I am in the same boat as you Anne. I discovered this site about one week ago and find myself checking updates etc. a few times a day!!!

I'm pretty new to this but becoming addicted disturbingly fast. I mean, here it is, 1:10 a.m., and I'm sitting at the computer reading this thread with "The Addams Family Movie" on the TV behind me. I have a couple of questions -- do you mean that if I type tttt or topping as the first thing in my message, it will bounce the thread or my message to the top of the list?

Also, I'm so disappointed in myself that I chose to use my boring old initials instead of a groovy nom de keyboard! How do I change my name? I want to be cute too!

hdm, there is nothing special about the words "ttt" or "topping." It's the fact that you are "posting a reply" to the thread that puts it back in the #1 position. You could write anything at all and it would have the same effect.

You change your name by registering with a new name. That's it.

As for being addicted, welcome to the club. :-D (Next I suppose you're going to want to know how to do those emoticons, and then you'll want to know how to do bold and italics and colors -- right?)

Fodor's is better than surfing the net. It lets me keep my travel dreams alive. I enjoy reading everyone's opinions and finding out new info about Europe. Thank you all for making this website so enticing.

Unfortunately, my housework has been waning recently and my husband has been going to bed without me. I assume these are typical side effects.

Marilyn,
Emoticons? Bold? Colour? Oh no, not yet! I feel I have to earn these things by virtue of my sophistication, wordly wisdom, wit and sagacity!

Soon, Marilyn. Soon.

HDM....if you work really HARD and devote your entire waking life to this board I bet the "associate editor" will actually give you a diploma from the trunk of his rental car.

LOL Intrepid, I'm still waiting for a fodors pin. :-(

Well, just as soon as that big lottery win comes in...