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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / April 2004Musings on LA - OT
As I make the arrangements for our Alaska cruise I am reminded of our first trip overseas and in particular our stay in LA. We stayed at Santa Monica on the way home from that trip as I wanted to attend a writers' conference held there. I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus. From memory, we caught a bus that said Sunset Boulevard on the front. Then our troubles began. The bus driver hated us on sight. We didn't have the right change and he slapped his hand on a box by his seat and snarled at us. We couldn't understand what he said and desperately shuffled through handfuls of alien coins trying to please him. I guess we looked a bit odd. We hadn't learned to dress like the locals (something a traveller should always do when he/she goes away) I think I was wearing a sun-frock, unheard of in those days in LA and John a sports jacket. We also spoke with a funny accent and people sometimes had trouble understanding us (and we them). The bus seemed to be travelling all day, people got on and off every two minutes and we slowly began to realise the length of Sunset Boulevarde. What seemed like hours later we thought we might be in downtown LA so got off. Big mistake. We didn't have a clue where we were and badly wanted to use a toilet. We wandered along, being eyed by a lot of seedy characters and found a garage with a toilet attached. It was locked, tighter than a tomb. We found the owner, a Mexican man and asked if we could use it. He smiled at us and said in impeccable upper class English. "I am so sorry, I do not speak English". We got on another bus and travelled on, we knew not where. Got off again and finally decided that Americans did not have public toilets. We finally found a bar - whew!!! We got a taxi back to Santa Monica. When we left LA we got a taxi to the International airport. A downy-faced youth appeared in a car that looked as if it had been used in the Demolition Derby. He would never have got a Warrant of Fitness in New Zealand. He put our cases in the boot (trunk in the US) and I noticed that there was no handle on the boot. "I hope you can get that open again" I murmured uneasily. He patted me on the shoulder soothingly. At the airport the boot wouldn't open even with the bit of wire he kept for a key. Half an hour passed, three quarters of an hour, we were getting nervous, were we going to miss the plane. Finally he kicked the thing in frustration and presto!! This will be our fourth trip to the US. Except for the surly bus driver people there were unfailingly polite and nice to us when we stumbled around wanting advice and directions. We will be in LA on the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st of August and staying in Burbank with my cousin. Later I will post her addy and phone number if anyone wants to get in touch with us, or visit. Bev - I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. > I guess we looked a bit > odd. We hadn't learned to dress like the locals > (something a traveller should always do when he/she goes away) > I think I was wearing a sun-frock, unheard of in those days in LA and > John a sports jacket. We also spoke with a funny accent and people > sometimes had trouble understanding us (and we them). That's quite an American idea - and part of the mentality that has middle aged and elderly Americans turning up in Scotland in five different tartans at once, with a long beige mac over the top, in the mistaken belief that this is how the *locals* dress. Try to dress like a "local" based on the knowledge you glean from abroad (especially movies from Hollywood <g>) and you *will* stand out here! No, our men don't wear kilts every day, and our women are as likely to be dressed in the latest from Paris or Milan as any NYCer (and certainly NOT dressed in homespun and shawls <g>) I had one friend visit me from Southern California. A woman in her late 60s. She was dressed sensibly for travelling (which she was doing a LOT of on that trip) with black "jean" pants and sweaters (with thermals underneath - it was March and she was *frozen* in the Scots spring <g>). As I showed her around town she suddenly froze, gazing at all the other women of her age group on the bus and was horrified to realise that not a single one of them was wearing jeans, and in fact very few were wearing trousers. "But I wanted to fit in! I bought black ones so they didn't look so much like American jeans," she protested "they'll know I'm a foreigner" (as a matter of fact, the younger women were all wearing jeans, but women in their 60s prefer to dress in the style they grew up with - in this case, smart little skirt suits) "They'll know that the minute you open your mouth to speak, or fumble with unfamiliar money," I told her, "and if these women were on vacation, they too would be wearing...... well, slacks at any rate, if not necessarily jeans. (although your typical Scot on vacation goes somewhere warm - by our standards - and doesn't want to wear anything heavier than a sundress, or bikini cover up!)  SignatureJette Goldie jette@blueyonder.co.uk Apache and Dakota http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/kitties.html > > I guess we looked a bit > > odd. We hadn't learned to dress like the locals [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > Apache and Dakota > http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/kitties.html Actually, it's hard to look out of place in Los Angeles, no matter what you wear. Remember, it's very close to Hollywood. ;-) My suggestion is to wear something comfortable. In August, that almost definitely means something cool. It's true, we don't see many sundresses here, but many people wear shorts (including quite a few who shouldn't <G>), and jeans, slacks, and light dresses are all commonplace. I wear jeans most of the time, and slacks almost always to dress up. Some women always wear dresses. BTW, if you're leaving or going to the airport, a shuttle is much cheaper than a taxi. It may take a little longer to get you there, which could be important, but if you aren't in a hurry, it can save you some money. Joy > Actually, it's hard to look out of place in Los Angeles, no matter what > you wear. Remember, it's very close to Hollywood. ;-) [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > shouldn't <G>), and jeans, slacks, and light dresses are all > commonplace. I think they are showing "sundresses" this year - at least I've seen them in some of the catalogs I get. Certainly there are "tank" tops with just a little strap over the shoulder, and people wear them with skirts, as well as trousers or shorts. > I wear jeans most of the time, and slacks almost always to dress up. > Some women always wear dresses. I still have a few dresses in my closet, but I, too, find I wear trousers, mostly - maybe flowing palazzo pants with a dressy top, if I want to seem really formal. > BTW, if you're leaving or going to the airport, a shuttle is much > cheaper than a taxi. It may take a little longer to get you there, > which could be important, but if you aren't in a hurry, it can save you > some money. Yes, and (assuming you book the night before) most of them guarantee to get you there on time - although you may have to leave a bit earlier than you might, otherwise. > > I guess we looked a bit > > odd. We hadn't learned to dress like the locals [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > Apache and Dakota > http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/kitties.html We never try to dress in the garb of a particular country i.e. kilts in Scotland. Simplicity and comfort is the thing and lightweight clothing. I usually wear slacks, light washable tops, take no jewellery and few shoes. When newly married American cousins visited us here (they live in Colorado) I couldn't believe the stuff they bought with them. They had huge boots for tramping, complete outfits for going to church and heaps and heaps of clothes. They even had an iron and a huge bible that they took to church - they admitted later that they took far too much. I think a first trip away is always an experiment and we are much wiser now. Bev -- I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. >We got on another bus and travelled on, we knew not where. >Got off again and finally decided that Americans did not have public >toilets. We finally found a bar - whew!!! We got a taxi back to Santa >Monica. It's true-- Americans DON'T have public toilets. It's a major weakness in American urban planning. But in LA, they don't expect anyone to ever get out of their cars. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) Maybe that's why the floorboards always rust out quickly. Also explains the smell. . .no, wait. That's in the UK. ;-) > It's true-- Americans DON'T have public toilets. It's a major > weakness in American urban planning. But in LA, they don't expect > anyone to ever get out of their cars. > >We got on another bus and travelled on, we knew not where. > >Got off again and finally decided that Americans did not have public [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > weakness in American urban planning. But in LA, they don't expect > anyone to ever get out of their cars. Except at a gas station - and they DO have lavatories for the use of their customers! > Theresa > alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ > > Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal > claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. > (Aldous Huxley) >> >We got on another bus and travelled on, we knew not where. >> >Got off again and finally decided that Americans did not have public [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. >> (Aldous Huxley) When I was a child Salt Lake City had four public toilets -- two for women and two for men. They were underground and were nicely tiled. In the beginning they worked, but as time went on they became dirty and broken and were dangerous places to enter. Eventually they were closed and covered over. So much for progress. Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she actually lived on Holloway at the time). I strolled up & down several times that week, always crossing at a light (few & far between at that point), and one time decided to cross over & head back to her place in between those rare lights. There was a cross walk there (I might add that this was at the bottom of a huge hill), so I decided to wait for a break in traffic to cross. A gentleman joined me in the wait (though we didn't speak), and after a couple of minutes, ALL FOUR LANES (2 lanes in either direction) OF TRAFFIC ****STOPPED**** to let ****2**** people cross the street!!!!! I was flabbergasted/stunned/shocked!!!! Here in Bloomington (with the Indiana University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!! Also, when I arrived in LA, I took a cab to meet my friend in the office building where she worked (it was staffed by MGM employees at the time, but was not near the studios - I think it was mostly accountants, lawyers & advertising), the cabbie (besides barely speaking English) 1) gave me too much change and 2) carried my luggage half way around the building to the entrance. When I got inside the building, I was getting ready to take said luggage onto the elevators to go to the 14th floor, someone else, a nice guy, grabbed my suitcase & DID NOT try to run of with it but actually HELPED me on & off the elevator (even though he was going to a different floor), and I didn't even ask!!!! A total stranger!!! Not ALL people in LA are creeps, gangsters or thugs. SignatureThe ONE and ONLY lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy former-blonde in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)? http://www.geocities.com/the_magic_mood_jeep/ http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep > As I make the arrangements for our Alaska cruise I am reminded of our > first trip overseas and in particular our stay in LA. [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > - > I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. "Magic Mood Jeep©" wrote: > Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a > week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 87 lines] > > - > > I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. It's interesting reading experiences people have in LA. BTW I only met one creep there, that bus driver who was probably having a bad hair day, lol. It's a vast, exciting city and I can't wait to get back :) Bev -- I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 20:53:54 GMT, "Magic Mood Jeep©" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: >Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a >week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or >stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!! My grandparents lived in Lakewood (LA County). IIRC, they said it was a state law that you have to stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk, whether or not there's a stop sign or traffic signal there. Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha http://www.jhedge.com > >Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a > >week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > http://www.jhedge.com State law and one that is enforced here in Northern California. Not to mention common decency. Jo Jeanne Hedge <jhedge@rcn.com> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Musings on LA - OT: >>Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a >>week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >a state law that you have to stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk, >whether or not there's a stop sign or traffic signal there. It is, not that most drivers anywhere in California pay attention. [LA drivers are the *worst* in the state, IMO. They consider the laws of *physics* to be non-binding and purely advisory.] Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL "Magic Mood Jeep©" wrote: > Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a > week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or > stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!! Well actually, California law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians, once they step into the cross-walk - if there's a cop around, you can get a ticket if you don't. (But people have grown ruder since I moved here in the 1950's - it's no longer safe to simply ASSUME the motorists will stop!) "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evgmsopnospam@earthlink.net> wrote in > Well actually, California law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians, > once they step into the cross-walk - if there's a cop around, you can > get a ticket if you don't. (But people have grown ruder since I moved > here in the 1950's - it's no longer safe to simply ASSUME the motorists > will stop!) Oh, that's the law around here too, but no-one ever stops. :o( SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki > "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evgmsopnospam@earthlink.net> wrote in >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Oh, that's the law around here too, but no-one ever stops. :o( I found stopping for pedestrians in London always seams to get a honk from the car behind. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy, Milo & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. >> "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evgmsopnospam@earthlink.net> wrote in >>> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >I found stopping for pedestrians in London always seams to get a honk from >the car behind. London-- now that's major league traffic. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) "Adrian" <anca@bigfoot.com> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Musings on LA - OT: >I found stopping for pedestrians in London always seams to get a honk from >the car behind. It's happened to me in California. DH actually got rear-ended for it once. Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL > "Adrian" <anca@bigfoot.com> had some very interesting things to say > about Re: Musings on LA - OT: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > "Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing > (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL A few years ago I almost got a couple of pedestrians hit when I stopped for them. They started to cross, and the car coming up in the next lane almost didn't stop in time. Joy >> "Adrian" <anca@bigfoot.com> had some very interesting things to >> say about Re: Musings on LA - OT: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >stopped for them. They started to cross, and the car coming up in >the next lane almost didn't stop in time. I once ended up spread-eagled on the hood of a car. When the walk light came on, I started across the intersection on foot, crossing in front of a car from the passenger side. The driver was looking the other way, and as soon as he saw there wasn't any traffic coming, he pulled out and made a right turn. There wasn't time for me to jump out of the way, so I toppled onto the hood. I had to bang on the hood to get the driver's attention to let me off; he carried me about 50 feet. Judging from the startled look on his face, he had had no idea that anyone was walking in front of him. I ended up with bruised shins, and considered myself lucky that I hadn't fallen backward and been run over. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria I was once walking across a supermarket parking lot in the midst of a group of shoppers here in SoCal when an elderly man attempted to drive his car through the group. I don't know if he saw us or realized what was going on, but just out of instinct I went into the crane attack form with the intention of kicking out his grill and caving in his hood. When I screamed for him to stop, followed by a string of colorful invective, he slammed on the brakes just in time. > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > =JjQN > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > -- > John F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com Good grief! What a terrible experience! I hope the driver was upset when he realized what he had done. Joy > I once ended up spread-eagled on the hood of a car. You know, when I first read this sentence I was sure it was going to be a story about a brush with law enforcement. :) > I toppled onto the hood. I had to bang on the > hood to get the driver's attention to let me off; he carried me about > 50 feet. This is unbelievable - you had to *bang* to get his attention? Couldn't he *see* you? You were right in front of him! What was he looking at, that he couldn't see an adult human on the hood of his car?? Glad you were OK!! Joyce > > I once ended up spread-eagled on the hood of a car. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >he *see* you? You were right in front of him! What was he looking at, >that he couldn't see an adult human on the hood of his car?? Bet we could have fun coming up with real life experiences of things we've seen people doing instead of paying attention to driving. Like yapping on a cell phone, counting the change or checking the bags of food after going through a drive thru, eating, flossing their teeth, looking in the mirror while combing their hair, putting on makeup, or shaving, reading, and the list goes on and on. Course, that would just cover not seeing you, you'd think there must have been some noise too when someone ends up on your hood. >Glad you were OK!! > >Joyce SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html That's terrible! Purrs, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > I once ended up spread-eagled on the hood of a car. When the walk > light came on, I started across the intersection on foot, crossing in [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > =JjQN > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a > > week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > here in the 1950's - it's no longer safe to simply ASSUME the motorists > will stop!) What do you folks mean by "cross walk"? The three places pedestrians have right of way and motorists have to stop here in Australia are either Zebra crossings, a children's school crossing with the "Lollypop Lady" with a stop sign, or at traffic lights with pedestrian crossings (which almost all of them have) We also have "pedestrian islands" which allow pedestrians to cross multi-lane roads, but cars don't have to give way. It just makes it easier for the predestrian to cross the road one lane (or one traffic direction) at a time. Yowie Your Zebra crossing would describe it best - but we don't always use the 'zebra' stripes, sometimes just 2 white lines painted across the road, outlining the 'safe' place to cross a street. Here's some pics of what they look like in US: http://www.trans.ci.portland.or.us/Trafficcalming/devices/peds/PEDALBUM.HTM or http://tinyurl.com/3x2k8 SignatureThe ONE and ONLY lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy former-blonde in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)? http://www.geocities.com/the_magic_mood_jeep/ http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep > > > Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then > a [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Yowie >> "Magic Mood Jeep©" wrote: >> > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > >What do you folks mean by "cross walk"? Equivalent of a "zebra crossing." Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) > What do you folks mean by "cross walk"? > > The three places pedestrians have right of way and motorists have to stop > here in Australia are either Zebra crossings, I think that's the same thing - the pavement is striped to indicate a place for pedestrians to cross. I always stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk, especially if they hesitate and wait for traffic to stop. They strike me as being smarter and politer than those who simply assume traffic is going to stop. When, for example, someone is trying to drive and cope with a screaming toddler at the same time, anything can happen. That said, I still believe anyone dumb enough to step into moving traffic without waiting to see if they're going to stop gets what they deserve. Here in SoCal people do it on a regular basis; instead of tires squealing, they generally hear a horn blast from me. > "Magic Mood Jeep©" wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > here in the 1950's - it's no longer safe to simply ASSUME the motorists > will stop!) About 20 years ago, near the IU campus, the students were so 'self-important' that they would jaywalk anywhere and everywhere - actually holding up their hand as if they were a school crossing guard & attempting to stop traffic for themselves, but that all ended when one coed tried it and the vehicle approaching did not see her at the moment (not sure why - be it screaming child or just an inattentive driver... remember, this was 20 years ago & before cell phones) and the coed was killed. the car was only doing about 20-30mph. Another story is about a jaywalker not paying attention themselves and walking into traffic, directly into the side of a moving car! they then tried to claim that the car hit them, but there were too many witnesses! SignatureThe ONE and ONLY lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy former-blonde in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)? http://www.geocities.com/the_magic_mood_jeep/ http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep > I always stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk, especially if they > hesitate and wait for traffic to stop. They strike me as being smarter [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > here in the 1950's - it's no longer safe to simply ASSUME the motorists > > will stop!) On Thu, 01 Apr 2004 19:41:56 GMT, "Magic Mood Jeep©" <nobody@nowhere.net> yodeled: >About 20 years ago, near the IU campus, the students were so >'self-important' that they would jaywalk anywhere and everywhere - actually [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >years ago & before cell phones) and the coed was killed. the car was only >doing about 20-30mph. So the town-gown faceoff in Bloomington goes on. ;) There and everywhere else. I've observed that students tend to feel so protected on campus that they behave with a terrible combination of arrogance/naivete when they venture into the outside world. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) > So the town-gown faceoff in Bloomington goes on. ;) > There and everywhere else. I've observed that students tend to feel > so protected on campus that they behave with a terrible combination of > arrogance/naivete when they venture into the outside world. Yeah, driving in Harvard Square is very slow going, for that reason. Joyce "Magic Mood Jeep©" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote > Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a > week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or > stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!! That's one of the things I love about visiting Central Europe - a pedestrian only has to glance towards the street for all the traffic to stop to let you cross. Not so here in Finland, I'm sorry to say. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki "Magic Mood Jeep" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: > There was a cross walk there (I might add that this was at the > bottom of a huge hill), so I decided to wait for a break in traffic to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or > stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!! I think people on the west coast obey traffic laws a little better, and I have no idea why. This includes pedestrians. I'm from Boston, where nobody ever obeys a traffic law. The first time I went to Seattle, I too was flabbergasted, at the way people *actually waited* for the walk light before crossing, even when there was no traffic on the road. The way that San Francisco drivers behave at 4-way stop signs amazed me at first - each person taking their turn, around the interesection, like a little dance. In Massachusetts, a 4-way stop is often the hub of a 4-way DEADLOCK, because everyone tries to get into the intersection at the same time. I'm not sure I could successfully drive in Boston anymore, I've gone soft from local drivers who actually obey the rules. Joyce (OK, I admit it, I've broken a traffic law or two in my life. :)) >"Magic Mood Jeep" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >Joyce (OK, I admit it, I've broken a traffic law or two in my life. :)) I think it's because traffic laws-- INCLUDING jaywalking laws-- are actually enforced out there. In NYC, crossing the street is a competitive sport. The last person got a summons for jaywalking in 1642. ;) Of course, we also have people regularly getting mowed down at intersections. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) > >"Magic Mood Jeep" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: > > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > Theresa > alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Delurking to add that I'm a Bostonian who once got a jaywalking ticket at the corner of Boylston and Tremont Streets. I was going to keep the ticket, but they kept hounding me for the $1 fine so I finally paid up and had to surrender it. I was in high school at the time, so I didn't want any trouble. On the rare occasion that a driver stops for a pedestrian here it's usually someone in one lane of a two-lane road and the driver in the second lane has no intention of stopping. Warning for tourists heading to Boston: I took driving lessons from a reputable company and when people started crossing the street against the light the instructor said to me, "Step on the gas, they'll jump out of the way." Really. Has anybody out there seen "Wild in the Streets: The Boston Driver's Handbook"? It's very funny (and mostly true). Suzanne >> >"Magic Mood Jeep" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: >> > [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] >surrender it. I was in high school at the time, so I didn't want any >trouble. Wow. >On the rare occasion that a driver stops for a pedestrian here it's usually >someone in one lane of a two-lane road and the driver in the second lane has [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >Has anybody out there seen "Wild in the Streets: The Boston Driver's >Handbook"? It's very funny (and mostly true). How's the Big Dig coming? Almost done? Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) >>> >"Magic Mood Jeep" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: >>> > [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] > >How's the Big Dig coming? Almost done? Yes for the most part, but in July we have the Democratic Party Convention. Major rd shutdowns plus the North Station which transports 40,000 daily. Suz Macmoosette Thank Heavens There's Only One =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= Waiting for inspiration. Please hold while I contemplate my navel. |\__/| (=':'=) (")_(") >>>> >"Magic Mood Jeep" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: >>>> > [quoted text clipped - 73 lines] >Major rd shutdowns plus the North Station which transports 40,000 daily. >Suz We have the Republicans. They are talking about closing down virtually every way of getting anywhere while the President is in town. :( Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) >>Yes for the most part, but in July we have the Democratic Party Convention. >>Major rd shutdowns plus the North Station which transports 40,000 daily. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >virtually every way of getting anywhere while the President is in >town. :( Luckily its after the 4th (of july) can you imagine the outcry it would cause if traffic & transport was stopped/slowed then. Suz Macmoosette Thank Heavens There's Only One =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= Waiting for inspiration. Please hold while I contemplate my navel. |\__/| (=':'=) (")_(") <smile> I hear (and know) so many bad things about it, I really enjoy hearing nice things about my home town. Joy (born in East L.A.) > Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a > week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she [quoted text clipped - 87 lines] > > - > > I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. ><smile> I hear (and know) so many bad things about it, I really enjoy >hearing nice things about my home town. > >Joy (born in East L.A.) LOL. Did you ever get deported? ;) Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) > ><smile> I hear (and know) so many bad things about it, I really enjoy > >hearing nice things about my home town. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Theresa <G> No, but I almost became an illegal immigrant by refusing to come home from Australia. ;-) Joy Sounds like you missed out on my favorite amusement park ride. For some perverse reason I like riding in Taxi's in strange cities. A beat up cab in San Francisco beats anything Disneyland has to offer. One of my best rides was from LAX to Universal Studios. I was in a hurry to get to a meeting, and the driver was quite obviously in a big hurry to get me there to collect the fare to pay the next installment on his habit. Jo (I actually have a good reason for liking Taxi's. When I was an infant my Mother was quite ill. My Dad drove a taxi in Washington DC at the time and worked more than one shift with me with him when he couldn't find anyone to watch me.) > As I make the arrangements for our Alaska cruise I am reminded of our > first trip overseas and in particular our stay in LA. [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > - > I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. > I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus. From memory, we > caught a bus that said Sunset Boulevard on the front. Then our troubles > began. The bus driver hated us on sight. We didn't have the right > change and he slapped his hand on a box by his seat and snarled at us. > We couldn't understand what he said and desperately shuffled through > handfuls of alien coins trying to please him. He may very well have been Russian or something - I don't know whether there's a law that they cannot insist upon people who serve the public being able to speak English, or whether the jobs pay so little that no one fluent in English and able to do something else wants them. > I guess we looked a bit > odd. We hadn't learned to dress like the locals [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > downtown LA so got off. Big mistake. We didn't have a clue where we > were and badly wanted to use a toilet. There's something to be said for the old-fashioned French pissoire! You can understand why I hesitate to use public transportation in countries where I KNOW I don't speak the language! In Vienna, I once got off of the Unterbahn ten blocks before the stop I should have, because I saw the name of the street where my hotel was located. It was December, and I was facing light, blowing snow all the way. > We got on another bus and travelled on, we knew not where. > Got off again and finally decided that Americans did not have public > toilets. Well, we do, but only in public buildings, parks and shopping malls (and restaurants, of course). I think there's some sort of law, though - most stores usually have a lavatory customers may use, but you have to ask. And that's not true everywhere in the world. I went into a big music store in Vienna, and they had no facilities for the public. I thought of a restaurant, but it was lunch time, two days before Christmas, and every place I tried had long. long lines before you could even get in the door. I finally found a cab, made it to my hotel with my back teeth floating, and vowed never to tour a foreign city again without knowing where I could "go" if needed. > When we left LA we got a taxi to the International airport. > A downy-faced youth appeared in a car that looked as if it had been used [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > getting nervous, were we going to miss the plane. Finally he kicked > the thing in frustration and presto!! One thing we have in L.A. (and New York - probably in other cities, too) are airport "shuttles" whio pick you up at your door and deliver you to your terminal. (And the same from the airport to wherever you are staying.) They're more expensive than buses, but certainly not as expensive as a taxi, and you're less likely to get some inept "independent" as you apparently did with your taxi. > This will be our fourth trip to the US. Except for the surly bus > driver people there were unfailingly polite and nice to us when we > stumbled around wanting advice and directions. We will be in LA on the > 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st of August and staying in Burbank with my > cousin. Later I will post her addy and phone number if anyone wants to > get in touch with us, or visit. I'll mark my calendar! I may be going to Paris (to hear my favorite singer at Opera Bastille) in mid-September, but the end of August should be fairly clear for me. (And as I said, Burbank is practically next-door to where I live.) >I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus I live in LA. Sad to say, that sounds about normal. Don't ever take public transportation here if you're on vacation. You'll spend the entire time in the bus. Try to fly into Burbank if you can. It's not as congested as LAX. Burbank will be hot in August. > >I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus > > I live in LA. Sad to say, that sounds about normal. Don't ever take public > transportation here if you're on vacation. You'll spend the entire time in the > bus. Try to fly into Burbank if you can. It's not as congested as LAX. Burbank > will be hot in August. We have driven in the US and compared to New Zealand the drivers are saints. Would you believe that people actually stop to let you get into the line of traffic in the US. Here, people get into cars and turn into maniacs. Make a mistake in New Zealand and you get showered with abuse. Try to get into a line of traffic, forget it. People merrily pass on yellow lines and corners - and sometimes they pay for it with their lives. Bev -- I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. >We have driven in the US and compared to New Zealand the drivers are >saints. Would you believe that people actually stop to let you get [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Bev When you talk about Merikan drivers, tough, you need to remember how different they are in different parts of the country. I know people who talk about how bad the drivers in California are, but I've always felt they're pretty good drivers. Maybe because that's where I learned to drive and I fit right in. Course, with the large number of drivers there you see plenty bad ones, too. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >>I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus > >I live in LA. Sad to say, that sounds about normal. Don't ever take public >transportation here if you're on vacation. You'll spend the entire time in the >bus. Try to fly into Burbank if you can. It's not as congested as LAX. Burbank >will be hot in August. It's been years since I've used any public transist. Until recently there wasn't any here in our town, and what we have now pretty much stinks - runs only on weekdays and stops running way too early. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > >>I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Steve Touchstone, > faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky I've been told by people from the east coast that California drivers are amazingly polite. All I can say is, if this is what is considered polite, I don't think I'll try driving on the east coast. ;-) As for public transportation, I try to excuse us by saying we're too spread out. Many other major cities I have visited, in the United States, in Europe, and in Australia, have wonderful public transportation. The Los Angeles area doesn't. There are shuttles that will take you to or from an airport, and they are cheaper than a taxi. However, the odds against finding a bus that goes where you want to go are pretty bad. Once in a while you can get around by Amtrack (train), but that depends on your starting point and destination. I get envious of the public transportation every time I visit Sydney, San Francisco, or various other large cities. Joy > I get envious of the public transportation every time I visit > Sydney, San Francisco, or various other large cities. San Francisco proper does have excellent public transit, including light rail and buses that go everywhere. But the Bay Area as a whole has some real problems with transit. The main problem is that we have no transit authority to make sure that all the components fit with each other. Instead, each different bus, commuter train, and subway line *competes* with the others for passengers - so each one tries to make it difficult for people to use the others. Therefore, the connections between each are terrible, or in some cases, nonexistant. It takes hours to go somewhere by transit that it might take, say, 45 minutes to do by car (not during rush hour). So there's a strong anti-incentive to use public transit! Especially now that the dot-com boom is over, making rush hour much more bearable. The different transit companies have been trying to address this "connectivity" problem for several years now, so some new lines have been built to connect this subway line to that commuter train station, etc. It's still a massive pain in the butt. It's really unfortunate, because the individual modes of transportation are very well run. If you only need one thing - eg, the BART train (BART = Bay Area Rapid Transit, which allows people to get from various places into San Francisco easily) - then it's wonderful. Once you start having to make connections, you're in trouble. It is much better than LA, though. Joyce - who drives! >I've been told by people from the east coast that California drivers are >amazingly polite. All I can say is, if this is what is considered >polite, I don't think I'll try driving on the east coast. ;-) <snip> >Joy Don't know if I'd say polite - more like sensible aggression. Seems to me that everyone is in a hurry and drives agressively, with the realization that they'll get to where they're going faster if they cooperate a little with the other drivers. As long as the others drivers don't do something which slows the traffic slow, they cooperate. But, when someone does something that slows them down, they get downright rude. Ca drivers do a lot of lane changing in bumper to bumper gridlock, tailgating, etc. to get to where they're going a few extra seconds sooner. Living here in SW Oklahoma near an Army base, I often hear that drivers here are some fo the friendliest around. It's fairly common for drivers to wave to each other, which is something I rarely saw in California. They're a lot more polite around here, but don't see traffic like California. Drivers in California would wave their hands off if they tried to wave like they do here. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > >I've been told by people from the east coast that California drivers are > >amazingly polite. All I can say is, if this is what is considered [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Steve Touchstone, > faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky Many California drivers have their own version of waving, but it isn't friendly. ;-) Actually, I have had many people let me onto the freeway or into their lane, as well as having many people cut me off. I do see enough crazy driving that I don't understand why there aren't more accidents than there are. Tailgating is one of my pet peeves. I used to have a bumper sticker that read, "I brake for tailgaters". However, there were enough cases of people being shot over traffic incidents at the time that I decided it would be safer to remove it. Joy >Many California drivers have their own version of waving, but it >isn't friendly. ;-) Oh yes, like those bumper stickers that say, "Next time you wave at me, please use all of your fingers." SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Oh yes, like those bumper stickers that say, "Next time you wave at > me, please use all of your fingers." Exactly. ;-) Joy >>>I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >there wasn't any here in our town, and what we have now pretty much >stinks - runs only on weekdays and stops running way too early. That sounds like Nashville's mass transit. The big problem here is that all of the bus routes are radial. The only way to transfer from one route to another is to ride all the way downtown. I live about 20 miles from work, and can usually get there in about 30 minutes by car. Last year, I had to ride the bus for a couple of days while my car was under repair. Not only did it take me two hours travel time in each direction, but I had to arrive at work one hour late and leave work one-and-a-half hours early, because my neighborhood, towards the outer end of one of the bus routes, only gets two buses a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We do have weekend service, but it involves both fewer buses and fewer routes (no service at all in my neighborhood). SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better > than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria It's interesting reading about driving and pedestrians in the US. Having experienced LA without transport I wouldn't be going back without some way to get around. We have always been lucky to have my cousins there to show us the sights. I would like a few tips on what we should sight see in San Francisco. We were there 20 years ago and went under the Bridge and saw nothing but mist and red pylons, lol. We will be there for four days and one place that we missed last time was Alcatraz, will be doing that. As far as LA is concerned we have seen all the usual things, Disneyland, Universal Studios, various museums. Went to the Miniature Museum and Western Museum (Gene Autry), also went to Hearst Castle. Any other suggestions. People will take precedence over sightseeing though :) Bev -- I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. One place you might want to visit in SF is the Winchester Mystery House. I've not been there, but want to. It started as a mansion in 1884 by Sarah Winchester, the widow/heiress of the Winchester Rifle company - seemed she was so afraid of the ghosts of the people who had been killed by a Winchester product coming back to haunt her, she built stairs that lead nowhere, doors that open to a wall.... go to the website for more info: http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/ SignatureThe ONE and ONLY lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy former-blonde in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)? http://www.geocities.com/the_magic_mood_jeep/ http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > -- > I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. That sounds like an interesting place, which I've always wanted to visit, but it's actually quite a distance from San Francisco. -- Joy Life is what happens to you while you are planning to do something else. > One place you might want to visit in SF is the Winchester Mystery House. > I've not been there, but want to. It started as a mansion in 1884 by Sarah [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] > > -- > > I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. "Magic Mood Jeep©" wrote: > One place you might want to visit in SF is the Winchester Mystery House. > I've not been there, but want to. It started as a mansion in 1884 by Sarah [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] > > -- > > I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. The Winchester Mystery House looks absolutely fascinating, the gardens too, what a pity it is so far out of the city. We will be limited to places that are handy, having no transport. Thanks for sharing. Bev -- I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. "Magic Mood Jeep©" <nobody@nowhere.net> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Musings on LA - OT: >One place you might want to visit in SF is the Winchester Mystery House. >I've not been there, but want to. It started as a mansion in 1884 by Sarah [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >nowhere, doors that open to a wall.... go to the website for more info: >http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/ That's one I'd like to see sometime. To me, Hearst Castle qualifies as "so what?". :-) Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL > One place you might want to visit in SF is the Winchester Mystery House. > I've not been there, but want to. It started as a mansion in 1884 by Sarah [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > nowhere, doors that open to a wall.... go to the website for more info: > http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/ I knew that house sounded familiar. It was the setting for a 1993 (Sci-Fi) novel called "Vanishing Point" by Michaela Roessner (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312852134/qid=1080961825/sr= 1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-4252764-2707167?v=glance&s=books). Great story! Signature-Kim owned by Egbert, Niobe, Sekhar and Rocket take the cat out before you reply one cat just leads to another... http://photos.yahoo.com/sir_eg_of_bert "Magic Mood Jeep" <nobody@nowhere.net> wrote: > One place you might want to visit in SF is the Winchester Mystery House. Actually, that place is in San Jose, about 50 miles south of SF. I used to live not far from there and I never went to see it! I always wanted to, just never got around to it. > seemed she > was so afraid of the ghosts of the people who had been killed by a > Winchester product coming back to haunt her, she built stairs that lead > nowhere, doors that open to a wall.... go to the website for more info: What I heard was that she believed that she wouldn't die as long as she kept building additions onto the house. She kind of lost it after her husband died. Joyce > > One place you might want to visit in SF is the Winchester Mystery House. > > Actually, that place is in San Jose, about 50 miles south of SF. I used > to live not far from there and I never went to see it! I always wanted to, > just never got around to it. Me too! I used to live near there (Sunnyvale), and I never visited the place until years after I moved away and passed through again on vacation. Dan > Me too! I used to live near there (Sunnyvale), and I never visited the > place until years after I moved away and passed through again on vacation. You used to live in Sunnyvale, too? Gee, you, Hopitus and I should all get together for a reunion. Where to? Charlie Brown's? :) Joyce In message <406DBE83.748D339@xtra.co.nz>, Bev <bevdun@xtra.co.nz> writes >I would like a few tips on what we should sight see in San Francisco. >We were there 20 years ago and went under the Bridge and saw nothing but [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Museum (Gene Autry), also went to Hearst Castle. Any other >suggestions. People will take precedence over sightseeing though :) We did a coach tour to the Muir Woods (redwoods). The trees are incredible - huge and impressive. Fisherman's Wharf is fun for shopping, eating and people-watching. Did a couple of museum-y things too. Sausalito (nearby town; incorporated in the Muir Woods trip) is very pretty. One fun thing (not really a sight, but a brilliant way to pass time) is the Exploratorium. We got a free ticket as part of the package when we got a seven-day travel pass. It's full of science-related exhibits and you're actively encouraged to play! Recommended minimum stay tour hours .... we were there for nearer five. http://www.sanfrancisco.com/attractions/index.shtml SignatureCathi Bev <bevdun@xtra.co.nz> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Musings on LA - OT: >> That sounds like Nashville's mass transit. The big problem here is >> that all of the bus routes are radial. The only way to transfer from [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> service, but it involves both fewer buses and fewer routes (no >> service at all in my neighborhood). In LA, I enjoy the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum and the Guinness World Records museum [not sure either title is 100% right, but they're close enough that you can find them]. Also, in the 10000 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, you will see the LDS Temple I was married in. :-) Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL |
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