Speaking of Westerners being nuts... (hello Iceeu2 )

Scarlett, as you're moving to Portland, WA, do you know which nut is the state nut? (Answer below)















Tonya Harding!!

I thought she was moving to Portland, Or-e-gone.

Oppss... you're right, it's OR not WA. Hmmm... time to put ashes on my head and tear my clothes in shame.

I thought it was O-re-gun?

Gee! Faina, wait for me....

(LOL!)

On a more serious note: the warnings here about being careful are very, very SENSIBLE.

Living in Silicon Valley and having been surfing the net (mainly for information and knowledge) since the Net was yeay high, do take heed of the good warnings. In those days, there were no firewalls, no protection whatsoever, and I got looped into some very nasty goings on just because of some "innocent" surfing.

Enjoy the Net and enjoy Fodors!

East coast, west coast, left coast, right coast, New York, LA, east coast gansta rappas vs. west coast gansta rappas, "back east" vs. "out in LA". "fruits", "nuts", "flacks", and "beef cakes". >-

I'm happy right here in my own private Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, where we don't argue about which side of the beach is better. FYI, Lake Superior has the largest fresh water beaches in the world. None of that crappy salt water.

easyT - your free/literal translation is OK, but actually, the construction refers to the milk of the virgin Mary.

jorr, I hear you on the fresh water lakes. You can take that salt water and crowds.

What!?!? No crowds at freshwater lakes?

I suppose they are all hanging out at salt water beaches. :-?

"Nobody goes there anymore..it's too crowded".
Yogiism

Did your boyfriend see the axe I was hiding all night long, yk?

Kal, There's no crowds at [Minnesota] beaches because there's more beaches than people.

Oh yes indeed! Even when I attempt to explain the charm of the site, it seems to be lost on friends and family. I've gotten some great tips and given same over the years right here. I have laughed out loud when reading some threads and been provoked by others.

I suppose a litmus test might be checking in on jorr's FFR&Rs. It could be on Seinfeld: "Check in from cyberspace". I read it every week.

Hi all! I discovered this site about two years ago. (I think) My husband and kids know that I post and read regularly. He also knows that it is because of you guys that we have such great trips!!!
I just missed the SF get together last March. I arrived one day later for my vacation. It would have been particularly fun to meet the people that helped plan my trip! I live in central Va and there are no get togethers that I know of. I wonder how my family would react to "I am going to meet a bunch of people from the internet>"
I am addicted to reading about all the different places. I definitely have gypsy blood somewhere in my veins. If I could, I would be getting on a plane tomorrow to go someplace cool. (At least cooler temperatures than VA has had lately! LOL!!)
I enjoy being in the company of others who love travel as much as I do....

I love the fresh water beaches, so much better.

My smallest grandchild on the beach /Siesta Key area, "Daddy, this water is stinging me and it's sharp, I want to go by the sand hills with the smooth water."

P_M, you will appreciate this. I was talking to my 19 year old grandson and asked him his thoughts if the thought it was weird to meet people on Fodor's, or on the web.

He looked at me strange, I thought "oh no, he doesn't approve". His reply was "well grandma when you live in a boring place like we do how else are you going to meet interesting people?".

We had quite a long chat and more than one good laugh. Take care.

Here's something from today's paper that might help us all deal with people who disapprove of our online friends. . .

----

Dear Miss Manners,

Is there a good name for online friends, or, perhaps I should say, a better name for online friends?

I am an avid birder and participate in several online forums across the nation. Through these groups, I have come to know several people quite well via off-list correspondence.

On rare occasions our travels may lead us to cross paths, but for the most part our friendships are entirely e-mail based. When mentioning these people in conversation with others, I usually refer to them as "my friend," but that feels a little strange given that I've never actually met them. Yet I don't like to distance them by referring to them as acquaintances or online friends. Any suggestions?

Gentle Reader,

These are your pen pals. Be sure and let Miss Manners know if you want her to explain what a pen is.

Dear Miss Manners:

What is a pen?

You think I jest? Yesterday I went to Office Depot to pick up some pens. There were pens which, when scratched (I presume), gave off a fragrance - preferably strawberry or chocolate. There were pens with funny animal heads. There were pens with rubber padding where the fingers hold the pen. There were pens in wild blinding colors.

Oh, for the days when a pen was a pen.

I guess I'll just have to stay in a hotel and steal their pen!

Should we go back to the ink wells days?

No, I am not THAT old, just came from the 3rd world country

I have been trying to buy a 13-column accounting pad, only to be told by a large office supply store that it would have to be ordered because "everyone" uses the computer. I didn't want to do a spreadsheet; I just wanted to make nice lists of stuff. Found one at Wal-Mart last night for $3.50, but the cents columns are in a very dark green. Maybe I could find a purple pen?

Meeting Fodorites has NOTHING to do with why they think I am weird.