YES!!! It worked! The YUCKIE couple is GONE! I was ever so happy about that. And...on her BIRTHDAY...how sad... I know the editing makes it difficult to know exactly what happens at the end...how close it really is, etc. But this one had me guessing the entire time. I think we all knew that the Father and Daughter team was in the lead the entire time. They got the first flight out of Japan which was just enough to make them first at every clue box and the first to the Pit stop. Rachel and TK came in second, even with the Speed Bump! Good for them. I like their attitude. After they ran through all the FireWorks and were on their way back to the train station, TK said something like, 'if we come in last at least we went out with a bang'. I think GrandPa is getting tired. His Grandson carries his back pack most of the time...nice boy! When they had to get to the tea house (?) and not many cab drivers knew how to get there, I thought they would be sunk...we all remember the Grandsons 'issues' with directions and finding his way... All three teams picked the 'earth' challenge which looked easy. If you can just set your mind to it, forget how much it's going to hurt your feet, get it over with, you're home free. At least they were not hot coals. What do you think made the difference? Do you think it was Matt and Jens decission to take the subway & bus to the park when the other teams took cabs or, was it the hissy fit Matt pitched between the subway and finding the bus? Did you notice how many people on the street around them were watching them fight? I felt badly for Matt after they lost. He cried and, she took that exact moment in time to analyze their relationship. But after all...it was HER BIRTHDAY! So, now we are down to the final. I think we all like the teams left. I hope next weeks show is two hours...I hate to see it come to an end. Do you think we will have another Amazing Race in the spring. I hope so. sooey

David - have a great time with your group! Sorry about the Sooners and sorry about Sam Bradford. Hope the shoulder heals quickly. Claire, happy gardening! I have daylilies and hostas to move too, but I am waiting until it cools off here a little first. We are finally getting warm summery weather this weekend LOL! Sharon, I am so jealous of your being able to spend the fall at the cottage after the summer people are gonw. That was always my favorite time of year in Ogunquit - saying goodbye to the tourists! Enjoy your time and Clive bcskye, sounds like a blast! What sort of horse show is it? I used to ride hunters (and a few jumpers) back in the day, but I love all sorts of equestrian competitions. Have a great time with the family too. Linda, OGM! 1200?!?!?!? There are going to be some happy pooches and you are a dear for the labor of love. Katie - sounds like a wonderful way to spend the weekend. As David says - dance like no one is watching! Annie, glad to hear those beanies are going to good use. And happy canning! I can't wait to start my next project, I just have to find a little time. Dedtired - enjoy the Cape - as I mentioned before, fall is the BEST time to go anyplace touristy - the crowds have thinned. Lyra - Good luck with the projuect. I know how that goes, seems I can always find something else to do rather than what really needs to be done. Somehow it all does get dome though - an enjoy your time off, you deserve it! I had my second jewelry class on Friday - I just love it. Working on a multi metal (copper and brass) pendant to learn my skills. I will post photos as I complete projects. Fri night was out with friends for Happy Hour, yesterday was relaxing at home and getting totally caught up on Mad Men. I am TOTALLY addicted to that show now! Today we are having another couple over for a BBQ - sometimes it is nice not to have a gang and just sit and enjoy a quiet evening with grown up conversation. Tomorrow we are thinking about going to the NJ shore (I am cringing at the thought, I don't care for the shore) so we'll see. Maybe I will send the men folk off and have a canning day to myself. Stay happy and safe everyone! Alexa

This has been a wonderful place to share thoughts and concerns, mostly about quilting. I seldom interact with other women locally, let alone quilters, so this gave me a connection via computer at all hours of the day to women with like minds. I'd drop in just to see what was going on and hear what was accomplished. It makes a wonderful, trusting connection. I'm grateful for the lessons and support and consider you all friends, some even more so as I've met them in person. Cindy, the retreat is open to any or all of you on this forum and is in October at a YMCA camp in North Carolina. It is a way for any who can come to meet up face to face with people they read messages from all year long. Room and board is cheap and you bring your own projects. We help each other, eat, talk about quilting and share experiences. This year it will be Oct. 7-10 and you can google Camp Cheerio in NC to see the venue. You'll hear more about it toward summer and we'd love to see you. Jennifer in VA is unofficial chairperson and she'll send out a notice.

Their blog was great, very gracious and thankful. My husband and I have been married for 38 years and we bicker back and forth often it is not fighting it is just us being us, in the middle of it we might blow kisses or smooches or say but I love you. All our friends know it and know we are basically just playing with each other. Living together long term as the beekmens have you do things like that, better to let it out than let it build up into something explosive. They were even nice in their descriptions of the evil twins. I personally would never in real life have a friend that would steal from anyone anywhere, and I certainly would not think very highly of them. If those girls were so quick to steal that money in front of a tv cameara being broadcast around the world it lets me know it is not the first time and probably won't be the last. That kind of behavior came very natural to them, only after they thought a minute about it did they basically force the other couple to take part of it by shoving it into their hands. I just won't associate with a thief. I had a so called friend that came to a party at my home, found she had gone into the room with the coats and purses and stole out of the purses. I had to make apologies and feel horrible that now people felt they could not come to my home and feel secure. That was the last time she was in my home or anywhere around me. Had she asked me to borrow money if she needed it that badly I would have. I later found she was doing drugs and was going down a dead end road.