FlyingJ

That's 30 seconds I'll never get back. Thankfully I plan on wasting away the rest of the day too, so this just helped get it off to a good start. Killing threads since 2004.

hehe...this was on a mythbusters episode. I don't remember the outcome because I was too busy laughing my ass off at the fact that they went into an S&M store and came out with two HUGE black fist shaped dildos to use as the punching hands for the underwater robot. Killing threads since 2004.

Mint chocolate chip is my favorite flavor for all other brands, but at Graeter's I had to give it up to Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (Chunk). While working in NYC a guy that grew up in Cincinnati came to work for the company. Once a month he placed an order and I'd usually chip in for a pint or two. My going away present from him was 4 pints of peanut butter chocolate chunk, and I forgot them in the freezer at the office when I left on my last day. Killing threads since 2004.

Ok, so this won't help with getting a quick fix, but for ice cream delivered to your door there is no need to look any further than Graeter's Ice Cream. (www.graeters.com). I can't really describe it, so I'll just paste a bit from their website below. It's expensive to have shipped, but just ordering anything that includes chocolate "chips" (chips = slabs) makes it well worth it. Graeter's is the only thing that I've ever missed about living in Cincinnati! (well, I've kinda missed Skyline Chili too, but only when I'm drinking) From the website: Graeter's has been indulging ice cream lovers since 1870, making us one of the oldest continuously family-owned ice cream makers in the country. Although the industry has changed dramatically throughout the last century, we've maintained and perfected the traditional French Pot process. Each French Pot freezer produces just two gallons of ice cream at a time - creating a one of a kind creaminess that is truly irresistible. The French Pot method swirls our secret recipe of egg custard and fresh cream along the chilled sides of the slowly spinning French Pot freezer. As the ice cream mix freezes and thickens, a blade carefully scrapes the sides of the pot, gently folding the ice cream into itself. It is this gentle folding process that prevents the whipping of air into our ice cream and accounts for its extremely dense and creamy consistency. Where a typical pint of ice cream can weigh as little as eight ounces, a Graeter's pint weighs nearly a full pound! We are famous for the massive chocolate chips found in our signature chip flavors. We create these chips by pouring specially prepared liquid chocolate into the finished ice cream as it continues to spin in the French Pot. Once frozen, we use a paddle to break up the frozen layer of chocolate into randomly sized pieces, creating the famous chunks that have delighted our customers for more than a century. Because our ice cream is so thick and creamy when it comes out of the French Pot, we must pack each pint by hand using a specially designed spoon. Despite this slow and labor intensive process, we believe that this is the only way to make truly great ice cream. Killing threads since 2004.

I have a friend with Celiac Disease (allergy to wheat/gluten) that after three years of not being able to drink beer just found out that Anheuser-Busch now makes a suitable beer called Red Bridge. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a person so happy! I tried it and can't say I'll be buying it to drink on my own, but my formerly beer drinking friend who hasn't been able to partake for three years is elated. Just thought I'd mention it here in case there is anyone else out there in the same boat. http://www.redbridgebeer.com Killing threads since 2004.

Congrats, I'm sure it's a relief. A friend of mine defended her thesis today too. We've only known each other for a couple months so I've only known the stress filled version. I can't wait to meet the completely relieved version! Killing threads since 2004.

Awesome! I was just about to go find a link to this tent. Glad you beat me to it. I've used this tent before and it is great for two people. One of the nicer features is that there are doors on both sides, so nobody has to climb over the other person, and the fly provides good vestibule space on both sides as well. The tent issued to me at work is the Eureka version of the same design and I'm pretty happy with it. The other really nice thing about the REI half dome is that it literally sets up in a minute or two. My sister just bought one and when we pulled it out and opened it up at the store we had it together in three minutes never having seen it before and having to unwrap the factory packaging. The perfect tent for setting up in the middle of the night! Killing threads since 2004.

Ratio was 4 to 2, men to women in my house growing up. To this day my mom has a little plaque hanging above the downstairs toilet that says: "My Aim Is To Keep This Bathroom Clean, Your Aim Would Help" I still chuckle every time I read it. Oddly enough, it's while reading it that I usually miss the bowl. Killing threads since 2004.

I had a similarly odd break-in experience during college. I had someone break into my car and steal my stereo. It was a very courteous crook though. He took the time to unclip the trim around the radio, take out the screws and clips, unplug the wiring harness from the rear of the radio, replace the clips and screws as well as the trim. A friend had his stereo stolen and the guy just tore everything up so thoroughly there was a lot more damage than just the missing tunes. If I had to get robbed, at least I got a good one! That's pretty freakin odd with your story. Hopefully you don't find any used condoms. Maybe it's time to pick up a blacklight and run it through the car! Killing threads since 2004.

NJ Transit has a pretty thorough train/bus system, and when I lived in NYC I knew people coming from two hours away in NJ that took public transportation the whole way. Others would drive about halfway until they got to a point where traffic started getting bad and do a park and ride from that point. I miss public transportation! http://www.njtransit.com Killing threads since 2004.

damn shrek - i can't believe i just started my morning looking at a pic like that. i feel like i need to curl up into a fetal position and cry myself back to sleep! Killing threads since 2004.

Lawrocket posted my #1 choice with Sanford & Son, but I'll throw CHIPS out there as my next favorite! Good ole' Ponch and John! Killing threads since 2004.

Which one is from the San Antonio area? I'm in San Antonio for business right now and today a few people were talking about someone local. I couldn't remember who they said it was though. I only saw the very last girl and then the quick wrap-up. Looks like there are a few pretty good ones, but also a few that there is no doubt will go home pretty quickly. Killing threads since 2004.

Very cool. I know a guy that spent 20 years or so as an Air Force PJ. One of his favorite stories was of him and one or two other guys jumping onto a Japanese fishing boat out in the middle of the pacific after one of the fisherman caught a swordfish in the gut. They got the guy patched up and then spent a couple days eating sushi and drinking sake while the boat motored to a place where the guys could hop a flight back to the US. The fisherman gifted them some bottles of sake, which they were concerened about getting through customs with, so they put the bottles in their gear bags, and when it came time to search the bags at customs they made an exagerated effort at pulling out canopies still wet from being in the water and making a mess. The clerk got all fussy and sent them on their way! Killing threads since 2004.

I have one of those too! Great, aren't they? If it's a pretty big bug though, make sure to just give it a good zap and then fling it outside. Hold down the power too long on a good size bug and it will start to smoke and stink! Killing threads since 2004.

I saw a study recently that suggested that some obscene percentage of spider bites blamed on the brown recluse were actually hobo spider bites. The little guy is finally starting to get credit for his dirty work! Oh, and about getting rid of the spider...we used to have tons of black widows around the house when I was growing up. Put an extra length or two of tube onto the vacuum and suck 'em on up. If it's a bag you can toss it, or if it's one of them fancy Dyson machines you can empty it before you start and then just dump the spider outside when you are done. Killing threads since 2004.

"Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time. Kyoyo, 9" Classic. Age 12 or so, my aunt and uncle got a couple cats and I used to sneak up behind people that were holding them and turn the dust buster on. Loved the reactions of the people, loved the reactions of the cats. Killing threads since 2004.

Forgive me for adding to this thread so long after the horific day, but I'm just catching up after being out of town and felt I needed to chime in here. Never been a fan of the "holiday", and have been pulling the following poem out every year since a friend sent it to me in college. I did a quick scan of the thread and didn't see it, so hopefully someone didn't beat me to it! Hearts and roses and kisses galore, What the hell is all of that shit for? People get mushy and start acting queer, It is definitely the most annoying day of the year. This day needs to get the hell over with and pass, Before I shove a dozen roses up Cupid's ass! I'll spend the day so drunk that I just can't speak, And wear only black for the rest of the week. Guys act all sweet but it soon will fade, For all they are doing is trying to get laid. The arrow Cupid shot at me must not have hit, Because I think love is a big crock of shit! So here is my story, what else can I say? Love bites my ass... Fuck Valentine's Day! Killing threads since 2004.

Oh, and I forgot to mention...if you do go to Bird's, or anywhere in Crystal River, in addition to stopping at the ice cream place above Bird's make sure to grab lunch at the Brooklyn Deli that shares the parking lot with the dive shop. The Brooklyn Bomber sandwhich is to die for. It's best to go earlier than later in your stay, otherwise you try it at the end of your trip and wonder WTF you were thinking eating lunch at McDonalds the whole time when you could have been going to the deli. If you do go to Crystal River, and will be there over a Friday or Saturday night, you HAVE to go to dinner at the Margarita Grill. If you'll be there on Fri or Sat let me know and I'll get the info from my relatives that live there regarding where it is. Killing threads since 2004.

The people at Bird's are great. Bill Ostrich (hence the name "Bird's") is awesome and all of the instructors there when I went were great. They are huge into cave diving there, however, none of the training dives will be caves unless you have the training already or are doing that training. They dive in a lot of places that have caves, but you wouldn't do any cave penetration without the training. Just be careful with the renting of your own pontoon boat and making sure that you understand the harrassment laws, etc. in regard to swimming with the manatees. The best thing about just going with a tour is that it is their job to find manatees for you to swim with, they know where to look and know how to get to the places quickly enough to let you see them during the morning hours when they are most active. You could spend the whole time that they are out and about putzing around trying to find your way around. The last time I was down there doing training they gave us the manatee snorkel either free or at a very good discount because we had been taking a week and a half or so of classes there. Ask if there might be a discount for your friends if they are learning to dive also. If they are learning, Bird's is the place to learn in that area. There are other operations in town (American Pro for one) that offers some good prices, but I was always happy to see when I was learning that I was out there with two other students and one instructor while the American Pro boat was out there with 4 instructors and a whole boatload of students. We got tons of personalized time. Between me and other folks I know that learned through Bird's they took us to about half a dozen different places, neither of which were devil's den or blue grotto. We also went to Manatee Springs State Park, locally in King's Springs, up to Hal Watt's 40 Fathom Grotto for some deep diving. Can't remember the other places without finding my log book. If any of you are up for it and they think it is ok, ask about doing a night dive at Catfish Sink (or maybe it's called Catfish Cove)...anyway, something like that. It is just off the end of the dock behind the Best Western hotel. It is a chimney about 10 feet in diameter that goes straight down and opens up into a small room, pretty much just big enough for 3 or so divers to move around without running into each other. I've done it a few times and always enjoy taking someone new down there. Rudy was my instructor for everything I did there, and both my brother and Dad had Mike for all of their dives. Both were awesome. Good luck with everything. Make sure to let us know how it goes, and if you remember, shoot me a pm to point me to the thread so I don't miss it. Have fun! Killing threads since 2004.

As someone else mentioned, Crystal River is a pretty good place for manatee snorkeling trips, and for learning to dive if you want to do it in a spring. Bird's Underwater is the best outfitter I found in that area. They had the best prices and the most personalized instruction of everyone I looked into when I was learning to dive, and my brother, dad and several friends have since used them. When I learned in 2002 the price for open water certification was $225, all inclusive, no additional costs for gear rental, books, etc., AND they gave you three free dives with them (gear included) for you to use after you got certified. I'm sure prices may have gone up a bit. Also, if you take a class with them and are interested in purchasing gear they will give you prices you won't believe. I bought all top of the line Scuba Pro brand gear for more than half off the cost that I was able to get it at other retail prices. If you do go to Bird's, or even if you go to a different place in Crystal River, check out the ice cream shop that is above Bird's Underwater. Awesome, and they make their own waffle cones right there. The smell when you walk in is worth the trip on its own! The other nice thing about Bird's is that they use a variety of sites for their diving, so it won't all be just in one place. Killing threads since 2004.

Done that. The frustrating thing I'm running into is that the card reader isn't showing up under my computer. When I go to device manager it shows up as a storage drive and I can see the driver info, etc., but I am not able to explore it as a drive. Killing threads since 2004.

I have an SD card reader. On most computers, when I plug it in I have the option of going through My Computer to view it as a drive that I can open up and view the contents. For some reason, on the laptop that I'm using while out of town this week it opens automatically into an awful photo manager program and it does not show up as a drive. Can anyone tell me how to prompt the creation of a drive when I have the card reader involved? Thanks, jason. Killing threads since 2004.

There are several people on dz.com that make them. I got mine from Michael at www.groundrush.com. His name is WFFC on here. Killing threads since 2004.

My grandparents ARE that cool! Here's a recent pic from a party they went to a few weeks back. And my grandfather is the one that sent me what I posted in this thread. Edit: forgot to upload the pic Killing threads since 2004.