Journal of an Urbane Gorilla

You take the high road . . .

Look at those two. That’s Grams and Big Guy. Don’t these look like mug shots? This is the year for them to re-new their passports and they went off to the post office to do just that. I tagged along to keep them out of trouble. Oh, did I forget to tell you? We’re going to meet Emlyn and Marian in Wales and then we’re all going to head off for Scotland.

I got us a very good deal ($500 r/t). We’ll have our tickets in a few days. I also managed to make it at a time when the Aurora Borealis might just be visible. This made Grams very happy. That’s the most important thing for her about the trip. She’s always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis in Scotland. This is because of a movie she saw once called, Local Hero. It’s a long story. Don’t ask.

Turns out the AB is most likely visible in Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, and Spring. So, we’re going in September. We’re counting on an Autumn like they had last year in the U.K.: very mild and very beautiful. Emlyn is hiring a large car and he’s the driver. Grams and Marian are going to draw and paint. Big Guy and I are going to try some fine single malt whiskey. Well, we’re all going to sample the local brews. Grams and Big Guy have very fond memories of Scapa whiskey, as do I.

The new passport pics cracked me up. Don’t they look like a couple of grifters? Would you buy a used car from those two? All they need is the height chart behind them and the number hanging around they necks. My own photo is much better; well, it would be don’t you know? They had the guy at the post office in stitches. He started out with a real pickle face, but Grams and Big Guy consider 'pickle' faces to be a personal challenge. They were all rolling with laughter by the time we left.

Grams told me about an organization today that she thinks is a good thing to support. It’s on the web:

http://www.kiva.org

You can become a micro-loan banker through Kiva. There’s a link at the site to an article written by Nicholas Kristof that tells you all about it. It’s a good thing and you’ll feel good about yourself for participating.

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and support Kiva.

And, of course

平和 に 働 き

(hewa ni hataraki: work for peace)

Well, we'll always have Paris

First of all, please accept my apologies. You see, the 29th of February is Fay Wray Day in the SBR.* In the non-leap years, we tend to celebrate FWD a little longer, since we've never been able to decide whether it's more proper to celebrate it on the 28th or the 1st. In the end, we usually settle for the whole week. That's what we did this year. It was banana daiquiris all around. A grand time was had by all. Perhaps a little too grand of a time was had by all. My wee fuzzy head is still throbbing. Wotta week! Wotta woman! Hip, hip, Fray Way!

Now, where did I leave our intrepid travelers? Ah, yes, it was their last night in San Fran. They had a disappointment earlier that day when they realized that one of their favourite joints, the Gold Spike," had bellied up. The didn't realize it until they were bopping down Columbus street. Deep sighs all around.

Of course, late in the day a family with boisterous youngsters and a colicky baby checked into the room next to theirs. Since they had connecting rooms, one of the little darlings kept trying to open the connecting door while the baby kept crying. Everything went quiet around 11 PM until 1:30 AM; that was when the colicky baby woke up. Again, I assured Grams that this sort of this wouldn't happen if I had been with them. You'll remember the time that I got us upgraded to a suite in Canada; not to mention all the upgrades on airplanes. All I have to do is smile. What can I say? When you've got it, you've got it.

So, they were a teensy bit crabby when they got up the next morning. They had to catch the Amtrak bus at 7:30 AM, so they hustled to get Pier 39. The bus arrived on time and off they went to the station at Jack London Square. The train was 2 hours late. "I can deal with 2 hours," said Big Guy; but they had already missed their breckie-puddy. When they finally got on the train they discovered that the crew was the same crew they had come up with. Their cabin attendant was, Chris, again. He had already made a luncheon reservation for them. It looked as if things were going well. Little did they know what lay ahead.

Luncheon was good. Julio was their server again. They had a few laughs. But, the train kept getting later and later. Just outside of Paso Robles, the conductor came on the speaker and said that they would be delayed 10 to 15 minutes. That delay took 1 hour. So, you can see how it went.

They went to the afternoon wine and cheese tasting. But the train kept getting later and later. Grams' bad(der) eye went out on her at supper and Chris had to make up a bed for her. I hate when that happens because she's not tired so she can't sleep; but, at the same time, she can't see. She puts it this way, “got to rest the peeper, Gweeds.”
Face it, would you want to come up against this woman? (Grams complained when she saw this photo, "you could've at least Photshopped out my freckles!" "I did! Those are your age spots!" She just doesn't appreciate what I do for her!).

They arrived back in Santa Tourista around midnight: 6 hours late. Big Guy is checking airline schedules for the next time. Too bad, I know how much they love the train.

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders).

And, of course

平和 に 働 き

(hewa ni hataraki: work for peace)

*Small Banana Republic