Saturday February 2, 2013

Saturday February 2/13  update #356

Do you know the joke where two guys are in a bar and one says to the other “You see those two guys over there, that’s what we’ll look like in ten years!”   And his friend responds “That’s a mirror, you dummy!”  Mirrors, especially the full-length ones, should be banned for anyone over 60.  They get warped with age and make us look misshapen and fat.    Mirror, mirror, on the wall, bugger off will ya!   Lol.   Getting back in shape will be my number one priority on my return to Cuenca.

I was up early again, had breakfast, and called a cab recommended by the hotel as cheaper than the one used yesterday but he actually cost more,… go figure….   At least he showed up right away, and was an independent small cab company with 4 units, so I contracted him to pick me up at 5:30 after the show.

The show today was rather disappointing and would not have exceeded yesterday’s poor showing by much if a former wholesale customer hadn’t come in the last hour and bought 20 packages.  She claimed she was having trouble reaching us by email so I gave her the right address, just in case.

I am really surprised that there weren’t any obvious Canadians in the crowd over the 3 days, considering how many Snowbirds there are in the immediate area.   One of the security people told me of two Canuck ladies who were at the dog show in the next building though.

I have the tear-down of our booth down to a science and managed to get all of our remaining supplies and display apparatus into our custom Benson Box.  I highly recommend a Benson Box to anyone that is shipping stuff back and forth across the country.     My neighbouring vendors were again envious when I was packed and ready to go in less than 10 minutes.

I lugged my box outside to wait for my cab at 5:10 and was about to borrow someone’s phone to give him a blast when he finally showed up at 5:50.    I discussed with him the possibility of getting my camera lens somewhere and he suggested Best Buy, with two stores equidistant in either direction about 18 miles.   I told him I would call them first to make sure they had my lens in stock before I spent a fortune to drive there.   When I finally got through to them they said they had none in the city but could order me one from New Mexico.   I am glad I didn’t cab there on spec or I would have been a very unhappy camper.

I arranged and secured my Benson Box and information for pickup by FedEx on Monday.   Hopefully there will be no glitches in getting it back to storage in Idaho.

I slipped out for a late supper and saw a strange concession truck set up with a covered eating area so curiosity got the better of me.  They served all kinds of Mexican food so I tried a flour taco and a corn taco with beef first.   I didn’t care for the corn taco but loved the flour taco shell so I ordered two more of those with a bottle of Sangria.  They had a TV going with a Mexican League soccer match so I even had entertainment.   The two young Mexicans running the place were very personable and willing to chat too.   I kept getting braver with their hot salsa and peppers until my eyes were watering.  Oh, that was so good, and very beefy too.  I ordered another Sangria to go and made it back to the hotel in time to catch another call from my brother Fern.

Sorry, no photos today.   There is really nothing too interesting in this industrial area.   Phoenix just seems to be a mass of freeways and airplanes, and not much else.   I am just anxious to get home to Cuenca but am not looking forward to almost 24 hours traveling tomorrow.   I have to be up by around 4:30am and will be lucky to get to our home in Cuenca by the same time Monday.   Wish me luck.

That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.