South Dakota Fun

Tourists, uh, upset me at times. Obnoxious, rude, etc. It bothers me more than it should I know. But, sometimes it's fun to know that I am still ahead of them.

There were several of us waiting to check into the hotel this evening. As I stood in line some were upset that it was taking so long. When checking in there are several things that need to be done; name, address, phone #, credit card, etc. Sometimes the computer cannot take all the information in a second.

The couple in front of me had no reservation, so they ended up paying the full amount, $109.00. The people behind me were amazed when it took me about 22 seconds to check in and my rate is $71.00. It's good to be a frequent guest.

Oh, and I am in a suite with a kitchenette.

Life is good!

Captain Crab's Travel Tip of the Day

Captain Crab's Travel Tip of the Year

Here a few things that you should not do when you are staying in a motel 175 miles from home:

1. Don't leave a message for your wife like this:

"Honey, I may be having a stroke*. 911 has been called".

2. Don't call her from the ambulance (with siren blaring).

3. If you do call her from the ambulance, don't tell her:

"Every thing's fine. No you don't need to drive over. Yet."

"What should you do? Relax and bake a cake."

I hope that you learn from my mistakes.

*I did not have a stroke. It was a "transient ischemic attack".

There is a lot more to this story that will come out in the coming days. Stay tuned.

Drunken "Wannabe" Sailors

I have instructed The Dread Pirate Roberts to never let this guy on our ship.

Shopping 101

Never purchase more than four (4) items at one time. You may, however, take your first purchase to your mode of transportation and then go back into the store as many times as necessary. But always go through the same checkout line.

NEVER purchase things that are related.

For example, yesterday I bought a comb and six beer*.

Last week it was cheese curds** and heavy duty spray starch. Oh, and six beer.

*Saskatoon for a six pack.

**They weren't fresh. Fresh cheese curds squeak when you bite them. Just like little mice!

Plastic Jesus

I have a plastic duck on my dashboard


because a plastic Jesus costs money. The duck was free and so far has done a good hob of protecting me and the truck.

South Dakota Fun

What do you do in South Dakota in the evening when you are bored and drinking beer? If there is a nice big spider hanging aound outside your room, catch live insects, throw them into his web, and the fun begins!

Gideon's Bible

Here is an excellent way to keep your laptop cool and a way to put a bible to good use.

Take the Long Way Home

This is for PJ, who decided to take the long way home from the Cities today. Hope she had a nice trip!

Road Trip Fun

Da Plane, Da Plane

PJ and I have discussed purchasing an aircraft so we could avoid having to charter a plane every time we want to fly somewhere for lunch or dinner. I went over to the Pilot's website, but he doesn't have one of these listed. I guess we will have to buy elsewhere.

Sorry Steve.

Parking in Minneapolis

There must me a serious parking shortage in the Twin Cities if people are forced to park on the freeway!

Silos and Other Curiosities

New use for silos. The Class of 07 was bravest, but not very artful.
Under water farm
Snow Geese leaving a field
Snow geese in flight

Beverage of the Day

Heading to Hawaii or Rome?

Dinner on the Road

Tonight's dinner:

One 10" oyster pizza from Poor Richard's in New Hampton, Ia.

Three* bottles of Leinenkugels's Sunset Wheat.

*four now

**five

***six
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Jackie and Dunblap have an interesting view of Senator McCain

Another Travel Tip

When it's cold the door on your motel room should be just a bit tighter than this one. Granted the room rate was very good, but the nearest place to eat is at least 10blocks away and this door is letting the wind blow the sub zero air into my room.

Not an intelligent decision on my part, eh?

There is a solution however: Plastic bags stuffed into the offending cavity with your room card!

Driving and Photography

Driving wasn't much fun yesterday. Photography was exciting!

Winter Weather

The cat of many names doesn't care what the weather is.

I, like these birds, wish that the decision to go south would have been made.

South Dakota Travel Tip

When in South Dakota, don't stay in Pierre, on the night before the SD legislative session begins, unless you want to wait 20 minutes to be checked into your room and not be able to find a place to sit at the bar.

And thanks to PJ for providing today's quote:

"It takes only one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or the fourteenth."

- George Burns

The Political Junkie Quiz of the Day