More Christmas Pictures

Remember Hungry Hungry Hippos? 

Of course you do. 

Remember how loud it is?

Probably not. Unless, like myself, you were stupid enough to give it to your own child for Christmas.

What is wrong with me? That is the noisiest game on the planet. I don't remember it being so noisy when I was a kid, but it's hideous. Much noisier than it looks in the pictures on the box. 

Zeke and Jake loved it and played it for at least an hour straight on Christmas evening. Never got sick of it. The adults in the room tried to talk over the racket, but it was impossible. Like trying to talk during a space shuttle launch (and I attend a lot of shuttle launches in my spare time). 

I don't remember what I finally said that got them to move away from the toy, but I do remember that it was a lengthy negotiation. Once they were gone, Shanti and I dismantled the evil plastic contraption as completely as we could and stuffed it into the box. 

Zeke asked for it the next morning and the next morning, and the next, but fortunately we had the "Grandma is sleeping...can't wake her up" excuse at our fingertips. Now that we're home I'm going to have to come up with some new reasons why we do NOT want to let the hippos come out again. That, or invest in some of those Bose noise-canceling headphones. 

I can see myself in the store now...

"Sir? Can you direct me to your noise-proof headphones?"

"Certainly. Do you travel often? Our products are extremely popular with frequent fliers."

"Nope."

"Oh. Well can I ask what you need them for?"

"Hungry Hungry Hippos."

"Ah, yes. We do a robust hippo-related business this time of year. We should really partner with the Mattel people to get more of those games off the shelves and into the living rooms of America..."