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I write left-handed, but do everything else right-handed. But I believe that had I been left to learn how to do things, I'd have been completely left-handed, but with two right-handed parents, ending up the way I did was all but assured. Eric

^ Nothing wrong with some "me" time. We all need it sometimes. Enjoy yours. This weekend---or for most of it---the girl and I will be together looking for trouble! Good times... Eric

^ It appears that Busch and Six Flags were indeed among the first "chain" parks. Busch Gardens Houston? Never heard of that one. I'll have to do some research...this sounds interesting. Eric

^^ One of my co-workers just got a turtle and named it Timmy. Hopefully it won't fall into a well and have to have the dog come and save it... Eric

No, I haven't read any Harry Potters. Nor have I seen any Harry Potters. Have you ever ridden one of those curved escalators?

^ Going to Japanese theme park. < Married to Japanese woman. V Eats Japanese insects!

We finally have Vault Zero in cans in our Vons stores. And they're having a 10 six-packs for $10 sale! I'm a-stockin' up... Eric

I've been out of my mind and my country---and at the same time, too! Do you eat food on a stick?

I thought about locking this thread because comparing wooden coasters to steel ones is like comparing apples to hammers. They're two different animals, as it were. However, some people do like wooden coasters more than steel ones, and vice versa (my wife likes the woodies, I like both). To make it short, I'll leave this topic open. Eric

"I'm sick and f*cking tired of having to literally sweat myself to death every time I tell someone a secret because I'm afraid they'll backstab me." (Blue0ctane) A few words of advice to you...only tell a person you know you can trust. I generally keep my mouth shut, but I do have one or two people I can confide in. People tend to come to me because they know that my lips are sealed, and I'm takin' it to the grave. I don't like being betrayed, so I won't betray others. That's only fair. Eric

Believe it or not, I think there is something to that, so I'll say yes. (Besides, there've been too many "No" answers.) Do you like coasters?

^ Yes, those are really good. And, I just may have one tonight! ^^ You're right. [hangs head in shame] And I've been in Camarillo for 20 years, too! Eric

"chimmichangas from somis cafe" (sfmmFREAK) That place is four miles up the road from my house---and, believe it or not, I've never been there! But I've heard great things about it! Anyway, I'll take a good combo burrito from almost anywhere over a taco. Eric

Never did have the spaghetti. Took Diana and met my mom at Souplantation. Eric

^ I've always thought that Zippy was one of the most WTF?! comic strips out there. So, I think I'll have spaghetti tonight since I have some frozen. Eric

Thank goodness no one was here in the office when I played it. And I listened "carfully" to it, whatever that means. Eric

^ I hear ya, man! I'm fighting my first cold in about three years. It doesn't help that it's cold and rainy around here these days, either. Eric

I've only ridden Florida's ToT once. When DCA's opened, after my first ride, I got off and thought, "That's it?" It seemed very short; the lack of the 5th Dimension Room really made an impact. Funny thing is that I never really gave any thought to the hallway between the doors, but once I noticed it, I thought that surely they could have concealed it better or something. It's too bad that the Florida version couldn't have been duplicated here in California, but, whatever. Eric

^ "...an overpass that randomly fell down." That doesn't exactly make me want to go back to Tampa... Eric

^ The Ya Hoo Flume Ride was rather small, but it was fun. In fact, the attendant at the top of the drop often let us ride down backwards. That was very...different. This park was just under 10 miles from home, and we would often ride our bikes there and lock them to the fence near the entrance. Eric

^ There really was nowhere to expand the park. It never would have---or could have---expanded to the point of being a world class theme park. It had a similar problem to what Knott's Berry Farm has now. Busch Gardens had residential areas nearby, as well as industrial buildings. The park was actually even more choked in than Knott's. In 1976, as a last ditch effort to stay competitive, Busch Gardens added an "Old St. Louis" area with a funhouse, and a couple of small rides. There were plans for a "mini roller coaster," so said the park map, but that was never built. Unfortunately, I never got to visit this area because it wasn't open very long. I did ride the Sky Trolley a few times, though. That's the greenish track that runs over the railroad tracks next to the pedestrian bridge in Robb's picture. It was an Arrow Development-designed monorail (like the other one that went through the brewery). As Derek said (and I said earlier), this park never did get any big thrills because it existed before the big roller coaster craze of the mid-late '70s. Eric

^ That was...ugh! Anyway, Miguel owes the soda fund $3, and he owes Jean $3. Personally, I think he's a deadbeat. Eric

^ Thank you for digging that up. Eric

"I don't think KBF or SFMM have single rider lines! (CoasterCrazy) Déjà Vu at SFMM has one. But I believe that's the only ride there that does. About Knott's, you're right, I don't think they do. Eric

Oh, do I remember this park! In fact, that same aerial picture is my desktop on the computer at my other office. Busch Gardens was a lot of fun, actually. Sure, it pales to what we have today, but the '70s was a more laid back time anyway. Busch Gardens Los Angeles may be the only park to have had two monorails at one time. Robb, the park closed its rides in about 1976, changed its name to Busch Bird Sanctuary, and stayed open till 1978, so you were younger than 12 when it closed. "The reason they closed down the LA park is unknown." (SLUSHIE) From what I remember, it was for a brewery expansion; also, the park just couldn't compete with Magic Mountain, which was expanding by leaps and bounds in those days. There wasn't any more room for expansion or parking, either. I have park maps from about 1973-75 that I should probably scan and can post here. One note: That bridge over the railroad tracks is still there. I guess it was easier to just leave it up. When I go to San Diego on the train, I pass right under it. Eric