Labor Day Monday 09-04

Yet another trip to CP-as if the 3 trips I made last week weren’t enough!! :)

High Po!nts:
The weather was awesome, cool breeze and sunny skies, Light crowds beginning of the day.
4 Joe Cool Raptor rides, and seeing the crew again was awesome! Ended up total 6 rides for the day thanks to 3 train operation. Ride op told me I should come work with them for Halloweekends in which I told my hubby if I even THINK about it to kill me!! Hubby rode MaxAir solo (too soon after breakfast for me)
We rode MS, during our wait for the front we got into a discussion with the 2 people behind us. They had seen my NY Mets tattoo and since the girl was a Mets fan and her b/f a Yankees fan it turned into quite the discussion! There was a Tigers fan with us who joined right in too. It was quite fun! (Go Mets!) Anyway, back to the MS ride. Front seat, compared to Villain way smooth ride. We also rode MF, Gemini, Mine Ride, SkyHawk 2x, DT, WT, Skyride, and even rode the train 2x.

Met up with one of our buds, Johnny H where we had lunch in that Sports Grill place. High point to that was being able to watch Raptor fly by. More about that later. Rode Raptor with Johnny, back to the train to check out Maverick’s progress, then into the PR office where I was tormented as always. ;)
Last ride of the day was of course Raptor. Besides riding Raptor, I have more fun just walking around the park with my hubby and friends then anything else.

Low Po!nts:
Crowds got WAY heavy after noon. The parking lot was ¾ full and yet the lines didn’t seem that much longer (except of course for the usuals, TTD and MF) I do believe ALL those people were on the train. The train after noon was FULL! It appeared the extra guests were just families out for their last hoopla before summer over. Many were carrying a park map and looked lost.
The aforementioned lunch at that Sports Grill place. I don’t eat beef so opted for the club sandwich. First I thought a club sandwich was cut in 4 and piled pretty high with stuff. Not there. It was cut in ½ with HUGE bread which takes up most of the sandwich. I had to take out the middle piece of bread and there was no dressing of any type. I ended up forcing myself to eat ½ and gave my hubby the rest. The chips were drowning in grease too. Blech :(
My hubby had the roast beef , mash potatoes and gravy thing (called The Sacrifice?) which he said was pretty good but he will eat ANYTHING so I don’t listen to him anyway. Thank goodness we only had waters too since our bill was $18.00. I don’t mind spending $$ for food if it is good. We should have went to Johnny Rockets or TGIFs or better yet, do what we always do, bring our own food!
What is with all the smokers in the park? I have never in my life seen so many inconsiderate people before. Why do they think by cupping their cigarette and blowing the smoke away from them will keep anyone else from smelling them? It irritates me to no end with the line smokers, or just the ones walking down the midway puffing away like no one else is even near them. I feel so bad for the small kids forced to be around it. I so wish CP would go the way PKI is, designated smoking areas.
The only other low po!nt of my day was no Halloweekends button!! ;)

All in all a great day, we had a wonderful time and can’t wait for the Fall Freak Out!!

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1158 :)

Nice Report.

My family was there also. Crowds were light in the morning, weather was perfect! My son and I got on MF for Joe Cool, went back for a second ride, broke down when we were next to ride. They made the car full of people get out and step behind the gate, they used a battery to release the lap bars (interesting to me). Waited 5-10 minutes - it was 9:30 so we opted to exit the line and head off to TTD before the line got too long before opening. Waited 10-15 minutes before TTD's gates opened right at 10:00am. Saw MF running again. Had about a 10-15 minute wait, got in the 3rd seat back (close enough to front for me, that was my 4th ride now) I wanted to proove to the wife and daughter that me and my son had actually rode it, they are never at CP when we do.

Then hit Magnam, no wait, Gemini, only red car running, little wait, mine ride for the wife (3 car wait), skyhawk, 10-15 min wait, off to eat (bad moment) and to see construction. (the french fries at the hot dog stand near the construction site seemed to be Re-Fried, they were hard, brown, I ate them though. I've probably ate there 10-20 times this year, so one bad meal didn't bother me too much. Went back later in the day the fries were fine then).

Kids hit Mean Streak, it hurts my ribs too much so I'm done with that one, kids keep trying to get me back on it.

Through frontier trail, to Manis, 15-20 min wait, off to Raptor 15-20 min, Wicked Twister (10 min). My son and I exited, waited for daughter, about 2 rides later and noticed after we got off, no one was getting on. Apparently a little clean up was needed, for cars 4, 5, and 6. My son and I were on car 2. The cars were cleaned, ran empty a few times, the daughter got on, her favorite ride, but this was the 1st ride where her hands were up the whole ride, dad's proudest moment. Now to get her on magnum, MF, and TTD.

Played a few games, hit demon drop before it sells, and called it a day around 7:00pm

Be back around October 14th, Halloweekends.

LuvRaptor said:
What is with all the smokers in the park? I have never in my life seen so many inconsiderate people before. Why do they think by cupping their cigarette and blowing the smoke away from them will keep anyone else from smelling them? It irritates me to no end with the line smokers, or just the ones walking down the midway puffing away like no one else is even near them. I feel so bad for the small kids forced to be around it.

Y'know, that's just rude on your part. At least the smokers are TRYING to make it less irritating for you. Would you rather they dangle their cigarettes freely, burn a few kids and blow the smoke in your face? I mean, this is why its such a hot-button issue - lack of understanding and respect. Now, I am not talking about line smokers - only those on the midway. I don't get what the big problem is.

And, no, the kids aren't going to die because they might have inhaled a ultra-tiny bit of smoke in an OUTDOOR venue.

Otherwise, great TR. :)

Monday was a great day! 9 maXair rides, 2 on Skyhawk, and a generally great time in the park. Sunday wasn't exactly stellar, but I still managed to have fun just walking around the park for 6 hours.

djDaemon said:

LuvRaptor said:

Y'know, that's just rude on your part. At least the smokers are TRYING to make it less irritating for you. Would you rather they dangle their cigarettes freely, burn a few kids and blow the smoke in your face? I mean, this is why its such a hot-button issue - lack of understanding and respect. Now, I am not talking about line smokers - only those on the midway. I don't get what the big problem is.

And, no, the kids aren't going to die because they might have inhaled a ultra-tiny bit of smoke in an OUTDOOR venue.

Otherwise, great TR. :)

I was referring to the line smokers (why would someone smoking on the midway try to "hide" it?) They are not trying to make it less irritating for me, they are trying to not get caught doing something they shouldn't be doing. That's rude.

As for the midway, I don't like having to walk threw smoke and don't see why kids (or anyone) should have to tolerate the same, outdoors or not, especially if they are MY kids. Agreed, it is outdoors, and know they are not doing it on purpose but it still gets on my last nerve. To walk around PKI is a much more pleasant experience to anyone who doesn't smoke or finds it ugh.

I am probably the most anal ex-smoker you will ever come across, comes from losing my Grandma and my Mom to lung cancer.
Sorry for the rant :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1158 :)

Gotcha. After re-reading your original post, I can see where I misunderstood:

It irritates me to no end with the line smokers, or just the ones walking down the midway puffing away like no one else is even near them.

The first part (line smokers) was about the cupping, blowing it away stuff, while the midway smokers thing was about those puffing away without consideration, right?

Anyhow, I can understand where you're coming from regarding the careless midway smokers - I tend to do what I can to avoid other people, but I'm not about to go stand off to the side. My objection to your original comment was based on the idea that you were encountering smokers who were cupping their hands and blowing the smoke away while on the midway. Because if you have a problem with that, I suggest Xanax. Seriously. :)

And kids aren't walking through it at all. First, smoke goes up for the most part, and is blown away and diluted to nothing more than an unpleasant smell. There is simply no evidence that says people exposed to smoke in outdoor areas are going to get cancer, or even experience ANY health problems.

So, yeah, I would say you are the most anal ex-smoker ever. I would just suggest (in a friendly, non-combative way) to lighten up a bit. I can understand and sympathize with having lost family members to cancer - I'm sure more than 80% of the people here have lost someone in their family or circle of friends to cancer of one form or another. I don't however, sympathize with your anal-ness over the second hand smoke outdoors. :)

I totally agree with you Jo. Midway Matt (my b/f) smokes too, but he goes away from people and is considerate of others (even in the freaking casino, he goes outside!). Those in line need to get busted! You are right, CP needs to go smoke free. I think that is a way to cut back on those smoking in line, but I have a feeling most smokers will find a way to smoke their cigarettes in the park regardless...

Going smoke free won't get rid of the line smokers, remember, its not those following the rules that cause the problems. Enforcement of the current rules will though. Hire some security guys and put them in the queues of the big rides. Their job is to keep an eye out for jumpers and smokers. And when they find one, pull them out of line and check their ID. If they are underage - confiscate the cigarettes.

I agree, right up to the punishment part. If security finds someone smoking in line, remove them from the park. Period. No ifs, ands or butts.

And, yes, there was a lot of pun dripping from that last one. :)

djDaemon:
I have hung out with cowboys most of my life so you know smoking is part of that whole scene. When I smoked I couldn't imagine it offending anyone. I didn't smell it in the air, in the car, or in my clothes. However, once I quit it was a whole different story. I can smell it every where and it personally offends me. I now understand why people would give me a dirty look when I was smoking too close to them, yes, even at CP. I feel badly for my selfishness, not just with the general public but my family too, especially my kids :(

Smokers are no longer the majority so you have to understand they are alot more people who don't smoke. With that are the people that it does bother.
I am simply one of them.

I don't have a problem with someone's right to smoke, as long as it doesn't personally effect me.
As for the line smokers they really piss me off! :(

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1158 :)

Dj, that's not a bad idea for those over 18. I say for those under 18, take em to security and contact their parents. Tell their parents they can pick them up at the front gate, and their kid won't be allowed back in the park that day.

LuvRaptor said:
djDaemon:
I don't have a problem with someone's right to smoke, as long as it doesn't personally effect me.
As for the line smokers they really piss me off! :(

Well, that's a sort of gray area, from a certain perspective, don't you think? I mean, there are all sorts of things that affect us on one level or another. For instance, grossly overweight people wearing spandex, people with mullets wearing shirts with rebel flags on them, 12 year old girls wearing clothes that would make a 20 year old stripper blush, kids with their pants sagging down to the mid-thigh and many others all affect me in that I dislike them all, for one reason or another. So, do you know what I do? I do my best to ignore their existence, since worrying about it causes me unnecessary stress. The fact that I see/hear/smell them isn't harmful to my health, so I see no reason to complain about them in any significant way.

The same could be said for smokers in an outdoor location, such as the midway. True, the smell may be annoying, the sight gross and the overall sensory experience a negative one, but its certainly not any more harmful to your health than driving your car to the park. So, yeah, I can understand your not liking them, but to say they should be banned from smoking sounds like you're overreacting to the situation. Yeah, smokers stink. Yeah, its a gross habit. But, no, its not going to kill you, so what's the real harm?

John -
Yeah, I suppose I should have read that more carefully. On that, I do agree about minors caught smoking having their parents notified. Or make the kids eat the pack of smokes. ;)

I don't smoke and it doesn't really become a bother for me until I am around it in the ride lines. I am sure the vast majority of smokers are able to keep themselves from lighting up while in line. Those that smoke in the lines are often the "rebellious types" that you would suspect to be the ones doing so. At any rate from what I've noticed it does appear that there are noticeably more teenage girls smoking at the park. That's my observation and 2 cents.

djDaemon said:

Yeah, smokers stink. Yeah, its a gross habit. But, no, its not going to kill you, so what's the real harm?

Actually, it is going to kill you, or at least hurt you badly. The evidence is now overwhelming that second-hand smoke is firmly linked to a menu of respiratory illnesses, and that the impact can be correlated right down to relatively small exposures.

Maybe walking through someone's smoke once at the midway isn't going to hurt innocent bystanders perceptibly. But multiply that by the thousands or tens of thousands of such encounters non-smokers experience in their lifetimes, and it all adds up.

Bottom line: your right to smoke ends at my face. So if you can suck up all that smoke in your body without exhaling, more power to you.

Sorry buddy, you're just wrong on this one. :)

Which evidence? The stuff from the horribly biased AHA? (not that the tobacco industry is any less biased).

Your body starts to recover, as a smoker, within days of quitting. The 1/1000 of a drag that you get by catching a wiff as you walk down a midway will not add up over someones lifetime. At least not unless you live for a couple hundred years.

Exposure to second hand smoke does have its effects though. Mostly to kids who's parents smoke.

Oh yes, the dreaded AHA. Damn those extremists for wanting to improve people's health! They probably just have it out for smokers because they want to be cool like them, but they know they never will be. ;)

The AHA has an agenda (just like anyone else). And yes, I am aware smoking is bad for you and cigarettes don't have vitamin C in them and stuff.

But the small amounts of smoke that may be inhaled on the midway aren't any worse than the fumes off the car in front of you on the expressway.

I won't argue about the smell though. I'm a smoker and I can't stand the smell of someone else's smoke.

John's point about your body recovering is probably the most pertinent to your comments, Ensign. As he said, the minimal amount of smoke you inhale may (on a chemical, not noticable by you on a sensory level) harm you, but the harm will be long gone after a day or so. So even if you live a few hundred years, you still won't build up a health condition, unless you constantly surround yourself with smokers.

At which point, you're making a concious decision to do so, and might as well be smoking.

Sorry, I didn't realize you guys were oncologists. Thank goodness we have you here to correct these things.

How about if I stand on the midway and spit tobacco juice on you as you walk by? That won't have any lasting damage, either. Or better yet, what if I just pee all over you? That doesn't cause cancer either, you know.

Okay, that was imflammatory. But the point is that nothing you do or say gives you the ethical right to make me breathe your smoke. Most Americans don't smoke, and we don't want to smoke yours with you either.

Thus endeth the sermon. ;)