cindyabs

They started in Mass that's why. We FINALLY got one here this summer and they seem to be doing a rip roaring business. Pretty good since this is Krispy Kreme country, and DH thinks their custard filled doughnuts are the bomb.

Sadly, I had just gotten the diabetic diagnosis when they opened so no DD for me.

meauxna

We don't tip for gas! And you know me, I tip for everything. Well, I guess not, actually.

hiya .. .missed you!

Jerseygirl

My daughter does...that's what waiting tables did to her.

meauxna

o HELL no I'm not tipping for gas when there's no self serve option. I doubt it would occur to me to tip for that service when visiting another state either.. they charge more per gallon.
And I've waited my share of tables. Even convinced many a Brit to my way of thinking..

ugacrew

Missed you too. I can't help but feel obligated though. My mom was a waitress and she hammered it home. I'll remember that the next time I'm in your neck of the woods. I'd loved to get back to Oregon and take some better photographs this time. Plus I need to go back to that seafood joint in Seaside that serves the best lobster casserole I've ever tasted. You know a dish is good if it's been years since you've last had it and you still remember it.

GeoffM

Why thank you, I know I look so young, but unfortunately mid-30s.

LOL, I've just never seen it in the UK, US, or Europe for that matter. I've driven in a dozen or so US states, but not NJ except to get back to Newark airport.

Steerpike

I've now sampled lattes at Starbucks, Costa, and Caffe Nero. Costa is consistently the best for me - stronger, deeper. I prefer it to any 'mass market' latte I've had in US . Peets is my favorite in US, and still has the edge.

Every coffee place and every motorway service station seems to be selling a range of 'ready to heat' Pannini's, and they all have the Pannini machine. This is a vast improvement over the days of "British Rail Sandwiches", and better than most places in the US.

Last night I tried to spend a night in Central London with my mom. Took the Picadilly line from Heathrow, destined for Covent Garden (my favorite spot in London) but, at rush hour, "Due to a person under a train at Kings Cross", service was suspended at Hyde Park corner . So had to get out and look for a cab. It was freezing, so had a bite first then took the cab. Liecester Square looked a helluva lot more tacky than it used to ... Had a fabulous Lebanese meal at some random place on the street ... all good fun! And still no rain !!

Update ... here's the story behind my delayed trip to central london (woman pushes transvestite under train during rush hour!) ... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ain-woman.html - excuse the daily mail link but it's the first I could find with Google. We sat there for ages before some guy came on the 'PA' system to mumble something. I don't think anyone could understand him - it was quite laughable. Eventually, we figured out that we were better off getting off!

Burn1911

Thank God you put this as I am ALWAYS so confused when we go to Oregon and they pump your gas, should you tip or shouldn't you, we never do!! I always look to see if other people do but its so hard to tell!! phewwwww Thanks for clearing that up Mo!!!

Bob

Aye, the original one ain't that far from where we are...it is amusing to see just how many of them are around here, even up in Maine, they're everywhere....where the in-laws live, it's along the log trucking routes, so there's a few Tim Hortons for the Canadians, they seem to be doing well but you can spot who generally uses them v DD

lansbury

I was in Walla Walla last weekend. Had to fill up. Managed to find the slot to swipe the card, it was the next bit after put nozzle in car I was stump with. Pull up lever. I pulled up the lever on the pump handle, no gas flowed. Fortunately my niece who comes from Walla Walla was with me. She pulled up the cradle the pump handle sits in when not being used. How is that a lever.

meauxna

I know.. we're just as clueless when we road trip.. don't do it often enough, obviously!

Jerseygirl

I've never pumped gas in the US...I would be clueless. Yet when I go back to the UK it's second nature.

Bob

That happened to me the first time in the US...bit embarrassing

tonrob

I'm off out for a curry tonight so I'll be pumping gas tomorrow.

scrubbedexpat097