Who left the dimensional door open? - Thread 018

News Center (Online) ^ | 1/29/02 | Unknown

[lodwick]

Why men hate Martha Stewart

[andysandmikesmom]

OK, where is everyone...ah, the summertime fun and summer weather, lure everyone out of doors, and into real life....

I did get in my one post yesterday afternoon, and almost no one was here...we are all busy people or so it seems....

Our first night up in Seattle, Friday nite, almost did not take place...BigDom had twisted a muscle in his back, a few days previous, and he sure was having trouble driving and walking....we thought we were going to have to turn around and come back home....but once in Tacoma, we stopped into a drug store, and got some pain pills(extra strength Tylenol, and the some sort of rub, called Tiger Balm, which stinks)...

We then continued on to Seattle, and one of our favorite pubs, Murphys...there we commenced to drinking some great beers, and shared a huge plate of Nacos, with chicken...yummy...

Murphys, by its name, is a great Irish pub, very informal...one of the few places I know of in the area, where one can smoke anywhere in the pub...most places are strictly 100 percent non smoking...this place is just the reverse...

We sat down at a comfy table by the window...an older gentlemen was seated at the next table, so I asked him if my smoking would bother him..he said no, he had smoked heavily for 37yrs, and just recently went down to smoking only occasionally...

He seemed like a kindly fellow, and a conversation was struck up..he was a very interesting man....he joined the navy in 1942, at the age or 15....in those days, and with the war on, he told us that the military very often either did not check your age, or just turned a blind eye...his mom was a widow with 5 children, and he felt by doing his duty for the war effort, he could also alleviate his mothers financial woes taking care of so many children by herself...

He spent, I think 2 or so years in the navy, and then went into the army...and spent 30yrs in the army, and retired 30yrs or so ago, as a sergeant major, and E9, which is as high as enlisted personnel can go....he also had a brother who went into the army at the age of 16....so I guess they were big boys for their age, and anxious to fight in the war...so he must have been 75 or so when we were talking with him...

He said not only was his going into the military a way to help his mom and younger siblings, it provided him with a wonderful experience, gave him his first pair of new shoes, which thrilled him no end, and that is where he picked up smoking...which he is trying to give up, but at the age of 75, I wonder why...anyway, he was quite interesting and we sure enjoyed chatting with him...

Then he left, and some other folks came in...with their cute little doggie...I had expected the pub employees to tell them dogs were not allowed, but this never occurred...the dog sat right in the booth with his 'family'...these people even brought in their own food(some sort of rolled pastry), and I thought now, the pub employees would tell them that was not allowed, but this never occurred either....these people did buy plenty of beer to drink in the pub....

I liked all that...a pub which allows smoking, allows dogs, and allows folks to bring in their own snacks should they chose...I guess so long as you order drinks, everything else is flexible...

After our time in the pub, and several beers later, we headed off to our motel, we unloaded, BigDom called cab, and went on to his Seattle Storm(Womens Professional Basketball) game, followed by a return to Murphys Pub for several more beers...

I remained in the motel, with my cable Tv, and my own stash of drinks...When BigDom returned, I rubbed down his sore muscle, with that Tiger Balm, which was really offensive smelling...BigDom fell right to sleep, as did I...

When he awoke the next morning, his back muscle felt completely healed...we figure, the combo of pain pills earlier in the day, followed by several beers and a meal, followed by a relaxing sports event, followed by several more beers, followed by a rubdown with Tiger Balm, followed by a long nights rest, is what did the trick...

Or like the hubby says, beer can cure most any ailment...

Saturdays report comes later today, or tomorrow...

[lodwick]

What a great get-a-way report! Thank you.
I felt like I was sitting at the next table, and visiting with you fellows and your newly made friend. There should be more Murphy's Bars in this world - many more.

Once, in Vienna, Mrs. lodwick and I stayed with an old couple in their pensione as we had no reservations and this fellow was soliciting boarders at the train terminal to supplement their retirement income. For dinner he directed us to a local pub/diner that was favored by cabbies and other neighbors. It was just like Murphy's except that nearly every table had the owners' dog(s) snoozing peacefully while chow and much beer or wine was being enjoyed by their owners.

Dogs can go almost everywhere with their owners in Europe - at least the countries we've visited. I believe it brings a kinder, better spirit to establishments and their patrons.

Thanks again for sharing your and BigGuy's doings with us. Poor Dizzy, is he back to Dizzy-normal yet?

Back after completeing TheList. ;-)

[grannie9]

Devin..

[grannie9]

Great report Mom.. Wish I had been with you, sounds like our kind of fun.. I love to make conversations with people sitting next to us.. How else do you meet folks? The Pub sounded right up my alley.. Can't wait for the next installment..

[lodwick]

Great looking guy! Did Mom do the haircut?

Thanks for all your great pics, and no, I still
haven't learned, or tried to learn how to use my camera. ;-)

[andysandmikesmom]

Grannie....love that haircut...my boys used to wear their hat like that when little, but a bit longer...bangs almost in their eyes...they just looked so cute that way... Is Devin a devil? ..

Loddy, this Murphys Pub is wonderful...they have great locallly brewed beers, a fine menu, a bar, tables and booths, darts, smoking and allow pets...there is also a fireplace, where in cooler weather, a group can gather and drink while enjoying the fire....

We always enjoy striking up conversations with other folks who are there to have a relaxing time...you can indeed meet such interesting people that way...people you may not meet otherwise...

What we also really enjoy about Murphys, is the age range of the patrons...there are always a few students of drinking age from the University of Washington, folks in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and so on...all the way up to folks in their 80s...so there is a big mix, and everyone seems to get along with everyone else...very informal, and wonderful...

I do wish more places would allow folks to bring in their dogs...the dog that was in Murphys was a small guy, white fur, and very well behaved...after his 'family' gave him a snack, he just went to sleep, right in the booth...it was all just so homey...

[palo verde]

Murphy's sounds like wonderful place andysmom
they make everyone feel comfortable there
I guess that's why people like it
Love, Palo

[andysandmikesmom]

Ah, and lets not forget the Dizzy report...

When we returned we called out for Dizzy, but he did not show up as usual at the door...we went into the family room, and there he was sitting, all squinty eyed, indicating we had probably woke him up, when we were calling out for him...he was slow to move, being so groggy, and probably somewhat angry with us, for leaving him...

But he did get down, and gladly ate several snack treats that I hand fed him...then I picked him up, trying to pet him, and of course, he was acting all aloof and tried to ignore me..but finally all those petaroos got to him, and soon he was relaxing in my arms, and purring away madly...soon he was sound asleep in my arms, and looking so sweet...

He made me pay dearly for my time away, demanding more and more snacks, and more and more attention...so altho he misses us when we are gone, I somehow sense that he knows how guilty we feel, and he can demand extra food and love and we will give it to him...

Of course, he left us his customary gift, when we are gone and he is mad...there was one load of very hard kitty poop in the bed...thank goodness he eats only dry cat food and dry kitty snacks(turns his head away at canned food and people food)...therefore his poop is hard, easily removed, and leaves no mess...

Habs, said, last nite, if Dizzy wants to really get us, he will leave us a load of runny cat poop....Nasty....

So, Mr. Dizzy is now sound asleep on his favorite quilt in his favorite chair, content at least for now, knowing we are home, and are on call for his pleasure...

[andysandmikesmom]

And here is Miss Palo.....how is Princess Lulu...I felt so bad for her, that she was so hot the other day, she was in tears, then after the colder air came in she slept for 12 hours....poor thing, like you say, they have all that fur, everywhere, and the extreme heat really upsets thems...

[palo verde]

we have Tigar Balm too
I don't remember not liking the smell tho
I first bought it when I took karate
I was a white belt
(but then I got left back
and had to return to learners class again)
(where a curtain separates you off from everyone else in the dojo)
it was a very serious dojo in china town
(actually across from city hall in Manhattan)
Love, Palo

[palo verde]

hi cookie
Lulu is fine
we just got back from pool and grocery shopping
so I made hamburger for me and Lulu
she loved her hamburger
I guess she is sleeping now :)
Love, Palo

[palo verde]

thanks for Dizzy report
he sounds perfectly content now

[andysandmikesmom]

You took karate? We learn something new and interesting every day, about Miss Palo....but you say you got left back...did you ever advance ahead...

I guess there may be more than on Tiger Balm...this stuff is hard, almost like paraffin...you kind of have to dig this stuff out, as its so hard...but then when you massage it into the skin, it softens up, and gets into the skin...but it just smelled terrible...the pharmacist told my husbad it was bad smelling, and she was not exagerating...its was gruesome, so we will use it only when absolutely necessary...

[palo verde]

Dizzy has you twisted round his little finger paw lol
he knows how to get all the lovin' from you he wants
he acted hard to get when you got back lol

[andysandmikesmom]

Animals are very clever...they know how much we love them, and they act on that...they can act all mad and aloof, because they know we will feel guilty, and then give in to their every whim and desire...

Helga was like that...she tolerated me, but he just absolutely loved BigDom...he was the love of her life...but whenever he would have to go away, either for his Chicago trips, or summer camps with the army, he would be gone for two weeks...I would be here, but I was never good enough for her...

But when Don would return, Helga would be so angry with him...when he first came back, she would holler and scream, and run through the house, she was so happy to see him...but after that initial greeting, she would have nothing to do with him...

She would not let him pet her or play with her...if she was on the couch sleeping, and he came in and tried to see her, she would turn around on the couch, and show her back to him...she would not even look at him...

It always took her another day or two, to forgive him for leaving her...and then she was daddys girl again...it was all too funny...

[palo verde]

back then (in '70s) only place to get tiger balm was china town
we used to walk there to get it (we didn't have car, no one does in nyc)
now they sell tiger balm at walgreens in tucson
my best friend Karen was green belt at that dojo
I got curious so I went
you have to be in beginners for a month
then you graduate and can get behind curtain and join the huge karate dojo
(be with everyone)
after I graduated and was with everyone
I was doing something
I dont remember
and the black belt sensei's assistant stared at me appalled
and sent me back to behind the curtain
it was very tough dojo

[palo verde]

She would not let him pet her or play with her...if she was on the couch sleeping, and he came in and tried to see her, she would turn around on the couch, and show her back to him...she would not even look at him.

that is hysterical andysmom
what a trip!
Helga was drama queen of all time
she had temperment
if she was actress she would have outshone Great Garbo
Love, Palo

[andysandmikesmom]

Poor Palo, got the appalled look directed at her, and then got sent behind the curtain...I guess it a tough dojo...

Lots of people in Chicago also dont own cars...in such a big city, where there is all kinds of transportation, lots of people just dont see the need for owning a car...if they want a car for trips or such, they just rent them...

[andysandmikesmom]

And BigDom, always felt so bad....she just had to get over being mad...but she sure made him suffer...

Here is what else she would do...being as BigDom always sleeps until in the afternoon, because of his work schedule, I always get up much earlier...Helga always chose to keep herself on his schedule....she was always happiest, when I left, and it was just her and him in the bedroom...

When I would come in to wake him up, she would growl at me, just for an instant...it was as if she was letting me know, that he was her 'daddy' and alto I was her 'mommy', I was not her top priority...she was letting me know, he belonged to her...

She was indeed a drama queen...