"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

5K Qs said:
No wonder you were frustrated! :thumbdn::thumbdn:
Are you back to normal now?
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I hope so, it just seemed to be in that one thread :confused:

BigBiscuit said:
I just tried to post. Copied a pic from photobucket, changed tabs back to BF and my long response was gone. Happened earlier today too. :mad:
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Bad news Bob, sounds like some bad Gremlins about :thumbdn:
 
My wife and I had a nice early dinner (my belated birthday dinner) at a local place called Grits and Groceries this afternoon. Carolina shrimp and grits with ham gravy, Gullah style. Topped off with a fried apple pie (with a little moonshine for flavor) and homemade cinnamon ice cream. It's an old country store that was renovated by a couple (both chefs) that had worked for Emeril in New Orleans. Laid back atmosphere, great food and company. They serve some really fine food at reasonable prices. It's in an out of the way place but is worth the trip.
 
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Raymond1000 said:
I write my posts on a word processor. If the forum eats my entry, I copy my work and try again. :)
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Great idea, I've done this when my internet connection is weak. Or just copy it from the quick reply box on BF just before you click the "post quick reply" button.
 
If my post is very long at all, I highlight all the text and copy it before hitting "post reply". I have also found that always clicking "go advanced" and then "post reply" results in much fewer errors or double posts. If you get the dreaded "database error", you can paste your copied text to a notepad and post it later, using "go advanced" and then reply. Actually, the forum has been behaving better lately, at least for me. Watch out for a few minutes after midnight though. ;):)
 
Primble said:
If my post is very long at all, I highlight all the text and copy it before hitting "post reply". I have also found that always clicking "go advanced" and then "post reply" results in much fewer errors or double posts. If you get the dreaded "database error", you can paste your copied text to a notepad and post it later, using "go advanced" and then reply. Actually, the forum has been behaving better lately, at least for me. Watch out for a few minutes after midnight though. ;):)
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+ 5K! That "go advanced" hint was something Crazy Canuck suggested to me soon after I became an official member of the Forums, and I haven't had a double post ever again since I followed his advice. As Primble suggests, it also gives you a final chance to proofread your post before submitting, which helps me cut down on silly typos.

- GT
 
Meakos second Law of forum posting states:- "The length and complexity of the post is directly proportional to chance of it being lost in cyberspace provided humour and wit remain constant."
In laymans terms this means that if its a massively hilarious anecdote that takes 20 minutes to type it will likely be lost shortly after you hit "post reply".
Its happened to me several times which is why I formulated the Meakos Laws to remind me to be ever vigilant for gremlins and bad juju. Its kind of science mixed with pure BS but it works.;)
 
Sad but true, Meako.

I just composed one of the wittiest anecdotes you would ever have the fortune to read. Hilarious, and yet thought provoking. I dare even say touching. Sadly, my words of wisdom are lost to the ether. You will just have to take my word for it.
 
Now let me prove it.
On Saturday SWMBO decided that because both boys were at Scout camp we were to go out for a meal together. great idea .
Being English my wifes favourite food is of course Chicken Tikka Masala.
There is an Indian restaurant in North Wollongong that we had not yet visited. It is overlooking the beach with a balcony and I had heard good reports .
I checked the website -they were open so I rang to book a table. Here's where it all goes pear shaped or should I say Samosa shaped? There was no answer but a machine suggested to leave name and number and desired time of dining and the call would be returned to confirm the details shortly.(copy here)
Having received no call back we parked near North gong surf club and walked up to the restaurant at 6.30 as specified in my message.
We entered the half empty establishment after deciding that SWMBO did not want to sit on the balcony as it was a bit chilly and she had not brought jacket.
We were asked if we had a booking. I explained the fact that I had rung 3 hours ago but no one had returned my call. Also that we would be not taking all night to eat so perhaps we could get a table for 2 over there (in a large vacant part of the room). From this point it was necessary to fetch another staff member who asked all the same questions with the suggestion that we could sit on the balcony.NO we want to sit inside if that's OK as its a bit chilly out there. I now noticed that both couples sitting on the deck followed the same pattern. The men were smiling and cheerful with a beer and plates of yummy looking Indian tucker on the table and the women were hunched up in a cold, shivery posture because they hadn't brought their jackets,neither were their cigarettes keeping them warm(another reason for not wanting to sit out there) (copyhere)
While the two work experience kids blithered about with the fact my name wasn't written in the book I asked again if we could sit over there pointing at one of at least 4 empty tables.
One moment please. The mangeress comes out. Asks all the questions again about bookings to which I patiently although starting to fray at the seams explained AGAIN. Did we want to sit out side?
No don't worry about it. We walked out.Went up the road a bit found a another cafe restaurant with only one other couple in it. Were welcomed in by a beautiful friendly waitress. OK the table was a bit wobbly but we had a delicious Tapas platter, a nice glass of wine and all up a pleasant dining out experience.(copy here)
We paid the quite reasonble bill and were warmly fare welled by the waitress. As we walked back to the car my phone rang just outside the first restaurant.
IT WAS THEM-ringing to confirm my booking which I attempted to make 5 and a half hours earlier for a time that had already at this stage elapsed by 2 and a half hours!! I could not be bothered to explain any of it to them again standing out side their establishment so I hung up and kept walking.
Ineptitude has a new name.The Mango Tree.
Actually having read that its not all that funny -just sad really. Oh nearly forgot-
Meakos third law states:- "The time taken to compose a post is inversely proprtional to the length of time you will remain logged on."
Also proven to be true by the fact that I was logged off by the time I finished typing .
 
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r8shell said:
Sad but true, Meako.

I just composed one of the wittiest anecdotes you would ever have the fortune to read. Hilarious, and yet thought provoking. I dare even say touching. Sadly, my words of wisdom are lost to the ether. You will just have to take my word for it.
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I will take your word for it r8shell because
I'm laughing like a drunken Kookaburra yet at the same time find my self in a cognitive ,philosophical mood overcome with grief at the harsh reality of life on board the good ship bladeforums.:D
 
I met him. Basil Fawlty. Or at least his prototype. Oddly enough, in Australia, and in NSW even.

My SWMBO and I were in Oz visiting her rellies. (Her mom was from Bundaburg in Queensland and married a US serviceman at the end of WWII. I, in turn took the SWMBO from the US to Canada 46 years ago). We were trying to determine where SWMBO's great grandfather began his adventures as a cattleman in Australia, and in that pursuit found ourselves looking for overnight accommodation somewhere north of Tamworth.

We encountered a suitable looking motel with a restaurant, and turned in. The proprietor, who was hunched over his counter in a somewhat despondent manner, brightened up considerably as we entered, the word “customers!” doubtless flashing in his mind.

The empty restaurant, his immediate interest and the fact that we were in a hostelry (let alone the fact that he was tall and slender), made me immediately think of the aforementioned Basil Fawlty.

I told him that we would like to spend the night in his establishment and take our meals there too, which, if memory serves me right, had him rubbing his hands together in sort of a hand washing sort of a motion. I said that this plan of action was contingent upon being able to connect to the internet in our room - (buisness). This was about 12 or so years ago when wi fi was pretty much non existent, it all had to be done by dial up. At the time at least there was more than one cable end that connected to the telephone line, but we only had one, so the outlet in the room had to fit that one.

“I am sure that there will be no problem with that sir” and we proceeded to the room. Well the cable wouldn't work. When I went back to the desk and reported this fact, he really started to resemble Mr. Fawlty. He began to bluster and led me around to several other rooms in a very distraught and Fawltyesk manner taking long steps and flailing his arms around. On our fruitless tour, he commented on the poor economy and how customers were fewer and fewer, attempting, it seemed, to make our stay at his motel the key to his survival.

I began glancing around, expecting Manuel or possibly Sybil to put in an appearance at any moment!

Our business was (and is) very dependent upon being in touch with our customers via e mail daily, so in spite of his impending doom, I was forced to regretfully inform him that we would have to seek accommodation elsewhere.

This seemed to have the effect of removing all of the bones in his body, and he just deflated! There he was hunched over his counter again as we drove off.

I almost said, “Goodbye Mr. Fawlty!”
 
Monday, March 30th, is Jack Black's Birthday! :eek:
It's already started in U.K!

Happy Birthday, Jack!! May you have another 100 of them!! :thumbup:
You have taken us on many knifely tours, much to our pleasure, and edification!! We thank you, immensely, and wish you all the best. I will tip a nice bitter ale to your health at dinner tonight!!
:D
 
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Hear! Hear! Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Jack!! :thumbup::cool::p:cool::thumbup:
Isn't it a special birthday of some kind, since you're turning 30 on the 30th?? :confused::eek::D
As you get older, I hope you stay as sharp as your knives. ;)

(Thanks for the heads up, Charlie!!)

- GT
 
Happy Birthday, Jack! Your photo essays, knowledge, insights, wisdom and discernment are legendary on this porch! For your birthday, I bequeath to you the title of Raconteur Extraordinaire of the Order of Mark Twain. :thumbup::) Keep your Crown Lifter/Radio Jack/Cap Lifter handy today.
 
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