Tales from a big country

[halehouse]

I've been to that kids' museum with my son last spring. We weren't too impressed. Too bad the Pelicans aren't playing ball. They have a very nice minor league park across from Broadway at the Beach. The aquarium is nice. Brookgreen Gardens is a nice place for a stroll.

[dr galaga]

Quote

...and the first thing on the menu is going to be a glass of Iced Tea.

Slight problem.  Fresh brewed (direct from tea bags) iced tea is good.  Most restaurant chains use the '> that is from concentrate yuck!

[sodaworks]

Gotta try the "biscuits with sausage gravy" for breakfast. Here on the west coast we call it "Okie Chow". Sure is good eaten!! '>

[glassbottlesrule]

Dave, if you ever get up in  Michigan I will take you to my favorite place in the world, The Henry Ford.  It's Henry's attempt to cram as much history into the smallest footprint possible.  It has Edison's building's the Wright brother's cycle shop, Heinz's first building,  The Firestone family farm and many other attractions.  My family and I go there just about every weekend.A must see for everyone that hits this area.www.hfmgv.org

As someone who grew up in Dearborn, Michigan.  Yes, Greenfield Village, and the Henry Ford Museum, both great places to visit.  Even the children should enjoy it.  Lots of early Americana, Automobiles, Trains, a few Planes, take a ride on a side wheel riverboat.  Great place.

Dave, I have to say that it is so much fun and refreshing to har your take on all things "Yank".
Please keep those observations coming. I really love it.
You have a great sense of humor and a great view on life.
Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure with us.
But um... I don't think I have ever wanted to step into a Denny's while sober.
Be safe and continue to have a lot of fun.
All the best to your family.

[davethebirdman]

Tried Ice Tea......Yuck. You can keep it. Thankfully the person we are swapping houses with is an ex-pat married to a local. We raided her cupboards the other night and found this pack of tea bags that looked like they'd been there since Noah raised the drawbridge on his arc. But the taste it was like nectar.

Have managed to negociate this driving on the WRONG side of the road very well. Just keep the wife close to the kerb and all is well. Have only had one mishap. The reaction I got from the other road users was, in my opinion, well over the top. Okay so I was going from a minor road into a major and I was, I must confess edging out and looking the wrong way, but there was no need for the "finger" and the abuse well it just was not right coming from a senior citizen and a woman at that.

Wow, had a trip to Home Depot today. Only popped out for two minutes spent well over an hour and that was just in the garden section. Those BBQ's you could feed and army with them. I know you guys have lots of friends and do that whole backyard thing but really is there any need for a BBQ that can grill (sorry broil) 200 hamburgers in one sitting. What they should do is put one of those Home Depots at every Factory Outlet Mall. That way I could entertain myself for a couple of hours whilst the wife saves a couple of cents on a T shirt she didn't really need but had to have.

Everywhere we go we are approached by people who want to sign us up to Loyalty cards. They just sneak up on you. They just won't take no for an answer. "There's nothing wrong with the layout of the store. Yes I was very happy with the customer service. Your choice was second to none... But its not good enough to fly 5,000 miles a week just to do my grocery shopping."

Then they'll say " Oh, your from outta town." Yep may be the pale white legs in a pair of shorts and the beetroot red face would tell you that.

In the 200 or so years since we relinquished the Colonies our language seems to have drifted further apart. Now, I don't have any difficulty understanding the locals but for some reason it would appear that they have difficulty understanding me. I was in Mcdonalds the other day and went through the whole order. Kids meal the wife's burger without the relish all that sort of malarkey and at the end of it after a gap of about 5 seconds the server turned around and said "Whhhat.."  In the end I had to point to the board for what I wanted.

Don't have that problem with the kids. One came up to me and asked whether I was Harry Potter's dad.

Hey, it hasn't all been bad. Those boneless chicken wings they sell in Wallmart are just fantastic and the cashier packs your bags for you too. She got the right hump when I tried putting my own groceries away.

Tried Root Beer today. Not bad. Still looking for RC Cola. Found my first Vendo in a  meseum at a zoo just outside Myrtle Beach. Pretty beaten up but I know a few of you out there could breathe new life into it. Did take a picture but will have to wait till I get home to load it.

Trying to convince the wife that we need to stop of at Antiquevending.com on the way back to Charlotte but she won't have any of it. Still, can't moan. Managed to get the high bid on a 1950's phone. Just hope it arrives before I go home.

Dave

Great stuff Dave. Keep it coming.
Thanks mate.

[dr galaga]

Quote (davethebirdman @ Sep. 26 2005,8:52)

...the wife's burger without the relish...

On your side of the pond McDonalds puts pickle relish on hamburgers?  Here it's the yucky pickle slices.  

Why is it that something that is so important to have done correctly (cooking to the right temp, proper handling, etc.) that we have the cheapest labor for food workers?

[Pat Pixley]

Dave sorry about the ice tea or should I call you Mr Potter
(Sorry  I just read your deal and just about fell out of my chair laughing) You eather Like ice tea or you don't .
Well If you Make Michigan Henry Ford is a great place but
A football game like MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS  VS
University of MICHIGAN  Now that is fun, But not for the young one's. Well If you make it Michigan  let us know.
 Pat    '>