How Weird Can It Get?

[MikeM]

I received a call today. My phone number is posted on the local club's website. The caller asked if I would lend them some koi...

Me: "No."

Caller: "Do you know somebody who would?"

Me: "Is this a joke?"

Caller: "Oh, no. I'm with ****, we are an event planning and design firm. We are doing a party at the **** trade show at the Convention Center. We're doing an asian theme and will have a 30'x30' koi pond in the middle, so we need some koi, but just for one night."

Me: "You are joking."

Caller: " No, this is not a joke. We've been doing events at the Convention Center for a dozen years. ...We'd be willing to pay rent for the day."

Me: "Nobody who keeps koi is going to lend or rent them out. Would you ask somebody to lend you their cat for a night?"

Caller:"I told the boss this would be a problem, but we just need them one night, so we didn't want to buy them. Their expensive."

Me: "Well, I think you'll have to buy them, but why don't you try some feeder goldfish from a petshop."

Caller:" Well, he said to get koi."

Me:"Does he know what a koi looks like?"

Caller:"I dunno."

Me:" Do you know what a koi looks like?"

Caller: "No, but I just arrange to get things. I still have to figure out getting the pond."

Me:"Have ya'll ever done a pond before?"

Caller:"No. But how hard can it be?"

Me:" I suggest you call ****. They do a beautiful pond called Aquascape, with lots of rocks. Very oriental. They might have koi to rent. You never know."

Caller: "Gee, thanks. Do you have their number?"

Me: "No, but I'm sure its in the yellow pages under 'koi ponds'."

Caller: OK, I'll look 'em up. Thanks."

Me:"Bye."

____________________________

This was for real. Weird.

[KoiCop]

thanks for the laugh; it's been a long day.

When you think about it, though, the humor derived from this phone call is directly proportional to one's knowledge of and love for koi -- so the caller no doubt failed to see the humor at all.

[JosephandGabby]

Wow. That is strange. Sounds like someone may have played a joke on you...

[keokoi]

Mike, Good time to cull out and get ready for tosai season...

[Brutuscz]

OK...ROFLMAO!!! Now that was funny. You should have charged them a ton of money...Bought some goldfish from a local pet store, and delivered them!!! Nothing wrong with a little free enterprise..lol

[aquitori]

MikeM, the koi stalker, it's real and they are out there...

[bekko]

Doesn't sound weird to me. I would be happy to rent them some koi and know a guy in Kailua-Kona who does it twice each year. No different than taking koi to a show. We provide flower arrangements for various sorts of functions and recently did a job where they asked for goldfish swimming around in each of thirty centerpiece arrangements. Sort of fun actually.

-ste ve ho

[koicluboftheair]

Quote: Originally Posted by bekko Doesn't sound weird to me. I would be happy to rent them some koi and know a guy in Kailua-Kona who does it twice each year. No different than taking koi to a show. We provide flower arrangements for various sorts of functions and recently did a job where they asked for goldfish swimming around in each of thirty centerpiece arrangements. Sort of fun actually. -ste ve ho

I suspect hobbyists using their koi for profit with such a venture would result in putting them in league with Aquascape and cause them to be considered dealers and violate sacred covenants in the koi culture credo. And I suppose the pun is on target as Aquascape provides more ponds with koi than probably any other entity. Jumbo Tosai For Rent!

[schildkoi]

Quote: No different than taking koi to a show.

I would beg to differ. At a Koi show they are placed in the care of those who at least know what a koi is (and most likely are good at caring for them).

Steve

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brutuscz OK...ROFLMAO!!! Now that was funny. You should have charged them a ton of money...Bought some goldfish from a local pet store, and delivered them!!! Nothing wrong with a little free enterprise..lol

I like your idea the best Rent-a-chuppa for a day. Guaranteed live delivery of "fresh" fish . Might even be able to rent yourself out as a "consultant" for the day...