GabachaYucateca

"I action that," mentioned by another poster made me feel a little pukey.

In fact, this whole convo is making me uncomfortable.

Topic's example described ad nauseum and clearly explained as different from the realm of being "illegal."

Surely it has, but don't you wanna have another go at it?

The "waiting in line" argument drives me batty!

Oohhh...Pedroh beat me to it!

Although, para eventos de caridad is a little too specific without knowing the context...depending on what you're fundraising for...I did a lot of it recaudando fondos para organizaciones sin fines de lucro, but never for events.

My 2 pesos.

Fantasy is a wonderful thing...the prob is when we decide to act on it.

Yes, Amby...some of us have wondered the same thing. I know that my husband has (as have I), but I trust that he wouldn't act on it.

Oh, yeah...the union! That's another big diff between FedEx and UPS. the driver I talked to seemed pretty sure that UPS would take him since he's worked at their competitor.

My husband is a package handler at FedEx, however, after talking to a UPS driver, I think shortly he'll switch to UPS because of the benefits. But we want to wait until after we go on vacation so he won't have to ask for two weeks off. Plus, as others mentioned, there is more upward mobility available at UPS than FedEx.

He's young and strong, but we do go through a lot of Ben Gay. Alas, you do what you have to.

I guess what I was referring to was the surrounding environment...I understand that on the US side, the area is surrounded by park lands and is less developed whereas the Canadian side is more built up, and that Niagara Falls is right in town on the Canadian side. Of course, this is just what I got from the briefest of research (talking to the owner of a coffeeshop and a quick review of comments on a travel forum) so I could be waay off base.

Even with specific travel forums for every corner of the earth, I bow to the collective and wide-ranging wisdom of VJers! Plus, you guys of all people will understand the excitement of my Mexican husband who will get to put his PR card into use for the first time returning from the Canadian side!

Of course, I'm planning this waaayyyy ahead of time, as we are planning to leave tomorrow morning from Rhode Island.

Has anyone every used those bidding sites for hotel rooms? I've heard about them, but don't know how they work and wonder if the time invested in figuring out how to find a deal is worth it, or we should just find any old budget chain motel and use my AAA discount. Opinions? Recommendations for trying to find a good deal?

Or any suggestions on a cool place to stay in Buffalo? Although I haven't looked into it, I can also imagine we might run into higher prices in Buffalo if the colleges there are having their graduation weekend.

I also understand that the NY side is much more about natural beauty wheareas the Canadian side is more about a kitschy vacation experience. But my husband loves the kitsch (although he considers it wonderful and amazing, not kitschy) and isn't the biggest fan of the natural beauty and quietude (which I am).

So can you guys help me out? I'd love your thoughts on these specific questions, but am open to anything that you'd like to share!

This morning was the first time I'd ever paid over $40 for a full tank.

You did help, thank you!

You can still file a waiver even as a fiance. But you must prove that, for you, moving to Panama would be an unendurable hardship for you.

Stasshi: I LOVED your story! What style and guts!

How would I write:

To the X Family,

I'm deeply sorry for your loss.

Thanks! (Don't have to translate that one!)

Cut (no pun intended) b/c I just realized this thread is ancient!

Hmm...If you never seen a Statie doing it, then now you know there are cities in MA that Statie are used as examiners. To begin with, that is how I got my license. Not by a DMV examiner. This was the year I went to college. Other people had Statie do it too. It depends on where you live. I'm not someone who hallucinated, don't play ignorance that just because you had a DMV rep do your exam, no other entity could've done it.

Anyway, I do hate RI drivers crossing into I-195 east torwards NEW BEDFORD. They sure drive weird. Sometime it says 55 mph on Rte 6, and they drive 30 mph instead. Most times on the freeway, esp on I-195 in MA, they drive their usual RI speed limit of 55 mph instead of th MA 65 mph. These are the RIslander who drive on 24 North from Newport, Middletown, and Tiverton. Weird drivers! Seth McFarlen (Family Guy Writer) loves to make fun of them.

Its true! They do drive strangely. Actually, I don't know where it was but I saw some research on the worst drivers in america (they did a massive survey of drivers in every state) and found that RI drivers were the worst in America.... and I really wasnt surprised.

The thing about RI is that its so small that I think people their feel like family, so most people drive like everyone is friends... which is all good, except that they will often stop their car and let a bunch of people pass or enter when they clearly have the right of way. I get very confused when I stop at a four way stop AFTER someone else has stopped and they wave me thru. Has anyone else noticed this? Also RI drivers don't usually know how to use a turn lane and instead they cut straight across it when turning. Also very weird.

I hope no RIlanders get offended I love the state... but it is a bit odd compared to the other states I have lived in.

oh! Here it is: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insura...car/P151501.asp

No offense taken! I remember when that study came out, and people were perversely proud of that designation of worst drivers. In the year following, I beleive RI dropped from #1 to #3.

Actually, I can't quite say that I'm a RI driver, as I grew up in Seekonk and just recently finally changed my license over to RI.

I don't know if it's in all of New England, but the most terrifying part about driving here is that people constantly screw through yellow lights, and are even still going through when it's decidedly red.

I'm not familiar with that phrase you used...turn lane? What's that?

Sounds like certain middle eastern groups scapegoating Israel and America for their woes.

What's your nickname again -- Wild Tangent ?

I don't know Boo-Ya's opinion on the matter, but I;d LOVE to have that as my nickname, even if someone were trying to use it as a jab.

I drive a ten year old cheap, compact car and will continue to do so until it kicks it. I can get away with filling up just about once a week (although it's a little more frequently now that hubby works 20 miles away).

I definitely plan to buy a hybrid, but I've heard that there are very long waiting lists to buy these cars. Is this true?

to save money or feel good?

I've only driven two cars in my 17 years of driving...a Ford Escort and a Ford Escort wagon. So if it looks like it'll save me money to drive a hyrbid, then I will buy one, however I realize that te costs of hybrids are higher. To be honest, I'm very new to the whole car buying business, since obviously my history of driving is only with a car just one step above the Yugo.

I drive a ten year old cheap, compact car and will continue to do so until it kicks it. I can get away with filling up just about once a week (although it's a little more frequently now that hubby works 20 miles away).

I definitely plan to buy a hybrid, but I've heard that there are very long waiting lists to buy these cars. Is this true?

It's stunning how much we love our furry creatures, especially because (in my opinion), it's much purer than how we love our partners because our animals can truly never do us any harm.

Whenever I read of people losing their pets, I start crying and make sure that I hug my special boy super hard. It makes me sick to my stomach to know that one day I'll lose him. Even when he goes away on vacay with his grandparents (yes, he is a dog), he starts getting anxious after a couple of days apart even though he loves it there.

The solutions are there. Develop and push fuel cell and electric cars. Build high speed rail and light rail networks throughout the country. Add an excise tax to the vehicles above.

Why should we be killing ourselves and driving up prices on everything so someone can drive a 100 ton mammoth vehicle.

Hear, hear!

They are pandering to corporate interests.

Well start electing people who look beyond the three worded slogans. The country was setup for the people. Not for lobbyist.

And again, hear hear!

I knew there'd be something that I'd agree with you on, Boo-ya!

My husband is coming with me to the drivers test, but he can't be in the car with me during the test?

Most definitely not! Best of luck! I'm sure you'll do wonderfully.

Hmm...If you never seen a Statie doing it, then now you know there are cities in MA that Statie are used as examiners. To begin with, that is how I got my license. Not by a DMV examiner. This was the year I went to college. Other people had Statie do it too. It depends on where you live. I'm not someone who hallucinated, don't play ignorance that just because you had a DMV rep do your exam, no other entity could've done it.

Anyway, I do hate RI drivers crossing into I-195 east torwards NEW BEDFORD. They sure drive weird. Sometime it says 55 mph on Rte 6, and they drive 30 mph instead. Most times on the freeway, esp on I-195 in MA, they drive their usual RI speed limit of 55 mph instead of th MA 65 mph. These are the RIslander who drive on 24 North from Newport, Middletown, and Tiverton. Weird drivers! Seth McFarlen (Family Guy Writer) loves to make fun of them.

You must chill! I simply stated that I'd never seen a statie do a driving test. Nowhere did I state that I did not believe it was done since I'd never seen it. That would be ridiculous.

Actually, the examiner was a jerk, as I mentioned. Because my husband only speaks English as a Second language, I did the initial communication. He abruptly said, "You can't be in the car. If he doesn't understand my commands, we won't even leave the lot."

Yeah, that arena is very strange...I live and work in that 'hood and never even noticed it.

I took my first driver's test in Attleboro and it was with a DMV examiner...never seen a Statie doing it!

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Where are you taking it? Homeboy was going to do his in Pawtucket, but the guy wouldn't let him because I didn't have a passenger's side mirror. Good thing, because the man was awful and he made him very nervous (was a real jerk about the language barrier instead of just being cool and realizing he wouldn't have the same level of comprehension as a native speaker). But that won't be a problem for you!

Anyway, I heard that in Pawtucket you have to back up in a straight line while keeping a very specific stance at the wheel.

But he ended up taking it in Westerley (quite a haul, but they were the only ones with a fast appointment) and just had to drive around a bit.

I haven't heard of anyone parallel parking or doing a three point turn, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Seriously people, you have no sense of humor around here?

Nope.

I know you don´t but others sometimes do

oooh, the tongue emoticon makes it funny.. I get it now

Now you're with the program, MarilynP!

I myself have a super sense of humor. Just there are some things I don't find amusing.

I'd be interested in hearing how people are coping with the gas prices. What are you doing to cut down?

Living in a Michigan city that was designed for the automobile can make it difficult to drive less. When I do drive, I'm glad I have a very fuel efficient 5 speed car. I live about 3 miles from work so I can bike there. Most stores are less than 3 miles away so I can also bike there and pack groceries and goods into a backpack. Basically, I bike and walk a lot more and use the bus when it's raining or too cold. There have been some times I've gone weeks without using my car and my health has improved because of it and I save a ton of money. I'm already keeping my eye out for a bike for my fiance. Of course...living downtown makes all of this possible... for rural households, I can't imagine the costs....

That sounds amazing! I had not considered walking to work because I often have to leave for meetings and to give clients rides, but in the past few weeks, I've noticed that I haven't needed my car. So it'll be nice to walk there when I know that I won't have to leave until the end of the day!