trinacriabob

hate

I don't know. I know people complain about humidity but 87 and very humid still feels a LITTLE milder than 110, no matter how dry. I know that North Central CA gets pretty hot during the day, but the "Delta Breeze" from Stockton / SF comes in and cools things down. Evenings can be wonderful. However, up north toward Chico or Redding, the evenings stay hotter due to less access to this breeze.The other thing is that, in So. Fl., houses are built of concrete block in hurricane prone areas...I am wondering how much consolation that is...

Oh well, don't get me started! I always thought I would end up in a suburban business center of LA, where I grew up (specifically Woodland Hills or Calabasas). Well, what happened to prices between 1999 and 2005 was not foreseen. I have also always fancied Walnut Creek (East Bay 'burb of SF, connected to the city by BART). Same story. When I moved back down South from Seattle, this had already occurred and, strangely, the firms that interviewed me in northern CA/inland were more professional than some mega-firms in either LA or SF ....so what's going through my head is: Flaky firm + big mortgage or rent does not add. So, that's it. I am done with an evening masters in about 6 weeks. I am thinking about going back to ATL or to Florida ... or remaining in North Central CA. Not sure yet. Bottom line: I should have moved to O.C. or the East Bay in the mid-1990s.

euphoria

Gang-bangers, right? On second thought, don't answer that.

Thanks for the come back and carrying forward/harboring some back and forth from before. I voiced that I ALSO do not like the other places for their dryness and bleakness. That's what these threads are for. I think the vegetation in CO and MT are nicer; that's why I recommended those instead. I doubt that, coming from Delaware, he's a rabid mountain biker. That's what the Moab scene is all about -- intense fanatical mountain bikers and such to the point that it's almost "cultish."Pontiac-Custom-S: your call. Digest the posts and make your decision.

galaxy

Yes, there are some cool canyon type places but expect it to be hot, parched and dry. I am NOT a fan of the Intermountain West at all. Beyond the stark grandeur, it is too sparsely populated (I've always thought I'm agoraphobic since anyplace that is wide open and untreed brings on instant depression) and lacks any kind of cultural sophistication. Then, add Utah's demographic situation - that is, with over 50% of the state being Mormon, it is not a comfortable place for people of other religions to make a life....Mormons tend to be nepotistic and advancement is difficult, so I know several garden variety Protestants and Catholics (nominally, not particularly religious) who left because of the "glass ceiling." Therefore, I don't want to drop my tourist dollars in such a place. SLC is kind of cool with a street-friendly downtown and some good restaurants...one to two days in the area could be ok. The Great Salt Lake is pitifully stagnant, so it can't be used for beaches or water sports. It's downright gross. I see more negatives than positives.If I was doing a Western grandeur vacation, I think I would opt for Montana or Colorado in a heartbeat.

I can drive a stick but I don't want one....at all! In most conditions, it's fine. However, have you ever come to a stop sign at the top of a hill in San Francisco where you seem to be perched at a 45 degree angle? Have you ever had to make a quick left onto a side street from a super busy main street somewhere like Italy only to find you stalled the engine? It happened only once and I was able to restart the engine real fast...and this was as I was on my way to the airport to return the car. No thanks. It takes only a couple of experiences like that to say "that's enough."

shooting star

chieftain

I am probably more of a ship freak than anything because, as a little kid, I got to go on the one pictured below. The Michelangelo, the pride of Italian Line, had an even shorter service life (1965-1977). When we went to see relatives in Europe, we would take Amtrak from LA to NY for 3 days and then board the ship in NY for another 7 days...in EACH direction...because my mother was afraid to fly! After being a war torn country, in about 7 years, the Italians produced the Andrea Doria. By today's standards, she was small but known for her clean proportions, appointments and art work. On July 25, 1956, she collided with the Stockholm in a fog off of Nantucket, Mass. The Stockholm survived but the Doria ended up at the bottom of the sea. The Doria was built in a set of twins, with her sister being the Cristoforo Colombo who served for more than 20 years. The Doria's replacement was the even sleeker Leonardo DaVinci. She was launched in 1960 and, sadly, in 1980 became a charbroiled carcass in the harbor at LaSpezia, Italy where she had been pulled out of service. The pinnacle for Italian Line was the 1965 launch of the Michelangelo and her sister the Raffaello. At 902 feet in length, they are only 61 feet shorter than the QE2. They were much larger the Doria, the Colombo or the DaVinci, but were not heavy in tonnage like the QE2 because they lacked the vertical height of today's liners who seek to maximize rentable space. Their production and launch was very heart-warming in that dinky little Italy, some 20 years after WWII, launched these stunning emissaries to the "New World." A childhood trip on the Michelangelo in the early 70s was the beginning of a love affair. While she does not have the history of the Cunard Queens or the United States, in the minds of most people who enjoy ship design, she is regarded as the most beautiful. 1. Decked out for maiden voyage departure from Genoa, Italy. 2. Leaving Genoa for the U.S. for the very first time...I am sure that this was a very moving experience for the citizens of Genoa, Italy's primary port and a shipbuilding center. 3. Arriving in the U.S. for the very first time with Statue of Liberty standing guard and fireboat escort. 4. The twins together (foreground - white hulls) with the SS United States (to the left) and the first Queen Mary turning in to her designated pier on NY's Hudson River. 5. A beautiful B-W shot of the twins in the port of Genoa showing their fine lines and shapely bows. If you want to see the whole gallery, including the construction, interiors and more exterior views, you cank link up to this really cool site some obvious fan put together. I visit it often. Project Michelangelo - photo gallery Check it out and rummage around.

When I hear SS United States, I think "fast." Like the list you showed, I think she was the only major liner to make it from the 2 checkpoints (Bishop Rock, UK and Ambrose Light, USA) in a few hours under FOUR days! The typical NY-Southampton crossing is right at FIVE days (such as on the QE2), at somewhere in the mid-20 knot range.The SS United States will appear in one of the five pics I am about to post immediately below.

Happy birthday to CARBIZ, our member who refreshingly is one of the most "no bull$h!" people on this forum. Enjoy your day up in T.O.! Any plans? BTW, have you seen that great video of that street interview gone south on a street in downtown Toronto? It was so funny, that about 5 of us watched it DAILY at work for about a month, almost like a ritual.

PMS

Given that it's a replacement for the similarly sized '67, probably not. I applaud the strides the '87 has made in technology and comfort. I am still a '47 freak through and through as no other aircraft is so photogenic. (Another 747 ride over the pond on Air France coming up this summer, BTW)Seriously, few things match the pomp and circumstance of the "maiden call" of a great liner into a major harbor. It stressed me at work and school the following week, but I will never forget this!

I think you are right. This new one you refer to has either been built or is under construction.I don't think they CARE much about getting through the Panama Canal much any more. QM2's "little sister" QE2, which I thought was the coolest thing since sliced bread throughout my entire childhood is 963 feet long and was made that length specifically to squeeze into the Panama Canal. I believe she is the largest vessel that can since, when they shut the lock gates, there is only 5 to 10 feet to spare.

Not possible at this time since she is the world's largest passenger liner. I think she calls on Boston every once in a while. You should check it out.

$22.95 rented Monte Carlo? Check. $39.95 Travelodge at San Francisco's airport motel strip? (Not a mistake, either). Check. Super Bowl that day? Meh. It can be taped and I don't care about Chicago or Indianapolis. Wouldn't have missed this for the world. It was worth the schlep down to SF and back to see this. This is truly the grand dame of the sea. 1. People waiting on the ocean side of the Golden Gate 2. You could catch her outline in the distance prior to this but, at last, she comes into view. Look at all the boats and helicopters circling her. 3. Made a run to the bay side of the Golden Gate to watch her pass underneath. She's big. 4. Wow! About 26 feet to spare and they had to watch the tides to accomplish this. Very majestic. 5. Fireboat salute and all. 6. Wall to wall people at the waterfront. One hour to drive out of the Presidio. 7. Alcatraz Island to the left. Her funnel/mast must line up with the prison up on "The Rock." Some of you will find this funny...one of the SF papers had a blog site as to how she would be the biggest of the Cunard Line "Queens" ever to come into SF's harbor. One guy wrote: San Francisco doesn't need any more queens! I about bust a gut. On a more reasonable note, one guy from the East Bay suburbs told the paper he brought his family because: "We are here to see this beautiful lady." He wasn't kidding. What an incredible experience! Here's a slideshow you can link to for professional grade photographs of this incomparable procession, complete with aerials taken from helicopters: YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HIT "Queen Mary 2 Sets" and THEN HIT view slide show in "new window" Slide show of QM2 entry into SF harbor by professional photographers ENJOY!

Remember, TYD, Vancouver is your Miami! :AH-HA_wink: 'Nuff said.

ENJOY! Let's see...if I was living way up in Mass., I think I'd celebrate my 21st birthday up in Montreal. So what are your plans? Happy birthday!

menopause Kathleen Turner has joined those ranks and gotten matronly!

Bible Thumper

INTRIGUE

The Fluorine I was talking about was a black girl in LA. Seriously. But it is element 9 (F) on the chemistry chart.Response to thread: Disco (as in "shake your...")