bert425

agreed! Skyscreamer at Astroworld (for the initial couple of years) has a blaring Klaxon (with spinning red emergency lights) that went off just before the car dropped. It could be heard all over the park! I clearly recall standing in Coney Island, playing Skeeball in the arcade there, near the Texas Cyclone, and hearing Skyscreamer going off. and the timing of the drop seemed to be determined by whoever was operating it that day. Some times it was only a second you were at the top, and sometimes, you just sat and sat, then the blaring horn and drop. eventually they turned the klaxon off -- I'd assume because it was so loud it annoyed some folks. .but I loved it. you can hear it in the opening moments of this Youtube clip! (and again at the very end where they film it from the Astroneedle) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZXSFKhPuevk

ditto. Option one looks a lot cleaner, and I love the twitter updates.

SkyScreamer. yeah. . I miss it too (I miss most of the rides at Astroworld) (in this pic, behind is "Greezed Lightning", the blue cover is the roof of the Dolphin Show, and to the right, you can just see part of the pad for "Gunslinger" (the swings) and actually, the ride the put on it's slab was "SWAT". . which we rode ONCE, and *hated* . . .most awful thing we've ever been on. They moved it to another Six FLags and changed the name. .but bleh. . hated it. (and maybe they didn't pull it out specifically FOR "SWAT". .but that's what ended up there).

I grew up less than 1 mile from Astroworld (sniff. . Marvel McFey, I miss you!). but since I don't live in Houston since the mid 80's, and since Astroworld is dead and gone, here's my answer: 1) Six Flags Fiesta Texas (about an hour ten minute drive) 2) Sea World San Antonio (about an hour & 1/2 drive) 3) Six Flags Over Texas (about 3 & 1/2 hour drive). if you count Water Parks (which I don't), Schlitterbahnn is about 40 minutes away.

Happy Birthday Robb! I'd send YOU a bag o crap.. but I don't think you want one from this end. . LOL

In Japan, Hairy-Kari (ooooo. . .bad bert. . bad!).

Pudding

LOL. . as AzGuy said, you just put that idea in all our heads Congrats on having the courage to put it out there for us to see, and welcome to the freedom of being out (if not in real life to everyone, then at least to those of us who post on TPR and read this thread). I think you'll find VERY little judgement from folks here. . .we're all cool. (well, cept for that ONE guy. . .LOL). as to you getting offended if someone does make a jokey play on your screen name? Honestly, I think it's just because you are still very young. You may very well eventually take control of the word and say it out loud with pride. I certainly have been in places chanting "we're here, we're queer, get used to it!" and that's something I thought I would NEVER say, or certainly not a word I'd use to describe myself (queer???) when I was in my teens. but words have power. And when you own them?. . you have the power. regardless tho.. welcome to the rainbow! We're like a big ol bag of skittles up in here (with some brown M&M's mixed in)

Neil Giraldo is a guitarist and Pat Benatar's husband. to clarify -- he's HER guitarist (since way back in the 80's), and her Husband (for almost as long). he co-wrote many of her big hits, and is the only band member still with her since she first broke big (for reasons that make sense -- marriage. . LOL). he's also a pretty damn good guitarist.

ditto. . . GOOD LORD.. two years?

Yeah, I had this problem last year. My Santee never posted any pics. The only reason I knew he/she got the gifts is because I never got banned. At least this year I can officially neither confirm nor deny that my Santee got his/hers/it's gift. I'm in the same boat. I know he got em, since he posted he did. . but then said he'd come back with a picture and never did (and that was about a month or so ago). yeah yeah. .it's all in the giving, I know. but I wish I knew if he liked em or not.

Love EPCOT, and Universe of Energy is one of my faves. (ok, ok. . . "Ellen's Energy Adventure") I could go on that over and over all day (even if the pre-show would start to drive me a little nuts). And agreed. . .LOVE the smooth tones of Dame Judy Dench on "Spaceship Earth". . . no issue at all with that change.

it was a SUPER light Theme Park year for us (we were dealing with some medical issues since late June, but luckily found out just prior to Thanksgiving those magic words: "full remission"). so next year's looking like it's going to be a BIG one! We are doing that planned trip thru Penn in late May, so that will give us great options for next year's list! but as to 2013? From our limited choices: 1) Desperado (Buffalo Bill's in Primm) 2) Canyon Blaster (Circus Circus in Vegas) 3) Enterprise (Playland, Vancouver. . . not a coaster, but been really missing Enterprise, since Fiesta pulled theirs out (Which was really the original Spinnaker from SFoT). So no Enterprise in Texas parks we go to

they will NEVER close the original park.

"Talk To Me" - KISS (live from Australia 11/22/80), with Ace on lead vocals

did you ask her yet? what did she say?

why are there no Asian elves? Kinda odd for a ride in China. Love that when shooting the elves doing packages, it looks like they are peeing! I was waiting for them to flip around with their "mistletoe" in their hands!

Don't forget there have been massive storms across parts of the US -- so that greatly impacted shipping for many folks. (I had a package sit in Dallas for TWELVE days, and absolutely no tracking updates on the UPS site. It scanned in, then nothing for 12 days . . then it suddenly showed up and they updated the site after the fact).

Had/Having a WONDERFUL time, Brandy (even if my SecretSantee didn't post pics of what I sent. . sniff.. but it's all about the giving anyways, innit?). thank you SO much for the effort and work it took to organize. I wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday! bert

Saw this on "Chopped" as a mystery ingredient. . . looks disgusting, but I have to admit, it's my "favorite" thing now -- just to pull out of the pantry to show people: (no, I"m NEVER gonna open it and actually TRY it)

the front row can ALMOST "High-Five" the back row!

a friend linked me to this today -- dunno if y'all have seen it, but I think it's a fantastic read: https://www.facebook.com/notes/julie-toma/a-former-seaworld-employees-response-to-blackfish/10152163058773885 A Former SeaWorld Employee's Response to "Blackfish"

wow. . I see that picture and all I think is "ouch"

^^ that's GREAT! tho I think it would be improved if the loop were after the "back and forth" mouse track, it's still looks like a lot of fun. (of course, I'm watching at work with the sound turned down, so I could be missing all the yelps of pain )

Yeah! .. those of you who haven't posted pics yet, please do so. love seeing what everyone got!