Mr. Shark Time

 

So many variations of this game exist. I've heard it called Mr. Wolf or Mr. Fox as well. The name of the game is "What's the time, Mr. <insert animal>?" and play is simple (it shows up in at least one Bluey episode, "Shadowlands" and a Danny Go episode about Summer Time). One player has their back turned to everyone, everyone asks the question, the player gives a time, and everyone takes that many steps towards the player. At some point, the player answers "Dinner time!" and then it becomes a game of tag. 

Explanation: 24hr time is like 12hr time except it keeps counting up after noon, instead of resetting at one. Therefore twenty o'clock would be (20-12) 8pm. 

Text:
R: What time is it, Mr. Shark?
O: Twenty o'clock!
L: That's known as 8pm by many. 

Spring Disney

 

You never know when a Disney character could spring into a conversation. I have no clue how a spring Pluto feels, but probably happy? Pluto is a pretty happy character. As long as chipmunks aren't hiding in the Christmas tree.

Explanation: Daisy, Donald, and Pluto are all classic Disney characters. 

Text:
M: That was refreshing.
L: Are you feeling like a spring daisy? Or a spring Donald?
M: More like a spring Pluto.

Car Colors

There are so many shades of red with cars. I didn't have a way to work in Patriot Red (Mitsubishi) or Colorado Red (Jeep), but maybe someday.... 

Explanation: In the game DOTA2, the teams are called Radiant and Dire. Also there's something called  Ultra Kill (four kills in a short time window). 

Text:
Title: DOTA2: A Day in the Life - Dragon Knight
L: My Honda is Radiant Red.
DK: Not Dire Red?!
L: ... Tesla has ULTRA RED. 

Migraine Not Cure

 

Please do not attempt. So at my gym, there used to be two hot tubs but they changed one to be a cold plunge which is something I intend to do never. The tubs are next to each other and I had this idea. Ice and heat are recommended to alleviate migraines, but what part of your body gets which temperature? Everyone has an opinion about it. 

Text:
A: Did you know if you put your hands in the hot tub and feet in the cold plunge, you will either cure your migraine OR get kicked out of the gym?
B: ... what?
A: Yeah, the second option is way more likely. 

Sale Sale Sale

 

What do they call this where you're from? I kinda want to go to one and get a landscape painting for cheap and then paint a dinosaur into the picture and proudly hang it somewhere. 

Explanation: When you sell your old stuff on your property, it could be called a yard sale or a rummage sale or a garage sale. Possibly other names for it exist - please let me know if you know of any. 

Text:
M: There's a yard sale a few streets down from us.
L: Shall we go rummage about in someone's garage? 

Erranding

 

Some errands can be made in whatever vehicle is available. Others are not that flexible. I mean, I could make it work - but I've gone this long without filling a gas can and I'm not feeling the need to break my streak. And that just seems overly complicated when I can just take my car to the gas station. 

Text:
M: You can take my car for errands when I WFH (work from home), if you want to get used to how it drives.
L: Well, one of my errands is to get petrol in my car.
M: Ah, that would be difficult to do in my car. 

Overcooked Kitchen

 

So my spouse and I just finished playing Overcooked 2 and it was a journey. It was rather frustrating at times but overall very fun to play. You do need to be on the same wavelength and cooperate smoothly to get through it all. And there are a lot of bonus levels! The graphics are cute and the music is nice.

Explanation: in the game "Overcooked 2" (and also the original "Overcooked!"), you are set in a kitchen and have a bunch of orders to cook and fulfill. However, the kitchen is working against you in your endeavors. It's not how you would want a kitchen to be. But you do have specific tools on any given level, like a rotisserie cooker or massive wok, to cook the ingredients so you can assemble the final product. There are many points of failure, which do complicate things. 

Text:
M: We could get a rotisserie cooker for our kitchen.
L: And then! Sliding counters that move on an unknown timer! Conveyer belts that end in a trash can! Cutting boards totally unreachable from where you get ingredients!
M: No more "Overcooked!" for you!

Throwback Fourth

 Some patriotic ones from the archives:

Scrunchies

 

Bonus!

There is much to be said about 90's fashion. Much of it doesn't need to be said. HOWEVER my daughter has started using a scrunchie in her hair when she goes to bed and WOW her hair is so much tamer in the mornings. 

Text:
M: I have been told this is a scrunchie. They were very popular when your mom was a kid.
L: Had to hold back that perm somehow. 

Bonus:
L: Feels nicer than a banana clip.
M: How do those work?
L: I never learned.

Leave it on the Table

 

My child is serious about his morning milk consumption. He doesn't like the wait when he finishes his first cup and we have to get the carton from the fridge to refill it. He has a solution that eliminates this lag. His delivery brought to mind the classic trope of a person, down on their luck, seated at the bar telling the bartender to leave the bottle when their glass of alcohol is served.

Text:
O: I want milk, please.
M: Sure thing, buddy.
O: Can you leave it on the table?
L: "Leave the bottle, bartender."

Time Mismanagement

 

Such a struggle, being busy after lollygagging. I should complete my tasks before gagging on the lollies, but alas that is not how the story goes. 

Text:
M: How was your afternoon?
L: Super busy once I stopped lollygagging.

Toddler Goals

 

Of course this was loudly announced as I was dropping him off at the kid area in the gym. Where he had peed himself the day before. And thank you, girly, for the clarification. Yes, goals all 24hrs not just when the sun is up or whatever.

Text:
O: I will NOT pee my pants!
L: That is always the goal of the day.
R: And the goal of the night, too. 

Fascinating Transparency

 

Why would I ruin totally agreeable information by actually checking anything? That's like conflict of interest or something. And just to be clear, it does seem to calm a cough when I pop a whole clove in my mouth and just chill with it. This is, to be clear, the spice named clove that is used in spice cookies and such. This is not a clove of something like garlic. That would give totally different results, possibly? I don't think I could manage to suck on a whole clove of garlic to see if it clears up anything. 

Text:
L: I have been told - and have not researched in the slightest because I like this information - that sucking on a whole clove can stop a cough.
A: Fascinating transparency there. 

Throwing Food

 

Tales from Pre-K: name redacted to hide the one getting condemned. I was also informed that he tips chairs, as in when he sits in them he doesn't "keep all six feet on the ground" like I was informed to do as a child. My son thought the individual was really cool because he has the same name as a favorite uncle. You just never know what will stand out to a child. 

Text:
R: *redacted* is the boy who throws food.
L: We do not throw food.
O: Yeah, just gently throw.
R: We absolutely do not throw food at all.
O: Just gently throw.

No Mow May

 

My daughter notices when the grass gets too high (per her estimation) and she'll ask for scissors to go cut the offending blades. It's not an efficient system, but it does take up a lot of time which is usually the goal with summer activities for kids. 

Text:
A: Your lawn is getting rather tall.
B: No mow May!
A: We're halfway through June.
B: It's the sequel?