Just a silly little TR - Run Away!!

[Backstage_Gal]

I'm going to invite myself to come up with Laura and Shannon to visit Ruby, because I'm right there in that camp too (well, except for the shopping, I despise shopping). But I think with some other women that might be fun, so I'm there!

Can you imagine how much I am looking forward to a week in Yellowstone, where there is nothing to do but hiking, rafteing and horseback Best Western and I will become very close friends.....

Great chapter, Ponzi, you almost had me with that heist, LOL

 

[queenbetsey]

great pics on your last few chapters. caught up on yours. Now I have to go to nebo's and get caught up. on fathers day i had finished up with yours and just didn't have a chance to get to his since then.

 

[laura74]

That is 100% a deal.


A deal has already been agreed to.

And you guys think I'm kiddding.

If you ever feel like driving north, come on by.

Besides, it's the only way you'll learn my real name.

I'm going to invite myself to come up with Laura and Shannon to visit Ruby, because I'm right there in that camp too (well, except for the shopping, I despise shopping). But I think with some other women that might be fun, so I'm there!

Ok. Marita, you drive up to New Jersey. It's about 900 miles. Then, we'll drive to Illinois and pick up Shannon. That's about 650 miles. Then, we'll all go to Ponzi's. Only about another 700 miles.

<Sigh>

When's everybody going to Disney again? I think we'll be there in March.

 

[pkondz]

I'm going to invite myself to come up with Laura and Shannon to visit Ruby, because I'm right there in that camp too (well, except for the shopping, I despise shopping). But I think with some other women that might be fun, so I'm there!

I'll let Ruby know you guys are on the way.

Can you imagine how much I am looking forward to a week in Yellowstone, where there is nothing to do but hiking, rafteing and horseback Best Western and I will become very close friends.....

You shoud try the horseback riding at least. Ruby enjoyed it and she's definitely not normally referred to as 'Action Gal'. Just a warning though. If the ride is more than an hour or so... be prepared to be a little stiff and sore by the end of it. Otherwise it's like watching TV... except your chair moves to the scenerey instead of the scenery moving for you.

Great chapter, Ponzi, you almost had me with that heist, LOL

At what point did you say, "Wait a second..."

great pics on your last few chapters. caught up on yours. Now I have to go to nebo's and get caught up. on fathers day i had finished up with yours and just didn't have a chance to get to his since then.

Nah. Don't worry about his. This is where all the action is. Right folks? Folks? Hello?

<crickets> <crickets>

Ok. Marita, you drive up to New Jersey. It's about 900 miles. Then, we'll drive to Illinois and pick up Shannon. That's about 650 miles. Then, we'll all go to Ponzi's. Only about another 700 miles.

<Sigh>

When's everybody going to Disney again? I think we'll be there in March.

All told that's 2250 miles, give or take... or about the same distance I drive when I go to WDW. So if I can do it... surely you can do it, too.


WHADAYA MEAN YOU'LL DO IT FOR DISNEY BUT NOT ME?????

As for next trip to Disney.... bad news. I've removed my ticker. With the trip to Hawaii we knew that a Disney trip might have to be sacrificed. I was hoping to make it work, but...

Oh, well. Some day... Some day...

 

[Thumper_Man]

We pull into Hilo Hattie’s parking lot and are no sooner out of the car when all hell breaks loose.


From the lane across from the parking lot I hear a woman’s scream. My head whips around and I see a woman half lying half sitting in the middle of the lane with one arm outstretched. Racing away from her, in the direction of her outstretched arm is a youngish looking man holding what is obviously a woman’s purse. The lady on the ground’s purse.

I pitch the car keys over to Ruby and yell out, “I’m going after him! Follow in the car if you can!”

I’m hoping that either she or some passerby will call the police

The guy runs down the lane and almost without pausing scales a tall chainlink fence. Just like on TV. Also, just like on TV I pause a second then clamber up and after him. I’m not as quick (heck I’m old!) so he increases the distance between us.

I’m starting to think that I’m never going to catch him when fortune shines upon me. The guy looks over his shoulder to see if I’m still following him and as he does so, he drifts slightly off from the center of the lane. He doesn’t see the garbage bin or doesn’t notice that he’s drifting to the side. Either way, his left arm glances off the bin and it’s just enough to knock his center of gravity off and he stumbles… and falls. I’m caught up to him almost immediately.

But then my luck, if you can call it that, changes.

He pulls out a knife.



He gets up slowly… deliberately… and says:
“So, how many people reading your TR still think this actually happened?”

I laugh at him, because it’s obviously a ploy to distract me while his evil henchman sneaks up from behind.

Only he doesn’t realise that I’m wearing my cloak of invincibility. Which I don’t do very often ‘cause it’s dry clean only.

The henchman swings a club at my head but it is deflected by the cloak’s force field. I laugh and pick up the perp by the collar and fly him to the police station. The police are understandably thrilled and awed by my prowess. The mayor declares this day to forevermore be known as Ponzi-day. And I am given the key to the city with all the shave ice I can eat.


What?

Well I wasn’t going to write about how I bought some pineapple jam for my mom at Hilo Hattie’s, now was I??? ‘Cause that’s pretty much all that happened that morning.

T_Man's Version of "Secret Agent Man" originally performed by Johnny Rivers.

"Secret Ponzi Man" (By T_Man)

There's a man who leads a life of danger.
To all his friends on the Dis, he stays a stranger
They don’t even know his name, but they love him just the same
Wondering what he will post tomorrow.

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

He traveled to Hawaii with his wife
And with their two daughters who are his life
Oh they traveled a long way, to swim with sharks one day
Odds are he might not live to post tomorrow.

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

(guitar solo)

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

Climbing Diamond Head on a Thursday
And layin’ on the beach with Ruby the next day
“I was fearing for my life, when that guy pulled out his knife
That’s what I’ll tell my friends on the Dis tomorrow.”

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

Secret Ponzi man

 

[laura74]

As for next trip to Disney.... bad news. I've removed my ticker. With the trip to Hawaii we knew that a Disney trip might have to be sacrificed. I was hoping to make it work, but...

Oh, well. Some day... Some day...

Aw. That's so sad. Sad for us too. We're getting gipped out of a trip report!

Maybe when you're finished writing about Hawaii you can start a cookie blog or something.

 

[mmeb144]

T_Man's Version of "Secret Agent Man" originally performed by Johnny Rivers.

"Secret Ponzi Man" (By T_Man)

There's a man who leads a life of danger.
To all his friends on the Dis, he stays a stranger
They don’t even know his name, but they love him just the same
Wondering what he will post tomorrow.

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

He traveled to Hawaii with his wife
And with their two daughters who are his life
Oh they traveled a long way, to swim with sharks one day
Odds are he might not live to post tomorrow.

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

(guitar solo)

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

Climbing Diamond Head on a Thursday
And layin’ on the beach with Ruby the next day
“I was fearing for my life, when that guy pulled out his knife
That’s what I’ll tell my friends on the Dis tomorrow.”

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

Secret Ponzi man

Thanks, T-man! That really did need to be sung/read. Gave me a laugh!

 

[pkondz]

T_Man's Version of "Secret Agent Man" originally performed by Johnny Rivers.

"Secret Ponzi Man" (By T_Man)

There's a man who leads a life of danger.
To all his friends on the Dis, he stays a stranger
They don’t even know his name, but they love him just the same
Wondering what he will post tomorrow.

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

He traveled to Hawaii with his wife
And with their two daughters who are his life
Oh they traveled a long way, to swim with sharks one day
Odds are he might not live to post tomorrow.

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

(guitar solo)

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

Climbing Diamond Head on a Thursday
And layin’ on the beach with Ruby the next day
“I was fearing for my life, when that guy pulled out his knife
That’s what I’ll tell my friends on the Dis tomorrow.”

Secret Ponzi Man
Secret Ponzi Man
He’s nabbing all the purse snatchers
on his way to buy some jam

Secret Ponzi man

Thanks Thumper-dude, that was great. I youtubed it so I could listen to the tune as I read it. First rate.

Aw. That's so sad. Sad for us too. We're getting gipped out of a trip report!

Maybe when you're finished writing about Hawaii you can start a cookie blog or something.

Yeah, it's sad for you... don't worry about me, freezing my tuckus off while everyone else is enjoying Florida Sunshine and riding HM or RnR. No, no. You go right ahead. Don't give me a second thought. I'll just huddle up in my igloo and pray... a lot.

 

[pkondz]

So I'm sitting in the airport again. This time the Ottawa airport, though. I had high hopes a week ago when I got here.

Gonna take in some museums, check out the market, do some restaurants, blah, blah, blah.

Did maybe a fraction.

I guess after being stuck at work all day long, I just couldn't get up the desire to see or do much in my off hours.

Managed to watch a bit of the England/Italy, Portugal/Spain and Germany/Italy Euro 2012 games.

Today, I left early, clambered into the car and went downtown. Saw Parliament Hill, Supreme Court, Civilisation Museum, Chateau Laurier. Parked the car and had 30 that's three zero minutes to explore. Popped into Chateau Laurier to see the Yousuf Karsh photos there. If you don't know who that is, he was a well known photographer. Trust me, you've seen his work. His most famous was an iconic photo of Winston Churchill... it was there.

Oh, here. See for yourself: http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/winston-churchill-by-yousef-karsh/

Karsh got the famous scowl by plucking the cigar from Churchill's lips just before he took the picture. I'm sure Churchill wasn't used to such treatment. But the result was an amazing photograph.

Popped over to the market, scarfed down a beaver tail and sashayed around for a bit.

I did manage to get to The Works for dinner one night. Tried the rings (they were good), the poutine (I don't eat enough to judge, but they were okay by me), and had a burger with sauteed mushrooms, chipotle mayo, gouda cheese & 3 onoin rings... my verdict? While the burger was very good, I'd still go for a VJs special in Winnipeg. There were plenty of other combinations to chose from, so I can't say whether The Works is the best or not. Based on the one burger I had... a cut above the rest, but not the best. But who knows, next time I'll try a different combination and I may change my mind.

And in case you're wondering... I never came close to eating it all.

 

[cp'ersmom]

Wow the Dis now has an App for that!! cool. Maybe I won't get kicked off every time I try to load a page full of gorgeous pictures of Hawaii! Great couple of chapters Ponzi. Been so busy around hear I just haven't had the time to keep current on my Dissing

You need a down day on vacation, otherwise you'll need a vacation from your vacation when you get home from vacation.

Aulani looks spectacular. A co-worker of mine just got married there a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't invited. Looks like it was lovely tho.

Pineapple jam and peanut butter, sounds gooooood, might have to try that. Whadda ya think about pineapple jam and macadamia nut butter?

Loved the song Parody ! You have a talent!!

Congrats Buzz on the upcoming new addition. I'd put some cute little icon here but I don't know how!!!!

Little bit of good news/bad news here, my daughter who is a seasonal entertainment cast member with Disney got her first real world job as a producer for the morning show on Fox here in Phoenix, that means she will probably not be able to fulfill her minimum commitment of hours in order to keep her status with Disney. On one hand I couldn't be more proud of her but on the other hand it is going to be awfully tough saying good-bye to all the bennies. It was a tough division for her to make but it was the right decision.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

You shoud try the horseback riding at least. Ruby enjoyed it and she's definitely not normally referred to as 'Action Gal'. Just a warning though. If the ride is more than an hour or so... be prepared to be a little stiff and sore by the end of it. Otherwise it's like watching TV... except your chair moves to the scenerey instead of the scenery moving for you.

I actully considered the horseback riding, till hubby told me it was 2 hours. Sorry, I'm not up for 2 hours....

On second thought, since I will be in your neck of the woods anyway, I could just skip Yellowstone and go north for the week and go shopping with Ruby and eat your cookies....

Thumper, great song!

CP's mom, great news for your daughter. Much better than Disney.

Originally Posted by laura74
Ok. Marita, you drive up to New Jersey. It's about 900 miles. Then, we'll drive to Illinois and pick up Shannon. That's about 650 miles. Then, we'll all go to Ponzi's. Only about another 700 miles.

<Sigh>

Sounds like a fun road trip.
I bet Ruby would be thrilled to see us

 

[nebo]

Let's see what I can get out before the heat up here beats me to a pulp again:

The one that ends with a bang.

You're gonna talk about a bang in your trippy? Chatty Chatty Bang Bang?

Friday April 20


Parasailing?
Skydiving?
Deep sea fishing?
Soaring?
Hang Gliding?

Nope. What Ruby really wanted to do was… go to Hilo Hatties and shop for souvenirs.

Now that would scare me,, I think all the others combined might be cheaper than a Hawaiin souvenier shop.


Ruby’s like James Bond… no hang on a sec. She doesn’t want to be shaken or stirred. Haven’t done it in a while, but I’ve taken the kids out camping a few times… in a tent. Ruby would have nothing to do with it. I’d joke that Ruby’s idea of roughing it would be to only have one jacuzzi in the chalet.

If fI say I'm in total agreement with her when it comes to roughing it, do I have to turn in my Man card? Ever since I shared a sleeping bag with 500 Daddy Long Legs,,,,,for those of you counting,, that's 4000 Long Legs! With another 2000 spiders at least crawling on the inside of the tent. This was on a Girl Scouts outing,,, yes, you heard right,,, and no,,, don't ask.

So were off to buy some much needed souvenirs of Hawaii. We purposefully insert ourselves into the automobile and commence our journey to Hilo Hatties.

On the way we passed some cruise ships. They don’t move that fast so it wasn’t that difficult. But the traffic!...

Don't you hate it when they leave that left turn signal on? You just know it's been on since Bermuda!



But then my luck, if you can call it that, changes.

He pulls out a knife.



He gets up slowly… deliberately… and says:
“So, how many people reading your TR still think this actually happened?”

It was fun writing it though, wasn't it? Believe me, I know what it's like when you don't have anything,,, that's why I was so fortunate that trip last year threw everything at us,,, man,, hurricanes, tropical storms,, tornados,, blowouts,,, I mean really,, how lucky can you get? I even got to name a character metaphorically, the Beast.



The henchman swings a club at my head but it is deflected by the cloak’s force field.

I've always wanted to be a Henchman.

Well I wasn’t going to write about how I bought some pineapple jam for my mom at Hilo Hattie’s, now was I??? ‘Cause that’s pretty much all that happened that morning.

Well, mayve with someluck, it will really happen sometime and you CAN write about it.

After HH’s it was time for lunch. I took the family to a little diner that’s Obama’s favorite place to eat. It’s called Rainbow drive in and is known for its plate lunches. At last! Authentic cheap Hawaiian food! What will everyone order? Oh this is going to be good! Maybe we can all order something weird and wonderful off the menu and share and taste everything?

Right, with two teenage girls? In your dreams pal, in your dreams.





I really shouldn’t be surprised. None of the family is overly adventurous when it comes to food. Oh, well. I’m torn between the loco moco (two scoops of rice with two hamburger patties on top, topped with two eggs, over easy and all covered in gravy with a side of mac salad).

that sounds really bizzare and very strange and unhealthy and I would have been ALL OVER IT!



The kids grab their bathing suits and head off to a pool with slides. Ruby and I chill on the lanai for a while… then eventually get bored and decide to look around the hotel grounds.

this is one of me and what's her faces favorite things to do at a new resort,, or even an old resort since we're kind of running out of "new" ones we haven't tried. Coronado is still the best of the mods to do that, and if you're really up to it a walk from French Quarter to Riverside and all throught the bayou and Mansion sections is a great way to enjoy a drink in your refillable mug,, plus if you get tired yuou can take a boat ride back.

We wander around for a while, then oddly enough, find ourselves in front of the bar. I wonder how that happened?

I don't know, Smidgy was here at the time.

So I’ve already determined that I’m not a Mai Tai fan, so what am I going to have now?
Ruby orders a Waikiki Cosmopolitan. I’m guessing because we’re in Waikiki.
I order a Hawaii 5-0 for a very specific reason. It’s blue. And I want a drink that’s blue.

I always say, you can't go wrong with blue,, so that's why when you came out of the plane's restroom your face was,,,,,

That makes sense doesn’t it?

I'm sorry, I dozed off,, what does?

We finish our drinks and go to head back up to the room when all hell breaks loose!

Oh cool, maybe it happened for real this time.

I'm beginning to think that your version of "all hell breaking loose" is when the cable goes out!


The kids return and we all head down to the beach. But first we need a bite to eat. Before even leaving Canada, we’d noticed that there was a place called Onolicious Dogs. Ono in Hawaiian means delicious. We order four hotdogs, some chips and some drinks.

so,, in translation, you are saying that the name is Deliciouslicious Dogs? Kind of like a PIN Number? And yes, you are correct,, this is WHY I don't have many friends.

that's the funny thing about doing trip reports: sometimes it looks like you went and had lunch, and then the next thing you did was go and get something to eat.

Well the Onolicious dogs were not so ono.

So if we go again or anyone else goes and wants advice… Onolicious? Oh, no.

We take our soon to be disappointed in food down to the beach and find a stretch of sand to wait out the sun and watch the fireworks.

That must have been pretty difficult,, finding a stretch of sand on a Hawaian beach.

That’s when we see… Drunken Hula Girl.

No, I thought I mentioned that Smidgy was here with me.
I'm probably over doing this again, aren't I?

As the sun went down, I noticed the surfers heading back from the ocean and grabbed this pic. It’s not the greatest shot, but I kinda like it for what it represents and not for it’s artistic value.

I love the picture,, um,, but what exactly does it represent?

The sun set. The show started and it was…. Great.
Sitting on the beach. In Hawaii. With my family. Watching fireworks.

Ahhhhhh…..

Night all.

Yeah,, now that' s the way a vacation day should end!!!

 

[nebo]

As for next trip to Disney.... bad news. I've removed my ticker. With the trip to Hawaii we knew that a Disney trip might have to be sacrificed. I was hoping to make it work, but...

Oh, well. Some day... Some day...

Aw, really? Now I'm bummed. No, I'm sorry,, this is noat allowed,, it was supposed to be her 16th birthday present if I remember correctly,, and you cannot renege on that. Hey, she got in a shark cage for you!
Stay at Pop,, no hopper passes, no water parks,, you can go cheap, We'll drive down and meet you, you can use the car to go and pick up groceries,, you won't even need to rent a car,, magical depress will transport you. Ok,, so you don' t eat well for a while. This is why God made Ramen noodles. Talk to me kid,, TALK TO ME!

 

[nowellsl]

We'll drive down and meet you, you can use the car to go and pick up groceries,, you won't even need to rent a car,, magical depress will transport you.

I don't know how he could possibly pass on this deal!! Come on Pkondz, you can do it!!

 

[shan23877]

Aw, really? Now I'm bummed. No, I'm sorry,, this is noat allowed,, it was supposed to be her 16th birthday present if I remember correctly,, and you cannot renege on that. Hey, she got in a shark cage for you!
Stay at Pop,, no hopper passes, no water parks,, you can go cheap, We'll drive down and meet you, you can use the car to go and pick up groceries,, you won't even need to rent a car,, magical depress will transport you. Ok,, so you don' t eat well for a while. This is why God made Ramen noodles. Talk to me kid,, TALK TO ME!

Nebo might be on to something Ponz...


Very sweet of you Nebo.

 

[shan23877]

I'm going to invite myself to come up with Laura and Shannon to visit Ruby, because I'm right there in that camp too (well, except for the shopping, I despise shopping). But I think with some other women that might be fun, so I'm there!

Can you imagine how much I am looking forward to a week in Yellowstone, where there is nothing to do but hiking, rafteing and horseback Best Western and I will become very close friends.....

Great chapter, Ponzi, you almost had me with that heist, LOL

Sounds great Marita! I don't like the outdoors, but I do like road trips! I have to warn you though, I rock at the Alphabet game.

Yellowstone is kind of my nightmare. Do you have an E-Reader? That would be my saving grace. Seriously though, enjoy your vacation!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Aw, really? Now I'm bummed. No, I'm sorry,, this is noat allowed,, it was supposed to be her 16th birthday present if I remember correctly,, and you cannot renege on that. Hey, she got in a shark cage for you!
Stay at Pop,, no hopper passes, no water parks,, you can go cheap, We'll drive down and meet you, you can use the car to go and pick up groceries,, you won't even need to rent a car,, magical depress will transport you. Ok,, so you don' t eat well for a while. This is why God made Ramen noodles. Talk to me kid,, TALK TO ME!

You heard him, Ponzi! I could get you some souveniers with 35% off.
See, getting cheaper all the time.

 

[smidgy]

I have a terrible craving for a loco moco!!! why does that sound good to me?
uh oh, now nebo is going to want me to make it at home.. hmm, how hard could it be?

thumer man, Secret Agent Man is one of my favortie songs, and you did a darned good job with it!

Laura, what do you mean, you'll go through Illinois and pick up Shannon and continue on?? what am I, chopped chicken livers??? (always wanted to say that)

 

[laura74]

Aw, really? Now I'm bummed. No, I'm sorry,, this is noat allowed,, it was supposed to be her 16th birthday present if I remember correctly,, and you cannot renege on that. Hey, she got in a shark cage for you!
Stay at Pop,, no hopper passes, no water parks,, you can go cheap, We'll drive down and meet you, you can use the car to go and pick up groceries,, you won't even need to rent a car,, magical depress will transport you. Ok,, so you don' t eat well for a while. This is why God made Ramen noodles. Talk to me kid,, TALK TO ME!

What he said, Ponzi!

http://www.ramennoodlerecipess.com/

Laura, what do you mean, you'll go through Illinois and pick up Shannon and continue on?? what am I, chopped chicken livers??? (always wanted to say that)

Definitely not chopped liver. We'll pick up you and Nebo. It will be a little crowded but I have a third seat. Who's going to sit in the way back?

 

[cp'ersmom]

Sounds great Marita! I don't like the outdoors, but I do like road trips! I have to warn you though, I rock at the Alphabet game.

Yellowstone is kind of my nightmare. Do you have an E-Reader? That would be my saving grace. Seriously though, enjoy your vacation!

I don't do camping either. My idea of camping is a room without a minibar. Don't want to venture to far away from that. I love the wilderness and would enjoy a day in the great outdoors but bring me home to a tiled bathroom at night!

everything will be alright in the end and if it isn't alright, then it isn't the end.