FCP

$6.5K all-in for a 6 person, 6 day trip (well, 4 days onsite and 2 driving) to Universal. Stayed onsite and got the fast pass thing for 4 kiddos one day.

$5K for tickets and lodging
$1.5K for meals and gas

Hopefully last theme park for a long while. Planning a Costa Rica trip for Dec/Jan. Then maybe Alaska or Pacific NW next Fall.

Working fine out here in God’s Country (LP). Where you at?

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10 to 12 hours a day, 5 days a week working outside. You never get used of it and it does take a toll on you

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Couple of years ago we made it to the end of August, and the heat was just oppressive. Company asked for volunteers for a loan to South Carolina. It took me about 5 seconds to pull up that weather forecast (lows in the 50s/60s) and volunteer.

Not sure I’ve finished 2025 Christmas shopping TBH.

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Growing up in Lafayette in the 60s, you saw a fair amount of families that seemed to up their standard of living real quick

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Late 70s/early 80s, our little corner of God’s Country was the center of an oil exploration boom. Multiple wells drilled and land was being leased for over $2K/acre/year. My old man had about 50 acres and still managed to pocket $300K or so over several years. Nothing changed for us other than buying more land. Neighbors with actual oil wells on their property did okay—built pools and remodeled houses. Don’t really remember anyone outright retiring.

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Fort Worth has posted street signs everywhere telling people to not give them anything

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In BR they lean against those signs while panhandling.

$6 pocket knife on Amazon. Stainless blade and actually pretty sharp. Normally carry a Case trapper but wanted a single blade for work.

No idea how many knives I actually own--easily over a hundred--but I always *need* one more. And, if not for that doggone boating accident, I'd probably have that many firearms as well.

Stopped at a Pemco (?) gas station in central Mexico circa 1995. In the middle of open fields with no town or anything nearby. Place was apparently a bus stop as well, and it was crowded with folks generally lacking in hygiene.

Restroom was on the second floor of the gas station office. No running water from what I could tell. No lights either from what I recall--just whatever sunlight came through a couple small windows. I think folks who took a shite just wiped their arse with newspaper or something and placed it in a nearby basket. It reeked, and the floor was covered in piss.

Started to walk in there for a leak. Ended up retreating and telling our driver to pull onto the shoulder a couple miles (kilometers?) away.

Around age 40 I took a job working for the phone company. With the exception of a couple of years in the office, I've been working outdoors (and in attics) for the past 12 years. I've pretty much developed the right habits to survive. That said, 2026 has been particularly rough.

One Friday night a few weeks ago I realized that I'd been eating nothing but protein bars and Powerade all week. Decided I could probably use some real protein, so I ate a plain grilled chicken breast for dinner. Next day at work was brutal--nausea, diarrhea, the works. Thankfully Sunday was an off-day, and I was able to get back on track, but working 6 day shifts in this heat is a tough way to earn a living.

Get your GP to prescribe Lamisil. It's a pill form fungicide. I fully cured a case of toenail fungus that had lasted about 35 years. Grew up on a dairy and lived in rubber boots. Tried all the creams and folk remedies, and nothing would touch it. Six months on Lamisil, and athlete's foot is a thing of the past.

Bonus: It keeps the swamp arse at bay when you're taking it. I pop like one pill every week in June-August since my job has me in the heat.

I’m 6’2” myself. I’ve been over 300 and under 200 in my lifetime. At no point during those decades of weight gain/loss did I ever resemble that tub of lard.