Canadian Buffoon's Hi Low Vacation - South Central Musings

[pkondz]

I have everything I want. It gets less fun shopping when you are only replacing or updating what you already have. Now I only need the funds to permanently visit DW more often, and shopping budgets tend to interfere with that. But I do still enjoy window shopping.

Ah. Then that won't work for me.
She seldom shops for herself.

She's always shopping for the DDs.
"Oh, this'll look good on Elle."
"I think Kay will like this."

When fully submerged up to my neck, I am worthy of the best hot tub!

There. See?
You just said that you're worthy
to scuba divers and snorkelers.

Been there. Likely not going back, just not the best experience at Mr. Mike's

Oh? Food? Or????

Although I am ashamed to admit that I could not stop laughing after seeing my waiter totally wipe out and fall, but only because I do that often enough to thoroughly sympathize, and my toe(s) will vouch for my honesty.

You're evil!!

And speaking of...
how are your tootsies?

 

[pkondz]

Sadly, no. I really liked my baseball cards. Didn't want to destroy them.

Well there you go.
I never followed baseball, so...
Never had a problem wrecking them.

"I want to sound like a motorcycle!
And who the heck is Honus Wagner, anyway?"

Viking funerals are awesome. When we were cleaning out my grandmother's house after she passed, we found an old canoe in the garage and briefly considered doing the Viking funeral with it. The fact that it would be illegal and we'd probably get caught dissuaded us, but I loved the idea.

But what I'd like to know is....

What did you do with the canoe?

It takes a lot for me to break my strict diet.

Yes I know.
I've seen your TRs.
(speaking of which...
Dude. I'm sorry I haven't been to yours yet.
I will... it's just taking me longer than I thought.)

Well, they do give you salsa to dip it in, which makes it...almost like pizza.

No.

No it's not.


You are this close to having
major points deducted.

Wow! That pretty much tells me everything I'd need to know.

Yep.

 

[pkondz]

Hmmm, time for some random guesses...

1. 6:30
2. Yes, you charge
3. Gelato
4. Yes
5. A&W
6. 2 pm
7. Pizza

Noted.

 

[pkondz]

Oh, you like that do you?

Wait!!

After all that drama, you may not...

use it?!?! What gives?

I still haven't decided if
I'm that vain or not!

First it's no pictures of the quesadilla and now this? You didn't hire a professional photography to follow you on the OPNRD and get a really cool shot of you whizzing past green trees and grassy hills?

Oh. NM, I forget it's winter there until July.

Yep. I have the photographer, hair and makeup team,
lighting and sound all set up for the first nice day in spring.

Do you feel like a million bucks when you're on it? Does it makes you feel awesome and unfettered?

If you answered yes to those questions, then yes, I love it.

It does all that. And more!
There's just something about
sidling up beside a car...
And the mom tells her kid
to roll up the window.

Yeah... I'm bad...

I wonder how much Disney sells them for at their company store?

I dunno! But good point!
Wanna go down and check out
their used Camera accessories store?

Golly gee, you're nice.

<PB&J is in the cupboard, Kids. You can walk to the corner store for a loaf of bread; otherwise forage.>

I'm getting there.
They're certainly old enough.
I think as soon as Kay decides
to get off her butt and get a job
(or when she turns 18... whichever
comes first.)
I'll just say "Bye! You're on your own."

<slow slap.... er clap>

See that guy in front of the plane with the orange sticks? Well, I actually have a fantasy (I have a lot of those, but family board)

Oh??


PM me.

about doing this for a job. No, like for reals. But on an aircraft carrier.

So. Major Top Gun fan, huh?

(And... yeah. That'd be pretty cool.)

I also want to buy and drive a fire engine. But always seem to be juuuuust out of my reach.

I knew that one.

I went the world's largest in 2008 or 9. Pretty fantastical to watch people skiing indoors.

I've seen pictures of that.
Pretty incredible.

Pretty, YES!!!!

You wanna go now, don't you?

I picture it with about a pound of melty cheddar and jack cheeses, the makings of a instant 2 inch addition to any waistline.

And being bunged up
for about a week.

The ONLY way to properly order and consume steak.

Well, who wouldn't?!?!

Oh.

1. What time do we get up?

You at 7:30, Ruby at 9:00.

2. Do I charge my camera
in the morning or wait til later?

The morning while Ruby slept longer than you.

3. I grab a snack.
Gelato, Ice cream, or slush?

Gelato.

4. Edmonton Harley.
Do I get my poker chip?

Sure.

5. We grab lunch at a fast food place.
A&W, McDonalds, Wendy's or Burger King?

Wendy's.

6. Our next destination
is about a four hour drive away.
What time do we get there?

Hmmm.... up at 9:00; breakfast somewhere; lunch at 1:00 on way out of town; stop for poker chip; arrive at 6:00? Dinner at destination place.

7. What common food do we have
for dinner?
Common food?

Pizza

Noted.

 

[pkondz]

It's a nice pic. I'm more amazed at how clean your garage appears to be! I don't see any crap piled around it or stuff strewn about on the floor!

I actually clean it out completely once or twice a year.
Kinda have to.
All that snow accumulates on the floor
so have to wash it out.

And while I'm at it...
might as well tidy up.

Is that a trickle charger you have it plugged into on the wall?

Have to.
It's not like I can run it over the winter.
(although I do start it up
when the temps get above freezing.)

Gee why not?

Because I'm too smart for that.


Wait... that's not it.


Because I'm not stupid.


No... that's not it either...



Because I don't want to.



There. Finally an honest answer.

It is a very nice bike. I like the look of chrome, but I never thought of it from a maintenance point of view. It's a very sleek and streamlined ride. Nothing extraneous or weird. I think you chose wisely.

I don't mind maintaining the chrome.
But I don't want to polish 200 spokes!

With all you have to do, I would think you would get up earlier than that!

Nah. I'm speedy.

You didn't donate them to a thrift store?

There's a demand
for old, stained, shorts?

Ouch!

Yeah...

I got my backup charger at Best Buy. We only have one camera store in all of Long Beach. We have two Best Buys.

Huh! Odd.
Then again...
Camera stores are getting harder to find.

Do they know how to eat things beyond nunclear meals? Are they half as well trained in the kitchen as you?

Oh, sure!
Their microwaving skills are superb!

And they can make Mac n Cheese
out of a box like nobody's business.

That's about as far as the issue we had went, in reference to my recently completed TR

<sigh>
Have to apologize to you too.

I'm really sorry for being absent, Alison.
I will eventually get there.
Just... so darned busy right now.

That was a lot you got dome in a short period of time! What you mentioned would have taken all day in my world!

Fringe benefit to living
in a smaller city.
I can get pretty much
anywhere in about 30 minutes.

Please explain why this was so important? We barely get a drive thru meal on our way to an airport much less specialty cookies!

Well, actually...
I wouldn't go out of my way.
But since I had to return the costume,
and we were going right by it....
Why not!

Plus.... they really are amazing.
By far the best cookies I've ever had.

That is a pretty good turnaround!

So it was the largest mall when I was there...

It's changed a bit since then.
They've removed some of the things
that really made it cool.

Hubba Hubba! That's one heck of a room! Certainly inspirational.....

You'd think, wouldn't you?

Wait! What????????????? Didn't you want to take advantage of the room...




















You know......


























Maybe play a game of Parchesi?

Forgot the board at home,
so... there was nothing else to do.

I mean... what else is there?

I'm not a big beer drinker, so no thank you. I'll stick to my wine a non traditional martinis.

Perhaps like this.....

What the heck is that?
Where's the rest of it!
You were ripped off!!!

(actually... nice plate presentation.)

Well no, if they cook it too long the shrimp becomes tough and rubbery. Trust me I know.

Huh. I guess I've been lucky.

That's too bad.

You'd think a steak house
would have really good steak.


And, apparently, you'd be wrong.

I don't even remember the last time I was in a Mall.

For me?
This week.

Well you lucked out. Why do I think that luck will come back to bite you.

Oh, you have no idea....

And there it is.....

Sounds just about as romantic as my life.

You may have mentioned Fran's
sleeping in the past.

Well I sure sucked at that round.

Better make up for it this round!

Like that huh?

Uh-oh, I'm slipping in the standings.

Like I said...

7AM

Yes, you charge.

Gelato

yes

I'm gonna saw A&W cause that's the one I would choose out of that lot.

3:30

Fried Chicken

PM coming shortly.

If you sent it, I didn't get it.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Well there you go.
I never followed baseball, so...
Never had a problem wrecking them.

"I want to sound like a motorcycle!
And who the heck is Honus Wagner, anyway?"

Never heard of him.

But what I'd like to know is....

What did you do with the canoe?

Sadly, I think one of my uncles took it. Really, anything is a letdown after the Viking funeral idea.

Yes I know.
I've seen your TRs.
(speaking of which...
Dude. I'm sorry I haven't been to yours yet.
I will... it's just taking me longer than I thought.)

No worries. It'll be there whenever you get to it.

Unfortunately, I hate to tell you this...but I posted another chapter.

No.

No it's not.


You are this close to having
major points deducted.

It's not! IT'S NOT THE SAME!! I SWEAR!!!

 

[franandaj]

All that snow accumulates on the floor
so have to wash it out.

You don’t have a roof over your garage?

There's a demand
for old, stained, shorts?

I dunno. We give just about everything to the thrift store, unless it's no longer functional.

Huh! Odd.
Then again...
Camera stores are getting harder to find.

I'm lucky we have even one in our city.

Oh, sure!
Their microwaving skills are superb!

So then nuclear meals....

<sigh>
Have to apologize to you too.

I'm really sorry for being absent, Alison.
I will eventually get there.
Just... so darned busy right now.

I can't imagine why. It's not like you have a demanding job, a family, or a trip coming up...

Fringe benefit to living
in a smaller city.
I can get pretty much
anywhere in about 30 minutes.

I actually live in a small city too. Most everywhere I go is only 15 minutes away. My small city just happens to be bordered by a huge megalopolis. The only time I venture out in that megalopolis is to go to band or Disney.

Well, actually...
I wouldn't go out of my way.
But since I had to return the costume,
and we were going right by it....
Why not!

Well if you put it that way, I can understand.

Forgot the board at home,
so... there was nothing else to do.

I mean... what else is there?

Tiddlywinks?

What the heck is that?
Where's the rest of it!
You were ripped off!!!

(actually... nice plate presentation.)

Actually it wasn't mine. This was mine.

Better make up for it this round!

I'm trying....

If you sent it, I didn't get it.

Seriously? I didn't send a "new" message....it was part of an older string, but I will try and send it again. This time I will make a new Conversation.

 

[pkondz]

Well, yeah. Now if you lived in Florida I'd be there!

Well... hmmm....
Pretty hot...
But you don't have to shovel heat...

1. 7:00am
2. charge in the morning
3. Slush
4. Poker chip? Yes
5. Wendy's
6. 5:00
7. pizza

Noted.

No how?

They were filming at airports all over Canada.
Something like "1,000 kind acts." or something.
Ruby and I happened to be going to Vegas that morning.
They asked if we wanted to take part.

Don't know if it'd wind up in the commercial or not...
But very good chance it would have.

Weirdly enough my favorite quesadillas were at Friendly's (an ice cream place that's now our of business). I don't like anything spicy so these were bland which is why I liked them so much.

At an ice cream place?
Yeah, that is weird.

Your bike is fine. I'm not really into motorcycles so no interest. But I can't take a ride with you! I'd rather have a blue Vespa.

I like Vespas. They just seem... retro.
But they ain't badazz.

 

[pkondz]

Never heard of him.

Well, there ya go.
So no problems destroying it.

Sadly, I think one of my uncles took it.

Sucks.

Really, anything is a letdown after the Viking funeral idea.

No worries. It'll be there whenever you get to it.

Some day...

Unfortunately, I hate to tell you this...but I posted another chapter.

DANG IT!!!

Could be worse.
Liesa's got about 147 updates.
And I have no clue about Alison....

I am sooooo screwed...

It's not! IT'S NOT THE SAME!! I SWEAR!!!

Hmmm.....

I'll let it go... this time.

 

[pkondz]

You don’t have a roof over your garage?

Of course.
But all the snow accumulates
in the wheel wells and undersides
of the cars...
and then drops off and melts
(or not) in the garage.
Makes a huge mess on the floor.

I dunno. We give just about everything to the thrift store, unless it's no longer functional.

I decreed them to be stylistically unfunctional.

I'm lucky we have even one in our city.

Still...
You need more. Competition.

So then nuclear meals....

Yup.

I can't imagine why. It's not like you have a demanding job, a family, or a trip coming up...

Or an entire house to clean out.
Finished the basement today! Woot!

I actually live in a small city too. Most everywhere I go is only 15 minutes away. My small city just happens to be bordered by a huge megalopolis. The only time I venture out in that megalopolis is to go to band or Disney.

So... then you can get tons done
in a short amount of time too.

I presume you send your pool boy
out to do the errands.

Well if you put it that way, I can understand.

Yeah, I'm not driving out of my way
on the way to the airport.
But.... they were right there!

Tiddlywinks?

I brought the winks,
but the tiddles didn't show up.

Actually it wasn't mine. This was mine.

Looks good!
Question?
Is that sautéed onion
under the beef?
And... a bit blurry
(stoopid depth of field!)
but is that chicken?

I'm trying....

I'll let you know how you did...
next update.

Seriously? I didn't send a "new" message....it was part of an older string, but I will try and send it again. This time I will make a new Conversation.

I just double checked.
Nope. Didn't get it.

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[franandaj]

Of course.
But all the snow accumulates
in the wheel wells and undersides
of the cars...
and then drops off and melts
(or not) in the garage.
Makes a huge mess on the floor.

Wow this whole snow thing has all sorts of twists and turns that one wouldn't expect. What a pain! There is one advantage of this whole drought thing, at least it's not messy.

I decreed them to be stylistically unfunctional.

Well you'd be surprised what people around here will wear. You will see, or maybe not.

Or an entire house to clean out.

I have that too. We decided to go to F&W instead.

Finished the basement today! Woot!

Well I'm ahead of you there. We don't have one.

So... then you can get tons done
in a short amount of time too.

In theory I could. But instead my time instead spent fulfilling little whims like, "Can you get my phone out of the bedroom?" 200 steps later. "Will you get me a soda?" I sit down, intending to do something productive on the computer. I wake it up, get situated, "Can I get a peanut butter foldover?" My entire day goes like this. Sometimes I relish her naptime. I get soooo much done!

I presume you send your pool boy
out to do the errands.

My pool boy comes once a week on Fridays and he looks more like meathead on All In The Family, when he had his full beard and fuzzy head. I don't have the Beverly Hills movie version of a pool boy. I'm the errand boy (see above comment).

Looks good!
Question?
Is that sautéed onion
under the beef?

Those are fajitas, so peppers and onions under the beef.

And... a bit blurry
(stoopid depth of field!)
but is that chicken?

Yes, Pam and her mom don't eat things that walk on land. She ordered the chicken tacos and got the Chicken on the side. We fed it to the cats.

I just double checked.
Nope. Didn't get it.

But you responded? 5 hours ago.....

 

[franandaj]

And I have no clue about Alison....

It appears that you last posted about a month ago. I posted five updates, they cover the last 72 hours of the trip.

The good news for you is that I have not started the new TR. I have to catch up on everyone else's first!

 

[mustinjourney]

Yes, Pam and her mom don't eat things that walk on land. She ordered the chicken tacos and got the Chicken on the side. We fed it to the cats.

So they'd eat snake? Or is that just another way of saying they only will eat seafood?

 

[franandaj]

So they'd eat snake? Or is that just another way of saying they only will eat seafood?

Ha! You got me there! Pam is a gluten free pescetarian, her mother is a vegetarian. I didn't think of snakes!

 

[pkondz]

Aaaaah. I got over that once they started picking out clothing that was "cooler" - i.e. more expensive, and usually jeans that were distressed for even more money. Aaaand, after they only wear something twice and then it goes into the donation bin, I started to feel a bit distressed myself. So now I say "Oh, I think DD would like that" and then just keep on strolling. Sometimes I send them a picture by text so that they can say no even faster.

Well, DW still hasn't reached that point.
It doesn't help that Elle knows a good thing
when she sees one.
Clothes? That are free? Yes, please!

Yes, I am evil.

I knew it!!!

The toes are only a little bit evil, thanks for asking. They have actually looked like toes for 11 days now, not just sausages attached to a swollen lump. Methinks it's been a long slow process, likely more damage than initially thought, and if I could just quit rolling my ankle and falling down on the hidden black ice (D'oh!) it would improve even faster. Come on spring!!!

Ow! Please be careful!
You okay?

 

[pkondz]

Wow this whole snow thing has all sorts of twists and turns that one wouldn't expect. What a pain! There is one advantage of this whole drought thing, at least it's not messy.

There's snow business like snow business...

Oh, nevermind.

Well you'd be surprised what people around here will wear. You will see, or maybe not.

Looking forward to that.

Scantily clad girls is still a thing, right?

I have that too. We decided to go to F&W instead.

Probably a good choice.

Well I'm ahead of you there. We don't have one.

For years, I thought every house
had to have a basement.
Then I moved north.

In theory I could. But instead my time instead spent fulfilling little whims like, "Can you get my phone out of the bedroom?" 200 steps later. "Will you get me a soda?" I sit down, intending to do something productive on the computer. I wake it up, get situated, "Can I get a peanut butter foldover?" My entire day goes like this. Sometimes I relish her naptime. I get soooo much done!

Which begs the question


What's a "peanut butter foldover"??

My pool boy comes once a week on Fridays and he looks more like meathead on All In The Family, when he had his full beard and fuzzy head. I don't have the Beverly Hills movie version of a pool boy. I'm the errand boy (see above comment).

Well, then.... Get one!

Those are fajitas, so peppers and onions under the beef.

Makes sense.
For some reason, they looked different
in the photo.

Yes, Pam and her mom don't eat things that walk on land. She ordered the chicken tacos and got the Chicken on the side. We fed it to the cats.

Hmmm... snakes have already been covered.
So chickens are out.
What about part time land walkers? Like squab?
Or duck? Or geese?
Does the ability to walk determine the diet?
Does that rule out mudskippers?
(If you don't know, they're amphibious fish.)

What if a cow was born without legs.
Could they eat a burger from that cow?
It never could walk.

What if they hatched chickens in space
on the international space station?
It will never walk, so is it fair game then?

What about fruit?
If an apple falls to the ground and rolls away,
is it considered ambulatory then?

Vegetables. They should be okay.
Unless they drop one and it rolls
under the table.
Then it's off limits.

So no round veggies.

Actually, bananas should be okay.
So, some fruit and some veggies.
And snakes.
And legless animals.
And space faring chickens.

I'm glad we could get this settled.

But you responded? 5 hours ago.....

I meant, I never got your original PM.
I did get that one.

 

[pkondz]

It appears that you last posted about a month ago. I posted five updates, they cover the last 72 hours of the trip.

Five.....



Five.

The good news for you is that I have not started the new TR. I have to catch up on everyone else's first!

TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!

 

[franandaj]

There's snow business like snow business...

Oh, nevermind.

Punchy aren't we?

Looking forward to that.

Scantily clad girls is still a thing, right?

Well the thing I notice the most are two things. The gals who wear shorts so short that their butt cheeks hang out and the ones in the skin tight leggings that really have no business doing so. I probably don't notice scantily clad gals because I tend to ignore young and annoying folks. Plus most everyone in so Cal is scantily clad. Its just too hot to wear many clothes.

For years, I thought every house
had to have a basement.
Then I moved north

All my homes have been on a slab foundation. The only basement I knew was at my grandparents in New England.

What's a "peanut butter foldover"??

One piece bread. Butter on half, peanut butter on the other. Fold it so the fillings are in the middle.

Variation: cheese foldover. One piece bread, spread with mayonnaise, place a slice of pasteurized processed cheese food on top, fold over so cheese is on the middle. I don't eat these things, I just make 'em.

Well, then.... Get one!

They're expensive!

Hmmm... snakes have already been covered.
So chickens are out.
What about part time land walkers? Like squab?
Or duck? Or geese?
Does the ability to walk determine the diet?
Does that rule out mudskippers?
(If you don't know, they're amphibious fish.)

What if a cow was born without legs.
Could they eat a burger from that cow?
It never could walk.

What if they hatched chickens in space
on the international space station?
It will never walk, so is it fair game then?

What about fruit?
If an apple falls to the ground and rolls away,
is it considered ambulatory then?

Vegetables. They should be okay.
Unless they drop one and it rolls
under the table.
Then it's off limits.

So no round veggies.

Actually, bananas should be okay.
So, some fruit and some veggies.
And snakes.
And legless animals.
And space faring chickens.

I'm glad we could get this settled.

Wow.

Five.....



Five.

But they're wafer thin.

TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!

If it doesn't happen Mon-Thurs this week, it will be another week before anything happens. This F&W Festival is going to take up lots of my time.

 

[Mac Brew]

Hi Pkondz
Jus a little coment about basements it is the in thing amongst the millionaire's of London at the moment to see who can build the biggest basement in their Street and include the biggest underground swimming pool a few famous ones have been taken each other to court over it. Quite a few are acting like big kids over it.It's away to enlarge your property if you've got the cash Basements over here are relatively a new phenomenon. If you become more famous by apearing in the west jet advert you will have to post the link to YouTube so we can all see it.