Weird places you frequent, and why

[justin]

Sometimes I'll drive out of my way to see new roads that just opened. Just to check out their features and see what they look like. To admire the "beauty" of them.

I'm a transportation engineer so it is interesting to see the end product of years or decades of planning. No one ever notices a well-designed transportation facility. The only time people notice is if there are problems (safety issues, noise, congestion, etc.).

[grumpy]

Weirdest place I frequent is the basement of a home a 100 mile round trip from where I live. Every two weeks I make the trek for an acupuncture treatment for my aching back. When I lived in Maryland my family doctor referred me to "Dr Betty" and "Dr Phillip". They are an elderly husband and wife team of Chinese acupunturists and herbalists who speak very little English. He was an orthopedic surgeon in China before they were imprisoned by the communists. After coming to the US they set up a clinic in their basement and I am one of the few non-Chinese speakers they treat. Dr. Betty is so skilled that the language barrier is not a problem. She doesn't need to ask where my pain is, she can locate it simply by touch. I now live in Virginia and I have tried acupuncture practitioners here but none of their treatments is as effective as theirs. The basement is filled with the exotic smells of the various herbs they prepare themselves and there is usually Chinese music playing. They chat with each other and their other patients in Chinese. Their assistant, who recently arrived from China speaks no English at all. She gives me a very vigorous massage after the needles are removed. The treatments cost $55 (no insurance coverage) but I find them worth the cost and time involved.

Grumpy

[Martha]

Where? Dan's Feed Bin. They sell animal feed, pet supplies, gardening supplies, and the like.

Why? I buy seed etc. from there but will go just to smell the smell of fertilizer and feed. I love going up and down the dirty wood isles looking at farm stuff.

Where? Trailer parks in the south.

Why? I love these little communities with no pretentions. Everyone is friendly. Everyone seems able to make their trailer of ticky tack not look the same. My inlaws lived in one in Florida and I miss strolling around the park.

[flipstress]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 I have visited Sewage Treatment Plants many times in the past few decade!

BF is an avid birder, and the local sewage treatment plant was one of our earlier dating locations.

Our romance blossomed at Poo-poo Ponds.

It took a few outings for me to relax while birding, in general (not just at the treatment plant). I remember thinking about other chores and tasks to do instead of "wasting time" tramping about spying on birds, but after a while, nature would cast her spell, and even if we don't always see lots of birds, being out gazing at the trees, plants, leaves, flowers, skies, butterflies, dragonflies, and other critters became refreshing.

[LOL!]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy Weirdest place I frequent is the basement of a home a 100 mile round trip from where I live. .... I now live in Virginia and I have tried acupuncture practitioners here but none of their treatments is as effective as theirs. .... She gives me a very vigorous massage after the needles are removed. The treatments cost $55 (no insurance coverage) but I find them worth the cost and time involved. Grumpy

It's the 100 mile round-trip drive that is doing the trick, not the needles. Or maybe it's the $55 lighter wallet ... a slight shift in wallet placement during the before/after drive is all important

[Glo]

Elderdude: thanks for the heads up on the festival. I love the Hocking Hills area. We live in Columbus. See you at the festival!!

[Elderdude]

Glo,
I don't have a schedule yet but we usually do 4 shows over the 3 days. Come by and say hello. My wife usually is around somewhere, she loves Logan and the folks there. In fact, most of the guys in the band bring their wives or significant others along with them. See you in June.

[lazygood4nothinbum]

where: city alleys & old waterfronts

why: mystery & history

this is where you see how things work. storefronts are just for window shoppers. but walk behind the retail and you get a sense of a town. back entrances, unswept, ill-kept, civilization in the raw.

this fascination started in my youth. later when my parents took me around the state to visit colleges they couldn't believe i spent all my film photographing dumpsters. on last autumn's leaf peeping trip to the blue ridge mountains, my natural urge was to avoid all those too many asheville tourists and walk instead behind the scenes. i found wonderful graffiti, interesting infrastructure. i even came across the filming of a commercial back there, something probably no other tourist got to see.

this last week was a little frustrating because a friend who loves to shop accompanied me on my roadtrip. so i had to spend most of my time not even window shopping but actually going inside the stores instead of behind them. even after five days of that, i still have no idea what my friend or anyone would find of interest in there.

[txdakini]

My workplace! There's hardly anything wierder for a ENTP to do than work for an engineering company. Why: pension and retiree medical. 5 months and counting!

[tryan]

where: The Dam Diner

http://www.merchantcircle.com/busine...r.802-874-4107

Why: Love a good greasy spoon; besides, where else can you get 2 meals of food for $4 :