Canadian Buffoon's Hi Low Vacation - South Central Musings

Finally... Schools done for the quarter and I have 3 weeks off before fall quarter starts.

Woot! Break time!

Finally read through everything since my last post. Sad that I didn't get to finish the contest... But I still would answer the questions before moving on to the next update lolol. I would have still judged poorly!

:laughing: Well, thanks for playing along
anyway! (Sorta!!)


Your trip with wifey sounds so nice. So much more relaxing (well other than stressing about the forgotten ipod) than most vacations to Disney.

It was pretty nice.
(Except for the iPod part.)


The mall you guys went to is crazy huge!

And yet........ it's a mall.
And I'm not a shopping fan.

But Ruby is, so... we go!


Vegas is on my bucket list. It just always seems to lose out to Disney when the planning starts happening.

I totally get that!

But... sometimes the
flights and hotels align
and it's a pretty cheap,
fun, inexpensive trip
to someplace warm in winter.


Also kids... Just not a place I want to take them and up until the past year or so, they haven't been old enough to leave behind.

And now they are.
So.... when ya going?
 
Does math work different in Canada? I don't see how you come up with $90 from those prices....

Okay, I'll break it down for you.
Just repost this first:

$18.99/person Mon - Thu
for breakfast and
$25.99/person for Fri brunch.


We went for breakfast that first morning.
2 X $18.99 = $37.98
Then we went for Friday brunch.
(Not there yet... but we will.)
2 X $25.99 = $51.98


$37.98 + $51.98 = $89.96

I don't recall if there were taxes on that or not.

But.... close enough... $90.


You see, I can't have my foods touching so much less fits on one plate. I have to go back numerous times...

Oh, that's right! I forgot that.

That way you walk off the calories.


Well, she'll take a few salady things, or appetizer stuff, and then hit the dessert table for a chocolate covered strawberry and a cookie or piece of cake. Says she enjoys it much more when she is not stuffed.

Makes total sense.

I really should do that.

Just have a bit, call it good
and have some dessert.


Me, I can't eat "out of order". Must have savory before sweet, and if we're talking sushi, raw before cooked.

Interesting about the sushi.
I will mix the two liberally.


It hasn't happened to us and we have been known to play for hours at a time. I guess $5 tables don't count.

Well, on my solo trip,
I brought a few hundred to gamble with.
At the end of the trip, I was still even.
So I played at a $25 table for an hour or so.

Not even a free drink.


I think Fran is not so interested, so it may not happen.

I get that.
I'm married too. :)
 
Well, that's not good. The Almighty Dollar is SO much more valuable than family relationships. :rolleyes2

Well, technically... monetarily... it is!

I guess you more than made up for it in the price of the room. Because you certainly didn't at the $5 table. ( I mean from their point of view.)

I suppose so.

Ah, the wonders of wifi. Proving things possible you never thought possible.

Very true!
The stuff of dreams!


Maybe someday. Italy first.

But Italy is not a weekend get-away.
I've done that to Vegas.
So could you!
You're closer!


Give it its due justice. Maybe you should consider hiking rim to rim when you go!

Have you done that?

And here I thought you didn't take any notes. It's a wonder you remembered which airline you flew. Or even IF you flew.

Oh, that's easy.
Too quick for a drive.
And we always use WestJet.


I was hoping you would forget that little lapse in lucidity on my part.

Nope!

And voila. A little piece of Heaven.

::yes::

I KNEW it had am up-there perspective!

Yup!
Although, being practically an angel,
I could just fly up, you know.


Ah noted. Sashaying is done together. Moseying is done alone.

(Just getting my methods of "getting there" figured out.)

No.
I sashay when I'm alone.

But with the right company.... I might.


I eat there, by default, almost every Tuesday. Yes, it's disgusting. No, I'm still too lazy to pack a dinner.

Oh!
Good plan.
Purge the colon every Wednesday.

Healthy.


Yes. And I have thought on that.

You have???
 


Let's see... you posted that on Monday.
How are you feeling now?
Any better?




No problem!
I have a way around that for you.

Get DH to pay.
I'm feeling a little better. Not throwing up anymore. I'm on my second round of antibiotics for an ear infection. If this doesn't work it might be my gall bladder. I have stones so it might have to come out. I just wish this wasn't happening so close to our trip.

Well, it is his money anyway but I'm the one who does all the planning. Maybe I'll see it someday.
 
I like your dessert ideas. I would love to do a Disney dessert party, but every time the cost scares us away.
That was very nice of Horny Mike. He seems like a very humble guy. I can't believe the other guy blew you off like that.
I really want to see Cirque some day. I keep thinking maybe we can make it a date night next time we go to Disney (not like we've been on a date in over 11 years).
 
I'm feeling a little better. Not throwing up anymore.

An improvement... but still sounds not that great.

I'm on my second round of antibiotics for an ear infection.

Second???

Stubborn one!


If this doesn't work it might be my gall bladder.

Wait... what?
Shouldn't your doctor be able
to tell your ear from your gall bladder?


I have stones so it might have to come out.

Ruby had hers out quite a while back.
It's caused some digestion issues,
but nothing overly bad.


I just wish this wasn't happening so close to our trip.

No. I should think not.

:hug:

Well, it is his money anyway but I'm the one who does all the planning. Maybe I'll see it someday.

Find a really expensive place....
Tell him how much it is.
Then tell him the reasonable place
that you really want to stay.
And tell him you can now
afford to see it.
 


I like your dessert ideas. I would love to do a Disney dessert party, but every time the cost scares us away.

Truthfully... it does me, too.
I can't really justify it.

I don't think I'd really eat all that much.


I'll grab one of those ice cream cookies
that are as big as my head, instead.


That was very nice of Horny Mike. He seems like a very humble guy.

He was a pretty nice guy.
Actually, the guy who sold me my bike met him.
He was up here for a car show and Harley was a sponsor.
He said he was a really nice guy, too.


I can't believe the other guy blew you off like that.

Yeah. I just wanted to take a quick snap.
I was just polite enough to ask,
rather than just take it anyways.

Now I'm glad I didn't take it.
Cause I don't want it!


I really want to see Cirque some day. I keep thinking maybe we can make it a date night next time we go to Disney (not like we've been on a date in over 11 years).

Well then it's high time!
 
Did you know that in the 90s,
Vegas tried to make itself over
as a family destination?

I remember this. Glad it didn't last.

Legalized gambling was cropping up
in other areas and Vegas suffered
as a result.

We have gambling here, another reason to come.

If you have kids and want to bring 'em
to Vegas...


Don't.

Thanks for that advice, luckily the last child hit 18 in June.

Oh, sure. There's stuff there for kids...
But the amount of explaining you'll
have to do would be tedious.

Same can be said for taking kids down Bourbon St in New Orleans.

The only problem I have with buffets,
is I always eat more than I should....

and have no room left for dessert.

Same thing happens to me.

One of these days I'm going to do
one of two things.
1. Book a dessert party at Disney. Or;
2. Start with dessert and work my way backwards.

I think we're going to do the dessert party in February. Hoping to get some sweet and a good spots to see the show.


Don't get me wrong,
The Strip is great for just
walking along and seeing the sights.
But... when you get to that point
where you've walked your feet off
and you want to head back
to your hotel....


It's wayyyyyy over there.

When DH went he walked for too far and had to get a cab to get back to his hotel. Distance is very deceptive.

Some of you may have heard
of or even watched a show called
Pawn Stars.

Seen it! In fact DH has in on in the background while he was laying laminate and I was cleaning house.

We used to watch it fairly regularly,
and I still watch it on occasion.
There's been a couple of spin-offs.
American Restoration, which detailed
restored items ranging from Coke machines
to .... well.... anything.
And Counting Cars, which restores cars.

We saw several episodes of Pawn Stars today and a few of Counting Cars. Rick brought something out Dale to see if he wanted it on one of the episodes.

So we decided to go visit them.

I did not know you could do this. I had to go tell DH. He would love to stop in there.

Horny Mike.

I know who he is.

When I asked him for a photo,
he told me to buy a T-shirt
and he'd sign it.

No thanks.

We spent a little while looking around at the cars on display.
Not long, since this isn't really Ruby's thing.

DH would like this but I would be bored after a bit.

We left Count's Kustoms and set out
for our next stop.
Well... that last stop was really more
for me, although Ruby was a little interested.
Now it's her turn.

That sounds fair.

But boy... did we shop.
Well.... Ruby shopped.
I hung around outside
the stores and.

I'm sorry, but you did the right thing.

She dealt the cards... slowly.

This just sounds painful.

On the other hand,
of the two hands I did play,
I won one and tied on another.
So I left $5 dollars richer
than when I sat down.
Woot! At this rate,
my winnings will pay for the trip!

Coming out ahead is always good.

I won't say more about 'O'.
Other than to say it was spectacular.

I'll take your word for it. Maybe someday I'll get to see a show.
 
Can't believe I just found your trip reports, but glad I did. You, my friend are a hoot! Glad I wasn't eating or drinking anything when I saw that picture of you on Splash. I don't know what you do for a living, but whatever it is I hope it utilizes your many talents. Fascinating. Just fascinating!
 
Am I right to say that
there are more standard
than automatics on your
side of the pond?

You are right more people drive manual transmission than automatic. It makes it more fun to drive being able to select your own gears.

Ah! You love dark chocolate.
I think that's more prevalent on the continent as well.

I'm more of a milk chocolate fan.


Go ahead. Feel free to scoff.

No milk chocolate is my favourite too although I do like dark as well. It's just the mint M&Ms happen to be dark chocolate ones. I am happy to scoff your milk chocolate and maybe I should give Hershey's another go just in case there is a variety they do that I do like.

But the families were spending time
with the kids... and not at the tables.

Not really a good business plan.

And we'd skip lunch.
Because we would be stuffed.

We would do that too any time we had a big breakfast buffet or just get a small snack at lunch-time. The year we stayed at the Disney Swan we did that quite a lot with their breakfast buffet.

Truthfully... it does me, too.
I can't really justify it.

I don't think I'd really eat all that much.

I'll grab one of those ice cream cookies
that are as big as my head, instead.

That sounds like an excellent plan and much better value.
 
I remember this. Glad it didn't last.

I much prefer calling a spade a spade.
Or Vegas, Vegas.


We have gambling here, another reason to come.

We have gambling up here too.
Wanna come up?
Say in January?

No?


:rolleyes:

Thanks for that advice, luckily the last child hit 18 in June.

Sweet! Freedom!
Vegas, here you come!


Same can be said for taking kids down Bourbon St in New Orleans.

Ah! Now I really wanna go! :laughing:

Same thing happens to me.

Happens to all of us. ::yes::

I think we're going to do the dessert party in February. Hoping to get some sweet and a good spots to see the show.

Nice!
I think I tried to book that
on my last trip,
but it was sold out.

Looked too late.


When DH went he walked for too far and had to get a cab to get back to his hotel. Distance is very deceptive.

I totally get this.

Seen it! In fact DH has in on in the background while he was laying laminate and I was cleaning house.

Ah!
Did I mention that I sold them something?
Got a certificate for a $5 sale. :laughing:

But it beats a mug or T-shirt.


We saw several episodes of Pawn Stars today and a few of Counting Cars. Rick brought something out Dale to see if he wanted it on one of the episodes.

Dale? So you watch American Restoration, too?

I did not know you could do this. I had to go tell DH. He would love to stop in there.

::yes::
And free, too!

I know who he is.

::yes::

No thanks.

:sad2:

DH would like this but I would be bored after a bit.

It's not very big.
Unless he's a huge car geek,
you won't be there very long.


I'm sorry, but you did the right thing.

The waiting outside part?
That's simple self-preservation.


This just sounds painful.

Yep. Not fun. At all.

Coming out ahead is always good.

Beats the alternative!

I'll take your word for it. Maybe someday I'll get to see a show.

Kids are 18 now. Go!
 
Can't believe I just found your trip reports, but glad I did.

Well hi there!

:welcome: to the TR!
Pull up a chair and chat a while! :)


You, my friend are a hoot!

cute-owl.jpg


Glad I wasn't eating or drinking anything when I saw that picture of you on Splash.

:laughing: Sorry! I should've posted a warning ahead of time.

I don't know what you do for a living, but whatever it is I hope it utilizes your many talents.

Well actually!!!!!


No.

Pretty much the opposite in fact. :laughing:


Fascinating. Just fascinating!

Well, thank you!

That's one of my favourite words.
"My shirt has nine buttons, but I only fascinate."


Whoops! Just lost a reader.
 
are right more people drive manual transmission than automatic. It makes it more fun to drive being able to select your own gears.

::yes::
I feel like I'm actually driving the car.
Plus.... it's an excellent theft deterrent.


No milk chocolate is my favourite too although I do like dark as well.

What?!?!?!

But you're from that side of the pond!
I thought it was illegal to like milk chocolate
over there?!?!?


It's just the mint M&Ms happen to be dark chocolate ones. I am happy to scoff your milk chocolate and maybe I should give Hershey's another go just in case there is a variety they do that I do like.

I wouldn't know.
You do know that Hershey's in Canada
is better than in the US, right?

(Yes. I went there. :snooty:)


Not really a good business plan.

The reverse happened too.

"Okay kids! Mommy and Daddy
are going to play some games.
We'll be back in 10 minutes!!"

Eight hours later...


We would do that too any time we had a big breakfast buffet or just get a small snack at lunch-time. The year we stayed at the Disney Swan we did that quite a lot with their breakfast buffet.

::yes::

Is the Swan buffet included in the room price?
Or is that separate?


That sounds like an excellent plan and much better value.

Loved that sucker.
 
As heard in my best rendition of George Takei’s voice.


Continuing on with our little
foray into the land of sex and greed...
so…
Reality TV in message-board form?


Did you know that in the 90s,
Vegas tried to make itself over
as a family destination?
I do remember that campaign.
Didn’t go quite as planned.


As I mentioned last chapter,
I didn't take notes... so details are fuzzy.
And that's putting it kindly.
Well, we’re talking Vegas here.
Details are supposed to be rather fuzzy.


We woke up at grble o'clock
What a coincidence…
That’s the same time I have to get up for work during closing weeks.


It was a pretty complicated package.
You could either book a room.
Or you could book a room with
a $100 resort credit for an extra $10 or so.
Interesting calculus on their part…

Are the various things one could obtain with the credit contributing so high a margin that it actually makes them money to give it away at a 10:1 ratio?

Or is it a mind game where they figure that while you might could walk away from the primary offer, you’d be so taken by the 10:1 credit that you’d book a stay that you would otherwise have just skipped all together?


The only problem I have with buffets,
than I should....
That is their greatest consequence.
(more psychology working against us)


Dang those lizard brains…


One of these days I'm going to do
one of two things.
1. Book a dessert party at Disney. Or;
2. Start with dessert and work my way backwards.
Option-2 is cheaper to execute (assuming that you were paying for the buffet in the first place).

We’ve done the Wishes Desert Party at MK in the past (twice actually, for a couple different reasons).
It’s nice enough, but I’m not sure I’d pay the extra Georgies for it again.


You can walk a lot in Vegas.
Something it has in common with Disney.


I actually liked the spin offs better
than the original.
Have watched a little bit of them…
long since thrown them over.

My problem with most “reality” tellie is with the folks writing the scripts for those “realities”.
I’m generally quite interested in what they doing, or making or restoring.

But that means that I want to watch them do, make, and restore – not fuss and argue.

Once they start spending more than about five seconds on the made for tele individual personas, staging false clashes, contrived conflicts, self-imposed desperate deadlines and staged drama…

I’m pretty much done.
I don’t like that kind’a crap in my life; I certainly don’t want to see an overwrought and poorly acted version of it in someone else’s life.


Horny Mike.

He's called that for his penchant
for putting horns on... well... everything.
Everyone’s got a hobby, I suppose.

Here's his bus, that was parked outside.

P1030103_zpsyz8pbivn.jpg


See?
Yep…
Looks like it belongs in a Monster Truck Rally.


Don't let his looks scare you.
(Or his bus.)
He's actually a pretty nice guy.
He was more than happy to pose
for photos with anyone and everyone.
A people person.
And one that gets the idea of brand marketing


There's another guy who shows up
on occasion.
His name's Roli.
As opposed to that yutz, it would appear.


We spent a little while looking around at the cars on display.
Not long, since this isn't really Ruby's thing.
Understandable…
I very often skip things I’d kind’a like to see so as not to lose the rest of the family.


He has a far larger collection
of much nicer cars
hidden away from prying eyes.
(They've shown it on the show.)
Now that collection I’d probably rather see if it were available.


Now it's her turn.

So we went... to the mall.
You’re a good man.


the Fashion Show Mall
houses about 250 stores.

I think we went in all of them.
A very good man…


Eventually (don't you love all the details???)
Hangin’ on every word.


As we walked through the casino
(something that is virtually impossible
to not do in most Vegas hotels)
A similarity with most cruise ships.
Well, all but four of them actually.


I spotted a Blackjack table with low stakes
and empty chairs.
That’s probably the only game I’d consider playing if I ever actually stopped in a casino.


The dealer was a wizened, little old lady.
She must've been a hundred if she was a day.

She dealt the cards... slowly.
I’ve got this image of a Carol Burnett character in my head, here.
Or maybe Tim Conway in a wig (or a bazar cross between the both of them).


I think I played for about 5-10 minutes...
And played a grand total of two hands.

Good news is you won't go bust
very quickly sitting at her table.
Might lose your mind though…


So I left $5 dollars richer
than when I sat down.
Woot! At this rate,
my winnings will pay for the trip!
At some point in the next millennium.


So.
Imagine this.
A woman walks across what appears
to be a pond.
Shallow, obviously.
She barely gets her feet wet.
Then suddenly a man plunges
one hundred and ten feet from above and dives
into the water where moments before
the woman was walking.
And he never resurfaces.
Quite the visual…


I won't say more about 'O'.
Other than to say it was spectacular.

Go see it for yourself.
I may have to consider that at some point in the future.



.
 
As heard in my best rendition of George Takei’s voice.

hqdefault.jpg


so…
Reality TV in message-board form?

Oh, dude......

You ain't seen nuttin' yet!
Next (and final) update...

You'll see...


I do remember that campaign.
Didn’t go quite as planned.

Nope.
I wonder why not?
Little kids. Gambling.
You'd think the two
would go hand in hand!


Well, we’re talking Vegas here.
Details are supposed to be rather fuzzy.

Actually, they're supposed to be
left in Vegas!


What a coincidence…
That’s the same time I have to get up for work during closing weeks.

::yes::

Are the various things one could obtain with the credit contributing so high a margin that it actually makes them money to give it away at a 10:1 ratio?

Or is it a mind game where they figure that while you might could walk away from the primary offer, you’d be so taken by the 10:1 credit that you’d book a stay that you would otherwise have just skipped all together?

I'm positive they hope you don't
use up that credit.
Or use it at all.

That wasn't going to happen.



Although it almost did.


Dang those lizard brains…

dead%20lizard.jpg


Option-2 is cheaper to execute (assuming that you were paying for the buffet in the first place).

Yup.

We’ve done the Wishes Desert Party at MK in the past (twice actually, for a couple different reasons).
It’s nice enough, but I’m not sure I’d pay the extra Georgies for it again.

I've tried to book it in the past
and been thwarted.

And then been secretly pleased about that.


Something it has in common with Disney.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

Have watched a little bit of them…
long since thrown them over.

My problem with most “reality” tellie is with the folks writing the scripts for those “realities”.
I’m generally quite interested in what they doing, or making or restoring.

But that means that I want to watch them do, make, and restore – not fuss and argue.

Once they start spending more than about five seconds on the made for tele individual personas, staging false clashes, contrived conflicts, self-imposed desperate deadlines and staged drama…

I’m pretty much done.
I don’t like that kind’a crap in my life; I certainly don’t want to see an overwrought and poorly acted version of it in someone else’s life.

Agree with you One. Hundred. Percent.

Those stories are so obviously contrived.
It's insulting.

But I do like seeing the person
come in with the $1 item he got
at a garage sale only to be told
it's worth several thousand.
I do like to see the old Coke cooler
get transformed into like-new again.


Looks like it belongs in a Monster Truck Rally.

He wouldn't dream of denting it.

A people person.
And one that gets the idea of brand marketing

::yes::

As opposed to that yutz, it would appear.

I kinda wonder what Danny (the owner)
would say if he heard about it.


Understandable…
I very often skip things I’d kind’a like to see so as not to lose the rest of the family.

I will never take my family to see
Cape Kennedy.
No matter how long we were there,
I'd feel rushed.


Now that collection I’d probably rather see if it were available.

::yes::

You’re a good man.

A very good man…

noppy.jpg


A similarity with most cruise ships.
Well, all but four of them actually.

Really! I didn't know that.
Never been on one.


That’s probably the only game I’d consider playing if I ever actually stopped in a casino.

Pretty much.
I don't know how to play Craps.
I have played a bit of Roulette,
but I don't have any strategies.


I’ve got this image of a Carol Burnett character in my head, here.
Or maybe Tim Conway in a wig (or a bazar cross between the both of them).

hqdefault.jpg


Still one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Might lose your mind though…

Nah. That's already gone.

At some point in the next millennium.

I intend to live that long, so...

woot.


I may have to consider that at some point in the future.

Yes! Do!
 
So this is the thing.

I worked Sunday evening.
Monday during the day.
And then Monday midnight.
That's about 24 hours worked
in a 40 hour stretch.

I do have about 3/4 of the last
update done....

But it ain't happening tonight.
Been up since....

I'm too tired to remember since when.

Maybe tomorrow evening?
Maybe?
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top