Canadian Buffoon's DISmeet vacation - 09/14 - Bowled Over

[SoccerDogWithEars]

You don't need an advanced
degree to be a hotel clerk.

But there are those of us whose advanced degree is being a hotel clerk.

Seriously. I majored in Hospitality Management, with a focus in hotels & lodging.

 

[pkondz]

But there are those of us whose advanced degree is being a hotel clerk.

Seriously. I majored in Hospitality Management, with a focus in hotels & lodging.

Heh. My sister did a hotel and restaurant
management course.

So.... let's just say that this guy
could've used some schoolin'.

 

[vamassey1]

German.
He didn't speak a word of English
when he came here.

Do you speak German?

What changed her mind?

She was able to get her first semester of college French while still in High School. Since she is a Humanities major she has to have 2 years of a foreign language. When she went on her tour of college before starting the French department head told her since she had already started it would be easy to tack it one. She got excited but once she started taking the classes along with her others she lost her drive to do both. She's in her last semester of required French. She may continue on. She's in college I'm sure she will change her mind lots before she's done.

Your drive had me on pins and needles again. I could feel my shoulders hunching up as I read it. I have driven in that kind of rain but never for that length of time. I can understand why you had trouble getting your hands off the steering wheel. Where you sore the next day? It probably good that you spent some time walking around.

I've never been to the Opry Hotel. DH stayed there once for work. It's gorgeous! You're pictures are beautiful. Everything is to green, lush and clean. It's going on my list to see & do if I ever make it to Nashville.

I did see it. He blended well with the people.

 

[Steppesister]

It looks like my dance card
is pretty full.
I think I've finalized
my upcoming road trip.

5,300 miles.
Up to 13 DISers,
in 9 separate DISmeets.

Who does that?????

(Besides Mark, obviously.)

I'm actually very envious of you. I love DISMeets and I'm missing several folks by as little as a day or so. Maybe I'll get to meet some more on future trips. I know the May trip I'll get to see a bunch too, but this sounds like a lot of fun hopping from city to city and putting names with real faces. Enjoy!!!

 

[docsoliday1]

With the exception that I assume
they no longer say
"We wants the redhead!"

Sad about that.
Despite any connotations.

I'm trying to get caught back up on this thread (and @MeghanEmily ).

I know I read this before, but just had a thought...

Do you think if enough of us yell "We wants the redhead!" at this point in the ride, they'll get the hint and bring it back?

 

[docsoliday1]

(I didn't take this photo.)

The Apollo 8 crew were the first
humans to see the Earth
as a whole planet.

Does it get much cooler than that???

Looks vaguely familiar to me, but I can't quite place why.



All the pictures are cool...U-boat, planes, Mercury, Apollo, etc. I think I might have to add this to my must do list. Next time I can manage a Cubbies games, will have to plan an extra day. I think the model railroad would have had me for much longer, but I also know you had to keep moving.

 

[docsoliday1]

One is spelled B-O-A-T
and the other is S-H-I-P.

I was told by a friend of mine in the Navy years ago...

A boat can be lifted out of the water and transported on or by a Ship.
A Ship is too big to be carried on another Ship.

I'm not sure about the U-Boats being able to be transported by another ship, but I think they were simply just call U-boats because U-ships sounded funny.

 

[Kiotzu]

When you heading up?

I went up last Sunday, here until the 28th, well fly home the 29th at 6am.

Good idea!
Can I put you down for
a $500 donation?

How about the equivalent in good vibes.

Will be more, in about a month or so.

Where you heading?

Niiiiiice.

It was beautiful! I was so surpised how well done it was in such a small community.

Hello.



Gee, that was easy.

hmmmm...was looking for a little more of a hello.

 

[Kiotzu]

I would follow right along
behind it at sixty-five
miles per hour.

You should have pulled over for a bit to see if it would let up!

I'd been hunched forward
over the wheel for hours.
I leaned back and grimaced.

This is the worst feeling. This happens to me all the time.

I probably come across that way
usually anyway.

You do, I hate to break it to ya!

This place looks unbelievable.

There was some kind of festival
going on so there were these
plastic lit flowers all over the place.

You have made me want to go with all of your photos.

 

[docsoliday1]

What else do they do?
That's only a 30 minute ride!

Next time you're in Virginia, give "Rolling Thunder" a try. A bunch (I don't even know how many thousands) gather at the Pentagon parking lot and then ride from there to downtown DC to the Viet Nam memorial. It's an all day event between gathering at the Pentagon, booths, socializing, etc., the ride itself (maybe an hour) and then the time at the memorial and other exhibits in the area.

When I was stationed at the Pentagon, we did it 3 out of the 4 years I was there. Although I'm not a big Harley fan myself (Gold Wing for me), it was an amazing time.

I would imagine, since just about everything is now-a-days, you'd be able to find a video or 100 on youtube.

 

[docsoliday1]

Tried numerous times to quote thus with phone. Royal pitre (pain in the rear end)

Southerners often say it ain't sweet enough @SoccerDogWithEars . lady I. Our church makes it almost where you can stand up spoon in it.

The left lane people really get my blood boiling. Stay right except to pass!!or for idiots that Can't figure out that basic concept!

 

[pkondz]

Do you speak German?

No. I speak a few words
and can understand a few more...
But not really.

Languages is not one
of my strengths.

She was able to get her first semester of college French while still in High School. Since she is a Humanities major she has to have 2 years of a foreign language. When she went on her tour of college before starting the French department head told her since she had already started it would be easy to tack it one. She got excited but once she started taking the classes along with her others she lost her drive to do both. She's in her last semester of required French. She may continue on. She's in college I'm sure she will change her mind lots before she's done.

People change their minds a lot
while they decide to do when
they grow up.

I'm still trying to figure out
what I want to do when I grow up!

Your drive had me on pins and needles again. I could feel my shoulders hunching up as I read it. I have driven in that kind of rain but never for that length of time. I can understand why you had trouble getting your hands off the steering wheel.

Yeah...
Wasn't the most fun
I had on that trip.

Where you sore the next day? It probably good that you spent some time walking around.

Surprisingly, no.
And maybe the walking
around did have something to
do with it.

I've never been to the Opry Hotel. DH stayed there once for work. It's gorgeous! You're pictures are beautiful. Everything is to green, lush and clean. It's going on my list to see & do if I ever make it to Nashville.

It's worth a visit.
Interesting (and big)
place.

I did see it. He blended well with the people.

 

[pkondz]

I'm actually very envious of you. I love DISMeets and I'm missing several folks by as little as a day or so.

I'm looking forward
to meeting many
friends-I've-never-met,
as well as some I have met.

Maybe I'll get to meet some more on future trips.

Are you meeting any
on your upcoming trip?

I know the May trip I'll get to see a bunch too, but this sounds like a lot of fun hopping from city to city and putting names with real faces. Enjoy!!!

Thanks!

 

[pkondz]

I'm trying to get caught back up on this thread (and @MeghanEmily ).

I know I read this before, but just had a thought...

Do you think if enough of us yell "We wants the redhead!" at this point in the ride, they'll get the hint and bring it back?

Nope.
Not PC anymore, so... Nope.

History doesn't have anything
ugly in it you know.
At least not in Disney history.

Looks vaguely familiar to me, but I can't quite place why.

All the pictures are cool...U-boat, planes, Mercury, Apollo, etc. I think I might have to add this to my must do list. Next time I can manage a Cubbies games, will have to plan an extra day. I think the model railroad would have had me for much longer, but I also know you had to keep moving.

Yeah. I easily could have spent
an entire day (or more) there...
but, gotta go.
Those miles don't rack up
on their own.

I was told by a friend of mine in the Navy years ago...

A boat can be lifted out of the water and transported on or by a Ship.
A Ship is too big to be carried on another Ship.

I'd heard that too.
And perhaps the earliest subs
were able to be transported
on ships.
Certainly there are some
today that are.

I'm not sure about the U-Boats being able to be transported by another ship, but I think they were simply just call U-boats because U-ships sounded funny.

Are you shipping me?

 

[pkondz]

I went up last Sunday, here until the 28th, well fly home the 29th at 6am.

Stay safe, dude.

How about the equivalent in good vibes.

No thank you.
Cash is king.

Where you heading?

First Toronto,
then south as far as Atlanta
before heading home.

It was beautiful! I was so surpised how well done it was in such a small community.

hmmmm...was looking for a little more of a hello.

How about a goodbye, too?

You should have pulled over for a bit to see if it would let up!

I'd have been there for at
least five hours.
Kinda had to keep going.
But...

Could've gone slower.

And/or taken breaks.

This is the worst feeling. This happens to me all the time.

Because of weather?
Or because of your height?

You do, I hate to break it to ya!

Knew it!

This place looks unbelievable.

It really took me by surprise.
Someone mentioned it to me
and I decided to give it a look-see.
Glad I did.

You have made me want to go with all of your photos.

Mission accomplished!

 

[pkondz]

Next time you're in Virginia, give "Rolling Thunder" a try. A bunch (I don't even know how many thousands) gather at the Pentagon parking lot and then ride from there to downtown DC to the Viet Nam memorial. It's an all day event between gathering at the Pentagon, booths, socializing, etc., the ride itself (maybe an hour) and then the time at the memorial and other exhibits in the area.

Huh. Interesting.
Except... I'm not into crowds
and I tend to like biking alone.
I go where I wanna go.

I might do a rally....

Not sure.

When I was stationed at the Pentagon, we did it 3 out of the 4 years I was there. Although I'm not a big Harley fan myself (Gold Wing for me), it was an amazing time.

Really!
You're gonna have to tell me
about that when we meet up, ok?

I would imagine, since just about everything is now-a-days, you'd be able to find a video or 100 on youtube.

Most likely.

Tried numerous times to quote thus with phone. Royal pitre (pain in the rear end)

Yeah.
You can do it....
But it's a lot of work.
And very frustrating.

Southerners often say it ain't sweet enough @SoccerDogWithEars . lady I. Our church makes it almost where you can stand up spoon in it.

That's probably how I'll like it.

The left lane people really get my blood boiling. Stay right except to pass!!or for idiots that Can't figure out that basic concept!

I need this:

 

[docsoliday1]

Huh. Interesting.
Except... I'm not into crowds
and I tend to like biking alone.
I go where I wanna go.

I might do a rally....

Not sure.



Really!
You're gonna have to tell me
about that when we meet up, ok?

Sure

I need this:

I've often wante to get a big magnetic sign for the back of my car that says something like that.

When we went to Italy, aside from the countryside and food, I fell in love with driving there. As soon as someone passes you, they move right back into the right lane. So wonderful to see basic intelligence at work vs put my car in gear, get in left lane and be totally oblivious to anything (sorry Mark for using that word, but so many are) or anyone else. Another reason I want to drive on the autobahn. If you're a moron in the left lane you get a ticket. Wish they'd do that here...the national debt could be paid of in months...could call it the moronic driver tax! <Sorry for the rant, but this really is a huge pet peeve of mine>

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

It looks like my dance card
is pretty full.
I think I've finalized
my upcoming road trip.

5,300 miles.
Up to 13 DISers,
in 9 separate DISmeets.

Who does that?????

(Besides Mark, obviously.)

Sometime you'll have to caravan together. You can help each other find sights like the world's largest ball of twine or tallest thermometer.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

<jaw drops> Dang! You're kidding!

Huh.

I never knew that.
(Hey. It's your history
not mine.
That's my excuse.)

Not to worry, folks down here aren’t much good on it either.

They know some of the myths (but don’t know that they’re myths) and after that most just tend to cherry pick a point or two here and there when it seems to support some conclusion that they’ve either already decided upon or were indoctrinated into (a bit like the way another specific “history” book I know of gets used ‘round here).

Abby... something.


Normal.

Exactly…


Useless bit of unnecessary side information: “Abby Someone” is one of the names I generally use for music projects or any band I work in (if it doesn’t already have a name), and for anytime we get into a Team Trivia contest or similar such endeavor. It just seems to suit me.

Battling many furnaces lately?

Yep…
Lost too.
Had to take out a loan to get a new one installed.

(true story)

Okay... quite the story!

But... I don't quite get the cop part.
Was he trying to keep you out of it?
Or just not do the extra paperwork?

No, he wrote the whole thing up.
He was just stunned by the complete lack of damage to the “tank” as compared to the new Olds.

I need to retire so I can
spend a couple of months
driving around.
Not a measly few days.

You and me both, sir.

Problem is…
I may never actually get to retire.

Can't have everything.

Sometimes we can’t even have anything.




So much for old business.
Now on to the new update…

What else could possibly happen?

No respect for the Fates, I see.
You do like to live dangerously, don’t you?

I settled in and prepared to continue
my drive to Knoxville,

Driving along I-40, I take it.
That’s a fun drive when it gets to into the The Great Smoky Mountains NP area around the NC, TN boarder. Nice and squiggly (just have to watch out for the occasional rock slide, though).

The rain came down in torrents.
In buckets.
A veritable flood.


Visibility dropped to next to nothing...
and then it got really bad.

That must have been interesting as you were rolling through those turns in the mountain areas.

Every now and then, I would catch
a glimpse of a white painted line
which let me know that I was indeed,
still on a highway.

Just not necessarily a strong indication of which lane you were in…

At one point, I realized that
if the vehicle in front of me
were to drive off a cliff,
I would follow right along
behind it at sixty-five
miles per hour.

Yaaah-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooey!!!

https://www.myinstants.com/instant/goofy-yell/

Betty told me to take the next exit.

Good thing she wasn’t being vindictive at this point, ehhh?

And couldn't let go of the steering wheel.

The very picture of White Knuckle Driving.

Well, more crazed than usual.

It’s a relative thing…

I don't know if the clerk was new
or figured people checking in
wouldn't have luggage.

The hotel staff probably gathers around the CCTV monitors to laugh at everyone that actually follows those directions.

It turns out that being able
to see when you're driving
is a very good thing.

Less adventurous, to be sure.

I am not a country music fan.
At. All.

I dwell in that cave as well.

Yes, there is the odd country tune
that I like...
But those are very few and far between.

And that sums it up pretty well.

Truth is through, in the last few years, there really is little difference (musically, at least) between “Country” and “Pop” other than including a steel-guitar feature here and there, and always having the vocalist sing either in the back of their throat or up in their sinuses.

Lyrically, the difference is that everything has to be a double entendre or heavily laden with jingoism.

But I have heard of the Grand Ole Opry

Hard not to have.

I parked the car and immediately
was surprised at the size of the place.
It was huge!

Well it is now…

The original (that being the Ryman Auditorium) had a foot print of only about an acre.
A decent size for an 1892 era venue when it opened as the “Union Gospel Tabernacle”. It was already a bit tight during the years that WSM was broadcasting out of the place (having no real backstage area). The “Industry” finally outgrew it completely in the late sixties and needed a newer space.

This Dale Chihuly glass sculpture
immediately caught my eye.
I love glass sculpture.
And Chihuly is one of the best at it.

He’s almost become ubiquitous.

He did the original chandeliers for DCL’s first two ships
(too bad they’ve since been removed).

And I guess it wouldn't be
right to not include
a ginormous guitar
for no apparent reason.

Would have made a bit more sense if it were a topiary, I suppose.

I didn't mind, but...
they seemed out of place.
And, well... superfluous.

Agreed…
If they were depicting fauna rather than flora, I could see it, but why put false flowers in the middle of a botanical conservatory?

I popped into this spot
to grab a bite to eat.

Looks right inviting.

no clue what I ate!

So... imagine something
and pretend it was that.

My vacation was rapidly
coming to a close.

Hate it when that happens…

Did you see it in this chapter?

Seems Marvin also enjoys a good fountain.

I saw that there was a display
at the Biltmore Estate
and was considering stopping.
But... the website I looked at
said that most people spend
a day or even two days visiting.
I could maybe spend... an hour.
Not enough.

Nowhere near enough for that place.
The grounds surrounding the main house need about a day to be properly taken in, much less exploring the rest of the property (and that’s disregarding “The House” itself).

If you head westward again though, there is an entire venue dedicated to Chihuly in the Seattle Center complex right by the Space Needle.