Just a silly little TR - Run Away!!

[MAGICFOR2]

I can't see the pics! I can see the sharks, but not the surfing pics. I'm on DS's system - he has hijacked my internet while I try to figure out how to get the cable out to the trailer we moved out to. (He's renting our house, cuz we're leaving the state)

Anyway, I'm so sad not to see the pics, but it sounds like your Northshore time was really the way it's meant to be. I love the little beach towns. We visited the swimsuit place, but I thoroughly enjoyed the soap place - I'm still enjoying my purchases from there.

Hmmm, Pizza Bobs for breakfast but don't order Pizza! Oh! Look! I can see the pics in a quote Nice! That art yard was pretty cool too! Nice Chapter! Thanks so much for writing! Can't wait to see you blowing away in the next one!

I'm sure I have a cookie recipe somewhere - pretty crazy times for us right now, so I'll just drool over everyone else's creations if that's okay.

 

[nebo]

I was just about to post a chapter... then I read this and thought, "Holy cow! I almost posted a whole chapter on Nebo's TR!!!

I actually did have to scroll to the top to check and see which TR I was actually on.

And yes, Nebo is now thinking, "Mission accomplished."

No, only would have been accomplished f you had done it, and saved me from having to write a chapter. And now I wonder what would happen if YOU, actually WROTE, one of my chapters,,,,, hmmmm
Like Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman,,,, hmm, would anybody notice?
Yeah, course they would,,, you don't make as many typos as I do.

Surfing with Sharks… part 2

Back on Terra Firma, I begin to feel a sense of urgency.

Did they serve the peel and eat shrimp on board, too?

I feel that something is amiss; I feel that something is awry.

If you didn't get the "amiss" and "awry" feeling I'd be aghast, agape and agog, again.

I feel… hungry. Time for breakfast.


I ask Gilligan where a good place for breakfast might be.

Judging from their physiques,,, I think Skipper would be the one to ask about food.

If you’re ever in another city and want to know where a good place to eat is, ask a local. It doesn’t always work, but will more often than not. I don’t trust a lot of tour book reviews since I’m always a little suspicious. Are you recommending this restaurant because the owner paid for that recommendation? Just how biased are you, anyway?

So I’m waiting for Gilligan to tell me, “Try the Pancake Palace or The Egg Express or Brekkie Break or… you get the idea. Something with a ‘breakfast’ sounding name to it.

In '91, we took the kids on a driving trip that included the Smoky's, and had the Tourism Bureau send us tons of pamphlets and junk.
Gatlinburg were we were going to stay, and Pegeon Forge next door had hundreds of restaurants all with catch breakfast title names. "The Incredible Edible Waffle House"
Quake and Shake Pancakes,,,,,, but,,,
the strangest thing,,,,, confirmed when we were finally in those towns,,,,

You can't get a fried egg! Nobody made them,,,, a couple, just a couple, would make you scrambled eggs,,, and I think those were the eggbeaters stuff anyway. It was pancakes, waffles, grits, French Toast and biscuits and gravy,and sausage,,,,, but no eggs, and very few places sold bacon.




Well of course. If you make a good breakfast but can’t make Pizza and want to run a restaurant, what else are you going to call it but Pizza Bob’s?

Bob's Diner and Bait and Tackle.
"6 different variety of nightcrawlers!"
"Voted best minnows by the Swallowers Clubs at most fraternities"



We wander over to Pizza Bob’s and order. Kay has pancakes, Elle has sausage and eggs and I have French Toast.

(sigh) of course you ordered French Toast, I had not doubt.





We spent the next few hours exploring Haleiwa. Sorry, I didn’t take a lot of pictures… I really don’t know why.
It’s a pretty little town, reminiscent of the surf scene back in the day. The only one I shot was of this little place right in the middle of the main road.

Looks like a lot of people there named Art.

And we didn’t even go in! I think I was still a little tired from the early morning and buffeting.

buffeting? I thought you just said you ordered off the menu?

We did go into North Shore Swimwear. The place to go if you’re female and in need of a swimsuit. They make them there and if something doesn’t quite fit or needs an alteration, they do it right there while you wait. Both Elle and Kay found something they like. With Elle, no big deal. With Kay, that’s something of a minor miracle… but I digress.

Hold it,,,, you guys wait until you are actually in Hawaii to get your vacation suits?

Kay’s suit needed fixin’ so instead of waiting there, we wandered around and I bought Ruby a pearl pendant and chain. We popped into a gallery and I saw this cool glass sculpture shaped like a wave. $150 though. I’ll think about it.

What? Well,, I just forbid Smidgy to read any more of your report! I'm sorry, but it's a stretch if I pop for the extra money for the Sunday Orlando Sentinel when we're at Disney,,,,it' s got to be at least another .75 cents!

After our stressful hour or so of shopping… okay it was stressful for me. Because I’m a guy… and it was shopping… with girls… okay?

You kidding?
I'm a basket case by then!

We started to wander back towards the car but had to stop at a roadside stand where they sold sea shells by the roadside.

See? Isn’t that easier to say than ‘by the sea shore’?

they sold sea shells by the roadside.
they sold sea shells by the roadside.
they sold sea shells by the roadside.

Easy.Peasy lemon squeezy

Did they put them insidey your Rubber baby buggy bumpers?


Kay wanted to get some shells to bring back to her friends, and Elle decided she wanted to do the same. Time for parent to teach the little bird how to fly.

Today’s lesson: “How to haggle”

Elle, “Dad? I like these shells, but they’re $3 each.”
Me, “Okay, but you can probably get them for less if you want a bunch.”
Elle, looking very suspicious, “I’m not going to steal them.”
Me, thinking, ‘well I should hope not!’, “No, we’ll haggle.”
Elle, “What’s that.”

I’ve got to get these kids away from the TV and into more books.

Me, “Watch.”

“Excuse me, but these shells are $3 each, if we buy x amount can we get a volume discount?”

We bargained back and forth for a couple of seconds and got a better price. No, I don’t remember how much… maybe $2? $2.50? That isn’t a lot for me, but for Elle who only has her allowance, gift money or babysitting money… it’s a lot. She bought something like 10 shells, so she saved 5-10 bucks. Kay wanted a basket of shells, I negotiated a savings for her too.

Well done.
We had a place in Chicago called Maxwell Street, it was like an "un-governed, un - charted or regulated " flea market, my dad started bringing me there to learn to deal with the criminals when I was 10.
I bought my first illegal switchblade there and I'm not kidding,,,, but I had to haggle for it,,, those were my dad's rules!
I passed on the last offfer and we moved on,,,, I knew we would have to pass the vendor one more time on the wahy back to the car,,,,this time in passing,,, I got that last fifty cents off I was looking for, my dad was so proud!


I found it funny how Elle somehow thought I was being bad for haggling with the seller.

I told her it probably wouldn’t work at a big department store. So don’t get your hopes up.

Funny thing,,,, it Does work in major stores a lot of the time,,, but most folks just never think of asking for a discount.

Hey. It never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is they say, “no”.

Bingo!
Well,, ok, maybe sometimes on Maxwell Street that's NOT the worst that can happen.



So with the exciting part of the day out of the way… shopping… We popped back into the car and skipped over to The Gas Station.

You know I now have a mental image of you hoding your daughters hands on either side of you skipping along and singing and boy oh boy,,,,
It's not pretty!



While we’re waiting, I got everybody to re-apply sunscreen…

And again,,,the image,,, there you are, walking up to strange men and women and talking them into applying more sunsceen, even rubbing in the big biker guy with the fair skin,,,,



But I know my girls well. I knew that they wouldn’t be overly happy with a male surfing instructor… so that ruled out the predominantly male fire fighters school.


I thought I’d try Girls Who Surf. They came with pretty good reviews… except some of those girls who surf are not so much surfer girls as they are surfer guys.

I more or less stumble onto North Shore Surf Girls. All girls. No guys. Book it.

No doubt, Check, Gotcha,, I understand,,, uh huh,,,we are all saying,,, what a guy,,, and he did this just for his girls,,,,, so they'd be comfortable,,no male instructors to have to deal with,,,just drop dead gorgeous, young, nubile, atletic, females in bathing suits,,,,
Man, when you make a sacrifice,,,, you go all out!

I don’t remember the name of the nice young lady who met us, she wound up teaching a couple from Germany (again with the Germans).

Oh yes, surfing is BIG in Germany since it's surrounded on three sides by ocean.

"Would you believe two lakes and a Lazy River?" (with a twang)




We get to the beach and I try to forget that I’m going to go surfing…


and looking like a seal…

A Navy Seal?


in the same water that we were in a couple of hours ago…


surrounded by sharks.

Oh, a Nervy Seal.




Sometimes I don’t think so good.

Hey, it happens, don't worry about it, it's been almost an hour now,,,


And maybe ‘kill two birds’ is not the best choice of words…

Yes, filleted is much better.




Our instructor was a wonderful young lady named Carol. She was amazing! I looked up her bio

Is this a Hawaiin tradition that you can do without them slapping you for that, or having you arrested?
You didn't use a mirror, did you? Please say you didn't.


and it turns out that she won the National Surfing Championships twice and was second in the World in ’92. She was the first woman to compete at the Banzai Pipeline. And a whole bunch of other stuff.

Wow, and you could tell all that by looking up her Bio? Weren't all the words backwards though, and hard to read that way?

We were in a protected bay for our lessons with the wave heights averaging (I’m guessing here) about 3 – 4 feet. Just right for rookies like us.

Yes, I remember that "protected bay" in Jaws, with the guy in the rowboat,,,,I suppose it could have been worse,,, could have been Michael Bay!

After a brief on-shore lesson, we headed out into the water. I must admit that for a second, I did think about our morning excursion, but quickly quashed that thought!

Oh yes,,, those lessons on the sand are so much like the real thing,,,, "Land Shark!"



“Nope! No fish around here! Nope!”

Um,,,, they no longer NEED fish around her now to attract sharks, friend.
I mean,,,Chum!

Carol had us organized like a well oiled machine.

Fish oil

One person would try to ride a wave… this is known by the locals as “surfing”, another would be holding a few yards away and the third person would be finished a wave and making his or her way to the holding area.

This would be known by the locals as, "bleeding."

I do know that Elle managed to get on her feet the first time. I don’t think Kay or I were quite so lucky… or co-ordinated. Eventually we all managed to surf and not look too stupid doing it. I can attest that we were definitely better than the Germans. Ha! So there! Their economy might be better than ours, but we kick butt in the unskilled surfing department!

Here’s a couple of pics for ya:

Elle catching a wave…


Atta Girl,,,, that's amazing, I can just imagine how difficult that must be, no, never tried it.

And Kay…

And for those of you wondering how I did… I can provide you with this picture of me… and I’m not wearing a hat or shades!

Yup. Definitely me.

I t did capture your best side, no doubt.

So as we’re surfing… and trying to forget the morning festivities… with dorsal fins cutting through the waves… Something breaks the surface of the water about 20 feet away from me!

If that's not a periscope,,, I'm already back on shore!!!


Okay, okay. I’ll be honest with you. I wasn’t scared. I really wasn’t thinking Jaws or Jaws 2 or even Jaws 3D… one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. I just saw something come up from below and thought, “Hm. What’s that?”

You got it,,,, a total, brutal movie that one was.

“It” was a sea turtle. And “it” was pretty cool! I saw a sea turtle! I saw a sea turtle! After we’re done, I’m going to tell the kids, “Guess what I saw and you didn’t? Hunh? Can you guess? Hunh?”

DId you make sure to ask it how old it is?
You didn't , did you?

Inside I’m a little child… and apparently a gloating, spoiled little brat, too.

Yeah, I can easily picture you standing there holding all three surfboards going , "Mine, mine, mine mine MINE"


She stuck it out for another half hour or so, then had had enough. Of the exercise, the eyes stinging, the surfing and crashing, or all the above, I don’t know. Upshot is after an hour she was done. I lasted about an hour and a quarter in the water, then I was done too.

Did you know surfing was hard work?

All that paddling!

Not to mention piddling!

Elle, who’s in the best shape of the three of us made it the full hour and a half. As a reward for being last out, Carol pushed her to shore, so she didn’t have to paddle. If I’d known that I might’ve lasted that last 15 minutes.

So that she could then lock her arm under your chin and drag you on your back to shore while whe has to sweim sidestroke while saving the stroke.


“So guess what I saw, girls? A turtle! That’s what! It was like 20 feet away from me.”
Elle, “I saw it too dad, it was about 5 feet away from me.”
Kay, “I saw it too, it came up right beside me and I touched it while I was paddling.”

"Oh yeah? well,,,, uh,,, well,,, um,,, I looked up it's BIO!"

Now that I think about it, the turtle was no big deal.

Yes Aesop, those grapes were probably rotten anyway.


“So, we agreed on $40 right?”

She agrees.

“Good, here’s $50 anyway.”

The smile on her face was so worth the $10. Made my day.

My friend, I love you. Honestly. But I'm beginning to get an idea why you don't get too take too many vacations, normally.


After we’re all settled up I have a special treat planned for the girls…


Jumping up and down,,, "What Dad? We just swam with sharks, surfed on a Hawaiian beach,, shopped for clothes,,, HAGGLED for shells,,,but now we have something SPECIAL? " Boy, I want to vacatiion with you, dude!
Oh, who am I kidding… I was dying to try this.

In doing my research on Oahu, I kept coming across references to ‘shave ice’. Apparently, prior to refrigeration, blocks of ice would be shipped to Hawaii. Some vendors discovered that if you shaved it and poured flavored syrups on it, it made a nice treat. They even invented a special ice shaving machine for it.

The place to go for shave ice on Oahu is Matsumoto’s and it’s in Haleiwa on the North Shore.

When we get there, there’s a line up out the door. I was prepared for this and had heard that the line moves quickly. And I’d heard right.

Ok, time for me to be dense,,, your talking about Kaki gori?
Crushed ice with food coloring poured on it?
Italian Ice?
Sno Cones?

And these rank up there with your beloved ZD'S?

Wow

Ok, now I’ve died and gone to heaven.

For sno cones? More like Died and gone to Milwaukee





We wind up going to different places for dinner.

That sounds like we split up and met later, doesn’t it? There’s a food court inside the Market. Ruby had some souvlaki, Elle had pizza, Kay had some pot stickers and I had deluxe wonton soup. Mixed reviews on the food. Pizza was okay. Souvlaki so/so, Potstickers were not to Kay’s liking. Soup was really good though.

For desert, we had this…

That’s right. I now know of at least two places where you can get a Dole whip float. Disney World and Honolulu.


It just wasn’t the same. I couldn’t put my finger on it. It might’ve been that the presentation wasn’t as nice. It could’ve been that the locale wasn’t right…

WOw,, Dole Whips right there. Who would have thought there'd be pineapples in Hawaii?

You know what was probably missing in your experience though?
The smell of 14 people smoking frantically in the DSA just across from Aloha Isle that's separated by the couple of planters in the middle of the pathway!

Whatever the reason, we all agreed that it wasn’t quite as good as Disney’s version.

Yep, even smoke can earn traditional rankings.

Ah, well…. Still good, though.

Before leaving for the day, I had one more opportunity to teach the kids about haggling. The nicest leis were at a kiosk near the front entrance. They were $15 each. The lady running the joint noticed Elle and I, and offered to sell one for $10 since we ‘seemed so nice’. I said for $6 bucks I might be interested.

So Elle got a lei for $6. And Kay did too.

You know,,,,I,,, um,,,, well, that's twice now,,,never mind.

We did a little more shopping on Kalakaua Avenue on the way back to the hotel and called it a night.

Does is get offended when it's called a "Night"? What would it prefer to be called?

Next up, we find out why it’s called the Windward coast.

Whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo, WIPEOUT!

And I immediately had to do the drums on the computer desk, Smidgy was not pleased!

 

[smidgy]

great breakdown honey!!!!!!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Oh yes, surfing is BIG in Germany since it's surrounded on three sides by ocean.

Ahh, but the north is not. Baltic Sea, North Sea (very stormy)!,
Did I ever tell you of my adventures at the Baltic Sea in the 60's? Playing water ball with the (far eastern) enemy in the Eastern territory? And ... oh , never mind, that was ages ago.
But they do have waves in Germany

Plus now you had me googling Burger King Breakfast items, geesh! Not I will ever make it there, but I wish I would.

 

[laura74]

Irene, you're not the only one getting all mixed up. I've never read this many reports at the same time before, and one's that included many of the same posters. I feel like I'm in a marathon trip report reading contest, "They Shoot Trip Report Writers, Don't They?"
Now I have to get over and check out Ponzi's thread.]

I was just about to post a chapter... then I read this and thought, "Holy cow! I almost posted a whole chapter on Nebo's TR!!!

I actually did have to scroll to the top to check and see which TR I was actually on.

And yes, Nebo is now thinking, "Mission accomplished."

LOL. I saw Nebo's post and I had to double check whose TR it was too.

 

[laura74]

Pizza Bob’s

Of course Pizza Bob's would be the best place for breakfast!

Pizza’s lousy though.”

The owner’s name was probably Vern. Or maybe Darlene.

It's fun making up names, isn't it?

After our stressful hour or so of shopping… okay it was stressful for me. Because I’m a guy… and it was shopping… with girls… okay?

Swimsuit shopping is stressful for women too...unless you're a teenager... oh yeah.

Time for parent to teach the little bird how to fly.

Today’s lesson: “How to haggle”

Can you teach me too?

While we’re waiting, I got everybody to re-apply sunscreen… this would turn out to be a good thing… and a bad thing…

Uneven application, streaks?

But I know my girls well. I knew that they wouldn’t be overly happy with a male surfing instructor… so that ruled out the predominantly male fire fighters school.

I’m pretty sure that the next time they go, they’ll pick that one.

Yes, you're in trouble!

I don’t remember the name of the nice young lady who met us, she wound up teaching a couple from Germany (again with the Germans).

My mother-in-law used to say you should always vacation where the Germans go because they know where the best bargains are.

We get to the beach and I try to forget that I’m going to go surfing…


and looking like a seal…

A seal with sunglasses and a hat.

in the same water that we were in a couple of hours ago…


surrounded by sharks.

Yikes!

That was only a couple hours ago?

Sometimes I don’t think so good.

If I were someone like Nebo I would probably have a field day with this.

“Nope! No fish around here! Nope!”

Only friendly fish there.

And for those of you wondering how I did… I can provide you with this picture of me… and I’m not wearing a hat or shades!

Classic. That would be me too. Your girls' surfing is impressive!

Yup. Definitely me.

Inside I’m a little child… and apparently a gloating, spoiled little brat, too.

Ha ha! I don't think we really outgrow that entirely.

If it’s at my DDs expense, though, I’m all right with that. They already cost me a small fortune, so I gotta get while the gettin’s good.

They have a way of doing that, don't they?

After about half an hour of surfing, Kay started to complain that her eyes were stinging. Sheesh, it’s salt water… only afterward did I learn that you shouldn’t put sunscreen on right before you go in the water… it can run and sting your eyes.

Ah. Poor Kay. Good to know about the sunscreen though.

“So guess what I saw, girls? A turtle! That’s what! It was like 20 feet away from me.”
Elle, “I saw it too dad, it was about 5 feet away from me.”
Kay, “I saw it too, it came up right beside me and I touched it while I was paddling.”

The smile on her face was so worth the $10. Made my day.

Aw.

They’re organized, that’s for sure. One person takes your order, another couple are making the shave ice, another couple are adding syrup, another couple are taking payment. You’re in and out in less than 5 minutes.

Looks like kaki gori.

This place is one of the best places to find touristy crap and cheap but good food. Everything that you can think of that’s cliché Hawaii is available here. Do you want a dashboard Hawaiian hula girl in a grass skirt? Got ‘em. A ukulele? Got ‘em. Fake, plastic leis? Got all kinds.

My daughter would have a field day in here.

Next up, we find out why it’s called the Windward coast.

Can't wait! Great chapter Ponzi!

 

[laura74]

Funny thing,,,, it Does work in major stores a lot of the time,,, but most folks just never think of asking for a discount.

My dad used to return shoes after he's worn them for a few years and he got away with it!

You know I now have a mental image of you hoding your daughters hands on either side of you skipping along and singing and boy oh boy,,,,
It's not pretty!

Great. Now I have that image in my head only they're skipping to My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Thanks for putting that song in my head Ponzi!

And again,,,the image,,, there you are, walking up to strange men and women and talking them into applying more sunsceen, even rubbing in the big biker guy with the fair skin,,,,

Yup. Still skipping Celine.

No doubt, Check, Gotcha,, I understand,,, uh huh,,,we are all saying,,, what a guy,,, and he did this just for his girls,,,,, so they'd be comfortable,,no male instructors to have to deal with,,,just drop dead gorgeous, young, nubile, atletic, females in bathing suits,,,,
Man, when you make a sacrifice,,,, you go all out!

Good point Nebo!

and looking like a seal…

A Navy Seal?


in the same water that we were in a couple of hours ago…


surrounded by sharks.

Oh, a Nervy Seal.

Clever

Um,,,, they no longer NEED fish around her now to attract sharks, friend.
I mean,,,Chum!

Nebo, is there a chapter on fish jokes in your Uncle John's Reader?

Ok, time for me to be dense,,, your talking about Kaki gori?
Crushed ice with food coloring poured on it?
Italian Ice?
Sno Cones?

And these rank up there with your beloved ZD'S?

That's what I thought too Nebo. Frankly I don't see the appeal with snow cones. Rita's water ice is big around here and I don't really get it.

WOw,, Dole Whips right there. Who would have thought there'd be pineapples in Hawaii?

And I immediately had to do the drums on the computer desk, Smidgy was not pleased

I remember on some sitcom a long time ago, there was a joke that only men can play Wipeout. Anybody remember?

 

[pkondz]

DH & I honeymooned in Maui. This is a nice mental re-visit! Great writing!

Thanks! And welcome, too! Glad I can provide a mental diversion for ya. Momma always said, "That boy's gonna drive me to distraction." or was that destruction...? Whatever. Welcome!

We asked the locals where they ate, only 1 place really stood out to us and unfortunately that was on the last day

Of course it was. That's the way the world works, isn't it?

Loved the shark swimming! We went snorkeling, and saw spinner dolphins, but weren't allowed in the water with them.

Okay, I'm confused (which is a pretty standard mental state for yours truly... anyway...) so you went snorkeling but weren't allowed in the water? Did you just sit on a boat with masks and fins on?

DH & I also went to Pearl Harbor. I'm glad to say I went, but it was really emotional. Don't need to go through that again! Shoot, I get choked up when they salute the military members & their families at Sea World before the Shamu show...

Can't wait for more report!

Great. Another reader who's been to Pearl Harbor... I swear, one of these days I'm going to go to Hawaii and actually get there!!!

Maybe.

When you said that you were going to post a pic, I figured it would be something like this picture. You are a big foot!

Well, you know what they say about men with big feet right?

That's right. Big shoes, baby... big shoes.

socks too.

ahem.

I can't see the pics! I can see the sharks, but not the surfing pics. I'm on DS's system - he has hijacked my internet while I try to figure out how to get the cable out to the trailer we moved out to. (He's renting our house, cuz we're leaving the state)

Living in a trailer... could be worse Tammie. You could be living in a van... down by the river.

But not much. Moving, ain't fun.

Anyway, I'm so sad not to see the pics, but it sounds like your Northshore time was really the way it's meant to be. I love the little beach towns. We visited the swimsuit place, but I thoroughly enjoyed the soap place - I'm still enjoying my purchases from there.

Soap place? Do you remember where it was? We may have gone in. Did it have a lot of stuff from local artists too?

Hmmm, Pizza Bobs for breakfast but don't order Pizza! Oh! Look! I can see the pics in a quote Nice! That art yard was pretty cool too! Nice Chapter! Thanks so much for writing! Can't wait to see you blowing away in the next one!

Thanks!

I'm sure I have a cookie recipe somewhere - pretty crazy times for us right now, so I'll just drool over everyone else's creations if that's okay.

Don't worry about the recipe. You've got plenty on your hands right now as it is.

 

[Beka]

Okay, I'm confused (which is a pretty standard mental state for yours truly... anyway...) so you went snorkeling but weren't allowed in the water? Did you just sit on a boat with masks and fins on?

Dolphin masks and fins! There we sat, in this glorified rescue boat (the boat is a story unto itself, I was terrified to be on that thing), dressed like dolphins, clapping our fins together and yelling "EE! EEEE!"

We got in the water in other areas, just not with the dolphins. Where we saw them was a place they would go to rest, and the guides didn't want to disturb them. I didn't see a "do not disturb" sign floating in the water, and none of the dolphins had those little sleeping masks on, but I took the guides' word for it.

 

[pkondz]

No, only would have been accomplished f you had done it, and saved me from having to write a chapter. And now I wonder what would happen if YOU, actually WROTE, one of my chapters,,,,, hmmmm
Like Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman,,,, hmm, would anybody notice?
Yeah, course they would,,, you don't make as many typos as I do.

Oh, I'm pretty sure people would notice. I can hear it now.

pkondz has just posted a chapter on Nebo's TR. Let's listen in to the reactions:

"Hey! What's going on?"
"Yeah! What is this crap?"
"Definitely not up to Nebo's usual standard."
"No kidding! This is horrible!"
"I'm outta here! C'mon everybody! Let's go to pkondz's TR... at least there we know were getting crap going in!"
"Yeah! We came here for quality writing! Not this... this... horse manure.

If you didn't get the "amiss" and "awry" feeling I'd be aghast, agape and agog, again.

Egad! Exactly.

Judging from their physiques,,, I think Skipper would be the one to ask about food.

Actually, on this two hour tour, Skipper was older but thin and Gilligan was young but heavier.

My analogy is really falling apart.

You can't get a fried egg! Nobody made them,,,, a couple, just a couple, would make you scrambled eggs,,, and I think those were the eggbeaters stuff anyway. It was pancakes, waffles, grits, French Toast and biscuits and gravy,and sausage,,,,, but no eggs, and very few places sold bacon.

That's just... weird.

Bob's Diner and Bait and Tackle.
"6 different variety of nightcrawlers!"
"Voted best minnows by the Swallowers Clubs at most fraternities"

I'd eat there. Peel and eat bait. Mmmmm....

(sigh) of course you ordered French Toast, I had not doubt.

And yet... it's probably one of the very VERY few times I've ordered it. Maybe 3 times in my life? I usually go for something else.

Looks like a lot of people there named Art.

Yup. A regular Carney-val.

buffeting? I thought you just said you ordered off the menu?

Hah! I was hoping someone would catch that. Looks like we're in synch again.

That's probably a bad thing.

Hold it,,,, you guys wait until you are actually in Hawaii to get your vacation suits?

Where do you think you'll have better luck finding a swimsuit for a fussy girl... Winnipeg, one of the coldest cities in the world or Hawaii.

'nuff said?

What? Well,, I just forbid Smidgy to read any more of your report! I'm sorry, but it's a stretch if I pop for the extra money for the Sunday Orlando Sentinel when we're at Disney,,,,it' s got to be at least another .75 cents!

Hawaii... not for the faint of heart... or the thin of wallet.


Did they put them insidey your Rubber baby buggy bumpers?

Sadly, no. The vendor's name was Fisher and shortly after he sold some shells, he met up with a mishap. To wit:

There was a fisherman named Fisher
who fished for some fish in a fissure.
Till a fish with a grin,
pulled the fisherman in.
Now they're fishing the fissure for Fisher.

Very sad.


Well done.
We had a place in Chicago called Maxwell Street, it was like an "un-governed, un - charted or regulated " flea market, my dad started bringing me there to learn to deal with the criminals when I was 10.
I bought my first illegal switchblade there and I'm not kidding,,,, but I had to haggle for it,,, those were my dad's rules!
I passed on the last offfer and we moved on,,,, I knew we would have to pass the vendor one more time on the wahy back to the car,,,,this time in passing,,, I got that last fifty cents off I was looking for, my dad was so proud!

Which begs the question... why did you, or the more interesting question, why did your DAD think it was necessary for you to have a switchblade?

Then again... I had one too. But I got mine without haggling... I bartered a pair of radio speakers for it.

Funny thing,,,, it Does work in major stores a lot of the time,,, but most folks just never think of asking for a discount.

You just have to be a little more persistent... usually, hirelings aren't allowed to negotiate at all.

Bingo!
Well,, ok, maybe sometimes on Maxwell Street that's NOT the worst that can happen.

Right. Sometimes you could pay above retail. That's what you meant, right?

You know I now have a mental image of you hoding your daughters hands on either side of you skipping along and singing

Good! 'Cause that's exactly what we did. We also sang, "We're off to sea for surfing! The wonderful surfing of ours!"

and boy oh boy,,,,
It's not pretty!

Hey!

And again,,,the image,,, there you are, walking up to strange men and women and talking them into applying more sunsceen, even rubbing in the big biker guy with the fair skin,,,,

Well, I didn't want the poor guy to get a nasty burn. Although with all the hair on his back, that part was probably unnecessary...


Hey. You started it.

No doubt, Check, Gotcha,, I understand,,, uh huh,,,we are all saying,,, what a guy,,, and he did this just for his girls,,,,, so they'd be comfortable,,no male instructors to have to deal with,,,just drop dead gorgeous, young, nubile, atletic, females in bathing suits,,,,
Man, when you make a sacrifice,,,, you go all out!

I will be 100% honest here. My first choice really was the firefighters. They had some of the best reviews and I figured with their training they'd be the safest too. But my DDs really aren't as comfortable with guys as they are with girl instructors.


But I didn't complain.

Oh yes, surfing is BIG in Germany since it's surrounded on three sides by ocean.

Yes, just like Manitoba. Hello?

"Would you believe two lakes and a Lazy River?" (with a twang)

I find that hard to believe, Max.

A Navy Seal?

No, I wore a rashguard... no navel showing.

Oh, a Nervy Seal.

Good one.

Is this a Hawaiin tradition that you can do without them slapping you for that, or having you arrested?
You didn't use a mirror, did you? Please say you didn't.

Nope. Polished shoes.

Wow, and you could tell all that by looking up her Bio? Weren't all the words backwards though, and hard to read that way?

Yes, but it's amazing how much you concentrate when you're looking up somebody's bio.

Yes, I remember that "protected bay" in Jaws, with the guy in the rowboat,,,,I suppose it could have been worse,,, could have been Michael Bay!

You have NO idea, how hard I was trying NOT to think of just that very scene! Oh, no. Sharks don't come in here. Not like that scene in .... la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la ...

Um,,,, they no longer NEED fish around her now to attract sharks, friend.
I mean,,,Chum!



Atta Girl,,,, that's amazing, I can just imagine how difficult that must be, no, never tried it.

Ever try skateboarding as a kid? Not too much harder than that, I thought.

And Kay…

I t did capture your best side, no doubt.

Always trying to put my best foot forward... and not succeeding, as always.

If that's not a periscope,,, I'm already back on shore!!!

Dive! Dive! Die! whoops! Freudian slip...

DId you make sure to ask it how old it is?
You didn't , did you?

Did. 82.

Yeah, I can easily picture you standing there holding all three surfboards going , "Mine, mine, mine mine MINE"

No way!! Carol is in much better shape than I am. Those are her surfboards... I don't want to get beaten up.

Not to mention piddling!

It's an ocean. I don't even want to think what all is in there. piddlle is the least of my worries.

"Oh yeah? well,,,, uh,,, well,,, um,,, I looked up it's BIO!"



Yes Aesop, those grapes were probably rotten anyway.



My friend, I love you. Honestly. But I'm beginning to get an idea why you don't get too take too many vacations, normally.

Oh, oh. Looks like we're getting into the two drunks conversation again...

"I love you man."
"No, man. I love you."
"No, really, I love you man."
"No I do. I love you man."
"No man. You don't understand. I love you, man."

Repeat until someone passes out.

Ok, time for me to be dense,,, your talking about Kaki gori?
Crushed ice with food coloring poured on it?
Italian Ice?
Sno Cones?

Hmmm... yes... and no. Winnipeg is the Slurpee capitol of the world, so it's not like I've never had a frozen flavored food item before. A sno cone does not compare... sno cones are more granular. This was shaved, not crushed. It didn't really even seem to have an ice like texture. I've never had kaki gori, so I can't compare. It could be like the Dole whip of the night before. There's just something special about one at Disney. Could be the same with this shave ice. Shave ice at home (if you can find it) is not the same as in Hawaii... after surfing in the sun for a couple of hours. All I know is I was AMAZED by this thing.

WOw,, Dole Whips right there. Who would have thought there'd be pineapples in Hawaii?

Actually.... pineapples don't come from Hawaii anymore. The Dole plantation is still there, but it's more of a tourist attraction then anything else. Like a lot of things, the pineapple business has moved to where the cheap labour is. Mostly the Phillipines. Actually, the U.S. isn't even in the top 5 anymore for pineapple producing countries.

You know what was probably missing in your experience though?
The smell of 14 people smoking frantically in the DSA just across from Aloha Isle that's separated by the couple of planters in the middle of the pathway!

So THAT'S what it was!

Does is get offended when it's called a "Night"? What would it prefer to be called?

No, it actually enjoyed the night-hood.

Great break down, Nebo!

 

[pkondz]

great breakdown honey!!!!!!

Yes, it definitely was!

Ahh, but the north is not. Baltic Sea, North Sea (very stormy)!,

Always nice to have someone around who knows even a little bit about geography...



Did I ever tell you of my adventures at the Baltic Sea in the 60's? Playing water ball with the (far eastern) enemy in the Eastern territory? And ... oh , never mind, that was ages ago.

WHAT????

Plus now you had me googling Burger King Breakfast items, geesh! Not I will ever make it there, but I wish I would.

Oh, if you put your mind to it, I'm sure one day you could make it to Burger King.

 

[pkondz]

Of course Pizza Bob's would be the best place for breakfast!

But of course!

Can you teach me too?

Sure, no problem. Ready?
Lesson 1.
Say, "No."

Repeat as required.

Uneven application, streaks?

Oh, sure. Laugh. Do you have any idea of the number of people who are injured or even killed in horrible sunscreen application accidents?

Well, neither do I ... But I bet it's a lot!


a lot.

Yes, you're in trouble!

Oh, I know... I know...

My mother-in-law used to say you should always vacation where the Germans go because they know where the best bargains are.

Was your MIL german by any chance?

A seal with sunglasses and a hat.

Sealed with a kiss, of course.

That was only a couple hours ago?

Sharks was 6:30 - 8:30am. Surfing was Noon - 2pm.

If I were someone like Nebo I would probably have a field day with this.

Actually, he was pretty reserved. Feel free to post what you're really thinking.

Only friendly fish there.

I almost found Nemo.

Ah. Poor Kay. Good to know about the sunscreen though.

Live and learn...

Looks like kaki gori.

Yeah... see previous post.

My daughter would have a field day in here.

Mine did. But after that full day... we didn't stay too long.

Can't wait! Great chapter Ponzi!

Thanks!

My dad used to return shoes after he's worn them for a few years and he got away with it!

And look at the economy! Now I know who's fault it is.

Great. Now I have that image in my head only they're skipping to My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Thanks for putting that song in my head Ponzi!

You're quite welcome.

Yup. Still skipping Celine.

I would skip her too.

That's what I thought too Nebo. Frankly I don't see the appeal with snow cones. Rita's water ice is big around here and I don't really get it.

Again... see previous post.

I remember on some sitcom a long time ago, there was a joke that only men can play Wipeout. Anybody remember?

Hmmmm...... sounds like something from Friends, but I can't put my finger on it.

 

[pkondz]

Dolphin masks and fins! There we sat, in this glorified rescue boat (the boat is a story unto itself, I was terrified to be on that thing), dressed like dolphins, clapping our fins together and yelling "EE! EEEE!"

And I can picture you doing it too!

We got in the water in other areas, just not with the dolphins. Where we saw them was a place they would go to rest, and the guides didn't want to disturb them. I didn't see a "do not disturb" sign floating in the water, and none of the dolphins had those little sleeping masks on, but I took the guides' word for it.

Actually, most people don't know that under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States, it is illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal. Including of course dolphins. The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) also requests that people do not swim with wild dolphins as it has 'been proven' to have an adverse affect on them.

Me, I don't know. If I had the opportunity to swim with dolphins, I'd probably do it. Your tour was probably being more conscientious than others.

 

[bankr63]

Ponzi, you are right about one thing, it's hard to tell when to add chapters for the reasons you gave, some folks get bored waiting, while others don't have regular computer time each day and have a hard time keeping up.

Carp! That last part is me! I'm already about a dozen pages behind. If you haven't already started yet Nebo, take your time!! I need to catch up here, then dive into Laura74's Disney Nomads before I can even think about doing another Nebo report. I need to get my lunch break extended to 90 minutes...

BTW - flights are booked and resort and SUV are reserved for March of 13. I know it's still months away, but the excitement is already growing. We decided to extend our 7 nights to 9 to cram in every moment we could.

 

[nebo]

Ahh, but the north is not. Baltic Sea, North Sea (very stormy)!,
Did I ever tell you of my adventures at the Baltic Sea in the 60's? Playing water ball with the (far eastern) enemy in the Eastern territory? And ... oh , never mind, that was ages ago.
But they do have waves in Germany

Plus now you had me googling Burger King Breakfast items, geesh! Not I will ever make it there, but I wish I would.

Um, from dthe Baltic Sea, to the Eastern territories to what's for breakfast at Burger King? Is somebody hitting the wine a bit,,, oh,,, wait,, I don't have to worry about it,,,,this is Ponzi's report,,,,,, Whew!

It's fun making up names, isn't it?

One of these days I might try it too!





My mother-in-law used to say you should always vacation where the Germans go because they know where the best bargains are.


If that were true, none of us would ever go to Disney again!






If I were someone like Nebo I would probably have a field day with this.


Nah, he gave me enough other stuff.


Great. Now I have that image in my head only they're skipping to My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Thanks for putting that song in my head Ponzi!



Yup. Still skipping Celine.

Would it help if we changed the ship from Titanic to Poseiden and now Ponzi is skipping along to " There's got to be a Morning After."?

Good point Nebo!

But if I wear my hat no one can see it.


Nebo, is there a chapter on fish jokes in your Uncle John's Reader?

Gasp! I'm hurt. Your plagarism accusations cut me to the quick!
No, there isn't, believe me, I looked, would have saved a lot of time from writing my own.

That's what I thought too Nebo. Frankly I don't see the appeal with snow cones. Rita's water ice is big around here and I don't really get it.

You're with me too on this? I think I lost interest in sno cones when I was 6, and moved on to the hard stuff, either the Good Humor Malt Ice Cream Bar, or the Dreamsickle.[/B]





I remember on some sitcom a long time ago, there was a joke that only men can play Wipeout. Anybody remember?

no

No, it actually enjoyed the night-hood.

:

Ok Laura and Ponzi, here's one for you:
you finally get to the end of all the mini-quotes you highlighted,,,, and now you can't remember why you just highlighted something to comment on,,,,as in,,, "what in the world was I going to just say about that line? Like I just did on Ponzi's quote on the "night"

Oh well,,, it probably sucked anyway.

 

[laura74]

Ok Laura and Ponzi, here's one for you:
you finally get to the end of all the mini-quotes you highlighted,,,, and now you can't remember why you just highlighted something to comment on,,,,as in,,, "what in the world was I going to just say about that line? Like I just did on Ponzi's quote on the "night"

Oh well,,, it probably sucked anyway.

I was just thinking the same thing, reading this stuff, that I have no idea of the references!

I found I was getting confused responding, so I have an identical window open if I don't know what the eff Ponzi is talking about, and let's face it, that could happen a lot!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I was just thinking the same thing, reading this stuff, that I have no idea of the references!

I found I was getting confused responding, so I have an identical window open if I don't know what the eff Ponzi is talking about, and let's face it, that could happen a lot!

That is a brilliant idea!

 

[smidgy]

Ok Laura and Ponzi, here's one for you:
you finally get to the end of all the mini-quotes you highlighted,,,, and now you can't remember why you just highlighted something to comment on,,,,as in,,, "what in the world was I going to just say about that line? Like I just did on Ponzi's quote on the "night"

Oh well,,, it probably sucked anyway.[/COLOR]

hhmmm.. let's see... maybe by the time you got to it, you had another manhattan??? well, if you suddenly remeber at 5 AM, don't wake me!!!

 

[smidgy]

PS. I can't beleive everyone is letting Marita get away with this!!! I WANNA HEAR THE STORY!!!!

 

[laura74]

Ahh, but the north is not. Baltic Sea, North Sea (very stormy)!,
Did I ever tell you of my adventures at the Baltic Sea in the 60's? Playing water ball with the (far eastern) enemy in the Eastern territory? And ... oh , never mind, that was ages ago.
But they do have waves in Germany

PS. I can't beleive everyone is letting Marita get away with this!!! I WANNA HEAR THE STORY!!!!

Yes! Marita, do tell!