Cole Brothers Circus

So yesterday I went to the Cole Brothers Circus (formerly known as the Clyde Beatty - Cole Bros. Circus) in Oceanside, NY. The show is sponsored by the Oceanside Fire Department, I believe as a fundraiser. I'll start by saying the kids loved it. But I have some concerns. First of all I saw the tigers, and there were more than 6 of them, being brought into the area in small cages. I was shocked by the size. Perhaps it's normal I don't know. Then I realized that there were dogs in the show, as well as horses, a lama, a camel, and 3 elephants. The trainers used whips during the show... haven't seen whips used on animals in YEARS! I then googled "Cole Brothers Circus animals" and found some disturbing news. The circus has been cited REPEATEDLY for violations and animal abuse.
Not sure I'll be giving my money to the Oceanside Fire Department or Cole Brothers Circus.
Very sad.

San Jose, California Restaurants

We went to a number of restaurants and I wish I kept better track of them! Unfortunately we were running around like crazy and I have waited almost a month to post this- sorry!

Gumbo Jumbo, 80 North Market Street: cute, small Cajun restaurant... food was good as was the service... some days they have live music [not when we went :( ] 4/5

El Grullense, 400 W. San Carlos: Dive burrito drive through... food was good, and the place is open LATE! Great for a 1AM Burrito! 3/5

El Saboroso, 17 S. 4th St.: Burrito dive... food was good... nice size burrito! 3.5/5

Sonoma Chicken Coop, 31 N. Market Street: Chain restaurant with very good food and fantastic outdoor dinning! Everyone was satisfied! Good news, the website says that they will be in NY soon... wonder where in NY?? 4.5/5

Original Joe's: 301 South First Street: We had heard this was a great Italian restaurant. At best it was good. The sandwiches are HUGE and the typical Italian dishes are alright... It's no NY Italian restaurant! Pricey for what you get in terms of quality. 3.5/5

Gordon Biersch: 33 East San Fernando: Fun brewery. Good food and very good beer! 4/5

Bijan Bakery and Cafe: 170 S. Market St.: I had high hopes for this bakery... Everything LOOKED great... the coffee, cappuccino, napolian and tiramisu were ok at best! Am I spoiled by living in NY?? 3/5

Specialty's Cafe and Bakery: 115 S. Market St.: Delicious cookies! Try them. Muffin and cakes were ok. 4/5

Crowne Plaza San Jose, California

I spent a week at the Crowne Plaza in San Jose, California and was very pleased with my stay. The staff was friendly, helpful, and attentive! My only issue with the hotel is that it has no pool! Oh well, I was so busy there I didn't even "need" the pool. One example of the helpfulness of the staff was gatting me free wifi in my room. Generally you need to pay $10 per day (terrible! Most places have free wifi- what are they thinking??), but they gave me a form to fill out for a free rewards program and I got free wifi for the week.
Always talk to the front desk if there is a charge for wifi... they will usually find a way to comp or discount it!

cellphoneshop.net review

Figured I'd share my experience using the website cellphoneshop.net.

I not so recently 1/20/10 purchased a set of earbuds for a cellphone. When I received the buds they did not work on either my phone or my wife's phone (same model Sony Ericsson).

The following emails should give you an idea about http://www.cellphoneshop.net/ 's customer service!

If things ultimately work out, i'll let you know...

----- Original Message -----
From: XXXXX

To: support1@cellphoneshop.com
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 6:17 AM
Subject: order #XXXXX


I purchased a handsfree for sony ericsson TM506. The set DOES NOT WORK.
Can it be switched for the same priced single ear bud set? The one I received does not work at all.
Please let me know what to do.
Thanks,
XXXXX

________________________________


From: www.cellphoneshop.net
Subject: Re: order #125271A
To: "XXXXXX"
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 3:24 AM



Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: XXXXX

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Can you further describe the defectiveness of the handsfree you have received?

Does it fit your phone?

Your early reply will help us to follow your case as soon as possible.

Thank you.

www.cellphoneshop.net (WY)
For easy reference and to avoid delay in handling your inquiry, please send all reply to us via email and include the contents of all previous/relevant emails when you send us further email on the same issue.

_________________________________________

----- Original Message -----
From: XXXXX

To: www.cellphoneshop.net
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 7:56 PM
Subject: Re: order #XXXXX


I plugged in the device and you can't hear anything. The sound does not get sent to the ear buds.

___________________________________________

--- On Thu, 1/28/10, www.cellphoneshop.net wrote:


From: www.cellphoneshop.net
Subject: Re: order XXXX

To: XXXXX

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 8:57 PM



Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: XXXXXXX


Sorry for the problem you have experienced with the product.

Maybe the handsfree you have received is defective.

Would you like us to send a replacement to you to try again?

Thank you.

www.cellphoneshop.net (WY)
For easy reference and to avoid delay in handling your inquiry, please send all reply to us via email and include the contents of all previous/relevant emails when you send us further email on the same issue.
______________________________________________

----- Original Message -----
From: XXXXX
To: www.cellphoneshop.net
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 7:55 PM
Subject: Re: order XXXXX


My wife had the same problem with the 2 ear buds. Instead ccould you send me HAN-ERITM506SBUD
They are the same price, but 1 bud. Maybe that will work?
Thanks.
XXXXX
_______________________________________________


Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: XXXXX
(HAN-ERITM506EBS)

We can offer the exchange to you after we have received your returned product.

HAN-ERITM506SBUD

Please return the product to the below address through regular US postal service with a copy of this email, and make sure that they are securely packed.

CPS Return Department
7486 La Jolla Blvd, #118
La Jolla, CA 92037
US United States


When you have sent out the returned product, please let us know by email specifying which product you have returned, and which product you would like to exchange for. We will then check with our mail room for the return package and will then arrange for accordingly asap.

Please note that we cannot process your exchange until we receive your email notification of the posting date of the returned product.

Thank you.

www.cellphoneshop.net (WY)
For easy reference and to avoid delay in handling your inquiry, please send all reply to us via email and include the contents of all previous/relevant emails when you send us further email on the same issue.
_______________________________________

----- Original Message -----
From: XXXXXXXXXXXX
To: www.cellphoneshop.net
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: order #XXXXXXX



Today (2/1/10) I mailed back HAN-ERITM506EBS, which DOES NOT WORK.

Instead could you send me HAN-ERITM506SBUD
It's a couple of cents less expensive, but 1 bud. Maybe that will work?

Thanks,
XXXXXXXXXXXXX

____________________________
--- On Mon, 2/1/10, www.cellphoneshop.net wrote:


From: www.cellphoneshop.net
Subject: Re: order #XXXXX
To: XXXXXX
Date: Monday, February 1, 2010, 11:02 PM



Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: XXXXX
(HAN-ERITM506EBS)

We will check with our mail room for your returned product.

An email notification will be sent to you when we can process to send the HAN-ERITM506SBUD to you.

Thank you.

www.cellphoneshop.net (WY)
For easy reference and to avoid delay in handling your inquiry, please send all reply to us via email and include the contents of all previous/relevant emails when you send us further email on the same issue.

____________________________________

----- Original Message -----
From: XXXXXXXX
To: www.cellphoneshop.net
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 1:43 AM
Subject: Re: order #XXXXXX


I have not received your confirmation email. It has been over a week. Please let me know the status on your end.
Thank you.
XXXXX
__________________________________

--- On Thu, 2/11/10, www.cellphoneshop.net wrote:


From: www.cellphoneshop.net
Subject: Re: order #XXXXXXXXX
To: "XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 2:23 AM



Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: XXXXXX

Do you have a delivery confirmation number for the returned package?

Thank you.

www.cellphoneshop.net (WY)
For easy reference and to avoid delay in handling your inquiry, please send all reply to us via email and include the contents of all previous/relevant emails when you send us further email on the same issue.

____________________________________________________



JUST SENT TODAY.........

NO. I was told in a previous email to send it "regular US Postal Service"- why would I use return receipt?
Please let me know the status of this claim.
Thank you.
XXXXXXXXXX




CONFUSING ENOUGH FOR YOU? CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A PAIR OF $5 EARBUDS?
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE I SAW THE SAME BUDS IN A MALL KIOSK THE OTHER DAY FOR $6- I PAID $10 WITH SHIPPING!
SO FAR, CELLPHONESHOP.NET IS A REAL TIME WASTING COMPANY ... I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF THE EVER DO THE RIGHT THING!

Bigtop Cupcake Review

Alright, I fell for it. I can't believe I bought an AS SEEN ON TV product!

My son and I saw the Big Top Cupcake commercial on TV and he thought it was the coolest thing ever. I explained that things always look better on TV, but figured it wouldn't be a total waste as we frequently bake. So, even if it didn't work too well, it would be an extra silicon bake pan. I actually bought the set at Walgreen's for about $13, as I had a Walgreen's coupon that I had to use. Back to the review.... The set is actually 2 silicon baking pans, a top and a bottom. They seem fairly well made. We used a Betty Crocker cake mix and followed the directions. Approximately half the batter went in one pan, half in the other. We also used the 3rd piece, a lid that fits on the bottom pan to make a depression for filling the cake. When the cakes where ready (they take much longer to cook because the cakes are thick) we allowed them to cool and removed them easily from the pan. So far so good. When we actually put the filling in and top on the bottom we noticed a problem. The top was not wider than the base as a cupcake should be. We'll have to use less than half for the base next time! One more issue. Surprisingly, the pan is NOT easy to clean. I scrubbed the silicon with a sponge, as I would any other pan, but the cooking spray was hard to remove! I actually had to clean it twice! What a pain.

Bottom line, my children enjoyed decorating, even though you need to be a master to make the cakes they show in TV or on the box!

Note: The Walgreen's or other retail store BTCC does not come with the cookie cutters that the TV/INTERNET box comes with!

Fathead Black Friday Sale

Just thought I'd point out that there is a Black Friday sale going on for Fatheads. Fatheads are large removable stickers or decals that can be used to decorate a room. My son (6 years old) received a GIANT Spider-Man Fathead for his birthday in September and it has proudly been decorating the wall by his bed. He loves it! Today there is a big sale, so if you were wavering, and you want an opinion... they rock! We just bought the Tinkerbell Fathead for my 2 1/2 year old daughter. She's going to love it!

Also, note that there are discount codes all the time for Fatheads, just google it! No discounts can be used with the current sale, and the prices are good!

Here's a picture, from the Fathead website, of the Spider-Man Fathead my son has:

Shrek The Musical

My parents took my son (6 years old) to see Shrek the Musical on Broadway. Bottom line: HE LOVED IT! He came home after a LONG day in the City with Grandma and Grandpa (lunch, show, dinner, walking...) and couldn't wait to tell my wife and I about it. He was singing the songs, telling us about the makeup, explaining that Lord Farquaad was really a guy on his knees, and he said the show was so funny he was laughing the whole time ["daddy, it was hysterical"- Grandma and grandpa said it was cute].

Below is a listing of the musical numbers:

Act I
Overture/Big Bright Beautiful World – Orchestra/Mama Ogre, Papa Ogre, Shrek
Story of My Life – Guard, Fairytale Creatures
The Goodbye Song – Shrek, Fairytale Creatures
Don't Let Me Go – Donkey
I Know It's Today – Young Fiona, Teen Fiona, Fiona
What's Up, Duloc? – Lord Farquaad, Ensemble
What's Up, Duloc? (Reprise) – Lord Farquaad, Ensemble
Travel Song – Donkey, Shrek
Donkey Pot Pie – Donkey, Dragon
This Is How a Dream Comes True – Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Dragon
Who I'd Be – Shrek, Fiona, Donkey

Act II
Morning Person – Fiona, Ensemble
I Think I Got You Beat – Fiona, Shrek
The Ballad of Farquaad – Lord Farquaad, Ensemble
Make a Move – Donkey, Three Blind Mice
When Words Fail – Shrek
Morning Person (Reprise) – Fiona
Build a Wall – Shrek
Freak Flag – Fairytale Creatures
Big Bright Beautiful World (Reprise) – Shrek
This is Our Story – Company
I'm a Believer – Company

If you are in the city and have young kids, and money for $100+ tickets (there are discounts out there!) I would check it out.
Notes:
1. The theater has booster seats for the kids.
2. The show is scheduled to close January 3, 2010.
3. There is talk of the musical being sold on DVD soon.