You know why I love the internet? I mean other than the fact that it’s possible to spend an entire afternoon watching videos of squirrels dancing to Michael Jackson songs?
(Do not judge me. I was merely searching for things that might bring Caroline some amusement while we spend our evenings gathered around the computer in front of the fireplace just like the Waltons.)
I love that almost every comment from yesterday validated my use of all the words to tell of all the nothing. And so, while I didn’t get too many (or any) orders for my custom-made potholders (coasters? Barbie rugs?), I am secure in knowing that at least some of you don’t mind that I wouldn’t know succinct if it was a dancing squirrel on the internet.
Speaking of rodents, I have a big announcement to make. Santa Claus has secured a Zhu Zhu Pet for Caroline, complete with a hamster house.
I received so many emails informing me of Zhu Zhu Pet sightings at Cracker Barrel, CVS, and even a gas station in Louisiana. Apparently, Toys ‘R Us handed out golden tickets, like some kind of whacked out Willy Wonka, that could be exchanged for a Zhu Zhu Pet at approximately 4 a.m. when the stars aligned perfectly with Saturn or whatever.
It all seemed very mysterious and began to remind me of an old episode of 90210 where Donna and David hear about some super-cool party, but they can only find the location if they take an egg to a convenience store. Did I just make that up or was that an actual episode? And, if so, why did I spend such a good portion of the early 90′s watching a T.V. show with such stupid plot lines?
Says the girl addicted to BravoTV.
Anyway, after I wrote about my quest for the Zhu Zhu and read all the comments that basically said, “Yeah, good luck with that”, I reminded myself that the Christmas season isn’t about the giving and receiving of fake hamsters, took a deep breath and decided that if we were meant to bring home Mr. Squiggles or Num Nums that it would happen.
That calm, peaceful feeling lasted all of two seconds and then the crazy lady inside me who could use a hobby took over. I got on Amazon.com to purchase a Zhu Zhu Pet at a slight markup just in case of emergency. In the words of one commenter, I’d spend at least that much money on gas driving all over town to various Walmarts.
So I bought Chunk because he was the cheapest of the overpriced hamsters. Apparently Chunk, with his white synthetic fur coat, isn’t nearly as desirable as Mr. Squiggles and his realistic tawny coloring that makes him look exactly like a real hamster if real hamsters had wheels instead of paws.
But then I received a fortuitous email from a reader named Stephanie who’d had the foresight to purchase four Zhu Zhu Pets several months ago and only needed three. She said she’d love to send me the extra one in exchange for the $8.00 plus shipping cost, which, YES PLEASE. Anything to save me from being trampled in Walmart and being the subject of an embarrassing headline in the newspaper that would probably read:
“ACCOMPLISHED POTHOLDER WEAVER INJURED IN ZHU ZHU RAMPAGE”
I received Stephanie’s package in the mail the same day I received my package from Amazon. We are currently the proud owners of two Chunks, but not for long since I’m sending the overpriced one back to the land of greedy, price-gougers from whence he came.
To be honest, I thought about keeping them both and giving Caroline a litter of white hamsters for Christmas, but P and I were sitting around with my family after Thanksgiving lunch and my sister asked if I was going to head out to Walmart at the crack of awful to look for a Zhu Zhu. I told her my whole story and that I now had not one BUT TWO Zhu Zhus.
P looked at me from across the room and asked, “How much did you pay for that Zhu Zhu Pet from Amazon?”
“Well, it retails for $8.00.”
“That’s not what I asked. How much did you pay?”
(Dang. He has known me too long.)
“It doesn’t matter because I’m sending it back.”
(Which I wasn’t actually going to do, but I threw it out there because it was better than the shame of admitting in front of my whole family that I’d bought an overpriced hamster and I knew that’s where the conversation was headed. ABORT. ABORT.)
So there will be no family of Zhu Zhus on Christmas morning, but we’ll have a solitary Chunk, complete with hamster house (I bought it off Ebay. It retails for $21.00!), and an exercise wheel.
And I may even weave him a tiny bed with my loom.
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Congratulations! I’m still bordering between being a patient parent ready to teach my kid “good things go to yadayadayada” and waiting till possibly after Christmas to bestow my oldest with one of these, (still need a hampster for the house we have) and frantically running all over town to embarrasingly check the shelf where I know it should be and still act like I’m looking at other stuff too.
I’m exhausted:)
I have to tell you, since you first wrote about these I’m suddenly seeing advertisements for them CONSTANTLY. It’s like when you buy a car and then it seems like every driver on the road has your exact.same.car.
And considering they both have wheels, I guess it’s a fair comparison.
You think you need a hobby? I actually wondered (several times) over the Thanksgiving holiday if you found those hamsters. That was time not put toward my Nobel Peace Prize.
Thanks for entertaining the masses.
If P is like mine, I am sure Chunk was cheaper that a slew of hunting items recently purchased;) But 2 Chunks is… well too much. And can I say that every time I type “Chunk” I have a Goonies flashback. Have a great day!
A hamster and home under your belt this early in the season?
You are a lucky bug!
That episode of 90210 TOTALLY happened. I think that’s the one where Brandon shows up and gets drugged by his girlfriend. thankfully we do not have to have Zhu Zhu’s in our house this year, but glad you found them and didn’t have to sell potholders on the streetcorner to pay for them!!!
Marissa
What is sad is that every time I went into a store that might have Zhu Zhu pets, I was checking their stock. And my kids are grown and have yet to furnish with me with grandchildren.
Your husband is a hunter…he would be jealous of my rendezvous with turkeys on my way to church. It’s a (true) story I *had* to write about on my blog.
K&C’s comment slays me!
Another great way to start the day:-) Who needs to read the paper full of depressing news when I can swing by here for a chuckle instead!
Goodness, you make me laugh. Thank you so much for your wordy ways!
“ACCOMPLISHED POTHOLDER WEAVER INJURED IN ZHU ZHU RAMPAGE”
Best line ever written in a blog. So funny, I think I am going to Tweet it now. Don’t ever stop being verbose and funny. My morning coffee and I love your blog.
OK, That was an episode of 90210. But it was Steve and Andrea looking for an egg. Is it wrong that I’m 36 and I know everything about everyone of those shows?? Maybe it’s because I still watch it everyday on the Soap network. I know, I need a hobby!!!
I was at Cracker Barrel over the weekend and I did see that they have hamsters with wheels and they come with an exercise ball. I don’t believe they are “ZHU ZHU” but they were very cute! They might do in a “pinch” for anyone who can’t find a ZHU.
Thank you for always make me laugh so hard I nearly spit my cheerios all over my computer screen! Glad to hear that Operation Zhu Zhu was successful.
“ABORT. ABORT.” Girl, you are TOO funny!!!
I, sadly, was in a Toys R Us debacle on Black Friday. It was all very secretive and shady. We had to line up near customer service, but not tell anyone why we were lining up, and wait until 2pm. Then a salesperson whispered to a lady in the line to follow her. She told me to follow (we both had been first in line and waiting with my Mom for forty five minutes). We followed her through the store to a checkout.
Promptly at 2, we were each asked “yellow” or “white”, the Zhu Zhu was placed in a bag and handed to us, one per customer ONLY.
Then the devastation came. They only had ten and they were suppose to have 50. No JOKE a lady started crying in line. She was about 15th.
I did not even look at mine until we were safely locked in our van.
My mom said that was the closest to a “drug deal” she has ever been.
The manager said they are secretive like that because people might maul her. Oh, America. Land of the Free!
First time poster – Your blog is a great start to my morning. I too spent the 90′s watching 90210, you are partially correct. It was Steve and Andrea (or maybe Donna) that had to exchange an egg to get the directions to the underground party.
I think I am a little too involved in my blog reading when I go out to score good deals on Black Friday and all I can think of when we get to Toys ‘R Us is “did Melanie get a Zhu Zhu pet???”
Fyi, I did look, but it appears that the small town in TN we were visiting also had a bunch of Zhu Zhu fans. So glad you got one, and you should totally weave him a bed…make him a little hamster bachelor pad. 
Sounds like Chunk could use a woven hamster hammock in his new bachelor pad.
I’m glad Kate is 3 and she’s asking for a “princess bike”…much easier (I think!)
So, So, SOOOOOOO happy my five & three year old have no idea what ZHU ZHU is!!! I am knee deep in transformers and john deere tractors up here in the sticks of NH! Thanks for the chuckle!!
um so how much did u pay for said hamster?
Spectacular post. I’m laughing out loud at my desk.
You know, I didn’t leave a comment about yesterday, but after reading this today, I had to say something. I LOVE all the words you use to use to say….everything (aka more than nothing), I love details, and it’s like Caroline says, it’s in the details.
I am sitting here laughing through the whole post, and thinking, okay, I’ll look up these Zhu Zhu things….and I’m wondering, or is this just the amazed-one-step-ahead-of-Caroline generation that I don’t want one? All I can think of is that Christmas when I wanted that automated black dog. It sat, and panted, and barked and wagged its tail, and it looked EXACTLY, well, short the different fur, like the live poodle dog that we had living with us, happily, for longer than that dog’s batteries and tricks lasted. I was soooo delighted with that dog on Christmas morning, I suppose it doesn’t really matter now that it was probably about 20 dollars and that we later sold it. My joy was complete.
I hope Caroline loves her Zhu Zhu hamster.
See what I mean? Is not this comment proof of the need for many words? I blog like this too. Hahaha…thanks, Big Mama, for so much fun.
God bless.
~ Jean Marie
I’m just thankful my kids (8 & 5) haven’t even mentioned the ZHU ZHU pets and hopefully the pesky little fake rodents aren’t even on their radars or Christmas list!
…. oh yeah. And now when you say you’ve bought something and give the price for what it retails, we will all want to know REALLY, NO REALLY…..what you paid for it.
Of course it makes since that on the night before Christmas not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Those rodents are hiding in the walls, peeking through their mouse holes and muffling squeaky sounds of laughter as they watch little children unwrap their fake rodents with glee and then discover . . .
White hampsters can’t jump!
Thanks for the laugh. My joy is complete.
Every now and then I look up to the Heavens and thank God I don’t have children.
This is one of those times.
I have just added “the crack of awful” to my list of phrases I use when asked to be somewhere really, really early. Because I just hate being anywhere really, really early. Especially Black Friday shopping.
Glad you found the Zhu Zhus!
I feel your pain about having to hunt down impossible to find gifts. My son ALWAYS picks something random and isn’t even in production anymore that is “the only thing I want.” Now you can relax and hope and pray that she doesn’t change her mind before Christmas! Love the new background too.
So funny you blogged about this! I have a 7 yo daughter and somehow I am just finding out about these things! Thank goodness!
She could care less about wanting a zhu zhu pet, but instead has simply asked for another American Girl doll. Some would say “well, the american girl dolls are just so pricey!”. But I’m starting to be so thankful that she asked for that vs the hamsters…. I think I would have spent about the same on them!
Glad to hear someone was kind to share with you and not jack up the prices. Tis the Season!
Oh yeah that 90210 episode totally happened. Don’t worry I do have the 90210 DVD’s. Clearly I’m the one who needs a hobby! Glad you found one of those zhu zhu things.
Oh the hilarity! I love it! You made my morning. And at nearly 9am I have already dealt with a rabid kindergartner, an ornery toddler and a dry heaving dog – Lord only knows what she got into last night. So glad you got Chunk. I bet Caroline will be so thrilled. It is those moments when they are beyond excited on Christmas morning that makes the crazy lady come out in all of us. Thankful for your blog this morning.
P.S. Barbie rug! That is a hoot! My sister and I would have been all over that back in the day. I am giggling at the hamster hammock comment though.
hahahaha
P.P.S. Sweet new color scheme, Big Mama! And you DO have a hobby!
I’m glad you found one, all the radio stations in my area are giving them away because no stores around here have any!
I understand about the squirrel videos. Really. We succumb to entertaining our children by looking up random animal videos on our computer as well. Long live youtube!
Oh my word, I soooo remember that episode of 90210, haha!!!!
Did I just read 828 words about a fake hamster? I think I did. And I was completely enthralled. I love the way you write. It’s like you have little elves in a 90′s research room that pull out the most random trivia. Hilarious.
Yay…..Christmas joy will abound on Christmas morn!
Congrats on your Zhu Zhu accomplishment!
If she’s like my own little darlin’s….she’ll play with him for all of a few minutes and then he’ll be tossed to the side for something that was found effortlessly!
Kids…gotta love em!
I think that a handmade bed/rug/potholder is the perfect thing to complete Chateau Zhu Zhu!
I absolutely LOVE your blog and literally cannot go through the day (and have a good day) without reading it! BRAVO! Keep being your sweet, verbose, Zhu-obsessed self!
Oh, I am SOOOO glad I read this! I’ve been in a horrible funk all week and seriously needed the laughs. Thanks!
“ACCOMPLISHED POTHOLDER WEAVER INJURED IN ZHU ZHU RAMPAGE” & “ABORT ABORT”
Quite possibly the best two lines ever written in a blog.
You crack me up! I think you are one talented, verbose woman! Please don’t try to but back on the wonderful words!
I want to know how much you actually paid for the ebay Chunk even though you are returning it.
I also like “the crack of awful”, I sometimes affectionately refer to those wee hours of the morning as “the butt-crack of dawn”. Classy, I know!
Please weave a little bed for Chunk on your loom & take a picture of him resting in his penthouse for us!
My best friend is from Beaumont and never uses 3 words when she can use 30. It must be a special way they teach language arts. Don’t ever stop using so many words – it’s why I read your blog!!! And I, too, wondered over the Thanksgiving holiday if you found the coveted Zhu Zhu Pet….
Not only are your posts hysterical to read but the comments are too. I busted out laughing at Gabby and what her mother said about the drug deal. I’m so glad I only have 1 child and he is 24 yoa, he said he wanted a winning lottery ticket. I’ll do my best I said. He is graduating from A & M on the 18th of this month, no job prospects yet. All his friends that graduated in May and Aug are still without jobs also. Its going to be a slow year I think. He said graduate school was starting to look more appealing after all.
You crack me up. I thought about you and the Zhu Zhu pets! I had to check them out on Amazon and I can’t believe those prices. Oh my lands! My dad still reminds me of the time he drove my mom all over the state of Kentucky looking for “@#$! plastic high heels, purple earrings and elbow gloves.” Apparently it was all the rage that year?! At any rate, glad you weren’t mauled and stayed out of the local papers
Oh Melanie……P’s questioning of the Amazon price of the hamster and your inner thoughts of “ABORT. ABORT.” are priceless. Presently, I seem to have misplaced our camera which has been missing ever since I put it in the car to take to our Thanksgiving destinations – I forgot to use it – but made the mistake of telling hubby it was missing… now I am wishing I had thought to “ABORT. ABORT.” before opening my big mouth and just looked for it QUIETLY.
Great post Melanie.
Amy
Please keep writing about nothing. It makes my day some days. (Being preggo, tired, with a full-time job outside of home, plus an 18 month old AT home and a husband and whatever else I’m supposed to be focused on but can’t seem to manage means I need goofy, fun stuff to make me laugh pretty often.)
Congrats on your fake hamster. It’ll all be worth it, I’m sure.
So I’m planning a ski trip over Spring Break, and I decided to visit ebay for some ski apparel to “gift” for Christmas. J-Rod wants to snowboard and they had this AMAZING snowboard jacket up for auction. And so I got into a bidding war and WON! The thrill from the win was short-lived once I realized just how much I had spent on a used jacket that would be used for one week…sight unseen…with no matching pants…from ebay…and then paid shipping.
Thanks for your humorous word filled post!
Or, you could hang on to the extra hampster, re-sale it to a hysterical parent on Christmas Eve desperately in search of Zhu Zhu that you know you’re going to see everywhere and have enough to pay for a trip to Hawaii. Then again, there’s probably a foster kid’s Santa list hanging on the tree at Nordstroms wishing for a Zhu Zhu who hasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell for one.
Your new name is Weavie. lol
Oh, my. . . So, I looked at Zhu Zhu pet prices on Amazon. i think that since my kids have not asked for a zhu zhu pet, i am not getting them one. However, if they decide they have to have one, I will be buying one for them as a New Year’s gift.
I am not judging you for buying the zhu zhu pet, but maybe a little for the Michael Jackson-dancing hamsters. . . just a little.
It’s so funny that you showed those photos of the pot holder loom. I was just thinking about those the other day! I weaved TONS of those suckers as a child. My grandmothers and aunts always received a stack of them for Christmas and my grandmother used them proudly. We also looped the little loopy-things arount a wire clothes hanger to make “dusters” in girl scouts. You just can’t keep today’s kids occupied with those kinds of timeless crafts, huh?
Well that was awesome of Stephanie! Reminds me of that episode of the Office where Dwight buys up all the unicorn girl dolls and gouges everyone he knows- it’s so sweet of Stephanie to NOT do that.
I’m sure Chunks will be very happy with Caroline and they’ll make many beautiful memories together.
And here is where I thank heaven that my 9-year-old and 5-year-old have never even heard of Zhu Zhu pets. I know my 6-year-old niece is crazy for them, so apparently we have just the right ages to escape the madness.
It’s a good thing your talents and mine are on the right side of the law, because otherwise I might recommend hanging out near a Toys R Us and scalping your extra Chunk to some desperate parent for a huge markup.
My daughter wanted one of those until my husband convinced her she wouldn’t play with “the rat with wheels up its butt” for long.
I was so happy when I asked my 7 year old son if he had heard of Zhu Zhu pets and he said NO! Although he is pressuring me for an actual hamster. I heard they run on those squeaky wheels all night long, so I am thinking the stuffed ones may be the way to go after all.
Yay! I am so glad the Santa has been able to secure the Zhu Zhu. I’m so glad my little ones aren’t big enough to ask for anything yet. But dh is one that loves a good challenge so I guess he will be the one fighting the crowds if we have any kind of Zhu Zhu pets in our future.
Sounds like it will be a Merry Christmas.
I paid $30.00 for mine on E-b*ay. Shhhhh…. don’t tell anyone I’m insane. I just told the husband that I had to “pay a tad more than I would at the store”. He didn’t ask what “a tad” meant. I assuming we have a don’t ask, don’t tell policy
Accomplished potholder weaver…Where do you come up with these things? Funny!
Glad you were able to secure the zhu zhu.
LMAO @ “dont ask dont tell policy” OMG I think we do too…sort of, He doesnt tell me how many legos sets I can’t buy and I dont ask if he has an opinion.
I had some zhu zhus early on and my friend was freaking over them her 11 y/o is about to drive her nuts hunting them, I talked to my boys and they decided they really wanted giant lego crane or lego city shop or some 4000000 piece lego set that costs a small fortune instead of the creepy lil hamsters that i told them only work at night.
so I sold them to her.
steff
I love Bravo television…. he he. Too much.
You blog title was perfect… reminded me of one of my more recent titles… penned after “If you give a Mouse a Cookie”
…only my post was, “If You Give a Mouse a Tampon.”
Merry Christmas
Girl….I just found out about these stinkin hamsters. I guess I have been so busy at the station…you would think I have been under a rock. I found one and am having a contest. Come on over and get this ugly thing…I only have 18 followers. All I want for Christmas is for you to follow me! We have been so busy at the station getting all the Christmas promo’s ready….that is why I did not know about these little varmits. Miss talking to you girl!
Debi
Spirit FM
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