General discussion - Mom and Dad Esq.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Gattigap
If I have to attend one more birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, I may lose it.

The combination of mediocre food, crowded conditions, 200-odd screaming kids, blaring music, depressing TV programming, dispirited employees, asinine videogames played for cheap "prizes", all offered as part of an elaborate homage to an oversized rat, inspires the same soul-crushing sadness as children's beauty pageants and the presence of near-beer at a baseball stadium. Its closed system, casino-style form of entertainment precludes even a basic update on NCAA tournament games, damn them.

If subjected to its pain once more, I may well follow through on my plan (hatched earlier today) to take Mr. Cheese hostage during his floor show, hold the employees at bay with a wielded pitcher of super-saturated lemonade and as punishment force them to eat the food they've prepared. Then I shall set fire to the several broken arcade games, watch the franchise burn to the ground, and make my escape in the resulting confusion.

Caught and captured for criminality? Hardly. I suspect that my fellow inmates will be encouraged by my show of defiance, and perhaps even assist in our efforts to escape.

Carry on.

look around you next time. See the dull-witted overweight parents eating bad pizza- but with a big ass pitcher of beer? see how their kids are running around, and someone else's problem while they swill the beer? You can't fight that. Your kid will be invited back- again and again- unless you get proactive and kep your kids away from parents that seem the type.

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by Gattigap
If I have to attend one more birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, I may lose it.

The combination of mediocre food, crowded conditions, 200-odd screaming kids, blaring music, depressing TV programming, dispirited employees, asinine videogames played for cheap "prizes", all offered as part of an elaborate homage to an oversized rat, inspires the same soul-crushing sadness as children's beauty pageants and the presence of near-beer at a baseball stadium. Its closed system, casino-style form of entertainment precludes even a basic update on NCAA tournament games, damn them.

If subjected to its pain once more, I may well follow through on my plan (hatched earlier today) to take Mr. Cheese hostage during his floor show, hold the employees at bay with a wielded pitcher of super-saturated lemonade and as punishment force them to eat the food they've prepared. Then I shall set fire to the several broken arcade games, watch the franchise burn to the ground, and make my escape in the resulting confusion.

Caught and captured for criminality? Hardly. I suspect that my fellow inmates will be encouraged by my show of defiance, and perhaps even assist in our efforts to escape.

Carry on.

That's why I have er younguns birthday party here now:

[dtb]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
That's why I have er younguns birthday party here now:

I was in a hotel elevator a while back, and there were some out-of-towners (teenagers) from the UK in the elevator with me. One of them happened to pick up a brochure from the lobby that advertised Hooters. They were fascinated by the concept and were reveling in the lowbrow cheesiness of it all. When I told them that it was only a short subway ride away - they looked a little embarrassed. Grateful, but embarrassed.

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by dtb
I was in a hotel elevator a while back, and there were some out-of-towners (teenagers) from the UK in the elevator with me. One of them happened to pick up a brochure from the lobby that advertised Hooters. They were fascinated by the concept and were reveling in the lowbrow cheesiness of it all. When I told them that it was only a short subway ride away - they looked a little embarrassed. Grateful, but embarrassed.

I tended bar at a Hooters in Atlanta for a while. I made serious bank.

[pony_trekker]

Seen at the gym. A very tight body with, let me say, a new storage spot for the ipod !

Originally posted by Gattigap
If I have to attend one more birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, I may lose it.

I put my foot down after one visit to that hellhole. Same goes for any establishment with any combination of the words "kid" "happy" "zone" "place" "fun" and/or "land" in the name. If I want to hang out in a dark, noisy room that smells like puke and beer farts there's always Rocky's.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by ironweed
I put my foot down after one visit to that hellhole. Same goes for any establishment with any combination of the words "kid" "happy" "zone" "place" "fun" and/or "land" in the name. If I want to hang out in a dark, noisy room that smells like puke and beer farts there's always Rocky's.

You named your basement?

Originally posted by taxwonk
You named your basement?

You told me I had to name and incorporate if I wanted to take the business deduction on the wet bar, pool table and vomitorium. Were you shitting me?

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by ironweed
You told me I had to name and incorporate if I wanted to take the business deduction on the wet bar, pool table and vomitorium. Were you shitting me?

You listen to legal advice over the Internet? How do you know Wonk's not a hermit living in Montana who's never even seen a tax code?

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by ironweed
You told me I had to name and incorporate if I wanted to take the business deduction on the wet bar, pool table and vomitorium. Were you shitting me?

I told you that? I must have been really ripped at the time.

Hi!

I am thinking of getting a convertible (BMW 325 or 330 or Saab 9-3, the make/model is not necessarily relevant to the question). I have two relatively young children (btw 3-9). My partner and I have another car that is definitely the familymobile (SUV). Is getting a new convertible, with the attendant safety features, a bad idea? Is it too dangerous to have the kids in? Is it irresponsible/selfish? Do any of you all have one with kids? Thoughts.....comments.... appreciated.

anon because I don't want to be known as a bad/irresponsible parent.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Anon Parent
Hi!

I am thinking of getting a convertible (BMW 325 or 330 or Saab 9-3, the make/model is not necessarily relevant to the question). I have two relatively young children (btw 3-9). My partner and I have another car that is definitely the familymobile (SUV). Is getting a new convertible, with the attendant safety features, a bad idea? Is it too dangerous to have the kids in? Is it irresponsible/selfish? Do any of you all have one with kids? Thoughts.....comments.... appreciated.

anon because I don't want to be known as a bad/irresponsible parent.

Which do you think is safer: a modern euro-convertable with your kids seatbelted/car seated in, or whatever the hell pre-airbag car you parents schlept you around in as a kid?

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by Anon Parent
Hi!

I am thinking of getting a convertible (BMW 325 or 330 or Saab 9-3, the make/model is not necessarily relevant to the question). I have two relatively young children (btw 3-9). My partner and I have another car that is definitely the familymobile (SUV). Is getting a new convertible, with the attendant safety features, a bad idea? Is it too dangerous to have the kids in? Is it irresponsible/selfish? Do any of you all have one with kids? Thoughts.....comments.... appreciated.

anon because I don't want to be known as a bad/irresponsible parent.

My ex drives a Jeep. He often takes the top off when he's got the Brazenette. I've never worried that she's less safe in that car than in mine.

But I could be considered a bad/irresponsible parent, I suppose.

Originally posted by baltassoc
Which do you think is safer: a modern euro-convertable with your kids seatbelted/car seated in, or whatever the hell pre-airbag car you parents schlept you around in as a kid?

I agree, although I am not sure that the standard of "surviving my parent's upbringing" is necessarily the best I can do. Regardless of that comparison, what do you think of the merits of the idea?

Originally posted by bold_n_brazen
My ex drives a Jeep. He often takes the top off when he's got the Brazenette. I've never worried that she's less safe in that car than in mine.

But I could be considered a bad/irresponsible parent, I suppose.

No indictment or other offense was intended. My primary has always had a healthy respect for your skills and talents.