Ripleys Haunted Adventure Tour Gatlinburg

Ripleys Of Gatlinburg Haunted Tour

Ripley's Haunted Adventure located on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a very popular haunt during the month of October. I have visited this haunt several times before but never in the month of October. Until this year.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the month of October, at 6:13PM sharp, Ripley's has their own version of a zombie crawl as a horde of monsters parade down the Parkway ending up in front of the Haunted Adventure where they interact with the people on the street. after about 20 minutes, the monsters filter into the haunt and add to the excitement and fright.

We bought our tickets and got in line. There were about 100 people in front of us and several hundred behind us before it was our turn.
It was now our time to step into the rickety old cage that takes it's paying customers (Victims) to the top of the haunt. It is a very effective prop. Very loud, old, looks unsafe, and has a hint of danger to it. We met a crazy man at the top. I was informed that my camera must be turned off at this point. I obliged.

The haunt is a self guided tour. We were in a group of six people. I was the lead, my wife Patty behind me, the others behind her. We were instructed to put our hand on the persons back in front of us. A few seconds later we began our march through the haunt.

I will say the haunt is much larger than what it looks like from the outside. There were many rooms inside to navigate through. The props and graphics were above average and the actors were well trained and effective. This haunt was all about misdirection.

After about 30 minutes, we found our way out. We stepped into the elevator and.... I won't spoil it for you.

One thing I didn't like about this haunt. Outside while we were waiting in line, a woman was selling fiber optic lights to help you see in the haunt. She said it was absolutely necessary to see inside the haunt for it was pitch black inside. The lights, (Which were throw away quality) cost five dollars. I noticed that if you bought the lights at the ticket box office, they were only $2 dollars. Whip a rip off. I declined to buy the light. The woman selling them told me I would be sorry.

I was not. At no time did I ever need the fiber optic light. DO NOT BUY THE LIGHT! IT IS A RIP OFF. The rest of the haunted adventure was very entertaining and enjoyable. It was actually fun. We recommend it in the month of October.

Enjoy the video's and pictures.



Happy Halloween

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Best Melons Contest #7 - Vampire Melons

This Ain't No Twilight

On this entry, I had a very hard time placing the photo on the left in the correct category. In fairness, I believe it would hold it's on in the Best Halloween Costume category and of course it has plenty of merit to be in the Best Halloween melons category. I studied this photo for a very long time before a decision was made.

After countless hours, I determined she may be in any category she wants to be in.

Please allow me to introduce you to the seductress Elvira, the vampire with the mostest succulent melons.

Happy Halloween

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Halloween Costume Contest #7 - Hidden Zombie

Have You Seen My Zombie!!!

A very cheap and easy Halloween costume that will guarantee you to be the talk of the holiday party. Let your friends read your T-Shirt and then flash them pulling your shirt up revealing your zombie side. (And more importantly, your ample melons) A crowd pleaser for sure for this Halloween party.

Happy Halloween

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Youngstown Zombie Crawl 2011

Youngstown, Ohio held it's third annual Zombie Crawl last night as hundreds of locals donned their zombie clothes and painted up their faces to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. Naturally, it began at dusk as the zombie horde that was gathered at the bottom of the "Peanut" bridge began their march over the bridge.

The zombie horde reached the other side of the bridge and they slowly filtered onto West Federal Street en-route to the town square where a select few zombies would perform Michael Jackson's classic song, Thriller.

After the very entertaining performance of Thriller, the zombies began to collect once again to begin their zombie crawl. I caught this one screeching zombie as he walked the city streets of Youngstown.

The third annual Youngstown Zombie Crawl was a huge success. At the start of the crawl, there were enough zombies walking to cover the entire bridge as they approached West Federal Street. There were also hundreds of spectators lining the bridge and streets as the zombies paraded by. Certainly a fun time was had by all.

Happy Halloween

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Zombie Apocalypse Fortress #2

.....

It's time to get serious about your Zombie apocalypse fortress. You never know when the Zombie horde will begin moving in your neighborhood. Having an impregnable fortress is only part of the equation to successfully survive a zombie apocalypse.

The zombie out break may last for months, even years until the zombie body breaks down enough to prevent mobility. Your fortress must not only be fortified from zombies, but also afford a small amount of normalcy to the survivor holed up in the structure.

Notice the photo on the top left. When there are no zombies in the immediate area, this fortress has the ability to open compartments to allow sunshine in, fresh air, to replenish supplies, to expel waste and allow a small semblance or normalcy.

Notice the photo on the right. When zombies are in the area, the compartments tightly seal preventing zombies from getting any traction whatsoever. The thick slick walls are sound proof preventing zombies from hearing what is happening inside. As time goes by, the zombies will lose interest in the fortress and move on to the next area.

Happy Halloween

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Best Sometimes To Not Ask Questions

Sometimes its a good idea to not stop and ask questions. Just keep on walking. It may just save your life one day.

Happy Halloween

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Taco Bell Taquito’s

Do they Even Make These Anymore

Well you knew I would get around to this some day. Taco Bell has a new item on their menu, (Seems to have something new every month) the Taquito that comes in two styles, the chicken or steak Taquito.

Basically, it's a grilled soft taco shell wrapped with chicken wedges with melted cheese all for only 99 cents.

As far as fast food fare goes, the Taquito wasn't bad. It was hot, with enough chicken and cheese except at the end of the shell, which was empty.

The cost, at 99 cents, it was a good deal for a fast food pick me up type of meal.

Reluctantly, the Grassy Knoll Diner awards 2.5 out of 5 shots to Taco Bell Taquiot's and recommends them for late night dinner.

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Ultimate Lady Joker Halloween Costume

Gemma Massey, international glamour model and Blue Bird films actress got all dressed up for one of her films as Jokette, or as I like to call her, Lady Joker. Gemma makes our list once again as Halloween Costume Contestant #6. Enjoy the photo’s…



Happy Halloween

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Never To Early To Prepare For The Zombie Apocalypse

It's never to early to begin training your offspring to defend themselves against the impending Zombie apocalypse. When the out break does occur, the living will need every gun available.

The Zombie Apocalypse begins in Youngstown, Ohio October 22nd, 2011 at the bottom of the Peanut bridge. Be there to witness it.

Happy Halloween

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Apple Barn - Potato Soup

Apple Barn Potato Soup

I have already critiqued several meals from the Apple Barn in Gatlinburg, Tennessee so tonight it's all about the soup. As in potato soup.

When you order an entree at the Apple Barn, you get your choice of soups and I always selected the chicken noodle but just recently, potato soup was added to the mix.

The broth was thick with bits of bacon and plenty of cheese melting on top. Of course, big generous chunks of potato wedges were swimming in the cup.

And the taste, absolutely wonderful.

The Grassy Knoll Diner awards 5 shots out of 5 and recommends the potato soup at the Apple Barn.

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Best Melons Contestant #5 – Vampire Hotness

Debra Ann Woll plays Jessica, a sexy teenage vampire on HBO's True Blood series. Debra was turned by vampire Bill Compton and has been sexing it up ever since. Whip em out Jessica.

Happy Halloween

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Pizza Joe's - Breakfast Pizza

A Breakfast Pizza 

Usually when I think of pizza, it's for lunch or dinner. When Mike, Rocket Scientist #9 told me about Pizza Joe's breakfast pizza, I had to try it.

As you can see, it is a traditional round pizza, 12 inch size, with regular crust. Instead of pizza sauce and traditional toppings, the breakfast pizza was topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese.

The pizza was in a traditional box (The word traditional was on sale today so I bought it in surplus) and cut in a traditional 8 slice. And of course the pizza was traditionally hot.

The crust was crunchy, not soggy, and the toppings well cooked. I was a little skeptical at first about the taste, but it was very good. It was like a breakfast omelette without the grease smell or taste or sogginess.

The cost was $8 which was a dollar a slice which was very reasonable. With McDonald's bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit costing around $2 dollars, the pizza was a bargain.

The Grassy Knoll Diner awards 4 out of 5 shots and recommends Pizza Joe's breakfast pizza.

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Why So Serious Pussy

Why So Serious?

Our male cat Storm notified us that he will indeed be dressing up for Halloween this year so he too can participate in trick or treat ritual. He is hoping for plenty of cat nip treats to bolster his already large cache. 

Storm announced that he will be dressing up as the Joker Cat, from the Batman movie series. I didn't want to ask him how he got his scars.

Happy Halloween

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Burger King Bites

Just A Nip

Just the other day I was driving through Ripley,West Virginia and found myself low on gas and hungry. Needing to press on and get back on the road, I foolhardily stopped at the local Burger King that was just off the Route 77 highway. I have not eaten at Burger King in over four years. I now remember the reason.

I go to the counter and order a hamburger and fry to go. About five minutes later, my order number was called and my order was handed to me. There was absolutely no interaction at all. The employee simply held out the bag until I walked over and took it out of her hand. She (The Burger King employee) said nothing like, Thank you, Have a nice day, Thank you for eating at Burger King, she just simply held the bag out over the counter.

I opened the bag to find this pathetic example of a hamburger. What the Hell, did someone take a bite out of my hamburger before they wrapped it up. It certainly looks like someone did. 

Anyway, the hamburger was dry, small, had a bite taken out of it, and was devoid of taste. The bun was soggy and flat. The cost of this single hamburger was $1.78 not including the fries. The fries were adequate, standard fare fast food fries except these were salted several times to much.

The Grassy Knoll Diner scores 0 out of 5 shots and will never visit Burger King again and DOES NOT recommend Burger King for lunch or dinner.

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Bob Evans - Bacon Omelette - Take Out

Got To Break A Few Eggs

Sunday morning, the Lead Scientist of the Grassy Knoll Institute surprised us with breakfast take out from the local Bob Evans restaurant in Boardman, Ohio.

My order was a Bacon omelette ala carte. No hash browns, or toast, just the omelette.
The omelette was quite large, cooked well, with plenty of bacon sprinkled on the outside and plenty inside. It was topped with a light coating of cheese.

The take out container was a little above standard fare, a sturdy plastic container that didn't smash the food beyond recognition.
The omelette was hot, fresh, and with a little pepper for flavoring was very good tasting.

The Grassy Knoll Diner awards 4 out of 5 shots and recommends Bob Evans for breakfast.

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Coke Zero Taste Test

Coke Zero Point Of Purchase At Its Best

Pay No Attention To The Sexy Blond Model Wearing Nothing But The Coca-Cola Zero Logo In Body Paint

Coca-cola has introduced yet another diet soda product to their long list of soft drinks. Coke Zero, being a diet soda, has zero calories, (Hence the name) zero total fat, zero total carbs, zero protein, zero sugar, and 40 mg of sodium which is 2% daily intake. I will hazard a guess and say that most diet soda's claim the same low calorie intake. But Coke Zero separates itself from all the others for one reason.

Taste!

I have tried many diet pops in my time and all of them left me not wanting for more. The only diet pop that is tolerable is Diet Dr. Pepper. (I ordered a Dr. Diet Pepper at a restaurant once and my son and wife almost fell over laughing at my mistake) All the other ones have such a bitter taste and a nasty after taste. I think these diet pops can be used as diesel fuel in a pinch.

Coke Zero however, as the commercials tout, it does taste a hell of a lot like Cokes flag ship brand cola, Coca-Cola Classic. Now hold on a minute! I didn't say it tasted exactly like Classic, but very close.

I was truly skeptical and I had to find out for myself if the Coke commercials were lying or not. I went to the local gas station, fueled up and went inside and purchased a 20 ounce size plastic bottle of Coke Zero. The cost was 99 cents, right in line with Classic, same price. (I mention this for a few years back, Coca-Cola introduced Coke C2, half the calorie soda but 50% more in cost. A 20 ounce bottle was $1.49 compared to 99 cents.)

Zero On Ice

I took the bottle of Coke Zero home and placed it in the fridge to get it ice cold. (Nothing better than an ice cold pop) A couple hours later, it was time to test the new Coke Zero.

I twisted the cap off and it fizzled just like Coke Classic which was a good sign. Then I went for it and took a big guzzle. Zero had that full bodied taste that did not disappoint. If I didn't already know, I would swear it wasn't a diet soda. After taste? Forgetaboutit! Absolutely none.  The first sip left me wanting more. I savored the rest of the bottle and each sip was as good as the last.

Coke Zero is the best diet soda on the market today and the Grassy Knoll Diner awards 5 out of 5 shots and highly recommends Coca-Cola Zero for a refreshing thirst quencher.

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Where Have All The Pumpkin Stealers Gone

Years ago when I was young, there was an art for stealing pumpkins on Halloween night. No pumpkin was safe from our Halloween gang. The bigger and more difficult pumpkins, the more motivated we became to free them from their perch. We would then smash the living daylights out of the pumpkins on the side walks and streets. (It's just how we rolled)

Some pumpkin owners would put up a fairly good fight to keep their pumpkins on their porches by aggressively guarding their property and some owners even pursuing us on foot. (Like they had a chance of running us down)

Alas, today, in my neighborhood, pumpkins are safe from kids stealing them. Last year I did not see one smashed pumpkin on the side walk or street. (What the Hell is wrong with kids these days!)


Happy Halloween

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