My husband and I have always wanted to go to Kennedy Space Center together.

We wanted to go when we were in college.  We wanted to go when we were in graduate school (but by the time we were married and ready to travel, we were writing our dissertations).  We wanted to go when we worked for NASA (but we worked for NASA, and were way too busy to vacation.  Yes, I know (now) that that’s sad).  We wanted to go when we had children (but we had children, and were way too busy still).  We wanted to go when a mission I’d worked on launched (but, but, but … and we never went).

A couple of weeks ago, we just went.

Spurred by a question from Ellen, I’m writing up the highlights of our trip, here and on related (linked) posts.

The highlights of our trip to Cocoa Beach in October were many, although not all that varied.  We’re space geeks.  Period.  We love space.  And nature.  And space again.  This trip was a dream come true for us.

The first stop on the Space Coast was the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center.  The visitor center is actually run by a professional visitor center company, Delaware Parks & Resorts, and it shows.  From the highly organized ticket-buying experience to the metal detectors to the visitor center food, it’s definitely done by someone who knows what they’re doing, and who can manage crowds.

Not that there were crowds when we were there.  It was October in Florida, after all, which I can tell you is a great time to go.  The crowds are thin, the people were relaxed, and the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  (Although the ocean was cold.  Not that we spent much time on the beach.)

We enjoyed the KSC Visitor’s Center immensely, running from the Robotic Exploration exhibit to the Constellation movie to the Rocket Garden, with a stop at the giant playspace full of tunnels, bridges, and slides for the younger set.  We took a tour (included with visitor’s admission), filed in to a shuttle mockup for a trip to space (kids under 48″ have to watch from a gallery — but even that was exciting), walked on the gantry that the Apollo astronauts walked, explored a full-size shuttle, and stood solemnly at the Astronaut Memorial.  We also touched a celestial sphere with the constellations engraved on it, and marveled as it effortlessly spun in the water base at the gentle push of a toddler’s hand.

One of the best parts of the trip was the KSC Then and Now Space History Tour, a three hour tour (not that kind of three hour tour) that took us onto Kennedy Space Center proper and over to Cape Canaveral, where all the Mercury and Gemini rockets were launched back in the 60’s and the unmanned rockets are still launched today.  Highlights for us were a visit to an actual bunkhouse, where we got to see and touch the ancient computers that filled the rooms, sit at a control desk, and stand behind the 12-layered glass where Werner Von Braun once stood.  We also went to the Apollo 1 launch pad, and solemnly put our hands on the launch structure where the capsule caught fire, burning Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee alive.  This was followed by a quiet ride back to KSC, and a stop at the Saturn V center, where one of the last remaining Saturn V rockets is on display.

Included in our trip to KSC was a stop at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, next to the old Space Camp dorms.  The Hall of Fame had quite a few other attractions, including hands-on activities and simulators for the kids (that used to belong to Space Camp).  This was a fun stop, and although not a whole day’s destination, it was the perfect way to top off Day #2 at KSC.  (KSC offers a second day free at the Visitor Center and/or the Astronaut Hall of Fame simply by validating your ticket on exit.)

After the Hall of Fame, we were starving, and dropped by Kelsey’s for pizza.  Yum.

Before we left Florida, we happened on another great place to go, this time in Titusville.  The U.S. Space Walk of Fame Museum is for the true history buff and/or space-crazy child or teen.  This unassuming little museum is packed tight with real pieces of history, like the charred I-beam used to advocate for necessary funding increases for the space program back in the 1980’s.  The ragged door from a Mercury capsule that was lost before the manned program began.  Lights, switches, and memorabilia given to retiring astronauts, engineers, and launch directors.  Handprints from dozens of astronauts, that you can lay your hands in for the asking.  An amazing room-sized model of the shuttle launch pad, gantry, and crawler.  Rooms for Mercury, Gemini, Apollo.  A room set up like the bunkhouse that we’d just seen on the tour, but even more child friendly.  Scrapbooks of photos kept by men who made the space program what it is today.

We were led through the museum by retired shuttle launch director (whose name I’ve misplaced), who worked his way up through the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and shuttle missions, growing right along with the space program, and it was amazing to hear his stories firsthand.  This museum is free, and well worth any time you spend there.  Go, shake the hands of the men who made it happen.

The Space Walk of Fame itself is a block or two away, by a beautiful stretch of water, and it is a must-visit.  Scattered over the two block area of Space View Park are monuments to the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo engineers, mechanics, flight directors, and all the people who made it happen.  Not just the astronauts.  Not the astronauts at all, actually, and that was a refreshing change from the astronaut-worship apparent at the KSC Visitor Center.  The Space Walk of Fame celebrates hard work.  Impossible work, really, and that was a lovely place for us to end our trip.

After a trip to Scoops, for freshly churned ice cream and milkshakes, we played in a nearby park and returned home, tired but happy, our trip complete.

Had we had more time, we would definitely have visited the Brevard Community College Planetarium, which hosts a rooftop observatory with 12 and 24 inch reflectors, a 6 inch refractor, a planetarium with a dual projection system, a 3 story high screened movie theater, and a space museum. The star show is showing Ring World, a favorite of friends of ours … and each show is just $6. We just ran out of time. We’d also like to see the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which friends of ours have loved on their trips there.  The Refuge is near the entrance to the Kennedy Space Center, and we’ll definitely make time for that on our next trip.

We can’t wait to go again!

Disclosure:  None of the institutions mentioned or NASA paid for any part of this trip in any way at all, nor are they aware of this post.  I used to work for NASA, and my husband still does, but I think you knew that already.

Today, my family and I went on our traditional trip to Chudleigh’s apple farm, to, naturally, pick apples. Every year, we spend half a day at the farm to pick apples, take pictures and buy some pie. It’s a great way to make new memories and hang out with the family, though sometimes it’s not the most desirable things in my life, it’s usually fun. We started out at 8:00 am towards the farm, getting there around 9:00 – 9:30 am. We took a ride on the tractor into the orchard, spent about three hours picking up a ton of Red Delicious apples, and headed out of the orchard by tractor. My brother and sister joyfully played around on haystacks, and the playground, while I joyfully sat on a bench and chewed gum. You could see my enthusiasm was at it’s highest level. Then we drove home. The End.

I think this year was our last visit there cause the prices are skyrocketing, which didn’t thrill my parents so much… eh. I’ll miss that place though, it’s one of the few places that has been in the photoalbum every single year of my life. Even when I was one we went.

Tonight, the whole family’s getting together again for thanksgiving dinner a day early, at Kelsey’s, which’ll probably epically fun. Hopefully, there won’t be any visits of rats at this place, or else my mom will never step foot into a restraunt again.

Currently: Celebrating the fact that my internet is working again

Reading: Hunted still… almost done!

Listening to: Pittance of Time by Terry Kelly <– this song has many amazing meanings behind it. You should check it out on youtube or something, great lyrics, great music, great artist, great lessons and meaning~! It’s about November 11th and the 2 minutes of silence. Listen~ Listen~~!

Visiting Kennedy Space Center? Looking for a bite to eat? You can’t get better pizza than the friendly Kelsey’s in nearby Port St. John, just past the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville. Yummy, delicious, hot, and fresh, with homemade crust, three kinds of cheese, and tons of toppings, this pizza was so good that on a recent visit we went there not once but twice.

Yum.

If only they delivered this far north.

Disclosure: This is part of a week long series on visiting Kennedy Space Center in Florida; no compensation (or free pizza) was offered or accepted for this post. Come back tomorrow for more about visiting KSC with kids.

When I was fifteen my Ma decided it was time for me to get a job.

Personally, I was against it.  I was perfectly content just sitting on my ass and watching television.  Mama disagreed.  A friend of hers had a sister in law who managed a restaurant.  Turns out they needed a busboy.  Kelsey’s Restaurant was host to a veritible cavalcade of characters, each with their own brilliance and hilarious backstory.

Perhaps my favorite was Dave the Porn Star.

They called him G Money because of their love of irony and hate of rap music. Dave was in his late forties/ early fifties.  An aging Jewish man who’d seen the road and lived the life of a drifter;  he waited tables in this place and that to save away for the house he was building in Hawaii.   At some point in his life, Dave was offered the opportunity to thrust his penis into a vagina on camera.  He took it.

Clearly this was the sort of porn that you find in bargain bins and dumpsters.   Modern porn stars look like gay male models.  G looked like he jerked off in mens rooms.  

I’ve never seen this legendary pornographic film, but every time I visit my local adult bookstore, I keep an eye out for G Money’s penis.

G never lost his love for showbusiness.  He took every opportunity to pull out his cock like there was a fire and only his genitals could extinguish it.   (I’m kidding.  Mostly.)   Many was the Saturday night when we would close up the restaurant, the beer flowing like wind on a mountain top,  when some poor drunken fool would yell out “G MONEY!!!”  Dave would smile shyly.  ”Come on, guys, no. Not tonight.”  But he could not halt their cheers and chants.  They would beg Dave for a show. 

I was only 16 the first time Dave put on a show.  I didn’t know what I was in for.  What in God’s name was he about to do? He walked into the back room, where the darkness consumed him.  We all stood in a line around the bar, waiting for the Dave train to come on through.  Three men down from the door, I stood impatiently.   He called out from the blackness.  ”Turn it up!”  I don’t remember what song they played on the radio.  I don’t remember who was around me or what they said before.  I don’t really even remember what color the waitresses’ thongs were.  But I remember the first time I saw a half naked male porn star.

He strutted out with his poofy chest hair and un-pedicured, smelly feet.  His tighty whitey Fruit of the Loom undies were stretched out and loose hanging.  Our laughter was instantaneous and grew exponentially as he walked past us.  One by one we fell like dominoes as he sauntered past us, falling into pure hysterics.  We were nearly dying as he jumped on top of the bar.  G’s pelvis thrusted back and forth lasciviously.  He shook his money maker like it was his last day on Earth.  Indeed, G hadn’t lost any of that old Jew penis magic.

Still, after a few minutes, he could tell something was wrong.

Sure, it was funny.  It always had been.  But it was never quite that funny.   So what were we all laughing at?  And suddenly, “lil G” stopped pumping.  The money maker stopped with the rump shaking.  And he asked us why we were crying.   Begrudgingly, we pointed to the mirror behind him.   His head turned and dropped down.  His eyes shuttered and his head shook as he noticed the giant brown skid mark dividing his butt like the Grand Canyon of poots.

Sure, he laughed despite himself.  But I think a little piece of Dave the Porn Star died that day.

Nah. I’m bullshitting.  He just got fucked up and kept dancing.

http://www.wikidfranchise.org/this-week-on-wf

After submitting the previous message on the Keley’s website I got the following reply from Karyn Whitelaw:

Dear Mr XXXXXXXXXX [deleted],

Thank you for your e-mail.At Kelsey’s our approach to pricing for All You Can Eat Wings was based on discounting our regular order of 16 wings (usually $17.49) by $2.50 and offering them as AYCE. This is seen as significant value to many of our Guests. A price point of $17.49 for 16 wings is also common among our competitors.

At Kelsey’s we appreciate both your patronage and feedback.

Karyn Whitelaw

Guest Services Manager

Cara Operations

So there you have it. Now I know why Karyn has the position in the company that she does. She did a great job answering the question, but failed to really justify the answer. I guess it’s like Chevrolet selling a $30 000 Cobalt saying that they do it because Mercedes has their own entry level car at a similar price point.

Perhaps next time I will go to a bar and not a restaurant.

Quite a perfect speech I must say.  Inspiring, inclusive, uniting, and some encouragement to roll up your sleeves.  A perfect way to appeal to both sides of the rainbow.  What I want for Mr. Obama is for him wake up at 3pm this afternoon, have a Starbucks and a Marlboro red (c’mon he really wants one and he deserves it!), and a bacon and egg Croissanwich, maybe some Tropicana.  That’s a good wake up meal post-owning the world.

I feel like I want to take out the US citizens (most specifically Ohio, Flordia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania) for a nice meal at Kelsey’s, they done good.  Get the spinach dip, those pita chips are always delish.

I just hope the bark is close to the bite, especially given the heap of steaming garbagegoo that is left for you.  Best of luck.  He won’t be as far left as some of us may like, but at least he’s got consensus from all corners of the country, and will be able to govern confidently.

My Programmer and I went out to dinner last night, and then back to his place for some TV, snuggles, etc.

Dinner was good, and while the drive there and back was a little nasty thanks to all the snow, I think it was worth the trip.  Alright, the spaghetti was actually kind of gross, and the salad could have been cut into smaller pieces… but the company was worth it…

Over dinner, we had a good conversation about how he’s had a really rough week (he got 4 week’s notice for layoff) and about my not-so-good week as well.

He brought up that he’s been asked if his younger (male) cousin could move in with him next fall.  I thought it was really sweet that he wanted to know how I felt about it before answering, but I wasn’t quite sure what to say… it is nice that he’s considering how I’d feel about him agreeing to host his cousin (especially so far ahead), when we could very well be living together by then.  Who knows? Thankfully, he isn’t going to have to commit either way for quite a while, as I don’t think that either of us is really all that sure of where we’ll be in our relationship in about a year.

We watched another episode of Lost, and snuggled for a while.  It was nice to spend some quiet time with him after such a busy week…

I’m seriously stressing about our bedroom compatibility now though, (as you can probably guess by the sudden number of postings about kinks) and I think we’re going to have to have another difficult talk again.

Before the folks at Kelsey’s bastardized that little ditty, those of us who grew up in the 80’s will remember it as the Cheers theme song.  And what a great song it was.  Not only did it signal the start of 30 minutes of comedy (unless Kristie Alley was on screen) it summed up the idea of a neighborhood bar perfectly.

Going to a place where everybody knows your name and everybody has something interesting to say.  I was lucky enough to have that when I lived in Montreal.  Sure, it required two subway lines and a bus to get there, but it was worth it.  And when I was back in my old hometown in May, I dropped in and quickly noticed that not much has changed.

When I arrived in Toronto back in 2002, I knew I’d have a hard time finding a new place to hang out at.  Thankfully, I did discover a few bars and pubs I enjoy going to.  I even have one that’s less than a block from my house.  But it doesn’t really have that “personal” feeling to it.

As you can imagine, while not at the top of my ‘must have list’ but something I’ve been thinking about, is the necessity of a local neighborhood pub that I can call my own.  If I end up in Orleans, I’m betting dollars to donuts there probably won’t be one right around the corner.  I know there IS a Kelsey’s though – and that point I might as well just build an after-hours place in my basement… again.

So one of the things I’ll keep an eye out for, or welcome recomendations on, is a local bar or pub, preferably with good looking barmaids, fair priced drinks and an equally pleasant (and good-looking) female clientel.  Oh, and next week’s winning lotto numbers too, since we’re just hopelessly daydreaming.

Qu’est-ce que cet titre vient faire dans un blogue sur l’investissement?

Simplement pour vous parlez de marketing et de mise en marché, ce qui a directement rapport avec l’investissement.

Ainsi, la semaine dernière, les 12 restaurants Kelsey’s ont fermé au Québec dès le 15 mars et 414 emplois ont été perdus.

La compagnie Cara, cette bande nuls en marketing au Québec, j’y reviendrai, insatisfaite du rendement de la chaîne au Québec, a décidé d’y mettre la hache.

Josée Béliveau, directrice de compte chez Edelman Relations publiques, confirme la nouvelle en mentionnant que le concept offert par la chaîne n’a pas vraiment trouvé preneur auprès des Québécois.

Pure conneries ces propos.

Les restaurants Kelsey’s offraient un concept de bar et grill pour des clients qui cherchent à manger dans une ambiance conviviale et informelle. Ses rivales immédiates sont les bannières Boston Pizza et Casey’s.

Voilà la preuve qu’on a fait dire des conneries à la relationniste.  Boston Pizza et Casey’s fonctionnent assez bien sur le territoire québécois malgré des prix assez élevés chez Boston Pizza.

La relationniste en rajoute en mentionnant qu’à part Anjou et St-Laurent les restaurants Kelsey’s étaient surtout présents en banlieue de Montréal et qu’ils visaient une clientèle familiale.

Kelsey’s compte plus d’une centaine d’emplacements au Canada et elle célèbre son 30e anniversaire cette année. La chaîne est surtout présente en Ontario.

Ancienne propriétaire de la chaîne de cafés Second Cup, la société Cara, de Mississauga, exploite aussi la bannière Harvey’s au Canada. C’est aussi un traiteur pour 60 transporteur aériens.

C’est là qu’on y arrive.

Cara et le Québec ça ne fonctionne pas.

Les gens de Cara n’ont rien compris aux Québécois et leur territoire.

Swiss Chalet… flop au Québec grand succès dans le reste du Canada.

Harvey’s… flop au Québec et grand succès dans le reste du Canada.

Second Cup… succès mitigé au Québec et succès dans le reste du Canada.

Le problème de Cara en est un de marketing et de mise en marché.

J’ai déjà contacté les gens de Cara pour qu’ils établissent un Harvey’s dans un territoire bien connu, Drummondville, le centre du Québec.  L’halte routière préféré des gens qui voyagent entre Montréal et Québec.

Qu’est-ce que les gens de Cara m’ont répondu… des conneries.

“Nous avons effectué des études de marché et le territoire dont vous nous mentionnez ne convient pas à l’établissement d’une franchise Harvey’s”…

Pure barratin à la con.

Coin Christophe-Colomb et boulevard Henri-Bourassa à Montréal, il y avait un restaurant Harvey’s d’établi…. bien situé et maintenant il est fermé.  Pourtant il était très bien situé.

Je ne dis pas que les produits de Harvey’s, Kelsey’s, Second Cup et Swiss Chalet ne sont pas bons.  Au contraire, je crois que plusieurs de leurs produits, surtout les hamburgers de Harvey’s sont supérieurs aux autres.

Mais quel est le problème alors?

Marketing et mise en marché?

Il y a quelques années, coin rue Sainte-Catherine et Berri à Montréal, tout juste à l’Est du magasin Archambault, Cara opère un restaurant Harvey’s sur deux étages….  Achalandé au maximum sur l’heure du midi… bingo il est maintenant fermé.  Oui peut-être que le propriétaire des lieux, le magasin Archambault a mis fin au bail pour étendre son magasin.

Mais bon sens, aucun autre établissement Harvey’s n’a vu le jour à moins de 500m de là.  Mauvais endroit encore, je suppose que les gens de Cara nous rediraient?  Pourtant c’était un coin très achalandé situé tout juste en face du métro Berri-UQAM (Berri-de-Montigny pour les anciens) .

La question à se poser pour les gens de Cara c’est pourquoi McDonald’s et Burger King réussissent bien au Québec et au Canada mais pas Harvey’s?

Québec, boulevard Hamel, vers le milieu des années 90 Cara opèrent côte à côte un restaurant Chalet Suisse et un restaurant Harvey’s.  Il y avait là tellement de monde le midi que c’est difficile de se trouver un stationnement.

Aujourd’hui on constate à cet endroit que seulement le restaurant Harvey’s y est encore ouvert.
Mauvais endroit encore, je suppose que les gens de Cara nous rediraient?   Pourquoi les restaurants Score’s réussissent bien au Québec et au Canada mais pas Swiss Chalet/Chalet Suisse?

Second Cup au Québec s’est fait damer le pion par les Tim Hortons, les Starbucks et les Café Dépôt.  Pourquoi ces derniers réussissent bien au Québec et au Canada mais par Second Cup?

Pourquoi les établissements de Cara ne fonctionnent pas bien au Québec et qu’ailleurs au Canada ça fonctionne bien?

Simple à comprendre.  Cara a été incapable d’ajuster son marketing aux Québécois et définitivement ses gens de mise en marché ne connaissent pas bien le territoire Québécois.

Si selon eux un restaurant Harvey’s ne pourrait pas bien fonctionner à moins de 800m de l’autoroute 20 à Drummondville, j’imagine maintenant pourquoi beaucoup de restaurants Harvey’s sont fermés dans la région de Montréal.

À ma connaissance les habitudes de consommation de restauration des Québécois ou des Ontariens ne sont pas bien différentes.  Parcontre la mise en marché et le marketing sont sans doute bien différent au Québec qu’en Ontario.  Mais pourquoi tant réussissent à opérer des franchises ici au Québec et en Ontario et que Cara échoue?

Un petit cours de Marketing au Québec 101 devrait être suivi par les gens de chez Cara.

Peut-être aussi que c’est tout simplement un besoin de mieux comprendre la langue française qu’on besoin les gens de chez Cara…

This Valentine’s day is special for us, as I just started my new job about 2 weeks ago, and are thrilled to have some money coming in again. We decided to splurge this week and go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. My girlfriend told me not to get her flowers (she does every year) because they are just so over priced on that day. I buy her flowers various times throughout the rest of the year, but I digress.

Anyway, this year while I was at work, I watched as another manager struggled to find a restaurant that could take a reservation for him and his girlfriend. He called a few of the big-box restaurants, Kelsey’s, Caseys, and even told me his fall back restaurant was East Side Marios. I felt bad, for the both of them. To spend Valentine’s Day (or any day for that matter) in a sterile, boring, corporately designed big-box style restaurant.

The idea behind these places was kind of neat 15 years ago, but now, there are so many, and they are all so bland. Each of them with their bizarre mix of weird crap and old movie posters plastered to the walls. A decorating idea that I never ever understood. I remembered thinking Jack Astors was hilarious with all of their comics and funny posters stuck to the wall… when I was seven. Now it just strikes me as lame.

This other person’s girlfriend lived in Kitchener, which is near where we used to live. I suggested to him “why not try something different” of course I already had something in mind. Lexxie and I have eaten at many places around Kitchener, so I recommended a place called Crossroads. Crossroads is a Mennonite run country style buffet. Not to be confused with the American Company ‘Old Country Buffet’ This food is ACTUALLY home made, and prepared with natural, and whole ingredients. You can really taste the difference, especially on your fourth trip up. Don’t get me started on the deserts. I would probably walk over hot coals to get my hands on one of them. Not like the traditional corporately prepared deserts with their hydrogenated corn oil substituting for whipped cream, no, these are honest to god (fattening) delicious, cream based deserts.

My friend, booked a reservation there, and him and his girlfriend tried something new for Valentine’s day, while Lexxie and I headed over to a place we love here in Hamilton called the Eden Thai. Normally, they are quite empty, which is sad. The food there is so good, and the portions reasonable. We arrived and there were only two other couples there, but by the time we left, it was nearly full. We were so happy to see it full of people like that. I hope business improves for him, we just loved the place.

So… what are your thoughts on the take-over of the big box restaurant?

I wasn’t going to do off-topic blog posts, but then I read THIS over at Wayne D’s blog about his Valentine’s Day, and just had to write something.

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