Truck Stop Weekend – Ponderosa Review

by Toez on February 25, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Posted In: Bars, Reviews, Toez

left-Toez, right-Bear

left-Toez, right-Bear

Ponderosa Lounge

10350 N. Vancouver Way
Portland, OR 97217

How exactly did I wind up drinking at a truck stop all weekend?

Well, my weekend got completely derailed when I got a call from an old friend I haven’t seen in years.  Of all things, Bear called me up on Saturday to say he was heading through my neck of the woods!  Bear is a trucker, so it’s been hard for us to meet up, but he happened to be staying over at the Ponderosa.  Personally, I’ve stayed at the Motel 6 down the road a million times and never knew the Ponderosa existed.  I’ve been missing out.

After hellos were exchanged, we caught up over a meal at the in-house restaurant.  I have to say the food was pretty good, and not as exorbitantly priced as I would expect from a truck stop.  The menu ranged from spaghetti, to burgers, steak, a salad bar, and pretty much anything else you could want except alcohol.  After we ate, Bear handed me my ass at Buck Hunter in the arcade.  Then, since we didn’t like the show times in the theater, we headed back to his room (yes, the truck stop has a theater and a hotel).  Back at the room I got my gaming revenge and beat Bear at Magic.  Okay, his deck was new to him and wasn’t fully built, apparently, but hotel Magic is an old tradition between us, so it was fun nonetheless.

Primal Surge for the win!

Primal Surge for the win!

Once we had sufficiently nerded out, it was time to hit the lounge.  Since the Ponderosa Lounge is in a truck stop, it should be no surprise that there were plenty of truckers and cowboy hats.  This might not seem like the ideal place for someone looking like me to drink, but that’s never stopped me before!  We headed in and there was a country cover band named Hang Em High playing.  They were high energy, had a good selection of songs, and a professional sound.  More importantly, they were good.  And where there’s good music and cowboy hats, there’s ladies in tight jeans looking to dance.  Sometimes, the joys of life are found in the strangest places.

Aside from good music, the Ponderosa Lounge boasts two pool tables, two dart boards, and a few games set off in a side room if you want a bit more of a private area.  The main bar has a nice sized dance floor some TV screens, and drinks that get stronger as the night goes on.  I have to warn you, though, the patrons are just the right mixture of locals and people passing through that it’s not hard to step on people’s toes when choosing a- ahem, dance partner.  As 2:00 loomed closer it was evident that tempers were rising.  No fights broke out, but I’m pretty sure that was due more to luck than anything else.

All in all, the Ponderosa truck stop has everything you could want for a weekend of fun.  The restaurant is pretty good, and the lounge is a great place to drink, dance, meet people, whatever you want to do.  Just make sure you feel out who’s with who unless you’re willing to get in a fight with some locals.  And remember, as an old Indian man once told me, “The new guy gets arrested first.”

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Sayums 06

by Toez on February 21, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Posted In: Sayums, Toez

12/19/12 – “What time is that in metric?”

This isn’t an exact quote, or an origional one, it’s just something we should all say more often.  The first time I started thinking about time in metric was when two of my best friends decided to abandon the American standard measurement system for the ‘clearly superior’ metric system.  Now I’m not here to debate which system makes the most sense or is more efficient (that will be a whole other rant), I’m here to make fun of the people who insist on using the metric system when it isn’t their native system of measurement.

When my friends adopted the metric system, it was like listening to a child using a new curse word.  I’ve never heard two people come up with more excuses to mention distance, temperature, or weight.  Eventually I couldn’t resist telling them I’d ordered them a gift online, a metric clock!  The look of extreme joy, followed by brief confusion, dawning understanding, and eventual indignation mixed with laughter was priceless.  So next time you hear someone forcing metric units into a conversation to prove how superior and worldly they are, ask them what time something is in metric.  Then laugh and buy them a beer. . . because you should also buy a beer for random people more often.  Now go work on that!

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Mythodical Madness

by Toez on February 9, 2013 at 9:10 am
Posted In: Site News, Toez

There is Madness to my Mythod.

There is Madness to my Mythod.

So I’ve had my surgery, and my hand is recovering, unfortunately I still can’t do any leatherwork! Not being able to make anything has been driving me crazy, so I’ve focused on another aspect of Mad Myths, one that’s been on the back burner for quite a while. Mad Myths is breaking into broadcasting with the introduction of Mythodical Madness!

Mythodical Madness will be the area of Mad Myths that contains all of our multi-media exploits.  These will include leather related topics, but more importantly will branch out into video games, music, and any number of other things that spark our interest. First, we’ve got a YouTube Channel.  The YouTube will be where you can view tutorials, random shenanigans in MineCraft, and other things that amuse me.  Along with that, a PodCast is in the works.  The PodCast will contain interviews, advice you probably don’t want, and insight as to where we’re going with Mad Myths.  We’re very excited about the new additions, and looking forward to being able to entertain and torment you folks in a variety of mediums.

Everything about Mythodical Madness is in it’s fledgling stages, so join us now so we can grow and build this thing together. Let us know what you want to see and hear, and we’ll tailor this baby just for you!

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Orthopedic Surgery

by Toez on January 20, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Posted In: Site News, Toez

CensoredThumbHey there folks, I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me.  I am still alive and kicking, I’ve just had a bit of a set back.  Just before Christmas I sustained an injury at my day job and I’ve been in and out of Doctor offices ever since.  Next week I’ll be seeing an Orthopedic Surgeon, and hopefully that will get the healing back on track.  In the mean time I pretty much can’t use my right hand, which means making things is almost impossible.  Typing is painfully slow and, well, painful.  All in all, things will be a bit slow around here until I’m back up and functioning properly.  In the mean time I’ve been working on some behind the scenes things that should make your experience with us a little smoother and more enjoyable.  Keep an eye out for new sections being added to the site, and the replenishing and expansion of the store (once I can make the things to stock it!).

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Sayums 05

by Toez on December 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Posted In: Sayums, Toez

"Who wants to live forever?"

“Who wants to live forever?”

12/14/12 – “Take a picture, it’ll last longer.  Unless it’s a picture of a Twinkie.” ~ Toez

Sure, we’ve all heard this, and it makes sense.  But what if you take a picture of a Twinkie?  Which of them will last longer, the picture or a Twinkie?  I’m considering burying a time capsule with these two items in it.  You know, with technology nowadays there are so many questions that have been answered about the world.  More importantly, we’ve discovered more and better questions.  But when it all comes down to it, Twinkies still rest at the heart of the important questions.

Twinkies may just hold the keys to immortality.  Could we infuse ourselves with Twinkie DNA and live forever?  Then there are matters of National Security.  Since the Star Wars anti-nuke shield still isn’t up and running, what about a Twinkie barrier?  If Twinkies could survive a nuclear holocaust, could we use them to counteract the effects to the flora and fauna of the world?  There are so many possibilities for what can be done with Twinkies, and I recommend we get on the ball and explore them all!  Well, except for eating them.  Don’t do that.  That’s just disgusting.

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