Freeloaders

MMM, DOUGHNUTS: We were out the door by 8 this morning. What was the fire under our feet? Why, the offer of free doughnuts, of course. Turns out June 3 is National Doughnut Day.

According to a Krispy Kreme press release, the "holiday" was established in 1938 by The Salvation Army to raise funds to help people in need. And the kids were happy to hear that "in honor of the 73-year-old holiday, Krispy Kreme is once again giving each guest who visits a participating U.S. Krispy Kreme shop on June 3 one FREE doughnut of any variety. No purchase is necessary to redeem the offer." Sweet!

We headed north, to a KK on Aurora Ave., right by a Lowe's we frequent. When we walked in the doors dozens and dozens of doughnuts were rolling on the conveyor belt. Clearly, they were expecting a crowd. Just past the doughnuts we spied a KOMO 4television news camerawoman and reporter. That's right - free doughnuts are Big News.

We didn't even have to wait in line. As we approached the counter, a Krispy Kreme worker held out a hot, fresh glazed doughnut to each of the kids, and as soon as they grabbed that (saying 'thank you' of course), she also gave them each a hat. They were Most Happy.

We sat down and watched the reporter and camerawoman go about their business for a few minutes, and then we were off to Lowe's for a couple of items. After that, it was across the street to K-Mart. Annabelle was hot to check out the toy aisles and see if there was anything to spend her Tooth Fairy cash on. We probably spent a full 30 minutes perusing the many aisles of toys. Dolls, action figures, puzzles, games, summertime fun products ... Annabelle coulnd't make up her mind - UNTIL she spied a Hex robotic bug. SOLD! And a good call, might I add.

Hex come in four types: Nanos, that 'behave like a real bug,' flipping themselves over; original, which reacts to touch and sound; inchworm, which comes with a remote control, six-legged spiders with remote controls, robotic crabs, which react to light and sound, and lastly, ants, which is what Annabelle got (pink, of course).It's a neat little creature with all sorts of gears and other mechanics to interest the kids. It darts about the house, changing direction when it touches or senses an obstacle (corporate demo video here).

Crafty Annabelle even conceived of and built a boxing-ring like contraption for her bug. Maybe she'll help bring back the BattleBots series (Lordy how I loved that show).WEIGHING HEAVILY: Out of the blue today, CJ told me about "a very sad story" the music teacher read to the class this week. It was about a little boy "whose father did many bad things to him, beat him locked him in the basement did so much more things than that. And the son made up his own music (his dad) called it silly trash."

I could tell CJ was very bothered by the story and had been thinking about it for awhile - no doubt off and on since Tuesday afternoon, when he heard it. CJ likes to come up with alternative, happy endings for stories he doesn't like, and this one was no exception. "I would snatch a key from (the dad) and I would say, 'No, I'm not giving it back!' unless he would treat his son better," CJ proposed. "I'd show him what it's like to get beat up then he regret doing all those things."

Way to work it out, CJ.

DEAR DIARY: While we were at K-Mart today, we also scored something CJ has been seeking for weeks and weeks - the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-it-Yourself Book." CJ spent about four hours this afternoon working on the book. There are questionnaires to fill in, a few little games and jokes sprinkled here and there. CJ was happy to share every little tidbit he was writing down. For instance, one of the pages asks a series of questions about how CJ pictures himself as a 30 year old. Regarding the job he'll have he listed he'd be "an actor."

"Oh - I didn't know that. When did you decide that?" I asked.

"Right now!" he replied.

Too funny! :)

The next question asked what item he'd take to work every day. CJ told me, "I'm going to take a pen so I can write things down and remember my lines as an actor." I think that makes perfect sense. When Christian got home this evening, CJ was eager to show him the diary and said, "I'll give you a 30-page demo," and they read it together.

Annabelle wasn't as forthcoming with her diary info. In fact, this afternoon, she shut her book if anyone even approached the couch, where she was working.

FREEBIES, ROUND TWO: A few minutes before three, the kids and I readied for our Starbucks run. It's week three of "We Love You Fridays" promo in Seattle, and this week's giveaway - MARINERS TICKETS - w00t! Rick came with us.
We got tickets from the Starbucks a half mile from our house, then drove to another one about a mile away and then looped back around and hit the Starbucks in Magnolia Village. By our third stop, it was clear at least a couple of other people were making the rounds, too. All totaled, the six of us should be able to go to two Mariners games for "free" (not counting food, drink, etc.) Excellent!
Oh, and at one of the Starbucks they had free bags of coffee grounds for compost, so I scored one of those, too!