August 11-15 2013

You tell me ? I think the power of advertising goes a long way in what one thinks they are gonna get and what they ACTUALLY get. Maybe I learned something today, about that ...

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Blog Aug 11-15 2013     Want to read this in a different language ? Change the TO field to your own country and click the TRANSLATE button after going HERE FARAWAY MEMORIES I normally see Chris on Sundays. Usually we go out someplace to eat. I was really excited all week when I got this cool flyer in my mail. It showed an awesome oriental building and the prices looked really affordable ! OH MAN did I wanna go bad !! Chris finally agreed we could check it out but kept smiling at me all the while. Finally I asked him what was up and he said you are so gullible. I said why ? Then I found out as we pulled into the parking lot. What you see and what you get As you can see the actual restaurant was nothing like the beautiful photo they showed. I threw their flyer down on the floor board and said that's not fair ! Chris said it's called puffery. I asked what ? He said in advertising, they show you something really good and then you get less of what you really expected. Man that was disappointing ! I was so looking forward to, well, I dunno, SOMETHING, besides a little hole in the wall place like this. So - anyways, we went to the regular Chinese restaurant we go to, Szechuan's and I got my usual Sesame Chicken. After that I asked him what he has on his schedule. Now sometimes we go to Lowe's and he picks up some potting soil or gardening stuff, and - if the weather isn't over 100 degrees, we go out in the back and do some yardwork. Usually I sweep the deck free of the leaves and he mows the grass. Me sweeping Chris's deck But - today it was a really hot day ! And while I despise Summer heat, I knew we were gonna do something special today. And sure enough, Chris offered for us to go to the Flea Market. At first I thought it was the outside one that was down HWY 80 I've been to several times, but no - this is the one I hadn't been to since I was 12. It seems so faraway in my memories since I had been there ... But things had changed ! It now cost $8 to park your car anywhere near the place ! That was ridiculous ! I know perfectly well when me and Mom walked there that many years ago (cause she lived close by) you could park anywheres you wanted to. So Chris drove around trying to find a free parking lot. And then we came across an odd sight. A HUGE parking lot with no cars in it that had raised concrete barriers all the ways around it ! There was NO WAY anyone could possibly park there with the concrete posts cemented into place all around the entrances to it and yet - it was a perfectly good and valid parking lot though ! And then it hit me. They did this DELIBERATELY so people would be forced to pay $8 to park in the other 3-lots we came across ! Geez, how greedy can someone get ?? Wow, anyways Chris drove about 2-blocks away from those crazy parking lots and we found a space to park. Then we walked over to check out the Flea Market. And, since I was there that many years ago, not much had changed. There was no air-conditioning. The only thing to prevent the stifling 100 degree heat were a series of box-fans placed strategically throughout the area. It's always been thattaways. And there were still guns and pistols you could buy right at the entrance and the stalls looked familiar. Even the far stall all the way in the back right which was what I called the BEST was overflowing with all kindsa good stuff as usual, but they had put up a barrier showing they were closed. Chris said we got there a little late so some of the stalls were closing. Anyways, we worked our way around counter-clockwise. And, we looked around. As you know I collect Teddy Bears so I started looking for those. I wasn't having much luck when I finally found a stand that had several, but they weren't Teddy Bears, stuffed toy dogs, cats, and other animals. Then I saw a box in the corner and started poking around. I found a heavy one near the bottom that apparently was battery-powered, as the bottom was open and the flap was hanging loose with no batteries in it. Me holding him in my hands and I'm back at my home. I have so many different kinds of Teddy Bears now that I try to be super choosy when I get a new one, and outside of the the singing Patriotic one that I got from the Antique Shop a few weeks ago, this one was definitely unique. I asked the lady there how much, she said $2, so I said fine. I later found out all it needed was batteries and it worked just fine - minus the Birthday hat - tho I new I could improvise for that. Then we came across this wicked cool knife display ! While I would never want to own any of these, I thought THIS one was particularly interesting in the hilt design ! Chris took this photo at the exhibit Then I saw one of my Dad's old friends working one of the stands ! She was MENSAN and she knew me cause she called me by my name. She told me that Dottie (my Dad's wife), was traveling the world, and - I can understand that. We talked for a bit, then Chris said he had enough of the heat in there and we headed out. We stopped by to get something cold and good, a frozen treat at the local 7-11 store near where he lived. Then we finished up watching the new Conan The Barbarian movie as we had only gotten halfway through it last week, and I will tell you now, it is AWESOME so you should totally see it ! And then I asked about, "Pagemaster," the movie cause I know I was playing that on the SNES recently. And, curiously enough, he had it ! And we watched that all the way through and - wow - it was really bad. Most of it was animated with only a bit of live action in the beginning and end, but the animation style was cheap like Hanna Barbera, definitely not good enough for a full motion picture. And the story was pretty weak and silly - no re-watch value. Anyways, we stopped by Albertson's on the way home and I picked up what I surely thought was as close to the neato rainbow pops that we picked up at that convenience store earlier. Me holding the box in one frame and one of the pops in the other You tell me, are we seeing a pattern here ? I think the power of advertising goes a long way in what you think you are gonna get and what you ACTUALLY wind up getting. Maybe I learned something today, about that China Pagoda restaurant and these pops. You aren't necessarily gonna get what is in the picture. Hmm ... And, that's all for now ! I'm gonna get in the habit of bringing my digital camera with me when I see Chris so I can have more neat stuff to show you later ... Return back HOME   You are Earth Visitor #

Reviews

[Mark]

So very true about advertising. Promise paradise and deliver some cardboard cutout version designed to max out profits. I am eating in a cracker barrel restaurant where they promise "down home" food and deliver processed crap. Very disappointing. Good write my friend.

[dw817]

Well now Mark, I kinna like Cracker Barrel, minju the only thing I've ever gotten there is the Chicken Fried Steak and the Egg Sandwich. I think I mostly like their gift shop tho. That's really pretty and I've taken photos of their teddy bear and Christmas displays from time to time.
http://bit.ly/1cLWbqX
http://bit.ly/16uucbO

Anyways, starting Tuesday I'll start a thoughtful little photo series, "What You Get" which shows the outer package, and what you actually get inside. I guess I sorta need to do this since we're getting gypped all the time in life it seems.

You want crappy food, I NEVER got good food (and I went 3x altogether) to Applebee's. Really cute name but MAN that food is just plain awful. :6

[Mark]

I like Applebee's more than I like Cracker Barrel, CB's food claims to be home made when it's just processed crap out of a box.

Denny's is very under rated, they have great food. I've never had a bad meal at Denny's.

[dw817]

Ohh, I see what you're saying now. Cracker Barrel doesn't have homemade food. Hmm, well, that's sorta like saying Grandy's doesn't make homemade food either. Yah, they really don't. :D And I have gotten sick at Grandy's before.

I think the only place I've eaten where the food was REALLY homemade was Potager's Cafe.
http://www.potagercafe.com/

Never had any problems with Denny's, they got great food. I tell ya where Carlos takes me almost every week tho, the prices are really reasonable and I never had any problems, of all places was Wendy's. Usually I just get a basic baked potato and a chicken sandwich there. Carlos always gets a salad.
http://bit.ly/1eSq2tN

Chris takes me occasionally to a place called "Szechuan" and I almost always order the Sesame Chicken.
http://bit.ly/17UHmdR

[Mark]

I guess what I'm saying about Cracker Barrel is they want you to believe they have old time down home cooking but its all packaged crap.

[dw817]

Well, some people do like Cracker Barrell, minju, some people like Golden Corral too so - tastes change, no pun intended. Of course if folk really want authentic down home cooking, they better go down and back home and cook it for themselves. It's the only way to be sure. :)

But - I dunno, what do you think is the best place you've eaten at ? Me ? I would have to say East Gourmet.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/east-gourmet-buffet-fort-worth
Of course I only go for the Sushi which is prepared well. The rest of it is -adequate- compared to most other Chinese restaurants I've been in.

[Mark]

I love chinese buffet! But I'd have to say the best restaursnt I've been in is Maggianos. Its family style italian. Excellent food. And they make this cappacino with cinnamon and an italian liquer sprinkled on it. Deliciouso!

[dw817]

My, that does sound good ! The fancy restaurant of choice I like is Olive Garden and I treat everyone to there for my Birthday and I usually get the Tiramisu.

[Mark]

Ya that is a good place too. But they were votwd one of the most unhealthy restaurants in America lol.

[dw817]

Olive Garden ? Really ... Hmm ... Well, where do you suggest I treat everyone for a Birthday lunch this year ? I can try a different place - that would be fine.

[Mark]

Buca di peppo! Ask for the Pope room

[Ellie EM]

That knife looks cool! :D

[dw817]

The ornamental design I believe is of the hilt. I'm not very fond of weapons so I didn't even touch it. There were several knives there. I was attracted to this one of course because of the artistry, likely the same as you. :)

[Ellie EM]

I don't touch weapons myself! xD but, I guess I agree with u: I like it because of the art that is on it. :)

[dw817]

There is an artist you might be interested of whom I became familiar with years ago called, "Boris Vallejo." he does epic pictures similar to this,
http://bit.ly/13DGb6D

[Ellie EM]

Kay thanks! :D

[MandaBear]

Sounds like you had an interesting day!

[dw817]

Yep, it definitely was ! I'm bringing my camera if I see Rose this Saturday so hopefully I'll have some photos, including of HER ! :D

[MandaBear]

That would be cool

[dw817]

Just including it in my pack. I'll know tomorrow.

[zainul]

Great blog.
Enjoyed reading.

[dw817]

Thanks ! You are definitely a new visitor so feel free to RR me some of your works and I'll be more than happy to visit !

[zainul]

You are most welcome,dear friend.
I am really very happy to see your lovely gesture to to visit my works.
I am very glad that you already read and reviewed my work.
Have a nice time.:)

[dw817]

Certainly, take care ...

[zainul]

My pleasure,dear friend.

[Riding the Rainbow]

really liked to read about some of your adventures with Chris..can't wait to read more;))

[dw817]

Not too much happens inside my home. I'll have to wait till I see him again. Minju I'm supposed to see Rose this Saturday. I haven't seen her for 5-weeks so I sure do miss her.

[Riding the Rainbow]

have fun;)))))))))))))))))))))

[Pryde Foltz]

Thank you for welcoming us into a day in your life.

[dw817]

You're very welcome. I'm thinking I should start a series called, "What You Get" where you see the art on a package and then in the next frame show actually what you are receiving. It was quite an eye-opener to see how 'different' my freeze pop was compared to the picture on the package.

Curiously the ones we got at the 7-11 were in clear cellophane so you saw how pretty and brightly colored they were and that's why we got 'em. Funny what an opaque package is gonna hide from the consumer. :)

[Pryde Foltz]

Good idea, DW

[dw817]

Since I don't have anything definite planned for Tuesdays and my digital camera is working pretty good now, I'll start the series then. I know one candy I'm fond of VERY much doesn't give you what you appear to be receiving. :7