http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/andros-lady Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:14:44 GMT Reviews by andros-lady http://www.viewpoints.com/Boca-Java-Coffee--125080-review-33d83 The Boca Java company has, above and beyond, the best tasting coffee I've ever experienced.  Talk about fresh roast...they don't roast until your order is in.  I've had several types of their coffees, and their teas as well, and absolutely will not switch. (I'm in a remote location, so I have to mail-order decent coffee...so I've "been around the block").  I have to say, their mail-order club (scheduled deliveries) is excellent!  It's easy to select/change each month; you get a free "baby boca" sample each month, flavor/blend of your choice (makes a full pot); you get shipping discounts, *and* reward points.  My favorite, though?  Their support-the-troops program...you can opt to send coffee to the troops on a one-time basis, or on a monthly basis (you get a discount price, they match the order, and pay the postage to the troops).  They're nearly at their 5-million-cup mark!  Take a look; I don't think you'll be disappointed (BTW: ... Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:14:44 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Boca-Java-Coffee--125080-review-33d83 andros-lady 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Microtel-Inn-Suites-Maggie-Valley-Maggie-Valley-NC-review-2ebd0 Please, please...avoid this place!  When we stayed there, we went for the 'mini-suite'.  Well, 'mini' was the right word (pay no attention to the photos you see online...those rooms are TINY!).  The chair seats at the table were dirty and torn; the window seat cushion was stained, and patched with duct tape.  We had a full-size bed, and a sofa bed.  We had been told that the sofa bed was a 'full size', but it was more like a single...and it literally curved like a 'U' in the center (I know, I spent one night in it!  Ouch!).  The continental breakfast consisted of lukewarm orange juice...one coffee pot...a waffle iron and three paper cups of batter (for six or seven people waiting around, and no one to ask).  Yik!  The worst part, and I mean the *worst*...we reserved at a certain rate.  When we checked out the bill showed a higher rate per night (by $15.00 per night!).  I showed the desk clerk my reservation showing the rate, and... Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:40:52 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Microtel-Inn-Suites-Maggie-Valley-Maggie-Valley-NC-review-2ebd0 andros-lady 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Hawthorn-Suites-of-Naples-Naples-FL-review-a9633 Since we have family in the area, we stay in hotels in Naples fairly frequently, and I have to say...this is one of the best (if not *the* best) we've encountered.  The room we selected was a little small for four, but...that was my fault (I selected 'studio' when I should have gone for the larger room).  The front desk staff couldn't have been nicer, and their little convenience store (directly next to the front desk) had everything we could have wanted...at regular prices (none of this $5.00 for a single-use pack of Tylenol!)  The continental breakfast was good, and was kept constantly stocked, and the tables cleared and cleaned.  I used the exercise facility while there, and surprise...all the machines were working!  Plus, they had large screen TVs in there to help pass the time.  Lots of restaurants and other businesses in the immediate area.   It was nice to have a full-size kitchen (stocked with the necessary stuff)...very quiet, no... Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:30:55 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Hawthorn-Suites-of-Naples-Naples-FL-review-a9633 andros-lady 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Zappos-com-review-09ae3 Things I absolutely love about Zappos?  The customer service...the selection...the easy return and free shipping!  The thing I don't like? Their prices are, sadly, not as competitive as they could be.  My main function with Zappos is getting skate shoes for my teenager (he either quickly wears them out, or outgrows them!).  Last year, he literally woke up one day and his nearly-new shoes no longer fit...overnight!  I put in an order on Sunday, and got them on Thursday (and for an FPO address, this was AMAZING).  I added a nice note in a review, and forgot about it.  But!  A week later, I got a hand-written thank-you note (on nice bond paper,no less!), thanking me for my business and telling me they'd be there for me as long as my son (or I) needed them.  What a nice touch!  The return process is incredibly painless...now, if they could only drop their prices a bit, I'd shop there and nowhere... Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:22:54 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Zappos-com-review-09ae3 andros-lady 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Cataloochee-Ski-Area-review-21f12 If you are into mega-hills and hot-doggin', this place isn't for you.  But, if you want a great place to introduce your kids to skiing, and you don't mind going during the week...Cataloochee is the place!  We discovered it about 3 years ago.  Yes, it's small...can't be called a 'resort'..but that's part of the charm.  They have full snow-making, and usually have 8-10 runs open (out of 14)...of course, two of those are the training areas, and can't really be called 'runs', but the training areas ARE out of the way of the regular hills, so your novices can safely practice.  I'm a 'mellow' skier...that is, I prefer gliding down the (very long) beginner slope with my younger son, while my husband and teenager head for the intermediate (the intermediate slopes are probably equivalent to easy runs in New England).   You can't beat the prices....seriously.  There are also a couple of places in Maggie Valley (3-4 miles from the ski lodge) that offer... Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:49:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Cataloochee-Ski-Area-review-21f12 andros-lady 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Crazy-Buffet-West-Palm-Beach-FL-review-b623 I was SOOOO disappointed in my visit here!  My son had been begging to try it; and I had had other friends tell me that it was great; but not so, at least on my one (and only) visit.  The food was mediocre, at best.  Our server was almost non-existant...which, at a buffet, isn't bad, but we were sampling different things, and of course used a new plate each trip to the buffet (the plates themselves are small).  We ran out of room pretty quickly. I complained to the manager about the service, and he just shrugged. Service aside, I really was disappointed in the quality of the food, the presentation (it's hyped as a 'special' atmosphere...we didn't see it!), and the lack of neatness.  They seemed to have a pretty hard time keeping the dishes stocked, too, although it wasn't crowded.  The price per person ($20 per adult) was NOT worth it.  There are too many other GOOD chinese buffet's in the area, for easily half the price (and better... Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:29:22 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Crazy-Buffet-West-Palm-Beach-FL-review-b623 andros-lady 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/MyPoints--25775-review-0d2d1 I've been a MyPoints member for going on ten years (gasp!).  Believe me, they've really improved over the years.  The customer service, at least for me, has improved tremendously (although I really wish they wouldn't use those computer-generated initial response emails!  Let a human really *read* what's written, before replying, so they don't waste my time!)  The connection time to the shopping sites has gotten much better...so, if you tried MyPoints a few years ago, and ditched it because of that...give it another shot! —  I live on a Navy base overseas, so I pretty much have to shop online (very limited resources here)...so I try to maximize what I can.  The only thing I would warn about, is taking any of the MyPoints surveys...I did that once, and seemed to get a lot more spam for about a month after that.  I don't respond to those any more! —... Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:04:41 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/MyPoints--25775-review-0d2d1 andros-lady 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Nintendo-Wii-Guitar-Hero-III--116137-review-25853 Our game disk (for my 9-year-old for Christmas) stopped working after three days.  I examined the back of the disk, and found a small bump (almost like a tiny pimple).  Tried it in other WII's, same problem.  No scratches, just the bump. But, since I pre-ordered the game (so I could have it for Christmas) neither GameStop nor Activision (or Red Octane, the manufacturer) will replace it, since it's outside of the warranty.    Sad.  Also, the game advertises stereo sound, but the game disk is only mono!!!    Supposedly, replacement disks will be available "in early 2008". Sorry, that's not much help when my youngster is as disappointed as he is now.  I'm not very impressed with Activision (also had problems with the Xbox 360 version, but that's a different problem and... Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:58:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Nintendo-Wii-Guitar-Hero-III--116137-review-25853 andros-lady 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Nintendo-Wii-Guitar-Hero-III--116137-review-172a4 This is specifically against the Guitar Hero III for Xbox 360...which was purchased for my teen-age son for Christmas.  He *loves* the game, and the music.  BUT!  The guitar itself, for this version, is AWFUL.  They changed the style so that the neck is detachable (so that, perhaps in the future, you can buy different necks)...but the design is poorly done, as the detachable neck frequently loses contact with the internal points, and you lose functionality. The only way my son could make it work consistently was to duct-tape the neck to the body! (Kind of spoils the rock-star image, you know?)   Unfortunately, from reading forums, this is a common complaint from hundreds of users.  So, just be warned!   (and keep the duct tape... Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:52:10 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Nintendo-Wii-Guitar-Hero-III--116137-review-172a4 andros-lady 2