Whoops, my alter ego took over for a second. Santa will definitely not be in Boston, I will. He had better be slaving away at the North Pole getting things ready for the Global Gift Exchange.

Being born in January, I got my Learner's Permit at 16. My dad made a point to take me out as soon as he could.

In maybe my second or third time out, he brought me to an unplowed parking lot after about a 6 inch snowfall. He told me to get the speed up to about 30 MPH and slam on the brakes. To this day, I've yet to find a roller coaster to match the terror of the car spinning wildly in the parking lot.

I'm sure there are a lot of folks, especially our Northern neighbors who can add to this. Granted, you may not wish to attempt the drive, but in the interest of your future safety...

* ALL WHEEL DRIVE is better than 4 wheel-drive if you can rent it.

* All/four wheel drive helps you accelerate, but does not mean you'll brake any faster! If you don't believe me, look at all the flipped-over urban assault vehicles in the next snowstorm.

* Find out if your car as ABS. If not, pump the brakes, if so, hit the brakes.

* Without ABS, your car CANNOT turn while the brakes are applied. As ludicrous as it sounds, if you are hurtling towards an obstacle, take your foot off the brake and slowly turn the wheel. A side-swipe beats a head-on (and especially a side-impact) anyday!

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As far as Wednesday, that is my wife's birthday. As much as I would love to meet everyone, I much prefer sleeping in my own bed to the couch!

Please don't change on my account, but if another day is better for most, it makes life easier on me!

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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."



[This message has been edited by Jon Toner (edited 11-30-1999).]

Jon: I just printed off your tips and am going to study them before attempting to drive during my upcoming two week trip to the great white north (Wausau, WI and BOS). Thanks for helping your neighbor to the south!

As far as the night of the get together, it matters not to me...what say we make it Tuesday?

dgolds,

Let me know which day the get together is as I'll be in Newton from the 8th to the 16th (gone the weekend for a mileage run) and I'll try and work it in between work and seeing my relatives.

Jim

I'd be interested in the get-together too, though I have some schedule constraints based on my GF leaving to pick up her daughter in Italy on Wednesday the 15th. Please keep me informed, or I'll just check back here often.

In the North End, you can do a lot worse than Saraceno's. My company had a totally great dinner there for 35 seminar participants about two weeks ago.

dgolds:

I forgot another valuable snowy weather driving tip....

Turn INTO a skid (if the rear end of your car is skidding towards your right, turn the wheel to the right).

Came in REAL handy on a patch of black ice last night!

(Black ice = ice on the asphalt that you don't see until you are on it. Nasty stuff!)

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So is the consensus Tuesday night?

Where do we meet?


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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

I'd love a chance to make it to this one. I missed the last Boston gathering by being admitted to the hospital on an emergency basis that day. I'll be returning from a weekend visit to my sister on Oahu (and maintaining my UA PremExec status for next year) on Dec.13. Tuesday would be ok, Weds. would be much better, and Thursday would be great for me...!!

Hope you guys have a good time in BOS. A slight OMNI: In case you've never been there before, dgolds, the Bostonians pronounce where you are staying as Pea'-biddy (accent on the 1st syllable) instead of the non-Bostonian way (I won't say normal ) Pea-body' (accent of 2nd syllable)

I used to work on an assignment in Reading, MA not too far from there.

Have fun!

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Regards,
- Anna

"Correct" (per Bostonians) prounciation of some eastern Mass towns:

Peabody - pronounced "PBD" (just say the letters quickly).
Worcester - pronounced "Woosta". Townies get a big kick out of someone saying "Wor-kester"
Hingham - pronounced "Hingum"
Needham - pronounced "Needum"
Concord - pronounced "Con-cud"
Leominster - pronounced "Lemminsta"

I used to have a severe Boston accent, but now hide it well. Ocassionally I'll slip. For example, if angry, "You Stoopid Bastid"


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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

And don't for get to add an r to the end of any word that ends in "a", idea would become idear. And delete the r in words that end in "r", car would be ca.

My preferred example is "pahk ya cah in Hahvahd yahd."

A spoke with a friend of mine who recommended a restaurant now that my beloved European is gone.

I've made reservations for 7:00pm at :
Ristorante Toscano
47 Charles St.
723-4090

I've given them a party of 8. If that number is going to change, I need to know ASAP! Please RSVP here.

My friend said dress jackets are standard, but not required attire. No jeans/t-shirts.

The place itself is not "frilly and fancy" (his words), but the food is excellent.

Let me know!


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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

Sorry can't make this one guys. It's the middle of my holiday rush and I'm hoping to prevent myself from drowning in cards, Scotchtape (C) and have enough paper that the cats haven't ripped to shreads to wrap a LOT of gifts.

But do take a few pictures and maybe someone can post them!

JT: Count me in. And thanks for setting up the reservation.

Good restaurant choice! Thanks so much for making the arrangements. Please count my husband and I in.

We're still talking about Tuesday, right?