A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-17-03....FReeper Fun in the Sun

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear

Or...How I'm Spending
My Summer Vacation

"Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go...."

School's out; summer's here.....

and that means baseball, cookouts, picnics in the park, lemonade stands, amusement parks.. and family vacations.



MinuteGal (aka Bahama Mama) and about three dozen other FReepers and FRiends recently returned from their second fun-filled FReeps Ahoy cruise, and 'DaBear family (Mama_Bear and JKPhoto) just got back from a wonderful week down under. While there, MamaBear got to cuddle with a Koala bear - one of the highlights of their vacation.

Our daisyscarlett's taking her traveling seriously this year - she no sooner got home from a month in their secluded cabin on the lake (miles from shopping and EVERYTHING!), than it was time to pack her bags to go somewhere ELSE! We hope we get to see her before the year is over! :)

To grandma's house, the beach house; the cabin by the lake, a cruise, to the mountains, San Francisco, DisneyWorld, a Dude Ranch, Golf Resort, Health Spa, Hawaii, Alaska, Six Flags.....where are you going this summer? Stop the newspaper, hold the mail, hire a plantsitter, pack your bags....and take us WITH you!



Or maybe...do you have a memorable vacation from the past - when everything that could go wrong... DID?! You can probably laugh about it now. :) Can't you? Now's the time. This is the place. :)

Artist: James Meger

"Summertime and the living is easy . .
Fish are jumping and the cotton is high..."

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-26-03 A Celebration of Whoever

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Billie]

Enjoy the Pole! It a shame that my plans just fell through and I'll be going to some exotic island instead. Ok, we'll meet you in Tahiti then. I know how much you want us to all get together. :)

HERE! I'm giving you this in advance 'cause I already know you'll get the best last word. :)

[Billie]

LOL! Even the leaking roof doesn't deter you? Did I mention the rattlesnakes? :)

[Billie]

Hi, Aqua - I'm glad you like today's thread. Pretty mountains! (tapping my foot as I sit and listen to the Sunrise Serenade)

[Billie]

Browsing FR is addictive, isn't it? :) Always glad when you're browsing here.

[LadyX]

The boys remember the drive to Alaska in winter, going around the top end of the Rockies and through the Yukon Territory - the years there, and camping and hunting - and we came out in the summertime.

That very long journey was from Fairbanks, through Canada, down the Rockies (camping out every other night) and across the South to South Florida to visit family - and then up to Myrtle Beach, SC for the next duty station!

One special time was when we were coming through Montana - Big Sky Country - driving alongside the Missouri River within about 26 miles of the headwaters where Lewis and Clark had to get off their boat and walk to get to the Pacific.
Loving history as I did, I had them imagine how small and cramped the vessel really was, with the supplies they carried, and how hard the journey actually was, often having to stop to hunt and fish for meat.

One of the vivid memories of Rapid City was on a drive through the higher mountains, a scenic marker stating the date of a night General Custer and his men had camped there.

Beside the road was a small meandering stream - I could 'see' him and about 15 men having slept on the ground in blankets - first man up in the swirling fog, putting the coffee pot on the stirred up fire - horses nickering along the picket line....

Another was the first time we'd gone up to see Mt. Rushmore and were returning. At one point in the descent, you could see, finally, through the trees, the distant plains stretching to the horizon.

I "imagined" I was a Sioux Indian warrior sitting astride his horse, seeing 'specks' in the distance.
He could not discern they were pioneer wagons, and meant the demise of life as he knew it....

Rather evoked the notion that we were the "illegal immigrants" of that time, trespassing on and taking over their land.

The uncontrolled influx of immigrants in this day and time portends a similar circumstance growing, does it not?

When I was a child, immigrants came to America only when they had sponsors who guaranteed they would help them find employment and housing, and assist them in other ways.

Now they stream in from every direction, many illegally, with no guaranteed means of support, and threaten to engulf us.....dare we project what America will be like in fifty years?

[Billie]

Afternoon, Wolfie. :)

Neat thread, and pretty too. ! : )

Well, thank you kindly, kind sir.

Depending on the weather - my home state is as good a vacation spot as any, beautiful with lots to see and do.

C'mon on up! : )

Are you a good tour guide? Missouri is the "Show Me" state, isn't it. Show me. :)

[Billie]

Hi, Lori - Australia has always sounded like a fun place to visit....if it didn't take so long to GET there! Glad you like today's topic. :)

[The Thin Man]

Ewe got the bestest stories LadyX.

[Billie]

I'm glad you got to meet Lodwick and his wife. Knew his brother-in-law was very ill, and you had told me about the wedding. I guess it made their trip both happy and sad. :(

I don't like flying either, but the interstates are great! We went to the Smoky Mountains a few years ago, and stayed overnight in Atlanta on our way home. I never really got tired because the scenery was so pretty! (course I wasn't doing the driving) :)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Do you think Billie has missed us?

You kiddin?? She's the head Net Nanny! LOL

[The Thin Man]

Ok, we'll meet you in Tahiti then. I know how much you want us to all get together. :)

Alright.

HERE! I'm giving you this in advance 'cause I already know you'll get the best last word. :)

Very smart of you. You would never have stood a chance against such witty repartee. :-)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Neat thread, and pretty too. ! : )

Well, thank you kindly, kind sir.

Welcome, ma'am. : )

Depending on the weather - my home state is as good a vacation spot as any, beautiful with lots to see and do.
C'mon on up! : )

Are you a good tour guide? Missouri is the "Show Me" state, isn't it. Show me. :)

It is and I will.....gladly. : )

[JustAmy]

"Do you think Billie has missed us?"
"You kiddin?? "

Since she mentioned JustFrank last week, I think she may have been expecting either JF or the Hooligans. She is probably lonesome for her Hooligans Twins. LOL

[Billie]

Louiewolf doesn't do dude ranches. The dude-ettes leave much to be desired. : )

Oh Really?

[MistyCA]

Just thought I would have a little fun with that graphic....:)

[Billie]

Do you think Billie has missed us?

I always love seeing those li'l hooligans! They make me smile EVERY time! I guess they must be the cutest hooligans in the world!

[Billie]

Slowly recovering some of the use of my fingers, typing one handed is not easy. Looks like the nerve damage is not permanant.

I'm really glad to hear that, Gail.

[Billie]

Love that lighthouse!

[Billie]

LOL! That's cute - thanks for the animation! You're getting good at this!

[MistyCA]

Thank you. ;)