Bear Down Wildcats

Chicat wrote:

scumdevils86 wrote:All inclusive stay at a resort in Mexico for a week next spring, yes or no?

I’m not a fan of all inclusives. The food blows and the drinks are usually trash. I’d rather pay for every meal and know it’s not going to be some generic bland bullshit.

Always seems like a good deal before we go and a rip off when we come back.

That's kinda what I'm thinking. I don't trust reviews from Bill and Diane from Wichita that said the food was amazing.

scumdevils86 wrote:

Chicat wrote:

scumdevils86 wrote:All inclusive stay at a resort in Mexico for a week next spring, yes or no?

I’m not a fan of all inclusives. The food blows and the drinks are usually trash. I’d rather pay for every meal and know it’s not going to be some generic bland bullshit.

Always seems like a good deal before we go and a rip off when we come back.

That's kinda what I'm thinking. I don't trust reviews from Bill and Diane from Wichita that said the food was amazing.

Probably because they were looking for the most Americanized experience possible.

Went to the Riviera Maya Iberostar and the beer was a low rent Sol knock off (they didn’t even have Corona and they had those auto pour machines that give you three quarters of a glass and no foam), the nachos were reminiscent of what you get at a minor league baseball stadium in Iowa, and after two rounds at the “premium bar” the bartender started pouring us Don Julio from a mystery bottle under the bar. When we called him out on it he smiled and said, “It’s like, the same ... Amigo!” and flashed us a big grin that basically told us we were being poisoned.

I did have one good all-inclusive experience, which was unfortunately our first all-inclusive experience. We went to the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall in Jamaica (now sold off and no longer an RC). Got a hurricane season deal for three meals, one snack, and unlimited drinks. The thing was, most people there were paying per meal and per drink, and expecting everything to measure up to what they were paying. So me & Femcat were eating lobster twice a day and drinking Dom P and getting steaks that were easily some of the best I’ve ever eaten.

Thought it would be the same at the two other all-inclusives we tried and instead we were presented with what was essentially an army enlisted personnel chow line. Fuck that shit.

i dont cruise and i dont all-include....life is too short for that nonsense.

scumdevils86 wrote:All inclusive stay at a resort in Mexico for a week next spring, yes or no?

Hell no, what chi and 97 said.

We did our honeymoon at Sandals emerald bay Exuma and we both agree it probably was our worst vacation food and drink wise. We went that route because we didn’t want to plan anything and just went. Good at the time but in retrospect never again.

I’ll never go on a cruise. I don’t like being confined

I like group bus tours.

When it was time to settle up our bill from our stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar this spring, Femcat said to me, “Don’t tell me what the final total is. I had fun.”

I think that’s the feeling you want from a vacation. Not “Yeah I ate warmed up shit, but think of the money we saved!”

Longhorned wrote:I like group bus tours.

Longhorned wrote: There are still times when premium class (first, business) tickets are offered at prices that are less than the economy version. When it happens, I actually have to pay more for the economy class ticket. Because my university won't reimburse me for premium class tickets, even when they are cheaper.

Once you give tenure to academics it's game over baby. All of a sudden they think they're assistant basketball coaches or something.

azgreg wrote:

Longhorned wrote:I like group bus tours.

"Yes, Dr. Longhorned, in the back row, I see you have your hand up. Excuse me? No Dr. You must have a note from the Provost to change seat assignments."

Well y'all have confirmed what I certainly expected! I'm considering a regular resort stay in Maui now with a rental car included so I can tool around and find our own food and shit to do.

scumdevils86 wrote:Well y'all have confirmed what I certainly expected! I'm considering a regular resort stay in Maui now with a rental car included so I can tool around and find our own food and shit to do.

go with that for sure, and if you’re brave enough plan a wake up one morning at 4am (you’ll most likely be up anyway) and take the road all the way to Hana.

stop when you like and pick up a treat or two along the way at one of the fresh bakery and coffee stands that have incredible juices and baked goods as well and drive all the way to the hike through the bamboo forest, it’s incredible. i forget the name of the national park but the hotel will know.

after the hour plus hike a dip at Koki beach (not far from the hike) is a small slice of heaven and a great way to naturally clean off the dust, sweat, and bug repellent....it’s a hidden gem so here’s how you get there: on the way back take a right on Haneoo road (like I said not far from the hike) all the way down to the water and have a swim with the locals.

cap it off with a mid afternoon delight at Jen’s Thai food as you continue back to Maui, and make sure to leave for the final leg home after lunch while the sun is still out so you can confidently navigate the winding road.

also, this is legit coconut juice region, plenty of locals ready to pop one open for you with a machete off the side of the road - you got to get a Hana coconut at some point along the drive.

one of the greatest days you will ever spend, I guarantee it.

disclaimer: if you want to have extra fun rent a Jeep Wrangler for the day, it will make the trip that much more enjoyable.

mahalo

Thanks for the info 97. My wife and I are going to Maui in November for our 25th. Maui is the only one of the big 4 islands we haven't been to yet.

I gotta get back to Maui. Unfortunately the flight from Chicago is long and expensive so it’s usually a location option that gets negated early in vacation discussions. Much easier for us to get to Mexico or the Caribbean.

More power to you all, but among the opportunity costs of a trip to Maui is a trip to Capri or Stromboli or Sicily or Crete or Paros.

Just pre-ordered Pink Floyd: The Later Years box set. Almost $500. Wife does not yet know...

Sorting out domestic flights for Oz and Tazmania the later of which is becoming more and more appealing. I prefer drier biomes, Savanna especially, but something about Tassie resonates. Definitely will do Uluru but Darwin is losing out to Tassie. Brisbane's Gold Coast party-glitz isn't calling, but the coastal landscape route to there from MEL and back is a tempting rental car option if one enjoys mountain ranges and wine regions.

OK why lie about it? It's the Tassie whisky business and Pinot production that matters.

Longhorned wrote:More power to you all, but among the opportunity costs of a trip to Maui is a trip to Capri or Stromboli or Sicily or Crete or Paros.

i have been to Sicily and Capri, and it cost me double Hawaii - however I’m coming from LA so it increases the international flight expenditures quite a bit.

that being said, you’re right, everything along the Italian coast is priced like Hawaii and I enjoy and prefer each for different things at different times.

we go to Hawaii every year the day after Xmas (it’s a family tradition) and I love it - wouldn’t change that for anything.

Capri and Italy in general is best the last two weeks of May or in September during harvest - fuck I want fresh vongole so bad.

UAdevil wrote:Just pre-ordered Pink Floyd: The Later Years box set. Almost $500. Wife does not yet know...

Does not belong in this thread - that is not outrageous.

Bought a king size bed ..... AND a mattress.

Who the fuck is pricing this shit??

I'm definitely going to Maui in the spring

azgreg wrote:

Whoever buys that is definitely wealthy.

CalStateTempe wrote:Whoever buys that is definitely wealthy.

Or high.

Definitively wealthy and eight years old.

UAdevil wrote:Just pre-ordered Pink Floyd: The Later Years box set. Almost $500. Wife does not yet know...

It is always better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Merkin wrote:

UAdevil wrote:Just pre-ordered Pink Floyd: The Later Years box set. Almost $500. Wife does not yet know...

It is always better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

If you pay close attention, you'll notice that this is their approach to dealing with us, too. Imagine the cold chill in summer if we ever took up their offer to "package it up again and mail it back for a refund."

I’m kinda jones’n for an outdoor pizza oven.

Any suggestions?

CalStateTempe wrote:I’m kinda jones’n for an outdoor pizza oven.

Any suggestions?

No need to go crazy. These work great. $179.96 on Amazon.


Pizzacraft PC6000 Pizzeria Pronto Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven
4.5 out of 5 stars 165
$179.96

Dude, that’s awesome thank you!

CalStateTempe wrote:Dude, that’s awesome thank you!

I have researched the subject to death, and tried a few. IMHO that little Pronto is very good, and the best value by far. Takes a little practice, but after a few pies you'll do great. Be sure to post a picture of your first successful pie.

Anyone else in the lottery trying to get tickets next Wed? Just checked AirBNBs and everything near Whistling Straits is $1K-$5K/night

Kohler is awesome.

Is that where my toilet was born?

CalStateTempe wrote:Is that where my toilet was born?

Yep.

The American Club is one of the best resorts in the country. https://www.americanclubresort.com/" target="_blank

Picked up my pack rat violated car from repair in Las Vegas yesterday. Rumor has it a new Lotus dealer is opening in Phoenix soon. Thank god. That wasn’t an ideal situation. And worse, they had a collection of cars for sale with colors that had me sweating bullets to get out of the dealership before doing something stupid.





On a slightly more reasonable note, I have absolutely no need for this hand made warrior helmet thingie. But I want it.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/706166056/ ... e_68&frs=1

ByJoveByJingle wrote:Picked up my pack rat violated car from repair in Las Vegas yesterday. Rumor has it a new Lotus dealer is opening in Phoenix soon. Thank god. That wasn’t an ideal situation. And worse, they had a collection of cars for sale with colors that had me sweating bullets to get out of the dealership before doing something stupid.

Maybe you should get a Ferrari.

Haha yikes! I can’t afford one thankfully/unfortunately. It would probably be too much at for me and I’d end up on a security camera video.

That reminds of when they first installed speed humps on the main cruising road in Dubai—Jumeirah Beach Road. The cars went flying after hitting the humps at speed, including a Lamborghini (last couple of seconds in this video):

Treating wife to date night in SF this weekend with dinner a Sons and Daughters, and a room at the St. Frances.

I've wanted one of these since I was a kid, and in early May, I bought one for $700. It needed a lot of work, and today I finally passed the purchase price in parts purchases.

Spent $7,000 on a bicycle today.

Tern GSD S10 LX with some accessories

Electric cargo bike? Nice.

Did you get a seat for your kids? I have an electric Xtracycle cargo bike but haven't bought the seat for my grandson yet.

Longhorned wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:59 pm Spent $7,000 on a bicycle today.

Tern GSD S10 LX with some accessories

7000 for a bike?

Hope it came with a happy ending

Alieberman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:56 am

Longhorned wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:59 pm Spent $7,000 on a bicycle today.

Tern GSD S10 LX with some accessories

7000 for a bike?

Hope it came with a happy ending

If you can replace a car it will pay for itself. According to the IRS, it costs $8000/year to run a car. In my situation, we replaced a car with my electric bike for over a decade now. We've probably saved close to $100,000 by only owning 1 car. Plus an electric bike is more fun to ride than a car. We call it the electric grin

So what kind of lock do you get for a $7000 bike? Or is that a bike you don't park anywhere outside of your garage or office?

I use 2 u-locks on my electric bike. Never had any problems but I never leave it anywhere for very long

84Cat wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:41 am Did you get a seat for your kids? I have an electric Xtracycle cargo bike but haven't bought the seat for my grandson yet.

Yes, I got this thing. Rode my kid to school in it this morning. My kid loves it!



https://www.ternbicycles.com/us/support ... w-build-it

84Cat wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 8:48 am

Alieberman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:56 am

Longhorned wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:59 pm Spent $7,000 on a bicycle today.

Tern GSD S10 LX with some accessories

7000 for a bike?

Hope it came with a happy ending

If you can replace a car it will pay for itself. According to the IRS, it costs $8000/year to run a car. In my situation, we replaced a car with my electric bike for over a decade now. We've probably saved close to $100,000 by only owning 1 car. Plus an electric bike is more fun to ride than a car. We call it the electric grin

This is exactly what we're going for. I'm going to see how long it takes before I actually need to use my car again, which I hope to use just to drive to different cities. If car rentals ever make a comeback, I might get rid of the car altogether.

Merkin wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 9:01 am So what kind of lock do you get for a $7000 bike? Or is that a bike you don't park anywhere outside of your garage or office?

I got my own bike locker on campus. I also paid $160 for a top-security lock with a chain that looks like it's for a ship anchor, and is just as heavy. The wheels lock individually with a key. The location is electronically tracked, like if somebody stole your phone or computer. But even then, it's programmed with all my information, so it's red-flagged as hot and useless to anybody else. Hard to imagine a market for that kind of thing.

I am spending $3k on my daughter's out-of-town national dance competition right now. Does that count?

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 10:43 am I am spending $3k on my daughter's out-of-town national dance competition right now. Does that count?

No because kids are already built-in permanent outrageous purchases. It would be like buying a Lotus and then claiming the maintenance as an outrageous purchase.