Travisma

www.blackstoneproducts.com
 
 
 

 
Made the mistake of going inside my local Lowes 2 nights ago while my wife was looking at plants outside.
 
I stumbled across this patio oven mixed in with the grills, and lo and behold it had one of the bright yellow markdown stickers on it.
 
It was still a hefty $174, but it was marked down from $299.  We went home and did some research.  These ovens will cook a fresh pizza in 3 to 5 minutes.  You can also cook meat, veggies, and baked goods in it.
 
The price range on them is anywhere from $350 to $450.  Every review we found on them was glowing ( we did find 1 so-so one).  People on 2 or 3 different pizza forums rave about them. They compare them to ones that cost over well $1000.
 
Kelly I think these people are more dedicated than Green Eggers
 
So the next day I called the store, found out that 3 weeks ago they were selling for $350 at the same store, last week they sold 2 boxed ones for $299, and marked down this one Monday morning.
 
I talked them into holding it for me until I got off work, so now I'm a proud owner of this patio oven.
 
So today I'm checking out sites for hints and tricks and I found a blog from March about how Lowes dropped these from their stock and were being cleared out.
 
One user found one for $139 and when he checked out it was $70.  Another said he checked some Lowes in NH and found one for $87.
 
So if you want a new toy and can find one at a Lowes you can probably get a good deal on a great cooker.
 
 
 

Give yourself some extra time for the drive to see Winter.
 
Traffic in the Tampa Bay area came be really frustrating at times.
 
LEGOLAND can be done in 1 day if you are rushing or depending on your sons age and what rides are appropriate and how much time you spend walking around the miniature cities.
 
They have added the waterpark so that takes up some time, and the LEGOLAND hotel opens next month.

For the adventuresome people that have the time to take a day trip and not go to Disney, here's a suggestion.
 
http://www.lowryparkzoo.org/lantern/
 
Now until May 31, Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is hosting Zoominations, a Chinese Lantern Festival nightly from 6-10 or 6-11.
 
It's an extra charge for the festival.  You can purchase just a ticket for the festival, or a combo zoo/festival ticket.
 
The festival tickets are $25, but if you look on Groupon or Living Social you can get them at 1/2 price.
 
Our family went Friday night and had a great time.  We used to be zoo members, and went yearly to the Halloween and Christmas festivals, but this blew both of them away.
 
The Zoo is only about a mile or 2 off of I-275 so once you are done fighting the I-4/275 traffic it's not hard to get to.
 
 
 
Also, maybe we could get this topic set up as a permanent thread?
 
Lists of places to go and things to do that aren't Disney related.
 
There are tons of concerts coming to Tampa during the rest of the year, and Orlando also.
 
Garth Brooks is coming to Tampa (Ticketmaster sales start 4/10) and Orlando got the Stones.
 
Lots of great parks and recreation areas nearby.
 
Festivals are coming too.  Blueberry Festival I think is this coming weekend or the following one.
 
 
I know the main reason people visit the Fort is the Mouse, but sometimes just getting away for the day is a pleasant diversion.

I'm guessing that if you're in a big enough accident to affect your propane, it's not going to matter much if it was on or off.

We now have an Info page dedicated to listing RV Repair and Service companies personally recommended by Fort Fiends.
 
http://www.fortfiends.net/_/info/rv-repairs-and-service-r396
 
Please note this is NOT an advertising page and no one listed here is endorsed by FortFiends.net or is a site sponsor at this time. The page is setup solely to share those companies that regular posters here have personally used and recommend.
 
If anyone has other companies they have used and would recommend that are not listed, please feel free to post here and I'll update the Info page.
 
If any companies would like to advertise here on FortFiends please see this thread for more information...
http://www.fortfiends.net/_/misc/advertising-on-fort-fiendsnet-r244

When you need the lighting the most (in the dark) the skylight wont help.
 
For the cost (who knows what they will try to charge you) you could buy a lot of LED lighting.  They have those flexible strips that you can put under counters, cabinets, etc. that would probably do just as good since a skylight is usually a diffused type of light.

I thought the dates were between April 1st and Pranksgiving!

Just spoke with the VP at Jayco... they will warranty the skylight, so that's good news :)

I thought the dates were between April 1st and Pranksgiving!

What, not files for 3-D printing!!
 
Geez, how 18th century!
 
How's that for Snarky

Can't we get the conversation back to something much more important, like how Elsa is so much better than Anna? Or how Anna kidnapped Olaf from Elsa? Or how great it would be to turn Spaceship Earth into a giant Olaf, with the geodesic sphere serving as Olaf's lower third? That would be bad ass. It could be animated and Olaf would welcome you to Epcot! They could speed up those cars in Spaceship Earth and turn it into a big sleigh ride!

But time and again it has been shown the highest paid CEO's typically under perform and are not the best person for the job.

Here is a link where to purchase a Sunpass.
 
https://www.sunpass.com/salesLocations  This one is govt locations including some rest area vending machines (only the $5 credit card type).  The rest area between Tampa and Orlando on I-4 has them.
 
It also has this
 
Purchasing a SunPass Mini transponder or Portable transponder is easy because they are available at nearly 2,000 retail locations throughout the state. Retailers include Publix Super Markets, CVS Pharmacy stores, Walgreens and AAA South offices in Florida. They can also be purchased at Navarro Pharmacies and Sedano's Supermarkets in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Transponders are available at all Turnpike service plazas, Turnpike gas stations and SunPass Service Centers.   
 
You can also purchase them on line.

Even of you plan on eating most of your meals out, there's still going to be the need for snacks and drinks, especially in the summer months. You can go broke buying Disney drinks. If you need to purchase ice, either go off site it or get it from the meadow trading post. The ice machines at the bathrooms are not that hard of ice and it melts quickly.

Nail stakes work, the plastic ones don't work too great, the sand is pretty hard packed.
If you're not used to heat and humidity, then a fan is a must.
Are you cooking at the site? Freeze crockpot type of meals ahead of time, then use a crockpot liner. Easy and quick clean up.
Good ice chest is a must.
Check out the evening wagon rides. ( not the carriage). Wagon rides are one of the best values at the fort.
Fishing, bike rides, walks, canoe rides are all fun.
They have poolside activities every afternoon.
Use the boat rides to Contemporary or the MK to relax and cool off.

Oh, I don't know about that.  Jar Jar is quite marketable, and quite tasty.
 

My sources tell me that Disney has cut its ties with Ellen, and will be replacing all signs of her in the ride with Elsa.  Changing the name of the ride will be easy, as they only need to adjust a few letters.  They are adding some narrative to the last scene about how global warming from fossil fuels is melting Arendelle's glaciers and causing massive flooding along the fjords.  Riders will now also get wet, as they pass underneath a giant melting Olaf.  

Maybe he's going to use them for centerpieces at his daughters fairy tale wedding!

Hey give the guy a break!
He's just trying to pay for his breakfast at BOG!

WHAT! No more cinnamon rolls?  When did that happen.
 
Next thing you know they will shut down 20000 Leagues Under the Sea!

BINGO!!
 
I feel the same way.  I grew up with the space program also (didn't become an engineer), and was excited to watch the launches on TV.  They even rolled TVs into classrooms so you could watch the liftoffs.
 
It was a simpler time back then.  The Macy's Thanksgiving parade was a Holiday tradition and the real start of the Christmas Season.  Santa arrived all over town that weekend, not back the day after Halloween!
 
Most kids tried to do good in school, some did better than others.
 
Somehow over the years things have changed.
 
Starting years ago kids thought they were going to be sports stars making a ton of $$.
 
Some still think that way, but now it's been supplemented by the American Idol mentality and all of the other reality shows. Hey, I can be a bachelor or a bachelorette, or not work and run around the globe or go to an island!
 
Cripes if Honey Boo Boo can get on TV anyone can.
 
The education system has been dumbed down so everyone passes and feels good about themselves.
 
If you excel you get little recognition, but if you do a crummy job you get the praise that you tried and can be a winner!
 
I'm hoping my granddaughter tries for the STEM program in 2 years, but at this point it can go either way.
 
We've been taking her to different engineering/educational events this spring.  While she's there she really enjoys them, but a couple of weeks later she's more interested in watching the crappy Disney TV shows with the "smart" bratty kids and the dumb parents that are seldom seen.
 
We struggled trying to keep our kids interested in furthering them selves (they are doing pretty good) and now we are doing the same with the grandkids.

Each generation had the music that their parents couldn't understand, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, The Beatles, Prince, etc.
 
I'm sure the caveman thought his son was crazy when he started drumming on a hollow log instead of banging 2 rocks together.
 
But music hasn't been our countries downfall, it's greed pure and simple.
 
I'm all for someone working hard, making a buck and getting ahead.
 
But we lost that in the late 70's early 80's when corporate heads started making hundreds, then thousands times as much as their lowest paid employee, and still wanted more
 
Up thru the 60's and into the early 70's a boss made about 10 times as much as his lowest paid employee, and those low employees made a living wage where they could purchase a house and raise a family.
 
But they all (well most) got greedy and started screwing over the little guy just to make an extra $$.
 
It just keeps getting worse every year.
 
How is someone worth a salary of $50 to 100 million dollars a year? 
 
But enough ranting, must go to my happy place now....

From Facebook on the Blue Angel's page:

BINGO!!
 
I feel the same way.  I grew up with the space program also (didn't become an engineer), and was excited to watch the launches on TV.  They even rolled TVs into classrooms so you could watch the liftoffs.
 
It was a simpler time back then.  The Macy's Thanksgiving parade was a Holiday tradition and the real start of the Christmas Season.  Santa arrived all over town that weekend, not back the day after Halloween!
 
Most kids tried to do good in school, some did better than others.
 
Somehow over the years things have changed.
 
Starting years ago kids thought they were going to be sports stars making a ton of $$.
 
Some still think that way, but now it's been supplemented by the American Idol mentality and all of the other reality shows. Hey, I can be a bachelor or a bachelorette, or not work and run around the globe or go to an island!
 
Cripes if Honey Boo Boo can get on TV anyone can.
 
The education system has been dumbed down so everyone passes and feels good about themselves.
 
If you excel you get little recognition, but if you do a crummy job you get the praise that you tried and can be a winner!
 
I'm hoping my granddaughter tries for the STEM program in 2 years, but at this point it can go either way.
 
We've been taking her to different engineering/educational events this spring.  While she's there she really enjoys them, but a couple of weeks later she's more interested in watching the crappy Disney TV shows with the "smart" bratty kids and the dumb parents that are seldom seen.
 
We struggled trying to keep our kids interested in furthering them selves (they are doing pretty good) and now we are doing the same with the grandkids.

Ohhh, opening a can o worms.
 
If someone says how great a loop or site is, they run the risk of everyone else trying to get it!
 
I was told a while back to never say how great a site is just for this reason.
 
So here goes.... I absolutely love the 2000 loop.
 
I love all the noise, commotion, unruly kids, 12 structures to a site, chairs in the middle of the road, getting the stink eye every time you try to go past the overflowing sites, the golf carts whizzing by blaring music and 10 kids piled on.
 
I could just go on and on about how much I love it!