Monster Truck Mayhem

Posted on November 17th, 2010 by Jean

“Hey, baby, I did something crazy.”
 
“What did you do?”
 
“I was gambling at the Hideout, and said if I won, I’d spend the winnings on Nat’s birthday.”
 
Oh crap! My mind is reeling now!
 
“How much did you win?”
 
“One hundred dollars.” 
 
Oh… my… gawd!
 
As if that wasn’t crazy enough, wait’ll you hear how my husband spent the money. Mr. Winner drove straight to K-Mart. (K-mart?)
 
At said K-Mart he purchased:
• 2 Play-Doh sets ~(cool);
• 1 Friendship Bracelet kit ~(right on!); and
• 1 Radio-Controlled Monster Truck (wtf?).
 
Fast forward to the Birthday girl’s big day. Her reaction to the monster truck was priceless!
 

 
The rest of her presents were perfectly girlie enough.
 
Eight hours later, monster truck’s battery was fully charged, and the girls wanted to give it a try. Nat and her little sister did have fun! They raced it to see who was faster. I discovered how to spin it 180˚. The “lame present” wasn’t so lame after all.
 
Eating some crow, I pieced together video clips of the family enjoying the truck. I paused during editing to a) make some chili, and b) socialize with hubby and a friend during Sunday night’s football game. Afterward I began to edit in the same room where football was blaring and hubby & friend were shooting pool.
 
First my music was too loud. (Only competing with the football game, my dear.) Then my toes were stepped on, not once but twice. (Wow, how utterly rude!)
 
So I stormed off and completed the video while miffed. I shouldn’t edit when I’m angry.
 

 
• Who do you think enjoyed the truck most?
• Is hubby really evil, or did I just edit it that way?
• Monster Trucks ~ yea or nay?

4 Little Words Keep Readers From Straying

Posted on November 6th, 2010 by Jean

You’re losing readers. Inadvertently, but none the less, there they go. You asked them to check out your friend’s blog.
 
“Click the link!”
 
So they did. I did.
 
I’m all for a good pimp. Believe me, my pimp hand is strong.
 
Your friend is great! I comment, check out their profile, and follow them on twitter. Your friend (my new friend) is pimping their friend’s website. I follow the bouncing link, and feast my eyes on a beautiful portfolio. Click on one? Why sure! Now I’m all wrapped up in an apron aficionado’s blog, drooling over apple recipes. Yes, this really did happen.
 
So now my break is over, and I’m closing windows. What should I see at the back of the group? Your page!
 
After meandering all over the internet, I forgot to leave you a comment!
 
How can you prevent me from wandering off and not finding my way back? Four little words: target equals underscore blank.
 
Inserting a little bit of html behind your links will open a new window instead of directing people away from your sight.
 

 
This holds true with buttons, links to Twitter, FaceBook, and blogging groups. Edit their code. It’s easy!
 

 
• Do you use these four magical words?
• Do you ever wander so far off the beaten path, you forget where you started?

No Tricks, All Treats

Posted on November 4th, 2010 by Jean

My husband, the great white hunter, ran off to Williams, Arizona to look for Bambi, leaving the kids and I to fend for ourselves this past Halloween. My sister, upon hearing the news, volunteered to help me out, understanding the difficulty of combining Trick-Or-Treating, photography and cocktails. If anyone could pull it off, it was she!
 
On Halloween Eve, we carved pumpkins. The kids were troopers, but their little arms were clearly challenged by the whole poking/carving shebang. It was Team Mom & Pearl against Team Aunt Sunny & Natalie. Pearl and I were slow & steady, never losing our focus.
 

 
Natalie changed her stencil three times before ever lifting a tool. She declared it “fun” when Aunt Sunny took over carving duty.
 

 
By the end, Team Pearl was victorious for finishing first, Natalie was crying, and Aunt Sunny was armed and semi-dangerous. (Don’t hurt me, Aunt Sunny, for posting this picture!)
 

 
Fast forward to Halloween Night. The kids donned their super hero costumes and allowed me to staple the fake boots to their real shoes. Then we went Trick-Or-Treating at the casinos. Imagine entering the casino and filling your goody bags with chips. Nice! Ok, now wipe that image from your mind, and picture the reality. Ground level hotel rooms decorated in spider webs, black fabric, skeletons and ghouls. Hotel guests dressed in costumes handing out candy from their patios. Only in Laughlin?
 

 
The kids hit most of the displays in a 45 minute span, filling their satchels half way. We hoofed it back to our car, conveniently parked at the tiniest casino on this strip, the Regency. What can I say? Parking is plentiful, and the gift shop gives treats.
 

 
Back across the river to Arizona, we headed to Chili’s. The hostess handed us a “BOGO” coupon, allowing the kids to eat free. Apparently our server didn’t get the memo because he tacked on the extra ten bucks. My sister’s eagle eye spotted the discrepancy and saved the day. Look how else she saved the day, with refreshing margaritas.
 

 
Told you she could juggle it all.
 
• How was your Halloween?
• Is carving pumpkins overrated?
• What’s the best thing you ever took away from a casino?

 
To view more photos of the Laughlin Halloween Safe Street, visit our business blog, Around The River Blogs.

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