Tag Archives: Family

Cow Paws Soup and Other Adventures

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I’m in the mother of all Crazie Towns – New York City.

Here’s just a few of the adventures experienced by your Mayor.

Because I am officially An Adventuress, I went on-line to find a place for us to stay in New York.  No sense paying all that money for a fancy hotel when I can rent an apartment, right?  The pictures on the internet were just a little deceiving as this is what we found instead of an historic charming brownstone.

They were half right – Brown door, no brownstone.

I’m sure this sign was supposed to make me feel better but since our house was the only one with actual trash cans in front of it…

Keep Rats Out Of Your Community!

In case you think I’m just being a snob, this was the backyard.

Feeling a little stressed, I thought I’d take a hot shower, only that didn’t work out so well.

Before I could even begin to beg Husband to take us away to a nice hotel, he said “Isn’t being An Adventurer fun?”  I bit my tongue and off we went to meet our son, Ferb at Perry Street Restaurant where he’s the general manager.  I’ve included a link to give you a clearer picture of how it happened that I left our apartment feeling over-dressed and out of place and then arrived at the fancy restaurant to discover I felt under-dressed and out of place.

We had a meal fit for a queen – or I should say An Adventuress.  I have to say, I don’t understand how rich people can eat like that and stay so damn skinny.

The next day was filled with more adventure as our son-in-law decided he wanted to drive into Manhattan.  I’d say this was a foolish choice except his other option was to leave his shiny black Prius parked on the street in front of our building next to this bike.

Poor thing’s in bicycle purgatory. Not alive, but not quite in heaven yet.

We had a wonderful time and the two of them headed back to Philly to leave us to our own devices.

What fun!  We got to ride the subway with the scary Emperor from Star Wars.

And, much like our meal at Perry Street Restaurant, we had a chance to order exotic food, like Cow Paws Soup.

Husband is now safe and sound back home, but my adventure continues as I stay on in New York until Monday where I take off for Manchester, VT and Hartford, CT.

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P.S.  Many of you have inquired as to the status of my camper adventure.  I’m sorry to report the little Aljoa is still in the hands of Anonymous Kevin somewhere near Colorado Springs, CO.  He promises a new delivery date of this Saturday.

Much like the presidential race, the residents of Crazie Town fall into two categories.  Those who are rooting for Anonymous Kevin to be the Knight In Shining Armor I believe him to be and those who feel sure Anonymous Kevin will never show up.

Stay tuned!

The Trailer God is Angry

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I HATE your trailer!

Last week I shared that, in the grips of a mid-life crisis, I hopped on a plane, flew to Denver and bought a camper.

And then, since I hadn’t exactly thought things through, I couldn’t figure out how to get it back to Kansas City.  I called a rental car company and asked if they had cars that would tow a camper.

“Yes and No,” he said.  “Our cars can tow a camper, you’re just now allowed to.”

I called U-Haul.

“Yes, we have pick-up trucks that you’re allowed to tow with,” he said.

“Great! I’ll take one of those.”

We started on the paperwork but only made it to the part where I’d be driving to Kansas City with it.

“Oh.  You’re not allowed to drive the pick-up trucks out of state,” he said.  “But, we can rent one of our moving vans.”

Arg!  I got on a plane and flew home spending the next few days trying to find some sucker friend to drive back out with me and pick up the camper.  I actually had a few volunteers for this boondoggle when my younger brother suggested I try that company from the show Shipping Wars.

This was several zip codes outside of my comfort zone, but once I’d purchased the camper I’d become a Wild Woman so thought, What the heck?  I’ll give it a try.

The first bid was $677 and I watched happily as the bids dropped in price.  That is until they hit the $400 range.  How could anybody drive a trailer 500+ miles and then return home for that price? I picked a transport “company” named B&K.  I talked to a nice young man named Kevin who promised he’d pick up the camper the next morning and get on the road.  I’d have my little mid-life crisis award within 24 hours.

Only, somewhere along the line I angered the Trailer God.  Maybe it was my description of the trailer.

When I told people I bought a camper, their eyes lit up they asked “You mean one of those shiny Airstream kinds?”

And I’d answer, “No, it’s more like the pimply-faced second cousin of the Airstream – an Aljoa.”

Whatever the cause of his displeasure The Trailer God sent his lightening bolt down to strike the trip.  Kevin emailed me to say his fuel pump went out but he’d have it repaired in a few hours and be on his way.  The next email informed me that it was a little bigger problem than a fuel pump and he’d have to wait for part and it would be 5-6 days before he could get on the road.

I called the brother who’d suggested the U-Ship-It place and he said with kindness and concern.  “I’m sure it will all be fine.”

I WISH that’s what he’d said.  His actual reply was. “Oh, man. You’ll never see that trailer again.  It’s a traveling meth lab by now.”

So, if any of you know anyone who buys meth – could you ask them to keep an eye out for my little Aljoa?  I wish I could tell you it looks like this.

MY IMAGINARY CAMPER

But it actually looks like this (which makes a much better mobile meth lab.)

MY ACTUAL 1955 ALJOA CAMPER