# "I shoulda turned left at Albuquerque" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** cartoons-animation\ **Created:** [September 16, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796 "2020-09-16T22:29:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/61 "2020-09-17T11:35:23Z")
I’m familiar with it because I love the old Warner Brothers cartoons and, most especially, Bugs Bunny. It was one of his favorite expressions. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/62 "2020-09-17T11:36:00Z")
Cities do sometimes have weird, and sometimes uncomplimentary, names. Also in California is the city of Atascadero, which any Spanish speaker can tell you means a swamp or bog or mire, literally “a place where you get stuck” (from the verb atascar meaning “to get stuck”). The city administration prefers to describe the name as meaning “a place of much water”. In this city, there is a state hospital called Atascadero State Hospital. It looks like a prison from the outside: Tall guard towers, surrounded by a tall fence with razor wire. In fact, it is a prison hospital for the criminally insane. The people there aren’t going anywhere. Truly a well-named, well-located place where you get stuck. ETA: It’s in the same county (San Luis Obispo) as Pismo Beach. If you turned left at Albakerky on your way to Pismo Beach, be careful you don’t get stuck in Atascadero State Hospital! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/63 "2020-09-17T11:39:51Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > In this city, there is a state hospital called Atascadero State Hospital. It looks like a prison from the outside: Tall guard towers, surrounded by a tall fence with razor wire. In fact, it is a prison hospital for the criminally insane. That’s where Sarah Connor was incarcerated in Terminator II. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/64 "2020-09-17T12:04:53Z")
Do you know how Albuquerque got its name? Way back when the West was full of towns that as yet had no names, John and his son were travelling westward with their friend Al. Al had told John that his only goal in life was to have a town named after him. He had also told the boy, who was a very very polite young man who said, “Yes, Sir.” One day Al was terribly ill and could not travel any more. He told John, “Just leave me here so I won’t slow you down. But be sure not to forget … Name A Town After Me.” “Yeah, sure, Al. I won’t forget.” Next morning as John and his boy trudged on westward Al shouted one more time, “Name a town after me!” Then he heard the boy’s voice from the distance saying, “I’ll make sure he does it, Mr. Buquerque.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/65 "2020-09-17T12:35:53Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Born mid-50s and not only do I know the reference, I have in fact turned left at Albuquerque, One time I shoulda made a left at Espanola which at least is in the right state. I didn’t have a GPS and I didn’t know what road I was on so I couldn’t use my map. I figured out where I was when I mounted a crest and saw Taos Canyon and I recognized it from pictures. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/66 "2020-09-17T12:37:42Z")
Count me as one of the people who knew before I opened the thread. Gen X '72. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/67 "2020-09-17T12:45:45Z")
Late boomer and didn’t know it. I didn’t watch cartoons, which is probably why. The first thing that came to my mind was: I wonder if anybody’d think I’d flipped If I went to L.A. via Omaha. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/68 "2020-09-17T12:52:57Z")
I’m in my late 30s which makes me on the old end of the millenials and I knew it immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/69 "2020-09-17T13:37:49Z")
Born in ’57 and recognized it immediately. Some years ago my SO and I were contemplating a road trip to California(it never happened) and had a map spread before us. From El Paso I-10 shoots straight north into New Mexico before turning westward again at Las Cruces. Gazing at the map and tracing a line with my finger, I said “You know, if we took I-25 north (about 250 miles) before heading west, we could…” Before I could finish he blurted out “Make a left toin at Albuqoikee!”. He’s a Brit born in the late '60s who didn’t come to the US until the ‘80s. We both thought it might be worth it just so we could say we did. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/70 "2020-09-17T13:40:49Z")
First year of Gen X and of course! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/71 "2020-09-17T13:49:26Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Born 1955, and yes, I know the reference. I believe you turn left at Albuquerque to get to Pizmo Beach. 😃 I was very excited when I stayed in Pismo Beach during a business trip a few years ago. (It was the off-season, so the hotel right on the beach was cheap, which is why they booked us there. But the free hotel breakfast was pathetic so I ended up going to McDonald’s and paying out of pocket for breakfast.) But the little restaurants in the touristy part of town were nice. I brought back salt water taffy for the office. And by the way, I was born in 1966 and of course I recognize the reference. But a young person today is probably going to associate Albuquerque with Breaking Bad. So you might have gotten recognition with a reference to blue meth or pizza on the roof. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/72 "2020-09-17T14:34:32Z")
Born in '66 and I knew it immediately. I do get a lot of blank stares when I say, “You wouldn’t hit a bat with glasses, would you?”. Don’t get a lot of opportunities to pull that one out though. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/73 "2020-09-17T14:44:13Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > Born 1955, and yes, I know the reference. I believe you turn left at Albuquerque to get to Pizmo Beach. 😃 > > … and all the clams you can eat! > > (Peak Gen-X - born in 1974). It always bugged me that he once found a pearl in one. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/74 "2020-09-17T14:47:40Z")
54, got the reference immediately. > [@Spoons](#): > > Late Boomer here, and I recognize it. I even read it in the accent that it’s delivered in. > > Now, if I said, “Point me in the direction of Albuquerque,” would anybody get that reference? I’m hearing that in Popeye’s voice. But I have no idea where I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/75 "2020-09-17T14:51:04Z")
How about “I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/76 "2020-09-17T15:02:23Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > In this city, there is a state hospital called Atascadero State Hospital. I always like to say it is the inspiration for Hotel California. Even if it isn’t. The Albikoikie line was used in Ali Baba Bunny, too. As noted, all the clams you can eat at Pismo Beach. Hasan CHOP! ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/77 "2020-09-17T15:22:24Z")
Born in 1960. I’m sure I never saw the particular cartoon(s) the line comes from. We didn’t have a tv much of my childhood and that wasn’t a show I watched when we got one. But I recognized the line anyway. Guess it’s just “in the air…” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/78 "2020-09-17T15:25:09Z")
Okay then, who knows where this line comes from: > [@](#): > > Now hear this! Is time now for lifeboat drill. Moose and Sqvirrel first! Vimmen and children second. Okay, too obvious? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/79 "2020-09-17T15:32:25Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > How about “I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today?” 😉 J. Wellington Wimpy. 🍔 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796/80 "2020-09-17T15:45:29Z")
“Boris, dahling! Message says ‘Do NOT kill Moose and Squirrel’!” 😮 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-shoulda-turned-left-at-albuquerque/920796.md?page=5)