The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[BuddyThomas]

Maybe so... but your discounts are about to begin. You can't do anything about your age, so you might as well suck up whatever benefits that you can derive from an uncontrollable condition.

Spoiler

BTW, I probably shouldn't be the one to break this to you, but, by the time you get the AARP invite, youth is but a distant memory already. You might as well smile and enjoy it.

LOL. Thanks for being a voice of reason, as always.

 

[Gabe1]

Good morning it's in the 20s so tonight's dinner stir fried groundhog and veggies with an orange, ginger sesame glaze served with a Lapu or 2View attachment 188139

It has been a weird couple of days. So I think we should go for the Lapu 2.0 OK?

 

[donaldtoo]

Pretty.

But Oy. I hope they have great General Contractors then some of those others may have had. I've been reading over time about some of the structural issues, if memory serves correct, believe it may be the condo's are having structural issues. Sad 'cause my pipedream has always been to retire to one of those. Be interesting to see how all that pans out. Mess.

And I could live in one of those of yours. No problem. Still the cookie cutter living is something I've yet to experience. I've never lived anywhere even remotely close to a subdivision or row homes. Not just building 100+ well maintained barns like we have here. Both where I grew up and then the places I've lived since I was an adult-every home is different. My condo before I was married was one lone building. Pretty nondescript but nothing around it was generic either. Funny, never thought of it but likely unique neighborhoods is what I've been unconsciously drawn to. But row after row of Disney Mansions at POR I love.

Thanks!

On our end, we always design and spec properly. Our reputation is on the line.
Many aspects (cantilevered decks, etc.) require the design and/or stamp of a registered structural engineer. I know of no major (or even minor ones that I can think of) fails in any of the projects we've been involved in (including a 23,000 sq. ft. 3-story mansion on the side of a cliff here locally overlooking Lake Austin).
And, all of the builders we work with are especially careful to get it right, as well. They don't want to get sued, or be put out of business either.

I have not heard of structural issues at Seaside or Celebration. Do you have an article to link me to? I would definitely want to read it.

As far as the more "cookie cutter" aspects of those communities, that's just part of the whole "New Urbanism" movement, to a degree. Although, if you research most of those types of communities, they like to mix it up a bit, regarding lots, layouts, and common areas.
As far this community down on the Texas coast, we have designed a total of 8 different floor plans, and many more elevation iterations.
Plus, there was another architectural firm involved before they let them go and hired us. They had no problem with the other firm per se, and there designs are good, as well, but they just wanted another firm to put an eye on it and give even more fresh ideas.

 

[donaldtoo]

It has been a weird couple of days. So I think we should go for the Lapu 2.0 OK?

I'll second that...!!!

 

[BuddyThomas]

I was lucky enough to get to see a preview performance of SUNSET BOULEVARD this past Saturday. 40 piece orchestra live on stage. Starring Glenn Close, reviving her Tony winning role from, a few years back. Here is a video of that. She is amazing. If you are in NYC, try to get tickets. It's really an incredible night in the theatre:

 

[donaldtoo]

And how is the charming DWifey these days?

Doing well, thanks for asking!
She's still enjoying the relatively new job, and having fun with the Key West trip planning.
Things are definitely lass crazy than when we were both workin' retail way back when...!

 

[Gabe1]

I didn't watch it for fear I'd have wound up at the pound this morning

yaaaa...my thoughts exactly. I sigh deeply every time I pass the pet supply area at Target.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Here, let me torture you guys with yet another Broadway clip - Glenn Close in 1994 as Norma Desmond. I just saw her in the same show this past Saturday night and she is better than ever, Plays through July. If you're coming to NYC, get tickets to Sunset Boulevard.

 

[Cesar R M]

I've been going to the Shedd since I was just a little tyke. My Dad brought A/C to the Shedd way back and he use to bring me backstage so I could pet the dolphins. I loved Checo. Was so sad when he passed years ago.

Today GrandDad is gone. Grandad was 84 years old and the oldest fish to live in a zoo or aquarium. Came to Shedd in 1933. He will be missed.

84? thats a loooooong life!

 

[donaldtoo]

That and then some I was a bit lazy so I used store bought tortillas for the enchiladas

Most disappointing.
JK, LOL, and all that jazz...!
So many restaurants around here that make fresh tortillas...I could just enjoy a snack of all that fresh, warm, tortilla goodness...!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate flying commercial? Besides even with just 2 of us it's still way cheaper. As long as we have 9 or 10 days I think we'll drive. But yup we'd fly if it was for less time.

Yep, with only a week off, we hafta' fly, or the vast majority of our vacation would be just driving there and back.

 

[Gabe1]

People are going to be unbearable at work today on top of what they already are.

Lady Gaga looks better without makeup.

Day after is never good after any holiday, some believe Superbowl Sunday to be just that.

And I agree. I realize every performer needs their little niche that sets them apart. It seems to be working for her. Kinda a shame, she is a nice looking woman hiding behind all that.

 

[donaldtoo]

It's official we have another winter weather warning for ice. I've never in my life seen such an icy winter I'm starting to feel like a shut in In addition to whatever else is on my list for today I'm going to do some extra cooking in case the guys wind up staying home tomorrow &/or the power goes out. I'm up in the hills so we can handle a foot of snow before everything shuts down(schools are more cautious) but ice is another story. Time to think about shorts, tank tops, flip flops and palm trees ok I looked out the window reality just set back in

Sympathy like.

We're the other way. We're breaking high temp records.
Although it was only 75 here today, it's supposed to be sunny and 87 tomorrow, and sunny and 86 on Wednesday...
WTH...?!?!?!

 

[donaldtoo]

Sympathies, we are supposed to be getting ice tonight into tomorrow. Florida!

Sympathy like.
Hope it isn't too bad...!

 

[donaldtoo]

Sympathy like. They can sometimes be found in large grocery store in area with a Hispanic population nearby.

Yes, they have them in Fiesta Marts here in Austin...!

 

[donaldtoo]

Same here. We've stayed in every decade at Pop twice and the All-Stars numerous times and loved it. I did stay at another popular moderate on property and hated the place. The values are perfect for us.

We stayed off site on our honeymoon in '88. Never gonna' do that again.
Then, on our first family trips in '01 and '04, when the kiddos were younger, we stayed at POR. We love that resort, but, it just isn't needed with our current WDW vacationing style.
Of course, that will probably change in a few years.
Would also like to stay in the monorail loop resorts and WL, at some point.
Then again, Key West may become our destination of choice in the near future.
Just laid back, with no FPs, ADRs, etc. to worry about...it's 5 'O clock somewhere...and a hammock...!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

The weather people changing their minds, now it might not be so much ice and not much snow. I guess I'll find out tomorrow what the weather will be!

Good wishes for no nasty weather stuff...!!!

 

[Gabe1]

It's official we have another winter weather warning for ice. I've never in my life seen such an icy winter I'm starting to feel like a shut in In addition to whatever else is on my list for today I'm going to do some extra cooking in case the guys wind up staying home tomorrow &/or the power goes out. I'm up in the hills so we can handle a foot of snow before everything shuts down(schools are more cautious) but ice is another story. Time to think about shorts, tank tops, flip flops and palm trees ok I looked out the window reality just set back in

Blah! So far we just have very sporadic rain. The one little black rain cloud did find my truck that I just had washed inside out and under though. karma

Hope the ice turns out to just to be rain.

 

[donaldtoo]

Yep. I'm with the DWifey that Grilled Cheese and Soup looked awesome.

It was indeed...
She couldn't eat it all, so I chivalrously finished it off for her...!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

To understand the pillow, one must become the pillow........