Rock Stars and Monkey Butts -- A Giveaway Sneak Peek!

Who's got cute stuff? 

Pout Baby Boutique's got cute stuff!

How you gonna get cute stuff?

You're gonna come back this weekend and register to win a $50 gift certificate to Pout Baby Boutique!

(It's like magic, really.)

Pennies In The Fountain -- Meet Preston / Wednesday, October 6

I was having a nice, long lunch with Carolyn (HI, CAROLYN!) when a little blonde streak zoomed past us. 

I watched with amusement as the cutest little kid in Crocs you've ever seen carefully chucked coins into the nearby fountain and zoomed away. 

I had my camera with me, but just wasn't fast enough to get any shots. 

It may have been the mouth full of taco. 

Besides, I hesitate to take photos of kids I don't know.

Then it happened again.

And again, the little bugger was just too fast for me. 

Then, fast as could be, he was there AGAIN!

This time, though, I was ready. 

I grabbed my camera, a couple of coins and a business card ... and followed him. 

As is often the case, I did my best to convince his parents I wasn't a weirdo. 

(Weird? So I've been told. But the older I get, the more I embrace it.)

I answered a few questions, gave them my business cards, and was introduced to Preston ... the fastest kid in the Upper Midwest.

A few coins in hand, we all trouped back to the fountain. 

Little Man had a process.

He would first approach, measuring the distance. 

Heck, for all I know, he was calculating trajectory. 

He was pretty smart, after all. 

How do I know he was intelligent?

It became clear to me when he employed the same method I use to execute anything requiring thought and skill. 

Tongue out, eyes focused.  

 Those of us with any modicum of intelligence often will run a pre-drop test.

Another hallmark of Mensa-quality brains?

When testing doesn't go the way it should, we adapt.

Then we look really, really pleased with ourselves. 

Look at that face.

He's probably figuring out what to say about that awesome drop on Facebook.

Or, you know ...

What to title his blog post.

Studyin' / Tuesday, October 4

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! / Dunn Bros Fargo

Ladies and gentlemen?

We have a WINNER!

This afternoon, I was mindin' the store when I realized Crystal's boys were likely busy at karate and that I had to get on the stick and get a random number chosen. 

I looked at the stranger in front of me and blurted, "pick a number between one and ten!"

She musta been a Mom.

You know how I know?

Because she threw a number back at me faster than lightening. 

Faster than my kid dissappears when it's time to unpack the groceries. 

Slicker than the scum of a L'usiana swamp. 

You get the point.

The winning number reveals to us the preference of a tall, dark and handsome cup o' joe. 

But really? 

Isn't that how we all like 'em?

Number 7? 

Beth B.? 

Come on down!

Congratulations, lady. 

And really? 

Holler if ya need company washin' down the prize.

Stay tuned for the next giveway coming from Pout Baby Boutique!

Now That's A Big Diddy / Monday, October 3

Anyone who's been to my home can attest that we yell, "Bad Diddy!" around here quite a bit. 

To clarify, the "diddy" comes from our two-year-old nephew, Brayton. 

The first time he came to visit after starting to speak English, I was trying to convince him to try to steer clear of Amos. 

When he and his older sister, Bergen, asked why, I had to come clean.

"Because he's a bad kitty." 

"Bad Diddy?" was Brayton's one-finger-in-the-mouth, head-cocked, blue-eyes-locked-with-mine reply.

"Yeah, buddy. He's a pretty Bad Diddy."

"Bite?"

"Yup."

"Bad Diddy!" he yelled, turning to Amos and pointing an accusatory finger at him. 

And Amos has been the Bad Diddy ever since.

With antics including eating whatever he wants, whenever he wants, to general terrorization with screwdrivers, calculators and knives, lying on the dining room table and licking batteries, Amos does his best to make me crazy. 

So it was a relief to see some well-behaved (albeit 400lbs of well-behaved) cats when we trekked to the Minnesota Zoo.

Ladies and gentlemen? 

Meet an Amur tiger.

The exhibit left the kids saying, "Wow!" over and over.

The last shot made me wonder if tigers have bad breath.

The only thing Lee could say?

"I wanna play with those Diddies."

Right, Lee.

Because one ten-pound Bad Diddy just isn't enough.

Monkey Butts! / Sunday, October 2

Last weekend, we made the two-pit-stop trek to my sister-in-law's (HI, CAMMY!) to hang out with her and her monkeys on the occasion of the anniversary of her birth. 

You keepin' up here?

That's right, it was Wammy's birthday!

We partied.

Hard.

That's a lie.

We don't party.

I just happen to be listen to KISS as I write this. 

What can I say? 

Paul Stanley's insistence at rock 'n rolling all night and partying every day is infectious.

My apologies.

One of our destinations that weekend was here:

If you haven't been, I highly recommend it. 

I'm not sure when they remodeled it, but HOLY MONKEY BUTTS is it cool!

And here we are at the monkey butt reference.

I may have mislead you.

I am not posting pictures of monkey butts.

That's not to say I don't have any.

You KNOW I do.

But this is a family show.

HA!

I crack myself up. 

This is most certainly not a family show.

I just try to keep it cleaner than how I usually speak. (Well hello, sailor!)

Let's roll that beautiful monkey footage, shall we?

Lee referred to this first tribe of primates as "jacuzzi monkeys" based on the ample NatGeo footage he's seen over the years of their species bathing in hot springs in China.

Please don't assume we're correct and that these guys really are from China. 

I took their pictures, I didn't interview them. 

They were too busy haulin' the kids to practice. 

And smoking corn cob pipes. 

Staring wistfully at some lady's Louis Vuitton bag.



And you know, hanging out.

Spend your Sunday with people you love today.

You know.

Hangin' out.

Dunn Bros Giveaway! / Saturday, October 1

I have to tell you about something.

Something close to my heart.

You probably already know what I’m going to talk about.

No, not big, hard … (ahem) chickens.

Something even closer.

That’s right, my little love nuggets.

We’re talking about coffee.

Oh! Glorious bean!

You are the sun to my shine!

The crème to my de menthe!

The jam to my toe!

What?

Oh, sorry.

Specifically, I want to tell you about my favorite coffee houses in Fargo-Moorhead.

Love nuggets? Meet Dunn Bros Fargo.

A locally-owned franchise, Dunn Bros Fargo’s corporate feel stops at the name.

Sure, you can get the same great drink in downtown St. Paul as you can in either of the Fargo locations, they’ll taste the same because the baristas all get top-notch training, and the signage will all be branded in a beautifully consistent manner, but in Fargo, you get … wait for it … wait for it … FARGO!

Now, you all know how much I love this town.

If you don’t, well … I should tell you more often.

The thing about Fargo is that we’re nice.

Kind, even.

And it shows.

(Eli on 25^th and Jamie on 45^th? I’m talkin’ ‘bout YOU!)

Add this kindness to an expansive drink menu, stir in a nice, clean atmosphere with two locations that offer drive-thru service, and you’ve got my go-to for all things coffee—including fresh French press to order.

Wait.

I lied. 

By omission, anyway. 

They’re also my go-to for Mighty Leaf Teas (the African Nectar curls my toes), Joy Pies, EVOL Burritos, home-baked doughnuts and cookies, Chipperz, and (get this!) honest to goodness burlap sacks that transported the unroasted coffee beans from Africa and South America to Fargo.

Oh? I didn’t mention that, huh?

I know!

I was saving the best for last.

It’s the pièce de résistance.

The goo in the middle.

The … oh.

I bet you don’t want me to go to toe jam again, huh?

Well, it’s my favorite thing.

(The fresh beans. Not the toe jam.)

Dunn Bros roasts their coffee in each store.

Here, I'll let them tell you why. 

Dark roast, full city roast … you name it, it happens.

Beans from Ethiopia, Mexico, Venezuela … the list goes on, and changes based on crop availability.

Nothing sits on shelves in a warehouse.

It’s nirvana.

Which reminds me.

Try the Vanilla Iced Nirvana.

Your tongue will thank you.

So here’s the big news: Dunn Bros Fargo has graciously donated a prize for a giveaway.

What?!?

That’s right!

One half-pound of fresh-roasted beans and a small specialty drink for the winner!

How does one win?

Leave a comment in the comment section of this post proclaiming your favorite coffee concoction. (Yes, frosting counts.)

One entry per person. Entries must be received by Monday at 12pm CST.

Remember: if you don’t leave your email address, I can’t tell you that you’re a winner, winner, chicken dinner.

(Hmm. There’s that chicken thing again. I should maybe talk to my shrink about that.)

Winners outside of the F-M metro area who cannot collect their prize at one of the two convenient Dunn Bros Fargo locations may ask to have their beans shipped to them. Shipping is limited to the continental United States. I’m sorry to say I can’t ship the small drink. I would, however, be happy to order what you want, consume it, and let you know how great it was.

I’m sweet like that.

Winner will be chosen by my calling one of Crystal’s boys and asking them to pick a number between 1 and how ever many comment entries there are. The first commenter will be #1, the second #2, etc.

Winners will be announced sometime after school is out on Monday.

Good luck!