Katman1356...Jason

One can only hope this is the beginning of the end for this ill conceived idea.
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Report-Avatar-Land-at-Disney-s-Animal-Kingdom-delayed/-/1637132/16486820/-/6wqft3z/-/index.html

WTF

Glad my little fighter has adapted to traveling.
The house seems a little boring without the sound of his little paws running, actual galloping, from one end to the other.
While the first few days we had him were filled with doubts and sadness, once he began eating on his own, he did nothing but make us smile with his antics.
I kept hoping right up until just before I left to drop him off that maybe I would be able to keep him, but it didn't happen.
While giving him to Cindy, I was happy and grateful that I found a good home for him, but at the same time it was difficult. I
made sure I kept my sunglasses on.
I know, it's only a cat, yada, yada, yada,

Ok so when we left off we had made an unscheduled stop at Lyman Lake. It was a beautiful place but we had a date with our first National Park of the trip. So we packed up and headed out around 7 a.m. One thing I have found especially in the wide open campgrounds is that once the sun comes up, its pretty much to bright in the tent to sleep much more.
We got on the road and continued north in Arizona until we finally reached our destination. The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. This is one of the lesser known national parks but it is very striking.
Heading north


And the road just goes on and on.

At the unofficial visitors center. We were to early to get into the park by about 30 minutes.

We made it!


Last time I was here it was only an hour till we had to be out of the park. Which meant we could enter but we were going to have to drive straight through with a minimum of stopping. As a bonus though the Ranger at the entrance station saw our guitars in the back seat and said she would let us in for free if we played her a song. So my buddy grabbed his guitar and played her Smoke on the Water and we got in for free. It was great.
This time we paid. I didn't mind. For those of you that have not yet visited a national park here is some general info on them that has seemed to hold true to all I have been to so far. You pay for you entrance by the carload. The fee does vary but is usually around $20. Onc eyou have paid to get in you can come and go with your receipt for the next week. If you are staying near a park you can really take your time and visit as much as you want over that week.
If you plan on hitting multiple parks in one year you should check into their Interagency Annual Pass for $80. This lets you into most federal recreation sites across the country for a period of 12 months. If you are senior citizen of age 62 or older you can buy he $10 lifetime pass that gets you and your vehicle and passengers into the parks for the rest of your life. Also includes some discounts on camping and other things.
A link to info on the Interagency Annual Pass: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html
A link to information on the Lifetime Pass, these must be purchased in person: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/senior.html
Moving along now. We stopped at many of the spots along the way and walked some of the shorter trails to see the petrified forest up close.








In some pieces you can see the growth rings.

My first time out here it was later in the day getting on towards night time and a big storm rolled in so we missed out on seeing a major part of the park and thought that this was the Painted Desert.

As you will see later, not even close.


traveling to another portion of the park.


Sadly when the area was first discovered and ongoing even today, people take the pieces of petrified wood home reducing what is left for us to see. This is not as common now as they have put security cameras in place at the walking areas to monitor for that. And if you see someone taking something you are encouraged to inform a Ranger. Unlike the Fort's Ranger these guys are very knowledgable and helpful.

Almost all of the lumps you see are pieces of trees that fell probably due to flooding millenia ago and the water covering them slowly leached out the material of the wood replacing it with crystals until perfectly preserved pieces of fosiilized wood.




Probably getting close so I will continue in next post.

Yeah, I figured that we will see a lot of feathers, sequins and skin.
But, that's going to get old fast.
BTW- I have been thinking about starting a travel company to send gangs of US teens there to chant and block lines. Anyone want to get in on the ground floor with me?
TCD

If you'd like Jason, I can leave my tent setup wit Ed and Mama in December and you can get it from them at the Fort and then leave it with Judy or Lorna and I can get it back in Feb. Tent, awning, air mattress linens with electric mattress pad and electric blanket and a chair.

i love holding a book but i can't carry 10 boxes of books in the RV....

I think a have a solution where I can maintain my street cred.
How about I'll be mean to everyone except when it comes to animals.
Uhh, maybe will have to add kids to the list, and maybe families with challenges, and maybe people in the military, but that's absolutely it. I'll be mean to everyone else.

Yes, what Mo said.
After I win the lottery and move to the Fort, I am going to offer my services as a dog sitter. Just give me the keys to your camper, and let me know when to check on your pet, and I'll do it.
No charge either. But, I will reserve the right to help myself to your beer cooler and perhaps your crock pot and fridge.
TCD

Yes
Depends on who you ask
see above
Are you trying to get this moved to the Debate Board? :clint:
Honestly, I think it depends on each individuals likes. Beers can different flavor profiles in different seasons and as they age.
Example, domestic mass produced beer is best right after being bottled. It is pasterized, and has a shorter shelf life than home brews.
Home brews, generally get better the longer they age,dependent if they were bottled correctly.
We bought a case of Sam Adams Octoberfest a couple of years ago right when it hit the market for the season. We tried a couple once they chilled down and was diappointed. However, after about a month, the flavor profile had improved on the same beer. The same with beer that isn't stored correctly, and "skunked".
When I married Tony, I only enjoyed Miller Lite. I've developed a better understanding of the beer and enjoy almost all now. I think it is like someone starting on sweet white whine and developing into reds.

I'm sorry I didn't see this comment earlier. I gave up on the bus and took the monorail.

Buses arrive about every 20 minutes, so shut up and wait like a good little boy should.

Personally I find every excuse I can to ride the monorail.

Geat CC day! Congrats on all you accomplished this day.
Since you asked earlier, the last time we did a Disney Cruise was November 2006. It was my first cruise. We spent CC day on Serenity Bay. It was a very nice way to spend the day. True we didn't have Dance parties or crab races but we did have cabana boys bringing us drinks.
I just told Mike that I NEED to go on another Disney cruise. He didn't say no. Should I just go ahead and book it? He may have been doing this when I asked. :sleep: :rotfl6:

I dont understand why it would matter to the father weather his kid went to disney by Make a Wish, or not. So why would he deny it? Would it cut into his visitation? Couldn't they work out something where he could see her more before they went or after they came back? Why cant she go meet the princesses and Mickey like all 4 year olds want to. I dont think its unreasonable that she should go to disney.
Now on the other hand, She is still young, Maybe hes thinking she wouldnt remember it since shes only 4? Maybe hes waiting till she is 6? Maybe hes just being a big stupid head (censoring myself) that doesnt care and wants to spite the mother? Maybe he blames the mother for what happened to the child?
In any reason, there still is no reason I can find that would make him Deny the trip to disney for the child, and I hope she gets to go and I Hope she has a good time reguardless if the father wants her to or not.
.....Just my opinion..... -Goes back to lurking-

I'd like to ghost hunting in the castles of England and throughout Europe. Dracula's Castle!
Actually I'd love to just travel the country doing ghost hunting.
Gettysburg
Salem, MA.
Alaska
Hawaii
The Keys.

Now for another one calling for Guiness. This one is for Guiness Extra Stout Floats

Ingredients:
2 scoops coffee ice cream
approx. 3/4 cup Guinness
Garnish: dark chocolate syrup (and dark chocolate shavings)

Method:
In a frosty mug, line sides with dark chocolate syrup then add 2 scoops coffee ice cream and fill with Guinness. Garnish with additional chocolate syrup and dark chocolate shavings (optional).
Add a spoon and fun straw. Serve immediately.

http://thefreshfridge.com/2011/08/guinness-extra-stout-floats/

Your quite welcome Rita. I figured with this gang these might be a hit during these hot summer months.

Switching it up a little bit how about Bourbon Cream Root Beer Floats


Bourbon Cream Root Beer Floats



YIELD: 2 servings



TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

ingredients:



2 large scoops vanilla ice cream
1 12-ounce bottle root beer
1/4 cup (2 ounces) bourbon cream liquor

directions:



Place ice cream in two chilled cups or sundae glasses. Pour half of root beer over ice cream, followed by bourbon cream. Serve immediately.
http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2012/06/bourbon-cream-root-beer-floats.html

In perusing the web today I found some recipes that involved the idea of the float we all loved as kids and the alchohol we all love now. :-) I figured I would share them here. Remember these are not for kids (unless they won't go to sleep, hehehe.)
This one is from http://www.bakersroy...ee-beer-floats/

Boozy Biscoff Beer Floats
Ingredients:
1 half gallon Dreyer’s Slow Churned ice cream
3/4 cup Biscoff spread
22 oz. chocolate Porter beer

Instructions:
Soften ice cream and fold in Biscoff spread until combined. Place ice cream mixture back in freezer until hard.
Scoop ice cream into glasses and pour desired amount of chocolate Porter beer over ice cream.

ETA I have included the links to where I found these recipes as a way of crediting the inviduals responsible for these. If I need to make any edits to these postings I assume someone with more practice at it than me will let me know.

In perusing the web today I found some recipes that involved the idea of the float we all loved as kids and the alchohol we all love now. :-) I figured I would share them here. Remember these are not for kids (unless they won't go to sleep, hehehe.)
This one is from http://www.bakersroy...ee-beer-floats/

Boozy Biscoff Beer Floats
Ingredients:
1 half gallon Dreyer’s Slow Churned ice cream
3/4 cup Biscoff spread
22 oz. chocolate Porter beer

Instructions:
Soften ice cream and fold in Biscoff spread until combined. Place ice cream mixture back in freezer until hard.
Scoop ice cream into glasses and pour desired amount of chocolate Porter beer over ice cream.

ETA I have included the links to where I found these recipes as a way of crediting the inviduals responsible for these. If I need to make any edits to these postings I assume someone with more practice at it than me will let me know.

Great pics!!! (But ya gotta fix that text!!!!)

Where am I? I have this thing, which I realize most of you can't relate to, called a job.
Anyway, I will be doing the Tri-fecta, COP, IASW, and the EWP, all in one night with a Fiend, but that Fiend paid big bucks to FHF to watch me being tortured.
And in case you think I secretly like those attractions, no, I do not.
They're all way over do for either an extreme make over or the demolition ball.
To spend a couple of hours with me, but it's ok, Mike was there.

I call new members, victims, targets of harassment, fresh meat.