Randomness

[Aikiweezie]

Yes, not true Florida, though it's a very diverse and fast-growing state so that recently-built Orlando quality is a very real part of it.

When we went out in my youth it was often to an all-you-can-eat cafeteria in Tampa, so that feels pretty Floridian to me.

I don't remember any aquarium type thing at Epcot -- I'll look forward to seeing it in July. And I find it hard to believe it can really be much hotter there than it is today right here.

The Aquaruim is part of the "Finding Nemo" exhibit. It is very nice.

Alelou, We're going to Disney Word in July, too, the 24th - 31st. Not sure what we were thinking, it'as gonna be mega-hot - except now we have to plan our vacations areound Steven's breaks. We really want to go back and we also want to see the Harry Potter stuff at Universal.

[Alelou]

Yep, I'm a week or two ahead of you. Hey, the average temp is one degree cooler in July than August -- LOL.

Now that I'm teaching again I guess I'm stuck with the school calendar even after Alejandro graduates. Oh well.

At least we have weather. I don't think I'd want to live most of my life on a starship.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

One thing that I appreciated at Disney World and Epcot was that I was there at a time when it wasn't too crowded. So the waiting lines weren't very long, unless you wanted to do the most popular stuff (and those were mostly for kids, like roller coasters, which I hate anyway).

And yes, I now recall that the aquarium bit was at "Finding Nemo". I forgot about that since I haven't seen that movie.

The World Showcase at Epcot was nice too, if a bit on the cheesy side. And as a Swede I didn't like that Norway was the Nordic showcase... To top it off, I went there on May 17th, which is Norway's National Day, so the whole place was swarming with drunk and obnoxious Norwegians.

[Alelou]

Drunk and obnoxious at Disney. Seems like an oxymoron.

Last time I was at Epcot, which is probably almost 20 years ago, we got stuck in the Norway ride as it climbed halfway up to the North Sea, or something like that. We had to walk out of it on these little steps you don't even notice when you're in the 'boat.' The whole place was looking a little worn at the time, actually.

[Rigil Kent]

This is gonna be a weird question, but does anyone live near salt flats? Or have visited them? If so, what do they smell like?

[Alelou]

If you google 'smell of salt flats' you'll find some info, and if you're looking for a bad smelling place, you can always use this as your model --

http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/salton-sea/

However, I get the feeling this smells more because it's not so much a salt flat, but one that might still in the midst of forming (since dead fish stink).

I can tell you by some poorly-timed seaside visits in Florida during red tides that lots of dead fish not only stink, they can give you a sore throat. Of course, as kids we'd just go in the water anyway and throw dead fish at each other...

[honeybee]

I learned today that Goo Gone is the best thing to get gum out of car upholstery. I drive a Toyota, so I removed my mats a while back. I don't chew gum, and I can only assume that the gum on my floor came from my shoe. Anyway, Goo Gone works.

AND, I promised to report on whether Sketchers Shape Ups work. Well, I have read some skeptical articles about them and thought carefully about my experience with them. Here's my unscientific opinion. They basically force you to walk in the optimum posture for exercise. You could probably teach yourself to do this in regular shoes, but the Sketchers do help you stand up straight and walk fully heel to toe. They're not going to burn a whole lot of extra calories or make you walk - but I do think they help you walk better. So, is it worth the $100? For me, I think so, as I get lazy when I walk and tend to slouch. Plus, I kind of like the three inches they put on my height.

[WarpGirl]

We went to "Norway" at Epcot when I was 13. The only good part about the whole dang trip. But then I'm an American Girl. The food was AWESOME! Totally amazing! I still wanna see the rest... And I'm 26....

[Alelou]

I learned today that Goo Gone is the best thing to get gum out of car upholstery. I drive a Toyota, so I removed my mats a while back. I don't chew gum, and I can only assume that the gum on my floor came from my shoe. Anyway, Goo Gone works.

AND, I promised to report on whether Sketchers Shape Ups work. Well, I have read some skeptical articles about them and thought carefully about my experience with them. Here's my unscientific opinion. They basically force you to walk in the optimum posture for exercise. You could probably teach yourself to do this in regular shoes, but the Sketchers do help you stand up straight and walk fully heel to toe. They're not going to burn a whole lot of extra calories or make you walk - but I do think they help you walk better. So, is it worth the $100? For me, I think so, as I get lazy when I walk and tend to slouch. Plus, I kind of like the three inches they put on my height.

LOL. My stain removal technique for washables consists of 1) Greased Lightning before the wash, then don't put it in the dryer (drier?) so I can see if it worked. If that fails, I move on to Goo Gone. That usually does the trick. I've also had some luck with hair spray (on ink stains). It's basically acetone, the same thing as nail polish remover -- the same stuff I probably used to soak into my hands at carcinogenic levels when I did paste-up at a newspaper (because it cleaned up wax).

Walking in good posture doesn't sound like fun to me, but I'm still longing to try those weird toe shoes. It just sounds really appealing to run in them, and I'm not a runner. Well, I was for a couple of years until I started getting shin splints, but that was a looooong time ago.

[WarpGirl]

Well I was watching Real Sports with Bryant Gumble on HBO today and they did this whole report that more and more studies are showing that running barefoot actually works better and is healthier for your legs and feet. That and most running shoes do absolutely nothing to help you run/walk/or stand better. On a personal note all I can say is I've said the same thing to physical therapists and orthapedic drs my entire life.

[honeybee]

Sketchers Shape Ups are supposedly designed to mimic the motions of walking barefoot without the whole stepping on glass and rocks that doesn't make it so practical.

[WarpGirl]

Oh I wasn't refering to those specific shoes. I don't know much about them. And admittedly I only caught half the story. The idea of getting sliced up by concrete and glass is not appealing. Or the stuff in the woods where I live either. But because life is very ironic, I can't feel that stuff because of my CP.

[honeybee]

So, in another step toward frugality - I've decided to break my bottled ice tea habit. I know it is silly, but they sell it for a dollar a bottle at my grocery store and I am lazy.

But, I decided to buy a $14 pyrex ice tea pitcher with a built in place for the ice at kitchen kapers, some local honey, tea bags - and boom. I don't need to buy that ice tea any more. First batch worked fine, and isn't as sweet as the kind from the grocery store, which is good.

I think that might knock $10 off my weekly grocery bill.

[WarpGirl]

Most Excellent!

[panyasan]

It's election time in my country and just wrote an polite e-mail to the leader of one of the main parties, asking him why he would raise the rent of houses with 65% and would put the middle class and me in misery. So, I got that of my chest.

Edit: no way, I got a reply from him with a good explanation. And this in election time....

Honeybee - we have a small mint plant, so I could have fresh mint tea. Best to be drunk hot, but if you add some sugar (or honey) and some ice cubs, I think you have a nice ice tea - and a fun and nice smelling plant and tea for free!