USRoadTripper

I'm a really picky eater, but nowhere near as picky as some people *cough*Elissa*cough*. I'm a texture eater, so a lot of things I won't eat because of the texture eventhough the taste is ok. This includes onions, celery, bananas, oatmeal, most one dish casseroles, and many many other things. I generally hate anything that is crunchy in a primarily soft food (like onions on a burger or celery in tuna). I don't eat any pork or beef (except for pepperoni and hamburger), and the only other meats I will eat are chicken, turkey and almost all kind of fish. I dislike a lot of veggies, like broccoli, carrots, peas, celery, and cucumbers (eventhough I love pickles, go figure!). For the rest of the veggies, they have to be cooked until they are almost obliterated because I won't eat them crunchy because of my texture issue. Conversely, the only fruit I dislike is bananas, but I don't like any fruit warm, or with any dairy products, so no strawberry ice cream, no blueberry cream cheese, or whipped cream on strawberry shortcake. Yup, I'm picky. -Julie

I agree Lou! I like softies (and he's not even as soft as I like 'em!) -Julie

So lemme ask a dumb question...how do I figure out how many hours off from GMT I am? I have no clue! And does it matter? All the times seem to show up as Pacific time for me anyway. -Julie

I'm just wondering when the first female will respond with her weight! hahaha I'm 5'5" and that's all the info you get! -Julie

Yup, I voted for B also, eventhough D was very nice too. -Julie

I got mine today too! Now that's a sexy hoodie! YES! It's the electric bill!!! Woohoo!!! When I got back home from Beech Bend today, I checked my mail and wha...is that what I think it is? Could it be???

More photos And Matt says "Whatever, I am *way* more adorable than you when *I* wear *my* Chicken Little crown." Thanks for reading! Julie says "I am *so* adorable when I wear this Chicken Little Crown" I got the new premium grilled chicken sandwich. It was kinda weird and gross, so I don't recommend it. Stick with burgers and fries. Yay! Obligatory "Stuffing your face at McDonald's" photo! We were some of the last people to leave the event. Scott headed out to SFKK, and the rest of us went to McDonalds! I swear this is the most confusing road sign I have seen in my whole life. 31 West South? What? I pray to the Lord above that they are getting a new panel for the Looping Star because you *know* this has sat in the rain at some point this week. KICK ASS photo #3!!! Lest we forget where we are, I present this photo of a keg holding the nuts and bolts of the Looping Star. Matt takes a breather and has a seat on the Looping Star also. Julie says "Look at me, I'm cool, I'm touching coaster track." Then reason gets the best of her and she says "Eww, it's dirty and rusty! Get your hands off of that and go get a tetanus shot!" While e-stopped at the higest point of the ride, Matt thinks "Ahh, I'm hanging all the way over the edge! Get me down!" and Julie thinks "Ahh! Why does my face look so fat in e-stop pictures?!?!" Then something happened that I've never had happen on a coaster before...it e-stopped! The Discovery Channel crew even took a couple of laps on the mouse. Me and Matt on the Wild Mouse. Once again, best caption I got. Me and Scott on the Wild Mouse. Yep, that's the best caption I got. Here are Matt and his friends riding "The Purple." Matt looks truly terrified going over those bunny hops, no? Next was ERT time, so we headed over to the Wid Mouse. Scott's all "Yay, a new credit!"

Today was the press confrence to announce the name of the name of the new GCI woodie at Beech Bend. I arrived at about 12:00, at which time I met up with Scott (Scaparri) and Matt (MattyboiTN) and two of his friends. We all chatted a bit, wandered around and took some photos, then had a seat for the announcement. The crowd was really small...maybe 50 people or so. The owners of Beech Bend and their son and daughter spoke for a bit, and Jeff from GCI told us about the coaster and took questions. They announced that the name would be the Kentucky Rumbler, and then there were cheerleaders, and confetti and much celebration throughout the land. After the announcement we went on a construction site tour, which was really cool, and very exciting. We got to ask detailed questions about the ride, and see parts of it up close that we won't be able to see when it opens. After the tour, we hit the refreshemnt table, then headed over for ERT on the Wild Mouse. I guess I got about 6 or 7 rides with various people in various seating configurations. At that point, Scott headed back to talk to Jeff some more, then was headed off to Kentucky Kingdom. But I, Matt and his friends made the obligatory TPR pit stop at McDonalds before heading back into Tennessee. Overall I had a GREAT time, and would LOVE to be able to go to events like this more often. Onto the pics, because that's what you're really here for, right? Being true coaster enthusiasts, of course we hit up the refreshment table next. Yes Jeff, that's exactly what I'm going to do! That's Paul Drabek in the background laughing at me. Wow, Jeff looks pretty pissed here. "First you sit on the loop of the Looping Star, then you make fun of 'The Purple'...I guess you're going to start standing all over my footers like that other guy now, huh?" Here was a really obnoxious kid who kept kicking and playing with the gravel, and was just generally being very distracting. For Pete's sake, if your kids can't behave, don't bring them to something like this. Here's Scott standing on a footer. Coolest footer stander I saw all day! Sweet! Another absolutely KICK ASS photo! Here is the view of the first turnaround after the lifthill as seen from the "dead man." Here is Jeff from GCI standing on the "dead man", or the place where a lot of main supports come together. He said that some people request to get married on these supports, and we all agreed that that would be a very Robb and Elissa thing to do. Next we started the construction tour. In true TPR fashion, Matt has also arrived with a camera...and a video camera at that! Love it. This is the man who was setting off the fireworks. I snapped this just as the charge went off...you can even see the black firework still in the air. Best part is the ambulance. Can't Photoshop something this good! It's the Kentucky Rumbler! That sign is klassy with a K. Here is the Beech Bend owner speaking about the future of his park. His daughter said that the parents used their life savings to build the coaster instead of buying a beach house. There was a team of junior high cheerleaders there too. This was their mascot..."The Purple." Yes, that's right, "The Purple." I'm sorry, but this photo KICKS ASS!!! Here is part of the looping star. It was for sale, but now they've decided to keep it, and it is just being moved about 100 feet to the right of where it has always been. Scott came armed with a camera, as every good TPR member should! And here is another view from inside the park. This is part of the view that you see from inside the park. Welcome to Bowling Green. Don't even look for directional signs pointing to the park because we don't have any!

How about we all say to meet at noon right outside the main gift shop near the entrance? I'll be wearing a black shirt, jeans and sneakers, and I have long brown hair, so try to spot me if I don't spot you! And are we all up for McDonalds afterwards? -Julie

After a recent chat conversation, I decided to ask everyone...how often do you make your bed? I only make it when I know I will have company. -Julie

Midnight at the Universal Cineplex! The Theme Park Review Horror Picture Show!

No. This is not acceptable. It needs to last one more season so I can visit! What else will I do in the same day as Dutch Wonderland next August??? -Julie (I don't want anyone replying saying "Dorney!")

I'm definitely in! Will I have my hoodie by Friday? -Julie

Ok credit whores, it's confession time! What has been the longest or worst wait you have ever had just for the sake of a credit on a small coaster? Here is my story: I waited an hour for Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster at Universal Florida. Not to mention that the whole time, a little girl in front of me threw up three times! In a slow moving queue like that, it's NOT FUN to stand over three piles of puke! Can anyone beat that? -Julie

Woah woah woah...I just want to know why you have Taco Bell mild sauce in that pile of candy!! Am I seeing this right? hahaha -Julie

I was also wondering how we would all recognise each other. Guess we should all set a place and time to meet up before the event? -Julie

Looks good! Makes me wish my computer could handle RCT3 -Julie

I'm going to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror in our local independent theater! I look forward to it every year. Who doesn't love a chance to dress up, scream profanities and throw toast? -Julie

Glad to see you guys took an Opryland memorial ride on Kong Looks like you all had a great day! -Julie

It's not every day that Ed Asner accuses you of trying to break into a linen closet. -Julie

I like dill pickles with chocolate sauce. I've even put pickle slices into a dish of chocolate ice cream. Most people also think it's strange that I prefer to travel alone. I like meeting up with people when I travel, or meeting people at my destination, but I prefer to actually get to my destination by myself. -Julie

Ok, who can let me in on the best place to get a discount ticket for Busch Gardens Tampa? I'll need two of them. A half price or buy-one-get-one-free would be optimal! -Julie

These are two of my favorite pictures I've taken. I worked at a Sears Portrait Studio for a while and took some absolutely gorgeous photos, but wasn't allowed to keep copies of them for myself. These are my two favorite ones I have taken as a hobby. -Julie Black and Blue. This is my friend Brian, and everyone who knows him hates this picture. I love it though. It's creepy and haunting, yet beautiful. My friend Joey from New York City. This was taken on the Ryman Auditorium steps

Let me be the first to suggest an after-ERT TPR meal at McDonalds! -Julie

You could always change it to pickles. Then my member title is already appropriate! -Julie