~Off Topic Thread~

[Mark&Steph 0]

I'm really looking forward to learning how to drive over there... I have actually held off on taking my test over here for that reason. (Don't want to confuse myself )

I will be staying away from the beltway around Washington DC though. That scares me

People find it very odd that a 30 year old can't drive (around here at least.) I got looked at with suspicion when I told the guy at the DMV that I wanted a learners permit.

The Drug and Alcohol awareness test I had to take was funny though. It was so obviously written for 15/16 year olds

[Jeraly 4]

@ Debz - I'd be useless at sitting on your case cause I would just unpack it secretly and sneak myself inside I am sooo jealous!! I keep saying that but I think it has surprised me!! I have been so up and down about moving that I thought I would be a lot more apprehensive about the move. I am nervous obviously but the closer I get the more I just want to get on with it - can't believe I have to wait until the end of June

I'm defo going to need to drive - everything is so spread out where we will be living. I'm a pretty nervous driver though and the I-10 really doesn't appeal... I'll just have to get used to it or learn the back roads... only problem with that though are all the stupid stop signs!!!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

People find it very odd that a 30 year old can't drive (around here at least.) I got looked at with suspicion when I told the guy at the DMV that I wanted a learners permit.

The Drug and Alcohol awareness test I had to take was funny though. It was so obviously written for 15/16 year olds

Yeah, I got that too. "You're 34? And you're an American? And you don't have a licence?" It was like I was lying or some sort of mental defective, or both. The state trooper who gave me the test said it was actually not as uncommon as I thought -- we get a lot of people who move to CT from Manhattan, and they've never sat behind the wheel before. I still felt pretty dumb waiting to take my test sitting next to three 16-year-olds. Luckily, in CT if you're over the age of 18 you don't need to get a learner's permit first before taking the test, so no drug/alcohol ed required. I don't know if that's good or bad!

[weedebz 0]

well I'm packed. Trying to find things to do to divert myself from un-packing to check everything and packing again. Only thing not packed is wedding dress but it's laid out to be packed just before I leave. I've tried weighing everything and i think I'm going to be fine.....I hope I'm going to be fine!

Do I have this right, even though I'm flying through Dublin, because I'm flying AA I still do immigration in Chicago?

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

Those who swerve across several lanes are one of my biggest pet peeves (and very common in CA) people, you need to plan ahead!

OMG - those are the people that make me freak about learning to drive in the US... combined with passing on both sides

I feel left out now - we'll be about 90 minutes east of LA

What are drivers like in NE? The whole otherside of the road thing doesn't bother me too much...I've driven in Norway, Sweden, France and Germany. Even managed to navigate a few roundabouts going anti-clockwise...now that was strange!!!!

By tomorrow night (all going to plan) I'll be in Nebraska. Damnit I'm addicted to VJ....must get back to packing, starting to when the battle and things might just fit although may need someone to come sit on my cases whilst I zip

I wish you a safe and uneventful trip!!! I'm so excited for you!!!

[Mark&Steph 0]

Yeah, I got that too. "You're 34? And you're an American? And you don't have a licence?" It was like I was lying or some sort of mental defective, or both. The state trooper who gave me the test said it was actually not as uncommon as I thought -- we get a lot of people who move to CT from Manhattan, and they've never sat behind the wheel before. I still felt pretty dumb waiting to take my test sitting next to three 16-year-olds. Luckily, in CT if you're over the age of 18 you don't need to get a learner's permit first before taking the test, so no drug/alcohol ed required. I don't know if that's good or bad!

I thought he might have been thinking I'd list my UK license for some reason or other.

I guess there are a lot of people from big cities that have never really had the need (or the patience) to drive. I lived walking distance to my job, and even when I moved, the train station was only a 2 minute walk one side, 5 minute the other.

The only other person I saw there waiting for the test was another immigrant (although she looked a lot younger than me.) She wasn't too impressed that they wouldn't let her take it because of the lightning we were having that day.

I don't think I had to get a learners permit if I was ready to take the test within 3 weeks (or maybe I misheard) but I had to do the drink/drugs thing anyway.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Robin & I can offer advice on LA LA if you need it!

Thanks guys! I'll need it. I am totally addicted to westsiderentals.com right now.

My personal recommendations are Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Los Feliz and Silver Lake. They are all nice and have their advantages.

How funny! West Hollywood, Loz Feliz and Silver Lake are the top three on our list right now. My best friend from high school lives in Los Feliz and he is hell bent on having us move next door to him (or close enough).

If you are on westside rentals you are already one step ahead of the game!

I do like Los Feliz, it would just be a less than ideal commute for work. It would be great to be close to Griffith Park

[no name 1]

Robin & I can offer advice on LA LA if you need it!

Thanks guys! I'll need it. I am totally addicted to westsiderentals.com right now.

My personal recommendations are Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Los Feliz and Silver Lake. They are all nice and have their advantages.

How funny! West Hollywood, Loz Feliz and Silver Lake are the top three on our list right now. My best friend from high school lives in Los Feliz and he is hell bent on having us move next door to him (or close enough).

Check craigslist as well!

Where will you be working? Any idea? Cuz LF is super cute but can be a commute if it's the West Side.

PS: Do you or hubby work in online stuff?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Robin & I can offer advice on LA LA if you need it!

Thanks guys! I'll need it. I am totally addicted to westsiderentals.com right now.

My personal recommendations are Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Los Feliz and Silver Lake. They are all nice and have their advantages.

How funny! West Hollywood, Loz Feliz and Silver Lake are the top three on our list right now. My best friend from high school lives in Los Feliz and he is hell bent on having us move next door to him (or close enough).

If you are on westside rentals you are already one step ahead of the game!

I do like Los Feliz, it would just be a less than ideal commute for work. It would be great to be close to Griffith Park

I work from home, mostly. I have two part-time gigs here in New Haven -- one I can be literally anywhere in the world for and will be going on at least until the end of 2008 (hopefully longer), the other is as a research fellow for a university. The university gig looks likely to keep going remotely at least for some time, but I will have to come back to CT once a month. The boy is an actor with a sideline in vintage hifi rehabilitation, so we need to be kinda near the studios. We are fairly relaxed about where we want to live, but we LOVED West Hollywood when we visited in September. Los Feliz also seemed to fit the bill pretty well. I just want to be done with living with my parents like NOW!!! We've been living with them for over 6 months now.

Edited March 11, 2008 by elmcitymaven

[Ban Hammer 13,111]

I will be staying away from the beltway around Washington DC though. That scares me

it would scare me too even if i was in my pickup truck

[NickyMcMillan 0]

Do I have this right, even though I'm flying through Dublin, because I'm flying AA I still do immigration in Chicago?

Yes that's correct. I flew thro Dublin with AA in January and cleared immigration in Chicago. Abit of a ####### flying in at that time, took 90 mins to get thro immigration.

Goodluck!

[weedebz 0]

Thanks. I only have 1hr 45mins in Dublin but 3hrs between flights in Chicago.

[no name 1]

Robin & I can offer advice on LA LA if you need it!

Thanks guys! I'll need it. I am totally addicted to westsiderentals.com right now.

My personal recommendations are Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Los Feliz and Silver Lake. They are all nice and have their advantages.

How funny! West Hollywood, Loz Feliz and Silver Lake are the top three on our list right now. My best friend from high school lives in Los Feliz and he is hell bent on having us move next door to him (or close enough).

If you are on westside rentals you are already one step ahead of the game!

I do like Los Feliz, it would just be a less than ideal commute for work. It would be great to be close to Griffith Park

I work from home, mostly. I have two part-time gigs here in New Haven -- one I can be literally anywhere in the world for and will be going on at least until the end of 2008 (hopefully longer), the other is as a research fellow for a university. The university gig looks likely to keep going remotely at least for some time, but I will have to come back to CT once a month. The boy is an actor with a sideline in vintage hifi rehabilitation, so we need to be kinda near the studios. We are fairly relaxed about where we want to live, but we LOVED West Hollywood when we visited in September. Los Feliz also seemed to fit the bill pretty well. I just want to be done with living with my parents like NOW!!! We've been living with them for over 6 months now.

That is a long time! We'll have to have drinks when you guys make it out - Robin & I have a great Happy Hour place in Culver City.

[Jeraly 4]

Heh - I can relate to the living with parents thing although I guess I haven't really known any different - it is very annoying now though knowing that I am moving so soon to be with Jeremy - I just want us to have our own space and our own freedom and our own lives... I can't believe I have another three and a half months to go... I need to stop thinking about it or it will seem to take even longer... I just need to try and keep a job for a while but this one looks like it is going to end in a few weeks

[Ban Hammer 13,111]

allo everyone!