TheRapidsNerd

AtlCoasterNut you might want to check into the Manta Track Spotting Contest if it's still going. Your luck may get even better.

Looks like a fun time. Fried Coke you say? I'm Googling that later. Is that ever a new one!

^It's a good bet Ozzy, Manson and Danzig would be fighting over the loot at the garage sale. Ozzy - "Shaaaaarrrrroooonnnn! Manson hit me!" Danzig - "Does this come with f*&$ elvin blood?" Manson - "Anybody wanna hear Disposable Teens? Anyone?"

You know, this almost strikes me as Sea World's version of Crystal Wings, give or take some themeing. A lot of people enjoyed that one on the recent China trip. Maybe that same magic will carry over to Manta. Beit Vekoma or B&M, Flyers are just cool coasters.

Some kind words you guys. Thank you very much! And RIP, whenever we meet up, that's 3 beers I owe you now, not one (and I'm a man of my word) Ooops, US Airways. Hannibal just let's me drive the van and checks me out of Bellvue once in a while. It's a living. Thanks for the kind words everybody. They've made my day.

It's a real shame about this park. I really do hope someone buys it and turns it around. I like how different it is, regardless of it's short comings. Wish I would've gotten up there this summer. Still got a crazy gut feeling it'll recover and add a rapids or water park. Dunno why. Just a feeling.

I know the creative powers are trying to make the series more relevant and appeal to the current generation, but I'm not impressed. This new bond strays from some of the fun and humor that helped make the series. Not everything works with the gritty realism treatment. Call me crazy, but movies used to be escapism entertainment that took you away from your problems for a couple hours, not remind you of them. Plus this new fellow falls in with Timothy Dalton, in that he just doesn't feel like James Bond. To be fair, it doesn't help that I grew up on Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan. Of course, Connery is indelled to many as the true James Bond, and he's a tough act to follow. Anyway, this one doesn't suck, but I just can't get into it the way I could more of the earlier films.

^ I think beardedbil meant basically what you said even if he may have mis-spoke.

Getting close to time. Any word on what postcards have come in and if Sammi's class has won?

Never even heard of this park, so you taught me something new tonight. And you even got part of the rapids in the 2nd pic. Yep, this ones a winner. Hey, it's cool, rapids or not. Neat looking park.

One more thing... From one train (and Epcot Center) enthusiast to another, lotsa goodies for mcjaco.

Just a bit more of my odyssey... And finally, Frescetta pizza (which you could smell all the way down the hall) and Powerade. Yes, the real breakfast of champoins, and a great place to wind up this TR. Thank you all for reading and hope you enjoyed. On-ride pic of Moving Sidewalk: The Experience. There are a lot of these in Charlotte. There was even a non-moving version for the health concious. They think of everything! Neat mobile in one of the terminals. Cool to get a little of Old Glory and the planes lined up in the background. Not the best pic, but I like it. Plane butts. Hey, it's what came to mind when I took the pic and you snickered a little. Admit it. Rolling into Charlotte Airport. Was through here a couple years ago on the way to Jacksonville for another business trip. In general, I like this airport. Dunno why. Just do. After a 9 am take off, we arrive in Charlotte. Hello Natatomic, CarolinaCaniac, and the other TPR folks here. Thought of you all on the way in.

Yet more comedy.... Back to happier things. A pleasent sunrise. I watched coaster PoVs on my Blackberry to kill time. Also updated my blog during the wait. The Delta Doggy Biscuit as I loke to call it. At least they were free and not an upcharge. Yes, I'm looking at you Southwest with your $2 cans of coke and charging for all checked baggage. But I'm not bitter... Yep, it's a rockin' time at 6am. Alright, this caption is just a fail. Lol! Reflection shot for Lou, or "how to amuse yourself during a 3 hour wait for a plane". This would be my power breakfast. Why? Well, McDonald's was outside the security area, so you'd have to get screened all over again if you went to eat. That and the gift shop computers crashed when I bought the gifts and Intercourse magnets. No Intercourse for this nerd. Booo! Sorry folks. Socks + Intercourse, just doesn't crank my tracker, you know? Intercourse: the teddy bear! Intercourse: the t-shirt! Now we come to this gem. They are seriously proud of Intercourse in PA. Who knew? I liked the garland with mini Mr. Goodbars and Krackles. Almost bought it, but opted for the Hershey lanyard instead. Picked up an ornament for the parents and the big Hershey bars for some really nice ladies in HR where I work. Neat Christmas ornaments too. See? Smores! Brilliant! Oh man...now I'm all hungry... After the joys of security screening we stopped in the gift shop, which is an official Hershey outlet. Apparently they love their scented candles. After a 3:30 am get up to catch an early flight, this is a shot of the hour-fast clock. No, it really looked like blurry. I so needed coffee. Seems the writing is truly on the wall. Wadda mess! Budget cuts have run pretty deep in the hotel industry. Tile has been removed for more eco-friendly floor covering. Sadly, this isn't even the "good" paper. Backside of ice machine for the refridgerent enthusiasts. This reminds me of a few college buddies on weekends. To' up from the flo' up. The aquatrax joke is played out. I call...roller skater addition for this hallway. In the midst of all this, the toilet in my room broke and there was a blind person's convention at the hotel. I couldn't make up better if I tried. You'd think they were putting in a roller coaster or dark ride or something. I marveled at the detailed construction themeing. It actually felt like I was in a work zone.

Yep, more PA randomness... 6 tries and 2 different rooms later, I finally got to relax and explore the hotel. Apparently, all the dust hosed the card readers on the doors. The front desk thought I was an idiot who couldn't get in his room until they tried. I was so slap-happy tired, I was laughing, and just didn't have the energy to get upset. Ok, my turn for bad luck. It seems Best Western to is trying a totally new concept in rennovating around it's guests. For a second, I thought somebody was getting lucky in hotel room I wasn't even in yet. YEs friends, masking tape is the new tie or sock on the door. You heard it here first folks. Fast forward a couple REALLY busy work days and back to Harrisburg Thursday night, and we're at Gilligan's. My coworker's feast is the seafood combo, and made my lackluster lasagna a b**** and call it daddy. Yep, popular with the Moose Lodge and VFW crowd. Still some very good food. Later in the week, we ate at this popular mom and pop place. Good raspberry sweet tea. That's a rarity in that the best sweet tea is south of the Mason Dixon. The northern attempts just don't quite cut it. This, however was pleasent exception. Who cares about politically correct hot tubs when there's FREE Papa John's Wings, Pizza, and Beer on Tuesday nights, thanks to the awesome hotel managers. I did commit a party foul though. When they set the wings out, I thought the packets had just a few wings and you took a packet. It turned out, the tongs were hiding and you were supposed to take just a couple, not the whole packet. Ooops! Felt kinda bad for being a pig. Oh well, the wings were tasty nonetheless. And you thought I was kidding. These were in 4 different places around the hot tub. Here's yer sign... Where the magic happens. That or where people have busted their skulls diving in. The pool and hot tub looked good. Too bad I forgot the swim trunks. Never got to the weight room for a workout either.

Last week work sent me on a shoot to Pennsylvania, a place I hadn't been to in several years. Was very close to Hershey and Carowinds during the trip but couldn't visit either due to off-season, and lack of time. As everybody knows, travel is it's own adventure, so here's mine in pictures. Hope you enjoy! One of the guys we were filming was named Buck. His buddies decided the star needed his own trailer and promptly modified the porta-jon outside. To say they gave him crap is an understatement. Next part in a few... We looked all over for some kind of bar. Found this place and they promptly lost my coworker's debit card during the 8 foot walk to the register. We heard later at the local Ponderosa, there are known sketchy circumstances with this place. Yes, my bro was upset and promptly played phone tag with his bank to cancel the card. Poor guy had just a credit card to run off the rest of the trip. Had to get a picture of this. Too good to pass up. Speaks for itself, no? The fountain downtown. We found stuff pretty spread out and not a whole lot to do. You know it's bad when the college girls at the Target camera counter tell you there's jack to do. My coworker and I got out Monday afternoon for a little exploring...aka let's get lost for the hell of it. Nice little kitchette. I liked how it was set up, particularly the under-counter fridge. My digs at the Holiday Inn Express. We ended up with a suite you could put a bowling lane in. Nice for $70 a night! Some pretty colors in the changing leaves on our way to Chambersburg. Beautiful scenery. Notice the fine concrete detail. Oh yeah, there's some river tere too. But never mind that, just look at that concrete! One candy apple red Hilander later, and we're headed for the PA Turnpike...and in the WRONG direction. Hershey is the OTHER way. I was aiming for that cone. Seriously. Just off the plane in Harrisburg, PA. Hello to all the TPR peeps in the area. DerekRX, Nicolah, Ccron, and the other folks I can't remember. Wish I could've said I hi or gotten together with you all. From one donut enthusiast to another. Thinking of you, Rich at the Cincinnati Airport. Our ride looked a little like a Learjet, ala Big Mike style. Unlike, Big Mike style, it flew like a sardine can with free drinks and snacks. Delta keeps some cool points for that, though they started charging for ALL checked baggage during the trip. Early morning and sunny at Huntsville International Airport.

Ahh, soo many roads to take with that statement...we'll take the nice road this time. It's a safe bet that those who've met you in person and the rest of us who read the TRs and enjoy the pics, already feel blessed. Ok, so when's the next game?

Why do I get this sudden urge to watch Saturday Supercade, go to Showbiz Pizza, dig out the lawn darts, hunt for an NES R.O.B, buy a Valtera Splatter skateboard with big 2-tone wheels off ebay, tie a bandana around my leg, and pick the carpet fuzz off the oily Wacky Wall Walker. Now where those Whizzer tops and Duncan yoyos? Maybe they're next to the Garbage Pale cards. Weird... LOL! And I just downloaded more Hair Metal from iTunes today!

Ahh line jumping. Some many rants, so little time. All I know anymore is that don't allow much space between you and whatever fence or person you're waiting near. Some little kid or person will just walk right in...even if it's a few inches. Either that, or people will stand beside you hoping you're not paying attention, then shift forward and play innocent. If you're particular about your pesonal space like I am, it's irritating. I've asked people to back off if they're staniding right up behind me, let alone pushing against me. Sometimes, just to avoid a conflict, it was just easier to let the jerk go ahead. Let someone else call him or her out and fight over it. I'll still get my turn on the ride, so I'm not losing anything. Still and all, people shouldn't act that way and really ought to be more respectful of others. Oh well. Not the world we live in anymore.

(spits out drink and picks jaw up off floor)

^ LMAO! Ok, you win! Good one and I still plan on visiting Australia one day. Animals aside, it looks like a great place!

I'd worry about Velociraptors. They did in Muldoon after all.

This...was a time of merriment. There was candy, humor, and community spirit unlike anything seen before...except maybe last year. Truly, a mon-u-ment-al time that will live through out the ages as legend. This...is Howard Cosell. I don't know whats more inspiring. All the community work you folks do, or the sheer truckload of energy to do it. Well done sir.

Hey, in a bizarro way, it works...kinda like this fun contest.

6/10. Think I lost a few nerd points somewhere. Lol!

Well, now we know where the Soul Glo people sat...on Nitro. Medusa in blue eh? Ladies and Gentlemen, start your speculating!