Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

abacomike

jmonroe said:

laurasdada said:

Shortly after moving to LA, my father was at a grocery store. While in the check out line, a woman pushed her cart into him. A bit annoyed he turned to see an attractive woman, he told her she looked much like Jamie Lee Curtis. Of course, it was Jamie Lee Curtis. I have to remind my dad, he's in LA. He keeps seeing people who look like people. They are who they look like, dad!

You guys know I used to live in Palm Desert, CA from 1991-1998 and then northern Los Angeles from 1998-2000.

Palm Desert is one of several cities in the Coachella Valley which include Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio.  Many Movie and TV stars and professional athletes own winter homes in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta and a few in Palm Springs.  So during the winter, it is quite common to be seated in a restaurant and have a star or sports legend seated at the next table.

I also had a number of kids at the school I ran whose parents were pro athletes or TV/Movie stars.  I remember sitting next to Tim Conway and his wife at a restaurant in Rancho Mirage.  A few weeks later I was at a concert in Rancho Mirage and Tommy LaSorta was sitting right next to me.  It was quite common in the Coachella Valley to see stars walking on the street or at the movies or at restaurants.

I was very close with Don Drysdale and his wife (Annie Meyers Drysdale) and their kids.  I remember being at his funeral at Forest Lawn near Chavez Ravine.  At the memorial service, I was seated right next to Sandy Koufax.  My son sat next to Roosevelt Greer who took up 2 seats due to his size.  All the current and retired Dodgers were in attendance and the Emcee was Vin Scully. Very moving experience.

What I miss most about my years in Palm Desert is being with my son and my grandchildren.  But I also miss the laid back embiance of the Desert Cities and the non-challant pace of daily life among the stars intermingling in the lives of every-day people.

That's an interesting life you had @Mike, but did you ever have a very beautiful girl at a dept. store ask for your autograph because she thought you played the part of a spy in movies, even though she couldn't remember your stage name? jmonroe

Nope, you got me there, jmonroe.

But I was taken for someone else back a few years ago - 31 years ago to be precise.  

I was making a presentation at a conference in New Orleans back in 1987.  The conference was at the Marriott Hotel.  My colleague and I were on the top floor of the hotel waiting to be seated for our reservations for dinner.  We sat down at the bar and ordered our drinks when this guy on my right told the bartender to put the drinks we ordered on his tab.  I looked at him and extended my hand to shake his hand to thank him for picking up our cocktails.  He said to me, “...anytime Steve, I didn’t know you were here for the convention...”!  I said to him that my name was Mike and that I was not here for a convention.  I further added that I hoped he would still pay for our drinks.  He said, “...stop kidding me, Steve, you’re always trying to be a comedian...”!  I’m not Steve I told him.  I pulled out my driver’s license to prove to him who I was.  After looking at my license and photo, he said I was the spitting image of one of his managing partners at his accounting firm.  I responded, “...you must mean my twin brother whose name is Steve.”

This guy bought us dinner and sat at his table.  I called my brother and he broke up laughing.  It’s a small world after all.  

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

snakeweasel said:

Well spending the last few days here in Orlando with the grandkids. Almost pulled the trigger and bought a house. It was at one of the larger 55+ communities which had several villa homes which they used for putting up visitors who would come in for a couple of days to try out the community. These were fully finished 2 bedrooms with a study for $190k sitting on a lake. These were great boys (5 of the 8 were sold in less than a week). We were thinking of using it as a rental until we were ready to retire then move into it when we retire in 8 to 10 years.

For various reasons we pulled the plug on it right after we were approved for the loan. But the search goes on. 

You don’t really want a home on a lakefront property here in Florida - alligators, iguanas, snakes, flooding, to name a few reasons.  Orlando is nice, but the traffic on I-4 and feeder roads and streets can be miserable due to all the attractions.

You might want to consider the Jacksonville area.  You get cooler temps in winter (40-50 at night) and daytime temps are comfy (65-75).  Lots of new development south and west of Jacksonville.

My daughter doesn't live on a lake and they have delt with all those you mentioned but the alligator. A few days ago we actually had to deal with a big snake at their front door. 

suydam

thebean said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

Okay. How many more names can we drop?

berri

In Florida many developments are set up so that you either back onto water or onto wooded preserve. So critters are always a possibility. But that is true for many other parts of the country too. I'd just go with what you like.

jmonroe

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

I was very close with Don Drysdale and his wife (Annie Meyers Drysdale) and their kids.  I remember being at his funeral at Forest Lawn near Chavez Ravine.  At the memorial service, I was seated right next to Sandy Koufax.  My son sat next to Roosevelt Greer who took up 2 seats due to his size.  All the current and retired Dodgers were in attendance and the Emcee was Vin Scully. Very moving experience.

Earlier this week I read a piece in the L.A. Times about a new book by ex-Dodger Ron Fairly. It contained a story about Drysdale that made me laugh:

"Once in Chicago, Drysdale was drinking all night with Cubs infielder Don Zimmer, a former teammate. Before the next day’s game, Zimmer told his teammates that Drysdale, who was the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, was surely still drunk.

Drysdale, a 6-foot-6 bear of a man who was feeling fine, heard about what Zimmer was saying and decided to milk it. When the Cubs came to bat in the bottom of the first, Drysdale acted like he couldn’t see catcher John Roseboro, who was in on the joke.

Roseboro stood and shouted, “Over here!’’ to Drysdale, who promptly threw his first pitch over the batter’s head and to the backstop.

From the Cubs’ dugout, Drysdale heard frightened players muttering that he was, indeed, drunk. Nobody wanted to bat. Ron Santo came to the plate and shouted, “Hey Don, can you see me?’’

Drysdale knocked a few guys down before throwing a complete-game victory and striking out 10. After, he invited Zimmer to dinner again. Zimmer refused."

In the early '70s Drysdale worked Montreal Expos games in his first job as a color commentator on their national CBC-TV broadcasts. He was very good at it and later moved to a similar role with ABC in the US.

Good story @ab.

Back in the late 50's and early 60's my uncle knew a guy that helped put on a dinner and gathering of present and past sport celebrities (around a dozen or so) at a night club in my town to help raise money for a veterans group. He was always given several free tickets (don't know what the real cost was) and he and his oldest son along with my father and my middle brother and I heard at least two hours of stories like that.

Just a quick story that I remember told by Joe Garagiola (one time catcher in the majors with a few teams and even spent a couple years with the Pirates). Joe was not a very good hitter but he was a pretty good catcher, so I was told.

One time Joe came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. He hit a double that scored two runs. If it wasn't for a slow poke who had to stop at third he would have had a bases clearing double. However, he was still very excited since he rarely got hits like that. Joe takes a big lead off second wanting to make sure he'll score if the guy at the plate gets a hit. Then because of his excitement he decides to steal third, forgetting that there is a guy on third. When Joe slides into third, the guy on third looks down and yells, "Joe, where the hell are you going? Joe looked up and said, "back to second if I can make it". He didn't and that killed the inning.

Heard stories like that, one after another after another. Left that place with my sides hurting due to laughing. One more part of my life I'll never see again.

jmonroe

jmonroe

abacomike said:

jmonroe said:

laurasdada said:

Shortly after moving to LA, my father was at a grocery store. While in the check out line, a woman pushed her cart into him. A bit annoyed he turned to see an attractive woman, he told her she looked much like Jamie Lee Curtis. Of course, it was Jamie Lee Curtis.
I have to remind my dad, he's in LA. He keeps seeing people who look like people. They are who they look like, dad!

You guys know I used to live in Palm Desert, CA from 1991-1998 and then northern Los Angeles from 1998-2000.

Palm Desert is one of several cities in the Coachella Valley which include Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio.  Many Movie and TV stars and professional athletes own winter homes in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta and a few in Palm Springs.  So during the winter, it is quite common to be seated in a restaurant and have a star or sports legend seated at the next table.

I also had a number of kids at the school I ran whose parents were pro athletes or TV/Movie stars.  I remember sitting next to Tim Conway and his wife at a restaurant in Rancho Mirage.  A few weeks later I was at a concert in Rancho Mirage and Tommy LaSorta was sitting right next to me.  It was quite common in the Coachella Valley to see stars walking on the street or at the movies or at restaurants.

I was very close with Don Drysdale and his wife (Annie Meyers Drysdale) and their kids.  I remember being at his funeral at Forest Lawn near Chavez Ravine.  At the memorial service, I was seated right next to Sandy Koufax.  My son sat next to Roosevelt Greer who took up 2 seats due to his size.  All the current and retired Dodgers were in attendance and the Emcee was Vin Scully. Very moving experience.

What I miss most about my years in Palm Desert is being with my son and my grandchildren.  But I also miss the laid back embiance of the Desert Cities and the non-challant pace of daily life among the stars intermingling in the lives of every-day people.

That's an interesting life you had @Mike, but did you ever have a very beautiful girl at a dept. store ask for your autograph because she thought you played the part of a spy in movies, even though she couldn't remember your stage name?

jmonroe

Nope, you got me there, jmonroe.

But I was taken for someone else back a few years ago - 31 years ago to be precise.  

I was making a presentation at a conference in New Orleans back in 1987.  The conference was at the Marriott Hotel.  My colleague and I were on the top floor of the hotel waiting to be seated for our reservations for dinner.  We sat down at the bar and ordered our drinks when this guy on my right told the bartender to put the drinks we ordered on his tab.  I looked at him and extended my hand to shake his hand to thank him for picking up our cocktails.  He said to me, “...anytime Steve, I didn’t know you were here for the convention...”!  I said to him that my name was Mike and that I was not here for a convention.  I further added that I hoped he would still pay for our drinks.  He said, “...stop kidding me, Steve, you’re always trying to be a comedian...”!  I’m not Steve I told him.  I pulled out my driver’s license to prove to him who I was.  After looking at my license and photo, he said I was the spitting image of one of his managing partners at his accounting firm.  I responded, “...you must mean my twin brother whose name is Steve.”

This guy bought us dinner and sat at his table.  I called my brother and he broke up laughing.  It’s a small world after all.  

Close but no cigar. I've had several free dinners in my life but only one request, so far, for an autograph.

jmonroe

tbirdmarco

 Thank you Jay Monroe and driver 100 we’ll see what happens or depending on how the second interview goes and very very important to pay will keep you all updated and thanks for the support everybody in here have an awesome weekend 

jmonroe

tbirdmarco said:

 Thank you Jay Monroe and driver 100 we’ll see what happens or depending on how the second interview goes and very very important to pay will keep you all updated and thanks for the support everybody in here have an awesome weekend 

No need for thanks @Marco, just give em hell on the interview. BTW, don't mention that you know @driver100 because I can't see where that will help you. All the others in here, yeah, be a name dropper.

jmonroe

ab348

jmonroe said:

Just a quick story that I remember told by Joe Garagiola (one time catcher in the majors with a few teams and even spent a couple years with the Pirates). Joe was not a very good hitter but he was a pretty good catcher, so I was told.

One time Joe came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. He hit a double that scored two runs. If it wasn't for a slow poke who had to stop at third he would have had a bases clearing double. However, he was still very excited since he rarely got hits like that. Joe takes a big lead off second wanting to make sure he'll score if the guy at the plate gets a hit. Then because of his excitement he decides to steal third, forgetting that there is a guy on third. When Joe slides into third, the guy on third looks down and yells, "Joe, where the hell are you going? Joe looked up and said, "back to second if I can make it". He didn't and that killed the inning.

Heard stories like that, one after another after another. Left that place with my sides hurting due to laughing. One more part of my life I'll never see again.

Baseball seems to generate more funny stories than any other sport. Maybe it is due to the slow pace of the game and the long 162-game season leading to lots of extended time on the road. Garagiola and Bob Uecker made careers out of baseball humor, a lot of it at their own expense. I bought Uecker's autobiography "Catcher in the Wry" when it came out in the early '80s. There is a section of pictures in it, one of which is a shot of him sliding into home plate with a determined look on his face. The caption always broke me up.

houdini1

jmonroe said:

tbirdmarco said:

 Thank you Jay Monroe and driver 100 we’ll see what happens or depending on how the second interview goes and very very important to pay will keep you all updated and thanks for the support everybody in here have an awesome weekend 

No need for thanks @Marco, just give em hell on the interview. BTW, don't mention that you know @driver100 because I can't see where that will help you. All the others in here, yeah, be a name dropper.

jmonroe

Ditto Marco.

snakeweasel

suydam said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

Okay. How many more names can we drop?

Well I did once date a lady who looked almost exactly like Julia Duffy. Does that count?

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

The screen cap below is from the brother of a friend of mine. Story is that dad was away on vacation, son invites 2 friends over then leaves them behind alone in the house when he goes out for a while. Hilarity ensures. Really sad.

I wonder if this was a similar story:



https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/08-honda-civic-runs-and-drives/6647089750.html

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

suydam said:

Newspapers: I have digital subscriptions. They are cheaper and I enjoy reading on my iPad.
Falls: Is something causing you to feel lightheaded and fall, @abacomike ? That’s rrally scary. When my Dad fell and broke his hip at the age of 86, that was it for independent living. And @jmonroe, “using your hands to break your fall” is the primary reason for broken wrists. I’ve done that twice now.

Do many elderly have a hip "break" and then they fall. The break is due to osteoporosis or other bone deterioration, but the victim doesn't realize which happened first. I was told that was what happened with my brother a few years ago. He had been in a nursing home without much activity and the bone deteriorated from not being used to carry normal weight, in my opinion.

The break before the fall happens often due to osteoporosis. Exersize can mitigate it somewhat but it's the chemical leaching of the calcium that weakens the bone. My grandmother had her hip break as she was walking down the stairs and my father's went while playing basketball with my kids. Fortunately these days they can slap in a new hip and off you go.

roadburner

tbirdmarco said:

 Thank you Jay Monroe and driver 100 we’ll see what happens or depending on how the second interview goes and very very important to pay will keep you all updated and thanks for the support everybody in here have an awesome weekend 

Best of luck to you!

jmonroe

snakeweasel said:

suydam said:

thebean said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

Okay. How many more names can we drop?

Well I did once date a lady who looked almost exactly like Julia Duffy. Does that count?

Talk about someone with bad eyes.

jmonroe

roadburner

jmonroe said:

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

I was very close with Don Drysdale and his wife (Annie Meyers Drysdale) and their kids.  I remember being at his funeral at Forest Lawn near Chavez Ravine.  At the memorial service, I was seated right next to Sandy Koufax.  My son sat next to Roosevelt Greer who took up 2 seats due to his size.  All the current and retired Dodgers were in attendance and the Emcee was Vin Scully. Very moving experience.

Earlier this week I read a piece in the L.A. Times about a new book by ex-Dodger Ron Fairly. It contained a story about Drysdale that made me laugh:

"Once in Chicago, Drysdale was drinking all night with Cubs infielder Don Zimmer, a former teammate. Before the next day’s game, Zimmer told his teammates that Drysdale, who was the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, was surely still drunk.

Drysdale, a 6-foot-6 bear of a man who was feeling fine, heard about what Zimmer was saying and decided to milk it. When the Cubs came to bat in the bottom of the first, Drysdale acted like he couldn’t see catcher John Roseboro, who was in on the joke.

Roseboro stood and shouted, “Over here!’’ to Drysdale, who promptly threw his first pitch over the batter’s head and to the backstop.

From the Cubs’ dugout, Drysdale heard frightened players muttering that he was, indeed, drunk. Nobody wanted to bat. Ron Santo came to the plate and shouted, “Hey Don, can you see me?’’

Drysdale knocked a few guys down before throwing a complete-game victory and striking out 10. After, he invited Zimmer to dinner again. Zimmer refused."

In the early '70s Drysdale worked Montreal Expos games in his first job as a color commentator on their national CBC-TV broadcasts. He was very good at it and later moved to a similar role with ABC in the US.

Good story @ab.

Back in the late 50's and early 60's my uncle knew a guy that helped put on a dinner and gathering of present and past sport celebrities (around a dozen or so) at a night club in my town to help raise money for a veterans group. He was always given several free tickets (don't know what the real cost was) and he and his oldest son along with my father and my middle brother and I heard at least two hours of stories like that.

Just a quick story that I remember told by Joe Garagiola (one time catcher in the majors with a few teams and even spent a couple years with the Pirates). Joe was not a very good hitter but he was a pretty good catcher, so I was told.

One time Joe came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. He hit a double that scored two runs. If it wasn't for a slow poke who had to stop at third he would have had a bases clearing double. However, he was still very excited since he rarely got hits like that. Joe takes a big lead off second wanting to make sure he'll score if the guy at the plate gets a hit. Then because of his excitement he decides to steal third, forgetting that there is a guy on third. When Joe slides into third, the guy on third looks down and yells, "Joe, where the hell are you going? Joe looked up and said, "back to second if I can make it". He didn't and that killed the inning.

Heard stories like that, one after another after another. Left that place with my sides hurting due to laughing. One more part of my life I'll never see again.

jmonroe

Last January my son and I had the privilege of interviewing racing drivers David Hobbs and Brian Redman. It was just fascinating. I also spent a few minutes talking with Boris Said at another BMW Club event- he's a character as well.

driver100

thebean said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

And, don't forget how women were swooning over him because he was driving a black Altima.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

thebean said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

And, don't forget how women were swooning over him because he was driving a black Altima.

I'm modest enough to admit that some of that "swooning" was because of the shirt I was wearing.

jmonroe

driver100

Just saw Mission Impossible Fallout....in 3D. Pretty spectacular car and motorcycle scenes, especially when driving into traffic to get away. If the stories get any more complex I won't have a chance of figuring out who is working for whom.

driver100

jmonroe said:

tbirdmarco said:

 Thank you Jay Monroe and driver 100 we’ll see what happens or depending on how the second interview goes and very very important to pay will keep you all updated and thanks for the support everybody in here have an awesome weekend 

No need for thanks @Marco, just give em hell on the interview. BTW, don't mention that you know @driver100 because I can't see where that will help you. All the others in here, yeah, be a name dropper.

jmonroe

Marco....a Dean martin impersonator won't have much credibility....I wouldn't use that one.

driver100

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

jmonroe

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

tbirdmarco said:

 Thank you Jay Monroe and driver 100 we’ll see what happens or depending on how the second interview goes and very very important to pay will keep you all updated and thanks for the support everybody in here have an awesome weekend 

No need for thanks @Marco, just give em hell on the interview. BTW, don't mention that you know @driver100 because I can't see where that will help you. All the others in here, yeah, be a name dropper.

jmonroe

Marco....a Dean martin impersonator won't have much credibility....I wouldn't use that one.

Careful, some posters have more credibility than others. You don't want to call for a vote do you?

jmonroe

jmonroe

driver100 said:

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

Strange...I'd rather get together with some of the women golfers.

jmonroe

abacomike

snakeweasel said:

suydam said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

Okay. How many more names can we drop?

Well I did once date a lady who looked almost exactly like Julia Duffy. Does that count?

Who is Julia Duffy?

abacomike

driver100 said:

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

You haven’t met me yet - when you do, you’ll have your story to tell others! 

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

thebean said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

And, don't forget how women were swooning over him because he was driving a black Altima.

I drove a Black Altima to Burlington VT on Thursday. Very nice, 41.6 mpg but no swooning girls.

I have a "This could only happen to Mike" story. An hour ago I was watching TV with my wife upstairs when I hear a female voice down in the living room. I go to the head of the stairs an see a middle age woman standing there who had just walked in to my house. I said "who the heck are you?" And she said something about looking for her cousin and "maybe" she was in the wrong house. I said " so you're not sure of the house and you just walk in?" I told her in no uncertain terms to get out and never come back. She left and got into a Honda Civic where a younger male driver was waiting. I got the plate and made a report to the police after they left.

I then got visits from two different police teams who went out and located the pair and determined that they were indeed looking for a particular address on my street. They said I did the right thing because often burglars will knock on your door and enter if there's no response. They send in an innocent looking person who can claim confusion if confronted. If the coast is clear the heavy lifter then comes in to steal your stuff.

For 35 years I've never locked my doors even when I'm away from home but I guess that will have to change.

tjc78

I found this hysterical today.... we got to our vacation rental and had to unpack the cars (ours and my moms). I did mine first, then my wife went out to start my moms. I told my wife where to find it (first spot outside the lower level covered parking).

I walk out about five minutes later to her pacing looking for my moms car. She is like where is it? I said you are standing right behind it. She said that’s a RAV4, your mom drives a Venza.... um no honey that’s gone for two years and was silver. The RAV is charcoal grey. What’s funnier is my mom lives with us and this car is parked in front of the house all time.

oldfarmer50

abacomike said:

snakeweasel said:

suydam said:

thebean said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

Okay. How many more names can we drop?

Well I did once date a lady who looked almost exactly like Julia Duffy. Does that count?

Who is Julia Duffy?

She played a secondary character on an old Bob Newhart show.

oldfarmer50

tjc78 said:

I found this hysterical today.... we got to our vacation rental and had to unpack the cars (ours and my moms). I did mine first, then my wife went out to start my moms. I told my wife where to find it (first spot outside the lower level covered parking).

I walk out about five minutes later to her pacing looking for my moms car. She is like where is it? I said you are standing right behind it. She said that’s a RAV4, your mom drives a Venza.... um no honey that’s gone for two years and was silver. The RAV is charcoal grey. What’s funnier is my mom lives with us and this car is parked in front of the house all time.

Not a car lover like her husband huh? Why didn't she hit the fob to toot the horn?

abacomike

oldfarmer50 said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

And, don't forget how women were swooning over him because he was driving a black Altima.

I drove a Black Altima to Burlington VT on Thursday. Very nice, 41.6 mpg but no swooning girls. I have a "This could only happen to Mike" story. An hour ago I was watching TV with my wife upstairs when I hear a female voice down in the living room. I go to the head of the stairs an see a middle age woman standing there who had just walked in to my house. I said "who the heck are you?" And she said something about looking for her cousin and "maybe" she was in the wrong house. I said " so you're not sure of the house and you just walk in?" I told her in no uncertain terms to get out and never come back. She left and got into a Honda Civic where a younger male driver was waiting. I got the plate and made a report to the police after they left. I then got visits from two different police teams who went out and located the pair and determined that they were indeed looking for a particular address on my street. They said I did the right thing because often burglars will knock on your door and enter if there's no response. They send in an innocent looking person who can claim confusion if confronted. If the coast is clear the heavy lifter then comes in to steal your stuff. For 35 years I've never locked my doors even when I'm away from home but I guess that will have to change.

Definitely a “Mike Story”! 

abacomike

driver100 said:

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

Driver, you would like this story.  When I was living in Palm Desert, I would often go to Price Club, the forerunner of Costco and Sam’s Club and others.  While waiting in line to check out, this tall man, dressed in white shorts and white golf shirt, accidentally bumped me from behind with his shopping cart.  I turned around and in an Australian accent he says, “...so sorry mate, wasn’t paying attention.”  I responded, “...you can bump into me anytime you want, Mr. Laver.  Gd’day to you sir!”  Yep, it was Rod Laver and his wife. 

sda

The street the I live on may be 3 blocks long connecting with a street at both ends. It has a slight incline from one end to the other and the speed limit is 20 mph. We have lots of kids, people walking dogs, riding bikes, etc. through out the neighborhood. It really gripes me that many feel the need to accelerate briskly up the street at 40 mph or more just because it is a slight hill/incline. It isn't like its Powers Run Rd that's near Pittsburgh that is very steep and about 3/4 mile long and no houses on either side! Back in the late 70s unless you had something special, if you could do 40 up that hill you were moving. Today's cars flatten that hill.

nyccarguy

Hey guys!  We are back from Cape Cod!  Mike - sorry about the nasty spill, but you’ll get better and come back stronger.  You ALWAYS do.  It’s nice to be home.  I had to make a pit stop for dinner before we got back.

jmonroe

sda said:

The street the I live on may be 3 blocks long connecting with a street at both ends. It has a slight incline from one end to the other and the speed limit is 20 mph. We have lots of kids, people walking dogs, riding bikes, etc. through out the neighborhood. It really gripes me that many feel the need to accelerate briskly up the street at 40 mph or more just because it is a slight hill/incline. It isn't like its Powers Run Rd that's near Pittsburgh that is very steep and about 3/4 mile long and no houses on either side! Back in the late 70s unless you had something special, if you could do 40 up that hill you were moving. Today's cars flatten that hill.

I'd say you were a little off topic with that post. I thought you were going to say you met a celebrity while chugging up that hill.

jmonroe

driver100

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

Strange...I'd rather get together with some of the women golfers.

jmonroe

Lady tennis players is what you probably mean....I know how the mind starts slipping when you get up there. But, yeh, there are a few women tennis and golf players I wouldn't mind chatting with. Not Serena though (too scary especially when she gets angry).

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

You haven’t met me yet - when you do, you’ll have your story to tell others

! 

True. The guy whose life is one adventure after another. Kind of like Mr Magoo, only he avoids trouble and you always land in trouble.

imidazol97

I had a lady walk into the back of my apartment through the sliding screen patio doors on the bedroom. Turned out she was "older" and had come from the American Legion that was in an adjacent lot to the 12 1-story apartment units. She wouldn't leave. I had to call the police to come get her out.

To my knowledge, she wasn't anyone famous.

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

Driver, you would like this story. &nbsp

;When I was living in Palm Desert, I would often go to Price Club, the forerunner of Costco and Sam’s Club and others.  While waiting in line to check out, this tall man, dressed in white shorts and white golf shirt, accidentally bumped me from behind with his shopping cart.  I turned around and in an Australian accent he says, “...so sorry mate, wasn’t paying attention.”  I responded, “...you can bump into me anytime you want, Mr. Laver.  Gd’day to you sir!”  Yep, it was Rod Laver and his wife

. 

Yes, that I would like. I'd also like to meet Paul McCartney, but I don't feel awe. He has accomplished a lot in his life, and he has talent, plus worked hard to get where he did. I'd have a lot of questions for him, especially what the early days were like. I always thought I would like to meet Johnny Carson too.......he had this quick sharp sense of humor, and he played tennis on his own court a lot of the time...I would have liked to play tennis with him.

driver100

oldfarmer. After tennis the guys go for coffee...usually about 6 of us. Of 6 people, 2 had their houses broken into while they were in the backyard. They left the front door open assuming no one will come in while they are at home.
About 20 years ago we were living on a 99 acre farm (tree farm planted by the government, and rented some acres to a farmer to get tax deductions). We always kept a loaded rifle hidden in the bedroom....it was up high on a ledge. I could shoot if I really had to, ....but, my wife said she was a good shot. I believed her and I never lost sleep over worrying....

jmonroe

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

I don't remember actually meeting any celebrity or an important politician. There are a few that I may like or admire....but, to me, most are just regular people that happen to be famous. A lot of them - I wouldn't have the time or patience to bother talking to them. Now, a famous tennis player like Roger Federer, for him I would try to make some time in my busy schedule for a little get together.

Strange...I'd rather get together with some of the women golfers.

jmonroe

Lady tennis players is what you probably mean....I know how the mind starts slipping when you get up there. But, yeh, there are a few women tennis and golf players I wouldn't mind chatting with. Not Serena though (too scary especially when she gets angry).

Yes, I meant lady tennis. See, that's what I mean about my credibility, I even have it when I don't.

jmonroe

suydam

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

thebean said:

@jmonroe, your story definitely tops Mike's story. A fake Dean Martin is sexier than a real Don Drysdale.

And, don't forget how women were swooning over him because he was driving a black Altima.

I drove a Black Altima to Burlington VT on Thursday. Very nice, 41.6 mpg but no swooning girls.

I have a "This could only happen to Mike" story. An hour ago I was watching TV with my wife upstairs when I hear a female voice down in the living room. I go to the head of the stairs an see a middle age woman standing there who had just walked in to my house. I said "who the heck are you?" And she said something about looking for her cousin and "maybe" she was in the wrong house. I said " so you're not sure of the house and you just walk in?" I told her in no uncertain terms to get out and never come back. She left and got into a Honda Civic where a younger male driver was waiting. I got the plate and made a report to the police after they left.

I then got visits from two different police teams who went out and located the pair and determined that they were indeed looking for a particular address on my street. They said I did the right thing because often burglars will knock on your door and enter if there's no response. They send in an innocent looking person who can claim confusion if confronted. If the coast is clear the heavy lifter then comes in to steal your stuff.

For 35 years I've never locked my doors even when I'm away from home but I guess that will have to change.

So it was just a person looking for the right house, your door was open, and she came in to check if she was in the right place. They weren’t burglars and you didn’t have to be rude. You could have just asked nicely what she was doing and then directed her to the right address. No need for drama or bothering the police. No need to lock your doors in the future either as it was not a thwarted burglary. Just a mistaken address. I’ve done that many times myself.

thebean

I almost forgot - I have John Voight's Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

Mr_Shiftright

Let's see---I actually met Michael Douglas. Also Rita Moreno--remember her? I saw Meg Ryan in a bookstore in Aspen, chatted with Dick Cavett (can you believe he hooked up with Janis Joplin?) ....ummm......I think that's it.

Oh, I met the guy who discovered the quark but you probably wouldn't know his name.

Oh, Stephen Stills, wearing a full length chinchilla coat (of course). Also one of Sam Walton's kids.

dino001

thebean said:

I almost forgot - I have John Voight's Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

The architect?

jipster

dino001 said:

I almost forgot - I have John Voight's Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

The architect?

No, think he was a dental student of Tim Wattleys. You're thinking of Art Vandealay. :-)

nyccarguy

jipster said:

dino001 said:

thebean said:

I almost forgot - I have John Voight's Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

The architect?

No, think he was a dental student of Tim Wattleys. You're thinking of Art Vandealay. :-)




"My dentist, Dr Watley. I think he converted to Judaism just for the jokes."

"This offends you as a Jewish person?"

"No. It offends me as a comedian!"

andres3

I've played black jack at tables with the Counting Crows and Clint Black.

The Clint Black table was a winner. Both were performing at those casinos that same night.

As to cars, the TTS has 26,000 miles, the Kia 23,500.

Nothing major to report, both cars seem to be reliable. The TTS gets closer to the EPA fuel economy ratings than the Optima though (in a good way; advantage Audi). This is bad for business on Kia's part, as I hold gas mileage to be important, and now the trust is forever broken with Kia.

tjc78

the trust is forever broken with Kia.

How much off is it? Our Enclave doesn’t get the EPA #s either, but certainly not the cars fault... more heavy right foot.

abacomike

thebean said:

I almost forgot - I have John Voight's Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

Bean, THAT’S REALLY FUNNY!  For those posters who didn’t watch Seinfeld or who weren’t born yet, Bean’s mention of Jon Voight’s Chrysler LeBaron was the subject of an entire Seinfeld episode.  HILARIOUS! 

abacomike

Mr_Shiftright said:

Let's see---I actually met Michael Douglas. Also Rita Moreno--remember her? I saw Meg Ryan in a bookstore in Aspen, chatted with Dick Cavett (can you believe he hooked up with Janis Joplin?) ....ummm......I think that's it. Oh, I met the guy who discovered the quark but you probably wouldn't know his name. Oh, Stephen Stills, wearing a full length chinchilla coat (of course). Also one of Sam Walton's kids.

I have another one, Shifty.  I remember this vividly - one of the few things I do remember from my early boyhood.  On a Tuesday night when I was 8 years old, my brother and I were awakened by our parents at 9:30 PM (on school nights we were in bed by 8:00 PM) and were told we were going with my grandpa to Miami that night on an Eastern Airlines Super G Constellation.  They had packed our things while we were at school that day.  My Mom’s parents lived in Coral Gables (Miami) at the time and grandpa was in New York on a business trip.

My grandpa took us to Idlewild Airport (forerunner of JFK Airport) and we boarded the plane.  I remember that our departure was delayed a bit (scheduled for 12:00 midnight) as we were waiting for a passenger to arrive.  Back then, Night Flights were less expensive than day flights.  We finally took off and during the 4-1/2 hour flight, grandpa took us back to the tail section of the plane which was a lounge in those days.  As we entered the lounge, Milton Berle was sitting there smoking his cigar and drinking a cocktail.  He shook our hands and gave us each an autographed picture of himself 

For those of you old enough to remember his weekly TV program, he was aired live from New York every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM.  So he was late for the flight because of the long drive from Manhattan to Idlewild - no interstates back then.  Very exciting for both me and my brother.