Did you ever learn in the UK? I can't remember... I am such a nervous driver anyway I am dreading it... There are so many one way streets and things here and nothing is sign posted properly and everything looks the same and I am going to get sooo lost... as it is I have only just figured how to get to our house from the highway... that has taken a while!!!

No, I've never driven. At all. Since I didn't know at all, I didn't think it would be worthwhile to learn in the UK, since the lessons were expensive and it would be pretty different from here. I think learning a bit here, and then maybe even taking some more lessons in LA, is better than starting from zero when I get to LA *shrugs*

If you get your license in FL I assume it will just be a re-test of the written portion in CA? That's all I had with my MI license. Anyways - probably best to learn in Miami, it will make LA seem less bad than it is.

The other reason I'm doing it here is because C's mom knows a good driving school, because her 15 year old stepson recently got his learners permit, and had some lessons with them. I feel old.

Hahaha - I didn't get my license in the UK until I was 23 and I know people who were older when they passed

I'd be happy to cycle if it wasn't so darned hot

Welcome to the US Poiteen.

I concur, hold off on driving lessons here until you get to LA. You can take practice tests online in some states. Generally you have to be a resident of said state to get a DL, so I'm not sure (as I don't know your situation) if you would be eligible or not. You usually don't need to take tests or anything to get a learner's permit as long as you are a resident.

I have the entire day and evening to myself today - Scott is doing some guy stuff with his brother.

I'm having chinese take-out delivered later and I have a bottle of red wine all ready to go.

Does anyone here think that 4pm is too early to start on the wine?

Any time after 12pm is fair game in my book! I mean, the queen mother started on her gin in the morning and she live to be over 100...

What's good enough for the Queen Mother is good enough for me. I'm off to get my corkscrew.

but you can only get a license if you are a resident in that state. You also have to show two forms of ID - one with your SSN on it. Do you have one yet?

Along with your Certificate of Completion you must bring two forms of identification to show proof of birth date and social security number to the drivers license office. The primary identification must be an original or certified birth certificate or social security card.
http://www.dmvflorida.org/drivers-license.shtml

Also, you will need to re-take the written here, yes. And we do have different laws.

Yay yay yay!!! Welcome to America, Poiteen (aka Pointy)!!! What a pain your journey sounds like, but you're here at last. Robin, dev and I look forward to initiating you into the UK VJ LA Boozers club soon.

Just got home from an overnight trip to San Diego for work stuff (possibly more freelance research for me) -- it took over 5 hours to drive there last night. Yes, 5 HOURS to go about 180 miles. There was an accident somewhere in San Diego county and it slowed everything down to a crawl. I wanted to scream -- oh wait, I did scream. Horrible. Thank god for XM radio.

And I think I left my cell phone in my hotel room, but the housekeeping staff claim not to have found it. Grrrr.

Where were you in SD? I was down in there yesterday for Comic-con and stayed at the W. The traffic down that way suuuuuccks, even at the best of times. Next time, I'm taking the train!

I was at the Sheraton Mission Valley. I am SO taking the train next time too!

I'm jealous now - having a bit of a low point at the moment - teary but not feeling particularly homesick or anything - just bored and grumpy... think maybe it might be nearing "that" time of the month

Trying to talk Jeremy (subtly) into going to... I think it is Wendy's - they've been advertising chicken salads on tv for ages and I could really go for one of those right now with a bottle of white zin...


Awww - I want to join too

We'll work on an honorary membership button for you, okay?

I was so exhausted last night I collapsed at 10.30pm. It was so odd -- I felt exactly like I had a hangover all day yesterday but I had had one gin rickey (and a weak one at that) the night before with dinner. I didn't even get tipsy. Am I turning into a lightweight? And if so, will I need to turn in my membership button?

Sometimes the heat/tiredness will do that - if it is hot you dehydrate so soak up the alcohol faster.

I have no evidence or proof of this of course because I couldn't be bothered to research but it sounds good

I've just signed up to volunteer for the Palm Springs International Film Society So gimme my button and maybe I'll become some kind of film aficionado needed in Hollywood

While I was out perusing the aisles of the Burbank Costco, Bruce was busy making a video of the new pad:



I pulled up just as he was finishing, hence the magical appearance of the Snoreus in the driveway at the end. He took it on his digital camera, not the Mini-DV so the quality ain't perfect, but, feh.

Just watched it again and noticed he spent almost as much time on the garage and workshop as the house. Typical!

good morning uk!

Hey UK... We love you...

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

Oooh - I am soo jealous Maven!! Your garage looks as big as our entire apartment and the garden looks perfect for BBQs And I love the kitchen - we have a pokey little corner that can't realistically hold two people...

allo everyone. top of the morning to ya!

Good morning Charles, Good morning World. (ok its afternoon)

Cool house, Maven!

I have to ask though, what is the obsession in America with that horrible metal fencing? You see it in a lot of places and it's really fugly. Perhaps coming from the UK I'm spoilt and used to nice wooden fences!

If anyone has the answers, please send them on a postcard to....

LOL...it's to keep the dogs and kids in. Or perhaps keep them out. Im not for sure if they think dogs/kids can chew through wooden fences here?

Nice house maven - my husband would love a garage and workshop like that.

Regarding fences, I think metal fences are favored because of the weather and they require less maintenance. Though in the UK, I always thought stone/brick was more common than wooden fences?

Jeremy actually likes them which I just don't get In Maven's defense though, at least hers look well-kept - the ones I see around here haven't got proper tops or anything and look really awful - of course some of the neighborhoods they have been in haven't been... particularly classy

We actually have metal railings but there are bushes planted near them - I think the idea is that when the bushes grow and thicken up a bit more they will hide the railings which will be nice Of course, by the time that happens we'll prolly be house-hunting and have one of those wire fences when we move

good morning everyone!

Afternoon all. Good morning charles,

I will be delighted as i finish my course of antibiotics today cant wait to not feel rough and tired.

Good morning.

Getting ready to go to Lollapalooza this weekend...Friday night I see Bloc Party followed by Radiohead. Talk about a great line up!

WHOA! First SoCal eathquake experience for me here in Burbank!

That was the second scariest m*therf*cking experience of my life behind 9/11.

Our entire building swayed for a LONG time.

our building swayed too - I am shaking!

noooooo I forgot I was signing up for earthquakes. Ahhhhhhh

That certainly is bizarre! While I'd like to meet up with the LA VJers, I can promise you, Robin, that I'll not try to sell you any life insurance!!

Hey, are you back in America???

Oh I didn't mean Maven's was tatty looking or anything, I was just asking what the obsession was with them in general!

Yeah, we returned Sunday, only to have our flight to Buffalo canceled. They put us up in a Holiday Inn with only a smoking room. It was like sleeping in an ashtray! Yuck! Flew home Monday morning, only just making it to our home closing!

We had a great week, and the weather was just so gorgeous - warm and sunny. Not one drop of rain any day we were there.

I just wanted to add:

Welcome to the US, Poiteen!! Hope things are going well with you!!

Did you bring sausages and cheese back for all your VJ friends, hmmmm?

We did bring Branston Pickle (yum!), Primula (Can't help it - I love it!), crumpets, various chocs and biccies and some Battenberg cakes! Oh, and some Bisto.

Sorry no sausages.

I am willing to share with any and all who might be passing through the Buffalo area in the immediate future! Might even have a life insurance policy or two available for those interested!

We missed ya! Glad it was fun, even tho I am jealous as he!!.

Welcome back, Julez! We missed ya.

Now, enough talk about my fence, people! Seriously, I can't stand it either. It is indeed brand new and shiny, but the edges on it are sharp and I am always scratching my arm on it when I get into/out of my car when it's in the drive. I have some lovely scabs on my upper arms these days.

On the one hand its good to be back, on the other hand, it stinks!

Still, it is good too see my UK VJ peeps!

Oh, yeah, nice pad, maven! We're moving into ours over the next week or so, with the final push on Aug. 9th!

Glad all the CA folks seem to be fine. How high did it register on the Richter scale?

Sorry for the delay in posting, been a bit swept up in the whole "woohoo, I'm here!" thing. Anyway, woohoo, I'm here! I can't believe how hot it is here. I mean, I've been to Florida as a kid so knew roughly what to expect, but yeah, it's sweat city!

It's weird, I was really anxious in the few days leading up to moving here, but as soon as I waved my folks goodbye and went up the escalator to departures at Terminal 3, I went straight into "w00t, off to America!" mode. Settling in here pretty quickly too, surprising myself how quickly I'm getting used to it.

Anyway, just sat here chomping down some Patak's mango chutney with dips (nom nom nom!) and counting down the hours so I can go pick up Shan from work

My quest to find HP sauce has come up blank so far. Could have used it on some burgers last night too!


Stu

It was a 5.4 or a 5.8 depending on the source. The level of media coverage would have you believe that it was Northridge.

News Reporter: "Can you tell me what happened when the earthquake hit"
slightly stoned looking dude on Hollywood Blvd "ummm, it started shaking?"


I suppose the good thing about Maven's fence is it probably withstands earthquakes better - or something!

Didn't feel a thing out here in PS Apparently it was felt in Vegas though?


Aww - well I have to dodge chainsaw-wielding Mexicans!! Of course, they are trimming the hedge so I guess I can't complain too much


It was 5.4 according to the most recent update - apparently it is harder to tell the actual scale until afterwards which is why it was initially quoted as 5.8. It's getting a lot of coverage because it is the biggest quake in a populated area of the US since Northridge and there was a chance (now only 1% thankfully) that it was a foreshock to the "Big One"

Sooo... I'm thinking we might head back east sometime

Mind you if the earthquake hit as she was getting out the car and the fence came down with those sharp edges there could be a lot of blood.