I must chime in with the travel talk, even though I'm a bit late. I live in Ontario, and I've also been to Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Michigan. As for overseas travel, in March I went to England, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Monaco. (Does Monaco count as a country? I never really figured that one out.)

I know how you feel about your financial woes, Schroeder. I'm off to the University of Western Ontario next year, and I have a grand total of $5.54 in my bank account thanks to my trip to Europe. Luckily, I'll be receiving $10 000 over four years, but I'm still going to have to pay $15 000 plus all of my living expenses over five years. I can't even get any OSAP (government funding for students) because my parents make too much money by their standards. Just because my mom and dad have money doesn't mean I do.

Oh, yes, schroeder, definitely talk to your credit union -- we were able to get some really great student loans through ours, and they even offered us nicely discounted interest rates on payback for automatic payment. Also check for every possible grant or scholarship imaginable because there are zillions and zillions out there going almost unnoticed. Search the internet and you'll be amazed at what you can come up with.

Papa Tiger has very mild diabetes, takes one pill once a day. But I agree, living on Power Bars probably wouldn't work well for him. Not to mention the fact that because of some complications and nerve damage from surgery, I can't walk more than a few blocks without pain. So I think we're probably destined to remain armchair Racers, alas.

Speaking of Papa Tiger, I gave him our geography quiz, and folks, he's got us ALL beat. He's been to: all 50 US states, 6 Canadian provinces, 5 Australian states, 28 countries (not including the US or Canada), and five continents. Heck, he's even been to Diego Garcia, that dot of land in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

I wonder if it would be bad form to join the credit union now when I'm going to go part time come this fall?
nah, whatever gets me the money!

No, it's not bad form. Do it while you can.

Bungle, you photos of Reykajvek & the Blue Lagoon are almost identical to mine, including the penis museum! Hee. I loved that place. I didn't get to do any outdoorsy stuff like the coast or glaciers b/c we were there for a music fest & may have been passed out during the day.

Hey, that's one of mine! Go, Papa Tiger...what great travel experience!

I loved Diego, but then again, I was only there for 4 months and I was 20. For those that don't know, a 20 y/o woman who isn't in the Navy is a hot commodity in DG. My friend and I were celebrities on that tiny island so my experience might differ from that of others.

And because Googling is fun...

Question: What is necessary to go into the Blue Lagoon? I was searching the net and kept coming to the same web site and I got all confused and lazy. Is it a free national treasure or it is privately owned?

Schroeder, I too lived at home with the folks while I went to law school. It really wasn't that bad. After my first year I figured out that I couldn't get ANY studying done at home, so I made it my business to spend all weekend in the library and only studied a couple of hours a day during the week.

It actually gave me the opportunity to get closer to my folks, both of whom were home full-time by then. On days that I would come home early, my mom and I would talk, and I really got a chance to know her as an adult (as opposed to the surly, smart-aleck teenager that had inhabited her house earlier). Not that it was all great. I remember coming home one night trying to study and not being able to figure out what the hell I was reading. I got so frustrated I started bawling in the middle of my bed. My mother heard me crying and came to see what the matter was. When she discovered me, she went to get my dad who also came in. By that time I was in full-blown histrionics. My parents were convinced that I was having a breakdown. It took a lot of convincing on my part to explain that I was crying over Property Law.

Ah, good times...

I'm always so behind on reading this thread.....so, 3 pages back Meghan Jill asked if a tour of Les Mis was going to be in the Cleveland area anytime soon. I just wanted to let her know that it was just here in the fall. But I know that it will be in Pittsburgh next winter (January, I think).

Are you in the Cleveland area Meghan Jill? Or just your friends?

During a meeting yesterday I found myself pondering how much work it would take to apply some Amazing Purse-ish red and yellow stripes to my bland black purse. I think I need this show to start.

Hi everyone. I'm thinking ahead to TAR, since I quit watching Survivor a while ago. I think it's impossible for TAR to be boring. I don't think you all know me around these parts, so hello. Empress here. Of note: just had a birthday (24 yesterday), am quitting my job in a month, and post in the CSI, Real World, and Apprentice forums mostly. I got into TAR last season (I, too, was mad at myself for not having discovered it sooner, and read all the recaps to make up for it) and posted about halfway through, I think.

Schroeder, I feel you (congrats, by the way!). I applied to grad school this year and was accepted to a bunch, but the school that offered me money I found I didn't like (I tried really hard to think only of the money but in my heart I knew I'd be miserable, and the program wouldn't yield the desired end result), and the schools I DID like didn't offer me money. And my earning potential won't be too high coming out, so going into all that debt just didn't make sense - plus I have modest loans from undergrad. I decided to do a summer program instead. I've been living at home for the past 6 months to save money for school, and this program is what I'll be spending it on, so I won't incur debt. I still plan to go to school, but I'll end up working my way through - I don't think I'll ever be solely a full-time student again. Which is OK. Flexibillity is good.

My best friend is in law school and pretty much borrowed it, and has resigned herself to taking a corporate position when she gets out. She has to - her payments will be 1K a month, if not more. Fastweb.com is a good place to look for scholarships. I wish you luck - worrying about money is the worst.

Schroeder,


five years out of law school, and I'm still nearly $80K in debt. I came out of school with close to $130K (and that was just law school, I didn't have to borrow for undergrad). The flip side of it is, your earning power as a lawyer is considered very high, so financial institutions are pretty willing to lend you the money.

And I just got my on-time bonus for paying 48 payments of my stafford loans on time - my interest rate is currently 1.42%.

also,



It's not a law school restriction, it's actually a restriction placed on law schools who are members of (I think) NALP and some other organizations. You're not allowed to work your first year (Although, I had plenty of classmates who worked at bars and stuff anyway).

Suga Wuga, I loved that Diego Garcia info. I'm always much more interested in way out of the way places like that, than I am in the more normal destinations.

It's privately owned, and there is a fee. But IIRC, it wasn't too bad considering how expensive everything else is. It's actually just the by-product of a geothermal power plant. The spa was just an afterthought, but now it's probably as much of a moneymaker as the power plant.

Here's the official site: Blue Lagoon.is

skagirl77 the penis museum actually squicked me out a little. We went in there thinking "this is gonna be so funny!" but seeing a bunch of peniseseses floating in formaldehyde was kinda gross. The concept is still pretty funny, even if the reality isn't.
A long, long time ago, I drove I-10 all the way from Jacksonville, Fl. to New Mexico. I didn't have any cats with me though. :-) I think it took several weeks, since there were many side trips along the way. That's the trip where I knocked off the majority of the states on my list.

Belated congrats, Schroeder. A friend of mine just got accepted in a PhD program that will cost her $15,000/year, plus living expenses. No one has ever finished the program in 3 years, and most people take 5 years. Her plan -- and she's an economist, so I thought this was noteworthy -- is to use up the money she has, then borrow money from her parents, then get loans from other sources. "Because that's how it's done." YMMV. Good luck, in any event.

I was just here on my annual excursion to populate my garden. I always buy way too much. So what was supposed to be 3 basil plants, plus one each of lemon verbena and lavender, ended up being 6 basils, 2 lemon verbenas, 1 lavender, 3 thymes, a pineapple mint, lavender hand lotion, and a book on cooking with basil. Oh, and a partridge in a pear tree. Or so it seemed. At least I didn't buy any habanero pepper plants. They're pretty, but the peppers are hotter than I can tolerate.

You never know when a credit union membership will come in handy. Papa Tiger joined the Navy Federal Credit Union when he was a contractor for the Navy overseas; he personally was in the Air Force, as has been everyone in my family. But last year, while driving across Texas, I stopped at a motel and the young woman insisted on giving me the military discount because my credit card said "Navy" on it. Even though I pointed out to her that I really didn't qualify for it, she insisted on giving it to me. So I saved ten bucks when I least expected it. :-)

Lucky you, Mama Tiger. I keep having to explain what USAA is to people who look at my card, but nobody ever gives me a discount!

Even When the show isn't on, I can't keep up with this thread. It is so great to see everyone back though. Hello new people!

I am undertravelled. 4 countries including the one I live in. 10 provinces. 12 or so states. I want to go to Scotland and Germany next. Right now I want to go somewhere warm, like Belize. It's May and I had to wear a heavy coat out in the garden this morning. What's with that? I sure hope it warms up before our big summer vacation north of Lake Superior.

On the up side, we are almost finished renovating our kitchen after 4 gruelling months and it looks awesome.

Hey, Loraxe, I just got back from Belize two weeks ago. It was awesome. I highly recommend it. Pictures are here.

Suga Wuga, how on earth did a 20-year-old girl not in the Navy end up in Diego Garcia? And is it really "out of cyclone range"? If so, then maybe I want to move there -- Papa Tiger assures me it's one of the most beautiful places he's been, which is saying a lot!

I've been dying to go to the Blue Lagoon for a long time now. A few years ago when we were living in DC, we went on the annual Goodwill fund-raising embassy tour -- each year a bunch of embassies open their doors and let people tour, and Goodwill raises several hundred thousand dollars, so it's a good deal all around. The Icelandic embassy residence was on the tour, and I was admiring an interesting painting in the living room and this charming gentleman came up and started discussing it with me. Turned out he was the ambassador. And his wife was shaking every single hand of every single person that went through that day. I tell you, if all the people in Iceland are that nice, it's definitely some place I want to visit! (The "Travel Iceland" brochures they passed out were also really interesting!)

I think what I need to do is win the lottery so I can travel to all the places I want to see. Also extend out my life for at least another full lifetime, to allow for the possibility that by that point I'll be able to go off-planet.

Loraxe mentioned:

Where will you be going?
and it's still cold around here too - what is up with the weather patterns this year?!?

Sparky I am totally going to Belize now. Maybe I will learn how to dive first.

Kanuck! I am going to meet a friend of mine who lives in Edmonton at Rushing River by Kenora. We are camping for a week and then we are going to leisurely wend our way back to Southern Ontario, stopping to smell the daisies whenever we want. It's an area I have always rushed by on my way to somewhere else, so I really hope to enjoy it. If you have any suggestions....

Traveling by train to the Survivor Finale in a bit.
Just excited and wanted to share.
=Þ
Love you Sugs.

Loraxe - I actually took lessons down there - I figured it would be a lot more fun to learn in a really beautiful ocean spot, rather than in some quarry in the middle of PA (which is where some of my friends had to go to do their "open water" dives for certification).

The only thing was that the class took 4 days, so I didn't get to do a lot of other stuff. I figure it's just an excuse to go back to see the ruins and stuff. :)

Sparky's right, I believe, Schroeder, and they tend to schedule your classes (first years have no choice as to what they take) in such a way as to prevent you from working.

(I, however, am a big giant rebel, so I worked about 20-30 hours a week in a congressional office my first year in law school. What a badass, huh? *Snort*)

As opposed to, say, when you borrow money to get your master's in library and info science and become a librarian. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Holy crap, you guys, I can't wait for TAR5. And it's cracking me up how the spoiler thread, which I haunt incessently for every teensy scrap of information, is turning into CSI: TWoP with carpet fiber analysis and stuff. We are so obsessed.

That's exactly what I love about TAR. The fans are all uber-devoted. You don't see this kind of obsession about other reality shows. Not even Survivor previews draw the speculation anymore. I love TAR. Sigh.

TAR love...
I really felt the love when the TAR commercial got a big applause at the finale.
I was proud to be a part of it.

Hey newman, I'm glad to hear that, if for no other reason than the CBS bigwigs were undoubtedly there, and had to have heard the applause as well.

What I read:

I was all like, "Wow. What dedication." Hee.


Mama Tiger, I went to a service academy in which sailing on a merchant ship for a year was a graduation requirement. That's what I owe most of my travel experience to. In both my sophmore and junior years, I spent 6 months each in Northern Europe (in the winter, y'all...I'm still having icky flashbacks)/Mediterranean and Diego Garcia/UAE respectively. Diego offers a mix of Navy personnel and Merchant Mariners. And since my friend and I weren't in the Navy, the male officers were glad to hang out with us since there was maybe one female officer and fraternizing with the enlisted women was greatly frowned upon. I really wish I had some photos scanned to share.

I'm not sure if it was "out of cyclone range" range or not. If so, what an interesting fact. I know we had some storms, but not too often. It was usually sunny and very warm. A real tropical paradise that next to no one can visit.

Smooches to you too, newman. Now don't go proposing to me online or anything. Speaking of which, how was the finale for you? (other than the TAR commercial) How did you get an invite?

Hee, indeed! I do post a fair amount during the work day, as you can see, but in truth I'm quitting to do a summer program in publishing and move into that field upon completing the program. 18 days of work left!

I stopped watching Survivor midway through, because it was becoming predictable (and indeed, I was right - I called the final two, the winner, and the vitriol from the jury), but I'm sorry I missed the TAR commercial in the finale. TAR makes me want to get up and go, you know? Just go to the airport and get on the first standby flight and see where I end up. Did the commercial show any of the contestants?

Hi everyone I have a problem. I'm trying to send food to the U.S. (Hi Suga!), but it just got returned, saying I need FDA approval. It's just candy, so WTF???? Anybody have any experience with this? Any secret ways of sending stuff, that I should know about?

Sorry Suga, it looks like your going to have to wait a bit.

To borrow from Jack Burton, "Everyone can relax, I'm here."

Just lurking until the start of TAR5: Assignment Miami Beach. I think Naomi and I are on the outs, though, after I had to sit through "Le Divorce" with the Sheriffette. I love her, but, meh.

So, I'm taking applications for TAR5 Fantasy Girlfriend. So far, I've narrowed it to the following:

Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansen, Catherine Keener, Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz, Kate Beckinsale, Tina Fey (what can I say, I like glasses), Tangerine, Teri Hatcher, Jolene Blalock, Spawn, Janeane Garofalo (also like 'em cerebral).

This is going to take a while. I think I need to do "field research." Which primarily involves Netflix. :)

That's really bizarre. I've sent chips/candy to my friends in the U.S. tons of times (and vice versa) and I've never ever had a problem. How did you ship it? I usually just put mine in a regular box and either mail it or send it by Fed Ex. I really have no clue why yours got returned to you. Was it candy that wasn't sealed properly or something?

The US brought in new rules in Dec 2003, to do with imported food. Any that is not made in your home and sent as a gift needs to have prior notification. Sorry that your snacks are now considered a possible terrorist attack! Here's the exact regulations: FDA

EDIT: Okay, Buttercup's explanation is far better than mine.

Luckily, I've never run into this problem. I've brought scotch back from England, but they don't care unless I'm bringing it through in bulk, and this was, like, one bottle.

Ok, that entire site is confusing so maybe a TWoPper who is smarter then me (sit down Zron) can explain it to me in regular language. How exactly does one get approval from the FDA? Say I wanted to send my friend in the U.S. a bag of ketchup chips, what steps do I take? I mean, do I actually have to write to the U.S. government and explain that I want to send my friend a bag of chips, then wait to hear back from them?

To all those women who will NOT be selected for SheriffTruman's TAR5 Fantasy Girlfriend, I am happy to announce that I am more than willing to be your rebound boyfriend while you struggle to get through his rejection.

I have to say, SheriffTruman, that I think your TAR experience would be far more enjoyable with the likes of Tina Fey than, say, Kate Beckinsale. All that shiny plastic she wears probably doesn't pack well, for one (speaking as one scarred by that stupid vampire/werewolf movie she was in). Also, you want someone smart enough to read a train schedule.

See that's the thng, they gave me an information sheet, but it seemed to have to do with setting myself up as an exporter. They gave me a website about having someone act as my agent, but it seemed to be on the truckload side, rather then the $10 worth of candy side. I'm baffled. I'm not trying to start a business, I'm just trying to get Suga Wuga addicted to Canadian Candy...is that so wrong?

The things I learn at TWOP. I just came here today to share how my kids and I cheered when we saw the commercial for TAR during the survivor thing and I discover I can't send the box of Cadbury Flake chocolate bars I purchased for my friend in Utah. I guess I'll just have to save them for myself. *sigh*

I don't recall if I whined here about my cat Eddie's bad bloodwork a few weeks ago, but we redid it last night, and today the vet called to say that he's normal. (For a cat, that is.) I'm quite relieved. He's only 9 and very affectionate. So now I get to drive him there again tonight so he can have dental work ($$$) tomorrow. Oh, joy!

I concur, but my fantasy would have to ignore the existence of Mr. Fey. I should probably bold the ones we know to be single.

wastelander: You're welcome. Send me the photos.

Hi, Sheriff! I haven't seen you since the good old Joe Millionaire days.

I hope I can get through the FDA requirements by using APO - I have to send a bottle of Aguardiente to a friend for her birthday. I just hope it isn't terrorist firewater.

Just a note on shipping food internationally...

My brother-in-law is in Med school just outside of London and I send him food and stuff all the time. Now, I must admit it's more of the clearing-out-my-cabinets I'll-never-eat-this-box-of-instant-rice variety, but when I'm filling out the form or the post office dude asks what's in the box, my answer is "Magazines and fruit-roll-ups" (cuz I always have both of those in there, too). I haven't yet had a problem.

And seriously, the likelihood that they'll open the box at customs to check is slim, jim.

But that's food going out of the US, erinjsnark; I wonder if the same rules apply to food coming in. I know the US and Canada differ wildly on importing/exporting of similar items. When we sent our pet boa constrictors (don't ask) to live with a friend in Ottawa when we went to Japan a few years back, it was two weeks of paperwork and form filling out and hassle and aggravation and we still didn't do everything right and the Canadians gave our poor friend boatloads of aggravation. Whereas when he sent the snakes back to us in the US a few months later, it only required having an inspector meet us at the cargo terminal to inspect the snakes to make sure they were healthy.

(Which was one of the funniest things I've seen in a while; all these guys in the cargo terminal getting all macho on me and my daughter, whose snakes they were, bragging about "Oh yeah, I stepped on this HUGE snake in 'Nam," and on and on -- until the nice young woman inspector and I pulled the one seven-foot redtail boa out of the box and started oohing and ahing and babytalking him because he'd grown so much and was so much more beautiful -- only to look over and see all the guys leaping back in horror! Hee!)

Anyway, as far as shipping stuff APO or FPO, customs rules do apply -- packages all have to have customs declarations on them. It still costs US rates, but just more paperwork. I don't know if they have the same restrictions about foodstuffs, though. I wonder why they let homemade goodies through and not prepackaged, though? You'd think it would be the other way around!

And entirely unrelated, Papa Tiger got a follow-up interview with the Big Boss at Oak Ridge today, who was more telling him about the area and saying things like, "You'll like the pace of life," and on and on, so we are getting seriously good vibes about it! We'll hear definitely one way or the other by Friday at the latest, so everyone cross your fingers or toes or whatever else you can for us!

Alright....long time lurker....infrequent poster....but I've got to hop in here and add a few things.

First....I had to step away from the Survivor posting for awhile....the whole 2nd million business is just crazy....but go Boston Rob.

I post most frequently on the TAR boards....but I have a surprising number of posts on Survivor, a few on The Surreal Life....and I read tons of recaps for a variety of shows.....lots of reality tv, but I also have mad love for Gil Grissom on CSI....mmmm Gil....

Okay...so more about me. I'm 35, married for almost 14 years and work on a University campus...I've encouraged Mr PrincessLola to apply for TAR with one of his friends/employees....they would be very good at it....and very funny to watch....us together? I'd be worse than Flo people....and we can all agree....we don't need another Flo.

Travel....I've been all over the west (I live in Washington state) and into the midwest and south some....so far my hitlist includes: WA, AK, ID, MT, OR, CA, UT, NV, WY, ND, SD, MN, MI, FL, LA. I've also been all over western Canada and most of western Mexico.

Mama Tiger, I was in New Orleans three summers ago and fell in love with the city. I never ate so good in my entire life! And I'll tell you....the things to do and see were nearly overwhelming. Free concerts....good food....correction....great food! I almost didn't come home!

Food from Canada that I'd kill for? Popcorn twists....they come in this blue bag with a windmill on it....and I swear....I love those things. I have a good friend (former neighbor) who's family is from Regina Saskatchewan and they always bring me Popcorn Twists when they visit....I can eat an entire bag in one sitting....

One more to take off your list, wastelander. I'm sorry. I know how it feels. No matter how much I hope and wish, I just don't think YummyDwayne is willing to leave his wife and daighter for me. Fool!

Ahem.




Since the regs list a local number, I'm going to give the good ole FDA a call and see what the deal is. Hmph! I will fight for my candy and report back to you fine people.

And, piperdown, no need for apologies. I have been sitting here looking at your stash for a week now. I need constant reminders to get off my butt and find a box big enough so that the chips don't get all smashed. I have the best intentions, but I'm a wicked procrastinator.

I think that that's the first time I've ever used "wicked" as an adjective. We just don't do that in my hood, y'all! I must've been watching too much Good Will Hunting.

delayed reply to Loraxe regarding Northern Ontario - sorry!

Well, outdoor stuff is probably the biggest attraction (unless, you know, you have an unusually strong interest in the pulp&paper industry...). I don't know how long you have or what your interests are, but Quetico Park is a great area for canoeing - beautiful and not at all crowded, like the Southern parks. The Kenora/Lake of the Woods area is more crowded, but you'll find more activities/gift shops, etc. for all of the 'summer people'. Closer to Thunder Bay you could visit Kakabeka Falls, Ouimet Canyon, or Sleeping Giant Parks - all have day hikes and lovely views.

Email me if you want more info about any of the above ... or the equally important topic of where to find clean restrooms along the highway ;-).

Or perhaps "All-Star" Survivor, Suga? That Boston Rahb, he's wicked smaht, too!

What are you talking about? Chris and Alex used "wicked" as an adjective during TAR2.

The scary thing? I am working in Customs here in Canada. It's my job to write stuff like that. I actually can understand some of it.

One thing to note is that, according to this page at least, while the reporting requirements came into force on 12 December 2003, for shipments of food arriving by international mail before 12 August 2004 without prior notice, the suggest action is "Education/Communication" rather than "Refusal".

(I have to say that whoever thought up this particular regulation wasn't thinking about boxes of Smarties, as there appears to be no scope for casual importation of food. You can do the prior reporting online here, but that still requires signing up for an account.)