Canadian Buffoon's Back to Front Vacation - Update! 05/18 - Falling Down

Dear John

I did have some free time
while I was in Toronto.
So while my sister was
at work, I took advantage
of the time to visit a couple
spots.


Here is a semi-comprehensive
list of the top things to do
while visiting Toronto.

Often, the number one
attraction listed isn't even
in Toronto.

Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls is actually
three separate falls
Horseshoe, American
and Bridal Veil falls.

It's the most powerful falls
in North America
with over six million cubic
feet of water flowing through
every minute.

And it's a two-hour drive away
and I've been there four times.
So I didn't do that.


Also on the list of things to do are:
CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
St. Lawrence Market
Casa Loma (Gothic revival mansion)
Kensington Market
The Distillery District
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Toronto Island...

And I've done them all.
Some several times.


The end.














Well...
I did see a couple things
that were new to me.
And neither were on that list.
And to me, that made them
more interesting.

I like the path less taken
from time to time.


Most (some?... one?)
of you know that I
like Japanese gardens.

Maybe I like the relative
Zen calmness compared
to the hustle and bustle
of the highways and byways.

I Googled and found:

DSC06880_zpsots5ecmc.jpg


No one else I talked to
in Toronto had heard of it.

Which didn't bode particularly
well, but I was determined
to check it out.

DSC06883_zps3rl0wxdi.jpg


Upon entering the park,
the first thing I saw
was this tall lantern.

DSC06887_zpsytveiato.jpg


Normally, Japanese dai-dōrō
are used to line paths.
So this one was curiously placed
within a thicket of bushes and trees.

I did smile at this foot bridge:

DSC06890_zps0mwiibxk.jpg


Not only because it was pretty,
but because I had long been told
that the design was to thwart
evil spirits.
Supposedly, evil spirits
can only move in straight lines.

Which we all know isn't true.
I mean... surely you've seen
ghost movies before?


Apparently... the bridge is
designed that way...
because it's pretty.
Or technically Feng Shui.

It's also designed that way
to focus attention to the
place and moment.
If you don't... you'll walk off
and into the water.


Walking along the pathway
offers glimpses of the
pagoda and duck pond.

DSC06893_zps6exl0pph.jpg


DSC06899_zpsx9qcevpz.jpg


DSC06902_zpsk4gjyrp1.jpg


The large Friendship Bell
was donated to the park
by the city of Kariya in Japan.
(Hence the park's name.)

DSC06908_zpswv0wrdte.jpg


I was a little saddened to see
that the sand garden
was either not being maintained
or had been disturbed.

DSC06909_zpsrjuehpqv.jpg


Usually, the sand garden
is one of my favourite spots
to stop and just... be.

Slightly disappointed,
I continued my tour,
pausing from time to time
to admire the various
design elements.

DSC06912_zpszc6stnau.jpg


DSC06917_zpsungvqybw.jpg


DSC06918_zps9otpte04.jpg


After spending some time
exploring nature...
Nature called.

Luckily there was a Subway
restaurant right across the street.
I ambled over and...

Both restrooms were out of order.

Poop.


Uh... I mean...


:blush:


When I walked out,
I was approached by a couple
seeking directions.

This happens to me all the time.
People ask me for directions.
And always when I'm on vacation.
Funny thing is, I have about
a 50% success rate of knowing
the place they want to go.
Not this time however.
Sorry!

And... luckily, there was
a mall nearby.
Problem (well, mine) solved.


I also visited the
BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir
(Hindu temple)

Say that fast five times!


Actually not that hard.
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple

See? Easy.

DSC06923_zpsmxv8gllz.jpg


It was built in eighteen
months and consists of
24,000 pieces of hand carved
Italian Carrara marble,
Turkish limestone and
Indian pink stone.

DSC06925_zpsolt7ed31.jpg


It's the largest Hindu temple
of its kind in Canada.

This door caught my eye
with its intricate carving.

DSC06929_zpsvadauzde.jpg


You can get a sense for the scale
of the temple in this shot.
Notice the worker on the roof
towards the left of the photo.

DSC06931_zpsqyagykcv.jpg


In addition to the temple,
there is a cultural center.

DSC06932_zpsvzyc17od.jpg


The details carved into
the wood are insane.

DSC06935_zpsfb0kkdov.jpg


DSC06936_zpsisqygf85.jpg


DSC06937_zpsoowjes9f.jpg


I didn't enter the temple,
not knowing the proper
protocols and not wanting
to offend.
I can only imagine
what it must look like inside.
Even if I did get in,
I couldn't show you, as there
were signs indicating no
photography was allowed.

I headed back to my sister's
and a dilemma.
She lives in an apartment.
She gave me a spare key
to her own apartment
but didn't have a spare
key card to access the building.

I parked my car, sashayed up
to the front door,
nodded to the woman who
opened the door and walked
in right behind her.

That may have been a
little too easy.
Worked in my favour, mind you.



Lastly, the reason I'd made
the trip in the first place.

The night of the Elton John concert.


I'd listened to his music for about
as long as I can remember.
My sister owned his first
Greatest Hits album
(on vinyl... when it wasn't
just hip, but the only medium)
that came out in 1974.

I'd borrow it (take when she
wasn't home)
and play it on dad's Hi Fi.

(Not WiFi... Hi Fi.
Google it, kids.)


The afternoon of the concert,
I hopped on the subway
(first time in Toronto!)
and made my way downtown
where my sister works.
I met her there and we
had dinner at a nearby place.

And then it was time to head
over to the arena.

When we arrived, they hadn't
opened the doors yet
and there was a mob
waiting outside.

I noticed two large trucks
parked in the street.
I knew right away what they
were there for.
I find it sad that we live
in an era where precautions
have to be taken against
people who can drive and
are certifiably insane.

IMG_1029b_zpsqrdse0sg.jpg


Soon, they opened the doors
and we made our way inside.

Just before we did, the doorman
turned away a man and his date.

I wonder if he was trying to sneak in
or had been scammed with a fake ticket.

We made our way to our seats
(after the requisite T-shirt purchase.)

The view from our seats:

IMG_1032_zpsx24m6urc.jpg


We spent quite a bit of time
examining the stage and
pointing out various items.
Notice, on the "frame"
about halfway down on the left
hand side... there's a lion?

(Of note, he did not perform
a single song from Lion King.)

And then...
The lights dimmed
and went dark.

Spotlights centered on the piano.
Elton John sat quietly and...

IMG_1034%2012_zpsjncoavmt.jpg


...brought his hands down.

On one chord.

That's all.
Just that one tone,
hanging in the air.

And if you know
Bennie and the Jets,
then you know that sound.

The arena erupted.

Sir John hit it again.
The crowd roared.

Again.

Roar!

Again!

Roar!

And with that,
Elton John launched
into what was a
magical, mystical concert
experience for me and
a few thousand of my
closest friends.

IMG_1035_zpsvacrunli.jpg


IMG_1036%2011_zpszvxdbjwc.jpg


It was a bit of an eclectic mix.
He did many of his most
well-known and well-loved songs,
but he also did a few that I didn't
recognize.

Occasionally, Sir John would
talk to the crowd.
He told the story of how,
early in his career, he was
told that one of his songs
was going to be covered
by another artist.
"I nearly p*ssed my pants!" He exclaimed.
We all laughed.
But then he said who was
going to do the cover...
"F**ing Aretha Franklin!!"

Cool moment. :)


Some of you may know
that Elton John doesn't
write his own lyrics.
Bernie Taupin has written
most of his songs.

Elton explained:
"Bernie would write the lyrics in one room
and then I would go in another room
to do the melody.
We never wrote a single song
in the same room together.
Maybe that's why we've stayed
together for fifty years."

IMG_1042_zpsjffb21vl.jpg


He also talked about how
Toronto was the home
of his husband David Furnish
and that his kids were Canadian.

Some of the songs he played that night
in addition to Bennie and the Jets:

Tiny Dancer, Philadelphia Freedom,
Rocket Man, Someone Saved My Life Tonight,
Levon, Candle in the Wind,
The B*tch is Back, Saturday Night's Alright.

When he played Daniel, he mentioned
that when Bernie gave him the lyrics,
he thought it was too long.
So he cut out the last stanza...


And people have been asking him
what the song is about, ever since.

"I cut out the part that explains
what the whole song is about."


When he started on Crocodile Rock,
I was wondering what would happen.
It was obvious that he couldn't hit
the high notes anymore.
And there's quite a bit there.

So the band is playing and the
piano is a rockin and Elton belts out:

"I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
Was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
We were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
When Suzie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight"

Suddenly, the entire band stopped playing
and the only sound was the percussionist
smacking out a beat.

And the entire crowd sang:


"La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la!"


And it was perfect.
And it was magic.
And it was just right.

IMG_1047_zpsfmgm7big.jpg


Soon after, the final song
was sung and Elton left the stage.
The crowd cheered and the band
came back out for an encore.

Elton sang Your Song first
and then Yellow Brick Road.
And as the song neared its end,
golden confetti fell from the sky.

IMG_1051_zps3xlknd9z.jpg


And with that, Elton glided up
a ramp and through a door
that had opened in the screen.

And the show ended...
And I wished it could go on forever.


I don't like how my idols and heroes
are getting older.
Time should just stand still.

And for a little while, that night.


It did.




In case you didn't see it:

IMG_1010c_zpss3jfbgnm.jpg



Did you see it in this chapter?

Coming up... A tale of two DISmeets.




 
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Wow, those wood carvings... I can't even fathom the hours invested. Absolutely incredible.

I parked my car, sashayed up
to the front door,
nodded to the woman who
opened the door and walked
in right behind her.
There's nothing a good sashay can't accomplish.

I find it sad that we live
in an era where precautions
have to be taken against
people who can drive and
are certifiably insane.
I know... :sad1:

And if you know
Bennie and the Jets,
then you know that sound.
::yes::

And people have been asking him
what the song is about, ever since.

"I cut out the part that explains
what the whole song is about."
:faint: :laughing:

And it was perfect.
And it was magic.
And it was just right.
Some moments in life are just... yep, that. Happy you had it that night :goodvibes

I don't like how my idols and heroes
are getting older.
Time should just stand still.
I know. I think about that often. But my two fave seem to get better with age somehow? I need to figure out how. Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett. At least Buffett's lyrics offer some clues: "I gotta go where it's warm..." "changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes". :rolleyes:

Did you see it in this chapter?
Yes! I actually did! :thumbsup2

So happy you had a such a great time at the concert! What a day!
 
It's also designed that way
to focus attention to the
place and moment.
If you don't... you'll walk off
and into the water.

My mom has a habit of falling in holes she doesn't expect to be there. Last April she fell into the pedicure bucket at the mall. Note to self…do not bring dear mother to this park :sad2:

The details carved into
the wood are insane.

Stunning…well, all except one odd one??

The view from our seats:

IMG_1032_zpsx24m6urc.jpg

Looks like you were super close!


When he played Daniel, he mentioned
that when Bernie gave him the lyrics,
he thought it was too long.
So he cut out the last stanza...


And people have been asking him
what the song is about, ever since.

"I cut out the part that explains
what the whole song is about."

One of my favorite EJ songs. I had an Uncle Danny but my mom always called him by his real name, Daniel. He was the greatest person ever but battled his own demons for a long time. This song has always reminded me of him :littleangel::love: I kind of want to know what it's really about, but even if I knew I will always think it's about my Daniel.

Suddenly, the entire band stopped playing
and the only sound was the percussionist
smacking out a beat.

And the entire crowd sang:


"La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la!"


Love this! And I'll have it in my head all day now ::yes::
 
Often, the number one
attraction listed isn't even
in Toronto.

Niagara Falls.

Been there. But not with the rest of the family, surprisingly enough. One of these days.

Also on the list of things to do are:
CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
St. Lawrence Market
Casa Loma (Gothic revival mansion)
Kensington Market
The Distillery District
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Toronto Island...

And I've done them all.
Some several times.

Thanks! I'll have to refer back to this. Also want to see the NHL Hall of Fame.


party::jumping1::cool1::woohoo::banana:

Most (some?... one?)
of you know that I
like Japanese gardens.

I believe I have heard that.


Paul Kariya, of the Anaheim Ducks?

Apparently... the bridge is
designed that way...
because it's pretty.

Aha! Lends credence to my theory that with art, often there is no "deeper meaning"...they just did it because they liked it.

The large Friendship Bell
was donated to the park
by the city of Kariya in Japan.
(Hence the park's name.)

Ah. Well, that's less exciting.

Usually, the sand garden
is one of my favourite spots
to stop and just... be.

Looks like somebody let their kid play in the sandbox.

Both restrooms were out of order.

Poop.


Uh... I mean...


:blush:

:rotfl2::rotfl2:

I also visited the
BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir
(Hindu temple)

Say that fast five times!


Actually not that hard.
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple

See? Easy.

Well done. I knew you could do it.


Wow, that's a spectacular building!

It's the largest Hindu temple
of its kind in Canada.

This door caught my eye
with its intricate carving.

An amazing work of art.


Incredible!

I parked my car, sashayed up
to the front door,
nodded to the woman who
opened the door and walked
in right behind her.

That may have been a
little too easy.
Worked in my favour, mind you.

Always just look like you know what you're doing.

I'd borrow it (take when she
wasn't home)
and play it on dad's Hi Fi.

State of the art!

I noticed two large trucks
parked in the street.
I knew right away what they
were there for.
I find it sad that we live
in an era where precautions
have to be taken against
people who can drive and
are certifiably insane.

Incredibly sad. I'm glad we have drivers like him to stand on guard, though.:rolleyes1

Just before we did, the doorman
turned away a man and his date.

I wonder if he was trying to sneak in
or had been scammed with a fake ticket.

I'm guessing his date was not impressed that evening.

We spent quite a bit of time
examining the stage and
pointing out various items.
Notice, on the "frame"
about halfway down on the left
hand side... there's a lion?

Ah, yes. There it is. Wouldn't have seen it unless you pointed it out.

And with that,
Elton John launched
into what was a
magical, mystical concert
experience for me and
a few thousand of my
closest friends.

Excellent!

Occasionally, Sir John would
talk to the crowd.
He told the story of how,
early in his career, he was
told that one of his songs
was going to be covered
by another artist.
"I nearly p*ssed my pants!" He exclaimed.
We all laughed.
But then he said who was
going to do the cover...
"F**ing Aretha Franklin!!"

That would qualify as a "welcome to the big time" moment.

"Bernie would write the lyrics in one room
and then I would go in another room
to do the melody.
We never wrote a single song
in the same room together.
Maybe that's why we've stayed
together for fifty years."

:lmao: Probably a lot of truth in that.

And people have been asking him
what the song is about, ever since.

"I cut out the part that explains
what the whole song is about."

:rotfl::lmao::rotfl2:

Suddenly, the entire band stopped playing
and the only sound was the percussionist
smacking out a beat.

And the entire crowd sang:


"La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la!"


And it was perfect.
And it was magic.
And it was just right.

Beautiful. Usually I get grumpy about the audience singing along in live concerts, because they drown out the guy I paid to listen to. But this is when the live music becomes magic.

And the show ended...
And I wished it could go on forever.

I'm sure.

I don't like how my idols and heroes
are getting older.
Time should just stand still.

And for a little while, that night.


It did.

Well said.

I'm not as good as I used to be, but once I can be as good as I ever was.

Did you see it in this chapter?

Already noted.
 


Wow, those wood carvings... I can't even fathom the hours invested. Absolutely incredible.

Amazing what talented
people can accomplish.


I stand in awe. :worship:

There's nothing a good sashay can't accomplish.

Correct! :snooty: :thumbsup2

I know... :sad1:

:hug:

Some moments in life are just... yep, that. Happy you had it that night :goodvibes

It was such a great night!

I know. I think about that often. But my two fave seem to get better with age somehow? I need to figure out how. Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett. At least Buffett's lyrics offer some clues: "I gotta go where it's warm..." "changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes". :rolleyes:

That must be it!

Yes! I actually did! :thumbsup2

You did!
Wasn't sure how hard
this one would be. :)


So happy you had a such a great time at the concert! What a day!

Very happy to have gone. :)
 
My mom has a habit of falling in holes she doesn't expect to be there. Last April she fell into the pedicure bucket at the mall. Note to self…do not bring dear mother to this park :sad2:

:laughing:
She fell into a pedicure bucket???

Not to your mom.
Do not go to any
Japanese gardens. ;)


Stunning…well, all except one odd one??

Didn't notice anything?
(Although I was tempted
to put Marvin in there.)

What did you notice?


Looks like you were super close!

Floor seats.
Maybe... 15th row?
(Don't remember now.)


One of my favorite EJ songs. I had an Uncle Danny but my mom always called him by his real name, Daniel. He was the greatest person ever but battled his own demons for a long time. This song has always reminded me of him :littleangel::love: I kind of want to know what it's really about, but even if I knew I will always think it's about my Daniel.

:hug:

Do you really want to know?
Be happy to share.
But only if you want me to.


Love this! And I'll have it in my head all day now ::yes::

Why should I be
the only one??

:lmao:
 
Been there. But not with the rest of the family, surprisingly enough. One of these days.

Really!?!?
I'm surprised you haven't
taken the clan.
It's not even that far from you!


Thanks! I'll have to refer back to this. Also want to see the NHL Hall of Fame.

I passed on that one.
It might be interesting, but...
I'm not a huge hockey fan.

I know.
It's anti-Canadian.
But there ya go.



Hey!

Paul Kariya, of the Anaheim Ducks?

Correct.

Aha! Lends credence to my theory that with art, often there is no "deeper meaning"...they just did it because they liked it.

Yes.
Don't tell me why I should
like something.
Either I do. Or I don't.


Ah. Well, that's less exciting.

But it rings a bell,
doesn't it?


Looks like somebody let their kid play in the sandbox.

Possibly.
And... :sad2:


Wow, that's a spectacular building!

Right???

Incredible!

It shocked me how intricate
it was as I got closer.


Always just look like you know what you're doing.

::yes::
Works almost every time.

Except crossing borders.


Incredibly sad. I'm glad we have drivers like him to stand on guard, though.:rolleyes1

A man among aliens.

I'm guessing his date was not impressed that evening.

Someone did not get lucky
that evening.


Ah, yes. There it is. Wouldn't have seen it unless you pointed it out.

Not easy to see.
Even live.


That would qualify as a "welcome to the big time" moment.

::yes::

:lmao: Probably a lot of truth in that.

Probably! :laughing:

Beautiful. Usually I get grumpy about the audience singing along in live concerts, because they drown out the guy I paid to listen to. But this is when the live music becomes magic.

It just... worked there.
But...
Um....

I was singing along
all night long.

:rolleyes2

I'm not as good as I used to be, but once I can be as good as I ever was.

:worship:
 
In addition to the temple,
there is a cultural center.

DSC06932_zpsvzyc17od.jpg


The details carved into
the wood are insane.

Didn't notice anything?
(Although I was tempted
to put Marvin in there.)

What did you notice?

:rotfl:I thought the security camera was Marvin! My old eyes :sad2:

Floor seats.
Maybe... 15th row?
(Don't remember now.)

That's awesome!

Do you really want to know?
Be happy to share.
But only if you want me to.

No that's okay. It'll always be about my Uncle Danny, no matter what you say :-)
 
Hey, only 5 pages behind. ;)

Just one.
But he holds the bulb
and waits for the world
to revolve around him.

LOL!

And some people don't get
along with their
siblings/relatives/whatever
either.

I'm so glad I do. I just don't get to see them very often. :(

I bought a couple of jars of jam
to give as gifts and then we
set out once more.

I'll bet it was small batch and yummy! What kind?

But this would be my first time
dining at one.

I've been to scads of wineries, but other than cheese plates, I've never had a meal.

"It's a knick knack, Patty Black, give the frog a loan."

Always a great joke! :lmao:


Whoa! Now that's a view!

I ordered a stone fruit salad
(Peaches, cherries, frisee,
with raspberry vinaigrette)
and a ratatouille.

Had to look up frisee, looks like it's lettuce. Sounds like an amazing salad!

While we were dining,
a waiter brought a really
good looking burger
to another table.
(Hey, good-looking.
Come here often?
Nom! Nom! Nom!)

Ratatouille over burger ANY day!

The waitress told us it was
on the menu.
She brought a menu
back to the table.
Nope. Not on there.
She then told us...

To turn it over.

Oh.


I was giddy as a schoolgirl.

:rotfl2:

I was very glad to have finally
knocked that one off the list...

YAY!!!!! We have many here in Portland and yes, they go up and snarl traffic all the time.




Very different but I love them both!!!

mmm...
Vanilla cinnamon and dark cherry.
Yes... two scoops. Sue me.

Exactly what I'd have ordered. Holy smoke dogs!


What a wonderful way to spend some time.

We sat and waited for a while.
But no one came to either
take our glasses, ask about our tastes,
or to ask for payment.
I looked at her and suggested we leave.
"Without paying?" She asked, eyebrow raised.

I figured we'd already paid with our time, so...


"Yes."


We left.

100% approve of this. You want your money, make it possible. What a ridiculously run customer service culture.

Or maybe that was
the gunfire from the
unpaid wine flight.

Ha! Missed me!

watch



Stunning! I could sit in there for a long time and.... contemplate.

This was once a massive, ugly
hole in the ground.
Now it's an idyllic place
for a stroll.


Or a sashay.

An idyllic place can only deserve a saunter. :snooty:

Wait... chicken balls...
that's not Greek!


Chickens have balls?!

I had no idea!
 
I want to say I have seen one of these in action before. I'm just not sure where.
The town where my wife is from, Placentia, has a lift bridge, which is a similar idea but quite a different animal than a draw bridge.

15007798.jpg

Portland, where I lived from 1991-2000, has 4 or maybe 5 lift bridges and 2 draw bridges alone. One of its several nicknames is Bridge City. Each unique and cool. The first time you see one go up is exciting. After that, they are annoying as heck, as they snarl traffic for quite a while. Especially during our Rose Festival when they go up many times over the weekend as a Navy Fleet comes in for R&R and public display and tours. Which is WAY more cool than the bridge lifts. ;)

Anyway, if you are into lift or draw bridges come visit me!!!!!


:rotfl2::rotfl::lmao:

Just back from the bustling
(read: dull)
metropolis (read: small)
of Cornwall, ON.
Not a whole lot to do there
and now I've got a whole
schwack to catch back up on.

So... time to roll up the sleeves
and get to work. :)

You're WAY ahead of me after my long hiatus. Lots going on in general, some good, some not-so-good.

Just stopping by to say that I (finally) watched "A Christmas Story" in it's entirety over the weekend. It's such a good "dad movie". The girls thought it was annoying. I wasn't surprised. Oh well, I'll be watching it by myself in the basement from now on I guess.

:scared1:

I watched it for the first time about 2 weeks ago and loved it. Totally thought it was funny and so quotable.

Actually it's more sad than anything. I'm the sort of person that likes to contribute with things like meals. When Jenny and her husband have invited us over for dinner, they dont let us bring anything really, so we've brought wine or margaritas. Last Christmas we did a brunch and I made baked eggs in ham cups and her hubby made fruit salad, French Toast and bacon, you know everyone participated.

So looking back to this Thanksgiving we attended. Technically we weren't invited, but I would think that family should always be welcome. Right? :confused3 I mean we would be staying at a hotel, not expecting them to put us up. In the weeks prior to our arrival, I kept asking about the Thanksgiving day menu, could I bring anything? And she actually says to me, "No don't worry about anything, you're on vacation."

Excuse me? Do you think I'm gonna go to Seattle in November and hang out with sniveling kids and call it a vacation? No it's called visiting family.

So my sister and her husband don't like to eat all kinds of delicious stuff, actually their palates are very similar to Mark's. :rotfl2: So when they didn't tell me anything about the menu, I took it upon myself to make something I knew they wouldn't already have and I could make it in my hotel room. Caprese skewers.

Neither of them will eat tomatoes and when her husband saw me carrying a tinfoil pan of them, he said, "You're not coming in this house with those." Of course eventually he relented and let us enter, but he's basically a sarcastic jerk. Makes you look like a choir boy. :laughing:

So the day goes by with little other than hubby berating the oldest daughters boyfriend as they drink and watch football. Every evening we gathered at their house for a dinner, one night was Prime Rib that I had packed in my suitcase, another was with my aunt and her family (who loved the Caprese skewers). I believe it was on the last night that he confessed that they purposely kept the T-day menu from me in advance. As they said, "Since you like to take command of everything, we wanted to make you sweat a little bit over what was happening."
Gee thanks Donkey-pit.

Then six months later at my 50th birthday where I gave them and their kids all a room at the Grand, they were dismissive of me and my friends. At the dinner at S55, they were so picky, the dinner was delayed cause they didn't like the 1st or second courses and made substitutions. All my DiS friends said they were totally rude and inappropriate. I haven't seen them since and haven't spoken on the phone with my sister unless my Mom calls them on a holiday. She didn't even call Fran and I this last Thanksgiving .

This is an incredible show of rude, insensitive, and ungrateful behavior. Best to say good bye to a relationship until they can at least be civil. Sad. :( I'm sorry, Alison that you were treated so horrifically.

Appreciate the tag, but I actually don't check my alerts regularly. In fact I just looked at the number and my phone says that I have 281 alerts. But I often read most of the comments that you and @Captain_Oblivious make cuz you guys crack me up!
?!

281?!

Holy smokes!!

I am the opposite. If someone wants me to see something, they'd better tag me, or it's 99% sure it's going to be lost forever. I don't always read every comment in the chatter, but would hate to miss something I was supposed to have seen!

Ha! Liesa is also on here and she eats Kale!

Well, yes. BUT, and it's a really big butt.... (I really need to get myself back onto a more kale-ish eating pattern!!)

it's gotta be done right. I love a superfood salad with dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, blueberries, light dressing.... Safeway has it here and I love its healthy and ..... umm... cathartic properties.
 
While I'd love to stay and play some more, my son is on his way over and I don't get to see him very often. Off to the movies... :)
 
Hey, only 5 pages behind. ;)

Considering how busy you are
I'm surprised it's only 5 pages.


I'm so glad I do. I just don't get to see them very often. :(

Nor do I.
Maybe twice a year.


I'll bet it was small batch and yummy! What kind?

You expect me to remember that????

I've been to scads of wineries, but other than cheese plates, I've never had a meal.

It was really nice!

Always a great joke! :lmao:

Love that one. :)

Whoa! Now that's a view!

::yes::

Ratatouille over burger ANY day!

shhhh...
Don't tell anyone, but...

I still would've picked
the ratatouille.


And... I can't see the video
since I'm at work.
I'll have to look later.


YAY!!!!! We have many here in Portland and yes, they go up and snarl traffic all the time.

Oh, I guess that makes sense.
I've only been the one time
and didn't see any.
But maybe because I was on
the more major thoroughfares.


Very different but I love them both!!!

Just a small sampling. :)

Exactly what I'd have ordered. Holy smoke dogs!

Really!?!?!

What a wonderful way to spend some time.

It really was. :goodvibes

100% approve of this. You want your money, make it possible. What a ridiculously run customer service culture.

Yep.
No argument from me.



Don't know why, but I can't
see that picture.


Stunning! I could sit in there for a long time and.... contemplate.

::yes:: Gorgeous church.

An idyllic place can only deserve a saunter. :snooty:

Idyllic definition:
extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.

So since it's not merely okay
where a saunter would fit in
just fine.
It's extremely peaceful, etc.
Worthy of a classic sashay.



Chickens have balls?!

I had no idea!

Where do you think chickens come from?
 
You're WAY ahead of me after my long hiatus. Lots going on in general, some good, some not-so-good.

Yes, I read about your spinal issues.

:hug:

I watched it for the first time about 2 weeks ago and loved it. Totally thought it was funny and so quotable.

::yes:: :thumbsup2

Well, yes. BUT, and it's a really big butt....

:lmao:

While I'd love to stay and play some more, my son is on his way over and I don't get to see him very often. Off to the movies... :)

What are you going to see??
 

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