Shamu LIVES!.... at my house.

I am not a lucky person. I don't win the lottery, nor do I usually win raffles (only 1 time and I think it was because it was an Aggie Football game no one thought Texas A&M would beat Notre Dame), nor do I win at the carny games. My daughter on the other hand, seems to be quite the lucky girl. Several years ago, after arguing for 20 minutes or so and repeating "No one wins at these games, they are all rigged!" (Can you hear your Dad saying that??) My husband and I gave in and let her play a few dollars worth at the toss-the-too-small-ring-on-the-too-large-bottle-neck game. Low and behold, as planets and stars aligned in a far away galaxy, she landed the ring on the bottle. Not only were my husband and I amazed, so were her Aunt, Uncle and older cousins AND the carny attendant. Nevertheless, we walked away with one medium pink Care Bear to which we still have in her room today. Let that be a lesson to never doubt the magical, mystical powers of a tattooed carnival lady who is rooting you on with her 1 gold front tooth.

Chapter 2: I have also never been one to browbeat my husband or talk bad about him. I love him dearly. I do, however, question his thought processes occasionally. This past week, the kids and I were fortunate enough to accompany him on a business trip to Orlando, Florida. We endured the 93 degree heat and 93 percent humidity to take in the sights at Sea World and a day at the Magic Kingdom. I wouldn't trade any one of those days although I weigh 5 lbs. less due to the immense amount of sweating that took place. I would however, like to strangle the lady who took my husbands $5 at the ring toss booth at Sea World. Could she not see the magic aura around my daughter as she strode up to the ring toss game? In his defense, He, being male, has a very short memory and should not be held accountable. I guess you could partially blame it on me for not dressing him in a shirt that said "FLYING HOME ON A PLANE: NO LARGE STUFFED ANIMALS". Shame on me for the lack of forethought.


Anyway, he gave up the cash and my daughter happily took the 3 rings and proceeded to throw them into the pit and you guessed it, Jackpot. I was not present for the big show but my husband was kind enough to take pictures so that I can now hunt this lady down at some point in the future and thank her myself. As I called him on my cell at Sea World to locate the balance of my family (as we were separated once again due to his wandering), I get a visual on a small girl dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, pony tail and freckles carrying a LARGE pink stuffed Shamu. I thought to myself - Whew! Sucks to be her parents on that plane. The very second that thought neuron stopped firing in my brain, I realized the girl carrying the Shamu WAS my daughter. I have now come to the realization that I AM FLYING HOME WITH A 6 FOOT LONG PINK AND WHITE STUFFED SHAMU WHALE THAT RIVALS THE SIZE OF MOST GREAT DANES - IN COACH. Really - this thing is larger than my 4 year old. As if the flight attendants don't love you anyway, wait till they get a load of this.

My husband's new name is Mud. Not only do I have to worry about lugging this monstrosity home to Texas, but I also get to watch her carry it through Sea World and hit every 3rd person in the arm or head with the dorsal fin. Of course, we are not done for the day. There are more rides to be had with my $80 ticket. I offer to sit out the water ride as I am already wet enough (i.e. "glistening" as my Mother says) and hold the darn fish. My son and I finally located a large enough are for the 3 of us to sit (equal to a full-size mattress) and take up camp while we wait for the others. You would not believe the looks I got. Gawkers in fact. Lots of pointers, smiles and elbows to spouses thinking "Whew - glad that's not mine". Are you now, really? You too could own this lovely prize for the right price (I tell myself). In fact, I did have one offer for $50. Figures it was totally in jest. I thought about running him down and telling him I would take $20 but about that time my other family members appeared and she refused the cash. I think I might have paid it out of my pocket just not to have to carry the damned thing. Oh well, memories in the making, right?

Here's a memory for you - $54!!!! That is the grand total to get She-Shamu shipped to my house via UPS. She showed up today on my front porch in a nice big cardboard box courtesy of my husband rushing to the UPS store on a Sunday afternoon to get it home. Too bad we can't eat it for dinner. Rock on Shamu, hope you like your new diggs.....