Overheard in the A2K Bathroom...

I was in the duty free at the border crossing from Queenstown to Lewiston once, and there was a soft drink dispenser there which took loonies and toonies. A pack of Americans of about retirement age were milling about, wondering aloud how they would be able to use the machine. Rather than do the obvious and tell them they could get change at one of the cash registers inside, i simply remarked that i had a pocketfull of loonies and toonies. They purchased them from me at par.

There are loonies, indeed, on both sides of the border.

"They purchased them from me at par."

Would that make it, a town par excellence?


Set, descending the mountain bearing a strange device, "There are loonies, indeed, on both sides of the border."


I'm not sure what to make of this. I think that probably the most common nickname for the US dollar is "buck," or "one." (As in "I can't give you five bucks in quarters - I've only got ones.") A buck could symbolize virility or an untamed wild streak. "One..." well, that just displays a lack of imagination. Is it better to think of currency as something comic? Does a name like "loonie" help Canadians to keep the value of money in perspective? Is paying for everything in "loonies" a bit like being in PJ's all day? If so, I am for it.

Whereas the Canajuns do have a wicked sense of humor, there are aspects of their lives which they take in earnest which just crack me up . . .


For god's sake, i'm glad i opened that window . . . whew . . .

So you were able to feast upon the naiveties of the elderly. Good show! So, now have you given up taking candy from babies? Trading nickels for dimes with five year olds (See? My coin is larger,but you can have it.)


Excuse me..... excuse me,,,,, madam.... please do not shave your legs and leave the sink looking like that.

Thank you.


Joe (the nerve)Nation

Out of the way!
Out of the way!


The loos at the beach aren't open yet!




OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!!!

<Tosses quarter in Beth's direction and scrambles out of the way>

Oh, it takes a quarter to open it. Never seen one of those. So, I guess I'm the only one that's been crawling under?

(Sorry bout the sink, Joe. It's been months and I figured this was as good a time as any to get it done.)

It looked like it should be open




The dogs are so good about waiting outside




Of course they can just use the shrubs










Squinney - those little machines. On the wall.

That park would be a damned fine place for a lake . . . why don't you suggest that to city government?

Why is a quarter known as two bits? I know the answer. Well I mean, it's an interesting fact.

I already know way more about the history of the mirror ball than I should, and I haven't even started the phase of intense research.

The Spanish "dollar" (from thaler, don't let's get started on Charles V) was made into change by halving it, halving the halves, and then halving the quarters. Each of the eight pieces of change produced in that manner was called a "bit."

Common "cheer" at sporting events when i was a lad: "Two bit, four bits, six bits, a dollar, all for _______, stand up and holler ! ! !" (insert name of appropriate small town yearning for athletic glory in the blank). These days, i rather suspect young people don't know what the expression two bits means.

That's because they dont wander about at home in the middle of the night, Set. :wink:

Is that abt as big as its get ???

Can't sleep, mon vieux, too much on my mind . . .

Something worrying you, doggy person?

Some slings and arrows of a fortune which is, sadly, to ordinary to be outrageous . . .

Life's a bugger sometimes, isn't it?

Yes, and then, things go badly . . .

It's late. You should be getting your beauty sleep.