"It's the Red Queen, you know what I mean!"

[pyat]

I shook off the effects of the kidney stone this afternoon, and took halfelf and hammergrrl around Toronto for a few hours. I realized as we were walking that I actually seem to know a great deal of touristy, trivia information about nearly every block, particularly around Queen West.

Secondly, on Yonge Street near the Hairy Tarantula, we saw an actual game of Three Card Monte. Cardboard box, bent cards, dealer and mark, and a little knot of people around. It was heart-warming. I felt like asking if they'd received a grant from some obscure Ministry responsible for preserving the traditional Grifter's Way of Life.

I also felt like tilting my fedora at a jaunty angle and bustling over and saying:
"I ain't the sort of palooka who is going to fall for any dandified, out-of-town Jasper and his fast hands, and here is a sawbuck, sir, to prove it!"


Instead we went to the Hairy Tarantula, and then BMV, and World's Biggest, and thence to Active Surplus!

Comments

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

My favourite description of TCM: You and the "sharp" are playing different games. You think you have to guess the right card and win money. But the sharp is playing a game that goes: how much money do I think I can bilk out of this guy?

To our collective shame, I saw a gamer 9in his late twenties) at GenCon getting taken for a chain of $5 bills. Now, I'm not usually one to stop a dishonest working man from making some cash, but a gamer? Man, we should know better. So after I politely chased off the sharp I unleashed my inner-drill-sergeant on the gamer.

Doug.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

hammergrrl and I look a lot alike, actually!

I asked El if she agreed. She pointed out that we don't have the same clothes or the same husband. Otherwise she thought we were identical!

Daniel said he thought it was me.

[kores-rabbit.livejournal.com]

These are the two I shall have the honour of meeting tomorrow?
There will be boffer weapons, I must warn you! ;)

[halfelf.livejournal.com]

I believe that sounds like a challenge! :)

[halfelf.livejournal.com]

We had a wonderful time. We look forward to going to the picnic tomorrow. We ended up walking around Toronto until about 10ish, and then headed back.

[kfops.livejournal.com]

Watch out for Toronto Tarantulas! Very dangerous!

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

That'll make it easy to recognize you if I need to pick you up at an airport next year!

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had no illusions about my ability to win any money. But I almost felt like I should take part to thank them for being so quaint.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

hammergrrl is pretty cute!

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Excellent. :)

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Actually, it may have just been that picture - I didn't notice a huge resemblance in the BBQ one. It was funny, though.