I am...

[StickSweet]

[quote="SpecialAgent88"]Very entertaining StickSweet, I like how you used all the toy soldiers and Indian figures in the movie, thanks for sharing.[/qu

Thanks! ^.^ It has a few glitches, but I couldn't care anymore! lol

[Gillyinfatuation]

I am testing out my new pc. Since they didn't fix mine properly they gave me a bran new computer I am really excited, can ya tell?

[GillyDreamer78]

Gi, I knew something must have been wrong with your PC again because you have just vanished for three days again. And the last time we talked when you told me you couldn't download yahoo MSN, I had a feeling they didn't fix your PC like they should have.
Anyway, I'm glad that you finally have the PC that is working properly!!

[SpecialAgent88]

Great news Gi, so glad you got a new PC, we missed you.

[ScullyIsMyHomegirl]

..back from my hiatus (well real life caught up with me at last lol). I am also job hunting to find something that pays well enough so i can move out of ma and pa's. Fingers Crossed

[JeSouhaite]

Good luck, Homegirl!

[Gillyinfatuation]

Thanks, I missed you guys too and my Gilly, of course! Scully, welcome back, girl!
I am watching Pawn Queens.

[SpecialAgent88]

Welcome back and lots of luck in the job search Homegirl.

[Quest]

Today I am very sad. My 8th grade science teacher passed away this weekend. A wonderful, wonderful man who will be greatly missed.

[lamia]

I am ...

READY TO PANIC.

After 12 weeks of RL insanity I have just realized I have little more two months to plan the US leg of my vacation (one week slap-bang in the middle of August).

Why am I panicking? I really have my heart set on a few places (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns) but know that one week is not going to be enough to see everything I want to see.

Trouble is I don't know what to sacrifice. Hell, I don't even know how I'm going to be getting round (I love trains, buses are okay, planes I avoid unless absolutely necessary).

Any US philes online who might be able to talk some sense into me? I'd probably cry fat gobby tears of joy if you got in touch with me.... Anyone?

[JeSouhaite]

Lamia, so you're coming in the middle of August? It's gonna be HOT!! Bring shorts!

I've been to Carlsbad Caverns. They are really cool (visually and temperature-wise); however, there isn't much else to do in Carlsbad. Trust me. This might be the one that you need to drop off your list. Other than the bats, the thing I remember the most about Carlsbad Caverns was that when we were VERY little, my little sister got her head stuck in the back of a chair... lol. We had to get the maintenance guys to dismantle the chair to let her loose; otherwise, she'd still be there. rotfl.

I've been to the Grand Canyon, but it was AGES ago, so I can't speak to it. If you went to the Grand Canyon, you could probably also make it to the Four Corners (the intersection of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona). Nearby the Four Corners area is Mesa Verde, which is an ancient cliff dwelling. That would be an interesting site to see. However, it's going to be HOT!

Yellowstone, since it's further north might be a bit cooler and therefore, enjoyable.

One week doesn't lend very much time. If you went to the Grand Canyon first, you might spend a considerable amount of your vacation time trying to get to Yellowstone. I'm going to look at the map a bit more. Was there something specific that you wanted to see at each of these places?

[lamia]

... it's going to be HOT!

Yay! Bring on the hot! (Dry heat, humid heat, I love it all!)

Unfortunately coming from a smallish island nation has really screwed with my sense of distance! I'm really okay with large, empty spaces filled with landscape, so Carlsbad is still a place that intrigues me. (I can see why your sister might have a different opinion of the place though.) Putting on my practical cap, however, I can see why this might be one place that's not worth factoring in to an insane rush. Dammit. I wish I had an extra week ... or two ... or three.

PS. My apologises for the abundance of exclamations in this post. I probably sound like some giddy teenager (meaning no disrepect to actual teens here, btw).

[Agent Skulder]

Also Lamia - while JeSouhaite is reading maps - If Yellowstone isn't too far from San Franciso, go there! it's a gorgeous city, much more interesting than Los Angeles in southern CA. There's sights to see plus great eating...

Just curious - may I ask, on what island do you live?

[lamia]

Also Lamia - while JeSouhaite is reading maps - If Yellowstone isn't too far from San Franciso, go there! it's a gorgeous city, much more interesting than Los Angeles in southern CA. There's sights to see plus great eating...

Just curious - may I ask, on what island do you live?

My sister thinks I should go to San Franciso too (at the end of my week in the US I'm meeting her at LAX and flying to Costa Rica). This might sound strange, but I don't do cities very well by myself. National parks, sightseeing I can cope on my own, but when it comes to cities I like having someone to share the experience with. Does that sound peculiar?

[lamia]

I am going to regret this decision as Christmas time!

After weeks of tearing my hair out trying to make vacation decisions, today I said, "screw it (actually, I said something else, but this is a family show, right?), if I don't add an extra week to my holiday, I'm going to forever be rueing it!"

So today I rang the airline and changed my ticket. I will now be spending two weeks in the US in August! Yay! And if I don't whimp out about driving "on the other side", I might just be hiring a car for part of that trip! Extra yay!

My plan is still insane, but it looks like San Francisco, Yellowstone, Carlsbad and the Grand Canyon are all back on the menu. Unfortunately, no matter how I work it I still can't factor in a trip to Nebraska though

Lamia

[JeSouhaite]

Awesome, you won't regret spending the 2 weeks. You'll be glad you did!! There's so much to see!

[lamia]

Awesome, you won't regret spending the 2 weeks. You'll be glad you did!! There's so much to see!

Yeah, I was psyched after the airline said it wouldn't cost that much to change my flight and my boss okayed it (but not without telling me first that changing ones flights before company holiday approval has been granted used to be a sackable offence ... I think he was joking....)

I suspect I'm kind of going to be competing with loads of other international and domestic vacationers, but ... what the heck, eh?

[maurisap]

when you arrive, go to WalMart and buy one of those battery-operated fans that has a water resevoir attached. This will mist water as the fans blow. You are going to need it to help you stay cool in August for some of the places you are visiting!

But have a great time! You chose vacation spots well.

[StickSweet]

I am working out Flights to visit my sister : ) Hope fully it works out, I miss her like crazyy ..

[lamia]

when you arrive, go to WalMart and buy one of those battery-operated fans that has a water resevoir attached. This will mist water as the fans blow. You are going to need it to help you stay cool in August for some of the places you are visiting!

But have a great time! You chose vacation spots well.

Bring on the heat!!!

Nah, just kidding. I prefer being warm to being cold, but extreme heat gets me as good as the next person.

[lamia]

I am watching I Shouldn't Be Alive. It's about a plane crash. In Costa Rica. It's the second plane-crash-in-Costa-Rica story I've seen on this show. It better not be a sign.

[lamia]

Just curious - may I ask, on what island do you live?

You know, in my head I thought I'd answered this question but I can't see any reply here where I actually did.
At the risk of being mischevious ... I can honestly say I come from The South Island.

[Agent Skulder]

Wow lamia, If you mean New Zealand then you've got one l-o-n-g trip to the US west coast. Here's hoping your flight(s) is screaming-baby free! 

[lamia]

Wow lamia, If you mean New Zealand then you've got one l-o-n-g trip to the US west coast. Here's hoping your flight(s) is screaming-baby free!

We're used to it. I'd say all the international flights I've ever taken averaged about 13 hours. Hee hee, I had a 13 hour stop-over in Moscow once! Let's face it, east coast of Australia aside, if we want to get anywhere fast we have to fly. It's all part of the adventure!

But yeah, screaming babies will be avoided where possible.

[JeSouhaite]

Have a blast lamia!!

I AM beginning my weekend today! Woot!

[StickSweet]

I am on the verge on the mental breakdown. But hey, it's the weekend and i've got my own shit to deal with!

[Agent Skulder]

Hey StickSweet - would a vat of your favorite ice cream help? Whats going on? (PM me...)

[lamia]

I am trying not to be afraid of tipping and the idea of paying gratuities. [Suppresses embarrassing memories of trip to Egypt where one had to "tip" for tp in some places....]

American philes (and philes who live in lands where tipping is usual practice) in what places/for what services should one tip? Not tip? How much?

If I buy a sandwich from a deli, do I tip? If I'm in the supermarket, do I tip? If I join a tour (there's several I'd like to do involving national parks), do I tip? At what point during the transaction do I tip?

What if I, in my tipping ignorance, traipse off without showing any gratitude?

Ahhhhhh. Bloody hell. The longer I think about it the more stressed I become.

I can understand the customs of my own country won't be same as the customs of another, but I remember being freaked out by the idea of tipping when I first learned about it as a pre-teen. My biggest issue? I could never get the hang of working out percentages and tipping seemed somehow to rely on this ability.

So, any tips on tipping?

[lamia]

I am overthinking this whole vacation business.

Just saw headline about California Zephyr, the train I had intended to take from Emeryville to Salt Lake City. I feel bad for the people who died or were hurt, or were just generally traumatized by this crash.

[Agent Skulder]

Lamia - train accidents are so rare - please don't let this one spoil your excitement. (Statistical) odds are, the truck driver WHO SLAMMED INTO THE TRAIN was impaired or had a heart attack or stroke. Plus - statistically - this just happened, which means your Zephyr ride should be flawless and spectacular.

I'll send you some links and tips re "tipping" via PM - but tipping outside of ultra swanky places is pretty "normal" here... Still a drag. Best "tip" for a traveler - daily, try to have lots of small bills (singles and 5's) - why? So you don't overtip (giving $20 instead of $5) because you're out of 5's.

[lamia]

Lamia - train accidents are so rare - please don't let this one spoil your excitement. (Statistical) odds are, the truck driver WHO SLAMMED INTO THE TRAIN was impaired or had a heart attack or stroke. Plus - statistically - this just happened, which means your Zephyr ride should be flawless and spectacular.

Yeah, I agree with you here. It's a terrible thing to happen but the odds of it happening while I'm on the train are pretty miniscule *touches wood*. I think I'll file it under "life's funny little coincidences". (I've been dealing with Amtrak a bit the last couple of weeks so of course the name stood out in the headline.)

I can't tell how much I appreciate any advice on tipping. Of the countries I've visited, only in Egypt was tipping really taken very seriously; in one restaurant women stood at the entrance to the restroom, you lined up to enter and paid for tp on the way in. Actually, that situation was pretty straight forward. Where my friend and I came unstuck was the whole tipping the entire crew for our trip on a cruise boat down the Nile. Since the whole trip was prepaid before we left and we really had no idea what the cruise cost, we were both stymied when it came to working out what an appropriate tip should be. (The crew had been very good to us - the only English speakers on a boatload of Spaniards - and we didn't want to insult them with a miniscule amount.) I'm not going to say how we "resolved" the situation; let's just say, on reflection, it was a good learning experience.

[JeSouhaite]

Lamia, my guess is that you don't need to tip anyone on the train. Well... that is unless that you've gotten some sort of "service" like a hotel bellhop or restaurant waitstaff while on the train. I'm going to be taking a train trip myself here in a few weeks, I'm not planning to have tip money.

In general, for waitstaff at restaurants, I'll generally leave a 20% tip for good service. For most hotels, I don't offer a tip, well... that is unless someone is taking my bags to the room, but that's not often the case. And if a person from the hotel does take your bags to the room, I think $5 is a plenty good tip... however... I can take my own bags to the room, thank you. Mr/Ms Bell hop, I don't need you to do this for me.

If you take a cab... I rarely need to take a cab, but I'll give the cab driver a 15 to 20% tip.

Let's see... other than that... I don't give out tips... Okay... well that's not true... If I get a hair cut, I'll give a 20% tip, if they did a good job. Massage... if you got a massage, you might want to give a tip.

DO Not tip at a deli, UNLESS the waitstaff serves you. They may have a jar where you can throw in some change, but don't be obliged to throw in more than $1 unless you really, really like the place. If you get table side service, then you should consider a 15-20% tip. If there's no table side service, don't feel obliged.

Do Not tip at the grocery store. You won't be able to, so you won't have to stress about it.

If you go on a tour, chances are that they will not be accepting tips. If you really, really like them, you may tip the person that gave you great service; however, they are most likey not expecting it. If you did decide to tip them, do so right before you're departing.

I hope this helps. I can't wait to hear about your adventure.

[JeSouhaite]

I am gettin' away from it all for a few days!!! WOOT!!! VACATION TIME, BABY! Yeah!!

[lamia]

I am gettin' away from it all for a few days!!! WOOT!!! VACATION TIME, BABY! Yeah!!

Yay! Hope you get a good break!

[StickSweet]

I am just back from Harry Potter... I have never been so dissapointed in my life! Complete buchery of the book.

[lostinlove]

I am hoping that next week is not a God - awful week like this one has been! Our darling cat Jack, took really ill on Tuesday, was at the vets overnight, came home yesterday, had to go back for a check today, has to go for another one tomorrow, he's been through a lot, and he doesn't deserve it, we nearly lost him, and today we were coming back in the cab and the radio was playing "Times Are Hard" how apt! I came in, settled jack and just went off and had a good cry, then later, the baseball episode of "XF" was on, with those lovely scenes at the end, thank goodness for Mulder/Scully today, thanks for listening!

[MartinaBC]

I will lit a candle here for your cat Jack, Lostinlove, and I hope that the wee one will soon be well again!

I am... well again after some more health probs. Sometimes I wish I was 20 again...lol. The older ya get, the more problems ya get...eyesight becomes less good, ya get those menopause probs, yer intestine plays ya up, you watch the last XF episode and have forgotten what happened in the first episode ( a nice excuse for another re-watch..hehe)....

[lamia]

I am hoping that next week is not a God-awful week like this one has been!

I am very sad to hear this. I took my bunny to the vet on Monday and at my insistence had his chest x rayed. He has a large growth in his chest which is pushing on his lungs and heart; surgery and radiation are available for this kind of thing elsewhere in the world but my vet reckons there's no vet surgeon in my country who will do it (it is very risky operating on bunnies). I've contacted about five different vets up and down the South Island and they all say the same thing basically. He's a lovely bunny, fully integrated into the family (he's a house bunny) and it's horrible knowing I can't do much more than give him pain medication.

I hope Jack has every treatment available to him.

Lamia =:+

[lamia]

I am spitting tacks angry. Purely work-related, of course. It's just I really, really don't need the bother at the moment; I have a terminally ill bunny, my trip still needs a lot of final organization, and the work (unpaid additional hours) I'm putting in to ensure as few problems as possible for the person who picks up my job while I'm away will NOT be appreciated.

grrrrr

[lostinlove]

Thank you all for your caring replies, I hope you can get some help for your bunny too. My little Jack has turned a corner, thank the Lord, he's still on meds. hates his special food, and still having check-ups, but he's here with us, and looking and acting better. Wish I didn't have to keep making flying visits here, and was able to spend quality on these pages, hoping to be able to visit this weekend, in the meantime, hope you all have a lovely weekend, with good things happening.