I've only seen two Broadway shows, many years ago -- saw Man of La Mancha early in its run (a client of my mom's got us fabulous seats), and then saw one other show I can't even remember on some godawful school trip. I've seen lots of touring Broadway shows, but those don't count.



You really should, iMissEthan -- do you have any idea how much you could make selling those on eBay???

Edited to add Papa Tiger has TWO job interviews tomorrow, both for great jobs, one outside DC, one in Oak Ridge. Cross your collective fingers that he gets offered one or both, please -- this being laid off crap is for the birds!!

If you guys need to add a continent quickly, Bogota is only a four hour flight from Atlanta.

All 6 Australian states and both Territories, 4 Canadian Provinces, 6 US States and 31 Countries. Was hoping for more but impending parenthood has put it on hold for at least a year or so.

Canada: 9 provinces and 1 territory
US: 18 states (I think...)
other countries: 7
continents:3
Broadway shows (Canadian touring productions):3

(sheesh, I feel like one of those mastercard commercials)

As for sewing machines, my mom has had a Sears brand model (?Kenmore) for about 15 years, and I think she's been happy with it. (you do have Sears stores in the US, right? not sure about shipping to Colombia, though)

Let's see 39 US states and 5 countries. Well 8 if you count airport stops and the Conch Republic.

One Broadway show.

I actually just replaced my old Kenmore machine (yes, we have Sears in the US, it's where it started, actually, something like a century ago, I believe) with my new Singer. I got my Kenmore over 20 years ago and it provided faithful service all that time. It never went in the repair shop a single time. I finally decided to upgrade to a machine that did a few things better -- notably, buttonholes and stitches that work on knits -- but the old one can probably provide another 20 years of good service to someone who doesn't want to do anything too fancy. Kenmore stuff is nothing if not dependable!

24 states plus DC, plus going over Canadian airspace flying out of Detriot one time.

Well, if we're counting airspace, then I've been to the North Pole, too. :-)

Oh, then I've been to the North Pole twice, maybe 4 times (I don't remember one of the flight patterns, but I think we went darn far north)! Good chance I was peeing over it, too, as I am wont to imbibe on overseas flights (and underseas also). And I've flown over Greenland a few times.

erinjsnark, there hasn't been any word yet on when the next Harry Potter book is coming out. I'm guessing if it doesn't happen this summer, it will be either December or next summer. They seem to be good about the book coming out during school holidays.

Its funny - I'm reading a bio of JRR Tolkein, and when the Lord of the Rings was published, the first two books were published pretty close together and then people had to wait an entire year for the 3rd one. And, were pretty upset about it. They didn't know anything about waiting :-)

Sure is. I was just too lazy yesterday to look up how to type "ç" so that I could spell it correctly.



Dag! Now if I were to use that logic, I can't count France or Belgium. I was working on a ship when I went there and they didn't believe in giving us any time off, so while I went to Europe three times over three months, I only touched ground in Germany and England. I've got pictures of the other places though. You know, bridges and canals and stuff like that.

Are we counting airports? I had a 45-minute layover in Albuquerque (I hope I spelled that correctly) and I got off the plane to buy a newspaper. If that doesn't count, I've got to add another state to my trip next year.

Hey MamaTiger... let me know how the job interviews go! I live about ten minutes away from Oak Ridge (on the Knoxville side of the county line). My parents had a house on the river (which is the line) so we were in Oak Ridge a lot. Aw... too bad I'm moving to Nashville in three weeks, or else we could be neighbors!

I actually had an opportunity to go to Greenland last summer. It was an optional day trip from Iceland, but we didn't take it since there was plenty to see in Iceland itself.

I also had an opportunity to go to Antartica for a college internship. I kinda regret not pursuing that. It'd be great to say I've been there, but probably would have been boring as hell while there.

Back to the Mars bars discussion from a few pages ago, a British woman just bought 10,000 of them.

I know there are cat lovers out there, but would you rob a bank for your cat?

Maybe when my mom inevitably sells my childhood homestead, I will sell my old Playbills, but now I like the idea that they're still in my old closet, with tons of my old stuff.

Iceland is really high on my list of Must Visits. Too much Bjork or something. I even rented 101 Reykjavik just to see more of Iceland. And I am just now getting over an obsession with Antarctica that involved reading everything I could about the south pole. I guess that was kicked off by reading Lansing's Endurance. Which is all funny because I hate the cold.

16 States (not counting airports or flyovers), 1 Canadian province, 12 countries (including one now defunct - Yugoslavia), and desperately wanting to see Iceland. Unfortunately, nowhere other than CA in the last 4 years (children will do that to you). No Broadway shows, but lots of Shakespeare (writes ten, looks three).

No! (I started the whole thing, I get to say what counts.) Flyovers don't count, either. Drive-throughs do count, though. Because I said so.

As a cognizant person: 23 U.S. states, 7 Canadian provinces, plus England and Australia. Somewhere between 20-30 Broadway and off-Broadway shows (which, considering that I live in Toronto, is something), and countless theatrical productions elsewhere in the world. (In my circle of friends, by the way, this is somewhat below average. Scary.)

Add about 4 countries as an infant. Though no shows.

By the way, I'm going to be presenting at a conference in Minneapolis in June. I haven't been there for about 10 years. (1) Best restaurants? (2) Best bookstores? (3) Anything I shouldn't miss seeing or doing?

I got to spend a few days in Iceland and it's all that & a bucket of Bjorky goodness. The place is bloody expensive because everything has to be imported but it is wonderfully beautiful. I also have some friends who took IcelandAir to Europe because you can do a 24 layover, which means a full day of wandering.
(they did this option at least 3 or 4 years ago, so it may not still be valid)

I believe they still do, well at least there is a long enough layover to visit the Blue Lagoon (which is heaven). I went about a year and a half ago on a Jewish Singles weekend to Reykjavik.

Don't forget the Sculpture Garden's Cherry Spoon

They still do it. That's the sole reason I got there last summer. We actually stayed there for 4 days for no additional charge before going on to Copenhagen. And yeah, it is frikkin' expensive. I remember a small pizza costing roughly $20.
And here are my pics if you're interested: Iceland

I've been to quite a few states, 12 if I had to hazard a guess. A bunch of them were drive-throughs in a college trip to Minneapolis from New Jersey (sorry delta888, had to stick mostly to the convention center when I was there). And New Jersey is so crowded that it kind of freaked me out how few cars there were on the road when we got to Indiana and Wisconsin.

I've been to Europe twice, Ireland and Spain, plus a day trip to Portugal which is GORGEOUS if you like tiled architecture. Highly recommended.

And for those of you who have seen 30 or more Broadway shows: Bravo to you for remembering the number! I'm not even sure how many I've seen, and I know it couldn't be more than 10! Speaking of Les Miz...anyone know when a tour might be coming through the Cleveland area? I've got some friends who I know would like it...

Hey, y'all. I lurked here all through TAR 4, but I decided that this season I'll actually, you know, take part and stuff.

First, let me say I would never have watched TAR at all but for you guys. I was a Survivor addict, and the combination of y'all's bannar ads last season and the CBS promos promising something to fill the "Survivor void" made me think this show might be worth trying. Was that ever an understatement...

After watching TAR 4 I wanted to kick myself for not catching on sooner. TAR was the first time that I was willing to write in with a Save Our Show campaign, because it was the first time I felt a show needed to be saved that badly.

Anyway, while I'm here, I'll play along...13 states--no foreign countries yet. Thank God drive-throughs count, or I'd be pretty depressed at my lack of travelage.

Another newbie here [waves hello] - I found TWOP in October when I was procrastinating from studying for my organic chem midterm. I love that there's a place with tons of people who love TAR as much as I do.

As for the geography game, I've been to 7 Canadian provinces (everything from Ontario to the East Coast) and about 13 U.S. states. That's it. But I have a big list of places that I want to visit once I'm no longer on a university student budget. Since I live about an hour from Toronto, I've been to a few plays/musicals - one or two a year since I was ten, so around 15. Hairspray's next on my list. Les Mis is was and always will be one of my faves, but I loved Ragtime, since I got to see it with Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell, who are both phenomenal.

Wow, erinjsnark, sorry we might not get to be almost-neighbors -- although if we do end up in Oak Ridge, I presume you'll be visiting your parents occasionally so we could do a mini-TWOPcon then, maybe.

Papa Tiger's interviews both went well, he thinks. Oak Ridge is really hard to predict, since he was apparently the first interviewee, but the other job in McLean, VA, he and the interviewer really hit it off, and the guy is just putting together a team to do a big corporate project, so he kind of suggested that even if Papa Tiger isn't right for this specific job, he may come up with a short-term project to put him on while he decides what job to put him in. I wouldn't mind going back to the DC area -- my old boss already promised me a job back at my old firm! -- but it's SO expensive. Oak Ridge is certainly more affordable! But at this point, beggars can't be choosers, so whichever he gets offered first, he'll probably take!! And they both promised to get back to him within two weeks, which is stll before his final termination date, so we're hoping that at least one of them will come through. Or maybe something else!

iMissEthan, just make sure your mom doesn't throw out the "junk" from your closet if she ever sells your childhood home. Papa Tiger is still sick, sick, sick over his mom tossing his complete 1957 baseball card collection. We don't even TRY to find out how much it would be worth today. Groan.....

Am I the only person here who's been to all 48 of the mainland US states (known as CONUS to the military, for "continental US")? Wow, I knew my parents liked to drive around when we were on vacation, but I hadn't realized what a thorough job they did -- or what a good job I did of picking up where they left off. I've driven the long way across nearly the big states -- it takes a day and a half to cross Montana alone, and that was back in the days of "safe and reasonable" speed limit, so we never went below 100 and often far above. (Driving at 130 mph -- legally, even -- is pretty darned fun, I have to tell you!) If I never, EVER drive from central Texas west through El Paso, though, it won't be too soon. Even driving across South Dakota when it was 100F out, the car had no air conditioning, and I had infections in both ears with accompanying fever was preferable to West Texas.

And to add a complete non sequitur, this evening at the free concert in the park downtown after work I was treated to one of those "only in New Orleans" musical experiences -- a band comprised of three guys, playing guitar, tuba, and washboard respectively, performing Led Zeppelin. (And doing it well!!)

Greetings... just thought I'd pop in here and say hello. I'm jcpdiesel21 and I'm a pretty big TWoP addict. I usually post on the American Idol, The O.C., The Apprentice, and Survivor boards. I'm 24 and I'm a substitute teacher in Springfield, Missouri.

I watched the first season of TAR and loved it. I missed seasons two and three for some reason, but caught up with it again in season four with the enhancement of Miss Alli's recaps and this fantastic forum. I can't wait until the next season starts! I even planned my trip to visit my parents, my work schedule, and my summer classes around the show. July 6th 90 minutes I can't wait AIEEEEEEEEEE!

I've been lurking around here since TAR 2 and finally decided to join the fun.

I don't sew and we rarely go anywhere. Boring? Us?

Hubby and I keep applying for TAR but never get called. What? We aren't exciting enough? Hmmph.

Welcome to all the lurkers! If there are more of you, come on out and join us before the season starts!

I have been to all the Canadian provices, but no territories. I haven't been to too many US states, mostly just the northeast - VT, NY, Mass... as well as Florida and Illinois. I've also been to five European countries and five Asian. Central and South Americal will hopefully be my next stops.

Schroeder, I know I'm a little late to the party, but congratulations on law school!

And I have to concur with wtf - I had a blast in school. Sure, it's lots of work, but everyone also knows how to blow off steam.

And here's depressing, my 5-year reunion is in a week and a half...we do, of course, already have all of our drinking plans lined up!!

Speaking of reunions...I'm in the beginning stages of planning for one for HS. No one else had done anything so I stepped up. Well, I was slightly coerced, but I'm trying to stay positive.

Anyone here ever plan a class reunion? Any advice? If you've ever been to one, what did you appreciate/detest?

At my 10 year reunion they played a video of all our yearbook photos, and then the graduation - extremely embarassing. The hair, the horror!

Travel? So far, nine Canadian provinces (lived in six) and one territory. Twenty-five US states, give or take a couple drive-throughs. Eighteen other countries (assuming that Scotland and Wales don't count), although Lichtenstein was a drive-through.

(Only three continents. I should have crossed the Bosphorus when I had the chance.)

Oh, can I get credit for Yugoslavia if I was there while it was in the middle of, you know, stopping being there?

That already happened to me when I went away to college. I lost my Mad magazines and my Wacky Pack cards. I'm sure they would be worth some good $ at this point.

Suga I've skipped all of mine so far (30-year is the next one due, and I don't know that I'll make the 150 mile drive to go to it (but I will happily drive that far or farther to meet with TWoPpers, if that gives you an idea of how much that length of drive bothers me, i.e. not at all)) so I can't make any suggestions about what to do, but I can tell you what the planners of mine have done that made me less inclined to try to make them--they assumed that, of course, a golf weekend was the way to go. All of them, so far, have devoted Saturday to golfing. Oh, yay. Rah. I didn't golf in high school, I don't golf now, I doubt if I will ever golf, I don't care about golf, and I don't want to pay to go to a weekend party and have it devoted to golf.

I know that this is factor of the area (and times, I suppose) that I grew up in--the goal of almost everyone in my class was to get married, have babies (lots of babies), work for the same company for the next 40 years, join the country club, and retire to a golf-course community in Florida. Out of almost 200 people in my class, the ten-year bio-book showed that perhaps 100 had gotten an Associates Degree, then gotten married and had babies (lots and lots of babies). There were about 20 who had gotten Bachelors' in anything, and 2 with a Masters and only one who had a PhD. Most of the rest had gone into the family business, whatever that was.

Whatever.

If it's a one night party, just plan a good party. Make sure there's somewhere where the music isn't too loud, so folks can sit and chat. If it's a weekend thing, I'd suggest having a mix of activities: golf; a long brunch thing for the ones who just want to sit and yak; maybe access to a pool; if you had a bunch of folks who were into art or theatre, maybe a museum crawl or a show. A dance or a dinner-dance. Things like that. Depending on how long you've got to plan, and whether you're on the hook for expenses, maybe make up a list of possible things and send it out with a request for feedback.

I think I'd skip the video, though. <g>

I hated my 10-year reunion and am hoping the same people aren't involved in planning the 20-year reunion. Or that I'm busy or out of the country then.

I was looking forward to seeing my friends, but didn't get to see much of them since they were leaving the place after decorating all morning at the time that it was announced that people would be gathering during the day. Not many people actually gathered. Some played golf and one or two were at the pool, but no one else was there doing anything. It was very unorganized and dull.

During the dinner, they had a former high school music teacher act as DJ. He played the music so loud you couldn't hear yourself talk, much less anyone else. The music wasn't particularly good either, since he played what was then currently popular. We were all about 28 or 29 and didn't know a lot of the music. There was a space for dancing, but no one appeared to want to get up and dance to music they didn't know well. I have always wondered why he didn't play what was popular when we were in high school. We ended up leaving way early because the loud music started a migraine for my husband.

I don't know what you should do to make it enjoyable, except to repeat Rabrab's advice to have a mix of activities and a place where music isn't too loud. The choice of location for the reunion is also important. Ours was at a very small country club in a small town (so not really country clubbish at all), and I was a little disappointed nothing was at the school so we could see what it was like 10 years after we left.

My mileage varied (figuratively and literally). I was posted briefly to west Texas during my service years. Day trips and weekend jaunts to Mexico, Langtry, Big Bend, the Marfa lights and Alpine hill country...all good fun. And the steakhouses? If you're doing Atkins, this place is Mecca.

I skipped all my h.s. reunions. Why would I fly back to that place I didn't like to visit people I didn't like? (If they'd had studious Goth loners back then, I would have been one. Instead, I was a generic straight-A student/introvert.) Granted, I've gotten together with a few of those people since h.s., and I like them better now. But if they lived near me, I still wouldn't pursue friendships with them. My mom thinks I have an attitude problem. I think I'm happier as an adult than I was as a kid or a teenager. If that's an attitude problem, fine. As for the reunions themselves, I hear they serve dinner at 5, then everyone segregates by sex to talk about jobs and politics (men) or kids and grandkids (women). Golf would be too sophisticated for that crowd. And I'm going to stop now before I sound like more of a curmudgeon than I really am. I'm not a curmudgeon, I'm just someone who should never have grown up in a farming community.

So, hubby and I were at a San Jose Earthquakes tailgate on Saturday (professional soccer), and a friend/acquaintance came up to us (semi drunk) and yelled "You two would be perfect! That's what I was telling him the other day! You should do it!"

Of course, we had no idea what she was talking about until her husband sorted it out for us. Turns out they are big TAR fans too, and were talking about people they knew who would make good contestants. They decided we'd be perfect.

My response was, "well, we'd love to. But we'd be screaming at each other 2 minutes into the race and wouldn't stop until we crossed the finish line or were eliminated." Her response: "I know! That's why you'd be fun to watch!" Eep.

To everyone who's passed on congrats, I just want to say thank you, other than my family, no person in real life has heard (don't want to lose the job just yet), so it's nice to hear the kudos.

Now, do y'all want to die of laughing hysterically?
Get ready... wait for it... I'm expected by the Department of Education to contribute .... hold for it, it's coming ....
$11,460 to my law school education!!!
$11,460!
I have less than $200 in my savings, and that's what they're expecting me to have! So much for staying with my boyfriend and living in a nice apartment. It's back home to my parents' for me! (Sob!) "Gee, Schroeder, you've been gone since 8 this morning and it's midnight! You know I can't get to sleep until everyone's home."
"Sorry, mah, I was studying with Jamie."
"Jamie, that's a girl's name, right? You were spending all day with a girl, right? Have I met this girl? Do you want to bring her over to the house?"
"(Grumble, grumble)."

Oh, wee fun.

Oh, Schroeder! Is that per year, or total? I'm sorry, but I need to know whether to sympathize (if it's per year, although that's still about what I paid almost 20 years ago for undergrad, so I won't be able to work up a whole lot of sympathy) or point and giggle (if it's total--man, are you getting off light!) I won't, however, laugh hysterically.

I know that saying it's relatively low doesn't help if you don't have it, and I am sincerely sympathetic about that. Hard truth is, dreams cost. They cost big, in either money, or time, or choices to be made, or all of the above. Check for grants, scholarships (even the little ones help--$500 from a little family foundation is $500 not from your pocket.) In Miss Alli's journal Frolic and Detour, she compares law school to getting a mortgage, without getting the house. Dude, I'm pulling for you.

It's per year. I'm hoping they're going to take into consideration that I'm not going to be working while in school. Or least, not at the job that I was that "qualifies" me for supplying $11,400 a year. COnsidering that turition is slightly less than 19,000, that's ahuge chunk I'm supposed to supply.
Although, I'm sure for the second year, I'm going to have made a lot less during my first year, and they won't require such a large chunk.
One good thing about Texas, they have this tuition grant thing where I could get up to $10,000 for just being a Texas resident. Here's to hoping.
I know that dreams cost, but I wonder if they ever really take something into consideration. It's like when I was an undergrad. Because of how much my parents make, they "should have" given me XXX amount. But they never take into consideration if my parents "will" give me XXX amount, which they won't, er, didn't. And with the little bro in college, even if they had money to give me now, they'd give to him first, as I'd want them to.
But man, what a crap shoot.

Ah, OK. The picture is getting clearer, and I'm not laughing. That grant program sounds good. I do hope that the number will be revised down when you leave the job.

I lost a chunk of college funding the same way--too much money "on paper" that wasn't there for real. Mom owned our house free and clear, and that was too big of a chunk in the asset column. Nevermind that it was Daddy's life insurance that had paid it off, she had a mortageable asset and that counted toward the amount I was elegible for, because I entered college at 17 (calendar tricks--they can work both ways.)

The dreams? Nope, they never take anything into consideration; I think that's why for so many people, they stay dreams. They take a lot of work, and a lot of courage. Hang tough--you'll find a way. You're on my Good thoughts list.

Anyone interested in meeting up in NYC Friday night, come to the Guidos thread for the details (that means you too, Kenny!).

Schroeder, talk to the financial aid folks or the dean of students at the law school you'll be attending. Those financial aid formulae can be adjusted, and from my experience over the years, there is some flexibility of sorts built into the system. And don't forget to check with your bank concerning the availability of student loans

Schroeder you can always resort to begging in airports. Just pretend you're from Harvard Law.

Oh, I'm sure Kurtle appreciates that remark!

Theschnauzers and rabrab, ("I lost a chunk of college funding the same way--too much money "on paper" that wasn't there for real." -- oh, so this isn't just my family??!!) thanks for the advice. I'm going to wait until Tuesday to contact the law school, as Tuesday is when I'm on vacation for a week. My buddy here at work told me today he met a guy at the YMCA next door while playing basketball, and it turns out the guy is a law student at the school, and told me that the school limits the amount of hours (which I expected) that a 1L can work. But since they limit the amount of hours a 1L can work, then they definitely should expect many of these incoming students to say they don't have the Expected Family Contribution amount.
At least I hope so.

And ... vacation. Wee! Fairly Perceptive Boyfriend is going to try and get me onto some of the roller costers at Six Flags Over Texas. I told him if we stick to The Log Ride and Yosemite Sam's Gold River Adventure, then we're fine. But I think that he secretly won't be happy til he's got me on that ones that go upside down and super-duper fast. I can't stand those. They weren't designed to be ridden with your eyes shut tight and your fingers in your ears.

bungle3358, thanks for posting your Iceland pictures. Beautiful!! Especially the nutbunch museum.

Schroeder, I am very sympathetic. My husband (is it uptight of me that I can't bring myself to call him Mr. Booty?) is finishing his master's in June, and I've been thinking that maybe it's getting to be time for me to take my next educational step, but it's daunting to take another jump back into the debt pool so quickly after this current plunge.

But the good news is that he has so many new doors opening for him. The bad news is that he is scared of roller coasters.



DariaG, I laughed when I read this because my mom thinks the same of me. When I went off to college in the midwest (from the west coast), she was so worried that I was going to a snob about it that she told me to pretend I was moving to a foreign country.

Well, I drove a 23-foot U-Haul truck towing my car west from Austin through El Paso all the way to Lalaland. With a complaining Siamese cat sitting next to me the entire way. Not exactly the trip of lifetime, you know?



If it's any consolation, europa, that's what my daughter says about me and Papa Tiger, too. Except she says she doesn't want to see us at each others' throats around the world. We think it would be great, if my foot would only cooperate (which it probably wouldn't) and if Papa Tiger would probably never get a medical clearance, being diabetic.

MamaT eeeep! to the diabetic husband--I've got one too, and honestly, even if the Race would clear him, I'd have to wonder whether it would be a good idea, given what the Racers have said about living on Power Bars.

SurlyBooty: you could always call him Mr. Surly. Though I'm not sure that that's a whole lot better.

Nope, Schroeder, not just your family, not by a long shot. And besides the banks, check with your Credit Union, if you belong to one. They can sometimes be a great deal more flexible than a Bank Corp. And I hate roller coasters, too. If FPB makes you take one of the bad ones, throw up in his Fairly Perceptive Lap. Worked for me.