What’s that? A vacation won’t stop her? No way! I draw every day. Not because OF you all, but you all make me WANT to, therefore I don’t stop. Won’t stop. The last couple of weeks have been MAXIMUM drama. So much so that I’m sure I have never needed a vacation as bad as I needed this one. Needless to say, these comics are brought to you by Without A Rope. Because I’m at the end of my rope. So I’ll be growing some hemp in my body and mind on this reset, and I hope you all can get a chuckle, or more importantly you are some sort of computer programming genius with UI/UX experience that can solve my next problem…but are generous enough to cut me in on the cash for my amazing idea. Hahahahaha.
“Ding. Fries are Done” but more like Ding, your mind is blown
If you live in my brain of movie, tv, and/or musical references, you know exactly what “Ding fries are done” is from. If you don’t, here’s a link to The Family Guy where little nuggets live somewhere in my brain waiting to pop out. BUT there’s a plot twist. It’s not originally from Family Guy. It’s from Doctor Dimento! Who I didn’t really have access to back in the day. Wow. for someone that doesn’t spend her days on Reddit, this story is kinda new to me, and you may enjoy this Quick Rabbit Hole.
If you’re like no, I just wanna see a Family Guy clip, here ya go:
Family Guy Ding Fries are Done
If you hate me now, wait until I bust out the “Bird Is the Word” reference.
“It’s Time for the Ruminator”
Yep guys, I’m all about references today. I was alive and kickin’ in Chicago during the techno/house/dance days, and since I’m GenX I listened to it all. You couldn’t get through a 90’s dance party without hearing “Percolator” by Cajmere. If you don’t know, let me bless you with that reference: Perculator by Cajmere
You’re welcome. Keep reading the last one is a nice little bow on the package with a little warm fuzzy hug (no music, tv, or references included).
”Get Edjumicated”
Okay, I lied. I quoted Homer Simpson. But I’ll spare you with the link, episode number or further references.
My cousin and I met up at the water park between her family vacation and mine. As we floated along the lazy river while our kids went insane on crazy water slides, we talked about museums and zoos, and what happens when you ask a question of one of the workers, volunteers, docents.
These people are a WORLD of information. It’s like you immediately tap into someone’s geek core (as a self-professed and picked-on-in-grade-school geek/nerd I can say this) and they just give you ALL the amazing info inside of their brain on the subject. Why, you ask? Because someone shows the least bit of interest in the thing that they are so committed to that they either A) got a job to be closer to that thing B) volunteer their FREE & PRECIOUS time to be closer and share that thing. Today I even got the rare C) when you’re at a place and a fellow nerd-on-the-subject asks pointed questions to prompt the worker/volunteer to answer those questions. Those are the things that really make a visit to a museum or zoo magical. Yep. I’m talkin’ sorry Mouse, this is a different kind of special Magic.
Yesterday was one of those days where all three things met into one magical place I highly suggest you visit if you are ever in the Detroit area, specifically Dearborn, MI. Go here if you like to learn. If you have any artistic interest whatsoever you will adore this place. Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum.
My mom went when she was ten and never made it back with me or my little sister, but really wanted my daughter to experience it on this trip. Boy did I feel that magic. We were driven around in a 1923 Model T, where I asked about 400 questions.
Do you take these out in the winter?
Did you learn to drive one or did you already know from collecting cars?
We rode on a 1913 Carousel, where I noticed it had the original musical machine that I wasn’t sure if it was a player piano or a calliope because I wasn’t really sure without googling it what a calliope was. So I asked the guy at the exit:
What is the name of the instrument that plays the music?
Oh! It’s an organ!
Is it original to the carousel?
Yes! Every part of this 1913 carousel is original except for about 5 horses. It was built for New York, sold and moved to San Francisco at an original price of $9,500 (that’s a lot of money in 1913, considering my great-grandparents bought our family house for $3,000 in 1928 in Chicago. He then told us that it ran for 30 years, and moved to a buyer who put it in storage and kept the five horses as part of an investment to their collection because of their value.
No sign can share the excitement of a person that rambles that kind of info off of the top of their head.
Then we went to Wright Bicycle Shop where we learned all about the Wright Brothers. Not from signs, but from a person who explained to us how no one could figure out the calculations to create lift, but the wright brothers who only had high school educations figured out the exact formula. He demonstrated a machine that shows that lift, and we learned from asking additional questions that they steered that first plane by a hip swing which used their hip movement to balance the wings (much like riding a bicycle).
All of it is set in an outdoor old timey setting with beautiful buildings, trees and plants. You need to visit. If you don’t, visit a place nearby that has these magical people who dedicate their time, and sometimes retirement to tell the stories that keep the world turning.
Have a great week!
Sara Without An H.
This was a lot of fun to read hearing how you wrapped up so many events in one place. Such interesting thoughts about things others dismiss or find less important. Thank you for taking the time to point out those who geek out on something well enough to share their wealth of knowledge for everyone to know!