tell them to stay put. At least that has been my experience both as a freedom giver and a freedom taker, so I think Ranger truly loves Stephanie maybe even more than Morelli does. (I love how Evanovich's books have me projecting my feelings on the characters right and left. It's so silly, but so much fun.)

I do believe tomorrow is TAR. Wouldn't it be great if the racers passed through the island and did a challenge with the Survivors? I would enjoy that.

Hey guys and gals! Happy happy birthday to Aussie aka Princess Peachy!!!!
For the Fourth of July, family and I went to Fort Vancouver for the one!of!the!biggest!fireworks!show!west!of!the!Mississippi!!!! as Brenda Braxton so constintly reminded us. Parking was hell and a half. But a beautiful display of fireworks, and okay music. I was talking to the admittance people and found out they spent $400,000 on just the fireworks. Do you know what I could buy with that much money??! Why, I could get DSL! Which reminds me, Yogi, bottled water comes from a spring, my dear.

babalu, thanks for bringing me back some li hing mui! So nice of you, I love that stuff.

I hope everyone had a great 4th (and happy belated birthday, Aussie! It sounds like you had a wonderful day).

Sierra got her stitches out on Friday evening and is healing up from her surgery very nicely. She's holding her own, and has regained her appetite and some of her playfulness. We've talked to the vet about what to expect next, and how to tell when it's time to let her go. We don't know how much time we've got left with with her, but we're going to make the most of it.

Blessings to you, Tracey Bee, and all the Bee family. I hope that this is a sweet time for you. Thanks for keeping us informed. You and Sierra are close to my heart these days, as are all you all here.


I know, PiP. I do have to laugh at my own ridiculousness sometimes. But there is a reason to drink bottled water, or at least a reason I do. I used to travel a great deal all over the place, and after years of it, I ended up in the hospital with bacterial illnesses a number of times. You see, I am not blessed with one of those fabulous cast iron digestive systems that several of my traveling companions have. One of my best friends used to buy fruit on the street, wipe it on her shirt until her shirt was filthy with dirt, and then eat it right then and there. Nothing ever made her sick. She was a digestive goddess! After a stint in a Greek hospital (I don't recommend it) a doctor suggested I drink only one sort of water. His point was that all water, including bottled water, contains bacteria. The thing is, our bodies get used to the bacteria that we are familiar with. So drinking the same bottled water wherever you go means you only deal with one family of bacteria - the one you are used too. That is the practical reason for my drinking Evian, because it is a type of water available very widely in most countries. I also like the taste of it. I dring 3 or 4 litres of water a day, so it's nice to have the drink you like as well. But I realize that I can seem quite the silly person (probably because I am quite a silly person,) and I frequently have to laugh at myself.
By the way, the restaurant has agreed to carry Evian in the future. You see how I am doing my part to make Vermont a better place?! Heh. I do my little part, Meet Marketeers, I do my little part.

Pretty in Pinki, I think every area tried to top every other area this year w/ fireworks. All of these news reports kept saying that XYZ's would be the biggest ever.

I'm not a big crowds/fireworks type of person, but had some great times when I lived in DC, including the year I was at the fence right in front of the fireworks. Crazy. And I definitely decided that next year I have to go away - it's way too quiet in NYC, and too much is closed.

The concert was excellent, and the rain happened while we were driving there, so besides some wet seats, it didn't interfere.

Both Annie Lennox and Sting were great. Sting came out onstage to introduce her, which I thought was very classy. He said they live three doors down from each other in London. That must be one rich, talented block. Her voice is amazing, as expected, but Sting's was surprisingly strong. I've been to many of his concerts, probably close to a dozen, and he's not always in the best voice. That rest he had after laryngitis for some European dates was well worth it. Annie's show was sort of low key, while Sting's had large video screens behind. Sometimes it was very much in keeping with the music, but sometimes I felt they were throwing things up there for the sake of multi-media and it didn't make sense. Annie came out during Sting's set to duet on We'll Be Together Tonight. That was a great moment. Sting's hair is longer than it's been in a while, touching his collar in back. He is really making the most of what he has left, as his forehead grows ever larger. Billy Joel played keyboards for the Every Breath You Take encore. He got a very warm reception from the crowd, but I'm sure we all hoped and prayed he was either partying backstage after the show or had a driver for the evening. Post-concert traffic is bad enough to contend with, even without Billy Joel behind the wheel.

This was the first rock concert my mom has ever been to, besides Annie Lennox at Summerstage (general admission standing room) 8 years ago. She didn't understand why people kept leaving their seats during the show, causing people in front of us to get up and block her view. She kept wanting to know where they were going and why they didn't get up during the intermission and stay seated once the show began. I told her, it's not the theater mom, but she still thinks it's rude.

Sounds as if everybody had a lovely weekend--we did, too. Very busy and full of running around, but still lots of fun.
Aussie, I know we've mentioned The Apprentice to you, so I feel obligated to also suggest that you watch The Amazing Race when it comes on down there. (You're right, Yogi, it starts tonight. Yay!)
I'm very, very excited; I hear that this season is a great Race.
Must duck back into work now, this three day weekend nonsense really takes a toll...