Hehe, if they want to tell me anything they can.. otherwise.. I'll just find out!

Yeah, sure Brian - you can have the keys to the castle.

NOT!

NOT!?

That phase is SOOOO 90's. Get with the times grandpa!

The O.C. is hot right now, Tetsuo. You can't score "cool" points by attacking the O.C. The people who dislike that show are the fuddy-duddy parents (and grandparents) of the cool kids.

Yer showin' yer age there, gramps.

The first series was very cool. The second series was pretty cool. But then I think it's pretty clear that the O.C. had gone past it's sell-by date ('The O.C. is SOOOOOO OVERRRRRRRRRRR, dude, in terms of coolness', at least in this country).

Despite being 31, I am pretty convinced that I know what's cool and what's not. My expensive designer clothes, my discerning but eclectic taste in music, clubbing, international cuisine, media, exotic world travel and procession of model-standard girlfriends give me confidence in this regard.

I may not be 'young (dare I say 'inexperienced') cool', but I am definitely 'mature cool', and I know which is 'cooler', lol. Good taste and faddishness are totally different, my friend.

I've had some bad news today. My travel agency told me that they mis-sold me my tickets to Costa Rica, and that despite their original assurances that we would not be passing throught the USA (my girlfriend is Estonian, and has problems even obtaining a C-1 transit visa for the States), it transpires that there were 'hidden' stops in Orlando inbound and Miami outbound and so the flight become non-viable. Calls to various consulates and embassies (as well as actually GOING to the US embassy here in London, which was both unsuccessful and disappointing, as they were very rude) resulted in no progress.

I booked a business class ticket with a different airline going via Madrid with similar assurances earlier, only to then find out from the ORIGINAL agency that the second ticket issuer had made the same mistake, and that the (v.v.v. expensive) backup flight transited via Guatamala inbound and Panama outbound. Unfortunately she would require a Panamanian visa for the outbound section, so I have now had to cancel her holiday to Costa Rica (I am still going), and book her a last-minute holiday to her home city of Tallin, Estonia instead.

I have had a VERY bad day.

In a coolness contest dude, I fancy my chances against anybody.

Ouch, that sucks. Have a good time anyway mate.

wow.. that really sucks... i would be reaming some travel agent asses about right now.

you asked the right questions and they STILL gave you the wrong answers? i need some sweet ticket vouchers to somewhere cool in the future.

anyway... more time for poker and, um, companions in CR for you.... GL.

Well... while it DOES suck that you're getting jerked around... TRUST ME when I tell you there's NO WHERE you'd rather be as a semi-single guy (it's not cheating if she's in a different country ) than in Costa Rica... Bring LOTS of $50 bills...

And, while I AM deeply offended that I wasn't invited on your little journey ( ), I would be glad to offer any advice while there... There's lots of things to see and people to do, after all...

Crime's not much to worry about in CR...if you travel at night, just take a taxi...they're dirt cheap...
2 places to play poker...Horseshoe and Radisson Hotels...tell Russ at the Horseshoe that Wildbill sent you...he'll give you a poker Horseshoe cap...the players are pretty wild and loose, so play accordingly.

Mosey over to the Del Rey Hotel, they have great packages...for about $79 US, you can get an all day tour...volcano, butterfly farm, rainforest trip, jungleboat river tour, breakfast, lunch, all transportation...it's a great little package. It's kitty corner across from the Horseshoe.

GL and have fun.