Tank vs Albert

Mommy wanted to do a test between our two cars – Albert the Smart Car vs Tank the Equinox – to see which one is more fun to drive.  I know – mom lives a full exciting life huh?  Snorts.  Okay so I’m breaking down the competition for you.

In this corner we have Tank.  Tank is a 1996 Chevrolet Equinox.  Tank weighs around 5,000 pounds give or take.  Holds about 18 gallons of gas.  Can seat five and has a cargo storage area in the back.  Labeled as a SUV although it doesn’t really look or drive like one.  Very comfortable for long trips.  Nicknamed Tank because it withstands a beating and still comes out strong and ready to ride. And did we mention awesome for long trips – great seating and space.

In this corner we have Albert.  Albert is a 2010 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe.  Albert weighs in between 1,500-1,800 pounds and can be driven either manually or stick.  Albert only holds 8.7 gallons of gas but goes and goes and goes getting excellent gas mileage.  Albert can only seat two – tops.  Albert is gas efficient yes but smooth driving – not so much.  You feel every bump in the road.  Personally for one person – you get used to the ride and love it.  The hub not so much.  Long trips – it can be worrisome.  Highways don’t bother you much but if it is windy, you will be fighting to keep the car in the lane.  Great car to ride around town, back and forth to work or grocery trips.  Remember all of those times your parents said playing Tetris wouldn’t pay off?  Well in this car and grocery shopping, it does 🙂 Has a little cargo area in the back – just perfect for this little oinker or some groceries.

So there you go – the two contenders.  Here’s the challenge.  Mom will drive one car for each day.  While driving the car, she will do the following:

• Wave at two cars that are similar in make and see what people do.
• Let two people in front of her at different times to see what people do.
• Go through a drive thru and pay for the breakfast behind her to see what people do.

This is a challenge to see what people do while she is driving each car.  Why?  Because mom swears that she is treated differently when driving the other car.  And besides, mom is like this.  She likes challenges. So, what do you think will happen?  Look here for the blog to see the results.

 

Can YOU Relate?

Snorts!  I was on mom’s Facebook account this past week and found this from a poster on My Sweet Parade.  They had written this information and when I showed it to mom and dad, they just nodded their heads, laughed and then got that glazed look in their faces like they do sometimes.  Can you relate to this too?

 

 

Blast from the Past

This perhaps might not be a toy from your past, but surely you remember these?

Mom and dad said these ‘horses’ used to be out in front of the five and dime stores.  You would put in some money and get the ride of your life for perhaps 2-3 minutes.  Sometimes if you were lucky, they had cars instead of horses.  Mom and dad both said when they were little (which had to be MOONS ago – snorts) they used to ride these for 10 cents or a quarter.  Mom said that she hasn’t seen these in some time.  Have you ever rode one?

Nowadays, they have carousels like the one below taken from Wikimedia.  These can be found in malls and we have a close one.  When my cousin Savannah was younger, mom/dad would take her to the mall shopping.  If she was good, she got to ride it on the way into the mall.  If she was good shopping, she got a repeat ride on the way out of the mall.  Cool huh?  That little Savannah got to ride all of the carousels in our area at malls for a while.  There was one in the Macon Mall that was FAST.  Mom/dad called it a roller coaster – snorts.  Have you rode a carousel?

 

Dear Bacon

 Dear Bacon,

Leash training.  Well, it sucks.  I can’t go too far without the human deciding that I shouldn’t be that far.  A pig has to have his freedom!  That’s what I say.  What about you?  Signed Gotta Run

Dear Gotta Run,

Poor little guy.  Mommy *tried* to leash train me.  Let’s just say that I wasn’t a leash kind of pig either.  I’m sure with more practice, I would have adjusted but she didn’t have the will power – snorts.  Look on the other hand my little friend, they are just trying to watch after your safety.  Consider it a gesture of love. 🙂

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Dear Bacon,

HA!  This will make you think twice about stomping in that puddle outside again won’t it?  I just had to share.  You never know where my kind might jump out at you.  Consider us like clowns.  We’ll make you laugh but we are scary as heck to look at sometimes.  Signed Hide N Seek

Dear Hide N Seek,

Shivers to mergatroid!  I will never stomp my little hooves in the puddle outside in my magical backyard EVER again.  Heck, I close my eyes and still see you.  EEWW – you are like clowns – scary!!  I gotta get in therapy.  Thanks.

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Dear Bacon,

You’re not the only cute thing that rides around in your mom’s moving thingy.  I love to settle in the back seat and go for a spin.  It kind of relaxes me and helps me to go to sleep.  I think it helps my mom too to hear me go bbaaww.  Signed Tiny

Dear Tiny,

OMP (oh my pig).  Yes you are so right my friend.  You are the most adorable little thing.  I just want to pick you up and cuddle with you!  If my mom saw you, oh goodness, we would so have to adopt you here at the Hotel Thompson!!  Stay safe my little friend.

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Dear Bacon,

I turn my back for one minute and my tail hit my nuts off of the pole.  I think my face tells you everything.  I got make every nut count during these winter months!  Signed Flabbergasted

Dear Flabbergasted,

I’m sorry my friend for laughing but that look is priceless!  Hit me up, I’ll give you some nuts 🙂

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Dear Bacon,

No matter what you do in life, never give up and never surrender.  You don’t know what strengths you have until you try.  Stay strong my friend.  Signed Adam Ant

Dear Adam Ant,

Those are some powerful words my little buddy.  So true and spot on.  I will never give up and never surrender with anything in my life.  Thank you!

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Remember friends – keep your pictures and questions coming.  Send them to me at baconthompson@gmail.com  – thanks for making my Tuesday specials of Dear Bacon just that – very special!

 

Trains – Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Trains are wonderful. Think about them and visual this. Just sit and listen to them passing in your neighborhood, rumbling over the train tracks with the occasional whistling of their horn. It’s kind of relaxing. One of our favorite things when driving and getting stopped at the railroad crossing due to a train, is counting how many railroad cars are behind the locomotive. You must be thinking, “WOW – they live in the deep south if that’s their highlight!” Snorts – but really it can be interesting.

If you have children in the car, it helps with their learning in counting numbers. If it’s just you, it helps to pass the time. I was actually in the car one time with mommy and we got stopped by a train. The big train and the noise of it kept my full attention. I heard mommy counting out loud and do you know she got up to 115 railroad cars! That’s a long train!

We have a train track not too far from the Hotel Thompson. There are trains that pass through historical downtown Jonesboro often at night, usually in the whee hours of the morning. It’s very calming to wake up to this sound.

So the next time you get stopped by a train, don’t get upset. Take the time to relax and count how many railroad cars are behind the locomotive. See if you can beat 115 🙂 wink.

XOXO – Bacon