January Filers at the CSC - How are you doing?

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Oh, I'm aware my photo is probably the worst! I wasn't suggesting yours was as bad as mine, but I was still happy to hear that not everyone is happy with their photos.

Oh - roundabouts can be truly horrendous over here! We LOVE roundabouts! We also love narrow, steep and windy roads. UK people find it very amusing that US roads alert you to the slightest bend, and have such low speed limits.

lol, same in my country, we love roundabouts as well.. we see them more and more.. and lol about speedlimits... my fiance thought we were all driving like maniacs over here, she really doesn't want to drive here hahaha

I miss roundabouts

America will get better....

*cough*

I sure hope so, or at least after the elections ^^

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

I don't miss many things, and I don't even miss my family or my friends (don't tell them), but roundabouts are great! I hate it here when I take the wrong road and can't just turn back around the roundabout. Or when you want to cross a huge road (and go towards the left) and there are too many cars. if there was a roundabout near the exit of the apartment complex (for example), we could turn on the right, turn around the roundabout (ahah I love to say this!) and then be back on the right left road.

[sunnybear 0]

You just gotta master the U turn heh heh....sure they are illegal in most places but hey if u do get pulled over just bust out the accent and I bet they will let ya off Here we have Michigan turn arounds....talk about annoying....say you wanna go straight but oops it not allowed so u gotta turn right go down the road then turn left to get onto otherside of road and then make a right....yeah all that instead of just going straight across the roads at the light! UGH it is irritating i agree!!!

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

I don't miss many things, and I don't even miss my family or my friends (don't tell them), but roundabouts are great! I hate it here when I take the wrong road and can't just turn back around the roundabout. Or when you want to cross a huge road (and go towards the left) and there are too many cars. if there was a roundabout near the exit of the apartment complex (for example), we could turn on the right, turn around the roundabout (ahah I love to say this!) and then be back on the right left road.

ahhhhh lol you're French, you should know better with busy roads hahaha... if you ever drove in a big city like Paris then you should know how to do it

I remember when I just had my license, went to France and took an exit in Paris of the highway... we ended up on a VERY BUSY and HUGE roundabout... gawd that was scary hahaha

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

I never drove in Paris! I would be way too scared!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

but hey if u do get pulled over just bust out the accent and I bet they will let ya off

How right you are, Sunny. I've been pulled over twice, both for doing 70+ in a 55. Now you gotta remember that I live out in the boonies, so the local coppers aren't used to foreigners. Anyhoo, the first time I got pulled over, the guy was just like Buford T Justice out of Smokey & The Bandit . After I told him that I wasn't, in fact, a resident and as such didn't have an Illinois DL, he went over to his patrol car and had a natter with his colleague over the radio. When he came back, he told me that his colleague had told him that he needed to get my passport number, home address, and "all that other ####" and so it, "just wasn't worth it." He then proceeded to give me a "stern warning" and let me on my way.

The second time, me and 'er indoors were on our way back from Busch Stadium after a Cardinals game. This time the guy was younger and more official, but as soon as I started talking his face lit up (I get that a lot in the boonies!!! ). He seemed really impressed when I told him that I was on my way back from a ball game, and when I also mentioned the fact that it was my birthday (which it actually was) he sent me on my merry way with a wave and a smile!

In short, an accent will get you off with all kinds of #### stateside!!!

[Alex & Rachel 78]

I, too, have heard many tales of a British accent getting you let off speeding fines.

I can't believe how low the speed limits are on Californian roads! But then the drivers are pretty bad, so it's probably just as well.

As of yet I do not have a driving license, but once I move back in with my parents I will be having 8+ hours of driving lessons a week, so hopefully I may have my British driving license (notoriously tough) before I leave for the States! It'll be useful to know how to drive on our roads and how to drive a manual, too.

P.S. Happy 25th birthday to me!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Happy Birthday!!!

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Happy birthday Rachel!

[dbears 1]

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

lol im trying to cut on food and now you make me hungry again :S hahaha

[dbears 1]

Hi Jeroen, Michele is a US born Filipina right? she may not be familiar with traditional filipino formal dress and attire for men but I bet her parents are still very much familiar with it... I just want to share with you what Ricky will be wearing on our wedding.. our wedding will be a fusion of Filipino and American traditions... this is called Barong Tagalog, our national costume for men. The first pic is Ricky's barong, the second one for his best man, and then the 3rd is for my son who will be walking with me to the altar (I had all 3 made here-got it last week). then the last pic is how the barong will look like when actually worn (that's not my Ricky though, just a pic I grabbed on the net).

Edited August 25, 2008 by dbears

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Hmm.. good thinking, I'll think bout it and talk to Michelle about it also Thanks

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Hehe, thanks guys! Mm, that cake looks delicious!

I've left the '18-24' group behind now. You know on questionnaires and surveys, when they ask your age? Eek! I still feel like it was only yesterday that I graduated university (or high school, for that matter).

Hope everyone else is enjoying their day, although I'm afraid few of you are in the UK (it's a national holiday here today).

[dbears 1]

since Ricky don't check vj unless i ask him to, I guess it is ok to share my wedding veil and dress here. Posted these pics on january vsc thread but since I consider mysel an honorary january csc member, I'll also have to post pics here for those interested, just click the pics for larger view:

I will be buying some more swarovski crystals before I leave and will be sewing it to the dress a week or a few days before the wedding. I love how the crystals reflect different colors under the light.... the dress is not entirely how I wanted it to be but I still love it... I love trying it on again and again. i still need to find ways to be creative with my veil though coz I wanted it to be only fingertip in length but the seamstress made a floor length one .. i also told her not to put any train on the dress but she still added a little train on it.. now, I don't have time to have it redone, I only have one week left.