The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[MinnieM123]

Good for him. Cigarette's are so harmful, why aren't they on a controlled substance list? Just MHO. I used to defend smoking area's, but I have asthma, and it's very horrible to be around smoke.

Sorry to hear about your asthma. I do prefer that smokers have a designated area, because at least it is confined and not just everywhere around you, like years ago.

 

[donaldtoo]

And, I need to be in the office at about 6:30 tomorrow morning to finish prepping some preliminary floor plan sketches.
Partner is meeting the client and a guy from the City of Austin code dept. to try and get a variance on the city height restriction.
The client bought and combined four huge lots in the outer city limits with a home and other buildings on them. He'll be raising the home, but saving some of the other buildings. As it stands right now, the new home design is (heated and cooled space) about 13,450 sq. ft., and has a large third floor observation room with a covered terrace and an awesome view of downtown Austin.
It meets (just barely) the height restriction closer to the front of the lot, but, the client wants the house further back where it drops off quicker. And, with him still wanting the finished floor level at the same height to take advantage of the view, it's about 5.5 feet over the average grade height where he really wants it to sit on the lot.
Although it very rarely happens, this client is determined to get the variance.
Interested to see how this goes...

 

[MinnieM123]

Although it very rarely happens, this client is determined to get the variance.
Interested to see how this goes...

Money talks . . .

 

[donaldtoo]

I sold 3 shirts each to 2 different guys while composing that last post, and just had another guy in lookin' for steam punk attire...!

 

[donaldtoo]

Money talks . . .

Hahaaa...!
I wasn't going to bring that up, but, yes, it indeed does.
We had some heavily lawyered-up clients that recently got a boat dock setback/easement on Lake Austin vacated so part of their house could be closer to it.

 

[donaldtoo]

Good morning everyone. More pictures after this story about Disney and it's guests. When you think you have seen everything at Disney....someone does something that "takes" the cake. First story....hubby went to the bathroom, a grandpa came in with his grandson, he proceeds to the adult urinals and the kid goes to the small ones for kids. The grandfather looks over and says, oh my God. His grandson is licking the flusher at the urinal. That story tickled my funny bone. Next story is........so we are one Pirates ride, the little boy is in front of us, is saying pee, pee daddy. Dad asks wife if he can hold the boy out of the boat to do his business. She says, no you can't do that...so....he takes the kids pants down and he goes in the boat! The floor was completely wet. More crazy stuff you don't plan to see at Disney. Now, day two's pictures..View attachment 145234 View attachment 145235 View attachment 145236View attachment 145237View attachment 145238

View attachment 145239
Deluxe burgers.View attachment 145240 View attachment 145241

Thanks for the pics, Bet's, and that food looks great! That burger reminds me a lot of Fuddruckers...!

As to the PotC incident...
The only thing I keep thinkin' is why didn't that kid have a Pull-Up on...?

 

[Cesar R M]

Great pics, thanks for posting.

As a photographer...technically, these photos are awful lol.
It was cloudy and getting dark. but just wanted to get some photos of these.

funny thing.. the birds taunted me today. I had not my camera and they were flying everywhere in broad light x_x

 

[Cesar R M]

You're taking the word (blanket) too literally in this example. It's merely an advertising technique, with a bit of a play on words. The item wraps the dogs like they're in a snug, safe blanket, but attached with velco to custom fit them. So it may look a little more like a vest or doggie shirt in the photos.

I NEED A DIAGRAM!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

then that makes no sense.. why call them thunder blankets if they are actually vests or doggy clothes?

Looks like you're correct. I couldn't really find anything about thunder blankets, but, I did find Thundershirts...

 

[donaldtoo]

I NEED A DIAGRAM!!!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Sorry to hear about your asthma. I do prefer that smokers have a designated area, because at least it is confined and not just everywhere around you, like years ago.

I don't mind if there are designated smoking areas in the parks. Even though I don't smoke I do Iike the smoking area by Big Thunder Mountain. Sometimes I even hang out there, it is down by the river and there are even some rocking chairs there. It is a very quiet area.

A little side story, I think it was on my college graduation trip (2000) I was sitting with my mom in the smoking section at Blizard Beach and it was clearly the smoking section and it wasn't on a main pathway. There were probably about 5-6 people smoking in the area, and even a guy with a pipe. I'm pretty sure I was the only one not smoking. Anyway, this lady comes in with her kid (probably around 6-8 years old) and sits down on a bench. Immediately she starts complaining about all the smoke, and how people shouldn't be allowed to smoke in the park and shouldn't smoke wherever they want. Blah, blah, blah, smokers should have their own section. We were all looking at her like she was crazy, finally I told her it was the smoking section. She huffed off shortly, but I thought that was kind of rude of her since she was in the wrong and the smokers were in the right place.

 

[Wrangler-Rick]

I NEED A DIAGRAM!!!

Here ya go!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

I think I'm finished with your cooking pot. Cook away. Sorry for the bad weather. Florida has been getting hammered too, with too much rain. It rained the day we left and is still raining. Glad we missed that. Although, it wouldn't have kept us inside.

The family (DWifey helped them plan their first WDW trip last year), friends of ours, that DWifey also helped them plan this years trip, are there right now. Apparently, in spite of the earlier weather, they're havin' a great time.
And, seems the weather has calmed down for now, too. The wife/mom has put up some fun pics on FB.

 

[BuddyThomas]

So, because my current employment is being eliminated as of July 1 (I start a new job on July 11), I figured that it is a good time to go get a physical. My previous doctor retired a few years back and I've been a bit lazy about finding someone new. But I looked online on my health insurance's providers and basically picked someone out of the hat. My exam was today at 4PM. I was there for two hours!!!

This was the physical to end all physicals. I was poked and prodded, and given tests that I didn't even know existed. This was all new to me. In the past, when I went to a physical, my doctor would just take my blood pressure and then ask me some questions, and that was it.

Today, I got this:

Blood pressure test - on each arm. It was high, and I am now prescribed on a blood pressure pill. Hurray. I am officially old.

The breathe in breathe out thing with the stethoscope.

Then I was told to pull down my pants and lay down on the table and face the wall. What the?!?!?!! The next thing you know, I was violated in a way that cannot be described on a family message board. The unexpected prostate exam was not fun.

Then, the doctor said he was going to send someone in to continue the tests, including a blood draw.

WHAT????? I am so needle-phobic that I usually need a few days to work up to a blood test. Plus, I had just been violated up my freaking ***. How much can one person take???

I told him that I didn't think blood was a good idea, but he said they are very gentle in his office and left and slammed the door. What the -------??!?

So I sat there sweating for a good ten minutes and then this guy comes in with a rolling tray with all this stuff on it. He was very friendly and said that first they were going to do an EKG.

Strapped all these things all over me and did that. No problem.

Then, he did a blow into a tube test to test my lung capacity or something. I guess as the town drunk, I should be familiar with blow into a tube test, but since I do not drive, not so much. But I blew into the tube and was told I passed that one with flying colors.

Then, he said he was going to do a blood draw.

I repeated that I really needed a few days to work up to it, and didn't know this was going to happen today, but there was no talking my way out of it, and minutes later, there was the rubber tube around my arm, and the needle in my vein, and the scream right at the back of my throat. I had asked him how long it would take and he said 20 seconds. It was the longest 20 seconds of my year. Needles and me do not get along. I would make a terrible heroin addict.

So that's enough, right? Wrong!

Next, I had to get an echocardiogram, because apparently an EKG was not enough.

And finally, I don't even know what this test is called but six of what looked like blood pressure bands were placed on my legs and arms and then they did a circulation test to make sure my blood is circulating properly. (It is - the assistant showed me the results).

And that's about it.

Oh wait - I forgot - I had to pee in a cup as well.

That is the craziest physical I have ever had in my entire life. This doctor is detailed, let me tell you. And I guess that's a good thing.

Now of course I am terrified to go for my results in a month. With my luck, I am going to have 17 types of cancer, a failing heart, and it goes without saying that I am going to be told "Mr. Thomas, I'm sorry but we simply could not find your liver." I'll have to tell him that it fell out and got flushed down a toilet at the last drink around the world.

I feel just fine, so I guess its good to find out if anything wonky is going on, but after all those tests, I'm like - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Sorry. Just needed to vent. Luckily, this is right next to my apartment, so I think I was entitled to a treat today, and I had one,

 

[donaldtoo]

Here ya go!!!
View attachment 145313

Actually, I think this is the one he needs...

 

[donaldtoo]

Graduation dinner try 2.
View attachment 145257 View attachment 145258
Can you see them now, @Cesar R M ?

I couldn't see the images in your previous post either, but, I can see them now...looks delicious...!!!
And, congrats to the graduate...such a special time...!

 

[donaldtoo]

Both of my parents smoked, although my dad hid it and still hides it today. My sister smokes, she gave it up while she was pregnant but took it up again as soon as she left the hospital. I wasn't ever tempted to start, I wanted to waste my money in other ways (Disney stuff).

 

[donaldtoo]

Me too, although I try not to waste much money, I was brought up in a very frugal family, and I adopted those habits. It has served us well, as hubby was able to retire early, when the pressure became too much, at 63. We still live frugally and hubby works part time. We use that income for vacations. We figure we have about 6 more years before we quit flying. It may come earlier, as we are having more pain flying, the new airplane seats are so small I can't move my legs. And if the person in front of you reclines their seat you can't move at all. It's really miserable. The space under the seats have gotten so much smaller, a purse hardly fits. I'm thinking the standing positions can't be far behind. We will be out then. It's really crazy. We flew United, and it's the worst flight I have ever experienced. Nothing to do , no entertainment , nothing, as everything was broken. Most miserable flight I have ever had. Not looking forward to next June. We do fly economy, as does the kids, we can no longer afford to fly everyone at business plus. I've done that , and it's not much better if someone reclines their seat. Flying is just hell to me anymore. I can put up with a lot. But my legs going to sleep and my back hurting during the whole flight is not fun. Oh, I forgot to mention the seat cushions, only go to the middle of the upper leg, no support. And you can't move at all. My tray couldn't hold my small computer. It barley held a coke and a snack. Just a heads up to anyone flying United. I don't know about other airlines, but this was the worst. Rant, and info over!

Wow. Sympathy like.
Except for our WDW trip this past Feb. (we flew Delta with no issues whatsoever), we have only ever flown Southwest there since our first family trip in '01. Again, no issues with comfort or anything. When we flew out to DLR in '10 on Frontier, no problems either.
Sounds like certain airlines are now really turning their fleets into airborn cattle cars.

 

[donaldtoo]

You're all gonna think I'm nutty (then again, no big surprise there . . . ) but I think I've seen that movie probably about 9 times since it came out. And it's always been panned by the movie critics; but I think the movie, somehow, has its own crazy sort of cult following (guilty as charged!!).

It's not one of my all-time faves, but, I like it too, and always watch it when it comes on. Just like flying, I've been fascinated by tornados since I was a kiddo. I still have many dreams about both.

 

[donaldtoo]

No need to be so diplomatic. Just go and have an all-out hissy fit !! And be sure to have a friend film the meltdown and post it on YouTube, so we can all see it.