Things are getting a little green around here.

I did such a great job updating this the past month. I apologize about that. The whole point of this is to entertain my audience and the same post for a month isn’t very entertaining.

I got a job. I now work at the Montrose Acme as a packer. Come say hi to me. If you don’t I’ll put your milk on top of your bread…whoops.

I got a new camera. I got the compact camera first. Ended up with a Canon SD1000. I’ve been really happy with it. Its smaller than my Zen and takes better pictures than my Fuji. Got it in a practically-new retail package on eBay for $120. Not bad, considering it is $150 new. One bad thing, I’ve noticed that a few pictures in every set will be blurry, even in the daylight. Don’t know what’s up with that. I’ll have to post some pictures soon.

Ravine Flyer II’s opening was delayed a week 😦 . So now the magic date is May 17th. Three more weeks! The track looks pretty complete. I think testing will start sometime next week.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Waldameer/RavineFlyerIIRollerCoaster

We got our new Canon HV30 HD camcorder at Comtech. But I can’t use it yet. And that makes me sad. It is right there sitting on Harder’s desk in the box. I sure hope I can use it soon, I want to make my music video in HD.

And about the title of this post…no I’m not following along with the “green” sillyness. Will turning off my lights more often save that much energy? I know what I will do. I will say I’m no longer running three computers in my room. I’ll no longer count my laptop. So now I’m running my desktop and server 24/7 with my laptop asleep when I’m not using it. Guess I’ve now gone green. Better not tell Al Gore, he’ll want my money to fund global warming.

What I do mean by “green” is how awesome it is outside lately. The grass is green and this week leaves have sprouted on most of the trees. Some trees are already filling out. Nice.

Where did my ability to add attachments go? Grr…no picture this post I guess. It was a good one, too.

That was a nice trip around the world.

We got to see Magnolia, New Philadelphia, and Bolivar all twice and within 5 1/2 hours. It was great. The Tuscawarawas is flooded? We’ll just go the back way. Flooded. Two other routes from there? Both flooded. you know, that Tabor Ridge Road is on top of a ridge, I doubt it is flooded. It wasn’t. But State Route 212 was. Ever wonder what a road looks like under seven feet of water?

Can you spot 212? The white thing in the middle is the stop sign at the end of Tabor Ridge. I get the feeling we won’t be going to Atwood for awhile. Maybe one of the other routes will lower to a fordable level, but I think that won’t be for another few weeks.

In 1983, Geauga Lake became one of the first parks in the world to include a water park with an amusement park. It was called Boardwalk Shores. In its first year it included Neptune’s Falls, a body slide complex, the Undertow, a racing “skimming slide”, a kiddie pool, a beach with a slide, and a boardwalk along the lake.

 

How about that foreshadowing?

So I made an intro for my school’s morning announcements. Its a parody of the “office linebacker” series of commercials (does anyone remember what exactly they were for?) and it features various people from Comtech, myself included, being tackled for goofing off. I finished it last week and it was a hit with the whole class.

However, I am being made to take it back to the chopping block. In each scene Evan says “boy”. As in, “Watcha doin’, boy?”. I was told that is a derogatory line. Huh? Can someone please explain to me how that can be? It is not use of the word exclusive to blacks. Watch the intro and let me know what you think.

In other news, I had Waffle House for breakfast. Yum…they have some of the best waffles anywhere and you’re in and out in a half hour.

I’m hungry. If I could go back 20 years I would eat at Geauga Lake’s former Engine House Restaurant. Picture from Coasterdad’s Time Machine.

How things change, boy.

Monday it was 60 and sunny. Today its a blizzard that my dad describes as “The most snow I’ve seen at once since 78′.” I’d have to agree with him. I can’t remember a time where snow was continuously coming down for a day and a half, and it is still going. I snow blew the driveway. I’ll be doing it again tomorrow. And if the wind keeps up, I’ll need to do it on Monday.

Its interesting, Montrose is shut down. I think only Bob Evans and the gas stations were still open. The fun part of all this is that the road crews are out of salt. They’re only salting hills. And with how the snow is drifting, plowing doesn’t do much at all.

I finally started building my desk. Got the frame built with the desktop put on and the laminate glued down. I should finish the construction in one more evening of work, which should be sometime this week. Then I’ll need to apply the finish. And clean my room. I’ll bring along my camera for pictures when I go to the shop again.

One final note, I’ve been looking for a new camera. I was thinking about a Digital Rebel XT kit with a second lens, but I learned of a new Fuji camera that really caught my eye. The S1000FD. Its a 10mp SLR-like camera that has all the right specs. Its coming in April, so I’m looking forward to the reviews. MSRP is only $250.

With the S1000FD being so cheap, I may be able to afford a small pocket camera. I’ll probably grab something used. Something with decent picture quality and can survive a day in my pocket. Anyone have suggestions for one that can be had for less than $150 used (because new cameras at this price are garbage)?

Yay for long posts. Because you read all that, here’s a cool overview of Geauga Lake in the 80’s. Photo from Coasterdad’s Time Machine.

What a beautiful day.

When I woke up I didn’t notice anything special. Other than the fact I got up 15 minutes earlier than I usually do (my friend needed a ride). But when I stepped outside, WOW! Today is the nicest day we’ve had since probably October. Warm. Sunny. Just a few scattered clouds. I feel like doing something outside. Maybe my brother will want to pass the football around.

Too bad there’s an ice storm coming tonight. I’m not holding my breath for school being called off, though. It looks that it will be hitting us just early enough for the salt trucks to get out.

If anyone is interested in following Ravine Flyer II construction, the park has a Picasa album which they update every few days. I’m looking forward to see if they post any from today.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Waldameer/RavineFlyerIIRollerCoaster

Since today’s post is about how nice today is. The accompanying picture should also be from a nice day. Here’s a great view of Geauga Lake’s old gigantic wave pool, The Wave. If I had to guess it looks to be from the late 80’s. Picture from Coasterdad’s Time Machine at Geauga Lake Today.

It only took a week to fail!

When I started this I set a goal for myself to have a new post at least every other day. Well that didn’t take too long to break. But there is good news! I’m going to be able to go on all my trips this summer!

I just got word from the last person I invited that he’ll be able to go on my Indiana trip. Why do I need people to go?

a) Its boring to go on too many long trips by yourself.

b) Its expensive to go on road trips by yourself.

So by having people to come along it keeps me company and makes it cheaper for everyone. Yay! So where will I be going this summer?

Trip 1: Waldameer Park Opening Day – I’m going to open my coaster season with the Gravity Group’s newest creation, Ravine Flyer II. Looks to be a great ride. There’s a balance of airtime and laterals with a view of Lake Erie and interaction with the terrain. And a BRIDGE over the state highway!

Trip 2: Hersheypark – My brother is missing the age limit for Philmont by just over a month. So to give him his own trip I’m taking him out to Hersheypark. It also helps they’ll be opening Fahrenheit. Three years ago I got a three-hour taste of the park on my 8th grade trip. I had a blast and wanted more.

Trip 3: Darien Lake and Waldameer – Darien Lake is a park I really want to go to. It has been described to me as “Geauga Lake before it was Six Flags”. Awesome. The funny part is, Darien Lake and Geauga Lake were both owned by Funtime through the 80s and then Premier in the 90s. Dairen Lake was actually a Six Flags before Geauga Lake but I guess it never lost it’s original charm. Then on the way home stop by Waldameer for some Ravine Flyer II rides.

Trip 4: Holiday World and Indiana Beach – I have two people on board for this three-day trip. Over 1,000 miles and two great parks. I love wooden coasters so I’m really looking forward towards this trip, four excellent wooden coasters. As well as Indiana Beach’s new quirky steel coaster, Steel Hawg. I might see about squeezing Kentucky Kingdom in, considering we will pass through Louisville twice.

Add in summer camp and Philmont and I have quite a summer. A total of one month away from home, to be exact.

Anyone notice some parks missing from my summer? Hmm…

And this post’s picture is another from Ray P. This time a rare view of Yukon Yahoos at Geauga Lake after it was the Matterhorn by Head Spin but before it was moved into a barn by Villain and renamed the Haybaler.

Work = Fun

I worked today at my dad’s warehouse. It was great. All day I was taking plastic off radiators that are being scrapped. Then my dad needed help loading something (to be unveiled in a later post) so I worked an extra hour waiting for him.

But it was worth it. Why? Because today will pay for my trip to Waldameer on May 10th, their opening day. Its going to be my first park of the year and of course opening day of RAVINE FLYER II. Woo! My first Gravity Group coaster. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.

I conclude this post with a picture of Geauga Lake’s Rotor in 1996. My favorite ride ever. I really need to get to Lake Compounce and ride theirs. It still has the original decorations, like Geauga Lake’s did.

 Taken by Ray P. of the Geauga Lake Today message boards.

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If I’m using one of the supplied templates, I might as well make a custom banner. Too bad I can’t randomize the sayings below it. Comments are welcome.

Hey look I got a blog!

I’m not sure how much I like the word “blog”. Online journal sounds stupid, though. I’ll figure something out.

I suppose I’ll just post anything I feel like telling people. And with my fairly diverse interests, things could get interesting. Hopefully I’ll develop somewhat of an audience. Because nothing’s worse than spending your time on something that no one enjoys.

My ultimate goal is to transfer this to my own web space. But we’ll see.