DIS Dads Rust Belt Road Trip (2 UPDATES--1/18)

[afwdwfan]

We had to let the van air out a bit, thanks to the temps still in the 90's for the week.

Yeah... the temps... I'm sure you had nothing to do with why the van had to air out a bit.

As we drove straight down Meridian Street into the city center, we hit Monument Circle, constructed around--you'll never believe this--a monument!

Did you happen to swing back by after dark? The IPL building always displays some kind of design with the lights in the office. You can usually see a horse shoe there on SNF or MNF during overhead shots of the monument when the Colts host a night game. I go to church with the guy who is responsible for organizing this. He keeps shooting down my idea of making a glue bottle or bag of dog food with the lights.

This, plus a preponderance of New Kids On The Block t-shirts led us to put 2 and 2 together about that Special Event: nearby was a joint New Kids On The Block/Backstreet Boys concert. And somehow we missed out on this!

Lucked out on that one, didn't you?

We have yet to stump him on anything, and believe me, we've tried.

And we've tried finding something from Disneyland that he doesn't have a picture of... impossible.

I had the "Meat Lovers" platter, because anytime a restaurant has something on the menu called "Meat Lovers", that's usually what I order.

Can't go wrong with meat lovers.

It also included spaghetti and I figured I couldn't eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory without having spaghetti in the meal.

Naturally.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Now THAT'S a children's museum! Wow - I can't believe there are dinosaurs built right into the way. What super cool exhibits. Too bad the place was over run by pre-teens. I know that feeling. I ended up on a glider on Soarin with a whole row of 8th grade boys. Not my favorite memory from the trip.

I don't have anything against teenagers. Just out-of-control ones.

And thumbs up to all your meets! I do like your matching polo shirts! You planned that, right?

Oh yeah, you know how men are. Glenn and I worked hard to coordinate our shirts when we met up as well.

Very cool that your Delaware friends were also there at the same time. I bet the kids had a blast.

They loved seeing their friends. More fun to come with them...

You don't like Barbie much, do you?

What gave you that idea?

Thanks for stopping by my TR today so I could conveniently go right to yours!!!!!

We are a full-service operation here.

I feel bad for the passengers of the inexperienced road engineers.

Look, kids! Big Ben! Parliament!

Oh, you know the ladies reading this are going to jump all over that one.

Are you saying I'm trying to bait my readers? Because I'm totally not above doing that.

I thought he'd be wearing a New Kids On The Block shirt. Glad you got to meet Stopher1.

I'll have to ask him where his NKOTB shirt was.

Put there on purpose, which is even more amazing.

Looked like a nice meal and a great time.

I have to admit, it is more interesting to say you ate dinner in a trolley car.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Yeah... the temps... I'm sure you had nothing to do with why the van had to air out a bit.

True, we had spent the morning with The Bean.

Did you happen to swing back by after dark? The IPL building always displays some kind of design with the lights in the office. You can usually see a horse shoe there on SNF or MNF during overhead shots of the monument when the Colts host a night game. I go to church with the guy who is responsible for organizing this. He keeps shooting down my idea of making a glue bottle or bag of dog food with the lights.

It was July, so if I recall correctly, we finished dinner well before the sun went down. That would have been cool to see! I guess I'll have to hang around downtown next time. We did see Lucas Oil Stadium from the highway the following morning.

Lucked out on that one, didn't you?

To be honest, I had no idea those guys were still doing concerts. I'm sure it was...well, something.

And we've tried finding something from Disneyland that he doesn't have a picture of... impossible.

Stopher has approximately 32,592 pictures of Disneyland and has posted every single one of them in the DDC thread.

Can't go wrong with meat lovers.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Stopher & Puh-sketti

And that’s pretty much how my young’en would have gone about pronouncing both of those words (back when he was still lap sized that is)

When we last left you, we were…

In the midlist of thwarting an evil genius’s diabolical plans for world domination…

Bwahahahahahahahahaha…


Oh, wait… that’s part of the next installment in my TR… now then, what was it you were talking about again?

…joining the masses streaming out of the Indianapolis Children's Museum as it closed at 5:00 p.m. for the day. Naturally, this included a stroll through the gift shop where we did our daily battle with the "Buy Me Something!" Brigade.

Ohhhhhhh… well actually that’s nearly the same thing.
Good work!

As we drove straight down Meridian Street into the city center, we hit Monument Circle, constructed around--you'll never believe this--a monument!

Will wonders never cease?

Being an experienced road engineer…

It really doesn’t matter what you say next, because every DisDad is going to jump on this sentence as soon as they see it.

We were on our way to the Old Spaghetti Factory

We had one of these in my neck of the woods a few years back. It’s since moved out though. Sad, because the food was rather good.

and a parking lot nearby was offering "Special Event" parking for $5 for the evening.

“Special”… ummmmm… no good will come of this (other then that you got a good deal on the parking… that’s pretty good).

As we waited, we noticed quite a few women in the restaurant who were dressed in fashions that were, shall we say, maybe a little too young for the women wearing them.

That’s OK… I read on ahead a little bit… they were going to be cheering and screaming for some guys that (when they were actually popular), were way too young for them as well.

Now however… well… the whole thing is just kind’a sad.

And somehow we missed out on this!

Devine providence; count your blessings mate.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say we got the better end of the deal.

Dinner with Stopher and his family over has-been kiddie pop…
That’s the limb you’re going out on?

You’re such a daredevil.

Note that Stopher came properly dressed for the occasion.

Precisely

(Well that’s the paragraph that Stopher would have written in response to this entire update. I’m just channeling my inner Stopher here).

The restaurant itself had a cool, Old World-type atmosphere, even with its own trolley car inside

Yep… that’s pretty much what it looked like when they were open down here, but just like all the manufacturing, they just kind’a moved on…

This, of course, marked the second time we'd eaten in a restaurant on this trip that had vehicles inside the building.

I’d expect nothing less

So I had fun making cracks at his expense over how dental devices haven't really evolved much from medieval torture.

It’d have been even funnier if…
It weren’t somewhat true

Annie and I mostly made faces at each other across the table, so I'm guessing she liked me too.

Yah… we’ll go with that for now (it’s better you don’t know the real truth anyway)

And our wives just rolled their eyes at us

Precisely

Coming Up Next: Another new state! Some historic lumber. And the raw intimidation of facing down a heat-seeking 45 mph fastball.

Eeeeeeh…. Watch me paste this pathetic palooka with a powerful paralyzing perfect pachydermous percussion pitch.

 

[Shannon84]

I have a feeling they used to have the same restaurant in Massachusetts where I grew up...otherwise I am making that up and it was a similar restaurant with spaghetti and vehicles inside Either way sounds like you guys had a great dinner

Coming from the generation that listened to both New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys...I am going to confirm you made the right decision...go back 10+ years and I may have disagreed

 

[glennbo123]

Look, kids! Big Ben! Parliament!

European Vacation!

Not quite the right movie, but:

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

In the midlist of thwarting an evil genius’s diabolical plans for world domination…

Bwahahahahahahahahaha…


Oh, wait… that’s part of the next installment in my TR… now then, what was it you were talking about again?

Ohhhhhhh… well actually that’s nearly the same thing.
Good work!

Scotty = Evil Genius. Yeah, I could see that.

It really doesn’t matter what you say next, because every DisDad is going to jump on this sentence as soon as they see it.

Yeah, I tend to bring those state worker stereotype jokes down on myself, huh?

We had one of these in my neck of the woods a few years back. It’s since moved out though. Sad, because the food was rather good.

That was our first Old Spaghetti Factory experience, but we rather enjoyed it.

“Special”… ummmmm… no good will come of this (other then that you got a good deal on the parking… that’s pretty good).

"Special" has a host of meanings.

That’s OK… I read on ahead a little bit… they were going to be cheering and screaming for some guys that (when they were actually popular), were way too young for them as well.

Now however… well… the whole thing is just kind’a sad.

To each their own. Not my kinda crowd, though.

Dinner with Stopher and his family over has-been kiddie pop…
That’s the limb you’re going out on?

You’re such a daredevil.

Hold me back! I am a wild man.

Precisely

(Well that’s the paragraph that Stopher would have written in response to this entire update. I’m just channeling my inner Stopher here).

It's funny 'cause it's true.

Eeeeeeh…. Watch me paste this pathetic palooka with a powerful paralyzing perfect pachydermous percussion pitch.

Impressive! +2 for a quality Bugs Bunny quote.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I have a feeling they used to have the same restaurant in Massachusetts where I grew up...otherwise I am making that up and it was a similar restaurant with spaghetti and vehicles inside Either way sounds like you guys had a great dinner

Coming from the generation that listened to both New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys...I am going to confirm you made the right decision...go back 10+ years and I may have disagreed

It is a chain, so it's very possible you've been to the same place.

I don't think I could name a single song from either group...and I'm ok with that.

European Vacation!

Not quite the right movie, but:

+1 Surprised, Eddie? If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now.

 

[KatMark]

Being an experienced road engineer, I'm happy to report that we did not get stuck going around and around the circle while I pointed out various landmarks over and over.

Glad being an experienced road engineer came in handy.

We were on our way to the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown in order to meet yet another member of the DISDads club, Christopher (stopher1 on the boards). We found it in fairly short order, and a parking lot nearby was offering "Special Event" parking for $5 for the evening. I thought that was nice of them, considering any meeting of DIS Dads is always a special event. After all, we're "special" people.

I love the Spaghetti Factory...great food.

As for you DIS Dads being "special" people...yes, you are. And that is why we are so patient with you, try to be kind and make sure you take your medication...sometimes more often than prescribed.

As we waited, we noticed quite a few women in the restaurant who were dressed in fashions that were, shall we say, maybe a little too young for the women wearing them. This, plus a preponderance of New Kids On The Block t-shirts led us to put 2 and 2 together about that Special Event: nearby was a joint New Kids On The Block/Backstreet Boys concert. And somehow we missed out on this!

I remember when my son went to see N-Sync and the Backstreet Boys...thankfully, someone else took him and NOT me.

Matthew was wearing a spacer on his teeth and we talked about how every so often he had to turn a crank on the mechanism in order to spread his teeth properly on his jaw. So I had fun making cracks at his expense over how dental devices haven't really evolved much from medieval torture. Annie and I mostly made faces at each other across the table, so I'm guessing she liked me too. And our wives just rolled their eyes at us, so the bonding was complete.

It could be that Annie was just trying to figure out just what planet you came from.

Christopher is a terrific guy and conversationalist. He and his family have had a rough year with various events, but he's maintained a positive attitude and it was obvious that they had a close family, built on faith and a lot of love for each other. As with all of the folks we met on our travels, it was an honor to have spent the time with them.

for another DIS meet.

 

[afwdwfan]

+1 Surprised, Eddie? If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now.

Your company kill all them people in India not too long ago?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Glad being an experienced road engineer came in handy.

Finally, it was good for something! Other than never-ending ridicule.

I love the Spaghetti Factory...great food.

Mmmmm...puh-sketti...

As for you DIS Dads being "special" people...yes, you are. And that is why we are so patient with you, try to be kind and make sure you take your medication...sometimes more often than prescribed.

Admit it: life would be more boring without us idiots around.

I remember when my son went to see N-Sync and the Backstreet Boys...thankfully, someone else took him and NOT me.

Whew! You lucked out! I'm sure you'd rather have ridden IASW.

It could be that Annie was just trying to figure out just what planet you came from.

Can't help her there.

for another DIS meet.

Your company kill all them people in India not too long ago?

I don't know why they call it Hamburger Helper. It does just fine on its own.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Impressive! +2 for a quality Bugs Bunny quote.

We must respect the giants that inspired us.

 

[afwdwfan]

I don't know why they call it Hamburger Helper. It does just fine on its own.

Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?




One of the most quotable movies ever. And it's almost that time of year to start watching it over and over and over.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We must respect the giants that inspired us.

Know where I buy my groceries? At an ACME store. True story.

Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?

Remember that metal plate in my head? Well, every time Katherine would fire up the microwave, I'd pi$$ my pants and forget who I was for a half-hour.

One of the most quotable movies ever. And it's almost that time of year to start watching it over and over and over.

Agreed. In our house, Planes, Trains & Automoblies is the traditional Thanksgiving movie and Christmas Vacation the traditional Christmas movie.

 

[afwdwfan]

Remember that metal plate in my head? Well, every time Katherine would fire up the microwave, I'd pi$$ my pants and forget who I was for a half-hour.

That is one of my favorite lines in the movie!

Another favorite is:

Merry Christmas! Crapper was full!


Coincidentally, a friend of mine went to a Halloween party in college as cousin Eddie. His costume was boots, short shorts, a wifebeater, a hat with the earflaps, a can of beer, a cigar and a piece of hose.

 

[KatMark]

Oh, you know the ladies reading this are going to jump all over that one.

Oh, you got that right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

That is one of my favorite lines in the movie!

Another favorite is:

Merry Christmas! Crapper was full!

I thought about quoting that one, too!

Coincidentally, a friend of mine went to a Halloween party in college as cousin Eddie. His costume was boots, short shorts, a wifebeater, a hat with the earflaps, a can of beer, a cigar and a piece of hose.

Awesome!

Oh, you got that right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't take us for granted, now. How many dads are out there who don't "get" Disney?

 

[Poolrat]

We used to have an Old Spaghetti factory but sadly it is no longer there.

Glad you had another successful Dismeet.

Can't wait to see what the next stop brings.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We used to have an Old Spaghetti factory but sadly it is no longer there.

Glad you had another successful Dismeet.

Can't wait to see what the next stop brings.

Don't you hate it when good restaurants shut down? My wife and I used to go to Bennigan's all the time in college...no longer there.

 

[glennbo123]

I don't know why they call it Hamburger Helper. It does just fine on its own.

Oops. Sorry that I was a little slow in posting this: