Canadian Buffoon European Vacation - 30/03 - Endings and Silver Linings

[shan23877]

Ponzi I've been reading along, enjoying the photos, facts, and great narrative. I keep meaning to comment, but-well-I'm terrible.

I feel just terrible for you! What a way to end a trip. A few concerns:

1. are we really not getting all the awesome Venice photos we've been expecting?

2. Who is going to lug the suitcase of death to the airport?

Can't wait to hear more.

 

[pkondz]

OMG, what a NEBOism!!!

That is correct.

I've got to stop hanging around with you guys, this stuff might be contagious...

Hey everybody, Pkondzi's caught the Nebonic plague!

That is also correct.
You didn't think this sort of stuff happened to anybody else, did you?

First thing I thought was you were having such a hard time with this chapter you got Nebo to write it So far it sounds exactly like something that would happen to him!

Not by choice!
But believe me, I thought A LOT about his TRs and how he handled these situations.

After all... he's an expert.

Can't wait to see how this plays out

Oh really? Me too!
I might have a vested interest, though.

Your interest is purely motivated by bloodlust I presume?

Oh wow, Ponzi, that is major vacation suckage! Glad you survived to tell the tale, but geez!!!

Are you sure I survived?
Perhaps this whole TR is being written by a ghost writer... literally.
Or maybe a little medium is at large and writing it.

PS: Spell check doesn't like suckage. It suggested suck age. Suck age, what is that, like 50? No offense anybody, I long ago passed 50, sob....

I think suck age would be appropriate.
My back never bugged me when I was young and dumb.

Now I'm aged and stupid... and sore.

PPS: I know you said you struggled with the ending, but you did a fabulous job for what it is (suckage)!

Thanks. Yeah. It was a tough one to write.
And I'm still not happy with it!

PPPS: In German they call it Hexenschuss (shot by a witch).

"shot by a witch"

That has the same amount of syllables and rhymes with what I said when it happened.

PKONDZ!!!

BUZZ!!!

Oh, sorry. Were we not shouting at each other?

You simply cannot, cannot end your European vacation this way! You have sights to see, the best gelato in the world to taste!!

You're right! It can't end this way!


then again...

This is where I build a Delorean and travel back in time to right this grievous wrong. I do this in wrap speed and remove the suitcase from HELL as that is what contributes to your back going out. If I'm going back in time, why not travel back in time with loads of money? Ruby, you, Elle, and Kaye now have clothes delivered to each hotel you visit so there is essentially no luggage, including makeup.

You skip carefree through all your destinations and your back remains in tip top shape.

Wow! Thanks!

Uhhh.... Shouldn't this have already happened then?

But kudos on picking up on the suitcase being the root of my evil.

I didn't figure it out until much later.

But just in case this scenario is up to snuff.....I still have the Delorean waiting, and to hedge my bets I have also commandeered the assistance of Doc Brown!

Doc Brown is infinitely better than a 'code brown'.

Marita, are you kidding? There wouldn't, couldn't, be a meet without you. In a perfect scenario, everyone would be there!

Oh boy, I will catch up! Determined. I can't believe I'm actually wishing you would slow down.

Boy is she in for a surprise, right?

Right?


right?



hello?

Ponzi I've been reading along, enjoying the photos, facts, and great narrative. I keep meaning to comment, but-well-I'm terrible.

Your butt is well? I didn't even no it was un-well!
And I don't think you're terrible.


Evil... maybe, but terrible?
Nah.

I feel just terrible for you! What a way to end a trip. A few concerns:

1. are we really not getting all the awesome Venice photos we've been expecting?

I thought about how I would answer this question.
Should I prevaricate?
Should I define prevaricate?
Should I just out and out lie, so the next chapter would be a surprise?

No. I've tried to be as honest as possible, so...

Suffice to say, "Yes, there will be more shots of Venice. But not necessarily the way you would expect."


Well what do you know. I prevaricated after all.

2. Who is going to lug the suitcase of death to the airport?

Can't wait to hear more.

You can't wait?
Okay, then you'll have to wait a bit to find out the amazing shocking conclusion to the suitcase from hell saga.

Because I'm mean.
Obviously.


Otherwise I'd tell you, right?

 

[Thumper_Man]

Reading about Ponzi finally being done in by "THE BAG" (well that's my guess anyways), I had to laugh at the ad that appeared at the bottom of my screen.



Even the Dis knows Ponzi wasn't feeling good. I wonder if he had any of those symptoms?

 

[lisaviolet]

Oh no. Are you finished and I don't know it? OH NO. Please, no. I'm not even looking. I simply can't take it.

I need a moment to read!! I can't believe I'm putting some serious situations in the same category as your TR. Oh boy, God is going to have my head for such thoughts. I simply have to laugh. And stop myself from peeking. Please say it isn't finished. Please.

 

[pkondz]

Reading about Ponzi finally being done in by "THE BAG" (well that's my guess anyways),

Good guess.

I had to laugh at the ad that appeared at the bottom of my screen.
Even the Dis knows Ponzi wasn't feeling good. I wonder if he had any of those symptoms?

I saw that ad too. Pretty funny.
But have you seen the 'toe fungus' one?
OMG, that's just nasty.
I have no idea why it keeps popping up, but...

Oh no. Are you finished and I don't know it? OH NO. Please, no. I'm not even looking. I simply can't take it.

Hey look everybody! Lisa's hyperventilating!
Just breathe into a bag Lisa. Breathe into a bag.

I need a moment to read!! I can't believe I'm putting some serious situations in the same category as your TR. Oh boy, God is going to have my head for such thoughts. I simply have to laugh. And stop myself from peeking. Please say it isn't finished. Please.

It isn't finished.
Two more chapters, I think.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

But have you seen the 'toe fungus' one?
OMG, that's just nasty.

I had that one too. I just clicked on close, or the x or something and it went away and I got message just said, "sorry you don't like this, we will try to show you better ads" OK, it worked, now more nasty toes

 

[smidgy]

OH NO!! the dreaded back going out. as awful as tat is coming on your last day... the day you were going to pack in as much fn as you possibly can..... it's better than it happening on the 1st day of vacation. so there is that...

 

[pkondz]

I had that one too. I just clicked on close, or the x or something and it went away and I got message just said, "sorry you don't like this, we will try to show you better ads" OK, it worked, now more nasty toes

You can get rid of the ads????
I'm so glad to hear that. I don't want to see that again if I don't have to!

OH NO!! the dreaded back going out. as awful as tat is coming on your last day... the day you were going to pack in as much fn as you possibly can..... it's better than it happening on the 1st day of vacation. so there is that...

That's what I kept telling Ruby.
"It could've been worse. It could've happened at the start of the trip.

Would've made this TR a lot shorter.


And now there's a whole bunch of people moaning, "Oh, why oh why couldn't his back have gone out on day one!"

 

[smidgy]

That's what I kept telling Ruby.
"It could've been worse. It could've happened at the start of the trip.

Would've made this TR a lot shorter.


And now there's a whole bunch of people moaning, "Oh, why oh why couldn't his back have gone out on day one!"[/COLOR]

AU CONTRAIRE!!! (and please, correct my spelling lol) even if thei TR had been boring, I would never wish that on you. but it wasn't! I LOVED the pictures, the descriptions, the stories!!! it is the closest I will probably ever get to Europe. and you are a great story teller, my friend!

 

[Thumper_Man]

Would've made this TR a lot shorter.


And now there's a whole bunch of people moaning, "Oh, why oh why couldn't his back have gone out on day one!"

Nah. I would've compromised. Not on day 1 but at least on day 3 for sure. The enemy deserves no mercy. We're all friends here so day 3 sounds about right.

 

[buzz1121]

Well, I got Neboed!

As I posted, I had every intention of calling Nebo over the weekend. My thought was to call him Sunday evening after DD1's daisy meeting (the initial level of girl scouts). You know what they say about best laid plans?

When we got in the car to leave the meeting it wouldn't start. Long story short, thanks to Pkondz's arctic air mass and the resultant snow/ice, my car sat idle for a week and the battery had run low, so low that the quick drive to church didn't give it enough charge. What I thought would be a fairly laid back evening giving me plenty of time to check in with Nebo was anything but.

Moral of the story? Pkondz was responsible for me not being able to call Nebo, what with his freezing air mass icing the deep South, which in turn killed my car battery. Shame on you Pkondz!!

Nebo caught me and DH last night and we had a nice talk, with a hello from Smidgy as well. Nebo sounded good. He misses everyone, he schooled me with a pop trivia question complete with Nebo Jeopardy music, and he made me laugh a lot. I think I got a chuckle or two out of him....maybe!

And he told me to keep you on your toes Pkondz.....so consider yourself duly warned Mister!!!

 

[pkondz]

AU CONTRAIRE!!! (and please, correct my spelling lol)

Nope. You got it right.
Unless you were trying to talk about the Contras in Nicaragua.

even if thei TR had been boring, I would never wish that on you. but it wasn't! I LOVED the pictures, the descriptions, the stories!!! it is the closest I will probably ever get to Europe. and you are a great story teller, my friend!

Aw, gee. Thanks Diane!

Nah. I would've compromised. Not on day 1 but at least on day 3 for sure. The enemy deserves no mercy. We're all friends here so day 3 sounds about right.

Right, then.
I'm off to delete chapters four through seventeen.

The TR's over. Now it's up to the Thumpy's to hop to it and complete theirs.

Well, I got Neboed!

Congratulations?

You know what they say about best laid plans?

Sorry. Not familiar with that expression.

When we got in the car to leave the meeting it wouldn't start. Long story short, thanks to Pkondz's arctic air mass and the resultant snow/ice,

You're welcome.

my car sat idle for a week and the battery had run low, so low that the quick drive to church didn't give it enough charge. What I thought would be a fairly laid back evening giving me plenty of time to check in with Nebo was anything but.

Moral of the story? Pkondz was responsible for me not being able to call Nebo, what with his freezing air mass icing the deep South, which in turn killed my car battery. Shame on you Pkondz!!

The nice thing about living in a climate like we have up here, is that you tend to learn stuff about it.

For instance.
Cold does not kill batteries. Heat does.
While it is true that a cold engine requires more cranking power,
if you live in a hot climate, like, say, oh, I don't know... SC,
the heat from your southern state will cause your battery to deteriorate.
When it's sufficiently deteriorated, and you ask for more power,
like when you get a little cold snap.... poof. No battery.

So saying it's my fault is like saying you ate nothing but chips for a year,
while doing nothing but sit on your couch,
then blamed your running shoes for not being able to run a marathon.

Nebo caught me and DH last night and we had a nice talk, with a hello from Smidgy as well. Nebo sounded good. He misses everyone, he schooled me with a pop trivia question complete with Nebo Jeopardy music, and he made me laugh a lot. I think I got a chuckle or two out of him....maybe!

Sounds like a fun conversation!

And he told me to keep you on your toes Pkondz.....so consider yourself duly warned Mister!!!

Yikes! Uh, oh.

 

[buzz1121]

Okay Pkondz, here's the car battery equation for you. I suspected you might try to "Nebo" your way out of it!

Heat, yes, we do have it in SC, but we haven't had a whole lot of it this winter. My car is aging, so what killed it was not being driven from Tuesday afternoon through Sunday. I'll even give you this, for some reason Acuras built in this time frame do not seem to hold batteries very long, but it is always, always when the car sits idle that finishes it off.

Why do you ask was it not driven?

Insert Buzz (apparently in strongest Southern accent ever according to Nebo ) hummed Jeopardy theme here.

It was because my friend from the Great White North thought I would appreciate something more than Wunderbars this time.

Did I mention, even though I knew to be careful, I just about busted it coming out of my garage going out with the kids to slide down our driveway on boogie boards? I had a flash of Monica's story about falling last year when she went out walking in the stuff.

Oh yeah, you can google the phrase "best laid plains". It fits in the scenario.

And unbelievably, it warmed up here the past two days to 76 and 79 degrees respectively. We are back down to low sixties now, with colder weather back on the way next week.

 

[My2Girls66]

Sorry to hear about your back! I pinched my sciatic nerve the day before our first trip to Italy. After sitting on the plane from Boston to Milan, I barely made it to the baggage claim. I hope to hear it straightened out quickly, in the next chapter!

 

[pkondz]

Okay Pkondz, here's the car battery equation for you. I suspected you might try to "Nebo" your way out of it!

Who? Me?
Perish the thought!

Why do you ask was it not driven?

Yes. Why?

Insert Buzz (apparently in strongest Southern accent ever according to Nebo ) hummed Jeopardy theme here.

It was because my friend from the Great White North thought I would appreciate something more than Wunderbars this time.

Variety is the chocolate of life.

Did I mention, even though I knew to be careful, I just about busted it coming out of my garage going out with the kids to slide down our driveway on boogie boards? I had a flash of Monica's story about falling last year when she went out walking in the stuff.

boogie boards?
Don't you mean snow boards?

Oh yeah, you can google the phrase "best laid plains". It fits in the scenario.

Nah. I'll just look at the title of the last chapter.

And unbelievably, it warmed up here the past two days to 76 and 79 degrees respectively. We are back down to low sixties now, with colder weather back on the way next week.

We're the same.
We warmed up to 28F the other day. It was so nice to be able to go outside without a coat.
Now it's back down to -5F. Not too bad, but still...

I'm getting sick of winter.

Sorry to hear about your back! I pinched my sciatic nerve the day before our first trip to Italy. After sitting on the plane from Boston to Milan, I barely made it to the baggage claim. I hope to hear it straightened out quickly, in the next chapter!

Oh, that bites.
How were you for the rest of your trip?

As for me?
Now, that would be telling, wouldn't it?

 

[My2Girls66]

Oh, that bites.
How were you for the rest of your trip?

As for me?
Now, that would be telling, wouldn't it?[/QUOTE]

It was really bad for 3-4 days then started to ease up a bit each day. I bought crutches in Florence which helped quite a bit.

bummer, I guess I'll have to wait for the next chapter to see how you made out

 

[pkondz]

It was really bad for 3-4 days then started to ease up a bit each day. I bought crutches in Florence which helped quite a bit.

bummer, I guess I'll have to wait for the next chapter to see how you made out

Touring on crutches? That couldn't have been fun.

See? I'm looking out for you. Now you have something to look forward to.

Or not.

 

[buzz1121]

Oh, shoot a monkey!!!

I meant plans, not plains!!!!

 

[buzz1121]

Well, haul out the beach umbrellas and lounge chairs in the Peg!

You might just get sunburn at 28F.

Holy smokes!! If you send -5F to me, I don't think I will make it.

 

[pkondz]

Oh, shoot a monkey!!!

I meant plans, not plains!!!!

The best laid plains of moose and men.