Canadian Buffoon's Disney With a Teen Vacation - 08/13 - The Wrap

[pkondz]

Thanks for regaling us with your tale of the Pkondz's excellent adventure!

You're welcome!

Those old buildings gave you lots of photo material.

It was nice just to wander around and click away.

Looks like you scored a good place to have dinner!

Nice ambiance, better food.

Was it a vegetarian place? I don't think I saw meat in your entrees.

Oh, no. Definitely not vegetarian.
The chips were cooked in duck fat.
Ruby's meal had beef I think.
My risotto was a duck risotto.

 

[pkondz]

Well, thank goodness for that

Some things should just never be done.

We are great at breakfast restaurants. We have a looot of those. Which pains Amber cause she doesn't like breakfast food (cray cray I know).

Yes. cray cray.

She says we severely lack in diners thought - she'd be all for eating burgers and spaghetti for breakfast.

Oh, I can almost get behind that.
I don't want burgers or spaghetti
between 5am - 10am.
After that... all bets are off.

I think the town I grew up in has one of the highest ratio of breakfast restaurant per number of citizens XD Within walking distance of my house (like, easy walking, 10-15 minutes) there's something like six? And my parents' don't live in town center area, they live in a residential area. If you get in your car after that, for a 10 minutes drive, you can easily add 12+ more. And that's not counting Tim Hortons.

Lucky.
Where we live, we have a Timmies nearby
(of course)
but nothing else.

And yet they all have a 20 minutes wait on Mother's Day.

Mom's gotta be taken care of.

Once a year.

Well, at least you're not going on a boat, so we don't have to expect Speed 2 re-enactments.

That will never happen.
Gawd that movie sucked.

Fun fact, it's also a play on word. 'Thé' is pronounced the same as 'T'es', which is the shortened form of 'Tu es'.

So when you're speaking the name out, it would also sound like you're saying 'You're my Cafe'

Oh my gosh! I didn't even twig on that!
I was saying it in my head with a comma between
Thé and Mon.

Of course!

Have you ever heard of looking up menus before picking a place to eat at?

I could've sworn I saw Bennies
on the menu!

Granted, that's the picky girl in me. I like knowing what I'm in for. I would have sent you over to Ben & Florentine. I think there's one a couple of blocks from Stanley street, and eggs Benedict are one of their specialties. Next time you'll know

Great. Now you tell me!

That's like me in London, when we went to see Westminster Abbey.

Equivalent entrance fee of CAD$30.00

It was really gorgeous from the outside.

They tried to outlaw those this summer, cause the treatment of the horses isn't stellar. But the mayor went about it the wrong way so the carriage drivers took it to court and won. They'll have to do a study before they can really do anything.

Huh. Not surprised by that.

I was so excited when I found out they had a year round Christmas store in Montreal. Unfortunately, it's not quite as awesome looking at it is at Disney.

Not much is.

Soooooo good. The best kind is the chewy, gooey kind. My godmom's mother used to make the best (and the best fudge for that matter).

mmmm.... Get the recipe?

The consistency can really vary depending on the recipe. My Aunt makes some, but hers is rather dry and crumbly. Plus she puts nuts in it and that's a big no go for me.

Me too.
I've had a few people gift me fudge with nuts in it.
"Oh! Thanks! I love fudge!"
And after they're gone...
"Anyone want this fudge?"

I'm gonna have to take down the name of that place and go there. Looks so good.

I'd recommend popping in there
and checking it out.

You can also imagine why the paving in the middle is different (and was probably done at a later time..) than the paving on the sides. Poop trails anyone?

Isn't that always the way. At least it's a pretty nice place to revisit over and over

Yup. I didn't mind going twice at all.

Well, looks like I have one thing in common with your non Disney loving wife

Must have been a St. Hubert Express cause it's not usually fastfood. It's a sit down restaurant. Not super fancy, your utensils are wrapped in a napkin and your placemat is paper, but still. I love that place, they have pretty good food.

I'm pretty sure it was.
In either case, as soon as I saw the "dessert menu",
I left.

That's always the best part. No longer having to worry about them ripping them out. No more sad, pitiful eyes "Why are you doing this to me, large non furry thing that I've come to love? I thought we were friends"

 

[pkondz]

Well that explains it - sometimes it looked like a really extensive menu but the difference mainly was in just how many eggs it contained.

Sounds like the Monty Python "Spam" skit.

I'm happy with eggs in cakes! I just don't like them smelling or tasting like egg!

How about egg nog?

Let's go with that - great choice!

 

[pkondz]

I've just seen this and briefly read around the subject! and YES!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!! I'll be back to comment properly I promise, but this just made me too happy to ignore

 

[franandaj]

Love that movie!
I've seen it at least 3 times.

I think we ended up watching the movie at one point, but it was required reading in Jr High School, or maybe Elementary....

Okay... but other than those two times...

I just think a church shouldn't have an entrance fee.
To me, it smacks of hypocrisy.

I just think they should have to pay taxes....Oh wait you're Canadian!

I really liked Logan's Run.
Not many people know Farrah Fawcett was in it.

Were they not paying attention?

No. The race is on a real track.
But I would think the touristy part of Montreal
would be pretty busy with thousands of visitors.

We have the Long Beach Grand Prix every April. We try to be out of town or hide inside our house during that weekend. It takes place on a route downtown. They close Shoreline Blvd and that becomes part of the race track. If we are in town we avoid that part of town like the plague. I did notice this past year, that in our new house (which is on the opposite side of Long Beach from downtown), we can't even hear the race. At our old house it sounded like bees were swarming. All. Weekend. Long.

Again, you're the second person to ask that.
And I don't remember.
But I would think it would've been lemon.

I didn't think Vanilla would be all that spectacular. Although I love a good Vanilla Bean ice cream.

Nope.
Didn't even know if we'd eat there or not
until we got closer.
I figured we'd have tons of places to choose from
so why not just play it by ear.

See this is such a foreign concept to me. I guess WDW has really done it to me. At home my meals are planned at least a week in advance, on trips my meals are planned months in advance. Play it by ear makes me very nervous!!!!!!

It wasn't easy. But we did it.
Then we celebrated by getting poutine!

Now I want poutine! I wonder if any place in Long Beach serves it?

 

[pkondz]

I think we ended up watching the movie at one point, but it was required reading in Jr High School, or maybe Elementary....

I've never read it,
which is silly, really.

I just think they should have to pay taxes....Oh wait you're Canadian!

I am?
Hey! You're right! I am!

Were they not paying attention?

It came out before she was famous.

We have the Long Beach Grand Prix every April.

I know. I've seen it every year
(on TV)
for the past.... few decades.

We try to be out of town or hide inside our house during that weekend. It takes place on a route downtown. They close Shoreline Blvd and that becomes part of the race track. If we are in town we avoid that part of town like the plague. I did notice this past year, that in our new house (which is on the opposite side of Long Beach from downtown), we can't even hear the race. At our old house it sounded like bees were swarming. All. Weekend. Long.

Heh. So if I'm in town for it,
(a possibility, some year)
our paths aren't likely to cross.

I didn't think Vanilla would be all that spectacular. Although I love a good Vanilla Bean ice cream.

See this is such a foreign concept to me. I guess WDW has really done it to me. At home my meals are planned at least a week in advance, on trips my meals are planned months in advance. Play it by ear makes me very nervous!!!!!!

Don't forget the state I was in when I went.
Just the thought of doing research
was exhausting.

Now I want poutine! I wonder if any place in Long Beach serves it?

Possibly.




But it won't be done right.


Speaking of Long Beach....
I still need your address for your prize.
It's sitting at home getting lonely.

 

[franandaj]

It came out before she was famous.

I guess I saw it on Betamax or something like that, she was already famous when I saw it.

I know. I've seen it every year
(on TV)
for the past.... few decades.

Really???? It's on TV?

Heh. So if I'm in town for it,
(a possibility, some year)
our paths aren't likely to cross.

If you were to come to town for it (and we hadn't already scheduled something far out of town) I would invite you over for at least one night for dinner so you could avoid the madness on Pine Ave. If we're in town, we never go out for dinner that weekend. Although since the race people don't really know about the Marina area, the restaurants there are sometimes safe.

Don't forget the state I was in when I went.
Just the thought of doing research
was exhausting.

True. The year that we moved we had two "windows" that we could move. Either early June or late August. We needed to be "home" for three weeks for the kitties. We chose early June. In July we were gone the 7th through the 11th, the 15th to the 19th. Then we left from July 30 to August 5th, and again August 6th through the 16th. The last trip included a stay in Cleveland Ohio. When we got there Fran asked me, "You did make a reservation for Michael Symon's restaurant, right?"

I was like, "This is where his restaurant is???? Oh Crap! I've been so stressed out with all our trips and moving that I didn't even think of that!" I did get us a late reservation one night where we had a porkilicious meal, but it was dicey! I totally understand.

Possibly.




But it won't be done right.

Yeah, you're probably right.

Speaking of Long Beach....
I still need your address for your prize.
It's sitting at home getting lonely.

OK, OK I'll send you a PM at some point....

 

[pkondz]

I guess I saw it on Betamax or something like that, she was already famous when I saw it.

Same here. But that's how I remembered.
"Hey! That was Farah Fawcett!!"

Really???? It's on TV?

I can't tell.
Are you kidding here?

If you were to come to town for it (and we hadn't already scheduled something far out of town) I would invite you over for at least one night for dinner so you could avoid the madness on Pine Ave. If we're in town, we never go out for dinner that weekend. Although since the race people don't really know about the Marina area, the restaurants there are sometimes safe.

Well, thanks!
Who knows...
Maybe some day I'll take you up on that.

True. The year that we moved we had two "windows" that we could move. Either early June or late August. We needed to be "home" for three weeks for the kitties. We chose early June. In July we were gone the 7th through the 11th, the 15th to the 19th. Then we left from July 30 to August 5th, and again August 6th through the 16th. The last trip included a stay in Cleveland Ohio. When we got there Fran asked me, "You did make a reservation for Michael Symon's restaurant, right?"

I was like, "This is where his restaurant is???? Oh Crap! I've been so stressed out with all our trips and moving that I didn't even think of that!" I did get us a late reservation one night where we had a porkilicious meal, but it was dicey! I totally understand.

I was so sure that when you wrote
"Fran asked me, "You did make a reservation for Michael Symon's restaurant, right?""
Your next line was going to be:
"And then I completely lost it."

OK, OK I'll send you a PM at some point....

 

[franandaj]

I can't tell.
Are you kidding here?

No I'm not kidding. Whenever I mention the LBGP (and I don't mean Long Beach Gay Pride) people look at me funny as if they have never heard of it. So I figured while it was the #1 money maker for the city, no one else on the planet knew about it.

I was so sure that when you wrote
"Fran asked me, "You did make a reservation for Michael Symon's restaurant, right?""
Your next line was going to be:
"And then I completely lost it."

Well I might have, but I was too tired to remember.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I've got a plethora of pictures for you.
And all (or almost all) are touristy types.
So many, in fact, that I'll have to split
this update into two parts.
So many, in fact,
that I hardly have to write anything.

But are there any photos of Harley-Davidson stores??

Plus... I didn't take any notes, remember?
But I'm still going to yak on and on.

Whatever. Just don't yak on me.

I really don't gloat in front of her.
I don't rub it in.
Really I don't.


Oh, wait.
Yes I do.

And it's so much fun!!

I find this to be effective:

How do you guys pronounce that?
I know how I pronounced it.

"The" and then "Mon" like in "Jamaica, Mon!"
and then "Café" like 'kaff-ay'.

Seems legit.

I walked along, noting all the signs
that were in French,
the snippets of conversation I'd hear
that were in French,
and people either walking, biking
or smoking.

It just felt.... foreign.
And I loved it.
(well... maybe not the smoking.)

Sounds pretty neat. Except for the smoking.

I grabbed her and shouted at her...
"It's cans. It's Ok, it's cans."
"What? " She said.
"They were just cans." I repeated.


Wait.
Hang on....

Oh.
That's from the movie Speed.
With Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.
Good movie.

That was a good movie. But it is also the only time I have ever seen anyone with empty cans in a baby carriage.

Downtown Montreal is a mixture of old and new.
There are brand spanking new high-rises.
And there are buildings dating back
to the seventeenth century.

When you walk towards Old Montreal,
you're mostly surrounded by very modern buildings.
But, turn down that one street,
(watching for speeding buses, of course)
and suddenly you're in another world.

I would love this. I've heard Quebec makes for a great poor man's European vacation. So it would fit my budget perfectly!

And sort of chuckled.
I'd walked right under that sign.
I was so busy looking left, right and across the street,
that I'd failed to see it.

Want to borrow my user name?

It's Thé Mon café.
That translates to "Tea, my café"
or better still, "My tea café"

Ohhh...accent on the THE. I should have guessed.

And why shouldn't you trust me?
Have I ever lied to you?


Cans! It's just cans!

He really hates these cans! Stay away from the cans!

They didn't serve eggs Benedict.
But... but... but... I was craving that!

poop.

That's how they would have ended up, anyway.

I didn't know the eggs were hard boiled.
I thought they were going to scramble them
or possibly make an omelet.
But I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The croissant was really fresh.
No eggs Benedict... but I approved.
I left the café in high spirits.

Glad you liked it. I would have expected a hot sandwich as well.

I'm sorry, but that just rankles.
You have to pay to go into a church?
That just smacks of money gouging to me.
What if you just want to go in and pray?

Thankfully, you don't have to go into a church to pray.

Still, there's no charge to walk by it.
I'm sure this will change as soon
as they can figure out a way to do it.

(Hello! We registered that your eyes
have looked at our church.
Your account has been deducted.
Have a nice day!)

Disney already figured that out. "Oh, you want to actually see the castle? Come on in through the gates."

And snapped this side street.
You know why?

Me neither.
But I uploaded it,
so you're darned well going to look at it!

I can indeed confirm that it is a side street.

Photo Service works in both French and English.

Hey, I know some French!

I loitered in the area for a few minutes
then continued on my exploration of Old Montreal.

I would love to wander here.

Did you pick up that outfit for Ruby?

Plus I get to use the word "juxtaposition"
which is not a word you normally use
on a regular basis.
So... win/win.

Do you ever just randomly say that out loud, just for fun?

Uh...me neither.

See the woman walking to the right of the cement truck?
She was driving a scooter and went up a ramp
that I guess she thought was placed there for through traffic.
She went airborne and landed right in some fresh cement.

Wait... no. That was Spy, with Melissa McCarthy.
Man... I really need to take notes.

It definitely adds to the excitement of the TR, though.

Notice the checkered flags?
The previous weekend was the
Canadian Formula One Grand Prix.

Do they actually race on these narrow streets?

As I was sashaying, I was conscious of a voice
coming closer (and louder) and closer.

The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. There is no parking in the Red Zone.

Sucre a la Crème is a Quebec and French Canadian delicacy.
It's made by mixing brown sugar, maple syrup,
butter, and cream together
and cooking it into a fudge like consistency.
Kay loves it.
Ruby hates it.
(She affectionately calls it "Sucre a la crap".)

Sounds sickeningly sweet.

In the back of the store was something
that I loved.
Gelato.
No way I'm passing that up!

I think there's a law against passing up gelato!

And really narrow.
You could just imagine living
in a time before automobiles
were invented.

I love places like this!

I mean, with windows like that
it just has to be cool inside, right?

Yes! An adult ball pit!

Wrong.
It was boring.
There was almost nothing inside.
There were a couple of tables
with T-shirts and cheap crap for sale.
And that was it.
Total waste of time.

Oh. Well, then.

I popped into a couple of art galleries.
But the prices were (as usual)
higher than I wanted to pay.
Good art is expensive.
Please don't ask me what constitutes good art.
Okay, go ahead and ask.
"Good art" is any art that I like.
I don't care if an "expert" agrees or not.
"No, you shouldn't like that. This is what you should like."

Buzz off.
That's like trying to tell me that I should like Brussels sprouts.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, no?

Could not agree more.

I have a rule about art that keeps things simple. I am not an artist. So my rule is: if I can reproduce it, it's not art.

I was realllly torn between the two.
I personally liked the violet one the best,
but Kay likes all things black.
So I chose that one.

She loved it.
And used it a few times to bring her lunch to school.

Extra bonus Dad points. Very valuable.

I spent the next couple of hours in our room
sitting in a wingback chair with my feet propped up
and a good book in hand.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.....

There are much worse ways to spend the time.

It's a neat place.
The building is just a shell.
There's no roof.
There is an adjacent enclosed area
for winter or inclement weather dining.

Looks like a cool place!

One thing caught my eye immediately.
"French Fries cooked in duck fat."
Wow. Sounds totally decadent.

Yes! Gimme gimme gimme!

A couple of years ago,
Kay and I made a New Year’s....
I'd say more of a bet than a resolution.
We wanted to see if we could go an entire year
without eating fries.

And while it wasn't easy... or all that fun...
We did it.

This past January, we decided that we'd go a year
without chips.
Potato chips to be precise.

What are you, masochists or something? Life is short. Why would you do this to yourself? I would have chosen brussels sprouts.

Our "French fries" arrived.

Wait a minute...

Huh?

Looks kind of... horrible, doesn't it?
Yeah. It does.

Easily the best thing I've eaten this year.
I took a bite... wow.
Another...
mmmm.... soooo good.
Another bite...
Oh...Oh god...Ooo Oh God...Oh...Oh...Oh...Oh God...
Oh yeah right there Oh! Oh...Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes...

No wait.... that's from When Harry Met Sally.
Note to self. Take more notes.

Still... it was good.

Well, thanks for that mental image.

Seriously, though, I'm glad you liked it.

I went into the train station and...
You know when you go to McDonalds,
and they have "apple pie"?
Yeah. It was like that.
Except the restaurant was a St. Hubert
(Think KFC)
and the only dessert was sugar pie.
Fast food sugar pie.


Nope.

One exception to this rule: McDonald's in Hawaii. They still deep-fry their pies there.

For those of you not on FB
I'm including this updated pic of Luna,
just so you can see that even
with a busted leg, she's still smiling.
And for those who are on FB,
I'm including this updated pic of Luna,
just so you can see that even
with a busted leg, she's still smiling,
since I didn't post it on FB.

I read that four times and I'm still not sure I understood it. But she looks great! No cone of shame anymore?

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

First... the good news.

Most folks lead with the bad news.
Must have figured that it was just going to descend into the depths regardless so why not start at the top of the hill (or pile as the case may be).

I've got a plethora of pictures for you.

Ooooo… fancy talk and a picture show.

So many, in fact,
that I hardly have to write anything.

Pbffft!... Bawaaaahaaaahaaaahaaa!
You… <<snort>> hardly write…
Bawaahaa…

That’s a good one.

Plus... I didn't take any notes, remember?

So this should be interesting indeed.

I really don't gloat in front of her.
I don't rub it in.
Really I don't.

Sounds like the pleadings of a three-year-old with their hand in the cookie jar.

Oh, wait.
Yes I do.

And it's so much fun!!

Yep… embrace you inner three-year-old.

She has yet to hit me upside the head

An instant qualification for sainthood

And I was dying for some eggs Benedict.

Salivating a tad, too.

<<ding!>>

The Mon Cafe

How do you guys pronounce that?
I know how I pronounced it.

"The" and then "Mon" like in "Jamaica, Mon!"
and then "Café" like 'kaff-ay'.

I foresee a diacritical error in the making here…

I walked along, noting all the signs
that were in French,
the snippets of conversation I'd hear
that were in French,
and people either walking, biking
or smoking.

It just felt.... foreign.
And I loved it.
(well... maybe not the smoking.)

Yeah, but where they being rude and condescending?
<<cough, hack, hack, wheezz>>
That’s supposed to be the best part, I’m told.
<<hack, wheezz>>

But a woman with a baby carriage hadn't noticed.
She began to move forward
and before I could grab her, she'd moved the carriage
into the roadway, directly into the path of the bus!

Pop Quiz! What do you do?

This is what happens when I don't take notes.
Some of the details get mixed up a bit.

Do not attempt to grow a brain!

I'd walked right under that sign.
I was so busy looking left, right and across the street,
that I'd failed to see it.

Mission accomplished.

It's not The Mon Cafe.

It's Thé Mon café.
That translates to "Tea, my café"
or better still, "My tea café"

Just so long as you remember to raise your pinky.

And why shouldn't you trust me?
Have I ever lied to you?

Well, that explanation gets my vote.

Might as well just cancel the election.

They didn't serve eggs Benedict.
But... but... but... I was craving that!

poop.

Didn’t look up the menu after finding the address, I see.

(pkondz does not do coffee... or tea.)

So then you should’a been looking for the Jus mon Café.

Considering there was only myself
and one other gentleman,
who was already eating,
it took a little longer than eggspected.

I'm sorry, but that just rankles.
You have to pay to go into a church?

Getting the offering up front, I see.

Still, there's no charge to walk by it.
I'm sure this will change as soon
as they can figure out a way to do it.

A monumental peep show?

But I uploaded it,
so you're darned well going to look at it!

So confrontational…

This ornate gate caught my eye.
I just like it.

Nice…
Reminds me of Charleston.

Finally arriving at Notre Dame.
And as befits a major tourist attraction,
you have the overly expensive horse drawn wagons.

There does seem to be a regulation requiring such.

Which also reminds me of Charleston.

But some of the shop windows
caught my eye.
It hurt quite a bit.

I was intrigued by the juxtaposition
of the old and new buildings.
Plus I get to use the word "juxtaposition"

Bonus points…
I might have offered double (secret) bonus points, but I didn’t have to look that one up, so…

This imposing edifice is a courthouse.
They all seem to look like that, don't they?
I wonder if the columns are supposed to
represent bars in a jail cell...
It's as good an explanation as any other.

I like it… as a modern interpretation…
Being as incarceration wasn’t generally the outcome of losing a case a couple millennia ago.

Man... I really need to take notes.

I don’t know…
Making crap up works well for the rest of us.

I just slowly sashayed down the street.

Cool, it’s been a while since your memoirs have been accompanied by a bit of sashaying.

As I was sashaying, I was conscious of a voice
coming closer (and louder) and closer.
A car with a loudspeaker on the roof,
travelling at what I'd consider an excessive speed

Our lady of blessed acceleration don't fail me now!

Immediately after it, several police cars flew by in hot pursuit.

The use of excessive force… has been approved.

So why did the Ponzi cross the road?
To take a look at these moccasins.

So, the same reason chickens generally cross the road, then.

Those tiny ones for babies just tickled my fancy.
I told the vendor to stop poking me in the fancy
with his shoes and moved on.

…try the veal

Hey! Does everyone know what time it is?!?!?!?

Howdy Doody time?

It's BACKTRACK TIME!!!!!

Missed it by that much

Ruby hates it.
(She affectionately calls it "Sucre a la crap".)

more reason to like Ruby.

(And ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for flying Backtrack Air!
Your source for all things gone by.)

So… no baggage fees or cavity searches, then?

As I sashayed along, I spied
(with my little eye)

Something blue…

In the back of the store was something
that I loved.
Gelato.

That must be the “company” they were expecting with the name change.

I took my purchases outside
and sat and watched the world go by.

Now that's vacationing!

Yes… yes it is.

And really narrow.
You could just imagine living
in a time before automobiles
were invented.

and tailor made for a good mugging.

"Good art" is any art that I like.

Especially if it involves dogs playing poker and large expanses of painted velvet.

That's like trying to tell me that I should like Brussels sprouts.

See, now that was the kind of horrific punishment more often meted out several millennia ago.
(though I may need to check my sources on that one)

One thing caught my eye immediately.
"French Fries cooked in duck fat."
Wow. Sounds totally decadent.

Yes it does, but I’m surprised that in a French speaking region, anything would be listed as “French” fries.

BACKTRACK TIME!!!!!
YAY!!!!

I’ll have Sherman adjust the dials.

We wanted to see if we could go an entire year
without eating fries.

No poutine?
Is that allowed?

(And ladies and gentlemen,
thank you again for flying Backtrack Air!
Your source for annoying anecdotes!)

And here I thought that I was the source for most of the world’s annoying anecdotes.

Our "French fries" arrived.

I guess the name merely implies that some type of food was fried by someone who spoke French
(they do look mighty, good though).

Oh, well... I'm on vacation.
New rule. It's allowed once on a vacation.

And calories consumed on vacation don’t count either.

No wait.... that's from When Harry Met Sally.
Note to self. Take more notes.

You know, I have a theory that hieroglyphics are just an ancient comic strip about a character named Sphinxy.

Still... it was good.

Well, yeah…
Everyone likes comic strips.

I went into the train station and...
You know when you go to McDonalds,
and they have "apple pie"?

And since you’re not in Hawaii, they won’t even come with the benefits of having been actually fried.

Cheesecakes! They have cheesecake!

OK, that makes up for it.

But hey... at least I didn't give you another
movie memory.

And why not?
They improve the narrative.

Here's a preview.
Extremely little happened.

Then I anticipate we’ll be able to read a good thirty or so paragraphs on it.

And just before I sign off on this chapter,
a little update on Luna.

Good that she’s doing well.
May that stay the case for a very long time.

 

[pkondz]

No I'm not kidding. Whenever I mention the LBGP (and I don't mean Long Beach Gay Pride) people look at me funny as if they have never heard of it. So I figured while it was the #1 money maker for the city, no one else on the planet knew about it.

Actually, this doesn't overly surprise me.
Indy car racing doesn't have the same cachet
as NFL football (for example.)

However, for race fans,
the Long Beach Grand Prix
is a marquis event.

Well I might have, but I was too tired to remember.

Poor l'il Alison. All tuckered out.

 

[pkondz]

But are there any photos of Harley-Davidson stores??

I proudly refer you to the previous chapter.

Whatever. Just don't yak on me.

If you keep parking your feet
that close to me,
you're going to get splashed.

I find this to be effective:

Uh, huh.
I'm betting if you ever did do that to Julie,
you'd be pulling back a stump.

Sounds pretty neat. Except for the smoking.

That part I could've done without.

That was a good movie. But it is also the only time I have ever seen anyone with empty cans in a baby carriage.

Maybe she was on her way to Michigan.

I would love this. I've heard Quebec makes for a great poor man's European vacation. So it would fit my budget perfectly!

Quebec city is good for that.

Want to borrow my user name?

Ohhh...accent on the THE. I should have guessed.

Uh, huh.
Sure.

He really hates these cans! Stay away from the cans!

Can it, mister.

That's how they would have ended up, anyway.

Glad you liked it. I would have expected a hot sandwich as well.

It really was good.
That croissant was amazingly fresh.

Thankfully, you don't have to go into a church to pray.

Give 'em time..... give 'em time...
I pray it doesn't come to that.
<Kaching!>

Dang it!!!

Disney already figured that out. "Oh, you want to actually see the castle? Come on in through the gates."

Good point.

I can indeed confirm that it is a side street.

I gave it a sideways glance.

Hey, I know some French!

This reminds me of that scene from Top Secret?

Du Quois:
This is Chevalier, Montage, Detente, Avant Garde, and Deja Vu.

Deja Vu:
Haven't we met before?

Nick Rivers:
I don't think so.

Du Quois:
Over there, Croissant, Souffle, Escargot, and Chocolate Mousse.

I would love to wander here.

It was a good place for wandering.
Or sashaying... as the case may be.

Did you pick up that outfit for Ruby?

Why would she need two?

Do you ever just randomly say that out loud, just for fun?

Uh...me neither.

But sometimes I twist my legs around a chair
and say it's... just a position.

It definitely adds to the excitement of the TR, though.

Gotta spice things up a bit since it's not Disney.

Do they actually race on these narrow streets?

No. There's a real track nearby.

The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. There is no parking in the Red Zone.

Question.
Better movie...
Top Secret? Or Airplane?

Discuss.

Sounds sickeningly sweet.

It ain't for the meek.

I think there's a law against passing up gelato!

It's known as the "Gelato, no go" law.

Yes! An adult ball pit!

I had such high hopes.

I have a rule about art that keeps things simple. I am not an artist. So my rule is: if I can reproduce it, it's not art.

Wait....
So you're saying your kids aren't works of art?

Extra bonus Dad points. Very valuable.

Nah. They never seem to accumulate.

There are much worse ways to spend the time.

Yes! Gimme gimme gimme!

I know, right?

What are you, masochists or something? Life is short. Why would you do this to yourself?

Health reasons.
That's what I tell myself.



Yeah, I'm an idiot.

I would have chosen brussels sprouts.

While I admire the direction you're going,
there really isn't a lot of work on this one.

Wait a minute...

Huh?

These are not the fries you're looking for.

Well, thanks for that mental image.

So glad I could help!!
Not to worry. I was faking.

One exception to this rule: McDonald's in Hawaii. They still deep-fry their pies there.

Canada too.

I read that four times and I'm still not sure I understood it.

Perfect.
Mission accomplished.

But she looks great! No cone of shame anymore?

Cone is gone.... until she gets fixed... which should be soon.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

You're welcome!



It was nice just to wander around and click away.



Nice ambiance, better food.



Oh, no. Definitely not vegetarian.
The chips were cooked in duck fat.
Ruby's meal had beef I think.
My risotto was a duck risotto.

You mean duck is a meat?

Airplane! My fav: gate 8, gate 9, gate 10, gate 13, gate 14, gate 15 ... I still say that to Jim when we are on a plane that seems to be having a hard time slowing down on the runway. I may be the only one laughing, but he knows what I'm referring to.

 

[pkondz]

Most folks lead with the bad news.
Must have figured that it was just going to descend into the depths regardless so why not start at the top of the hill (or pile as the case may be).

You should know by now
that all my TRs go downhill after the chapter title.

Ooooo… fancy talk and a picture show.

I use words good.

Pbffft!... Bawaaaahaaaahaaaahaaa!
You… <<snort>> hardly write…
Bawaahaa…

That’s a good one.

I have no idea why you find this amusing.


None.

Perhaps a short dissertation on my confusion?

So this should be interesting indeed.

Sorry to have disappointed you.

Sounds like the pleadings of a three-year-old with their hand in the cookie jar.

But... but.... COOKIES!!!!

Yep… embrace you inner three-year-old.

Sorry. No politics.
You can talk about Trump elsewhere.

An instant qualification for sainthood

Why? Because she keeps missing??

I foresee a diacritical error in the making here…

Nah. Just an error in pronunciation.

Yeah, but where they being rude and condescending?
<<cough, hack, hack, wheezz>>
That’s supposed to be the best part, I’m told.
<<hack, wheezz>>

Here's an interesting tid bit.
When we were in Paris,
I expected rudeness....

And found nothing but polite, friendly people.

Pop Quiz! What do you do?

Make a movie.

Do not attempt to grow a brain!

No worries of that ever happening.

Just so long as you remember to raise your pinky.

Well of course!
There are certain proprieties that must be maintained.

Well, that explanation gets my vote.

Might as well just cancel the election.

Huh. That was easy.

Didn’t look up the menu after finding the address, I see.

This is the weird thing.
I could have sworn I did and saw eggs Benedict on the menu.

So then you should’a been looking for the Jus mon Café.

Do you speak French?
Because that works, too.

Thank goodness someone noticed that!

Getting the offering up front, I see.

A monumental peep show?

<slow clap>

Nice…
Reminds me of Charleston.

There does seem to be a regulation requiring such.

Which also reminds me of Charleston.

Interesting. Perhaps I need to visit Charleston some day.

Thank you. Thank you very much.
I'm here all week.

AND.....

Bonus points…
I might have offered double (secret) bonus points, but I didn’t have to look that one up, so…

Dang.
Must remember to be more cryptic.

I like it… as a modern interpretation…
Being as incarceration wasn’t generally the outcome of losing a case a couple millennia ago.

Hm. Good point.
What's the architectural equivalent
to being drawn and quartered?

I don’t know…
Making crap up works well for the rest of us.

Easier, too.

Cool, it’s been a while since your memoirs have been accompanied by a bit of sashaying.

It was due.
Overdue.

Our lady of blessed acceleration don't fail me now!

The use of excessive force… has been approved.

So, the same reason chickens generally cross the road, then.

Little known fact.
Chickens are closet shoe fetishists.

…try the veal

..... THERE it is!

more reason to like Ruby.

Not your cup of tea either, huh?

So… no baggage fees or cavity searches, then?

You have been misinformed.

That must be the “company” they were expecting with the name change.

Someone Googled "cie".

and tailor made for a good mugging.

Nah. Too bright.
No dumpsters to lurk behind.

Especially if it involves dogs playing poker and large expanses of painted velvet.

Now that's art.

What do you call a guy with no arms
and no legs, hanging on a wall?

Art.

See, now that was the kind of horrific punishment more often meted out several millennia ago.
(though I may need to check my sources on that one)

No. That's accurate.

Yes it does, but I’m surprised that in a French speaking region, anything would be listed as “French” fries.

French refers to the style of slice.

No poutine?
Is that allowed?

No. But we managed to get away with it.

And here I thought that I was the source for most of the world’s annoying anecdotes.

I stand corrected.
I sit corrected.

I guess the name merely implies that some type of food was fried by someone who spoke French
(they do look mighty, good though).

See above.
And yes... They were really good.

And calories consumed on vacation don’t count either.

This always has been, and always will be, a truism.

You know, I have a theory that hieroglyphics are just an ancient comic strip about a character named Sphinxy.

Incorrect.

The character's name was Sphinxter.

And since you’re not in Hawaii, they won’t even come with the benefits of having been actually fried.

Come up here and try one, then.
Pretty sure they're still fried.
Then again, it's been a long while...

And why not?
They improve the narrative.

It was that bad, was it?

Then I anticipate we’ll be able to read a good thirty or so paragraphs on it.

Good that she’s doing well.
May that stay the case for a very long time.

So far so good.
x-rays were today.
We'll see what the vet says.

 

[pkondz]

You mean duck is a meat?

If the duck is in a coma,
then it's a vegetable.



Okay. Okay.
That was bad.

Airplane! My fav: gate 8, gate 9, gate 10, gate 13, gate 14, gate 15 ... I still say that to Jim when we are on a plane that seems to be having a hard time slowing down on the runway. I may be the only one laughing, but he knows what I'm referring to.

 

[MarieLightning]

Mom's gotta be taken care of.

Once a year.

That will never happen.
Gawd that movie sucked.

Well, I've seen worse.

But I've seen much, much better as well

Oh my gosh! I didn't even twig on that!
I was saying it in my head with a comma between
Thé and Mon.

Of course!

The perks of having a French reader, ladies and gents

I could've sworn I saw Bennies
on the menu!

Maybe they knew you were looking.

"This pkondz guy is coming, guys. Let's put eggs benedict on the online menu just to mess with him"

Great. Now you tell me!

Hey, it's not like I made it a secret that I live in Montreal, you didn't ask

mmmm.... Get the recipe?

I'm not sure if my godmom has it, and her mother has passed away. But I do always want to think of asking her and often forget.

I know the carnation fudge recipe is pretty close to what she made. I wonder if there's a carnation sucre a la creme recipe

Me too.
I've had a few people gift me fudge with nuts in it.
"Oh! Thanks! I love fudge!"
And after they're gone...
"Anyone want this fudge?"

Sounds about right

 

[pkondz]

Well, I've seen worse.

But I've seen much, much better as well

Yup.

The perks of having a French reader, ladies and gents

I'm just amazed that I didn't read it that way too.
I mean, who says "Tu es"?

Geez, there was this guy in high school
whose last name was Therrien.
So natch, we thought of it as "T'es rien".

Maybe they knew you were looking.

"This pkondz guy is coming, guys. Let's put eggs benedict on the online menu just to mess with him"

I KNEW IT!!!!!

Hey, it's not like I made it a secret that I live in Montreal, you didn't ask

Honestly?
You'd have to offer first.
I don't like going to someone's place
and insisting they do things for me.

 

[MarieLightning]

Geez, there was this guy in high school
whose last name was Therrien.
So natch, we thought of it as "T'es rien".

That is so cold. Yet funny.

Honestly?
You'd have to offer first.
I don't like going to someone's place
and insisting they do things for me.

Fair enough, I'd be the same way.

So next time you come in Montreal, I'll make sure to offer to find you a good breakfast restaurant to stop by

 

[pkondz]

That is so cold. Yet funny.

So next time you come in Montreal, I'll make sure to offer to find you a good breakfast restaurant to stop by

Deal!