The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[donaldtoo]

"Plaid"

Somewhat related, I recall a funny discussion I had with hubs recently. Because he's really good with cars and does a lot of his own repairs, I decided to ask his opinion on this: Which gasoline company (Mobil, Shell, EXXON, or Sonoco) sold the highest quality gas? I knew that they all had regular and premium levels that they sold, but I assumed one company was probably rated at the top.

He said that they're all the same. Many years ago (before I met him), one of his jobs was a taxi driver in Boston. If he dropped off a fare over in the East Boston or Chelsea areas, he'd sometimes drive by the bulk petroleum, etc. (huge tanks) storage facilities at the waterfront. He'd watch the gas company trucks line up at these huge tanks, and fill up their trucks, for delivery to gas stations. Didn't matter what the sign on the side of the trucks was--they all pulled from the SAME tanks!!

They each put their own special awesome "additives" in the trucks after they fill them.

 

[donaldtoo]

We have boatloads of Baskin Robbins around Illinois however I believe they have mostly gone the way of combo franchises that complement off hours of each. Ours are Dunkin Donut/Baskin Robbins combos. Seems to be working for both franchises.

We have a lot of places down here that are a combination gas station, convenience store with a McD's, or Burger King, or Subway, etc.
Gas, beer, and fast food all in one stop...!!!

 

[Gabe1]

@StarWarsGirl


14. Nope, I've only been at Fort Wilderness to ride bikes.Hoop is a tad expensive but I really enjoy and all the wine you care to drink is included.
15. I had a Dumbo hat as a kid that I wore around the parks, along with Minnie ears I had Mickey ears as a toddler, but my beloved was a baseball hat from
DL of Goofy. Wore it the entire trip

17. Learned it on the piano too. I'm trying to imagine how Pirates lends itself to the piano, I can't get there

19. A few times, although not my favorite thing to do none of the castle show do a thing for me
20. Yup. They're funny. I'd watch Citizens over the Castle show any day.


24. I don't even want to know how many times I've seen Illuminations If I can no longer tally up the trips I've taken from birth to DL and the WDW then both parks, there is no way in heck I can remember the amount of times I've seen Illuminations or the shows that precede it.

28. My current antenna topper is Dumbo. I have Olaf too, but he only comes out in summer Mine is easter egg mickey
29. I am pleased to say OH YES! Adult beverages and the WS are meant to be
30. I've never been during Halloween, and I really don't care for that holiday.
Halloween is likely my favorite holiday, close second Memorial Day
31. Watching the Christmas Day parade is tradition in my family.
Christmas Parade was a morning tradition for us forever with our kids. Don't anymore since it isn't really a parade anymore. We were fortunate to have them watch the Christmas morning parade in the MK live-now everything is taped months in advance.
32. Absolutely. The year it opened. I was three. We did opening day that year.
DD was 6

37. The WDW Railroad, the DL railroad...take your pick.
My DS had a thing for trains. Loved them. Though I preferred the old spiel over what they do now. On arrival day that was the first thing we did. DD still very little drifted, not quite in a sound sleep when the announcement of rules came on. Her eyes bugged open when it came to the part AND NO SLEEPING ON THE TRAIN. Nap time was over.
38. At least once per trip

42. Yeah, no. It's vacation. I don't rise and shine. Me either Sister Friend. I don't sleep in but I need sleep.

46. A long time ago before they jacked up the prices Us either. Price and the quality of food now, can't imagine me going back to Cindy's
48. Are you kidding me? I used to have screaming fits in line for Dumbo as a toddler. My parents are so mad that there weren't Fastpasses, a playground, and two sides when I was two. It would have made their lives much simpler.So that was you having a hissy fit.
49. That's the only way to do it!I'm more apt to stay to closing then get up early. Just how I'm wired.
50. Took a selfie with each castle in the background last January. So many castle photos. More likely to take my photo with the ever moving Wooden Indian statue.

 

[Gabe1]

We have a lot of places down here that are a combination gas station, convenience store with a McD's, or Burger King, or Subway, etc.
Gas, beer, and fast food all in one stop...!!!

I think it is a unique law that some states have. Warm beer can only be sold in gas stations.

 

[donaldtoo]

Oh, and BTW...
Youngest DDs car problem turned out to be more than just a thermostat, to the tune of $1,100+. Thermostat is part of it, but, the main issue was apparently a water pump failure/leak. Also, some fan relay switches, and the coolant all has to be flushed because this new particular kind gels when it overheats. There were a coupla' other things, but, I don't remember much of the conversation after a certain point 'cause I started to go numb.
But, the fact that the engine overall wasn't damaged by the overheat was a bright point...!
As I've posted before, I have no reason not to trust these guys, as we've had vehicles in many times for what we thought might be serious issues, and they turned out to be minor.
But, over $3K in the past few months in car repairs is it bit of a 2x4 across the face...

 

[donaldtoo]

I think it is a unique law that some states have. Warm beer can only be sold in gas stations.

No problem...I can drink warm beer...SURPRISE...!!!!!

But, even though you can buy it warm down here, I don't know of anywhere it's sold where you can't also get it cold.

 

[Gabe1]

We have a lot of places down here that are a combination gas station, convenience store with a McD's, or Burger King, or Subway, etc.
Gas, beer, and fast food all in one stop...!!!

I see that when I travel our more rural highways. I don't know I can buy a coke or coffee at a gas station. Having meal there not so much anymore than Little Cesars or Subway at a Walmart. Starbucks now that I purchase in a box store.

 

[Gabe1]

Oh, and BTW...
Youngest DDs car problem turned out to be more than just a thermostat, to the tune of $1,100+. Thermostat is part of it, but, the main issue was apparently a water pump failure/leak. Also, some fan relay switches, and the coolant all has to be flushed because this new particular kind gels when it overheats. There were a coupla' other things, but, I don't remember much of the conversation after a certain point 'cause I started to go numb.
But, the fact that the engine overall wasn't damaged by the overheat was a bright point...!
As I've posted before, I have no reason not to trust these guys, as we've had vehicles in many times for what we thought might be serious issues, and they turned out to be minor.
But, over $3K in the past few months in car repairs is it bit of a 2x4 across the face...

View attachment 198502

Sorry.

 

[donaldtoo]

Oddly When Woolworth's closed their doors in the US many of the buildings then became Foot Lockers selling athletic shoes and some Champ's, also athletic wear.

A connection for us all Cheryl, (2nd favorite ranked) one of the original Mouseketeers married the son of the heir of Woolworths.

I don't care who ya' are, that is some trivia right there...!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Sorry.

Thanks, Gabe!
We'll survive, but, dern already.

Oh my...my apologies for the language...

 

[Gabe1]

Don't people give out Easter baskets anymore? When I was a kid, my mother always had baskets filled with Easter candy for us. We didn't get any additional gifts with the candy. (Your boys don't realize how lucky they are!)

Actually, looking back on it now, I didn't feel deprived at all--I just remember stuffing my face with chocolate rabbits and jelly beans, and feeling absolutely euphoric over the experience!

I still make Easter Baskets and I'm given one too. But in my kids basket there is always something beyond edible yummy things. Even Walt got an Easter Basket.

 

[Gabe1]

Nice sunny evening. Stroll out to the closest beach . (5 mins away )

So envious. It is still pouring here. Nearest beach? I guess the Quarry which is maybe 30 miles-maybe more. Opens at the end of the May.

 

[Gabe1]

Yes, but then they were being mass produced so much they were just pieces of thick cardboard. I think I still have a few random
ones somewhere.

Like any type of collectible there was quality and there was the cheap stuff. I have a cake tin filled with Pogs and Slammers of my sons and they are not mass produced cardboard.

Very much like Disney Pin's we have around here. Some are cheap-o and others are the real deal and nice.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Good morning. We did the bil birthday. It all seemed more relaxed. I was correct the oldest grandson, is taking the news really hard. The youngest, said he would see us sometime. He has never said that before. So he seems to be searching what happens next. I woke up at 3 this morning. I'm not sleeping as well. I'm hoping this gets resolved soon. DD gets the keys to her apartment, April 13. The number keeps popping up in her life. I wonder if this is a message from the stars!

Sorry to hear that your grandson isn't taking the news too well right now. Good news is overall kids are pretty tough and just show you care and thing should turn out ok.

 

[donaldtoo]

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

From the Disney College Program Alumni Page.

Time for a Test!

What did you score?

2 for me.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I'm at a reading conference for work the next two days and my co-workers and I arrived in town tonight. Well there just happens to be a Disney store outlet in town. They were. I've enough to let me do a little shopping. I got a Disneyland travel coffee mug for $4 and two Disneyland 60th celebration. Shirts I had been eyeing up at Disneyland but I hadn't bought because of the price but the were 50% off the clearance price! So as far as I'm concerned this has been the most successful conference ever!

 

[Songbird76]

Just popping in again. We had the funeral yesterday. It went well and it was really great to hear stories about my dad...the major thing was about my dad's gift giving. My dad wasn't really good at showing emotion, so his way of letting you know he cared about you was to give you something and sometimes he just decided you needed something and he was going to be the one to give it to you, whether it was kitchen knives or a lighted drawing board (for a 3 year old). One person didn't really even know who he was...she was at the feed store and he overheard her name or something...his neighbor's son had just gotten married and it was his wife and he decided she needed a pink....paddle rattle? That's what it sounded like she said, but I don't know what that is and I might not have heard right. But she was leaving and the sales clerk came running out after her and said she must be dad's friend, he had insisted she have this. She didn't even know him yet. And another said she had a skunk problem and her husband wanted her to shoot them, but she's small and the gun he had was too big...several years later, my dad shows up with a gun and ammunition for her to shoot the skunks. And there were SO many stories involving ice cream that we served ice cream after the funeral. We had asked people for stories for the guy doing his eulogy and so many involved ice cream that we decided we needed to send him off in style.

So... @figmentfan423 if you remember, I told you my dad had a thing about buying knives...and he had given me about 40 or so and I gave them to friends and family. I gave you the last ones I had that I wasn't using. I was so happy they went to a good home and weren't just sitting in a box somewhere. Well, my dad's friend found 3 boxes of knives in the house last week and my brother and his husband went out on Monday to clean some stuff out and this is what THEY found...so this is MINUS the 3 boxes his friend found, so this is about 2/3 of the knives found so far...perhaps you can understand why I wanted so badly to get rid of the ones I had and I wasn't worried about getting more if I needed them (everything NOT in the car is knives):

 

[donaldtoo]

And do you remember going to the library in the days before privacy concerns and being able to see everyone who had read the book before you?

or a mimeograph machine with purple ink and intoxicating smell

or the days before the invention of the plastic grocery bag?

or do you remember the day you actually rolled the window down and could break a rib or two if someone closed the door for you too quickly?

or when slides were tall, metal and burnt your tushie?

Again, remember it all...!

As to the first one, I don't know how much pertinent information (as in an address, SS#, etc.) could have been gathered from that.

As to the second one...





Paper grocery bags, of course.

Manual car door knobs, same.

And, yes...the beeeeeeehind burnin' slide...!!!!!
When my pop worked for IBM in No Cal, way back in the day, they had a playground on property with one just like this...sooooo cool...!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Just popping in again. We had the funeral yesterday. It went well and it was really great to hear stories about my dad...the major thing was about my dad's gift giving. My dad wasn't really good at showing emotion, so his way of letting you know he cared about you was to give you something and sometimes he just decided you needed something and he was going to be the one to give it to you, whether it was kitchen knives or a lighted drawing board (for a 3 year old). One person didn't really even know who he was...she was at the feed store and he overheard her name or something...his neighbor's son had just gotten married and it was his wife and he decided she needed a pink....paddle rattle? That's what it sounded like she said, but I don't know what that is and I might not have heard right. But she was leaving and the sales clerk came running out after her and said she must be dad's friend, he had insisted she have this. She didn't even know him yet. And another said she had a skunk problem and her husband wanted her to shoot them, but she's small and the gun he had was too big...several years later, my dad shows up with a gun and ammunition for her to shoot the skunks. And there were SO many stories involving ice cream that we served ice cream after the funeral. We had asked people for stories for the guy doing his eulogy and so many involved ice cream that we decided we needed to send him off in style.

So... @figmentfan423 if you remember, I told you my dad had a thing about buying knives...and he had given me about 40 or so and I gave them to friends and family. I gave you the last ones I had that I wasn't using. I was so happy they went to a good home and weren't just sitting in a box somewhere. Well, my dad's friend found 3 boxes of knives in the house last week and my brother and his husband went out on Monday to clean some stuff out and this is what THEY found...so this is MINUS the 3 boxes his friend found, so this is about 2/3 of the knives found so far...perhaps you can understand why I wanted so badly to get rid of the ones I had and I wasn't worried about getting more if I needed them (everything NOT in the car is knives):
View attachment 198506

Mixed like.

Again, my deepest condolences, but, so glad y'all could find some more great memories of your pop in all of this. It sounds to me like he was a good and decent man. He just had his own way of showing it.
Glad all went as well as can be expected.