Melarky

I was going threw some video clips on the computer today and realized there are a bunch that I never published. Most of them are of my son, Wellington, but there are a few in there of family making fools of themselves and one or two really cute ones of my husband. Most of them are also pretty cruddy quality, but still fun.

Last Saturday, my in-laws and family threw me a baby shower. It was so fun, I knew that one was being planned but I had no idea what it was going to be like.

When I arrived and saw what was on the front door and I couldn’t stop laughing. My sister-in-laws, Heidi and Korby always come up with unique themes for baby showers. Examples of such baby shower themes are; the Seven Deadly Sin’s (which was a little confusing for the guest of honor because the room looked like Halloween), Hawaiian, Dr. Seuss, Fall (the season) and Chocolate (one of my favorites). They always wait for inspiration when choosing a theme, usually they play off something that the guest of honor enjoys. Ie: The baby shower they threw when I had Wellington was Chocolate themed. Perfect for me, cause well, I love chocolate.

So when I saw the posters of Mario on the door, I knew that my sister-in-law’s had come up with a theme just for me. They did a great job playing off my nerdy liking for video games.

The room was decorated with gold coins (yellow balloons), Red, Green, and Blue streamers, posters of Donkey Kong and Mario. The food table even had a little figure of Mario in the middle. Games included; guess how many Yoshi eggs in the jar, Pin the mustache on Mario and Luigi, root beer drinking competition out of baby bottles (this one was less Mario-ish and more geared toward me letting my first kid drink root beer out of a baby bottle when he was only a few months old). Heidi did a matching game that was so creative and totally geared towards Mario. Food included: Lasagna (perfect for the Italian Bros.), Princess Peach Punch, there were a few other things, fruit and bread, but I can’t remember now what Heidi called them.

Here are some pictures I stole from my sisters blog (again, click the image to make it bigger). I think everyone had a blast. I know I did! Thanks everyone who helped and came. It was fun to spend time with family, eat, and play games. Thanks to for the nice gifts. I now am totally ready in that sense for the baby to come.

(Click small images to embiggen)

Loud, huge, heavy, impossible to find parts for and totally worth it. The Original Screamer-Seat of Terror has found it’s way from Murray to our living room. Yeah, I’m not totally excited that it’s in the living room, but it’s temporary (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that’s true).

I saw the machine on KSL.com a few months ago. I called the seller and he had told me that he’d been offered much more than I wanted to pay for it, so we passed on it. About a week before Valentines I saw it up on KSL again. I called him, and he had explained that no one ever came to get it, because of snow. But this time he sounded more desperate to make a sale. He had a few other machines for sale, but nothing really worth the trip. I told Mark it would be fun just to go down and look even if we didn’t get anything, then we could make a sort of Valentines trip out of it (a nerdy couples dream). So on Valentines day we packed up the truck and traveled the two hours down to Murray to wander around a huge, FREEZING COLD (I can’t stress that enough) warehouse.

Getting the machine ready to be lifted up with a forklift

When we arrived, he announced he got it working that morning. When I talked to him before he said it wasn’t working, turns out he just needed to turn on the power switch (genius). I thought for sure this new development of a working machine would mean no negotiation on the price. Mark, the master negotiator (really, he rocks at it) talked him down and we walked away with our new monstrous living room chair.

I’m pretty excited about it and think it’s so fun. The kids sure love it and anyone who visits gets a kick out of it. I’ve been trying to take a shot of anyone who’s brave enough to try it out. Our son, Wellington, loves to take any opportunity to get up in it, hence all the pictures of him with other people. And if you come and try it out, I’ll put your picture up on the “Screamer’s Board” too.

Screamer’s

(click to embiggen)

SUPER NERD IN: The game that we have is made my Nova Productions Limited in 1998. The Seat of Terror originated in the UK, but has caught on pretty well all over the world. We have seen many variations of it (I think all made by the same company), some are similar electric chair themes (but with a different name like “The Shocker” or “The Hot Seat”), but they also made other similar type games in less “gruesome” shapes. Apparently, the US is a little more timid when it comes to “simulating execution” than the brits, and the company had to come up with some alternative ways to package the experience, so they also made an Addams Family themed Uncle Fester machine and a Star Trek borg machine that basically does the same thing.

Despite the name, the game doesn’t actually shock you (too many legal implications I’m sure). The handles that you hold onto, have motors inside them that vibrate super fast and makes your hands feel numb and sort of like being shocked. After you’ve done it a few times, it’s more apparent, but the first time you do it, you’re sure you’re being shocked. Currently only one of our handles is functioning, Gary came over today and worked on the machine to see if we could get it going with both handles, but we discovered that it needs a new stepper motor and controller board for the one side, which may prove to be impossible to find (the board at least). We are going to contact some of the local-ish arcades that have had or have one of these types of machines and see what they can do (find out if they have a source for parts etc…), but I’m not holding my breath. It’s still really fun with only one handle “shocking” right now, but it will be fun to have both working some day (btw, thanks for all your help Gary!)

NERD OUT!

Woot.com is having another woot off today. In case you missed our earlier post about woot-off’s, it’s basically taking all of the stuff that they didn’t sell out of in the past, and marking it down even further until it does sell out. Usually you have to wait until midnight for a new deal, but on Woot Off’s, a new deal is posted after the previous deal sells out, so check back often as they will have lots of good deals through out the day. And by often, means don’t leave your computer…they’ve already had some great deals…I’ll be up late tonight I’m sure…clicking the refresh button. There will be a status bar (just like the one above) that will tell you how much an item is left (doesn’t give an exact number, but as the stock diminishes the bar goes down).

More details to come later…

I’m sure most of you already have your Valentines Day planned out. There might be flowers, a few surprises in store for your loved one, a romantic dinner, a long walk, possibly even some kissing will be involved. I too have our day planned out, so if your still in search of the perfect Valentines Day and your also a super-uber nerd, take note.

CAUSE THIS IS WHAT WERE DOING FOR VALENTINES:

You of course probably want to spend time together on Valentines. A walk on the beach or cuddling up to a romantic movie both sound like good Valentines activities.
What we’re doing: Nickelcade. YES, Mark and I were REALLY meant for each other. As weird as it sounds, its kind of a sentimental place for Mark and I, cause well, we went there on our honeymoon (that’s when Mark knew it was true love).

Extremely younger looking US on our Honeymoon

Normal Couples I’m guessing have reservations at a fancy restaurant, somewhere with a romantic atmosphere. Waiters in ties, white tablecloths, and candlelight.
What we’re doing: Why do that, when you could go to Warren’s, located in beautiful Ogden. That’s what my Valentines dinner wish is! Warren’s has great hamburgers and a killer lime rickey (which is the main reason we’re going there, their rickey’s will undoubtedly satisfy my pregnancy craving for the drink). I love it! So this year Warren’s is the perfect place to have our romantic Valentines dinner. I can’t wait to be eating a Mt. Ogden burger and sipping on a tall, cold lime rickey!

After an activity and dinner, your probably going to be tired and looking forward to a little alone time with your loved one.
What we’re doing: My third request for the day in no doubt blew Mark’s mind. There is a warehouse liquidation sale in Murray this Saturday, where various arcades and restaurant equipment are being sold. (WAIT I FORGOT TO ADD “NERD IN”) NERD IN: I’m really excited to go down and see what he has. I wouldn’t mind coming home with a nacho cheese dispenser, or the piece de resistance, an electric arcade chair! You know, an oversized wooden chair, you sit in, feed it some coins and see how much shock your body can handle. NERD OUT! I also thought, this will be perfect!!! No one will show up to his sale cause its on Valentines night, but then Mark reminded me the kinda guys who collect that stuff usually don’t have girlfriends or a wife who wants to spend Valentines in a warehouse.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!!

P.S. Mark, I love you! I’m excited to spend the day with you tomorrow!

No he wouldn’t eat his dinner, but snow, that’s delicious!

Tonight we picked a kids movie to watch with Wellington, one he hadn’t seen before. After deciding on Pinocchio, we asked him if he could say “Pinocchio”. He very cutely said back, “pickle-oil”.

Kids are so fun.

Wellington loves his new jammies. He ended up wearing them all day. He loved the lights, and they turned out to be a great night light for him. He really did well with keeping the cape on. It came off once or twice and he immediately wanted it back on.

He was such a cute Batman boy. I think I’ll make some more capes for him, to jump and fly around in.

FYI-we purchased them at Khol’s the other day, where they had kids (I think mostly baby and toddlers clothes) on sale, 60% and 80% off. There were some great deals there!

I do it to myself. After finding this arcade on KSL and encouraging Mark to go down to West Jordan to pick it up, I can’t complain about the arcades in the kitchen anymore. I find myself encouraging Mark more and more to expand our arcade collection. I of course would rather have them NOT in our kitchen, but someday they will find a home in a fun basement game room (one can only hope).

This game called, Out Run, was too good of a deal to pass up, so now it sits in our kitchen/dining area of our small condo. I actually like where it is, cause sometimes I worry about home invasions, but having a heavy arcade in front of the back door puts my mind more at ease.

NERD IN:I actually really liked this cabinet cause of it’s unique shape. The steering wheel, shifter, pedals, and the bright colored artwork were all fun.NERD OUT!

Wellington loves showing company our new machine and thinks it’s his. And here’s something else fun about it, it currently doesn’t work. It shouldn’t take much to get it going, possibly a package of Twizzlers, a six pack of IBC’s and some begging to get Gary to come take a look at it.