Welcome to Coffee Shop 17

[vato loco]

Now for some random vacation pic's BTW, I cought the boy getting ready to pelt the elephants with rocks

 

[vato loco]

Universal Had the town I want to build for my layout Some good pic's!

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Good Morning----

We're getting some 40% showers this morning---it'll clear up/dry out this aft, giving us a high of 26C----vs yesterdays 33C with heat index of 40C----Tomorrow will be sunny and a high of 27C

One of my musician friends showed up with something he found at a pawn shop----An "Eventide H3000 Harmonizer"--gonna go to the studio today to see what this thing can do----

Jim I loved "Vanishing Point" --just for the plot/semi-plot thing---Another one I got in my collection is something called "2 Lane Blacktop"---BTW, the push bumpers: my neighbour tells me the idea derived from----bumper cars I've seen a few YouTube things showing how that was done-----it does look like it does the trick
The weatherlosers can't shake the dull/rainy vision for us next week off'n their noggins ---this morning it was rain Monday/Tuesday with an 50% chance Wednesday------Oh, and Sunday?----more rain----

Chris How are the prices at that Emirels place anyhooo? And the sweets shops---are there a lot of 'em?---Audrey would like to know--

 

[tompm]

Good morning folks

It was 73 and muggy on the trip in this morning. High toady will be 90 F with a threat of severe thunderstorms.

Last night we worked around the outside once the sun started setting. I mowed the front and back lawns. The kids cleaned up the clippings, did some weeding in the flowerbeds, and watered the gardens. Afterwards we enjoyed some cold drinks and the air conditioning. No modeling but I am reading through a back log of Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman magazines which seems to be rekindling the interest again.

This weekend is the shopping weekend. My daughter has a softball All-Star game to play in on Saturday. The rest is up in the air.

I hope everybody has a good day.

 

[vato loco]

Good Morning----

We're getting some 40% showers this morning---it'll clear up/dry out this aft, giving us a high of 26C----vs yesterdays 33C with heat index of 40C----Tomorrow will be sunny and a high of 27C

One of my musician friends showed up with something he found at a pawn shop----An "Eventide H3000 Harmonizer"--gonna go to the studio today to see what this thing can do----

Jim I loved "Vanishing Point" --just for the plot/semi-plot thing---Another one I got in my collection is something called "2 Lane Blacktop"---BTW, the push bumpers: my neighbour tells me the idea derived from----bumper cars I've seen a few YouTube things showing how that was done-----it does look like it does the trick
The weatherlosers can't shake the dull/rainy vision for us next week off'n their noggins ---this morning it was rain Monday/Tuesday with an 50% chance Wednesday------Oh, and Sunday?----more rain----

Chris How are the prices at that Emirels place anyhooo? And the sweets shops---are there a lot of 'em?---Audrey would like to know--

Emirel's Prices very from $19 to 50 for entree and like my salad was $5......Most of the resturants are priced the same.......The food prices arn't what kill's your wallet it's the Drinks ! Average drink will range from $2-$10 depending on what you drink.....We cheat we hit the wally world on the way over and load a cooler with ice, bottled water, and drinks! along with snacks! As for the sweet shops there's one in city walk, three in Islands of adventure and two in Universal studios also the hotels have there in house sweets too! we treated our selves to some choclet moose on the last night!(They were awsome) Out of all the Orlando Resorts The Lowes hotels & universal is my pic's......I can drink and not have to worry about driving home/hotel and collecting a DUI!

this is where we stayed:
http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Hotels/Royal-Pacific-Resort/Overview.aspx

And this is the theme park:
http://www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/theme-park-overview.html


#1 Is the view from our room
#2 Is my son and his cousin in front of hard rock
#3 Emrils again....LOOK AT THE WALL OF BOOZE!
#4 me and the wife in the orchid room enjoying our last night sharing a Chocolet moose!

We try to go to the resort once every three years for two or three days!

 

[AndrewC]

Chris, I hear ya about drink prices. We took MIL to Gordon Ramsay @ Claridges back at Chrismas. Silly me spotted my favourite single malt in the bar, ordered it without checking the price list first and nearly died of heart failure. £95 for the shot. (That's about $160 in US) Needless to say that was my train budget for January down the hatch.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Andrew: That was rich! I laughed so hard reading that I went into a coughing fit. I've done similar things myself.

 

[vato loco]

Chris, I hear ya about drink prices. We took MIL to Gordon Ramsay @ Claridges back at Chrismas. Silly me spotted my favourite single malt in the bar, ordered it without checking the price list first and nearly died of heart failure. £95 for the shot. (That's about $160 in US) Needless to say that was my train budget for January down the hatch.

Thankfully i hadn't seen a $160 beer yet! We're fixing to go to Bushgardens in a few minutes......Free Bud or mich. my choice! We got season pass for Bushgardens and adventure Island!!!!! I'll get some pic's of this adventure too. they stay open till 11pm. Riding coasters in the dark is crazy fun! see ya's later BTW: 75% of all the attractions are at the most 2hr. drive from my house and that's cause of the dang traffic!

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Chris, I hear ya about drink prices. We took MIL to Gordon Ramsay @ Claridges back at Chrismas. Silly me spotted my favourite single malt in the bar, ordered it without checking the price list first and nearly died of heart failure. £95 for the shot. (That's about $160 in US) Needless to say that was my train budget for January down the hatch.

AAAARRRRRAAAAGGHH!!! OUCH!! That woulda hurt!!

Good Grief---and I thought $35 for ONE cup of coffee was bad-----eeerrrggh!

 

[kbkchooch]

Morning gang!
Got the truck all loaded, gotta change and get over to the Timonium fairgrounds for this weekends train show!
Ken, I hope you are ready! This will be your last weekend as a "proby" !
Jim, Dont forget after you hang the pictures, comes the 30 minute "discussion" as to if they are level or not!
Chris. Nice pictures, but did they have to have you in them Put your shirt on will ya! Looks like you had a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun at your place too!
Andrew $160.00 for what!!! Jeepers, you have expensive tastes!
Well, gotta roll, be back later tonight!

 

[AndrewC]

Karl, BoC: twas a 35 year old single malt scotch from a distillery that no longer exists. To give you an idea of the markup I managed to locate a bottle from the same vintage for less than what I paid for the single shot at the restaurant.

Chris: I envy you that you've got such a playground on your doorstep. There are a few amusement parks around London but nothing even close in size or quality. Legoland is pretty cool though. I suppose there is always Disneyland Paris, but who wants to be insulted by a snooty frenchman in a Mickey Mouse costume.

 

[Sandy]

. I suppose there is always Disneyland Paris, but who wants to be insulted by a snooty frenchman in a Mickey Mouse costume.

LOL What a picture that paints!

 

[blownoutcylinder]

LOL What a picture that paints!

YIKES!!!!---HeeHeeHee

------------------------------------------

Just got home from client visits and studio time with the new keyboard lotsa fun heeheehee

We're now at 23C with a cool NW breeze---and sunny

Got some BBQ'in' to do out back---

Catch everyone inna bit----

 

[vato loco]

Chris: I envy you that you've got such a playground on your doorstep. There are a few amusement parks around London but nothing even close in size or quality. Legoland is pretty cool though. I suppose there is always Disneyland Paris, but who wants to be insulted by a snooty frenchman in a Mickey Mouse costume.

Yes, I think of myself as blessed at times! I know it when I visit the resorts and parks and here out of towners tell each other how they wish they lived here

If you couldn't already tell I'm back from Bushgardens It rained down buckets all day we got to ride two coasters and a log ride before the rain settled in That's Florida fer ya...LOL's Man you can tell the out of towners Floridians wear swim wear/ beach wear to the theme parks that way if it rains no big deal your set up to get wet and dry fast Out of towners where there street clothes and look like soggy doggys when they get wet. Oh BTW, since that German beer Company took over Budwiser they stoped giving away free beer Them CHEAP SOB"S and they are trying to sell the theme parks fast! also rumor has is the saudi's are looking to buy the bush owned parks! Good Lord don't we own anything any more? Chinese, Germans, Saudi's, and God know who else owns this country O well I'm tired....See ya later

 

[vato loco]

Chris. Nice pictures, but did they have to have you in them Put your shirt on will ya! Looks like you had a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun at your place too!

Look as good as me you wish!

 

[kbkchooch]

I suppose there is always Disneyland Paris, but who wants to be insulted by a snooty frenchman in a Mickey Mouse costume.

ROFLMAO!!!! All that pops in my head is the character saying (In a bad french accent)
" Pussycot? A mouze of my station is no afraid of ze pussycot!"

 

[UP2CSX]

Evening everyone.

Chris, looks like you guys had a lot of fun. Your boys have that same evil look that you have. Yep, since InBev (they're Belgian, BTW) bought Anheuser-Busch, they have been slashing jobs and selling off business units. They would have already sold off the amusement parks assuming there was anyone willing to buy them. The bankruptcy of Six Flags shows how low the value of theme parks has gone. As soon as the market picks up again (assuming gas doesn't get back up to $4 a gallon), InBev will dump those parks. Their stated goal when they paid $52 billion for Anheuser-Busch in 2008 was to cut $1.5 billion in costs every year for the next five years. Free beer is not part of that business plan.

BOC, glad to hear you are getting some sun. Have you seen Gran Torino yet? If you liked Vanishing Point, you'll really like that one.

Andrew, holy cow! $160 for one drink. That'll teach you to ask how much next time. Somehow, the whole idea of Disneyland and Paris just doesn't seem to go together. I can just imagine getting slapped around by Goofy if I mispronounced a French word. I've traveled to a lot of countries and they were all happy of you tried to speak even a few words of the native language, even if you got it wrong. Not France. I learned to stick to English and then correct them if they said something wrong in English.

Karl, I have been putting off the picture hanging. Dianna downloaded the Sims so that has kept her busy. She never believes any of my three levels are correct. I've already explained to her about astigmatism and how that makes thing look crooked but I've pretty much given up on that. Half our pictures are crooked but she thinks they look straight.

Another long, hot, dry, miserable day down here. High was 103 and it's still 83 now. There were a few promising looking clouds earlier but then they went kaput, as usual. The humidy is only 50% which is really dry for this time of night. For some reason, the combinatin of the heat and dryness is realy getting the bugs riled up. I'm covered in all kinds of bites. I guess they're getting cranky too. There is an area of disturbed weather between Cuba and Honduras but the satellite presentation has become less impressive in the last six hours. It's something to keep an eye on but I doubt it will become anything. If it makes it to tropical storm status, it will curve over toward Florida because this dome of high pressue is just too strong for a weak storm to break through.

 

[AndrewC]

Good morning from a very sticky Ye Olde London Towne. We are going to get very warm here over the next few days. Nothing compared to some US temps but bloody hot for London. 28c today, and 32 by Monday with 95% humidity. (thats, 88f and 92f) I may be sleeping in the LandRover as its the only airconditioning we've got.

Chris: Corporate ownership thanks to globalization has backfired on the US and UK. At one time we all thought we'd own the world. Now the rest of the world owns us. My mobile phone company is Spanish, electric and gas is French, everything is made in China, etc etc. At least with InBev owning Bud you may actually get some real beer instead of that rice water they make. Blech!! Seriously though, the US at the moment is making some of the world's most innovative and unique beers. Sad that so many Americans are still swilling that fizzy gnat's pee. We too play 'spot the tourist'. Americans still stick out like sore thumbs. Socks with sandals??? WTF! The Spanish and Italians all seem to travel in swarms. I will say that the Brits have taken over from the US as the world's worst tourists. They are so embarassing that we both use our Canadian Passports in Europe and wear Maple Leaf pins.

Jim: When Euro-Disney opened they almost went broke due to the poor staff and customer service. My understanding is they replaced all the management with Americans and most of the staff now are from Eastern Europe. They also have an English First policy as they found something like 80% of their visitors spoke English and only 15% spoke French.

kbkchooch: Too bad Disney didn't own the rights to the Pink Panther. There would be no shortage of Inspector Clouseau mascots.

 

[vato loco]

Chris: Corporate ownership thanks to globalization has backfired on the US and UK. At one time we all thought we'd own the world. Now the rest of the world owns us. My mobile phone company is Spanish, electric and gas is French, everything is made in China, etc etc. At least with InBev owning Bud you may actually get some real beer instead of that rice water they make. Blech!! Seriously though, the US at the moment is making some of the world's most innovative and unique beers. Sad that so many Americans are still swilling that fizzy gnat's pee. We too play 'spot the tourist'. Americans still stick out like sore thumbs. Socks with sandals??? WTF! The Spanish and Italians all seem to travel in swarms. I will say that the Brits have taken over from the US as the world's worst tourists. They are so embarassing that we both use our Canadian Passports in Europe and wear Maple Leaf pins.

The old Spot the tourist Game, I would be easy to spot cause of my farmer tan! Hey now I've seen Brits here wearing sandles with socks! Now the brits do vacation hard here, they have the who cares I'm on vacation down American are uptight and stiff when it comes to their vacation....LOL's The Brits and Canadians white skin blinds me everytime they hit the beach then towrd the end of their vacation they look like bright red lobsters ready for thr butter!

Not all american beer is Gnat pee! We do have a couple of brands if you can afford them are very good! Michalob Amberbrok is my fave poor mans beer!

 

[vato loco]

Evening everyone.

Chris, looks like you guys had a lot of fun. Your boys have that same evil look that you have. Yep, since InBev (they're Belgian, BTW) bought Anheuser-Busch, they have been slashing jobs and selling off business units. They would have already sold off the amusement parks assuming there was anyone willing to buy them. The bankruptcy of Six Flags shows how low the value of theme parks has gone. As soon as the market picks up again (assuming gas doesn't get back up to $4 a gallon), InBev will dump those parks. Their stated goal when they paid $52 billion for Anheuser-Busch in 2008 was to cut $1.5 billion in costs every year for the next five years. Free beer is not part of that business plan.

NO FREE BEER! That Still makes them CHEAP SOB'S! That is the prime reason I went to BG and Sea world........FREE BEER! Get drunk and ride the coasters! I'm just hopeing Dubui Doesn't buy them car bombs might be part of the theme park fun