Another typical Florida June day, except possibly cooler and less wet than normal. Frankly the overcast is nice if you are outside at a park or elsewhere as it is much more comfortable. Without the June showers it gets pretty hot in the afternoon.
Did a summary of yesterday in the comments.
Today is a recovery day. W and the Ds will be trying for some beach time, and I’ll be sleeping in and relaxing.
Maybe I’ll post more today, later.
Until then, stack something. The sportiness isn’t going away. If they can’t get what they want by cheating, they’ll try to get it by force.
nick
Universal has its own version of the Lightning Lane which ends up effectively costing as much as Disney’s if you want to see everything in a park in a day.
The parks are $400-500/day now. The costs have gone parabolic.
Amish and Mennonite, their Latin brothers from another mother.
That section of the city used to be decent until the brewery complex closed and the surrounding neighborhoods declined.
Mel’s Hot Dogs was the lone business holdout from the old days outside of the park. I haven’t checked on Mel in a while, but I assume he’s still there.
Or his daughter.
Maybe we’ll go out and see this weekend.
I’m getting Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza tonight.
BTW, someone will be home at my house, but that isn’t why I’m maintaining partial opsec until Sunday.
I look forward to the construction of Henry Nowak Square in the UK, in honor of the inocent university student who was stabbed to death by a racist murderer who was allowed to strut about with a weapon denied to the majority of the populace because he had the right as a “religious exception”.
To bad Henry Nowak didn’t have the right not to be murdered by a thug that shouldn’t have been on the street.
t-shirt:
”I DON’T THINK SO, MATE.”
Note that at this point in the U.S. debacle the names of all the police involved had been known for months. Yet the cowards in the U.K. who claim their racist police are blameless are withholding the names and covering everything up that they can.
And in the most bizarre twist of all, the judge in the trial withheld video from the jury weighing the evidence that the murderer made taunting his victim because it was “too horrific”.
I am looking into taking the son, his wife, and two kids to Disney World. I was pricing stuff online and for four days, staying at Animal Kingdom, the cost on the Disney website is $13K. I would expect by the time other amenities (meal plan, fast passes) are added the cost will be pushing $15-16K.
I think the kids would enjoy Animal Kingdom resort more than the hotel with the Grand Floridian. Maybe I could put his family up at Animal Kingdom and the wife and I stay at the Grand Floridian. That place is charging $700.00 a night, $600 off season. Wowsers!
Even so, I will probably spring for it. At this point in my life I have the funds, and those funds are better spent on enjoyment and memories rather than stuff.
I have also told my son that if I die first, he is to take part of the inheritance and take his family to Disney World and don’t skimp on the cost. It would be part of my legacy.
@Ray: I’ve used this site multiple times: https://dvcrentalstore.com/
You can get significantly cheaper rates than booking the equivalent publicly available room in a resort. We have used them for multiple stays at Boardwalk Villas and a stay at Wilderness Lodge. Just submit a quote request to them for the dates you are looking for. Highly recommended.
When I load a cd from one of the pre-eminent rock guitarists, I do not expect to be greeted on the first track with nose flue, mouth harp, or someone wandering the piano’s minor keys with his pinkies.
I want a guitar laying it down like a dump truck putting a line of coke on the tarmac at LAX—hard and unmistakable.
On one of our bigger trips to Disney World, we had 15 family members. We booked three places in a local time share village and three rental cars to save money. MrsAtoz is buddies with a lady VP at Universal. She met us at the VIP gate and gave us each a special signed card to ”fast pass” for the day. That was worth $3-5,000 alone plus free entry.
For that money, I expect you could probably visit Disneyland Paris, plus Paris, and real fairytale castles in France, and Luxembourg, and Germany, and…
As a harp player myself, I object.
In a proper ensemble, the guitar can rise above all else and shine. Solo guitar seldom reaches those heights. Same for harp.
Although I once stood 10 feet from Kim Wilson while he did a solo encore of Nine Below Zero. Second best live performance on harmonica ever.
Best was Charlie Musselwhite and band doing Christo Redentor, also from 10 feet away. That encore alone was worth the price of admission. I like to think of Charlie as a friend of mine, but only because we’ve met in person a few times.
There’s only one true solo instrument!
Slept in. Females have headed to the beach and shopping. Finished my eggs and bacon, started on the coffee. It looks sunny but overcast and I haven’t stepped out to see how hot it is yet.
DVC rentals are a great way to save money and get extra amenities while staying ‘on property.’ It’s a way of enhancing value rather than scrimping.
Disneyland Paris isn’t known for its discounted rates is it? And it’s at best a two day park while WDW could be up to 10 days or more if you want to do everything.
Our “home” property is the Boardwalk villas (DVC) and it’s a great location for the back door to EPCOT or to Hollywood studios. We stayed in Bay Lake Towers once, and it’s a very nice hotel, walking distance to the Magic Kingdom. The bayou themed resort is very nice too, and considered a lower tier.
All the ‘monorail’ properties are the highest tier, but you can’t beat the convenience and the quality is there too.
The DVC property at Animal Kingdom Lodge is very nice as well if you intend to spend more than a day at AK. The main hotel has great theming, a really nice jazz bar, and lots of chances to see animals. AK is probably our least favorite park, and we consider it a ½ day park. Hollywood studios MIGHT stretch to 2 half days or one full day if you want to do everything and lines are long.
MK is a 1 day for adults hitting highlights, but 2 day for young families. EPCOT/World Showcase is a long 1 day, or a nice 2 half days…
Plan to see the major show/fireworks in each park at night if you like fireworks…
There are plenty of guides online focused on visiting as adults, families, small kids, etc.
My advice is to keep a loose schedule, start each day with the major goal, and relax. Also, take boats as transportation whenever you can. They are so much nicer than a bus, almost a ride in themselves.
And Nick’s rules for theme parks… given two choices, take the one on the left (english speakers turn right more often than left), never wait more than 20 minutes for a ride, 30 if it’s really crowded and you REALLY want that ride this trip. Pay for the FASTPASS, it’s your life and you won’t get the time in line back. Be flexible, ask cast members if there is anything special or cool happening. I have gone on the “last ever” ride of several attractions just because I was there and asked. If you work for a bigcorp that sponsors a ride at Disney, ask your HR if there is any special lounge available to you. There usually are, and they come with special treatment at that ride. Finally, plan what you can to maximize value (not save money, maximize what you get for it) but then once you are there, put it out of your mind. ALL THEME PARKS ARE EXPENSIVE. It’s the nature of the beast. Don’t rob yourself of enjoying the experience you are paying crazy money for by agonizing over the cost.
If money is tight, save more and go next year.
n
R.I.P. Anthony Head. Giles from Buffy. Only 72.
BTW, I turned 71 yesterday.
You Are Old, Father Atoz
D5 and D3 are Disney misers when we go. They ferret out every deal. Discount cards, points, coupons, freebies, etc.
And, yes, plan and save up for the trip. Don’t skimp. You don’t want to waste any time.
Mr AtoZ welcome to the over 70 club.
Ray (he’s older), me (I look better), and a few others here.
@lpdbw
”As a harp player myself, I object. ”
Mouth harp or stringed harp?
On Disney: if you have Vet status, there are discount places online and on base.
I’m thinking about getting a Tesla Model Y next year. In my old age decrepitude, I can just Grok “Hookers and blow,” and the Y will take me there.
I have only 14 dozen eggs in the basement fridge. Partly this is because we gave away 4 dozen a couple weeks ago. Partly it may be because someone’s been stealing eggs. If this is the case, best guess is it’s one of the aides. A previous aide was doing so, apparently not realizing that we had a camera which saw the upstairs fridge. I’ll scrounge up a camera to watch the downstairs fridge, just in case.
However, it might not be a thief. It might be my wife having brought up more than she thought and the dozen here and dozen there mysteriously missing weren’t taken, just eaten. Her brain isn’t as fried as her mother’s but the medications have definite mental impacts, most notably on her memory. Which is understandable and can be dealt with via extensive notes, lists, and appointment reminders. Which she doesn’t do.
The plan for most of a decade had been that I’d move out once The Child turned 18. That plan had assumed that my wife would be a functional human being. A piece of crap human being in many ways, but able to take care of herself. As it happens, she isn’t and that doesn’t account for her mother being alive but 100% disabled, a situation we hadn’t considered. Setting aside the bills I pay, she couldn’t keep the house going without me taking care of things every week and almost every day. It’s an ethical dilemma, whether I should suffer through staying or should walk away and let her deal with her own problems.
An ethical dilemma which could be resolved by one or more deaths, once again demonstrating the wisdom of SteveF’s maxims for life. Alas, when a married or recently separated woman dies, the husband is the first suspect. Curses! And modern cars are safe enough that wrecking cars seldom results in death. And the better modern cars have enough automated safety features that even bad drivers have fewer accidents. (My wife last totalled a car (totalled for economic reasons; I got it in good shape for about $2500 and plenty of elbow grease and now The Child drives it) 16 months ago and her new car has prevented at least three accidents by automatically braking or swerving.)
Blues harp
Mouth organ
tin sandwich
Mississippi saxophone
harmonica
free reed (although that technically includes Jew’s harp, Sheng, accordion, and pump reed organ).
Alas, I should say former player. But I appreciate the instrument and the good players.
Big Walter Horton, Little Walter Jacobs, Sonnyboy Williamson (I and II), Jerry Portnoy, Carey Bell, James Cotton, Junior Wells, Peter “Madcat” Ruth. Many, many others.
The international annual convention of SPAH (Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica) is in St. Louis this August. Was in San Antonio last year. I’ve gone to several of them, and it’s a good time if you love the instrument. I may go this year, I may not. I need to look at the performance schedules and see if I know any of the players.
There are sites that provide veteran discounts to the parks. What I don’t know are restriction dates. I have even heard that Disney does discounts for disabled veterans.
As reinforced by that old fart rotary driver fly-boy.
Yeh, except for airfare for six people which would quickly approach the $15K boundary. I have been to several castles in Germany. After the first five they all begin to look the same. Probably the most famous is that “Disney” castle in Bavaria. The outside was awesome. The inside tour was a waste of money. I have also been to the Heidelburg castle, which was my first, and probably the most impressive.
Exactly. I am looking for the convenience and the quality. I am never staying off property again. Animal Kingdom was good, but it was still a shuttle ride. The monorail seems to be the best option based on my experience traveling between parks.
That is also on my radar. I have enough money that spending $15-16K for the parks is not going to put me in the poor house. The value of the experience with the son, wife, and grandkids, is like Mastercard says, priceless.
We sort of did that on our last trip to Germany. We rode in Premium Select, the equivalent of domestic 1st Class. About $3K a ticket round trip. We could have saved $1.5K a ticket by riding in cattle car class. Been there, done that. I don’t need to be doing that anymore. We also get 1st class tickets on the German trains. Actually, those are a really good price with a foreign passport. For domestic I book Comfort+ as I am only flying for four or five hours. Overseas is 8+ hours and comfort on those flights becomes more of an issue.
I also avoid hotels with external room entrances. The rooms are more expensive, but my comfort, security, and peace of mind are more important.
A person gets to a certain point in life where there is not much left to purchase. All of the stuff I need I already have. Most of the stuff I want I already have and what I don’t have I am probably better off without.
All that I am doing with my money is keeping it so my kid gets it for an inheritance. If I need a nursing home the VA will cover the cost in a VA facility. Yeh, probably not the best place to rot, but better than paying big bucks to rot in a private facility. The VA facilities are generally well run, monitored, inspected, etc. All the places smell like urine and disinfectant. Medical for the wife is probably the only issue.
At some point I need to spend the money on stuff the wife and I enjoy. Travel, going places, seeing things. Taking the entire family to Disney World and not worry about the cost. Spend it now. Because if we still have anything left, and the wife needs a nursing home, Medicaid will make certain to take most of the funds. Better to have spent the money rather than give it to the government.
And “Gold Blend”/“Taster’s Choice” ads.
Those were arguably bigger than “Buffy”.
Retail and advertising will have to be relearned before it is too late.
“Buffy” capitalized on Head’s fame from the coffee commercials, much like “Star Trek The Next Generation” and “Eugene Bradford”.
Walking to the food court of the high end mall near TPA today, I was struck by how many stores were just a couple of display cases of watches from various labels.
Fintech bros and 2%-ers.
I made it to the HEB early today. Before the place was full of escapees from the nursing home. I was out the door at 8:25am.
They were “out at the warehouse” of half and half. No big deal, I have half a quart plus a full quart. I just don’t want to run out. Hey, it’s ok man, please quit apologizing for what’s not your fault.
Picked up some beer. Duh. Wandered through the meat department. You never know when you might find a deal.
Well. I might have found a deal. Almost four pounds of chicken breast “with rib meat” (I assume that is code for the weird chunk of cartilage one has the joy of biting into) and “seasoned for fajitas”. NO bones. Was a bit over $12 and came home with me for a bit over $9. I’ve never bought the chicken fake fajitas. But they keep selling them so maybe they are good. I’ll grill them tomorrow or Sunday. Seems like a good price.
They have a new to me item of Brazilian Seasoned pork loin chops. I have no idea what that might be flavor wise. Maybe next week.
I mean, maybe Brazilian Seasoned means it tastes waxy?
And then I poked around and bought another t-bill and scheduled the transfer from savings to checking. Bank pays 0.20%, 26 week t-bill is paying 3.71%. Kind of a no brains required thing.
Pretty humid today. A few sprinkles but mostly cloudy. Outside is 78f and 91% humidity. Rather sticky. It’s fine.
Looks to me like it needs to be aged a little longer before it’s ready to eat.
I wonder how the food court in Ala Moana Mall rates? There were lots of choices. I went for Hawaiian. A big plate of perfectly cooked luau pork, glass noodles in broth, and a big scoop of poi. They seemed surprised when I asked for Two Finger. Like, how’s a white guy know this?
Oh. So. Good.
I went back for another plate. And would have licked that plate clean too, if not in public.
Dang. That was 35 or so years ago.
“JUST IN: ‘Chicago’ Bears Confirm They’re Moving to Indiana”
https://www.westernjournal.com/just-chicago-bears-confirm-moving-indiana/
“They will still be called the Chicago Bears, but they will no longer play in Chicago.”
“In fact, they will no longer even play in Illinois.”
“The franchise announced Friday morning that it is moving forward with plans to build a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, just across the state line from Chicago.”
The blue states are totally incompetent.
Look at California, an estimated 37 days to count the fake mail in ballots.
Hat tip to:
https://thelibertydaily.com/
I beg to differ. They are extremely competent at accumulating and keeping power and money by any and all means.
If the Bears are moving its because the PTB aren’t getting a big enough cut.
Dadgumit. That fancy barndominum 7/5/3+4 has sold in Bryan, TX.
https://www.har.com/homedetail/5792-andert-rd-bryan-tx-77808/13482555?lid=10570740
That would have made a great BOL.
I still have got this place as a candidate.
https://www.har.com/homedetail/6701-old-reliance-rd-bryan-tx-77808/867649
Fire choppers are passing overhead, looks like a pretty good grass fire to the NW, a mile or two away.
I am guessing our firebug is at work again, setting fires upwind of homes in 94F and 30mph wind conditions.
Looks like they’ve issued a “shelter in place” order over there. Not good for them.
Better than evacuate I guess.
Sidequested: Never, ever, never threaten the baby dragon
https://sidequested.com/page/book2-143/
Because momma dragon is usually right around the corner.
“SHOCKING MUCKRAKER FOOTAGE: UK Police Admit “Anything Racist” or Offensive Speech Gets You Arrested – The Same Mindset That Led Cops to Handcuff Dying Henry Nowak After His Killer Cried Racism”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/06/shocking-muckraker-footage-uk-police-admit-anything-racist/
““Henry Nowak was stabbed 5 times, then handcuffed and left to die because someone accused him of being racist. We asked UK police what kind of speech could get you arrested. They told us saying something offensive was enough. Henry Nowak died because of police like this.” — Investigative reporter Muckraker”
Let them come here to the USA, they would be arresting three million people each day.
Actually, that would not happen here because people would just start shooting cops after a while.
This is why they took all the guns in the UK first.
Pearls Before Swine: Rat Has a Heart
https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2026/06/05
Ok, so it is just a teeny little heart.
I am guessing our firebug is at work again, setting fires upwind of homes in 94F and 30mph wind conditions.
How many times have they arrested the firebug now?
Do you have 10,000 gallons of water on hand or fire insurance?
Went to the liquor store and grocery store today.
I did not expect to spend as much as I did. $144 at the HEB. I’ve noticed a lot of people complaining about grocery prices over the last few years, and I experienced a big jump during the Biden years, but this is the first it’s really affected me in the last year or so.
I can afford it but I don’t like it.
One thing I buy a few times per year is the 12 pack of ⅓ lb. Ground Chuck patties, usually for about $12 on sale. Not on sale today, the marked price was almost $24. That’s $6/lb. for ground chuck.
At the liquor store, Total Wine, I buy middle shelf bottles, and those are up to the high $30s per bottle. Fortunately, bottles last a lot longer now than they did 6 years ago. Two of my “stepsons” moved out, and GF and I still drink, but not at pandemic levels.
Wow! Theme parks at 12-15K person, I had no idea they were that expensive now. That’s a quarter of my yearly pensions. Totally of of my reach. No wonder my grandchildren and their families in Florida haven’t been in years.
“Eyewitness: Karmelo Anthony Was Asked to Leave Opposing Team’s Tent ‘15 Times’ Before Fatal Stabbing”
https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/06/05/eyewitness-karmelo-anthony-was-asked-to-leave-opposing-teams-tent-15-times-before-fatal-stabbing/
“An eyewitness to the fatal stabbing that left 17-year-old Austin Metchalf dead claims that his alleged killer, fellow teenager Karmelo Anthony, was asked to leave his team’s tent “15 times” before the fateful altercation that led to Metcalf’s death.”
“The 17-year-old witness who attended Frisco Memorial High School with Metcalf, claims he was among several other Memorial students under their team’s tent when Anthony entered their team space wearing the uniform of his school, Frisco Centennial.”
I suspect that the defendant will get off because there was one of him and many of the others, even though the defendant had been asked to leave several times.
“Red State Ends Legal Fight With NRA by Conceding Gun Law Violates Second Amendment”
https://thelibertydaily.com/red-state-ends-legal-fight-nra-conceding-gun/
“(The Daily Caller)—Republican Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Friday that the state would settle a legal challenge in a Second Amendment case.”
“The National Rifle Association (NRA) filed the suit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in August 2025, seeking to invalidate the state’s three-day waiting period on Second Amendment grounds. Uthmeier announced his office’s decision to end the legal battle in a statement. (RELATED: Red State Attorney General Puts Homeowners’ Association On Notice Over Gun Ban)”
Looks like the NRA is actually doing something now.
Indiana Wants Me…
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/06/the-bears-are-leaving-illinois-for-indiana/
Somewhere there is a study showing the economic contribution of the Bears to Chicago and Illinois. It will come out pretty quickly and make an interesting read.
Hammond is a shite hole and has been for decades. Gambling didn’t save it. Urban renewal didn’t save it.
———
Long day of feeling weird and mostly sleeping alternating with reading. Time for bed.
n
NIH researchers charged with trying to smuggle monkeypox into US: DOJ
https://ktla.com/news/nih-researchers-charged-with-trying-to-smuggle-monkeypox-into-us-doj/
Why aren’t they facing 5 years for each vial?
Or blend the vials together, divide in half, then up the two poopers.
“Hammond is a shite hole and has been for decades.”
Sounds like the McCaskey’s want to build a lot more than a stadium.
Another interesting factoid that will come out is how much lower the player’s income tax bill will be.
Be nice if they cut the cost of beer and dogs so the fans get reminded every game how Chicago rakes them over in every way.
‘Didn’t Age Well’: Newsom’s Press Office Gets Inconvenient Update About Trump’s Reflecting Pool Project
https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2026/06/05/gavin-newsom-press-office-reaction-to-trumps-reflecting-pool-n2203084
Direct hit on one of Newscum’s two brain cells.
No, but my cistern holds 5,000 gallons.