Jokes with Anipals

 

Travels in the South

Welcome back friends to another edition of Travels in the South.  We have been talking about our visit with our great friends Bill and Jean from Canadian Cats.  If you have missed the previous editions, please check them out here:  Red Lobster; Fogo de Chao; Stately Oaks; Spa Day. World of Coca-Cola Part I, World of Coca-Cola Part II.

 Today we finish up our tour of the World of Coca-Cola here in Atlanta, Georgia.  Last week, I left you with us visiting the awesome polar bear in residence.  He was such a hoot and so friendly!  We all had a blast playing with him – and I think he took a great liking to Jean.  I also think with enough soft whispers in his little polar bear ear, Jean might have been able to take him back home with her.  Then again, that would be a hard one to explain to Customs… you think?

After we finished with the polar bear, we went to explore a 4-D Theater.   The title of the film was The Search for the Secret Formula.  You got these really neat glasses to wear while watching the film.  Now remember we said 4-D. Thankfully, we went with Bill and Jean and got in the line of the non-moving section seats.  That was a most excellent move because let me tell you something, once you watch something in 4-D you will be astonished.  The seats moved and rocked like you wouldn’t believe to the
movie.  At one time, water was lightly sprayed on the audience.  And with the glasses on watching the movie, people were ducking and dodging the things coming from the film.  You can’t miss this movie – you have to watch it and experience the 4-D effects.  Way to go World of Coca-Cola for this awesome show.

After the film, we were thirsty.  The bottles of free coke they gave us at the beginning of the tour were starting to wear off.  And hey, this was the best of time.  Now we were going to the Taste It part of the tour – something my mom couldn’t wait to try.  They had freestyle drink machines set up all over this room with over 100 different Coca-Cola drinks from all over the world.  You could taste as many as you wanted from anywhere – Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America.  Some of the drinks were:

• Beverly. Introduced in Italy in 1969, Beverly is a non-alcoholic aperitif that is typically consumed before meals. Because of its distinctive taste, it is one of our most popular, must-try drinks.  This was a high consensus in our group of no thank you.
• Bibo Candy Pine-Nut. This African favorite is part of a fruit-flavored line of drinks. Bibo Pine-Nut tastes of pineapple and coconut.  This one wasn’t too bad.  Daddy really liked it.
• Fanta Pineapple. This sparkling beverage from Greece imparts a sweet and juicy pineapple taste. The pineapple (commonly known to Grecians as “ananás”) is quite a treat for Europeans, often imported from tropical regions.  This one was mom’s favorite.
• Guaraná Kuat. Introduced in Brazil in 1997, the beverage was named after an Amazonian Indian sun god. Guaraná Kuat (pronounced “Kwatch”) tastes of fruity guaraná berries, similar to ginger ale with a mild berry twist.  Um… no.

So you see this was just a few of the different flavors from around the world that you could try.  Some tasted fantastic while others were like how do they drink this?  Afterwards, on the way out of the tour going into the store, you got a souvenir glass bottle of coke.

Now, the Coca-Cola store.  Some peeps – cough cough – had way too much fun in the store.  Bill was trying to find a good hat to wear for those cold snowy days and nights in Canada.  What do you think about this one my friends?

Do you think it would keep him warm?

Of all the hats to choose, this one was his favorite.  I kind of dig the polar look and the nose on this hat though.  I think it brings character – a fun aspect if you will.

On the other paw, all of the kids in the neighborhood would be screaming for cover when they see daddy outside.  Look at the get up he went with – shaking my head.  These two.  What will we do with them?

So my friends, that concludes the tour of the World of Coca-Cola.  Did you have fun?  Did you learn anything (other than Jim and Bill are crazy?) that you didn’t know?

Stay tuned for next week to find out where these crazy peeps went to eat… and the GPS hang out that had everyone laughing.

 

Journey with Friends

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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Hey friends – how did you do last week?  Did you stand strong?  Any bumps in the road?  Any mountains you climbed?

Since I’ve been sick with the flu, I’ve lost a little over 10 pounds.  Okay, it’s not the best way to lose weight but I’ll take it, right?  I am doing better with the flu; however, I’m still not 100% yet.  The doctor assures me this is normal and it takes weeks – sometimes months – to get back to where you were.  Shaking my head – this is something I never want to go through again and don’t wish it upon any one.  Everything tastes ‘funny’ and certain foods I’ve loved before, I can’t stand at the moment.  For instance, I’ve been having a hard time with soda – you know the real stuff.  Especially being here in Atlanta, we live for Coca Cola.  Well I’m happy to report that since my illness, I can’t stand it.  I guess that’s a good way to kick it to the side huh?  And food wise, I can eat just a little bit – maybe 15% of what I was eating before and I’m done.  My tummy just swells too much from still being sick.  But on the other hand where I once craved everything, lately I’m just craving good old southern food – greens, mac & cheese, fried chicken – you know southern dinner stuff.  We went out yesterday to a local restaurant that serves this kind of food.  I couldn’t even finish my plate.  Weird.

And you want to hear another strange thing that has happened since I’ve been sick?  A remarkable overwhelming calmness has overtaken my body.  Things are just shrugged off my shoulders and my pulse rate has been ‘below normal’… well below normal for me.  When I was giving plasma, it was a struggle for my pulse rate to be 100-112 bpm.  Here lately, it’s been hanging around 94-99 bpm which is totally awesome.  Weird too huh?

Well friends – hope your week was marvelous and your scales were kind to you.  ❤

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Paw Time with Houdini

Hello my dear sweet friends.  Another week has come and gone.  Have you had a great one?  The weekend is what I live for here at the Hotel Thompson.  That’s when mom and dad are both home and I can get extra loving in between Mouse Girl, Hemi and Bacon.  But don’t worry about me, I find me some loving for sure.  Like in the afternoons when mom gets home from the worky place.  Guess who gets to go to the mailbox with her to get the mail.  This puppy.  That’s right.  Mommy takes me to the mailbox with her.  There’s all kinds of weird smells out there for a pup like me.  I just sniff at the wind while being carried of course.  Barks – did you think I walked.  No way?

Mom is also down a week on her 8 week challenge.  She and dad are doing 8 weeks of eating straight – no sweets/sugar and mom has given up her soda for that time.  Now that is a HUGE challenge right there in itself.  She only drank soda maybe once a day sometimes two but there’s a lot of sugar in a can so it’s gone and hello water – lots of water.  Tomorrow ends week 1 and only 7 weeks more to go.  They will weigh in officially tomorrow.  I’ll keep you posted next week about mom and how she is doing.

Mom got a picture of me and dad doing what we do best this week.  As you can see, I’ve been working out too – look at those muscles – barks with puppy laughter.  If you look down the hall, you will see the red of my lobster bed.  I spent a while pulling it out of my bedroom and that was as far as I got.  It wore me out and I had to take a power nap with daddy.

 

Well that’s all for me my friends – yawns – I hope you had a wonderful week as well.  Happy weekend!

 

Bacon and Soda

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Licks piggy lips just thinking about this combination.  And yeah, I would throw a banana in there as well – way to go my inspiration Mr. Elvis.  Peanut butter and jelly go together like baseball and hot dogs – like soda and popcorn – like beer and nuts – you get the picture?  It’s a great combo that I frequently beg for… along with a banana – snorts.  And one of my favorite past times is giving the purr things here peanut butter.  Oh dear piggy heavens above – *that* is definitely something to watch.  (NOTE: No harm was done to the purr things in my amusement).

My dad is a HUGE Poptart fan.  Don’t ask me why.  He never grew up is what I’m thinking – oinks.  Well there is a new flavor called – what did you expect – peanut butter and jelly.  He bought a box and I admit it the man actually shared a bite with me.  I think it’s because of mom’s stand fast rule here at the Hotel Thompson, “Don’t eat in front of the pig unless you plan on sharing with the pig”.  Any who, every since I tried it – I LOVED THEM.

And oh my pigs – the commercial on television for them is outrageous.  Although, I have read some on the internet about it being controversial.  Can you imagine that?  A Poptart commercial for peanut butter and jelly being an eye opener for people?  I know you want to see it now, am I right?  Snorts 🙂  Don’t worry – I found it for you.  Watch and let me know what you think my friends.

 

Large Diet Soda Anyone?

My humans – they can’t be trusted to go out anywhere without getting into some type of trouble.  This past weekend, they decided to go out and get Mexican with Nana.  Daddy ordered a large soda.  This is what they gave him – snorts.  Daddy looked at the waiter and said, “I’m sorry.  I ordered a large.”  Snorts – rolls piggy eyes.  Daddy of mine – you are too funny.  Can you see the comparison of that drink with his paw?  It’s H.U.G.E.  Mommy said she has never seen one so big before.  Mom and Nana just laughed.

And nope.  He didn’t require a refill – snorts.