Canadian Buffoon's Back to Front Vacation - Update! 05/18 - Falling Down

[pkondz]

Ah, the bro hug. Glad you guys could get together.

Lots of thought put into this!

Very much so!
I was... shocked at how
much thought he put into it!

Empty beer can. Got it.

See? Not so hard.

Cool meet-up!

They were both great.

What is the exchange rate there?

O U know.
Not much.
You can just write
an IOU.

Well, how could anyone hope to compete?

You can't.
Don't even try.

What a buncha jerks. Gotta dine and dash next time. That'll teach 'em.

I tried to do that once.
And I would've been justified.
But Ruby made me go pay.
I told the cashier that if
I didn't have my bill in
five minutes, I was walking.

I was very ticked off.

I can't believe someone would ignore the vegetables on his/her plate. It boggles the mind!

Who would do such a thing???

Rest assured, you're already blocked.

Of course.
It's called "construction".

Um....what??

It was not a great feeling.
Luckily, the road was straight.
If there'd been curves,
I don't think I would've been
able to stay on the road.

Geez, this is the most dangerous drive in America, apparently.

You guys need to straighten
up your act!

I know exactly what you mean!

Well, there certainly was food there at one time.

You'd need an endoscope
to get a picture of the rest.

I'd yell at you, but I only have a 50/50 success rate at this myself.

Yeah...
Sometimes you just wanna...
you know... eat.

Hope you at least end up with a better cheeseburger.

For a place with a name
like that, you'd think they'd
have the best burgers around.

Such was not the case.

Must be something with Chicago pizza joints. This happened to me once as well.

Huh. Dunno!

Old age. It's a killer.

Fatal in the end.

It's nice of you to at least try and brighten their day.

I just suddenly thought
that probably no one
ever really even says
"Hi" to them.

So you had that going for you, which is nice.

Dirt is better than bugs.
Dirt doesn't crawl on top of you.

Yep, average border crossing.

I'm exhausted just reading the numbers.

Oh? I would've thought
you'd be familiar with them.

I know that feeling, too!

Nice haul!

Thanks!

Hope you followed directions.

I did. Left it
at the door.

Cool! I'll have to look for anything I can add to our Pacific Northwest itinerary.

Well...

I may disappoint you.
It was mostly just
"Drive there as quickly
as possible."

But you never know.
I did do a few things.

That sounds...sub-optimal.

Oh, just wait.

 

[pkondz]

No, nothing at all like that! Great scene though.

Oh don't be modest.
You're a very good cuddler.

Well, Randall isn't the only Disdad hugger. I was raised that way and while I shake hands in business, among friends and family, it's hugs.

I like that.

until I found out shipping cost to Canada from the US.

Horrible, isn't it?
Small package? $50.

I honestly can't say if he re-arranged his schedule

It was so obvious this time (I think).

Just glad you didn't end up swimming with the fishes


See?

Yup!

I didn't realize those were on the way. I remember looking them up when I first thought you might be coming to Atlanta.

Harley lists all their
dealers on their
web site.

I don't know if it has an official term, but I've had divers nose/ears many a time. I don't know I've ever given myself vertigo, but many an uncomfortable sneeze or ear pops or both.

I've had that...
but never vertigo like that!

Been there, done that...didn't want the T-shirt.

You've had vertigo too?

I think the same people you need to speak to about mornings also handle the highway slant issues. Two birds with one stone.

Thanks for the tip!
A strongly worded email
is being drafted as we speak.

But Buffet > poker-chip, no?

No.
Their burgers... sucked.
Not surprised they went
belly up.

Obviously Betty was hungry....or thought you were.

That's probably what it was.

So only about 15 minutes of moping, then?

More like 0.15.

See, if you'd limited the moping to only 5 minutes, you would've been on time!

Hopefully not like lambs to the slaughter...

Great. Now I want lambchops.
Or better! Rack of lamb.

That's what's cool about the Dis...we kinda are friends before we meet.

So, you mean a little tea with the sugar?

Correct.
The way it should be.

Epic trip reporting fail.

Actually... it's a good thing.
It means that I was so involved
in the conversation that I didn't
even think of taking photos.
Sometimes I can do both,
sometimes not.

Sorry, not buying it. Looks more like your border crossing look.

Wait! So Betty was right both times, just on the wrong side of the street???

Yep.

But... I do look around.
Didn't spot it.

Pretty ladies and since they put up with you, obviously nice also.

Correct on both counts.

Ya know, since you've experienced Chicago traffic before, I would think you'd factor that in.

I think I was thinking
that maybe Google had.

Nope.

I've heard you (and others) speak fondly of them. Maybe if I get up there for a Cubbies game, I can visit them. Unless of course, you've told them what you really think of me.

Oh... Well... Um...

Very cool!!

Thanks!

I would hope he got a rightly deserved minimal tip. Seriously, you've got ONE thing to do...really?

I honestly don't remember.
It wasn't bad, but not great,
I think.

They're not zebra domes though! I'm totally joking! In all seriousness, that's better...I didn't make the zebra domes and homemade chocolate chip cookies are the best.

They were good.
But no... nothing compares
to Zebra Domes.

They're probably thinking there ain't no way I'm taking a cookie from a constipated looking Canuck.

I do wonder though if they're a bit suspicious when people are nice to them...I'm sure it's rather rare and catches them off guard. Think of the upside...more for you!

That thought crossed my mind.
But I figured I'd offer.
And one lady did take one.

Not sure if you'll be doing another trip before, but looking forward to seeing you in May!

Might have a quick two day trip
to Chicago or something with DW.
But nothing major planned
until May.

What's your current total? I seem to remember you were close to 100, so this shoudl put you over.

I'm not sure.
I'd have to go count again.

That's got to be it.
Glasses probably help too.

I will say I have more hair though.

Oh sure. Rub it in!

 

[Terra Nova guy]

until I found out shipping cost to Canada from the US.

It's ridiculous. Years ago (when the exchange rate was much better for Canadians) we used to order things from the Disney store online, and other US sites. Since the exchange has become much worse, we just had to give it up. Shipping and customs nearly doubles the cost for us. A $30 t-shirt will be $50+ by the time we ship it and get dinged with customs/duty.

8675309?

Holy crap!
Not fun at all.
Betcha you were
plenty worried there
for a while.

I was pretty scary at the time, not having experienced vertigo before. I thought I may have done some permanent damage. But it did go away. I've always been careful since though. I can't imagine what would have happened if I had been behind the wheel at the time.

 

[docsoliday1]

Not going to try to multiquote...on phone.

Regarding your comment to Mark and me about Cheeseburger in paradise ..


The song talks about eating a burger in paradise, not that the burger is making it paradise.

I could eat a burger in Hawaii or Germany (or any other number of places) and I'd be eating a burger in paradise.

Why is it a song was never written about eating a cheeseburger in hotels like you were in in Atlanta??? Then it would be cheeseburger with pair of lice.

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

Why is it a song was never written about eating a cheeseburger in hotels like you were in in Atlanta??? Then it would be cheeseburger with pair of lice.

If eaten in a casino, does it make it a cheeseburger with a pair of dice?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

O U know.
Not much.
You can just write
an IOU.

Impressive.

I tried to do that once.
And I would've been justified.
But Ruby made me go pay.
I told the cashier that if
I didn't have my bill in
five minutes, I was walking.

I was very ticked off.

That must have been one awful experience.

Of course.
It's called "construction".

Heh. Got him again!

It was not a great feeling.
Luckily, the road was straight.
If there'd been curves,
I don't think I would've been
able to stay on the road.

I can't imagine how you were even able to function.

You guys need to straighten
up your act!

That's what everyone says. But you've seen the other drivers out there. That's what we have to work with.

You'd need an endoscope
to get a picture of the rest.

That's a hard pass.

Jim Gaffigan, on colonoscopies: "How does someone get into that busines, anyway? So...I hear you're into photography..."

For a place with a name
like that, you'd think they'd
have the best burgers around.

Such was not the case.

Ate there once, and yes...I agree. It's now a Fuddruckers, which is much better. You just have to be careful how you spell it.

Oh? I would've thought
you'd be familiar with them.

I don't think we've ever topped 5,000 miles on a road trip as a family. We were well over 4,000 on the Deep South trip.

Well...

I may disappoint you.
It was mostly just
"Drive there as quickly
as possible."

But you never know.
I did do a few things.

Even little things to break up the drives are helpful!

Why is it a song was never written about eating a cheeseburger in hotels like you were in in Atlanta??? Then it would be cheeseburger with pair of lice.

If eaten in a casino, does it make it a cheeseburger with a pair of dice?

 

[erinlynn2020]

Joining in! Am just past where you went to Toronto (where we live) so loved all the food recommendations, and thanks, this is a great report!

elle (earning my ears)

 

[pkondz]

It's ridiculous. Years ago (when the exchange rate was much better for Canadians) we used to order things from the Disney store online, and other US sites. Since the exchange has become much worse, we just had to give it up. Shipping and customs nearly doubles the cost for us. A $30 t-shirt will be $50+ by the time we ship it and get dinged with customs/duty.

Shipping costs are sometimes
much higher than the cost
of the item you're shipping.

Insane.

I was pretty scary at the time, not having experienced vertigo before.

My first time too.
Not pleasant.

I've always been careful since though. I can't imagine what would have happened if I had been behind the wheel at the time.

Luckily it passed in just
a few seconds.
If it had lasted longer...

I kinda don't want to think
about what might've happened.

 

[pkondz]

Not going to try to multiquote...on phone.

You can, but...
It's wayyyy too much work.

Regarding your comment to Mark and me about Cheeseburger in paradise ..


The song talks about eating a burger in paradise, not that the burger is making it paradise.

I could eat a burger in Hawaii or Germany (or any other number of places) and I'd be eating a burger in paradise.

Correct.
But eating a burger at a place
called Cheeseburger in Paradise,
you at least expect it to be
half decent.

It wasn't.

Why is it a song was never written about eating a cheeseburger in hotels like you were in in Atlanta??? Then it would be cheeseburger with pair of lice.

 

[pkondz]

If eaten in a casino, does it make it a cheeseburger with a pair of dice?

Only at the craps table.
That's how it got its name.

If eaten by rodents then it's
Cheeseburger in a pair of mice.

 

[pkondz]

Impressive.

I'm getting really good
at that now that DW
told me I was on my own.

That must have been one awful experience.

YES

Heh. Got him again!

I blame you for all road issues.
I blame you for everything
else too.

I can't imagine how you were even able to function.

Luckily it passed in just a few
seconds. Otherwise...

I'm really not sure how
that would have gone.

That's what everyone says. But you've seen the other drivers out there. That's what we have to work with.

I'll give you that one.

Jim Gaffigan, on colonoscopies: "How does someone get into that busines, anyway? So...I hear you're into photography..."

And spelunking.

Ate there once, and yes...I agree. It's now a Fuddruckers, which is much better. You just have to be careful how you spell it.

Yes, because if you spell it
with a "C", then it's a place
where cows ruminate.

I don't think we've ever topped 5,000 miles on a road trip as a family. We were well over 4,000 on the Deep South trip.

Close enough.

Even little things to break up the drives are helpful!

Stand by...

 

[pkondz]

Joining in!

to the TR!

Am just past where you went to Toronto (where we live) so loved all the food recommendations

You're welcome!
Maybe I should ask you
where to eat!

and thanks, this is a great report!

Aw, shucks.
Nice of you to say.

Glad you're enjoying it.
More to come!

elle (earning my ears)

And to the DIS!
Don't be shy about saying hi.
Pretty much everyone is right
hospitable.

 

[erinlynn2020]

Thanks!

 

[pkondz]

Thanks!

 

[erinlynn2020]

Love the hat! I can't believe she just learned how to do that, she's so talented!

Likewise on that hat! I’m still trying to learn to knit left handed and can pretty much bet it’ll never translate to a toque, at best a dish cloth.

 

[pkondz]

Likewise on that hat! I’m still trying to learn to knit left handed and can pretty much bet it’ll never translate to a toque, at best a dish cloth.

A knit dish cloth.
I don't think I'd wear that
on my head.

But you never know!


And... why are you trying
to learn to knit left handed??

 

[erinlynn2020]

A knit dish cloth.
I don't think I'd wear that
on my head.

But you never know!


And... why are you trying
to learn to knit left handed??

Bring left handed, it seemed the way to go but the times I’ve tried to learn, it hasn’t translated well

 

[pkondz]

Bring left handed, it seemed the way to go but the times I’ve tried to learn, it hasn’t translated well

Ahhhh...

That would make sense then.
Too bad it apparently doesn't
make sense, then.

 

[QueenJen]

Catching up - still have to come back to read the update after the aquarium.

I had forgotten to get some
pliers out of the car to tighten the tap.

Everyone keeps this necessity in their travel bag!

I moved the sign to wipe up the counter
and a cockroach ran out from under it.

Ewww......lesson learned - never move or try to clean up the counter. j/k - really should have just found another hotel.

since it was actually a spider about
the size of a half dollar,

This just keeps getting better.....

I grabbed my weapon of choice when dealing
with unruly arachnids... a Kleenex.

Um...no. A kleenex is not thick enough.

I headed down the hall
for breakfast.

Are you crazy????? You just saw a cockroach in your room - they have to be living it up in the kitchen.

I returned to my room to brush my teeth

Again - are you crazy? I would have purchased a new toothbrush and brushed my teeth using some bottled water at the curb.

I quickly (very quickly) packed up my
belongings

I would have been paranoid at bugs being in my stuff. I know it can happen anywhere.

How would you like to have an aquarium
that size in your house?

I think it would be too much work.

We were escorted backstage where we had a view
of the Ocean Voyager tank.

Quite impressive.

How would you feel, feeding a shark
that's twice as long as your boat, hmmm?

Nope...especially not in that flimsy contraption.

Oh, did I mention that you can go
Scuba diving in the tank?
I wasn't doing that, though.
Ha Ha! I bet you thought I
was crazy enough to do that, right?

Of course.

I did not soil myself.
Which kinda surprised me, actually.

Sometimes it pays to be constipated.

I felt like running up to strangers
and telling them:
"I was swimming with the Whale Sharks!!"

LOL - Strangers would be looking at you like who is this crazy older gent?

It really sounds like you had a fabulous experience. I hope you get to do it again.

I did close the lid...
And put a shoe on it.

This made me laugh......as if closing the lid would do anything, let alone 'a shoe on it'. I've tried to drown a spider in the drain of the tub and 'close the drain' only to have the spider climb back out of the still closed drain days later.

 

[QueenJen]

The rings were quite good

They look good - nice of you and Doc to share.

The alarm woke me at 5:30am
and I was on the road by 6:30am.

All of a sudden, my brain
was telling my eyes
(or vice versa)
that the highway that
I was driving along at
around sixty miles an hour,
was tilted forty-five degrees
on its side.

Glad it passed quickly

So... this is all you get:

This is not like you.

driving over 5,250 miles

I can't even imagine that.

Poker-chips collected on this trip:

Nice addition to the collection.

Did you see it in this chapter?

I did - but didn't realize it at first. I thought, what an odd photo to have hanging.

It counteracts the way people
are naturally repelled by me.

Unless they need directions.

Sorry, not buying it. Looks more like your border crossing look.

I tried to do that once.
And I would've been justified.
But Ruby made me go pay.

Dine and Dash = 0
Drink and Dash = 1

Is this count correct?

All caught up and enjoyed the read.