I am 4 today
August 10th, 2007 | Posted in Jus' Ramblin' | 8 Comments
It was my son’s 4th birthday this week so we had a small party and invited a few of his friends. Naturally, we had to endure the shockingly poor service at our local Toys’r’us. Wow, that store (possibly a reflection of the chain in general) has gone downhill. Rude staff, no idea on how to work cash registers, a list of broken toys requiring us to return them, no idea on the latest toys or where they were… like I said… wow.
We bought him an Optimus Prime (the big red transformer). This, using “Automotive morphing technology” turns into a truck. Its age range is 5+.
After we gave him his present. he came to me and said:
"Daddy, can you turn it into the truck?"
"Of course son, you sit there and wait while I quickly do it for you.."
TWO BASTARD HOURS LATER and I was close to throwing the red bugger against the wall. I was still sat there trying to get its arm up its arse and turn its eyes into a pair of headlights.
Managed it in the end… I even got a round of applause. I have since managed to get it down to 14 minutes, this time without bits falling off. Ain’t like it is in the movies…
He also got this hot wheels track where the cars are meant to crash into each other.. my wife and I set it up. We then tested it… thoroughly. We hadn’t realised that he had left the room, bored, 10 minutes earlier. That game is addictive, all you do is put the car on the track and then wait for them to crash into each other. One car did land on my foot and it did really really hurt… but I didn’t cry.
His cake was initially going to be a themed cake e.g. Transformers, TMNT. The ones we saw had, what looked like, a printout of a still from the movies on a 1 inch thick layer of icing. Imagine it, 8 x 2 – 8 year old kids laden with sugar, not on my watch. Ended up with a normal cake. Naturally, we took countless photos which I will post soon.
All in all, a very enjoyable day.
lol. that’s a popular misconception, though. Sugar doesn’t make kids hyper; parties make kids hyper.
(I read about this in “Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity” by John Stossel, a really fun book.)
Actually, thinking about it, that does make sense.
Rarely do i see him tearing up the place after a bowl of Frosties, and as well all know, Frosties amounts to nothing more than a big box of sugar.
Ha Ha Ha….wow 2 hours ! And I thought Coldfusion programming was difficult. You are right about Toys R Us , it must be a prerequisite on the application form - surly, remedial intelligence , unhelpful , dislike of children and the general public ?…you’re hired !
LOL 2 hours doing optimus prime. Looks mint though. You sure you bought that for Nayan dude?
regds sugar: after feeding Beth (5) three chocolate bars together, one Friday two weeks ago, and then watching her practically take off, I beg to differ!
She was with me, and a few other adults, at a friends house, seeing their newborn Daughter Diya.
Dude, Prime looks mint. I bet *Nayan* is reeeeally pleased with it! ;-)
ps Adam, you don’t have kids, do you? :-p
…after feeding Beth (5yrs old) three chocolate bars together, one Friday, a few weeks ago, and then watching her practically take off, I beg to differ!
She was with me, and a few other adults, at a friends house, seeing their newborn Daughter Diya. No parties.
I guess sugar-reactions depend on personality. For Beth, as for other kids I know, it’s a ‘high’ for an hour or two, and then the grumpies!
Oh yes, he makes me turn it into a truck, on average, 4 times a day. I am sure he does it so he can laugh at how damn frustrated i get.
There is that sense of having done something really clever, kinda like the first time you did the rubiks cube. :)
that’s a might fine optimus prime you got there mate .. it’s awesome. That’s an awesome gift. creates an engineering mindset among kids.