Matthew at a bounce house.To read a long boring story about our trip to the bounce house, read on.
Or just scroll down for pictures.
A few weeks ago there was an organized trip for the spouses and kids (from Scott's class) to a bounce house place in Montgomery - an indoor place that has a lot of big inflatable bounce house type toys. I thought Matthew would like it so I decided to take him. I didn't have a map or directions, but I had the address so I looked it up on the internet (in our hotel room), saw kind of where it was and then decided just to drive down there thinking I'd see it. That was my big mistake.
I got to the road it was on and could not find it at all. I drove back and forth all over, looking everywhere. Nothing.
Now, I don't have a cell phone here in the states and I'm not used to operating without one. I quickly realized I had no way to call the place or directory assistance or anything. The place was only open for toddler play for an hour and a half and that time was quickly ticking away as I drove around lost. I was so mad that I couldn't find the place that I decided then and there that I was going to find it or die trying. I had to resort to archaic, pre-cell phone methods to find the place. I drove to a gas station to ask. No one there had ever heard of it. So I got some change and went looking for a pay phone - not as easy to find these days since everyone has cell phones. I called directory assistance and after some frustration with the automated voice not understanding me ("You said, 'Game Zone', if this is correct press 1") I got to an operator who gave me the number. I called the bounce house place and the guy proceeded to give me the most confusing directions in the world that involved U-turns, weird landmarks and street names I don't know.
Even with the crazy directions, ten minutes later I was at the place. It ended up being in some industrial area on a street with no name behind a bunch of buildings that were behind other buildings on the main road. I never would have found it on my own. Amazingly, we still had 50 minutes of play time when we arrived and that ended up being plenty for Matthew.
I got to the road it was on and could not find it at all. I drove back and forth all over, looking everywhere. Nothing.
Now, I don't have a cell phone here in the states and I'm not used to operating without one. I quickly realized I had no way to call the place or directory assistance or anything. The place was only open for toddler play for an hour and a half and that time was quickly ticking away as I drove around lost. I was so mad that I couldn't find the place that I decided then and there that I was going to find it or die trying. I had to resort to archaic, pre-cell phone methods to find the place. I drove to a gas station to ask. No one there had ever heard of it. So I got some change and went looking for a pay phone - not as easy to find these days since everyone has cell phones. I called directory assistance and after some frustration with the automated voice not understanding me ("You said, 'Game Zone', if this is correct press 1") I got to an operator who gave me the number. I called the bounce house place and the guy proceeded to give me the most confusing directions in the world that involved U-turns, weird landmarks and street names I don't know.
Even with the crazy directions, ten minutes later I was at the place. It ended up being in some industrial area on a street with no name behind a bunch of buildings that were behind other buildings on the main road. I never would have found it on my own. Amazingly, we still had 50 minutes of play time when we arrived and that ended up being plenty for Matthew.
Matthew shoots a basket, or at least tries.
He loved running and running in circles in this one
Saying hello
Kiddie climbing wall
Matthew after going down the big slide. He loved the slide...and he had fun.Mission accomplished.
When I finally got to the place, only one other spouse was there. No one else came from Scott's class. And she was leaving 'cause her son wasn't having fun. I'd already decided we were going to have fun or die that day, so we stayed. I had to help Matthew go on the big slide, which meant leaving Anna in her car seat at the bottom alone. I could see her the whole time, but it was still a little scary. I wished Scott was with me...and I wished I had a cell phone...one with GPS.
5 comments:
I am glad that you finally made it there and he had fun. Don't you hate it that you can never find a pay phone anywhere and even worse trying to find one that has a phone book still with it. But I love the bounce houses because the kids get worn out and have a blast doing it.
That's so funny, I've been to two different bouncey warehouse places and they were both in industrial warehouse places that I would never have just guessed "Of course this is the place to bring my children for a good time" but it was! I'm glad you made it.
If you were desperate you could get one of those pay by use phones like the one Mom has. But you might have to be pretty desperate.
Looks like fun. Now I want to find a place like that to take the kids!
Ah, yes. Archaic pre-cell phone directions. I remember the shame, and humiliation, and confusion.
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