bert425

Coming up!!! hehe. .thanks. (and I'm one to talk. .haven't even STARTED our Cruise report and been home over a week now!).

did you get in? (some of us do follow you, you know )

and it inspired someone else already! http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/inspired-ty-herndon-country-music-singer-billy-gilman-also-comes-out201114

well. there was some fairly big news today: http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/20/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/ty-herndon-gay/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

on the beach in Aruba

Agreed! if you're participating, please post SOMETHING about yourself? not all of us know everyone, and this thread is a great place to give some ideas!

we just got back from a trip, so just popping in to note I'm participating again, and will update this weekend with more info for folks Thanks Brandy! (and Robb & Elissa) Editing with some info to help my Santa-bee!: T-shirt size 2XL is best, but XL works too. . . until I forget and put it in the dryer (hehe). I, of course, love RollerCoasters and Theme-Parks. . so anything related to those is always a slam dunk. Big fan of Horror Films, and Monster movies (Godzilla rocks!). Big music fan, particularly of Hard Rock/Metal (favorite Bands: KISS, GWAR, W.A.S.P., Alice Cooper . .so yeah, love theatrical stuff) and mid-late 80's industrial bands (Ministry, Front242, Frontline Assebmly, Pankow, etc). I have over 100 KISS T-shirts alone, and most of the merchandise (bought at shows. . but would never say "no" to additional Guitar pics, or magazines featuring them ) Also, like Brandy, a TV fanatic in general (cutting and pasting her list, since I follow most of the same shows): Shows I watch: Doctor Who, Once Upon a Time, Resurrection, Gotham, Sleepy Hollow, Agents of Shield, Constantine, Game of Thrones, Sherlock, Gracepoint, Walking Dead, the Returned, Big Bang Theory, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, the Americans. . .. and I'm a sucker for books ABOUT TV (making of certain shows). I love to read as well, and tho I have my kindle loaded up, I do not have any of the Walking Dead "prose" novels (hint hint?).. . I think there are 3 out in paperback. as it applies to a gift for ME only: although the "directions" state "new". .I'm one of those that absolutely has no issue whatsoever with getting someone else's previously loved item as a gift. So, I'd squeal with glee to get some books, Trade Paperbacks, CD's etc. . ."Goodwill" or "Half-Price Books" sticker on em.. doesn't bother me at all. .and hey, more gifts and keeping under budget. Hope this helps! Last year my Santa-bee sent me a horror film, and a T-shirt from the Italian "Horror-band" Goblin -- and I LOVED them.

I think it has to do with Age too. although there are anomalies in the answer(for both parks -- I see a 45 year old picking CP, and a 20 year old picking Disney)), It seems to me the younger (20's) prefer the thrills, while the older (35+) prefer the themeing.

Disney. no question, I've never been to Cedar Point (always wanted to go and will get there one day). But if I was offered there OR Disney? I'd pick Disney. the place is just completely, immersive, magic. there's no other way to put it.

we're planning on drinking. . a LOT. I mean. .. it's super port intensive, and it's places we've always wanted to go. and we're in suites. so there's that. but there's just no way around the fact we're gonna be on a ship full of really old, mostly white, Republicans, during Election Day. (I would have said old-skool racist in there too. . but don't want to generalize it. . .tho I'm sure I'm right. My 75 year old Mother insists that she is not racist and she doesn't hate Obama because of his skin color. . . but then yesterday told me (with not a drop of irony, or awareness) that they weren't notifying the Guard of their gated Community that they were leaving, because "I don't trust him. . he's (whisper) black). edit: HAL has informed us the Cruise is SOLD OUT (I guess they easily filled the spots vacated by the people afraid of EBOLA (and yeah. .there were a ton of em on a cruising site I joined to follow the Holland America boards). . . besides talk of EBOLA was a gigantic concern about folks not dressing up on Formal Nights, and exactly which cheeses are on the "Cheese plate". seriously. . .like 5 threads just on that!

We leave for our Cruise of the Living Dead in two days! (yep .. . we're going on Holland America with my Parents and Brother/SiL) It's a very port intensive itinerary, but I've loaded up the kindle for Sea days, as it looks like there's really NOTHING to do (other than Trivia, Bingo, or Casino) on those days. whee! but at least we're all in suites, so i'm looking forward to it.

MUCH better. and although he was a Deus Ex Machina type character, at least the supernatural guy fit with the idea of a horror trope, and was a good fit for the near-Halloween episodes. NOW, if they can just keep the momentum up, and focus on this new direction/storyline, this could get very interesting, and end the season strong (they have, what 7 episodes left?).

what in the world is the context of the Giant Gold Penis & Vagina Bell, as well as the Boobs and Butts on the wall? is the restaurant known for aphrodisiac food or something?

ok, having now seen episode 3? yeah. . the show's not working. Too many ideas, that just are not jelling (or just falling completely flat). there's some sparks there in a couple of storylines (the body sellers is a good idea -- tho the humongous (? at least implied humongous) penis is there for NO STORYTELLING reason at all I can think of other than giggles). . and they did a great job investing me in Ethyl's storyline (with her son. . tho not so much Dell). but just too much is NOT working (the clown/killer storyline is a joke with the spoiled rich kid, Dell being impotent has left Angela Bassett nothing to do, the Cops were complicit in the murder of the Geek yet no retaliation from the Freakshow (to the point of LobsterBoy letting himself get bullied by a cop). . . .nevermind the twins who despite Sarah Paulson's best efforts, just aren't that interesting (or believable). I'll give it a few more episodes, as the Cinematography is fantastic, and most of the actors are knocking it out of the park (in particular Kathy Bates, and Jessica Lange). but yeah. . it needs a central storyline, and quickly, if it wants to retain my interest.

two episodes (out of 10? or is it 13?). the story should grab us. . instead it's meandering all over the place, and is showing terrible plot holes / lapses in logic and I say this having not seen tonight's episode yet. example? Greta wants the twins to save the show?. . so why then one episode later, try to have one maim (kill?) the TALENTED one who can bring in the customers? Makes no sense at all. There has to be internal logic in the show.

I"m HATING the current season. just a bunch of vignette's stuck together, with the only real "horror" element (the serial killer clown) reduced to comic relief by episode 2. Huge waste of some fantastic talent (seriously, Kathy Bates is KILLING it.. but the show thus far is not up to snuff)

Personally, I think "Achtung Baby" is a much stronger album. the 1st three songs on "Joshua Tree" got so overplayed, if I do listen to the album, I always skip em. Not true of AB

I've never really been "in". . so yeah. . I'm just me as to how my partner deals with my love of theme parks and coasters? he loves em too. . but he can't do too many coasters these days, so he spends some time on "bench: the ride" while I go on things he no longer can tolerate -- as he did in our recent Pennsylvania trip! Places like Disney tho? he'll go on everything with me.

Wildcat = car with square wheels going down a dirt road full of pot-holes. ride it LAST, or you will regret it. you can tell how rough it is, even from the parks OWN POV: [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

I'm enjoying your trip report this far. keep it up!

I enjoyed Dorney on our trip thru Penn. . tho yes, it was by far the least "charming" of the parks we visited (Kennywood, Knoebel's, HersheyPark, Dorney). and not much shade. but I really did enjoy a LOT of the flats there, and thought it was worth the trip to visit

Literally MOMENTS after I sent an IM to Elissa noting how nice it is that I hadn't seen this brought up in the TPR Crusing thread. LOL (and this morning, she tested NEGATIVE (of course), making all those who insanely overreacted look like fools).

OK! Pics below. . but what a great "Bag O' Crap". . honestly, Robb & Elissa, I cannot thank you enough! in my bag was: TPR small backpack (blue) TPR small magnet TPR oval large magnet "the Voyage begins 5/19/14" small magnet Steel Venom (Geauga Lake) magnet (GORGEOUS!) Busch Gardens Howl-o-scream "Cursed" earbuds Indiana Beach Hoosier Hurricane 20th anniversary tumbler 2 Disney Nature "Chimpanzee" movie pins TPR pen 2 Club TPR 2013 Christmas ornaments NigloLand Alpina Blitz baseball cap! Aquatica Breakaway Falls HUGE towel West Coast Bash 2012 T-shirt Mystery DVD (gotta pop it in to see what it is!) and finally, a TON of park maps/brochures (none of which I've been to!): Silverwood King's Island Legoland Florida Cedar Point Six Flags over Georgia Holiday World Waldameer Six Flags Great America Six Flags New England Lake Compounce Joyland Chimelong Paradise Ocean Park Happy Valley Happy Valley 2 Happy Valley 3 Happy Valley (English!) Hong Kong Disneyland Victory Kingdom Tokyo Disneyland Tokyo DisneySea CanevaWorld Movieland Park Thanks SO much . . made my Month!

Yay.. came home to find a Bag'o (box'o?) Crap on the front porch! thanks Robb & Elissa! I haven't gotten to open it just yet (still logged into work). .but will post pics as soon as I dig into it later tonight! thanks so much. bert

I hope it happens again in some way/shape/form. I very much enjoyed participating last year (even if my recipient never posted pics of what I got him. . that sucked, since I took part of my gift from my personal collection). but he DID thank me for it. and i loved getting prezzies in the mail from my secret santa!