Signs of the Times: Is there something newer than silicone?

Posted on March 8, 2013 by sglaser

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Maybe the company has come up with a new marinade for their famous hot wings. Regardless, we know there’s something saucy.

Signs of the Times: Welcome to McDonald’s (but after 30 minutes, get the hell out!)

Posted on March 2, 2013 by sglaser

Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. I understand that on the Vegas strip, many people probably “linger” a bit longer than some businesses may like, but this sign is pretty clear. I also definitely get why you don’t want people who aren’t paying customers to hang out, but wow, if someone is enjoying a Big Mac bonanza, he or she should probably be allowed to at least begin the digestion process. I wonder if the people to which the sign is targeted think to themselves, “Wow, like the sign says, I’ve overstayed my “welcome,” I had better move on.”

On the other hand, this Mickey D’s further down on the south side of the LV strip where it’s less populated and glitzy, has a sign that says, “Here’s where the party is People!!” Now here is a welcome sign. I’m lovin’ this one!

Travel Oops: Unfortunate Photos Complete with Unfortunate Fashion

Posted on March 1, 2013 by sglaser

Feeling French in my pea coat, scarf and LeSportsac while my sister Suz looks fairly normal. © Edward Schuck 1985

This series of photos is unfortunate in so many ways. First there is the fact that my overexposed sister Suzanne and I, along with our bad 80’s perms, essentially block out and overshadow the Eiffel Tower. Then, we are wearing some pretty atrocious coats. Actually, I’m really the one who is wearing a rejected carpet remnant.

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Travel Oops: How about a Skippy Burger on the Barbie?

Posted on February 27, 2013 by sglaser

Shrimp? author: Ramiroja

“Maybe we should get some shrimp,” I suggested to Kurt as we cruised through the aisles of Coles, one of Australia’s main grocery stores. “You know Aussies really like their ‘shrimp on the barbie.’” I repeated a well-known fact in the US about Australians and their barbecue bounty.

Kurt and I were preparing to host our first “legit” Australian barbecue. To say barbecuing is popular in Australia is a pretty flimsy assessment. BBQs in Australia are like Baptist churches in the Bible Belt of the US. They are a given, well attended and the followers are devout.

We knew barbecue was big time. In fact, only living in Adelaide a few weeks, we had already been invited to two events.

The grills, alone, are impressive precision-engineered machines and major household appliances. Some look like they could power a small aircraft. Certainly the control panel of the one we used confused a rookie Yank like me as I attempted to adjust settings during a trial run.

Consequently, we searched Coles for the right meats, sides and even condiments. “I don’t see any shrimp at all — just these prawns,” I called out to Kurt. “Yikes, and look at how expensive they are.” I could certainly understand exorbitant prices for seafood in a land locked area, but we were ten minutes from the ocean. Nixing the idea of shrimp, we considered other options.

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Travel Oops: The Unfortunate Photo — All Templed Out

Posted on February 24, 2013 by sglaser

Bali, Indonesia. My kids Eddie (5) and Kasey (3) actually loved Bali. But you wouldn’t know it from these photos. In fact, they look pretty pissed off. “Not another temple, Mom!” Eddie exclaimed when we arrived at the Pura Taman Ayun Temple — or the Royal Temple of Mengwi. In all fairness, to visit Pura Taman Ayun, we had dragged the kids away from the water slide at our hotel.

Enamored with Bali’s temples, I couldn’t get enough, so nearly every day we were on the island we saw a new spiritual site. In the above photo, we had met an artist who was painting a piece at Pura Taman Ayun. Kasey was mildly curious, so I wanted to snap a photo — one of those feel good travel photos of your kids interacting with locals and absorbing the culture. When I asked her to smile for the camera, Kasey instantly scowled at me.

Kurt and I with our bitter kids.

Travel Oops: The Unfortunate Photo — Really…that’s me out on the surfboard!

Posted on February 18, 2013 by sglaser

Sydney, Australia. My most recent Oops story covered my attempts at surfing. While I was looking for photos for the post, I came across these images. Of course, I wanted evidence if I got up on the board during my first lesson. Kurt, my husband, was at our hotel while our daughter Kasey napped, so he was unavailable to snap photos.

I asked my friend Deb to take photos instead. I thought I had shown her the zoom function, but maybe not. When Deb told me that she got a picture, I envisioned an image of me looking badass on the board. What I didn’t expect was that you would not be able to identify me at all. I was grateful that Deb took photos, but Kurt probably could have looked out the window of our hotel and gotten the same shot. Below is an enlarged version in which you still can’t tell it’s me. Continue reading →

Sign of the Times: Think of Your “Happy Place” — The Impound Lot

Posted on February 16, 2013 by sglaser

Colorado, USA: You have to love it when traffic sign writers use sarcasm. This one, in particular, caught my eye. Definitely, by conjuring up an image of my minivan being towed, I thought twice about parking in this spot.

Travel Oops: The Unfortunate Photo — The Fountain of Timbers

Posted on February 10, 2013 by sglaser

Rome, Italy. Anyone who’s traveled in Europe during the summer has seen this familiar sight: scaffolding. The Trevi Fountain or Fontana di Trevi in Rome was the victim when I traveled to Italy in 1989. Undeterred, I took a photo of my friends Amy and Leah anyway.

Here is what it normally looks like:

Travel Oops’s Friday Funny Sign: Keeping it Real (they know their stuffed elk is dead, right?)

Posted on February 8, 2013 by sglaser

Poncha Springs, Colorado. Hunting is a prevalent activity in the west, and many hunters turn to taxidermists to display the ultimate evidence of their favorite pastime. Of course, as most people know, the animal is dead and stuffed.

I realize Real Wilderness Taxidermy’s sign uses quotes for “real,” but this still just doesn’t seem like the best word choice. In fact, they could substitute “lifelike” for real. That would even create some parallelism with “lifetime.” As a geeky English teacher, this makes perfect sense to me.

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Travel Oops: Friday Funny Sign — Stuck in Garfield? Guess You’re SOL

Posted on February 1, 2013 by sglaser

Garfield, Colorado, USA. Better not have a breakdown or stall even at the mall in this small mountain town. Despite the promising AAA sticker, you’re unlikely to get service from this joint. Not to mention, the “only mall” doesn’t appear to have beer, braunschweiger or munchies either. Totally SOL.