Canadian Buffoon's DISmeet vacation - 09/14 - Bowled Over

[pkondz]

I know I'm late to the party here -- but I'll go ahead and comment now.

Nah. Never late.
You're right on time!

I'm guessing you couldn't find the toilet paper under the sink? hahaha

Yep!
I was like,
"What the? How???"
Found it eventually.

Kee-rect!

apparently that isn't even CLOSE to the most expensive doughnut. This thing has 24K gold!

I've actually seen that!
Or one close to it.

Okay, so it was the world's
most expensive donut... for me.

Marvin is a famous actor at WB -- definitely deserves to be on the wall of fame.

 

[pkondz]

full house house?

I do feel lucky -- but I ain't no punk!

Great movie.

Marvin apparently is objecting to the marriage?

He kinda had a thing for Emily.
But he wasn't her type.
You know... alien species and all.

 

[pkondz]

Is it bad that I was hoping you did get a ticket? it would have made the story funnier.

I was actually wondering:
"How many of my readers
will wonder if I got a ticket...
or hope I got one."

You also unloaded yourself from the car.

I actually wrote that!
Then remembered the
cookie and Coke
so used that instead.

Because I like clam chowder!
(Just ignore all that other
amazing food, okay?)

that sounds good. Those all looked really good -- I would have had a hard time choosing, and might have talked myself into buying 4 or 5 of them and taking them home.

That's one thing I can't do.
No microwave in the hotel.

trust me -- traffic is bad enough -- you do NOT want a wreck -- it will make it 100x worse.

Let me expand on that then...
I wished for a fiery wreck...

Behind me.

Wedge salads are so damn good. Especially if they have some really thick smoked bacon and good bleu cheese dressing.

This one was really quite good.

not yet -- I'll have to take a third look.

*ETA -- third times a charm. Marvin got in the nuts business!

 

[juniorbugman]

I know that you are always talking about Caesar Drinks on your report so I wanted to wish you a Happy National Caesar Day or rather Dan does.
I personally don't like them but I could have a nip of his Crystal Skull vodka tonight.

 

[pkondz]

I know that you are always talking about Caesar Drinks on your report so I wanted to wish you a Happy National Caesar Day or rather Dan does.
I personally don't like them but I could have a nip of his Crystal Skull vodka tonight.
View attachment 323200
View attachment 323201

Thanks!

Might have something
to say about that...
next update.

 

[franandaj]

Oooh ooooh looking forward to your take on that one! See I was even there and I'm looking forward to your posts. You could tell me all about your trip and I'd still look forward to the actual post. Same with Liesa, everyone's takeaway is different. Whoda thunk she would focus on my shrimp plant at the house?

 

[franandaj]

Ingrates.
They should do it out of the
kindness of their hearts.

No?

Well considering this is the most intensive renovation he has done. The cabinets have never had to have been replaced before. They were always salvageable, but then again our cats were awful in such a small space. He is giving us a good deal, but without money it is a small consolation.

 

[Steppesister]

Interesting.
And here Liesa just said
the better way is not battered and fried.

Either way, not sure how
much of a fan I'm going to be.

But would like to try them again.

I just remember as a kid we'd eat them in San Diego when they were first becoming popular that it'd be white fish grilled with cabbage and crema fresca. And they were delicious.

If you fall off the TR,
you get left behind.

Aaaand that'd be me. I'm sorry. Your long lost friend is swamped in house sprucing up ahead of a big graduation party(ies) and out of town company. (In addition to (my last few) nights, pilot's license stuff, and general busy-ness. I'd say I'll do better, but for the next bit, I'm afraid it's not going to get any better.

but I had things to do,
places to see.

That's what I always say on vacation!! Let's get going!!

I was looking forward to
starting my day off
with a little "Zen" relaxation.

And there's no better way than to get on an LA freeway!!

After surviving the morning commute,
I was in need of some Zen.

Well, duh.

The woman there looked up at me expectantly.

And she was hoping for what....?

I'm looking for two things.

\

Well if you'd only been looking for one...

oh, never mind, you'd have still been disappointed. LOL!

I parked on the street
by a fairly nondescript
late 19th century building.

So much like an unembellished hallway, but bigger.

the La Brea Tar Pits.

They are SO cool!! I went in Jr. High School and was pretty impressed.

A baby mammoth calling out
to its trapped mother.
Makes you wonder...

...just how many school kids
get traumatized by that
every year.
Did baby go out to its mother,
getting hopelessly trapped itself?

Did you know, the tar pits are still active?
Every here and there, small bubbles
of methane rose to the surface.

So, basically, farting ponds. Cool.

 

[Steppesister]

Oddly, I replied in my head , and it was EXACTLY what you wrote next: "mmmmm, cheese!".

And... no. I didn't have any.
Simple reason why not, of course.

Because I'm stupid.

So, much like my foray into the Plaza... more on this later....

I like clam chowder,

Hey! Me too!

I bought a jar.
My only regret is I didn't buy more.

I'm sure you can (well, pretty sure anyway) find it online.

I got a "Cuban".
(oven roasted pork, mustard, ham,
provolone cheese and pickles)
It was very tasty.

That does sound good.

I got back to the hotel without
wishing someone would die
in a fiery wreck...

Then you are a far better human than me.

There was fried chicken!
There was catfish!
There was jambalaya!
There was Bacon wrapped BBQ Meatloaf!

And I ordered a wedge salad!!!

And here we are. Ummm, for the record, I did the EXACT same thing at the Plaza- famous fried chicken and I end with.... salad Moron Move.

And with that, I wandered back
to my hotel.
I did, however, take some
shots along the way.

I adore that walk. It's unbelievably beautiful at night.

 

[Steppesister]

OK. You've seen both Liesa and I in person. Liesa is petite, skinny and tiny. Hence the grilled fish tacos.

Me? I didn't get this Rubinesque body eating grilled fish tacos. Bring on the battered and fried fish! When has battering and frying not made something better? Tempura? Fish and chips? Chicken Fried Steak? Funnel Cake? Deep Fried Snickers?

It's up to you. Try it however you want. But I'll tell you the best Fish Tacos I've had are at the place I mentioned above. Hole Mole. There are several locations in Long Beach and in So Cal. Their fish tacos are small but at $1.50 each they are quite the deal. And they have both grilled and fried fish so you could try them side by side.

Or try both and see what you think??

You're going to Portland?
Off to visit Liesa? (That's where she lives, right?)
When are you going?

If she doesn't, I might have to be... sad.

Now this sounds like a quest
I can get behind!

Or get A behind.

Hopefully I could meet up with Liesa at some point in there.

Pretty please?

I considered Huntington Gardens,

That'd have been MY choice. They look amazing and I've never been.

Oooh ooooh looking forward to your take on that one! See I was even there and I'm looking forward to your posts. You could tell me all about your trip and I'd still look forward to the actual post. Same with Liesa, everyone's takeaway is different. Whoda thunk she would focus on my shrimp plant at the house?

I do too, yours included, @franandaj It's fun to see where the others will take things. Especially photos.

 

[pkondz]

Oooh ooooh looking forward to your take on that one! See I was even there and I'm looking forward to your posts. You could tell me all about your trip and I'd still look forward to the actual post. Same with Liesa, everyone's takeaway is different. Whoda thunk she would focus on my shrimp plant at the house?

I remember that!
You guys were off in the corner for a while.

Well considering this is the most intensive renovation he has done. The cabinets have never had to have been replaced before. They were always salvageable, but then again our cats were awful in such a small space. He is giving us a good deal, but without money it is a small consolation.

I'm thinking he is going
to be a tad miffed
when he finds out there's
no money.

 

[pkondz]

I just remember as a kid we'd eat them in San Diego when they were first becoming popular that it'd be white fish grilled with cabbage and crema fresca. And they were delicious.

Hmmm...
Not sure about the cabbage...
Maybe?

Okay! Okay!
I'll try them both.

Aaaand that'd be me. I'm sorry. Your long lost friend is swamped in house sprucing up ahead of a big graduation party(ies) and out of town company. (In addition to (my last few) nights, pilot's license stuff, and general busy-ness. I'd say I'll do better, but for the next bit, I'm afraid it's not going to get any better.

And that's okay.
Come and visit whenever
you have the time.

That's what I always say on vacation!! Let's get going!!

And there's no better way than to get on an LA freeway!!

Oh, hush, you!

Well, duh.

Sure. Rub it in.
Sadist.

And she was hoping for what....?

Love and romance.
She took one look
at my rugged good looks
and swooned.

Either that or I bored
her to sleep.


One or the other.
Hard to say.

Well if you'd only been looking for one...

oh, never mind, you'd have still been disappointed. LOL!

Oh, don't worry.
I'm sure one of us was
very disappointed.

My money's on her.

So much like an unembellished hallway, but bigger.

They are SO cool!! I went in Jr. High School and was pretty impressed.

Can't see the video, though.
I'm at work.
I'll check it out later.

So, basically, farting ponds. Cool.

You and @Captain_Oblivious related?

 

[pkondz]

Oddly, I replied in my head , and it was EXACTLY what you wrote next: "mmmmm, cheese!".

So, much like my foray into the Plaza... more on this later....

I know of this.
I was there, ya know!

Hey! Me too!

Love clam chowder!

I'm sure you can (well, pretty sure anyway) find it online.

Maybe?
The shipping might be
a bit exorbitant, though.
Plus... it's not the same
as getting it right there.

That does sound good.

It was.

Then you are a far better human than me.

Nah. I was just in a better mood.

And here we are. Ummm, for the record, I did the EXACT same thing at the Plaza- famous fried chicken and I end with.... salad Moron Move.

Thank you for calling me a moron.
Justified mind you...

But I did have my reasons.

I adore that walk. It's unbelievably beautiful at night.

It really is.
Wished I'd had my
good camera with me.
And a tripod.

 

[pkondz]

Or try both and see what you think??

I said I would! I will! Sheesh!

If she doesn't, I might have to be... sad.

She said she would.

Or get A behind.

I'll see if the lady at
the Japanese Gardens is available.

Pretty please?

See?

That'd have been MY choice. They look amazing and I've never been.

I seriously considered it...
But... not enough time.

I do too, yours included, @franandaj It's fun to see where the others will take things. Especially photos.

Well...
Then you're gonna be disappointed.
I took a grand total of...

zero photos.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Yeah...

I feel like Bill Murray.
"Well it's Groundhog Day.... again."

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

Ha! Jokes on you.
I lost that sucker
years ago.

Didn't even bother looking for it, didja?

Of course I am!
I'm surrounded by beautiful,
wonderful, amazing women!

Although... I gotta tell ya.

That @Captain_Oblivious is pretty cute, too.

If I had a dollar for every time somebody said that...

He is cute, but it's a hard choice between the two of you!

...I would now have 2 dollars.

You and @Captain_Oblivious related?

My sister from another mother!

Hmm, that doesn't quite have the same ring to it. Anyway, pull my finger!

 

[pkondz]

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

Haven't we had this conversation before?

Didn't even bother looking for it, didja?

Not much point.
I'm assuming it's been burned to ashes.

If I had a dollar for every time somebody said that...

You'd be in debt?

...I would now have 2 dollars.

That and $31 will get you
a coffee at $ixbucks.

My sister from another mother!

Hmm, that doesn't quite have the same ring to it. Anyway, pull my finger!

 

[pkondz]

Cruisin' California

Okay...
Let's go for a quick
little ride down:

Wanna come along?
Fair warning, I can only
take one of you with me.

No, the bike's not mine.
I flew into LA.
It's a rental.
And there's a little story there, too.
When I reserved the bike,
I was given the option of rental insurance.
It would cost $60USD for the day.
But I can get motorcycle rental insurance
from my own agent for about $20CDN.
(Which is about $3.75USD, I think.)

But when I went to pick up the bike,
I was told I needed to put down
a $3,000 deposit.
I had room on my credit card,
but still... many people wouldn't
necessarily have that.
Especially when travelling
and putting food and hotels on it.

Nevertheless, I did and I did
and off I went.

(For any of you wondering,
it's a Harley Davidson (of course!)
Road Glide.)

My view for the next few hours:
(note the oh-so-appropriate tune.)

And no. I wasn't taking photos
while driving.
Note the neon green "N"
on the speedometer.

One item that you won't see
in the above photo.

A GPS.

I did have a general map
of the area with me,
and I also brought my own GPS, Betty.
Only problem was, I had no way
to mount it (it's a car model, not bike.)
But I knew I wouldn't need it
for a while.
All I had to do was exit the rental place,
hang a left on the highway and go south.

So of course the very first thing I did...
Was turn left into a residential cul-de-sac.

D'oh!
Not even two minutes
into the drive and I'm
already lost!


U-turn...
Left turn...
Left turn....

Okay! Now we're on track!



Highway 101 wasn't going to get me
all the way to my destination,
but it would get me most of the way.
And on this beautiful California sunny day,
the journey definitely was the destination.

I passed through a few picturesque towns.
I could've taken hundreds of photos
and regretted that I didn't have more
time to do so.
You'll just have to be content with these
two shots I took In Carlsbad.

Notice the movie that's playing?

I really need to take more
time and re-do this.
There was so much that I wanted
to stop and look at.
Several of the little towns
I passed through looked
like they were frozen
in time back in the 50s or 60s.


I did take a few opportunities
to take photos of sand and sea:

(No, I didn't ride in the bike lane.
Just pulled over for the photo.)

Eventually, I had to leave the slower,
more sedate and scenic route
and join the freeway.
I entered via the on-ramp and...

There was a mile or so of
stopped cars in front of me.
Five lanes.
Full of cars and trucks.
None of them moving at all.
Might as well turn the ignition
off and relax.
It's gonna be a while.

At least.... that's what would
have happened if I'd been
driving a car.

Let's talk about lane splitting.
According to California Bill AB-51:
For the purposes of this section, “lane splitting” means driving a motorcycle,
as defined in Section 400, that has two wheels in contact with the ground,
between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane,
including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, or highways.

California is the only State
in which lane splitting...
Well, it's not exactly legal...
but it's not illegal too.
They'd defined it...
just haven't said what to do with it.

So... let's just say that it's
kinda allowed.


Clear as mud?


In any event, it is a common
practice that I saw many
times while I was stuck
in traffic in my rental car.


So...
Five lanes of traffic,
none of it moving.
I gradually, moved myself
in front of and between
cars until I was between
the outer two lanes.
I then passed about a mile of cars.
I passed the bottle neck,
within about five minutes.
(I never did see why four lanes were blocked,
I was too busy watching the cars around me)

In a car, it would've been well over
an hour before I'd gotten through.

Man! This is the way to go!


I continued on and realized
that I was already going to
have to forego one of my stops.
I wanted to check out La Jolla, but....
Just running out of minutes.


I continued on.
I couldn't look at the GPS,
but I knew I just had
to keep the ocean on my right.

Uh... until I came to a dead end
and realized I was pretty much lost.


I parked the bike and checked with Betty.
For whatever reason, Betty refused to help.
She kept telling me I was.... nowhere.
I pulled out my map and...
Well, it's more of an overview of
Southern California.
It wasn't detailed enough to help.


Swell.


A moment later, a car pulled up
and a young man got out,
grabbed his surfboard
and headed for the beach.

"Excuse me." I called out.
The guy stopped and I explained
where I wanted to go.

"Oh, you're way off." He said.


Swell.


"Just go back that way, turn left,
keep going to the intersection,
turn right, then another right,
then go about a mile, turn right again..."

I don't know if he suddenly realized
that his directions were getting too complicated
or if he noticed my eyes glazing over.

"Forget that." He said.
"Just go back to Hill St.
and hang a right.
You'll eventually get to Harbor Dr.
and that'll take you there.
That's more scenic anyways."

I thanked him and he went on his way.
First time I've ever gotten directions
from a surfer dude.

I got on my bike and...
Now where the heck is Hill St.?
I drove out of the dead end
and drove back to the intersection.
Right turn...
Right turn...

Another dead end.

Okay...

Turn around...
Back the way I came...
Hey! Hill Street!
I pulled over and checked Betty.
Now she knew where I was.
Okay... Hill, quick right
and left onto Talbot,
left onto Rosecrans,
right on Harbor.
Piece of cake!

And about 20 minutes later,
I arrived at my destination.

I was going to go on a boat.

No, not that boat.
(Pretty, though.)

This boat.

The USS Midway.
(Sorry about the sucky photo.)

The USS Midway was in operation from 1945 to 1992.
It opened as a museum in 2004.
It gets over one million visitors every year
and as of a few years ago,
was the most popular warship museum in the US.
One of the cool things about the ship/museum
is that the guides all served aboard her at one time.
More on that in a bit.

First, I need to park the bike.


I rolled up to the parking lot
and eyeballed the price.
About $15 for the day.
The attendant came out
and told me that bikes
normally park over on
the side for free.
Sweet!
In the shade, too.

I got rid of my jacket and boots.
The locking saddle bags
made that easy.
The helmet...
Well... it's a rental.
I'll take my chances.
I left it hanging from
the handlebars.

Most people won't mess
with a bike or a biker's stuff.
Probably because one percent
of the bikes you might mess
with might be the last thing
you mess with.

Just sayin'...

I ain't no Angel,
but I would've been upset.

I sashayed over to the ticket office
and paid my fee.
Twenty three bucks.
Not cheap, but not too bad.

First thing you do is go inside
the cavernous hangar
and grab a self-guided
audio tour phone.

I tried it once...
and could barely hear it.
I gave up and just enjoyed
looking around, taking it all in.

I didn't get far when I stopped here:

The Vought F4U Corsair.
Love that plane.
Used primarily in WWII,
it was made famous by
Greg "Pappy" Boyington
who received both
the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross
for his 26 enemy planes shot down
while commanding the famous
Blacksheep squadron.


I then climbed the stairs
to visit the flight deck.

I'll try not to bore you too
much with airplane photos.
I'm partial to jets,
so that's what I mostly looked at.

F-4 Phantom

F/A-18 Hornet

F9F Panther
I was surprised at the way
the wings folded on this one.
Never heard of this plane before.

In the above photo,
you can see some seats
arranged in the middle
of the deck.
There was a gentleman there
who was waiting for people
to come by to listen to his presentation.
I sat and was soon joined by
a handful of others.

He was really interesting.
He discussed the mechanics
of landing a plane on a carrier.
And he would know...
since he's done it himself,
on this very carrier.
How cool is that???

He described how the lights
were designed to bring the pilot
in with twelve feet of clearance
over the stern.
Except sometimes, in rough seas,
the stern might be going up and
down by twelve or so feet.

Have a lot of respect for a person
willing to do that.

F-14 Tomcat
Made famous by
Tom Cruise in Top Gun.

I feel the need...
If you can't finish that line,
then you need to see the movie.
Stat.
(Don't mind the blatantly 80s music.)

This photo shows the tail hook
of an A-4 Skyhawk and
arresting cable.
There were fourteen cables
on the USS Midway.
A plane touching down
had to grab one of them
with the tail hook in order
to stop.

Same A-4 Skyhawk
seen from the front.

C-1 Trader.
Also known as C.O.D.
(Carrier Onboard Delivery)
It delivered passengers, parts,
the mail and evacuated patients.

E-2 Hawkeye
Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft.
Note the oversized radar dish,
and back-folded wings.


Farther down the flight deck,
I listened to another presentation
for a bit on launching aircraft.
The deck is too short
for aircraft to be able to
take off without assistance.

So to get 'em going,
they attach the front wheel
to a device that is driven
forward by a steam catapult.

The plane is kept in check by
a "dog bone".
A piece of metal shaped
like a dog bone, or small hand weight.
It's designed to break with
a certain amount of pressure.

When the dog bone snaps...
You go.

If you happen to have the brakes on...
You're going anyways,
except you'll have two flat tires.

At the bow of the ship,
there are two downward sloping ramps.
Older planes didn't use the front wheel
hook-up, but would instead have
a tether linking the fuselage
to the catapult.
These ramps were designed
to draw the tether down and away
from the departing plane
to prevent damage.
Modern carriers don't have them.

The view back from the bow:

The ship is big.
A thousand feet long.

Time kept ticking along,
so I didn't have time to
visit crew or captain's quarters.
And... truth be told,
I was okay with that.
I'd seen what I wanted to see.
Time to head out.

Just one quick pit stop
before I hit the open road...

I walked in and was greeted
by a friendly young lady.
(Much better than the last place.)
She asked where I was from.
I'm always a bit hesitant
when asked that.
Not everyone in the US
knows where Winnipeg is.
Or have even heard of it.

So my go to answer is:
"Canada".
Then if the next question I get is:
"Where abouts?" then I'll say "Winnipeg".

And then I often get:
"Where is that?"

"Straight north of North Dakota."

And one time, I actually got
"Is that near Minnesota?"
Dude... it's your country.
You don't know where North Dakota is???


Come to think of it....
I really can't think of a good reason
to care where North Dakota is.


So... "Where you from?" She asked.
"Canada." I replied.
"Where in Canada?" She said.
Oh boy... here we go... fingers crossed.
"Winnipeg." I said.
"I'm from Calgary. (Alberta)" She responded.


I had to go all the way to San Diego
to meet a fellow Canadian!


Poker chip (and a T-shirt)
in hand, I got directions from Betty,
and I headed back north to LA.
About two thirds of the way there,
I pulled over to consult the GPS.
I knew I had to exit fairly soon,
but couldn't remember if I had
to turn left or right.
Same for the next intersection.

And Betty was dead.
She didn't even turn on.
(I am so used to that.)
Nothing but a black screen.
The old "silent treatment".
Betty? Now is not the time.

I took a guess and turned
in what I thought was the
correct direction.
Success! I came to the right road
fairly quickly.
Okay... Now, no idea
which way to go.
There was a gas station
on the corner.
I checked the address.
The guy at the bike rental
had given me his card.
Okay. Now at least if I go in one
direction and the numbers
go in the wrong direction,
I'll know to turn around.

Fueled up, I picked a direction
that seemed marginally more
familiar and...

Arrived at the rental place
within five minutes.

I returned the bike,
grabbed my car,
and headed back to the hotel.

I had a DISmeet coming up,
and I didn't wanna be late!




In case you missed it:

Marvin is selling walnut rolls
now apparently.


Coming up:
A few DISmeets,
a Disney Day
and a Grand Prix.


And... did you see it?

Off To The Races​

 

[juniorbugman]

Wow you packed alot into your day.
I would have liked to visit that vessel as well. It looks like fun and you seem to have learned alot.
I did see it. I am sorry to say that I didn't see it until I went back and relooked and went wow how could I have missed that. It just jumped out at you.
Am I allowed to talk about the hockey or haven't you watched the game yet?
I don't want to spoil anything for you.

 

[pkondz]

Quick reply.
Go Jets... oh.

 

[juniorbugman]

Guess our new team is the Las Vegas Golden Knights.