Sick of reading Ally the same stories night after night, Debra decides to try her hand at writing a children's book.

It has been Ray’s life long dream to get an article published in Sports Illustrated. So when his friend and coworker Andy, the “stats guy” at work and novice sportswriter, sells a piece to the magazine, Ray is devastated.

When Frank gets a few anecdotes published in Reader's Digest, he submits his writing samples to Ray's editor, hoping to get his own column in the newspaper.

When Ray's free time goes to coaching Nemo's basketball team in preparation for the Pizza League championships, he is reminded by Debra that their kids are growing up fast and he's missing precious time with them.

Frank is so green with envy that he forces Marco to choose either Marie or him as a friend. Meanwhile, Ray sides with Frank because he doesn't approve of a married woman having a male friend.

Debra and Ray feel tremendous pressure to show each other a good time on a romantic weekend getaway in Vermont. From the moment they set foot in the quaint bed and breakfast, it’s apparent that Debra and Ray are trying a bit too hard for this to be a perfect weekend.

When Debra gets a part-time job at an AD agency, an unhappy Ray is left to fend for himself and Marie is left wondering what’s to become of the children, the house, and her beloved son now that they will be neglected.

After Frank stops by Ray and Debra's house to borrow some ointment for his thighs, he becomes unusually interested in spending time with Ray. Initially, Ray finds it weird and is concerned that his father has suffered a physical trauma to the head, but after two of Frank's friends from the lodge stop by, all becomes clear.

Debra persuades Ray to hire Gianni to do some remodelling in their kitchen, but they both soon regret it due to their friend's laziness.

Even dead people love Raymond, as he is chosen to deliver the eulogy at his great uncle's funeral. It's an occasion that serves as a reunion for Ray's mother and her feuding sister, Alda.

Ray gets tired of being treated like a kid at his father's poker game, so he decides to ignore his father's advice and ends up losing all his money.

Feeling left out when he thinks that his father selectively asked his brother to join a Civil War re-enactment, Ray voluntarily enlists for the Battle of Gettysburg. As the men prepare for Battle, a funny thing happens, Ray is finally able to tell Frank that he wishes they did more together.

Trying to impress Robert when they visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Ray uses his “weight” as a sports writer for Newsday to jump to the front of the line to meet the members of the ’69 Miracle New York Mets.

Jennifer, Debra's free spirited sister, shows up at the Barone household with rosary beads and prayer cards as gifts for the kids. When she announces her intentions of becoming a nun, Debra accuses her sister of going through yet another phase.

Everyone gets on Ray's case because he's doesn't go to Sunday Mass. When Ray starts feeling guilty and sees the good example his father Frank is setting by attending church, he commits to becoming a regular parishioner. But when he shows up at the church, he soon figures out the real reason his father likes attending Mass.

Ray inadvertently commits petslaughter on Ally's hamster while Debra and the kids are away for the weekend. When Ray breaks the difficult news to Ally about Pumpernickel's untimely demise, Debra insists that they give the beloved pet a proper burial, complete with eulogies, but Ray thinks that it's ridicules to morn a pet.

Debra becomes angry when Ray contributes $1,000 to his friends' harebrained scheme to open a go-cart business, without first consulting her.

Debra talks Ray into letting her join him on the golf course, after she once again realizes that they don't have fun together anymore.

After Debra's mother suggests throwing Debra an old-fashioned English tea party, Ray reluctantly agrees after she promises to do all the work. When Debra realizes Ray is planning something for her birthday, she suggests changing the theme to a Chinese banquet.

After Ally comes home with an F on her report card, Debra feels she is not paying enough attention. Ray, however, feels it might be the teacher.

Debra is sick and tired of having Raymond's parents and brother show up unannounced. With her birthday coming up, they try avoiding having them over.

When newly-wed friends make a public display of their affection, Debra wonders why reticent Raymond has trouble saying those three little words.

When Debra comes down with the flu and is bedridden, so now the inexperienced Raymond must take care of her and the three kids.

Debra, already annoyed at getting stuck driving the old car Ray bought from his parents, really gets upset when she discovers that it was his old "make-out-mobile."

When Debra tries to change Ray's pessimistic attitude about winning the Sports Writer of the Year Award, he agrees to change his ways and become more positive, but he soon has to suffer the downside of being the only optimist in his family.