Monthly Archives: August 2022

Richard Simmons Sensationalism

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As someone who spent my childhood in the 1990s and early 2000s, I was exposed a lot to Richard Simmons. Not only was he on TV constantly via talk shows and infomercials, but my middle school used his workout tapes (along with those of Billy Blanks) during our indoor PE fitness day classes.

Richard Simmons was always on the TV when I was a kid.

In a totally non-weird way, I guess you could say I was intrigued with Simmons and his larger-than-life personality. As Simmons faded from the public eye over the past several years, I would read a Wikipedia article or two on him every now and then while also listening to general commentary on his whereabouts.

So, it might not come as a surprise that I was naturally interested in the “What Really Happened to Richard Simmons” documentary that was recently released on Hulu. You know, just some mindless entertainment at the end of a long day?

Although “What Happened to Richard Simmons” was billed as a documentary, it definitely wasn’t.

But what I watched wasn’t a documentary.

To be honest, I refrained from mentioning the entire title of the program: “TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons.” Even though the special was billed as a documentary, I should have known better.

Most wouldn’t expect a tabloid empire to produce a hard-hitting, well-researched documentary and TMZ definitely didn’t exceed expectations with its piece on Simmons. Sadly enough, TMZ didn’t even come close to meeting them.

What an awkward mess “What Really Happened to Richard Simmons” was. It mirrored more of the re-imagined news magazine format where journalists and anchors provide canned commentary that is scripted and ultra corny. It was almost embarrassing to listen to the TMZ contributors try to add some life to their fed lines.

But even worse than the cheesiness of the documentary was the pure sensationalism of it. Now I know TMZ was behind the program, but even by its standards “What Really Happened to Richard Simmons” was completely over the top. TMZ tried to make it seem that it was the craziest thing that Simmons was an introvert in his private life. The people behind the show also repeatedly showed clips of Simmons not 100% on-brand and tried to associate it with alarming decline.

There was no shortage of shots of Simmons looking frazzled or off-brand in the sensationalized documentary.

However, the worst of the sensationalism came when TMZ posed its “theories” about why Richard had disappeared from the public eye. They included that he was being held hostage by his housekeeper, that he was transitioning to a woman, and that he was grieving over the death of his puppies. The real cause of his retreat to a more private life? He had a bum knee.

Again, I should have known that “What Really Happened to Richard Simmons” would be more of a click bait hit piece than solid programming. But I think if you attach “documentary” to something, it should deliver more. While I would not recommend “What Really Happened to Richard Simmons” I certainly wish him well. Don’t Blink.

An Underrated Moment

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On Saturday night, my family went to Applebee’s for dinner. We had a very average and slightly overpriced meal but there was one thing that has stuck with me.

When our food came, my back was turned in the direction of the wait staff delivering our meals. However, even though I couldn’t see the two restaurant employees in their pursuit of our table, I knew they were approaching. All I had to do was look at my wife as her eyes got big and a smile spread across her face.

“Ooooohhhhhhh,” she said with excitement as the plates reached our table.

It was at that point that a thought came into my mind. One of life’s most underrated moments is when your food comes out of the kitchen at a restaurant.

It is a thrill for me when the restaurant wait staff rushes out with your meal and places it in front of you.

There are a couple reasons why meal delivery in a restaurant is so euphoric. First, the obvious: hunger! Many of us eat out because we are hungry and it is undoubtedly a welcome sight to see the end game to our growling stomachs.

But there is more to it than just the relief that our hunger is about to end. I personally love the anticipation when you see your plate inching toward you. Will what I envisioned when I ordered the item off the menu actually live up to what the chef prepared? Will it be a larger quantity than I expected? Smaller? What will the presentation be like?

Then you also have the joy of seeing what everyone else’s plate looks like. Who doesn’t enjoy looking at your spouse or child and saying, “Oh man, that looks good!” Yes, it is fun to celebrate others and credit them for making a good menu decision.

Perhaps my weirdest reason for enjoying the food delivery moment is just the energy. I love the purpose that restaurant employees assume from the moment they exit the kitchen to when they place the plate in front of customers. The good restaurants take food presentation/delivery seriously and orchestrate it in a coordinated, professional manner. I always appreciate the care.

Do you have a simple but underrated moment that brings joy to your life? I have a couple more that I may share in the future but I much rather hear about yours than write about mine. Don’t Blink.

Sailboat Thursday Rundown

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The day of the week has arrived when I write about randomness. Crazy to think that the next time I run things down it will be September. While it is still August, let’s dive into tonight’s five topics…

Foreign Candy – On our cul-de-sac, we have three Romanian families living in three different houses. Luckily for Sloan and Beau, they all have young children. We have gotten to know each other over the summer as our kids have spent hours and hours playing with each other. Recently, one of the moms went to the neighboring country of Moldova for a visit. She returned with a Ziploc bag of Moldovan candies for us. Although not as sweet as American candy, it has been fun to try these Eastern European treats!

This was the candy that was brought back to us from Moldova.

Tidbit from the Wedding – I thought I would share the place setting from Kailey and Corbin’s wedding. The way they did our names was creative and it turned out to be a nice souvenir item. Also, every single item on that menu was delicious!

I thought it was cool how this was done.

Sailboat – One final thing to share from our Hawaiian trip. During the beach welcome event of Kailey and Corbin’s wedding festivities, guests were invited to go on sailboat rides. Sid and I jumped at the chance and set sail in the Pacific waters. At one point, a giant sea turtle floated past us. What a relaxing and fun activity it was!

This is the sailboat we sailed in. Can you spot me (hint: red hat)?

Palouse Scenery – From time to work on my Thursday Rundowns I share photos from my drives to Pullman. I thought the image I took this morning on the way to campus deserved placement in my blog. I think the clouds mixed with the early morning remnants of the sunrise would have been worthy of a Bob Ross painting.

This scene outside my driver seat window had a calming effect on me this morning.

Random Share – To be honest, I don’t have really anything of substance for my fifth topic so you get my favorite photo I took of my kids this week. If I can convey any wisdom, it would draw to your attention that today is National Kiss and Make Up Day. Lighten the load off your shoulders and reach out to someone you have strained relations with and make things right. You will be so glad that you did.

These two are both pretty decent at seeking and granting forgiveness from one another. As adults, we need to have the same attitude.

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Time to wrap things up for this evening. I hope you have a wonderful evening and a nice weekend. Remember to not forget about the conflict in Ukraine and the people who are suffering. We need to continue to pray for them. Don’t Blink.

What Passes For a Waffle?

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A couple days prior to leaving for vacation, our house naturally wasn’t stocked with a lot of food. Sidney, the resourceful cook the she is, was able to round up enough ingredients to make a new waffle recipe. They were really good and we even had some left over that we were able to freeze. Sadly, all the remaining waffles have now been devoured which is distressing because today is National Waffle Day. It would have been fitting to heat one up for breakfast.

A look at the waffles Sidney made for dinner on Aug. 9. Can you spot Beau?

The lack of a traditional waffle got me thinking: Does today just encompass the waffles you put syrup on? Or can I celebrate today by eating one of the following?…

You won’t find a more famous French fry than Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries. These spuds are legendary and epitomize what cravings are made of. Did you know that Spokane is getting a second Chick-fil-A restaurant?

Of all the fast food fries in the world, Chick-fil-A does it best with its waffle fries.

Then you have waffle cones. I can’t tell you what is better—the unmistakable smell of fresh waffle cones in an ice cream parlor OR the actual taste of one. If waffle cones “count” on National Waffle Day, I am heading to Baskin-Robbins right now.

A fresh waffle cone is one of life’s little delights.

What about Waffle Crisp? The discontinued cereal was recently revived and of course I bought a box. It brought back so many fond memories from morning’s at my grandma’s house.

I took this photo in June of the box of Waffle Crisp I bought.

Finally, you have Lay’s chicken & waffles flavored potato chips. Should this suffice for adequately celebrating National Waffle Day? I am going to say NO because the taste of those chips was so horrible that eating them was more of a punishment than anything resembling a celebration.

This is me in 2013 when I sampled all the flavors from the inaugural Lay’s #DoUsAFlavor potato chip promotion. The Chicken & Waffle flavor was awful.

So perhaps the best option for marking National Waffle Day is to just eat a traditional waffle. Man, I sure wish I lived by a Waffle House. Don’t Blink.

A Hygiene Travel Hack

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Listen up, people! I have a travel hack that will help you maximize every minute of your vacation and preserve your good hygiene. But first, just a little context…

On our last day in Hawaii, Sidney and I had an 11 a.m. checkout time from our Airbnb. The issue? Our flight didn’t take off until 10 p.m. You see, when we booked our lodging, the owner of the Airbnb assured us that he would most likely be able to extend our reservation into the later afternoon. However, he had changed his tune (aka booked someone for that day) the morning before we were to depart.

So what were we supposed to do? Take a shower in our condo right before we checked out and head to the airport? Play hard all the day in the Kauai sun and board the plane smelling like the Hawaiian outdoors and dried sweat? We ended up opting for Option C…

Sid and I contacted the local Kauai YMCA. We were up front about our dilemma, explaining that we wanted to take full advantage of our last day in Hawaii but needed a place to shower prior to boarding our plane. The woman on the other end of the line told me that travelers use the Y’s locker room facilities all the time prior to heading to the airport and that access was $10 per person. We were sold!

I took this photo of the Kauai YMCA. It came in very handy for us.

To be honest, this wasn’t the first time we used this tactic. Several years ago, we found ourselves using the locker room facilities at a Seattle YMCA prior to a wedding. We had gone sightseeing all day and when the doors to the house we planned to stay at were locked, we had to go elsewhere to freshen up prior to the nuptials. Although we scrambled to make it work, the YMCA ended up saving our bottoms so we could attend the wedding in an appropriate (and clean) manner.

Sidney and I all cleaned up in the Shoreline YMCA in the Seattle area in 2015.

The Kauai YMCA was conveniently minutes away from the airport. Although we stuck out like sore thumbs as tourists needing to use the showers when we walked inside, the staff members were kind and graciously walked us through the pool area to the locker rooms so we could shower. The humble facilities served their purpose and we arrived at the airport feeling refreshed and smelling good.

The only time during our vacation when it rained for more than a minute was at the very end when we were at the Kauai YMCA. You can see the rain drops penetrating the pool’s surface. The locker room facilities were right where I took this photo at.

If not for the YMCA option, our last day in Hawaii would have looked dramatically different. I doubt we would have visited a couple different beaches and embarked on a humid hike through a Kauai forest if we didn’t have shower arrangements lined up. Sid and I were so glad we got to enjoy every last minute of our vacation.

The front desk and weight room area of the Kauai YMCA.

In the future, if you have an early checkout and late flight, look up the local YMCA. It can provide you with an opportunity to clean up before hitting the airport. Trust us, the $10 you pay is well worth the comfort and the extension of your vacation. Don’t Blink.

How We Got Around Hawaii

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Before jumping on the plane to Hawaii, Sidney and I decided to make the decision to Uber while on the island. We came to this conclusion for a couple reasons. First, rental car rates were astronomical and reservations were tough to nail down. Second, we had three wedding events to attend that naturally served alcohol. We wanted to celebrate with Kailey and Corbin without worrying about operating a motor vehicle afterwards.

But the first day we were there, something became apparent. There were not many Uber drivers working in Kauai. We had to wait long periods of time for a ride and in one instance we had to resort to calling a cab. So we decided to pivot, but that didn’t mean we rented a car through a traditional rental car company.

Instead, we tried something called Turo.

Turo worked out nicely for us in Hawaii.

Sidney describes Turo as an Airbnb service for cars. You contract with individual vehicle owners (who use the Turo platform) to use their personal vehicles for designated periods of time. Thus, the concept is similar to that of a traditional rental car company but rates are far less. Hawaii is home to a thriving Turo community and we were encouraged by a couple of our Uber drivers to give it a shot. Sensing that it might be our best option, Sid made a Turo reservation while we were on an Uber ride to a wedding event.

We ended up renting a Jeep Renegade via Turo.

The next day, we were cruising in a Jeep Renegade. The Turo reservation and pick up processes were both simple and convenient. Best of all, we paid half as much for the Turo vehicle as we would have if we opted for a traditional rental car. It was like we were meeting right in the middle of our Uber vs. rental car dilemma.

Sidney reporting on the condition of our Turo vehicle.

Going with Turo allowed us to explore the entire island of Kauai and permitted us to attend the wedding events without stressing over whether an Uber would be available to drop us off/pick us up at our convenience. It took a little responsibility on our part but it wasn’t an issue at all.

One of the first photos I snapped from inside our Turo vehicle.

Turo is huge in Hawaii but it has a presence nationwide. If you want to do something a little different than going with Hertz or Budget, you know what to Google. Don’t Blink.

Aloha Thursday Rundown

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Aloha, everyone! Hopefully you aren’t too fatigued about our Hawaii experience after last night’s recap post. This Thursday Rundown will be Hawaii-themed too but before we begin I just want to congratulate my parents who celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary on Tuesday. My admiration for their beautiful marriage never ceases. Their secret? I wrote about it last year. Okay, now with tonight’s five topics…

Hawaiian Shave Ice – Can ice doused in artificial flavoring really be that special? I was skeptical, but then I actually went to Hawaii. Sidney and I ordered shave ice at a little shop in downtown Kapaa on our last day of vacation. I chose bubble gum and watermelon flavors. When we grabbed our dishes from the employee, my first thought was wow, this feels light. My first bite was amazing! Smooth, satisfying, and flavorful, I couldn’t believe how good it was. The texture of the ice was unlike anything I had ever tried in the continental United States. Our shave ice experience was such a treat and I will always remember the unique texture and taste.

We loved the shave ice from Hee Fat.

Loco Moco – Before I stepped foot in Hawaii, I had never heard of loco moco. But I eventually became very well-acquainted with the dish as every menu I viewed in Kauai had it listed. What is it, you ask? Loco moco starts with a bed of rice and is topped with a hamburger patty, a couple sunny-side-up eggs, and gravy. I ordered it at a sports bar near our resort one night. I thought it was pretty good as you can’t really go wrong with those ingredients but it isn’t something I would go out of my way to order again.

This is the famous Hawaiian dish called loco moco. I ordered it on Friday night of our trip.

Feral Fowl – I once visited the Florida Keys and it seemed like large lizards were everywhere. Well, for every giant reptile I saw in the Keys, I saw five chickens in Kauai. The island is completely overrun with them. You can look up on your own why that is the case, but there is no escaping Kauai chickens—both the sight of them and the sound of them. It didn’t matter what part of the island I was on, there was always fowl close by. For a tourist it was kind of charming but I imagine lifelong residents might find them a bit annoying.

For the millions of roosters and chickens I saw, I wish I would have taken a better photo than this one. But seriously, these animals are all over the place in Kauai.

A Napkin Too Cute to Use – Kailey and Corbin couldn’t bring their dogs to their wedding so they did the next best thing…they put them on a napkin. Meet the “Dogs of Honor,” Augustus and Norman. Not only did the pooches earn a spot on the napkins, they each had a signature cocktail named after them at the reception.

These cocktail napkins were available during the reception.

Hawaii Misc. Food and Drink – You can’t stop talking about food, huh Brent? Sorry everyone! But just a few notes. There are fruit stands on every corner in Hawaii. We bought fresh pineapple at one and it was amazing. The best word I used to describe the fresh taste was tropical. Macaroons are really big in Hawaii so I had to see what all the fuss was about and ordered a strawberry one…it was pretty good. Finally, most of the Pepsi you purchase in Hawaii is actually made on the island. With that said, it still tasted like, well, Pepsi.

Pineapple tasted tropical, macaroon tasted sweet, and Pepsi tasted like Pepsi.

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I am sure I will have more Hawaii-inspired nuggets to share in future blog posts. Until then, I am signing off with a vision of a Hawaiian shaved ice in my hand. Don’t Blink.

Thankful For Our Visit to Kauai

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Well folks, Sidney and I are back on the mainland after a long weekend in Kauai, Hawaii. We had the blessing of visiting Hawaii to attend the wedding of a special couple and when we weren’t engaged in wedding-related activities, Sid and I had the chance to explore the gorgeous island.

Kauai is beautiful beyond belief. I snapped this particular photo at Tunnels Beach.

I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on the trip by highlighting a few of the memorable moments from each full day we were there. But before I dive in, just a quick note on Hawaii: Sidney and I fell in love with the laid back attitude and beautiful landscapes of Kauai. We stayed in a vibrant town called Kapaa on the east side of the island. It is funny, so many times when you travel to somewhere new you create images in your mind about what you think it will be like. Then you get there and the vibe and aesthetics are nothing like you anticipated. Sid and I both agreed that this was the case with Hawaii—in a good way. With that said, here is what we did…

It was such a pleasure to go to Hawaii to support Kailey and Corbin.

Friday – We woke up in our condo and strolled out to the balcony to watch the sunrise over the ocean. Once the sun had made its full appearance, we went back to bed for a bit (because it is vacation, right?). After we woke up for good, we walked on the beach at our resort area and then lounged at the pool. It was then off to the first wedding event of the weekend for us. Kailey and Corbin were staying in Koloa at a club called Kukui’ula, an approximate 30-minute drive from our resort. On this day they hosted a beach welcome for their guests. We ate lunch, visited with the soon-to-be-married couple, and went on a sailboat ride that was so cool! Once the beach event concluded we headed back to our side of the island and after a drink at an on-site resort bar, we went to a luau. This was an item on Sid’s to-do list and all we could say while watching it was “Sloan would love this.”

Photos from Friday include Sidney and Corbin at the beach welcome event, Sid in the beach, a photo from the luau, the morning’s sunrise, and the beach at our resort.

Saturday – On this day we picked up a rental car (a cool story for a separate blog post) in the early morning and explored the north shore of Kauai. This adventure was characterized by vibrant beach communities, breathtaking greenery, and white sand beaches. We stopped at a farmers market and enjoyed some exotic fruit and purchased whipped honey. We also made time to gaze at a lighthouse and eat a Hawaiian BBQ lunch in the town of Hanalei. But the best part of this excursion was probably the time we spent at Tunnels Beach, a spot with a pristine shore and Windex-blue water. I relaxed and read my book while Sid snorkeled. We returned to our resort, lounged at the pool, and then went out to Kukui’ula for Kailey and Corbin’s cocktail event. It was a beautiful setting at the club’s pool/spa as we got to know other guests while having another meaningful conversation with Kailey and Corbin. After the event concluded we drove back to our resort and concluded the evening with dessert in bed while watching the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Photos include the lighthouse, Tunnels Beach, a strawberry macaroon I ate at breakfast, Sid looking at the farmers market, and Sid and I at the cocktail party for Kailey and Corbin.

Sunday – This special day started with mass at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Kapaa. A young priest named Fr. Dario Rinaldi celebrated the service and delivered a homily that could best be characterized as impactful. Sid and I then explored downtown Kapaa. We purchased fresh pineapple from one of the street vendors and browsed a couple shops. We then rented a couple bikes and pedaled along the town’s bike path. It was so refreshing to cycle along the lovely beaches of Kapaa and admire the sheer beauty of the area…it was a good workout too! Afterwards we ate at a beloved local greasy spoon and then headed back to our condo to get ready for the wedding. Once back at Kukui’ula, we basked in the nuptials of Kailey and Corbin. They were married in St. Raphael’s Catholic Church and then had a general ceremony immediately following on the club’s golf course. The reception was a sight to behold. Kailey’s touch was present in it all from the decorations to the music to the menu. What an evening!

Photos include Kailey and Corbin at their reception, St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Sidney on her bike, me on my bike, Kailey and Corbin dancing, and Sid and I dressed for the wedding.

Monday – Our last day in Kauai required some planning. Our flight didn’t leave until 10 p.m. but we had to check out by 11 a.m. We made it work. After moving all of our stuff from the condo to the car, we drove to a hiking trail that took us through tropical forestry to a waterfall. It was humid and hot but the scenery and exercise were so worth it. Following the hike we got lunch to-go and brought it to a new beach where we ate and read our books. After spending some time there, we packed up and went to Kealia Beach where we watched the surfers and admired the blue waters. We capped off our time in Kapaa by going downtown to order Hawaiian shave ice. I hope to elaborate on this treat a little bit more on Thursday but until then just know that Hawaiian shave ice truly is the real deal. Once we finished, we started to prepare for our departure. We showered at the YMCA in Lihue and turned in our car. A shuttle then took us to the airport. The moment we arrived at the gate, the constant stream of activity from the past four days came to a close.

Photos include Sid eating lunch on the beach, one of beautiful beaches we hung at, Sid and I enjoying shave ice, my pizza I ate for lunch at the beach, Sid on the hike, the waterfall we encountered on the hike.

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What a trip! Of course what I mentioned above were just the big picture events from our time in Kauai. What truly makes a vacation special are all the smaller moments. I hope to address some of those in future blog posts. Thanks to my travel partner and best friend for such a memorable time. Sidney, you are awesome!

It was so much fun going on a trip to Hawaii with this girl. The photo was taken after the luau.

And I would be remiss not to mention the people who inspired us to make the 3,000-mile journey to Hawaii. Kailey and Corbin, thanks so much for coming into our lives! Congrats on your marriage and we can’t wait to get together soon. Don’t Blink.

Off to Hawaii!

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What an exciting day! We are a few hours away from boarding a plane to…….(drum roll please)….

Hawaii!!

Sid and I are off to the Hawaiian island of Kauai today for a special wedding.

Neither Sid nor I have visited the Aloha State before so we are excited to visit somewhere new. We plan to do a little exploring while playing the role of tourist.

But the sightseeing will take second fiddle to the main reason why we are trekking to Hawaii. Kailey and Corbin, the couple who Sid and I mentored for their Pre-Cana marriage prep, will tie the knot this weekend. We have the honor of attending their wedding and other related festivities they have planned. We can’t wait!

Corbin and Kailey get married on Sunday, Aug. 14 in Hawaii.

All the fun is taking place on Kauai. We will be on the island this evening at approximately 7 p.m. with our overnight return flight dumping us back in Spokane early on Tuesday morning. That gives us enough time in Hawaii to re-charge, make memories, and, most importantly, celebrate Kailey and Corbin.

I am sure I will have lots to write about later next week. But until then, I am signing off from Don’t Blink. Thank you for your readership and thank you to my parents for graciously watching Sloan and Beau. Please pray for Kailey and Corbin as they prepare to enter into holy matrimony. Don’t Blink.

Playing At McDonald’s

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Going to McDonald’s as a kid, at least for me, was a score. For one, we didn’t get fast food often, so whenever my parents took us to the Golden Arches it was a real treat. Secondly, it meant we got to play in the play place. Let’s just be honest here, nothing beats crawling around in play tubes while knowing that a plain cheeseburger and HI-C orange drink is waiting for you.

Because I had many fond memories of tearing it up in our local McDonald’s play place, I naturally wanted my children to have a similar experience as well. But we had to wait.

Due to the lack of play places in Myrtle Beach, we never took Sloan to one while we lived in South Carolina. Once we moved to Spokane, it goes without saying what was preventing us from hitting one up. In November of 2021, McDonald’s dining rooms finally re-opened in many of the Spokane restaurants. As Sloan and I ate inside the McDonald’s close to our house, I wondered when the play places would open too.

This is a photo of Sloan from Nov. 2021 when we ate inside a McDonald’s for the first time in nearly two years.

Well, it would be another long string of months. But luckily, the “play lands” are now open and kids can play their hearts out in between bites of chicken nuggets.

I took Sloan and Beau to the McDonald’s on Argonne for Happy Meals and play time last week. Not only was it my children’s first time in a play place, it was my first time in one since probably the late 1990s. As can happen with pleasant thoughts of nostalgia, the play place wasn’t as grandiose as I remembered it. Smaller and flimsier than I recalled, it mirrored more of an at-home set up as opposed to something you would find at a fun center.

Beau looks out from the “globe” feature of the McDonald’s play place on Argonne in the Spokane Valley.

Not like it mattered to Sloan and Beau. They descended upon that structure and let loose. In fact, I had a difficult time corralling them to our table to eat their dinners. That was a dad rookie mistake that I will improve upon next time (ADJUSTMENT: Make it mandatory that they eat first before entering the play place).

Sloan and Beau sure had fun in the play place at the McDonald’s location on Argonne.

So even though they prioritized the play place over their food, I was pleased that the kids had a ball. However, one other thing besides my false notions of a swanky structure disappointed me: the cleanliness. Not going to lie, it appeared that not just the play structure itself but the entire separate section that houses it could have benefited from a good scrub down. The streaks on the equipment, messy tables, and overall smell didn’t necessarily endear itself to me.

With the play place as the ultimate distraction, it was tough to get Beau to our table to eat.

But the kids had fun.

I think we might try another play place at another McDonald’s location in the area.

I think we might “shop around” at other area McDonald’s and check out their play places. I do like the concept of “eat and play” but I want to find a location that better conforms to my romanticized, idealized memory of what a play place is all about. Don’t Blink.