The out of towners

A strange encounter, this past weekend, as the daughter and some friends, conspired with an entity on the internet to gather in toto, simul una – a dubious proposition, indubitably, and especially considering previous Ari experience with internet friends, and, not to mention, of course, the ignominious nature of the net.   Despite the presence of every red flag related to internet stalkery, we nevertheless, acquiesced, after a bit of FBI background checks, undercover surveillance and specifically, as her “mother” supposedly works for the same organization as Jennie.

They traveled from Wisconsin, by way of rail, and, being Amtrak, arrived two hours late.  We killed the time at the fondly frequented Woody’s, enjoying several fried items along with carbonated drinks.  Finally, we received a “text” that the supposed train was departing the Detroit station and would soon be arriving in Royal Oak.  Begrudgingly, we trudged back to the platform, to await their arrival.

Giggling with anticipation

 

Proudly playing with the puppy big bruv won at the bar

Girls be crazy

Dads be irritatin'

 Indeed a light did pierce the evening dim, and the train did shortly show. 

Sun?  Or a train?

@Whoo-whoooooooooooooo! Train.

   Loud screeches rang our ears, from train brakes and young ladies, and the three locals, raced down the sidewalk to meet their far-flung “friend.”

Tell me this doesn't look suspicious...

Their guise was faultless – they looked just like a mother and daughter, and sounded exactly as if they were native of Wisconsin.  While they and the rest of the greeters made their way to our favorite Mexican restaurant (unknown to us, that transformed to a discoteca in the evenings), I stole off with their suitcases and Homeland Security ran them through their SuperDuper Nefarious Substance Detectors.

Back at the restaurant, we spent a loooong time chatting – because the waitress was more interested in talking to a gentleman in the corner than attending to us – and they came across as really nice people.  This was clearly a setup, however, we didn’t want to let them know we were on to them, so we dropped them off at the Hotel, and made arrangements to meet again, the following morning.

Will, and the ladies, at what apparently becomes a bar at night.  Notice, there is no food on the table.  That is because we had only been there for about an hour and a half, at this point...

The plan was to get up early and take them down to the market, check out the riverwalk, then DIA, get lunch and spring up the Ave. to Belle Isle.  That plan was truncated to accommodate, first, sleep, as we were all up until 2 in the morning.  But then, the island was closed for the Gold Cup races, so that was ditched, as well.   Instead, we met late, hit the Cass Café (their gazpacho with guac cream is sublime) and then the DIA.  Everywhere we went, Ari’s local friends joined us as well, as well as their parents.  It was quite fun, in fact, and the NSA scanners throughout midtown failed to detect any untoward talk betwixt these cheese two.

After the DIA, we retired back to our little shanty, the boys for a swim, the adults for drinks and dinner on the patio and the young ladies – they huddled around a computer while texting each-other.  A few did venture out to grab a slice of pizza, but they quickly retreated back to the dimly lit, airless hovel, that is sometimes referred to as Ari’s room.

After another unusually late night, we still agreed to head out relatively early for the zoo, the next morning, and, surprisingly, managed to do so.  Summer coincidentally arrived along with these supposed Wisconsin natives, so we spent a considerable amount of time in the arctic circle, and lunch in a nicely air-conditioned joint was a welcome reprieve.  It also gave us more opportunity for conversation, as, despite the restaurant being completely – as in literally, actually and totally – empty, service was again, atrociously slow.  Must be a Royal Oak thing. 

By the time we arrived home, late afternoon, we repeated the ceremonies of the previous night, though largely excluding dinner as we are terrible hosts.  That’s what you get when you meet people on the internet, ya know…  This evening ended earlier, because work and departing trains, further, exhaustion. 

Despite the weirdness of the whole friend-from-the-internet thing and some seriously awkwardly long hugs (how about a high five, next time, ladies?), we had a really wonderful weekend, and our Forward(!) boarders were a delight to entertain – I’m sure, if they weren’t ne'er-do-well’s they would probably use a different word!

That is to say, they pulled off this illusion without a hitch, to the point we almost let our guard down!  But we know better!  And we’re on to their surreptitious trickery, ready when they finally engage their execrable intentions.

The quarto amigas:

One or more of these people is not real

Other, various weekend pictures, below…

A marvelous fellow spotted outside the Avalon Bakery -- I shared my cookie with him.

 

One thing about Will -- it's about Will.  He loves this stained glass at the DIA and always requests a photo beside the under-esteemed sentiment.

A "scarlet" Macaw -- photo by Will, and one that is mandatory for every trip.

In the aviary -- Will being Will.

And, of course, the requisite pose with the frog statue.

 


Surf, surfin' tortoise-elur!  Don't worry, absolutely no-one will get that obtusely obscure reference.

THis is not a photo of Will.  Absolutely shocking, isn't it!

Will with his T-Rex friend on the carousel.  A fine ride, though, the four companhiero were too cool to take a turn.

Some chump chimp, chillin' on a chopped tree.

An unbearably adorable child posing with an un-bear.

A gallant, green heron, grabbing some grub.

Hey!  It's Will!  How 'bout that!  Here, he's at the second slow restaurant, enjoying a fry while resting against the little wolfie we picked up at the zoo gift shop.  Ari got a stuffed panda, Jared, rock candy.

Life's a larf -- make the most of every moment.