I just saw this over on Facebook. I hate to hear this. I am heartbroken over losing another forum member at a young age. My thoughts and prayers are with Carrie's family and friends. May God give them the strength and peace they need at this time. And all of you, my friends, even though I haven't go...

We had a Civil War re-enactor at Thanksgiving. You should have seen his face when he found out my roommate is a Civil War historian. She said he made up some crazy shit, but it was entertaining. He was blue too, which is rare in these parts. As for Agent 99's situation, I think it would fit in well ...

I loved Tesseract. When we went two years ago, I think it was like $350/person for a week(there were five of us). We had plenty of room and the PHPV folks are awesome. I think all of their properties are pretty reasonable. It wasn't fancy, but the kitchen had an amazing view (as the cook of our grou...

Private Homes for Private Vacations has a few reasonably priced villas, and the one we stayed in (which was Tesseract, but is called something else now) was clean and had a great view. It wasn't fancy, but it had plenty of room and the price was great. Definitely look into their villas. The last tri...

I haven't hired a private cab to get to RH, but after my horrid taxi experiences I probably will from now on. I just think on the longer trip it makes more sense.

I'm sure someone here can help with the price. It sounds like twice the price of the public taxi is the general guideline, though.

Gift cards. Just give them gift cards. My parents received the flat screen TV yesterday that my siblings and I bought for them when we were there. My dad called me last night because he couldn't get the picture in picture to work and he could get it to work on his old TV and he wasn't sure this TV w...

On the sixth day of Christmas, my father said to me: Why can't you be a nurse like your brother? I am not sure that my dad understands what I do and/or believes that being a writer is a "real job." He wanted me to be a teacher (or a nurse like my brother, who, admittedly, is rolling in the...

I was going to suggest the Smokies as well. For a little closer to home, Memphis would be fun too.

Arkansas is beautiful. I went there several years ago and really enjoyed the scenery.

Also, I got my ornament, which is a beautiful angel with a message about traveling wherever our hearts take us, that I LOVE, but I am having some technical difficulties so there is no picture yet. I hope I can get it in the next few days. I just wanted to let my Elf, Northerngal, know that I had got...

Here's what I got in the mail!! The first ornament on the tree and I love it (sorry for the blurry photo - I couldn't get the lighting right) - but... I don't know who my Secret Santa is?? <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0C1qGXSf1H4jAKu0sH-qJw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src=&qu...

I don't mind taking a cab at the airport to get to the downtown ferry. However, if I have to go to Red Hook again, I'm hiring someone to take me. Last time we went to RH, we had nine people in the cab, plus luggage and we missed our ferry because he waited over a half hour to squeeze two more people...

The less money I spend on lodging, the more I can spend on boat trips and booze. So, pretty much as long as it has a place to rest my head and get a shower, I'm good. That being said, I am a sucker for a good view and I'd probably stay in a rat hole if I had a good view. I'm really not picky. That's...

I got one of Diane's ornaments last year from my Elf. I love it. The past two years I haven't been able to get down there, so I get them online. Being from Michigan I usually get them from Bronner's, but this year I gotit from a different place. I keep checking here to see if my elf has received it ...

Urggh. I don't think there's anyway to stop it. Unless someone here has a few mill they'd like to donate to the cause.

So, is this the Maho Bay Camps land? I thought they weren't allowed to sell it until the leases were up in 2012? I know TPL has been trying to raise money to buy additional land at Maho, but I don't know that it can be done by Jan. 26. I absolutely detest the thought of this land getting into the ha...