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Perhpas as steam locomotives go, nothing is classier than the old Southern Pacific 4449. You can see pictures of it here. Eric

I've never been to Ohio. Is it a nice state? Eric

^ Thinks I think he's a total slacker. < Thinks he thinks that ^ thinks that < he thinks ^ is a total slacker. V Wipes his nose on his sleeve!

Riddler's Revenge at SFMM has some pretty strong forces in some parts. But your advice about space between the "family jewels" and the seat is the best for a B&M standup. I don't know about the TOGO ones, as I've never ridden one. Eric

I just found out that Diana is over two months older than colincoon. Eric

Yes; I used to deliver newspapers in weather like that. Have you been to the "new" SFMM?

^ Played this game 15 minutes ago. < Just had a chinchilla placed on his shoulder. V Just had a bird leave a "gift" on his shoulder!

Just got back from a quick trip out to SFMM... I only rode Tatsu (two-train operation, one station); the Sky Tower (one-elevator operation); Gold Rusher (two-train operation); and Goliath (three-train operation). Crowd wasn't too bad, park was clean. I did notice that X2 was running two trains withpretty consistent dispatches, though I didn't ride. The fire effect was going, and it went off just as I passed on my way out. This visit was pretty spur of the moment...I just wanted to get out of the house for awhile. Eric

This makes me laugh---no one seems to be annoyed to pay the big bucks for a two-hour concert and all of the food and merchandise that goes along with that, but for an entire day at a theme park it's too expensive, etc. Who said that a theme park should be "cheap?" If you want the quality of the experience to remain high, then you have to pay the price. Cheap season passes are how SFMM gets the "riff raff" in there. I told Jay Thomas personally that I'd pay $200 for the now $125 Xtreme Play Pass because that would still be a good deal. (Not surprisingly, he said, "I like your thinking.") Honestly, I do take advantage of the SoCal discounts, and will very likely pick up one of the 3-Day Park Hoppers that I mentioned earlier. But if discounts disappeared, I'd simply go less often. By going less often, I'll just have to enjoy the experience all the more. See, you don't guzzle fine wine, or scarf down fine cheese or chocolate. You savor them. Ditto for Disneyland. Eric

"Yay, I just got my passport in the mail and it only took 10 days" (cedarpointfangirl) Thank you for reminding me that I need to get cracking and get a passport. I don't have a trip to another country planned as of yet, but this is one detail that I don't want to have to do at the last moment should I plan one. Eric

Here in Southern California, Vons markets have 3-Day Park Hopper tickets for $99. I don't know if you have to have the Vons Club card, but they're on the gift card rack. All three days must be used within 45 days of first use, and first use must be by August 30, 2008. Eric

"Two rails good, one rail BETTER!" (WillMontu) Agreed. So, here are two pictures that I took yesterday right behind my house (see how close I live to the tracks?). The Coast Starlight was accidentally running on time, and I happened to be ready for it with my camera. Not the greatest pictures, but I'm not the greatest photographer either. Just for trivia, this train consisted of a pair of EMD GENESIS series locomotives pulling 11 Superliner cars and one baggage car, more or less the norm since the late '90s when the old F40PHs were retired. Eric ...and there it goes... Here it comes...

Does anyone know how the S&S Screamin' Squirrel ride is? It has to feel pretty strange riding upside down in a straight line. Eric

No, 'cause, see, I like my face... Do you have friends in countries other than where you live?

More times than I can count. Does your phone have a color display on its outer case?

Connor was supposed to load the pink paper in the printer and stand guard so no one would print on it before I sent the print job for more priority cards for the shop. BUT!!!... Connor got busy in a meeting, so guess who had to load the pink paper, run back to start the print job, then go stand by the printer so no one would print? ME!!! THAT'S WHO!!! Eric

^ Get ahold of a Utah State Quarter. It's the only one with any rail vehicles on it. (Two locomotives at Promontory Point celebrating the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in case you haven't seen it.) Those pictures from Hurricane remind me...Amtrak's Coast Starlight will be passing behind my house in 45 minutes, so maybe I'll get a shot or two and post 'em here. Eric

There's something that's always intrigued me about Chicago. One day, I'd like to take a trip there. I have enough miles on my credit card for a domestic flight somewhere, so... Eric

Every night is dark, but no, I haven't seen the movie. Have you ridden X2 yet?

^^ Not all SUVs are bad. I've posted this already, but my 2002 CR-V (2.4L engine, four-speed automatic with overdrive) can get just over 30 mpg if I take it easy. But to be fair, when you say "SUV," I know you're talking about the likes of Hummers, Escalades, Navigators, etc. Eric

I've said it on this site many times, I'm sure, but I live 100 feet or so from a very busy Union Pacific rail line. We get 12 Amtrak trains, six Metrolink (commuter) trains, and varying numbers of freight trains that pass behind our house every day. If I stand by the kitchen window, I have an unobstructed view of all of it. Last year, I had a five-month job assignment in the San Fernando Valley, and I used Metrolink to get there. It was strange driving a mile down the street to catch the train, getting on, then passing our house going to and coming home from work. Eric

Nice change of pace. I, too, am somewhat a monorail fan. Be sure to visit The Monorail Society. There's a lot of stuff there. Eric

If you're just going for credits, Disney and Knott's in the same day is feasible, being that they're only about five or six miles apart. But throwing SFMM into the mix...try that another time. Eric

^ Not really a "yes" or "no" question, so I'll answer "maybe." Do you engage in rubber band fights?

I picked a fine time to make use of a urinal---11:42am PDT...what WAS I thinking... Anyway, we felt it up here in Ventura County. Rolled a bit, but otherwise...not a biggie compared to some I've been through. But it was the first one for my boss. She's from Michigan, where the ground doesn't shake much. Eric