Good Morning, Everybody!

[Clintmax]

*YAWN* :donut: How's everyone doing? I'm off work today, so :woohoo:
No big plans yet, other than doing laundry. x(

[MissHoneychurch]

1. good morning

just munching my lunch :) Half of the work day is over :bounce:

[Clintmax]

3. Hello, Miss Honey!

I'm glad to see you again! Day is half over, huh? Sounds like about 7 hours difference between me and you, huh?

[MissHoneychurch]

4. actually only six

:)

[Clintmax]

6. Ah, ok...

Time differences suck. :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

8. it sure does

esp. when you are flying ahead in time. I never have much problems when I visit the States. I just go to bed a bit earlier and get up early to (holds a couple of days then it is late to bed and normal time to get up). When I fly back to Germany however, I try to land here as late as possible so that I only have some hours and not the whole day before going to bed. Otherwise I would sleep in the afternoon and then lay wide awake at night - not so good.j

[Clintmax]

11. Sounds like a good idea...

I had no idea what I was getting myself in for when we went to Rome. Rome is 8 hours (plus one day) ahead of eastern standard. We left the US around 12 in the afternoon on a Saturday and landed in Rome at 8 pm on Sunday. Boy did THAT ever mess us up!

[MissHoneychurch]

14. Rome can never be 8 hours ahead of EST

they are in the same time zone as we are. And that is 6 hours.

[Clintmax]

16. Hmmm...that's weird...

Even when I made our reservations, the take-off and landing times showed 8 hours (plus one day). I don't get it. :shrug:

[tjwmason]

18. I'm with MissHoneychurch here I'm afraid.

Continental Europe is G.M.T. +1 (plus summer-time) U.S. Eastern time is G.M.T. -5 (plus summer-time - which is identical and thus moot). :shrug:

[MissHoneychurch]

20. strange

but you can believe me on that (and TJ confirmed it). So there are two Europeans who say the same thing .... hmmmm .... LOL

[Clintmax]

25. Oh I believe you two...

I just don't understand why the discrepancy. Let me check this out...I'll see if I can get the same results and I'll post a link...hang on...

[Clintmax]

29. OK...here's the result I just got...

SORRY had to delete image...
Notice the time between Atlanta and Rome...

[AussieDave]

33. Don't the airlines show the local times

at each place, not the times as in YOUR local time ??

[Clintmax]

35. Yeah...I think so...

But shouldn't they?

[AussieDave]

41. That's right - but when you flew from Atlanta to Rome

you left at 5:20pm - flew for 9 hours and 35 minutes, so you arrived in Rome at 2:55am Atlanta time - add on 6 hours and you have 8:55am, as Miss Honey and TJ have said.

Does that make sense - I hope I'm right......

[Clintmax]

43. Like I said before...

Time differences suck. :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

44. time difference

or math? ... :rofl:

[Clintmax]

46. BOTH, Miss Honey!

:rofl: I stand corrected...I guess...I assume...I suppose...

[AussieDave]

45. Now I want to fly somewhere......

[Clintmax]

47. I hear ya THERE, Aussie!

I want to go back to Roma again! Damn! What a city!

[MissHoneychurch]

48. LOL

same here. A month ago I picked up my mom from the airport. I had a big knot in the stomach because I just wanted to hop on a plane and fly somewhere but I couldn't. It was the first time I felt the "pain" that much. It was unnerving. Really strange. We have a word for it in German: Fernweh (itchy feet)

[AussieDave]

51. Airports do that for me too - all those people going somewhere

exciting or new. I'll have my chance next year - California, Washington DC & New York - saving up the pennies.......

[Clintmax]

54. THAT will be an exciting trip!

You been to America before, Aussie? I haven't been to Australia yet, but it's on my list!

[AussieDave]

59. Born in the once-great state of Texas

I go to the US every three years or so to visit my brother & sister, and to indulge in my favorite city (New York).

I've been all over the South - from California across to Florida, but that was 40 years ago. I've only been back to Texas once since leaving in 1967.

[Clintmax]

62. Oh, well then I guess you have.

I want to come see Australia SO bad! Greekspeak doesn't want to have anything to do with it though, so I probably won't ever get to see it.

[AussieDave]

69. You'd think Greekspeak would want to go to Melbourne

at least - the largest Greek city outside of Greece.

[Clintmax]

72. Nope.

no interest in it at all. :shrug: I know, I know...I don't get it either.

[AussieDave]

74. Oh well - maybe one day he'll change his mind

you never know.....

[Clintmax]

76. True...

I hope so! I bet it's an incredible place!

[MissHoneychurch]

55. me too

this is the first year since 1998 that I haven't been to the States. I plan on visiting again next year. Saving my money. I want to meet all the DUers I have so much fun with here (or as many as possible). So if there is a big DU gathering like the one in Boston I plan to attend.

Airports have a special flair. I don't get that excited if I am at a trainstation.

[Clintmax]

58. I would be happy if I could take the train places here in the States.

We don't do trains very well here like the European countries do. All the trains do is haul freight. Everyone has to have their own cars don't you know.

[MissHoneychurch]

60. I once went from Charlotte, NC to NYC by train (Amtrac)

interesting experience, esp. the departurte. Not being allowed on the platform before the train came in. The trip itself was at night so I din't see too much.

[Clintmax]

65. Yes, well...

We have an Amtrak station here in Tallahassee, but a train leaves from here only once a week. And then you STILL can't get anywhere on it. You have to take the stupid Greyhound bus. x(

[MissHoneychurch]

71. I think I paid about $100 for the trip

it was cheaper than the flight and I wanted to have the experience.

And I decline about the Greyhound buses :scared:

[Clintmax]

73. ME TOO!

:scared: But the trains and subways in Roma were fantastic!

[MissHoneychurch]

79. true

we stayed in a small village outside of Rome. We took the car to the outskirts and from there the tram. And inside Rome buses or Subway.

I take the subway everyday here in Frankfurt. I am really glad that I live in a bigger town where I don't need the car.

[Clintmax]

83. I wish I did!

We have the worst public transportation here in Tallahassee. When I went to San Francisco, I was amazed at the BART, the MUNI and the streetcars there! You wouldn't HAVE to own a car in Frisco!

[MissHoneychurch]

90. same in DC and NYC

both cities have a great public transportation. I guess the bigger the city the better the public transportation.

[Clintmax]

92. Yeah, I guess so!

I loved riding them! I surely do wish we had them here!

[AussieDave]

95. It's better NOT to own a car in San Francisco

there's no place to park it, and most apartment buildings don't have garages or parking spaces (like New York). The Muni in SF and the subway in NYC are terrific.

[Clintmax]

99. Yes, I wouldn't drive a car in Frisco for anything!

I'll take the Muni thank you very much!

[AussieDave]

105. I did once - had to go from the Russian River

(about an hour and a half north) down to SF and into the city in my brother's gigantic Buick. Also, on the other side of the road to what I'm used to (we drive on the left side of the road here) so it was pretty hairy. Those hills are something else, but driving across the Golden Gate bridge was magic.

[Clintmax]

109. I'm sure it was...

That's another thing...I don't think I'd even want to TRY to drive a car in Aussie land. You're supposed to drive on the RIGHT side of the street. NOT the left side! Don't you know that?! :rofl:

[AussieDave]

117. Well Australia is a former British colony

so we've inherited many of the Mother Country's habits - one of which is being contrary about the side of the road on which we drive.

When America threw out the British they went for the whole enchilada.

[Clintmax]

119. Yeah, I guess so...

At the same time, there weren't cars in 1492 so I guess we made it up as we went along. :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

100. only problem I had in NCY

was the difference between the subs that held at EVERY station and the ones that didn't. Took me a couple of days till I figured that out ... LOL

[Clintmax]

103. I've never been to NYC...

what do you mean?

[MissHoneychurch]

107. they have express trains

that don't stop at ever station. you have to watch careful on which stations they stop and to which station you want.

[AussieDave]

108. The express trains that didn't stop at every station??

I got caught a couple of times, but hey I was on vacation, and I didn't go too far out of my way.

[MissHoneychurch]

112. Ha!

I am not the only one who had that problem :bounce:

[AussieDave]

63. As Clint says - we don't do trains here like in Europe either

there are certain trips that are good but mostly they're either milk runs or long, straight journeys with not much to see.

[Clintmax]

66. Yeah, it sucks.

I would take the train places here in the US if we just HAD them!

[MissHoneychurch]

67. I take the train here fairly regulary

at the moment it is less expensive than taking the car (until they will raise the prices again in December) :eyes:

[Clintmax]

70. Are gas prices in Germany out of this world too?

They were astrnomical in Rome when we were there. Like $4.80 a gallon! I can't imagine what it's like there now!

[MissHoneychurch]

75. we pay €1.35 per litre at the moment

that is $1.65/LITRE and that would be about $7/Gallon (1 gallon is a bout 4 litres)

[Clintmax]

78. GOOD GODS!

*faints*
Kerplunk!

[MissHoneychurch]

84. see

your prices aren't THAT bad yet. :)

Even though I remember paying less than a Dollar for a gallon about 10 years ago.

[AussieDave]

82. Ouch - I thought we had it bad here

$A1.25 per litre = $US3.80 per gallon.

[MissHoneychurch]

85. I think I counted right.

wouldn't mind if you could recount it :)

[AussieDave]

89. If the exchange rate is right then yes 4 litres = 1 gallon

about $US6.60 per gallon - it still chomps.

[Clintmax]

91. Well!

I guess the $2.84 I paid yesterday to fill up isn't so bad after all. I have a little Mazda Miata and it cost $30.00 to fill my little car. I nearly had a heart attack!

[MissHoneychurch]

94. € 1 = $1,2275

n/t

[AussieDave]

96. Spot on - your calculations were correct

as far as I can see - I worked out the price here the same way.

[MissHoneychurch]

104. thanks

I thought I was right but after I saw the answer and your post how much gas is in Australia, I wasn't 100% sure anymore. Yep, Europe is not cheap.

[Clintmax]

97. THAT was another thing...

I was suprised at how much things were. We walked into a small shop to purchase two ancient coins. We spent $100 euro on them!

[MissHoneychurch]

102. well, you can't get ancient coins everywhere

not even in Europe :)

but it is still expensive and Italians like to cheat.

[Clintmax]

106. Well, we paid too much for them.

Greekspeak wanted them though.

[MissHoneychurch]

110. if it was worth the money for him

then it is ok. and it is cool to have ancient coins.

I am reading a book right now about Heinrich (Henry) Schliemann. Do you know about him?

[Clintmax]

113. I personally don't...

but I'm sure Greekspeak does.

[MissHoneychurch]

118. check it out

if you are interested in archeology (or Greekspeak)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schliemann

[Clintmax]

121. Wikipedia is great, isn't it? n/t

[MissHoneychurch]

122. it sure is

I enjoy looking up things there.

[AussieDave]

77. In Europe I think I'd take the train everywhere

I'd be glued to the window.

[Clintmax]

80. Me too, Aussie!

I wouldn't want to miss a thing!

[MissHoneychurch]

87. I bet you would

I would do the same when taking the train in a foreign country. That was actually my plan when I took the Amtrak from Charlotte, DC to NYC. Too bad it was night :eyes:

[Clintmax]

52. I LOVE to fly!

And to put my hand on the Colloseo which is 2000 years old was INCREDIBLE! GODS! I wanna go again!

[MissHoneychurch]

57. Rome is lovely

been there only once so far myself but it was just great. I esp. enjoyed the view over Rome from the Castel Sant Angelo. *SIGH*


Edit: And flying is just one of the best things invented!

[Clintmax]

61. Yes it is!

Greekspeak and I have been talking about moving to Rome. But do you know how much THAT would cost?? Holey moley, I shudder to think what it would cost us to move everything we own to another country!

[MissHoneychurch]

64. Rome is a place where I could imagine myself living too

except for the fact that I don't speak Italian. Just a little drawback :)

[Clintmax]

68. THAT was the hardest thing about our trip...

the language barrier. But suprisingly, after a few days there, I had learned enough Italian to get us by...and I have never spoken any other language but English.

[MissHoneychurch]

81. WOW

that is great. Seems like you can learn a foreign language quite easily. I need a bit longer.

[Clintmax]

86. Well, I was suprised at how easy it was to pick up the language.

If I had MORE than 10 days in Rome, no telling WHAT I would have learned!

[MissHoneychurch]

88. I guess all the bad words

those are the easiest ones :)

I learned my English while being a nanny in Charlotte, NC. I was there for 10 months. After 3 months I started to really be able to communicate without looking up EVERY word.

[Clintmax]

93. Yeah...I still had to look up quite a few...

But I got pretty good. But, I DID long to hear someone speaking english after those 10 days. When we got back to Newark, New Jersey, I was so excited when I walked up to the Starbucks counter and the lady behind it actually spoke ENGLISH to me!

[MissHoneychurch]

98. always when I fly back from the States to Germany

I listen to the movies in English. The German sounds strange to me after I heard English all day. At least the TV/movie German. It is so sterile. Not like the every-day-on-the-streets-spoken-German.

[Clintmax]

101. I got tired to trying to find words in my little book...

I was glad I didn't have to anymore!

[MissHoneychurch]

114. understandable

I took some Italian in an evening class. Not that I remembered much but I was expected to be the one talking to the Italians .... uhhhhh :hide:

[Clintmax]

116. Me too...

and Greekspeak is the one who has taken all kinds of language classes!

[MissHoneychurch]

120. sounds like you did better than I did

I for myself have to live in a country and be forced to speak to really learn a language. Since I LOVE to talk I better learn it fast otherwise I choke on my untold stories ... LOL

[Clintmax]

123. I was kinda suprised myself!

And I STILL marvel at the sights I saw in Roma! We took a day trip to Ostia Antiqua. THAT is the ruin that NEVER ends! :rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

38. exactly.

it is ALWAYS local time.

Edit: I recounted the hours. I added 10 hours to the departure time in Atlanta. 5.20pm plus 10 is about 3.20am (EST time). You arrive at about 9am LOCAL time. The difference between 3am and 9am = 6 hours. VOILA :)

[Clintmax]

39. Ok...

I'm all adrift on THIS one.

[AussieDave]

2. G'day Clint - hope you slept well

and that you have a good day in front of you !!

Quiet night for me listening to KCBS in San Francisco on streaming - makes me feel like I'm actually there.....

[Clintmax]

5. Yes...I've listened to streaming radio

and I loved it too. Haven't done that in a while. I need to again. What site do you use? Are there lots of stations?

[AussieDave]

10. I've just bookmarked a bunch of stations that took my fancy

but tend to stick with these:

KCBS San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
http://www.kcbs.com/pages/kcbs/home/home_index.nsp?

KGO San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
http://www.kgoam810.com/

Air America - but the link is also here in DU
http://airamericaradio.com/

KKSF San Francisco - really cool music
http://www.kksf.com/main.html

There's also a couple in New York that I've listened to, but when the likes of Michael Savage or Sean Hannity come on, that's when I "switch the dial"...

Really though I just Googled and tried before I bookmarked.

[Clintmax]

13. Sounds like a good idea!

I want to listen to some stations in England and Australia today. I'll check them out.

[AussieDave]

22. You might find these useful

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) - the national broadcaster:
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/

Nova 106.9 - here in Brisbane
http://www.nova1069.com.au/novaMain.aspx

but there's plenty around - just a matter of finding them.

[Clintmax]

24. Well thanks, Man!

What kind of music do they play?

[AussieDave]

30. You're most welcome - hope you find something you like

Nova is more of rock, rap (yuck) some pop- kinda all over the place, but it rates well here and I listen to it occasionally.

As far as the ABC goes, I recommend Triple J and dig - they go for established singers/bands but also support new artists - urban, dance, rock, some metal but not much. Classic FM is your symphony/orchestra/opera stuff. The others are news/talk with some music fill-in.

[tjwmason]

7. Good morning Clint

You just made it into morning - 3 minutes of it left over here.

Enjoy the laundry :P I've got to do some later today too :(

But I'm still in a very good mood from yesterday :woohoo:

:hug:

[Clintmax]

9. That's good! Morning, TJ!!

I slept a little later today. Sometimes 5:30am is just too damned early. :rofl: Any big plans for later?

[tjwmason]

12. No plans really

Just work, then chilling a bit at home - the gin bottle might just perhaps open itself and jump into a glass with some ice and tonic, who knows :shrug:

You?

How's Greekspeak doing today? (Forgot to ask above, terrible manners on my part.)

[Clintmax]

15. Not real big plans...

I don't drink, but thank you anyway, TJ! Greekspeak was on a roller coaster ride yesterday with how he felt. I'm hoping that when he gets up he'll feel lots better. :hug:

[tjwmason]

17. He's lucky to have you there to look after him.

I'm sure you make a wonderful nurse. :hug:

[Clintmax]

21. Awww...I try.

When he doesn't feel good, I don't feel good.

[tjwmason]

26. That shows what a loving and sweet man you are

as well as being gorgeous.

I'm thinking that we need to move towards the formation of a Clintmax fan-club (now there seem to be loads of them around). :hi:

[Clintmax]

31. Awww....

You're such a sweetheart! Plus, you're gorgeous too. :hug:

[tjwmason]

36. If we're getting into the gorgeousness stakes

Then you're in pole-position. :hug:

[Clintmax]

37. Oh, please...

Let's not get started with this again!

[tjwmason]

40. If you insist.

Let's just leave it as I think that you're utterly gorgeous, and I've seen the evidence to prove it as well. :loveya: :P

[Clintmax]

42. LOL!

Well thank you, TJ!

[tjwmason]

49. Now that's out of the way

What's the weather like in Florida? :hi:

P.S. You're welcome, and anytime at all.

[Clintmax]

50. VERY sunny...and VERY warm!

Not a drop of rain in a week. Bright blue skies, litte white puffy clouds, and hotter than the outlying hubs of hells! :rofl:

[tjwmason]

53. I may have to retract my compliments

and start saying very rude things about you......

It isn't too bad at all round here - though currently we've got quite a few white clouds blocking the sun.

Oh to have summer back.

[Clintmax]

56. I like it hot...that's one of the reasons we moved here...

as well as Florida State University is here in Tallahassee. Greekspeak is working on his Doctorate there. I was SO glad to move down here!

[tjwmason]

111. I love it hot as well

Which is one of the things that I love about Italy -

The art, architecture, food, wine, music and men don't exactly put me off either. :D

[Clintmax]

115. I hear ya THERE, Brother!

The boys there were ALL stunning!

[tjwmason]

124. Ahhhhh the fond memories flood back.

I flew into Venice, and we were travelling across the lagoon from the airport to the city - I could see several boats being driven by shirtless Italians, even after getting up horrifically early that still brought a smile to my face.

Better stop now - I'm getting distracted, and as I'm at work, there are certain things that I can't do.

[swimboy]

19. Good morning, Clintmax! Can I please have a cup of your coffee?

Yikes! I feel slammed this morning and I did nothing fun to earn it.

I hope everyone is well at your house. I will be in the woods of Pennsylvania for the rest of the week after today so I won't be posting for a couple of days.

Have a great day! (and rest of the week as well)

Tiping iz hrd this murning . . .

[Clintmax]

23. You sure can, Swim!

:donut: What are ya gonna be doing in the woods of Pennsylvania? Can't you stay here with us?? :hug:

[swimboy]

28. Thanks for the coffee! I'm better now.

I'll be on a half-week vacation. Mostly hiking and biking. But no computer access.

[tjwmason]

27. Good morning swimboy

Did you know that it is likely that Sir William Penn got his surname from the village in which I live?

Hope that you manage to awaken soon enough - and that you have splendid fun in Penna.

[swimboy]

32. Good morning!

Interesting about names. I've always thought that Amerigo Vespucci didn't name this continent; Mr. and Mrs. Vespucci selected the name.

I'm not making sense yet.

Good to see you this morning! :hug:

[tjwmason]

34. I've always thought it a tad odd that it wasn't called Vespuccia

Given that things normally take surnames (except in the case of royalty - and even then it's not universal, e.g. New York).