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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: jingle.boy on July 03, 2013, 08:00:40 PM
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Seems as though we don't have a thread just about our vacations. There was an old one buried from a long time ago about where people would like to vacation, but let's have one about our actual vacations (and better to do this, rather than hijack the post your pic thread). As some may recall, Jingle.family went to Disneyworld last month, and here's some of the evidence.
We went June 1-9, and hit 'Star Wars Weekends' for the last two weekends it was on. They've been doing this for a number of years, not just since they bought Star Wars. Hollywood Studios gets all "Star Wars'd" up, extra SW characters roaming the park (completely "in" character too), and they bring in some Tier 1 and Tier 2/3 names from Star Wars (Peter Mayhew and Billie D. were the big names in attendance the weekends we were there).
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/969663_10151988009817067_1481666761_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1604_10152901298355545_1095197452_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1004027_10152901298650545_143626518_n.jpg)
This was so cool... our very last afternoon there, we were just taking in a little bit more of the park (Hollywood Studios), and mulling around a bit. Well, out comes Chewbacca from the behind the scenes areas, walking to wherever his 'station' was for pics and stuff. Jingle.son walks by, and gets the most casual hi-five, like it's no biggie.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1005688_10152901362905545_680414043_n.jpg)
Jingle.daughter and I on our ceremonial first ride - Alice's teacup
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1002969_10152901320680545_1254145686_n.jpg)
On the Buzz Lightyear ride, something was up and they stopped the ride for like 5 minutes. So we were able to fire away at all the available targets, and I maxed out my points!!! (ok, big whoop really)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202013/null_zpse8d0319a.jpg?t=1372883758)
In front of the new Fantasyland that's partially still under construction. Ariel's Grotto
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/9111_10152901324050545_1762929548_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/970238_10152901334370545_252574557_n.jpg)
Me and Mrs.Jingle in front of the lake at Epcot
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/8760_10152901339695545_1733874011_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1001797_10152901349645545_957576759_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/600290_10152901349660545_1160255975_n.jpg)
Mrs. Jingle hammin' it up
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/998376_10152900997875545_322812768_n.jpg)
Water fun:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/7102_10152901414180545_978466518_n.jpg)
Jingle.daughter was not impressed at getting soaked on Splash Mountain. What did she expect?
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1002076_10152901422220545_640877051_n.jpg)
Front row on Expedition Everest
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/999741_10152901432375545_1692117553_n.jpg)
Jingle.troll
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202013/DSC_0708_zps537e5e28.jpg?t=1372883514)
Me sipping beers in "Germany", and sending the pic to King and Jackie. What a beauty Altenmünster it was!
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202013/DSC_0689_zpsc5ff6217.jpg?t=1372883513)
Posing in "Italy" with King Triton
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202013/DSC_0669_zps68e1b453.jpg?t=1372883514)
And the pièce de résistance... As part of Star Wars weekends, they had this station called D-Tech me. You get your face 3D scanned, and then they can build a Stormtrooper action figure with your face, or have you frozen in carbonite. They're like ceramic 12" figures. I got mine already, still waiting on jingle.son's.
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202013/null_zps88e6594e.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202013/null_zpsee56b4a0.jpg)
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No matter how old I am I love going to Disney. 1 week is not enough time to see everything.
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Nice!
Never have been. Too expensive for our family growing up. Never really inclined as an adult. Looks fun with kids. :azn:
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We've been there once. It was free via Make a Wish (my brother had cancer at that time), for an entire week with a villa near the park, a place every child would love to go to (Give Kids the World)
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Great pics! I love Disney!!! :metal
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That looks like it was a fun time!! We are waiting a couple more years to make the trip to Disneyland....the youngest is only three so we're going to wait until he's five at least.
You have a great looking family Chad....
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Awesome shots! The Star Wars thing is cool.
We go back in 6 weeks! Can't wait.
I'll try and post some Disney pics tomorrow from our last couple trips.
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That looks like it was a fun time!! We are waiting a couple more years to make the trip to Disneyland....the youngest is only three so we're going to wait until he's five at least.
You have a great looking family Chad....
Thanks Gary. 5 is the perfect age ... That was how old mine were the first time we went.
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I personally don't get much from amusement park holidays (or amusement parks in general) but looks like you guys had fun :tup.
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I personally don't get much from amusement park holidays (or amusement parks in general) but looks like you guys had fun :tup.
It's not really an amusement park per se. Its really a world within a world. We refer to it as being "in the bubble".
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jingle.boy, I've worked at Walt Disney World for 7 years, and my family and I were annual pass holders for before that. I worked at a wonderful ride called The Great Movie Ride for many years, then did stuff with Park Events and now Broadcast Productions. I am actually moving to California later this month (sad because i'll be missing TAC's visit!) to pursue my film production career, and guess where my foot in the door has landed....Production department in Disneyland! I can't escape it :lol
I love seeing pictures like these; a family having a great time. Walt Disney thought of the idea of creating Disneyland in the first place because he was at an amusement park watching his kids ride rides he was too big for, and wanted to create something everyone from a young child to an elderly man or woman can enjoy.
Did you and your family get a chance to check out Hyperspace Hoopla during your Star Wars Weekends visit? And on behalf of all Floridians, I'm sorry about our bi-polar weather.
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Heading down there for our annual trip this Saturday. Drive from Jersey to WDW. This will be our 29th trip (7 with our twin 6 year old boys). I absolutely love the place. Will be there for 12 nights.
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No matter how old I am I love going to Disney. 1 week is not enough time to see everything.
Same here and agreed. Unless one has a tiring pace, and then it's not a real vacation.
Nice!
Never have been. Too expensive for our family growing up. Never really inclined as an adult. Looks fun with kids. :azn:
Great as an adult, trust me! But yes, the price is insane, and only continues to be so and rising. Not only the gate cost, but food and merchandise is about double what it would cost outside of the compound.
I personally don't get much from amusement park holidays (or amusement parks in general) but looks like you guys had fun :tup.
I know Disney is an US thing, with all the good and bad of that. I don't really like them placing parks in other countries as they have. Comparing Disney parks, at least WDW to any other non Disney theme or amusement park is mostly unfair. One can go to WDW's property (30,000 owned acres I think), never go into one of the four main theme parks and easily make a vacation out of that. The food outside of the parks, hotels, and activities are enough to fill up time.
And stuff in the park is very different than most standard rides. Who else spends 200 million dollars on one ride? Waiting in line is sometimes an experience in itself for some of the attractions.
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I would probably rather go abroad or see more of the US for the money, I think. I tend to like nature. :)
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I get that. And honestly, for many reasons including there never ending price increases, that is also my personal direction of future travel ;D
With the increasing presence of Disney (ESPN, Marvel, Lucasfilm), they are as entrenched with the US culture as much as something like McDonalds. So I think at the least many kids and families view it as part of being in this culture.
That said, I heard an analogy on an amusement park forum; for the US culture (consumerism angle mainly), Disney World is the Mecca for many US families. So many pinch money and to go once in a lifetime, if at all. And it is kind of unfortunate that it is that way.
/end thread hijack
Sorry Jingle, looks like the entire fam enjoyed the vacation! And even your adolescent ones? (Not always an easy sell there)
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I get that. And honestly, for many reasons including there never ending price increases, that is also my personal direction of future travel ;D
With the increasing presence of Disney (ESPN, Marvel, Lucasfilm), they are as entrenched with the US culture as much as something like McDonalds. So I think at the least many kids and families view it as part of being in this culture.
That said, I heard an analogy on an amusement park forum; for the US culture (consumerism angle mainly), Disney World is the Mecca for many US families. So many pinch money and to go once in a lifetime, if at all. And it is kind of unfortunate that it is that way.
/end thread hijack
Sorry Jingle, looks like the entire fam enjoyed the vacation! And even your adolescent ones? (Not always an easy sell there)
Why would anyone not want to go to Disneyworld/land?
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Meh
I still don't get it
Glad ya'll had fun!
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Why would anyone not want to go to Disneyworld/land?
Due to lack of in your face, no theme frills thrill rides found at many fairs or some amusement parks (Cedar Point). Often Disney is viewed as for kids only. And some of that may be a little true at Disneyland Resort, as the main draw and biggest of two parks is Disneyland (MKingdom). Universal even ran an add maybe 5 years ago, stating something like "tired of fairy tales and pixie dust?"
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Chad, you look like a badass in that first pic.
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Chad, you look like a badass in that first pic.
I think it's the fanny pac that really pushes the intimidation factor over the top :lol
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Vader is looking seriously out of shape. Maul looks like a puss. That said, I miss Disneyland/world and that looks supremely awesome. I must go again in the next couple years.
P.S. Fanny packs and pocket protectors eff tea double you.
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Our family stayed a week down at the in-laws condo at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. I am so thankful to have an 'escape' like that so close to home (3 hours door to door) where we can go to relax and have some family time. I'm teaching the boys how to fish...they've honed their swimming skills....it really is a huge blessing to be able to retreat down there a half dozen times a summer (or so). We took our vacation down there this summer to save on some cash and it was a great time filled with some interesting happenings. https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=37766.0
But other than that eventful family pic day...we did go to a water park called 'Big Surf'. Our youngest (3 years old) stayed with the Grandparents while we had our two older boys just running from slide to slide for 8 hours. It was fun and exhausting all at once. Here's a few pics of that day:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8876.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8876.jpg.html)
We hung out at the wave pool a lot...this pic was taken during the 'down time' between waves..
A couple 'wave' shots of me and our middle son (5.5 years):
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8836.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8836.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8837.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8837.jpg.html)
My oldest (7 years)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8803.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8803.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8801.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8801.jpg.html)
Me, the wife...two of our boys and her sister:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8866.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8866.jpg.html)
There was a ride there that was a large half pipe deal...like a straight drop it seemed...I first went down tandem with my sister in law then we all went down individually. It put your stomach in your throat for a few seconds but it was fun enough to do a few times:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8879.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8879.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/IMG_8880.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/IMG_8880.jpg.html)
Me and the boys did a lot of fishing off the docks. It's really nice because there are so many little sun fish and blue gill that they catch a lot of fish, the fish bite frequently enough to where they don't get bored and it's fun for them. In these two pics a storm front was moving in and literally as soon as the hook and worm hit the water the fish were biting...we caught over 20 blue gill/sun fish in a half hour or so...it was fun.
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/138.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/138.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/136.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/136.jpg.html)
We did some boating and swimming as well:
My father in law throws me the keys to the mack daddy pontoon boat he owns every time we're down there because I don't drink...which allows him to 'enjoy' himself more freely.
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/135.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/135.jpg.html)
The little man...(3 years old)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/126.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/126.jpg.html)
Some lake swimming shots:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/131.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/131.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/104.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/104.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/113.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/113.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/103.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/103.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/096.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/096.jpg.html)
Me and the little man...
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/123.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/123.jpg.html)
And...our little man turned 3 when we were down there...so...
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/081.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/081.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/084.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/084.jpg.html)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/093.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/093.jpg.html)
A family pic that actually was taken the day we left for vacation at Purina Farms. We stopped and watched a dog Frisbee and diving show on the way down.
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/064.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/064.jpg.html)
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gmillerdrake, other than going to a baseball game, there is no other classic father/son time than fishing. Your boys looked like they had a ton of fun! :tup
Why would anyone not want to go to Disneyworld/land?
Due to lack of in your face, no theme frills thrill rides found at many fairs or some amusement parks (Cedar Point). Often Disney is viewed as for kids only. And some of that may be a little true at Disneyland Resort, as the main draw and biggest of two parks is Disneyland (MKingdom). Universal even ran an add maybe 5 years ago, stating something like "tired of fairy tales and pixie dust?"
Oooh boy....
That's just Universal marketing to try to draw crowds in. Especially here in Orlando, the Walt Disney World and Universal rivalry is infamous. Universal just becomes the lesser man by taking shots at it's opponent. But is Disney worried? Hell no. Even with the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Disney was still having more guests come into their resort and having more positive numbers than Universal. Im not saying that because im a Disney Cast Member, im saying that because it's a fact and the numbers are there.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Universal, especially during Halloween Horror Nights season and I love The Mummy coaster. Some of my favorite ride *were* there (R.I.P. Jaws and Kong-frontation...and Back To The Future Ride.....and Ghostbusters Spooktacular Show....and Nickolodeon Studios....Futuristic World of Hannah-Barbara...Star Toons...StreetBusters....Dynamite Nights Stunt Show...The Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show....)
The only original ride left at that theme park is the E.T. ride, which is a dying horse. All those attractions I listed I grew up with, are gone. They demolished Jaws, one of the greatest theme park rides of all time, to make way for a fucking expanded Harry Potter land. Might as well call it "Universal's Harry Potter Studios" at this point
Disney is more about rides. It's about the magical memories made with family, friends, spouses, etc. That's why great classic attractions like Space Mountain are still around, but they keep in check to make it a thrilling experience for everyone. Disney has the capability to immerse guests at an attraction before they get on the ride because of their storytelling and theming.
Besides, Univsersal does not have this handsome devil as one of their employees :xbones
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/tremontidood/IMG_0079_zpsf93f777e.jpg) (https://smg.photobucket.com/user/tremontidood/media/IMG_0079_zpsf93f777e.jpg.html)
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That's just like Universal demolishing the Gibson Amphitheater (awesome venue I never got to go see a show at) for a Harry Potter thingy. . . ugh
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gmillerdrake, other than going to a baseball game, there is no other classic father/son time than fishing. Your boys looked like they had a ton of fun! :tup
They did have some fun that week for sure....and You're right about the two father/son times....
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/034.jpg) (https://s791.photobucket.com/user/gmillerdrake/media/034.jpg.html)
Me and the kiddos trying to get a rally started at a Cards game two weeks ago against the Cubs. We got a couple runs out of them but still came up short...but it was by far the best game I've ever been to because (especially my oldest) they were WAY into the game...the chanting and all that.
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I'll be in WDW starting tomorrow for 10 days ....I will be my 12th or 13th trip there (all as an adult) ...can't wait for this day to end at work so I can get into vacation mode
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Thanks for the nice words everyone.
Gary ... Awesome vacation. Nothing like family time like that. Memories that last forever.
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gmill, great shots!
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jingle.boy,
Mrs. Podaar and I are dragging our crew down to Disneyworld March 2014. Our youngest is 19 and our eldest is 33...they all still love it and are very excited (we've gone about every 4-5 years through their entire lives). We also have five grandchildren ranging from 3 to 13 years old so there will be no shortage of childhood wonder. Disney is as close as true magic you can get to for family vacations and it makes me smile just to share your photos.
Epcot is our favorite place as adults because we play the 'around the world drinking game' at the World Showcase. I'll bet you can imagine how that one goes.
Thanks for sharing! It makes me more excited for next year.
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We love going to Disney. We're actually members of the Disney Vacation Club, which has been a tremendous value over the years.
Here's a few shots from our Feb/April trips:
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_333_zps407c870f.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_074_zpsfdc3461b.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_073_zpse2026de6.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_070_zpsde73779a.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_048_zps0b170852.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_028_zpsa11c78e6.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_270_zpscffd8355.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_326_zps99f97eac.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_052_zps356f85ae.jpg)
In February we made the trip out to Tampa to catch the Bruins!
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_077_zpsa614df0e.jpg)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_079_zpse65a35c2.jpg)
We got off Test Track and I had my DT shirt on. This kid that worked there showed me his tattoo and insisted my wife take our picture together on his phone.
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/bth_081_zps9d22191f.jpg)
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I really dig the UFO shirt!! Pre-Wild, Willing and the Innocent UFO is my favorite classic rock and always will be.
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I really dig the UFO shirt!! Pre-Wild, Willing and the Innocent UFO is my favorite classic rock and always will be.
Amen! From your post above, it seems you're older than me, but I've been a huge UFO fan for as long as I can remember. MSG too. :tup
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I'm heading down to Orlando in another couple of months. Can't wait to go to Islands of Adventure again!
Think I'm going to skip going to any of the Disney parks this time.
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That's cool. We went to Universal years ago when my stepson was younger. My kids haven't expressed an interest. I'm sure we'll get there. Been a while since we went to Sea World too.
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Joe... moar pics!
Tick... we expect pics
Jackie ... we expect pics
Tim ... you better post pics!
C'mon folks. It's summertime. Where the vacation pics/stories?
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Day one of my vacation, heading to Seattle on Friday to see my cousin Sara get married.
Other than that, just kicking back, internetting, watching tube, listening to tunes, scratching my balls every once in a while when it seems the appropriate time, and otherwise letting responsible life know that it can go fuck itself for a few days.
:RJ:
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Suh-weet! I don't usually wait for vacation to itch the nutz though. Every 5-8 minutes or so.
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Suh-weet! I don't usually wait for vacation to itch the nutz though. Every 5-8 minutes or so.
Itchin the nuts is like you're own personal vacation you can enjoy anytime! Ahhhh....
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Yeah, of course, but there's a certain pleasure of doing it when on vacation. Just feels so much more right...
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Yeah, of course, but there's a certain pleasure of doing it when on vacation. Just feels so much more right...
Its like having 2 vacations for the price of 1!
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Yeah, of course, but there's a certain pleasure of doing it when on vacation. Just feels so much more right...
I'm usually on the left.
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Look at all the Al Bundy clones in this thread.
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Off to Seattle today, pics to come!!!
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Damn! That's an early flight! Make it a great one bro.
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7am flight, not too bad. Don't really fucking care though, just stoked to be getting the fuck outta dodge.
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Not really a "vacation" per se, but jingle.son and I made the annual trip to Toronto's Fan Expo. Unfortunately, only had my iPhone for pics - I took the SD card out of my point-and-shoot, and it's so old that it doesn't have any internal memory (:lolpalm:) Results:
We hit the Lego booth first. Pretty cool stuff
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/6B632A74-4A82-47A1-B169-B91657838D14-17097-00001A59343EBD13_zpsd5a430fe.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/56CF1217-A85F-473D-B4D4-AD7E9776D0E5-17097-00001A595081BFE5_zps05d2b335.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/F27BE466-2EB5-405A-B8EF-0478C8CDD9A9-17097-00001A596B720739_zpsd5b58ad3.jpg)
This was the highlight for me. K.I.T.T.
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/9FCEBF32-CD9F-4920-8E49-66859679B7F4-17097-00001A599CE7E4D1_zpsbf441080.jpg)
Even better... I got to sit in K.A.R.R. (bonus points to anyone who knows what K.A.R.R. stands for (without googling it). My money goes on Blob.
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/819C97CA-45A7-483D-B6B8-308DFDF5D1D6-17097-00001A59B84CCACE_zps3185d4c9.jpg)
And the BEST Batmobile:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/295EA3BF-D891-4EE7-80DF-C45F65CCD0E9-17097-00001A59E0DD909A_zps8fb2549d.jpg)
Jingle.Emporer-son
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/7DE823B8-33EC-418B-B1F1-AEEC1FE59C35-17097-00001A5A23D4FFAA_zps35db2bd6.jpg)
Some other enthusiast (not at the lego booth) had a couple of creations on display. This he told us was 70,000 pieces, and over 500 hours to build. He designed/architected it all on his own. Impressive!
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/F3EF9A89-BBEB-49DA-BF7E-723553EBA018-17097-00001A5A3BE722C9_zps103b984e.jpg)
And just for king:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/0C0F3802-15DC-4062-B998-0DFBD28E1FAB-17097-00001A5A0DBE7F0C_zps115a4351.jpg)
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That's amazing stuff! Looked like fun Chad. And your boy looks like he's a 'happy' kid. You see a lot of kids his age that have that 'woe is me, depressed' thing going on. It's cool you guys got to hang out like that.
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That's amazing stuff! Looked like fun Chad. And your boy looks like he's a 'happy' kid. You see a lot of kids his age that have that 'woe is me, depressed' thing going on. It's cool you guys got to hang out like that.
Oh, don't kid yourself... he gets that 'woe is me' look/vibe plenty. :lol This event is just one of those things that he's totally in to.
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Maybe you could post a pic of him right after you tell him to now the lawn or something for comparison.
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And just for king:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/0C0F3802-15DC-4062-B998-0DFBD28E1FAB-17097-00001A5A0DBE7F0C_zps115a4351.jpg)
LOVE IT!!
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Walking on the Outer Banks beach with my love.
(https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/kingshmegland/OuterBanks2013152_zpsd6641a93.jpg) (https://s583.photobucket.com/user/kingshmegland/media/OuterBanks2013152_zpsd6641a93.jpg.html)
Chasing Ghost Crabs on the beach at night.
(https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/kingshmegland/OuterBanks2013320_zps77dcc0d4.jpg) (https://s583.photobucket.com/user/kingshmegland/media/OuterBanks2013320_zps77dcc0d4.jpg.html)
Feeding turtles ham at a pond next to our place.
(https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/kingshmegland/OuterBanks2013328_zps24e2784e.jpg) (https://s583.photobucket.com/user/kingshmegland/media/OuterBanks2013328_zps24e2784e.jpg.html)
Enjoying a quiet moment.
(https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/kingshmegland/OuterBanks2013373_zpsa40da12a.jpg) (https://s583.photobucket.com/user/kingshmegland/media/OuterBanks2013373_zpsa40da12a.jpg.html)
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Maybe you could post a pic of him right after you tell him to now the lawn or something for comparison.
Something like these? After he was asked/forced to help with some yard work yesterday (which he is PAID for).
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/71FEAC19-D566-4FA6-9DF0-2D66C9C43687-17463-00001AC758C29875_zps54b921d0.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/DTF%20items/3803E9A0-5FBD-405D-941F-196CBD565FE3-17463-00001AC761386A83_zpsd088c828.jpg)
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Perfect :rollin
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:lol Those are great shots Chad. That's the 'look' I can't wait to see. Luckily for me I'm still getting a lot of these:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/59849A68-B0BD-4A52-9E5D-07BFB2AD2C3B-5155-000086C687A2B226-1.jpg)
Can't help but make you smile :biggrin:
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OK, just got back from Seattle, here ya go guys....
At the Chihuly Glass Gardens...
(https://sphotos-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1236385_446428135455299_1276118956_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1234678_446428372121942_1778273096_n.jpg)
At the EMP museum...
(https://sphotos-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1004513_446126425485470_1236562977_n.jpg)
Yoda's walking stick from Empire Strikes Back...
(https://sphotos-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1187280_446139245484188_1185684172_n.jpg)
And of course, some quality time with my favorite lady, my mom, at my cousin's wedding...
(https://sphotos-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1187105_446017492163030_304089773_n.jpg)
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Remind me to look later. This network at the airport sucks wind.
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As mentioned elsewhere, I just got back from an 11-day road-trip vacation that started in California and wound its way through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. And I have to say, it was a great reminder that this country truly has some amazing things to see and experience. I'm back at work and trying to play catch-up, but will post more, including pics, a bit later. But here's a teaser of one of the most metal road signs in the state of Idaho:
(https://i.imgur.com/gQ0nNgu.jpg)
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:metal
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Too bad I didn't know you were passing through Utah. I'm not above bribing a Sith Lord or two!
Oh, and that sign. :jingleboy:
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As mentioned elsewhere, I just got back from an 11-day road-trip vacation that started in California and wound its way through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. And I have to say, it was a great reminder that this country truly has some amazing things to see and experience. I'm back at work and trying to play catch-up, but will post more, including pics, a bit later. But here's a teaser of one of the most metal road signs in the state of Idaho:
(https://i.imgur.com/gQ0nNgu.jpg)
Photoshop: Not even 1 lesson.
Looking forward to pics and stories.
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Photoshop: Not even 1 lesson.
:lol My wife also just could not understand for the life of her why I had to pull over the RV on the side of the highway to jump out and take pictures of a road sign.
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This wasn't a vacation....it was a 6th birthday party for my son, but we took our boys and a couple of their buddies to the "City Museum" in St. Louis. It is a huge indoor/outdoor playground constructed of a mishmash of steel, concrete, wood etc etc with an endless avenue of tunnels/slides that go in,out, over, under, through the walls, ceilings, floors.....it's insane and a blast. I took some pics but they really don't do it justice. There is no 'normal' thing there....it's all just custom mosaics and what not. Here's some pics:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/1F28B290-B413-41BB-A7D0-60DC2557C117-1149-0000019083808DDB_zps1dbba2e4.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/23CF68DB-919A-4D90-9485-0BC7096D4D16-1149-0000019078970DB3_zpsc273f95f.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/767EE692-F0EF-4DD5-9B8A-CBCFF063766E-1149-000001906E2CEEC0_zps4cc2ecb9.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/FD1962D5-E9CF-495B-8E31-72D5562E0FFE-1149-0000019062E9D255_zps54f1c8d6.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/AAB202DB-D55A-49FA-BEDD-1DE1669F1415-1149-0000019058542F98_zps19932822.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/45A5C040-B272-4432-BCD1-A1B98B2C321D-1149-000001904F1E3891_zps734ecf67.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/7D43505C-7864-4CF2-93D1-C125AA42BECB-1149-000001902643034E_zpsef2ce33f.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/72701526-9E48-4748-BA8B-D5CD8763E4D4-1149-00000190192225B5_zps9c61d8a9.jpg)
The Birthday Boy:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/3D8130C5-906B-47D6-875C-DD4DAA1052F3-1149-000001900F75D916_zpsf89d8a79.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/3EBD7F64-BBFF-4CAE-897E-FD13F201AAAD-1149-0000018FFDE7722A_zpsae71b962.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/16A3CC29-0B38-4743-A76F-3A4E834FC256-1149-0000018FF0BB5CD9_zps7b596de2.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/BEC5AB50-7D96-4B66-B49F-CE91464064D7-1149-0000018FB90DA758_zpsf1ad4e72.jpg)
Two of my boys, Kyle (glasses) and Ethan (Angry Bird shirt)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/79CBE3E3-966A-4658-A79A-4AFC009873E6-1149-0000018F970C5369_zps559fcb0c.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/0DF3BA77-1A71-471F-9663-6FA0C0E08F8A-1149-0000018F7DA9D7C8_zps6c39f83c.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/44E68E1C-8F7B-4451-953E-F73DD08629F9-1149-0000018F73827504_zpsca37ff82.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/DEE146B3-1C63-4966-89A4-195424221B9F-1149-0000018F67CDE43B_zps20f23070.jpg)
Now Venturing Indoors:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/2E66D0F3-68B2-4960-94E5-42AA167601D7-1149-0000018F54465C40_zps7cd7bc84.jpg)
These next couple are of an area where the wall is nothing but old steel dyes, this was just a small section:
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/3E0A1C15-7538-4387-94C9-1ACB2F354AF5-1149-0000018F45E11D2C_zps579aa1ba.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/E078327A-625B-490E-959F-A60BAE61C0C1-1149-0000018F39D64C7C_zpsf18eb78a.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/7F5EE1C8-9760-410E-B3E6-2A4A2112D17C-1149-0000018F2A4C438B_zpsef7f4050.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/8AD45C93-A9CF-4572-A097-E75F136FEF0A-1149-0000018F1E0E9FB9_zpsa7063078.jpg)
Now, the older kiddos were off and running....my wife secured the only entrance/exit into the area and kept an eye on our two and their two buddies as they ran in and out of the tunnels.....my youngest Luke turned into a tunnel rat and for the next hour and a half I just crawled around with him all over the place. It was awesome.....we'd get to a spot and I'd ask him where he wanted to go....and it was a "diss way"....and I just followed....was a blast!
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/DBA0CD88-729E-4FD8-97EC-6A95D3454027-1149-0000018F04097DCA_zpsed440c26.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/D02DD866-DEFD-4D83-90B9-15EC8FC5E622-1149-0000018EFABD1312_zps82623e19.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/CAA48376-4ED7-4C73-9C81-FABD0B94860E-1149-0000018EEF17BC72_zpsb130606d.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/A9B65FA1-7595-4A08-80C0-6BF66071BA00-1149-0000018EDF29DBBC_zpsbf3edb36.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/7F1C0B13-507D-4E56-97BD-2BC7D61977DE-1149-0000018ED622DEE5_zps5e9d9dd9.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/544DEA98-5709-4E82-84C8-35FDEE34A3AF-1149-0000018EAC8B77A5_zps7a9266e2.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/71F8722B-B3D1-4BAA-95FD-154E5C6A6CEB-1149-0000018E8809D08E_zpsc789efa5.jpg)
Not the greatest pic....had the reverse thing going so there was no flash....but here we are in a large hollowed out tree tunnel...
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/90B61F0F-DB12-41F8-A4EC-B4ADD9496AC5-1149-0000018E7B141AE2_zpsa98dabe6.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/85B8811F-D0F5-45D8-8ED0-94AD1BF245D6-1149-0000018E6B54C802_zps8ed8c172.jpg)
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/8C43462D-5709-42B2-A0F2-EA8E4774F920-1149-0000018E3E5DF271_zps3a15a939.jpg)
Hard to see but we were in an underground tunnel here.....
(https://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/gmillerdrake/A1843980-AEB1-450F-8EA4-8F70F8328740-1149-0000018B8259A383_zps9e38c73b.jpg)
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That's pretty freakin cool.
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My turn!!!
OK, just got back from the Breeder's Cup World Championships in LA. Went with my Dad, some brothers, and friends. It was a truly awesome time, even though I lost a couple bucks betting.
A few pics....
The grandstands, about 80k screaming fans, deafening...
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0417_zps8b90bc65.jpg)
The money board for the final race, notice the #9 horse is all dashes, that means over a million was placed on him. He came in ninth...
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0411_zps569d0457.jpg)
Wise Dan, easily the badass of the event....
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0371_zps6355f7fc.jpg)
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0351_zps8e6cf1b5.jpg)
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0345_zpsf03f4fce.jpg)
The horses being shown to peeps with a shit ton more money than anyone here...
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0304_zps4402887a.jpg)
One of the oh so many unbelievably beautiful women.
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0295_zpsa979d5ea.jpg)
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/2013%20Breeders%20Cup%20World%20Championship/IMG_0347_zps8265797d.jpg)
Such an amazing event overall, definetely gonna make it an annual trip!!!!
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Hi DTF! I've been away for a while because I was enjoying some good and deserved time off. I took two weeks and went back packing to the Argentinian south, starting in a nice town called San Martín de los Andes and then going down a route called "The route of the 7 lakes" until I reached Bariloche. This was the first time I went on vacation alone and I was a bit nervous about it since I didn't know what to expect. I usually plan my trips ahead very carefully but this time around I just had an overall idea of what I wanted to do and just went there and decided to go with the flow.
I really can't stress enough what a good idea that ended up being since this trip was one of the best I've had in my life. I found the peace of mins I was looking for, met some really great people and enjoyed some of the most beautiful landscapes that mother nature has to offer.
So, enough words, here are some pictures. You can see the full album here (https://www.facebook.com/diego.espejo.58/media_set?set=a.704761609557734.1073741826.100000717052757&type=3)
(https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1904117_704761652891063_598307992_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1/1912314_704761732891055_606697704_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/l/t1/1888639_704761782891050_1293311249_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1012540_704762026224359_36514713_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1/1625460_704762206224341_1750303227_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1912068_704762292890999_584865072_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/1901516_704762522890976_2056578871_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1896881_704762696224292_991769739_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/1618691_704763216224240_2080829351_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1782040_704763606224201_401314399_n.jpg)
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I heartily agree with the method of picking a location and just heading out to experience it. Sometimes, having a rigid schedule can really add unnecessary stress to what's supposed to be a relaxing time.
I give a big :tup to both your method and choice of location!
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Saw some of these on FB this morning. Absolutely gorgeous man. Very envious of you to be able to do something so unstructured.
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Great stuff Nekov! Adventuring is a blast! And GREAT thread Jingle! I don't know how the hell I missed it. Vacations/travel are one of the biggest parts of my life. We take at least 2 a year and they really play a big part in the rest of our regular life. For example, my wife has been working from home doing customer support for an ebay biz. Which allowed her the flexibility to work from anywhere there was wifi ;). She recently got laid off and is looking for something similar. Getting a conventional job is at this point is not in the cards. It would cramp our vacation lifestyle. SO!! more OT for me, and we get to keep our vacations :) Anywho... We had 2 trips last year, a 25 day adventure to Indonesia, and a couple weeks on Cozumel. We'll be heading back to Cozumel for 2 weeks at the end of april :tup
Indonesia....
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0108-2_zpsf82b6a6e.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0108-2_zpsf82b6a6e.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0200_zps20784d4d.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0200_zps20784d4d.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/IMG_2417_zps0e1d9e91.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/IMG_2417_zps0e1d9e91.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/ws31of1_zps9df49924.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/ws31of1_zps9df49924.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0210_zpsb5e4abb3.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0210_zpsb5e4abb3.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0169_zps9d75c448.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0169_zps9d75c448.jpg.html)
Mexico......
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/coz3_zpse09a4150.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/coz3_zpse09a4150.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/coz1_zpsecee1c47.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/coz1_zpsecee1c47.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/coz2_zps8f1887ac.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/coz2_zps8f1887ac.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0020_zpse498f129.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0020_zpse498f129.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/sharks5_zpsbbedf4fc.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/sharks5_zpsbbedf4fc.jpg.html)
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Awesome pics man. I remember watching the vid you had from your Indonesia trip. Amazing stuff.
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Thanks Chad! That was an incredible trip. As a diver I envy my European friends, and I REALY envy my Aussie friends. They are so close to the best diving sites in the world. For us yanks it's a looooooong way and not cheap to get there.
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Very nice man! Those places look fantastic!
For my next trip I wanna go somewhere in south east asia, of course that means I need to save some money but Indonesia looks like the kind of place I wanna vist :tup
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Very nice man! Those places look fantastic!
For my next trip I wanna go somewhere in south east asia, of course that means I need to save some money but Indonesia looks like the kind of place I wanna vist :tup
Depends a lot on what kind of adventure or areas you'd enjoy. Me, obviously am a tropical beach kind of guy. What's your thing? Beaches? Mountains and hiking? Determine that then go from there. It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many peeps don't really research and plan for what they REALLY want out of a vacation.
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Well, while my main thing is mountains I do enjoy getting to know other cultures, ancient temples and such. Beach is really not my kind of thing and I would skip that part
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In SE Asia I've been to Thailand, Indo, Singapore and the Philippines. For trekking and cultural I think I would choose Thailand. Bali was awesome culturally, but getting around Bali was a major pain. The traffic was insane.
**Edit - addition. Giving it some thought, you might really like exploring the Na Pali coast on the island off Kauai in Kawaii. Also Waimea Canyon on Kauai. The big island of Hawaii is pretty awesome for adventuring to! Only drawbacks might be cost and the lesser amount of cultural, although there is some, things to do.
https://www.hawaiistateparks.org/documents/hsp_kalalau_trail_brochure_20121.pdf
https://www.gohawaii.com/kauai/regions-neighborhoods/west-side/waimea-canyon
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I've heard that Cozumel is some of the best diving in the world as well?
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I've heard that Cozumel is some of the best diving in the world as well?
It is very good, and considered world class. The south pacific, especially the coral triangle area that includes the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand are just the absolute best for underwater bio diversity.
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About a year ago my mom had her second mid-life crisis- she divorced my stepdad, they sold their house and their business, and she packed up her shit and moved to Hawaii. Kona, to be specific.
The good thing about all of this is that we get along much better now that she is 5,000 miles away (imagine that :lol)
But the other good thing about all of this: I am finally going to get to go visit her in May. So far, plans are being made for Pearl Harbor, black sand beaches, and a surfing lesson. I'm so excited :) :)
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My big vacation for 2014 is Disney World in December. My family is going to Port Orleans to celebrate my 50th birthday!
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About a year ago my mom had her second mid-life crisis- she divorced my stepdad, they sold their house and their business, and she packed up her shit and moved to Hawaii. Kona, to be specific.
The good thing about all of this is that we get along much better now that she is 5,000 miles away (imagine that :lol)
But the other good thing about all of this: I am finally going to get to go visit her in May. So far, plans are being made for Pearl Harbor, black sand beaches, and a surfing lesson. I'm so excited :) :)
Don't forget Volcano National Park, and Mt. Maunaloa! I lived on Oahu for 2 years, and have been to Kauai. Never made it to the big island, but would love to go!
https://www.gohawaii.com/big-island
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Cool, I will definitely keep those in mind. Thanks :)
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Time to ressurect this thread Chad! Just got back, well 2 weeks or so ago, from our latest Cozumel trip! Great time as always. First vid and some pics from the trip! 15 days of relaxing in the sun with plenty of diving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JM6f812JAE
Here are some still shots....
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/beach1_zps38f8ead9.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/beach1_zps38f8ead9.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0497_zps67144f0f.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0497_zps67144f0f.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/us1_zps91a1dadd.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/us1_zps91a1dadd.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0459_zps6a4785e7.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0459_zps6a4785e7.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/girls1_zpsa45c1c71.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/girls1_zpsa45c1c71.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0042_zpsc6a14ba4.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0042_zpsc6a14ba4.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/3cd4f6dc-81c5-44c3-9387-492637d1db12_zps234fcc93.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/3cd4f6dc-81c5-44c3-9387-492637d1db12_zps234fcc93.jpg.html)
(https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/sideways777777/DSC_0498_zpse6fba0c5.jpg) (https://s302.photobucket.com/user/sideways777777/media/DSC_0498_zpse6fba0c5.jpg.html)
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Funny, I'm in my final day if vaca at Disney, and was gonna be resurrecting this myself shortly. Great shots as always Greg. Looking forward to seeing them on my laptop (on iPhone right now)
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Alrighty... Star Wars Weekends at Disney again this year. Parlay'd a work conference in Orlando to a Disney vaca for the family. So, for three days in the middle of the week, I went to the conference, while jingle.family went off and enjoyed themselves at the park.
The traditional first right with jingle.daughter
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_1009_zps1074763c.jpg)
Random family shots:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0573_zps102e27f4.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0111_zpsdffad2f0.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0005_zps1bb9344f.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0110_zps7c050384.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0601_zpscd614092.jpg)
One of many trips to the Disney Art classes:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/IMG_2038_zpscba1e8f5.jpg)
Sundae at Ghiradelli's!
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0640_zps9e2fdbd9.jpg)
Someone was pooped:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0085_zps740088a1.jpg)
On Big Thunder Run:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0021_zps44fb75f9.jpg)
Mrs. Jingle's favorite ride, Primeval (or as jingle.daughter calls it, Prime-val) Whirl. First shot is a true scream, but really she's having a blast. Went on it twice in a row.
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0698_zps5fc26453.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0699_zps7f8ad4c0.jpg)
Of course, it was Star Wars Weekends, so, a selfie with Darth Maul was in order
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DAB6A580-7D97-43BC-81B8-6FBF5E75398E_zpshccshkcn.jpg)
And Hammil was the marquee attraction:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0863_zps1f72cca8.jpg)
My how they've grown since our first trip to Disney in 2006:
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/CapturedbyPirates_zps1f4f8bc3.jpg)(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0360_zps51337276.jpg)
(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/BethanyandCinderella_zps544e5b72.jpg)(https://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/jingle-boy/Disney%202014/DSC_0365_zpsae58a475.jpg)
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Primeval is Mrs. Jingles favorite ride? I can't stand that ride!!!
Anyhow, great pics!!!
I'm going for my 50th birthday in December! Can't wait! :metal
How was the mine ride?
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How was the mine ride?
It was alright... nothing too special though. Sure as shit isn't worth a 2 hour wait if you don't have a fast pass. We all agreed it was better than the Barnstormer, but not as good as Thunder Run.
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You go every year?
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nah, just so happened I had this conference in Orlando, so we decided to double dip and take a vacation around it. Not likely to go to Disney again anytime soon with the kids going into high school next year. It was also kind of a graduation gift to them.
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Nice Disney pics! I thought I'd share a couple of photos from a recent vacation up to the Pacific northwest, where I spent a few days in Olympic National Park (Washington) and a few more remote areas in British Columbia. I apologize for the quality of some of these pictures, which I took on my iPhone.
Somewhere along my first little hike, a couple days in
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/IMG_0644_zps111f5e93.jpg)
Along the ridge
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/IMG_0667_zps1d2664c7.jpg)
The perfect spot to fill up on water and have a nice lunch
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/IMG_0643_zpsa0907c48.jpg)
And a view from afar
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/IMG_0658_zpsb6792dca.jpg)
Made my way to the beach for a couple nights
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/IMG_0718_zps6ad883c4.jpg)
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/IMG_0748_zps4f920053.jpg)
Almost gave myself hypothermia swimming in this glacial lake. Burrr!
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/IMG_0837_zpsa55863a3.jpg)
Thank you Canada
(https://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg483/ndisla9/Facebook/Profile%20Pictures/10368940_10203789094508977_8957340743015423181_o.jpg)
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I've been meaning to post a few pics from my trip to Hawaii last month
My mom picked me up at the airport and presented me with a beautiful plumeria lei, and wasted no time taking me to the bar for a mai tai :biggrin:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10371558_730255410349914_7785521070820178075_n.jpg?oh=71528cf726f7a419cffc3443aa2cc7db&oe=541D05C5&__gda__=1412133196_a04208572d8103797bf4eb22ab0ac8b1)
Sea turtle on the black sand beach
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10339673_731425043566284_2329764888339356690_n.jpg)
Waipio Valley
(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-9/10177371_731932656848856_2081705380230654916_n.jpg)
Last sunset in Kona...it's apparently customary to take the lei you receive on your first day and throw it to the water on your last day as an offering/thank you to the goddess Pele.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/1901483_10202690632920572_1505896134063242005_n.jpg?oh=9cec6bdd56d744365734f1705af82be9&oe=54291739&__gda__=1410324230_5229967f0192ee36b45cb4d4a9c56b58)
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Gorgeous hiking pics 'dawg. On behalf of Canada, you're welcome.
Love Hawaii. Never knew that tradition about the lei's.
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Gorgeous hiking pics 'dawg. On behalf of Canada, you're welcome.
Love Hawaii. Never knew that tradition about the lei's.
Yeah, I'd never heard of it either. My mom may or may not have made it up. :P But she's actually been living in Kona for a year and a half, so I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. It might be a locals thing.
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I've never been there, but I've seen people get lei's when coming off planes on TV shows and movies, so I don't think her mom made it up.
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My big vacation this year is Disney in December, but before that happens I have a vacation in Martha's Vineyard in August to look forward to!
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Getting geared up for our summer vacation. After toying with the idea of heading to Florida, we decided to return to Cherry Grove, SC. We love the area, and look forward to it! Leaving for a week on July 5th.
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I've never been there, but I've seen people get lei's when coming off planes on TV shows and movies, so I don't think her mom made it up.
Because of TV/movies, I also thought that this was just something that happened when you landed in Hawaii, but it's not actually the case. At least, it was not the case in Kona...it could be the case at the Honolulu airport but I'm really not sure.
But my mom is the master when it comes to "attention to detail" and she somehow knew I would love a lei/be disappointed if I didn't get one. In fact, when I expressed to her how sad I was that they didn't give them out on the tarmac upon exiting the plane, her response was, "What the hell do you think this is, Fantasy Island?" And my response was, "Yes!"
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How was the mine ride?
It was alright... nothing too special though. Sure as shit isn't worth a 2 hour wait if you don't have a fast pass. We all agreed it was better than the Barnstormer, but not as good as Thunder Run.
Nice Disney pics. Love the before and after pics. That's a great idea. My kids have basically grown up at Disney. We were down there in April. The Mine Ride wasn't open yet.
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@Chad: Nice pictures, looks like you had a lot of fun :smiley:
@Seneca: Previously I wasn't interested in going to Canada (except to meet Chad in person) but after seeing those pics I'm really stunned. Lovely places there.
@Neon: Hello there :zydar:
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The TACs went on vacation this past August. Got on a plane for the first time in 15 years. Scared shitless to fly over the Atlantic. As some of you know, my oldest son is a special needs kid, and he has been obsessed with things like the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben. Loves all landmarks. So we figured WTF, let's take him! Spent a week in Paris (stayed down at Disney Paris) and London.
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/152_zps2a161e65.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/152_zps2a161e65.jpg.html)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/071_zpsb51cbfd2.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/071_zpsb51cbfd2.jpg.html)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/109_zps49934105.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/109_zps49934105.jpg.html)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/111_zps03c89d7b.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/111_zps03c89d7b.jpg.html)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/124_zpsdcd1a6be.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/124_zpsdcd1a6be.jpg.html)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/172_zps7b2d1019.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/172_zps7b2d1019.jpg.html)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/178_zps3ed1d0f1.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/178_zps3ed1d0f1.jpg.html)
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/213_zps46924d9f.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/213_zps46924d9f.jpg.html)
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Very nice Tim. Never been to Europe myself, but will one day. Not surprised you stayed at Disney :jets:
Man, your son is a beast. Sign him up for football!
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Yeah, he's a beast. Only 13. A gentle giant, so football is not for him. I actually thought of you quite a bit, Chad, as I know you fly a lot. It took a lot for me to get on a plane, I'll tell you. I don't know how you do it. But it all went well. Flew into Paris, home from London. Took a British Airways 747 home and the guy landed it as if it was a feather.
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Yeah, he's a beast. Only 13. A gentle giant, so football is not for him. I actually thought of you quite a bit, Chad, as I know you fly a lot. It took a lot for me to get on a plane, I'll tell you. I don't know how you do it. But it all went well. Flew into Paris, home from London. Took a British Airways 747 home and the guy landed it as if it was a feather.
Nice... my landing this morning at 1am was like the plane was tackled.
You get used to flying. The worst part about it these days is how much the airlines are shrinking the rows. I can barely fit without my knees hitting the seat in front of me on most planes. Very uncomfortable for any duration flight. I've never been to europe, so don't know what that flight would be like.
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We flew a 757 over, which is just longer thn a 737. pretty cramped. I was very disappointed how cramped we were on the 747. I was extecting way more room.
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My turn!!!!!!
Am in the middle of sixteen days out of the kitchen, decided to spend a few up in South Lake Tahoe on a personal sabbatical of beach sitting, pool floating, and slot playing....
From the restaurant first night...
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10653305_623381564426621_1909375050683982900_n.jpg?oh=826cdb4119e0a7473a86a4f7f2fd52e2&oe=549924E8&__gda__=1422528848_e56a1f9df9a8290e52c44fc75b7644de)
Dude was chilling all weekend here...
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10612985_623386507759460_7520221364658740606_n.jpg?oh=929ffb4e682c7f02819f1336dd4d5841&oe=548C161E&__gda__=1422441410_1c64c8ca16ddc73c6b8e26ddbfea90a4)
Spent one evening listening to Tales from Topographic Oceans while watching the sunset, pretty much the most perfect thing life can offer me...
(https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10603374_624572814307496_8590104687713250355_n.jpg?oh=cdae1e1db5560f32198ecfbdf298f6c1&oe=5488712E)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10629794_624742484290529_5538339954200226267_n.jpg?oh=5565b29735ecedec4cfdc14fc0522113&oe=54A0FB6C&__gda__=1418014128_5cdb80fcb9639744bb5c3ff32dfcdb68)
(https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10645020_624756577622453_7056831891025346736_n.jpg?oh=ae18ea4d6a07927e0379d4b3f7154b16&oe=54944535)
And the only sign you need that you should step away from the slots....
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10153971_624756764289101_9179567655263683490_n.jpg?oh=35adb25447280d068778b3c3490abec4&oe=54C8D40C&__gda__=1419273140_09e3764e94e8d4c410c75849218838c3)
Thanks for your time, peace out...
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10389693_624756687622442_26515250029371289_n.jpg?oh=2bd43d5455b23d1b67418856fbcf7c90&oe=5497BD86&__gda__=1418118506_5748318ecdbd515b406f2bf980a38734)
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The sunset on the beach was the bomb RJ. also nice kill on the slots.
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That looks like the non-Seinfeld definition of "serenity now".
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We just did a big ole family vacay in Branson, MO, and we went to the same place we have gone to several times before, the Marriott with the big ass outdoor pool:
(https://cache.marriott.com/propertyimages/s/sgfhb/phototour/sgfhb_phototour09.jpg)
Nothing beats a big swimming pool in the summer time. :coolio :hat
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Gorgeous.
I wasn't posting much back in May when we went on vacation. Took the family on a last minute trip to Ocho Rios - about 20 minutes from where Mrs.Jingle and I tied the knot.
Scotch by sunset:
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11269483_10155525306220545_7375665142084952118_n.jpg?oh=985491a6882268ee360ce2052839b0e9&oe=5645C2DC)
View from our room:
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/1908149_10155525300085545_6912337773065520313_n.jpg?oh=05eb4c4a1ae98f17dc05ef8f4fdc672c&oe=56501A15)
Steak dinner time:
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11147223_10155525302785545_1414673082008155300_n.jpg?oh=2c5332ec63e7ec5662e4524d68ef3a8e&oe=56597E56)
Banana Boat ride with jingle.daughter
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11255537_10155525305235545_6023853231050469413_n.jpg?oh=2e6b52becb7779bef78328393dcd9ba8&oe=5652C79F)
Back at the site of our wedding ceremony - the "Aah Falls"
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11018111_10155523653720545_2455147142277375960_n.jpg?oh=e199dc4d18ef2b245d42319f66b78d43&oe=5611D827)
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11181775_10155523695335545_5066503510329817549_n.jpg?oh=fce360a15f254eccff2b2a9439bb41ba&oe=564D132D)
And lastly, jingle.family at the "Ooh Falls"
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11209384_10155523648835545_5910233992943302423_n.jpg?oh=ca405826bae5c8b12215d5e6b1afa4f4&oe=561A2EBD)
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Victoria and I just booked 5 nights in DC over Christmas. We'll be staying there from the 23rd to the 28th. I've never spent Christmas away from family.
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Those pics are gorgeous Chad! :D
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Great pics, Chad!
Chino, sounds like a fun trip. I must admit, there are parts of me that are excited about the prospect of Christmas away from family.
I just got back from a week's vacation with the family in the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach (home of the dance known as the Shag). We had a great time, I'll try to get some pics loaded soon.
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Jingle Junior has a great head of hair. Wonder where he gets that from!
Don't see any of the dudes on wooden rafts selling shell jewelry in the picture on the banana boat.
Great shots!
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From my first true vacation (ive done long weekend road trips) in like 7 years, I went to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana, DR
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/11143668_10108994471678544_4231041153513657756_o.jpg)
and another pic of my 4 seas in 40 days:
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/t31.0-8/11241441_10109008012552524_3028299726969420702_o.jpg)
Left from top to bottom is the Pacific Ocean from Santa Monica, CA then the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic City, then the North Sea in Zandvoort in the Netherlands, and the bigger pic is the Caribbean Sea from Punta Cana.
Currently have a DC family trip in September and working out the details of a Las Vegas trip in September as well.
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Awesome Cram!
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Chino, sounds like a fun trip. I must admit, there are parts of me that are excited about the prospect of Christmas away from family.
I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. I'll probably really miss spending it with my family as it is small and we don't see each other much, but I've always wanted to go away in December. Also, and I feel absolutely terrible for saying this, but I'm kind of excited I won't have to do anything with my girlfriend's family. They are good people, but her family is huge and they are all super religious. Christmas is a very big deal to them and I always feel a little akward being around all the Jesus stuff and having to pretend I'm into it and share their beliefs. She has 31 first cousins. That's almost double my entire family's size. So when her family does Christmas, it's literally a 70+ person ordeal. Being from a small family, I have a hard time dealing with a croud that big. Throw in the fact that I'm related to none of them and it gets even less appealing. There's also always an unecessarily high level of stress leading up to the holiday because they make such a big deal about it. It will be nice to not have to deal with any of that.
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Nice pics Chad! jingle daughter is really starting to look like mrs. jingle.....
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Jingle Junior has a great head of hair. Wonder where he gets that from!
Don't see any of the dudes on wooden rafts selling shell jewelry in the picture on the banana boat.
Great shots!
I had great hair... until I was 22. :lol
It was a private beach... no way I'd go to a public beach in Jamaica... the locals hawking everything are brutal.
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I had great hair...
Pics or it didn't happen!
Feel free to post 'em here or the Random Caption Thread. :lol
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I had great hair...
Pics or it didn't happen!
Feel free to post 'em here or the Random Caption Thread. :lol
Don't think I have any digitized, and all the photo albums of me of that era are back with jingle.mom. She just moved, so who the hell knows where they might be - lost for all eternity perhaps?
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I had great hair...
Pics or it didn't happen!
Feel free to post 'em here or the Random Caption Thread. :lol
Don't think I have any digitized, and all the photo albums of me of that era are back with jingle.mom. She just moved, so who the hell knows where they might be - lost for all eternity perhaps?
You need to make sure they're not lost, DTF deserves to see some jingle.hair
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Chad, don't scalp tease us.
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We just did a big ole family vacay in Branson, MO, and we went to the same place we have gone to several times before, the Marriott with the big ass outdoor pool:
(https://cache.marriott.com/propertyimages/s/sgfhb/phototour/sgfhb_phototour09.jpg)
Nothing beats a big swimming pool in the summer time. :coolio :hat
My sister was going to do a timeshare trade to Branson last year. My first reaction was..."Missouri???" for a timeshare?? I guess it's a popular place though! :biggrin:
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Here's a pic I took from the balcony of our condo at North Myrtle Beach last Wednesday morning.
(https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/hefdaddy42/personal/Wednesdaymorning_zpsjluprbrk.jpg)
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Stunning view Hef.
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I liked it.
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Looks nice and relaxing
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Is that a shark fin? ;D
Great pic!
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Gorgeous view Hef :tup
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Booked my next vacation... VEGAS BABY!
September will be crazy... Frankfurt (work), Amsterdam (work), Washington DC (family trip), Vegas (friend trip) all in one month.
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Reviving this old thread since I just booked my flight for my next vacation. The gf and I are flying into Seattle June 13th and out of San Fran June 20th. Going to try and do as much stuff in between as we can handle, looking specifically at the three national parks, Olympic, Crater Lake, and Yosemite.
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Reviving this old thread since I just booked my flight for my next vacation. The gf and I are flying into Seattle June 13th and out of San Fran June 20th. Going to try and do as much stuff in between as we can handle, looking specifically at the three national parks, Olympic, Crater Lake, and Yosemite.
Yosemite is epic....
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152633099411804&set=a.119447096803.122112.736856803&type=3&theater
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Short week for me this week. Flying out Wednesday morning for a trip. This is the third year in a row my dad and I will head west for the Monster Jam World Finals. This will be the 18th year of the event. It's something I wanted to do since pay per viewing the first one when I was 11. When I graduated college, my dad asked me what I wanted as a gift, and this was my answer. It's become an annual thing.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hGX7MwgnZ_w/maxresdefault.jpg)
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Reviving this old thread since I just booked my flight for my next vacation. The gf and I are flying into Seattle June 13th and out of San Fran June 20th. Going to try and do as much stuff in between as we can handle, looking specifically at the three national parks, Olympic, Crater Lake, and Yosemite.
Yosemite is epic....
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152633099411804&set=a.119447096803.122112.736856803&type=3&theater
Nice! It's going to be tough though, one week is not a whole lot of time to hit up all these parks and do anything meaningful in any of them. We only got the plane tickets for now and need to discuss how much time we are spending where.
Chino, that's in Vegas? I've been thinking all since I booked my trip about how I want to go back to Vegas again, maybe in the fall during football season. What exactly happens in a monster jam event?
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Chino, that's in Vegas? I've been thinking all since I booked my trip about how I want to go back to Vegas again, maybe in the fall during football season. What exactly happens in a monster jam event?
Yeah. Samboyd Stadium.
Monster Jam events vary depending on where you see them. The size of the Arena pretty much dictates the show. So if you see something in a place like a basketball arena, it'll be much different than one in the Georgia Dome. The Vegas show is a different beast entirely. Many small shows have a lot of "competition", but it's just side shows to entertain the crowd; donut and wheelie competitions, quad races, stuff like that. The show in Vegas has none of that. It's just three days of racing and Freestyle competition. The competition has 32 competitors, 31 of which are determined prior to the event.
Thursday Night:
As mentioned above, only 31 of the 32 competitors are selected going into night 1. There is a second bracket with 16 rookie trucks/drivers who compete in the "Young Guns Shootout", and the winner gets the 32nd spot of the main bracket. After that's over, the remaining 31 trucks do their qualifying runs.
Friday Night:
A bracket is made based on the qualifying times from the night before. The trucks run through the bracket and a racing champion is crowned.
Saturday Night:
The track is reconfigured over the previous 20 hours and the 32 trucks compete in the Freestyle competition. 2.5 minutes to beat the shit out of your truck while lasting as long as possible. A champion is crowned based on judging.
It's a hell of a lot of fun. I don't even bother with the local shows anymore. Everything offered in CT is garbage compared to the Vega show.
(https://www.monsterjam.com/sites/default/files/TrackFeature_Thumb.jpg)
(https://www.metalmulisha.com/wp-metalmulisha/wp-content/uploads/todd-leduc-metal-mulisha-monster-jam-championships-big-air.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c3DW0iY3uGA/maxresdefault.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bzBEg3jlAFo/maxresdefault.jpg)
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Dropping some pics of our trip from last week.
Spent 10 days in Northern California. Stayed 7 nights in Windsor, about 50 miles north of San Francisco. Drove along the coast up to Arcata, and then back down for a couple more nights by the airport.
San Fransisco was awesome. Obviously seeing the Golden Gate bridge, but all of the bridges in the massive ocean of a bay were awesome..the Richmond, the Bay Bridge, and we even drove across the San Mateo bridge, which never seemed to end. We went to the SF Zoo, and also this cool place called the Acadamy of the Sciences in Golden Gate Park.
We visited Sacramento, San Jose, and drove through Oakland/Berkeley. Got some great shots of the stadium and Oracle Arena from the highway.
Went up north and drove the Avenue Of The Giants and Humboldt State Park. The Lovely Mrs TAC got to do some wine tastings. She has always want to go to wine country, which I must say, was amazing. Endless vineyards.
Anyway, here are some shots..
(https://i.imgur.com/BYYQ2ZN.jpg) (https://imgur.com/BYYQ2ZN)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZX2sWGt.jpg) (https://imgur.com/ZX2sWGt)
(https://i.imgur.com/aYbJM5E.jpg)
The Pacific!!! The beach in SF. Amazing!
(https://i.imgur.com/SwhIuSZ.jpg)
A neat thing we did was that my oldest son, who's a special needs guy, wanted to see the Worlds Oldest Lightbulb, which is housed in a Fire Station in Livermore. So we took him. He was very happy to see it. In the pic, it's way up on the ceiling. There's a web camera on it and you can go to some site to view it. Not sure how he heard of it. He's wearing his shirt from the Train Museum in Sacramento, which he was also very happy to visit.
(https://i.imgur.com/WgshPxs.jpg)
Up north in the Redwoods, at a dried up river which we walked down to. The high water mark was to the bridge in the background.
(https://i.imgur.com/P7GSTaf.jpg)
But here are the two money shots:
(https://i.imgur.com/tJ4vqJV.jpg)
and..
(https://i.imgur.com/dK6bACI.jpg)
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Awesome!
The Lovely Mrs TAC got to do some wine tastings. She has always want to go to wine country, which I must say, was amazing. Endless vineyards.
Dude, you got to come to the Niagara region. 100+ wineries in a 50 mile radius. https://www.visitniagaracanada.com/taste/wineries/
Come up here, and we'll take you for a tour you won't forget. We're down in that area at least 3-4 times a year, and will be moving down there in the next year (or less).
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We literally talk about a Niagra Falls/Toronto trip every year.
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Well you literally better make it happen!
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I keep thinking back about my Montana trip last week and I think it was my most enjoyable vacation I've had. As someone who was raised at sea level in Florida I couldn't believe how beautiful the mountains are.
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You get any cool pics?
Tim, looks like a really nice vacation.
Once I get back from Amsterdam the Friday before Labor Day (this is work, not vacation), I took the week off to head over to Atlanta for ProgPower. That is my personal vacation this year. I'll also be going to Jacksonville for Thanksgiving to be at my parents (not sure if this counts as vacation or not, as I am not taking time off work and its just going to my parents). I think there's a chance I do one more small personal trip or vacation before the year ends. As usual, I am predicting myself to be about 2.5k miles from keeping my United status so that usually means a weekend trip somewhere to see a band.
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(https://i.imgur.com/ZX2sWGt.jpg) (https://imgur.com/ZX2sWGt)
Tim, just to mention another work of fiction you're gonna despise, you've been discretely photobombed by Samwell Tarly.
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(https://37.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr5hlnmB4P1r2fufdo1_500.gif)
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(https://i.imgur.com/UehbaPp.jpg)
Finally home.
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"The sea is calling me
My spirit must return"
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"The sea is calling me
Why won't I let these waters
Claim me victory?"
I have so many pictures although I'm not actually on vacation but having last weekend off from work while in Amsterdam certainly felt like vacation. I tweeted this one so it's easy to tag, but I have some many actual cool pictures of Caste De Haar outside Utrecht in the Netherlands:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DlnF1tGW0AMVTSN.jpg:large)