I knew when planning the CPDFS that it would be an eventful weekend - I
had no idea it would be as eventful as it turned out, though! Memorable
is probably an understatement.
Kenn Cavness, Madhu and Ken Gerrard arrived in Toledo around 7PM, just
as I was headed out the door to see if there were any cars in visitor
parking. What timing! I think Kenn was amused by my double-, then
triple-take at Ken - the man bears a striking resemblance to my dear
Warder David, and his company is just as delightful!
I led the guys inside and we gathered in the kitchen, where I was
preparing pizza. Madhu asked if there was any chance we could convince
Jeff to come down, he'd happily go get him, so we headed back to Truffle
and I whined on ICQ for a bit. No dice. Not even wet puppy dog eyes
worked on the heartless doctor wannabe (let's see if that makes him
feel guilty!). Ken and Madhu presented me with chocolate (oh my
heavens, kiss the diet goodbye), I could have melted from bliss! Before
I became a complete puddle, however, Anne arrived, bearing more
chocolate. Since I was expecting Steve any minute, I began preparing
the pizzas, figuring that he'd show up just as I pulled them out - he
usually has excellent timing.
Not this time. The phone rang at 8:30, and the caller ID showed a New
York number! I answered with "What are you still doing in New York,
dear?"
"I'm in Sandusky. My car broke down, the guy whose cell phone I'm using
is from New York."
Dammit.
I spoke briefly with Ray, the owner of the cell phone, to make
arrangements to get Steve a bit closer to us. He suggested a Big Boy in
Perrysburg, about 20 minutes from me. Madhu and Ken went off to get
Steve, while Kenn, Anne and I hung out in the kitchen. My boys decided
to be entertaining and cute, Alex told Anne bad jokes and I groaned in
pain.
Steve seemed a bit tattered by the time he, Ken and Madhu arrived an
hour later, he was very happy to see a six of Guinness waiting for him
on the counter. We commenced to attacking pizza and beer, and stayed up
far too late in the living room, laughing at each other and playing
Trivial Pursuit. (Ken's face just lit up when it was suggested - we
found out why when he trounced us all soundly.)
Our plan was to get up early Saturday, take off for Cedar Point, and
pick up Steve's car on the way. "Early" didn't work out, and, as luck
would have it, neither did "Pick up Steve's car". Though it only took
him about 5 minutes to change the broken serpentine belt, he quickly
discovered that something else had seized. We headed in to Sandusky to
get lunch and a tow truck, and agreed that Cedar Point was out of the
question until Sunday. Mark and Kenn took Steve back to his car to wait
for the tow truck, and the rest of us piled into Anne's car for the trip
back to Toledo. We introduced Ken to "Bill and Ted's Excellent
Adventure", played Chez Geek, amused ourselves by blowing bubbles at my
cats, drank, and watched "Much Ado About Nothing" for the very last time
(my copy gave up the ghost). Much alcohol was consumed, I'm surprised we
weren't hung over.
Sunday found us on the road earlier than on Saturday, and happily so.
The line for our first ride, The Millennium Force, was just over an
hour, and well worth the wait! A 310 ft. ascent, 300 ft., 80 degree
drop, 92 mph. out and back coaster, clocking in at a 3 minute ride time
and Ken made me ride with no hands! Unlike most coasters, there is no
straightaway before the first hill - you leave the station and
immediately ascend. The view from the top is astoundingly beautiful,
but there is very little time to look at it. Ken and I both agreed that
it was definitely worth another ride, unfortunately for us, we didn't
get another chance.
After the hair raising MF, none of the other rides could compare. We
certainly had fun on the Corkscrew, the Gemini, the Mean Streak (which I
rode with Madhu and I swear I came off with a bruised butt) and the
Mantis, but the MF is far and away the best coaster I've ever been on.
Somewhere in there, we headed to The Boathouse for dinner. We were so
happy to be in the air-conditioning! We took the time to relax, and
Kenn pulled out the Trivial Pursuit cards we had been using to keep
ourselves amused in ride lines. Madhu and Steve briefly excused
themselves, and re-appeared with a little cake in hand, singing "Happy
Birthday" and embarrassing the hell out of me. Quoth Steve: "It was
his idea, I just went along with it!"
We made various stops along the way as we left the park, with Kenn
leaning over and making kissy faces at my behind (I was leaning forward
with my hands pressed on the ground, stretching out my very stiff back.)
"You gonna kiss it?"
"Yes! Turn around again."
(I did, and so did he. *That* must have been a sight.)
We were quite exhausted by the time we made it back to Toledo, we didn't
stay up long at all.
Anne had to leave rather early Monday morning for Detroit, so she missed
pictures. The rest of us were up around 9:30, as Ken's bus was leaving
for Winnipeg around 1PM, and Steve still needed to rent a car to get
back to Buffalo. We lingered a bit over waffles and coffee, and then it
was time to bid Ken and Steve good-bye. <*sigh*> Kenn had left his
wallet in Anne's car, so we popped her a note to let her know. We
figured that they could hop up to Detroit to get it if she got the note
in time, so Madhu and Kenn stuck around a bit longer. We packed up the
cooler and headed for Wildwood for what turned out to be the last
cookout of the year for us - it was much windier and cooler at Wildwood
than it was at home, but we still had fun. Madhu has quite the touch
with little kids, exchanging awful jokes with Alex and picking Ernie up
for a snuggle (Awwwwwwwww!) with ease.
Alas, even Kenn and Madhu had to head for home eventually, vacation was
over. <*pout*>
Comments and stats (everyone else will have to help fill in, I've
already forgotten much of what had me laughing so hard):
Amount of alcohol consumed over the weekend, not counting in the
restaurants: 18 bottles of beer, 6 quarts of Margaritas (4 of which were
demolished by Ken and me), half a bottle of Amaretto, half a bottle of
Frangelico.
Most effective use of the word "Bitch": Ken Gerrard
Most devious: Madhu
Most nibbled upon: Anne
Most absent-minded: Kenn, who not only forgot that he named my kitten,
he forgot that he left his wallet in Anne's car, too.
"Mmm, Steve, you're really good at putting me to sleep."
"Hey!"
"Wait a minute! That's a good thing!"
Kenn: "Ooh, creamy and sweet!"
Steve: "Don't you mean creamy and salty?"
Steve: "Maggie! You spooged me!"
"I had to improve it with ketchupy goodness."
"What do you mean you don't like cheese?"
"Oh, Canada. Well, that's not another state."
"Yet."
"Oooh, I like you. You look so innocent, but there's something wicked
hiding behind that smile."
"We *all* look innocent."
"Yeah, then somebody speaks."
Steve, with whipped cream on his nose: "You'd better be planning to lick
that off." (I did.)
"He's the UK version of Lurker Below!"
"You're not Canadian! You haven't said 'eh' once!"
Spotted on a t-shirt: "You must be this tall (pic. arrow pointing to a
line drawn at mid chest) to get on this ride." Quoth Ken: "I think I
need to buy one of those."
"What's so bad about your maiden name?"
"WIL-lick"
"Oh, when you say it like that..."
Madhu, on arranged marriages:
"Well, I figure if I find someone, that's great, but I've always got
something to fall back on."
Perfect moment: Passing the Demon Drop on the way out, Ken looks the
ride up and down, then at me with a merry grin. Sez I: "You wanna?"
The grin got bigger, and off we went. Mark and Steve joined us, we
laughed all the way up and all the way down.
I had a terrific time, I can't wait to see you all again! Thank you so
much for making a milestone birthday memorable.
Pictures will be up on Friday.
--
Maggie UIN 10248195 http://www.chocolatefiends.com
"MAGGIE: In rasfwrj mythology, a minor fertility goddess and patron
goddess of Margaritas. Usually depicted as wearing a chainmail bra and
wielding a killfile." --Magnus Itland on RASFWRJ