In an informal survey conducted at Mad Gringo Party Headquarters, this recipe won the prize for best Super Bowl Drink. (We couldn't think of anything but beer for drinks - so the dip won)
Cut the Velveeta cheese in chunks and put in a microwave dish. Melt
the cheese and mix in the Rotel tomatoes while the cheese is melting.
At the same time cook the Jimmy Dean sausage and drain. Add sausage to
cheese mixture and return to microwave until hot.
Serve with tortilla chips.
Easy. Simple. Tasty. Kind of gross looking, but goes well with beer.
She was wondering if the Mad Gringo phenomenon was responsible for Omahahu ranking #4.
I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I was born in #1, spent a lot of time in Wisconsin (#10) and the only city I haven't visited in the top 10 is Lubbock, TX.
Let me go on the record and state the following:
If you happen to "get your toe stuck in the fun wheel" while wearing a Mad Gringo shirt, it's not my fault. If you happen to be in Denver, Omaha, or Milwaukee/Green Bay it may be my fault.
And there you have it.
(the picture above is of Omaha rocker Connor Oberest and one time Nebraska resident Elliott Smith - my daughter's a fan. It's all about the kids.)
It seems that somewhere in the Philly 'burbs there is a bit of a controversy because the old D.A. of Montgomery County found a loophole that allowed him to work 5 days this year (including New Year's Day and Saturday the 5th) to earn credit for a year's worth of vacation.
$14K worth of vacation. Paid for by the state. Yikes!
Mad Gringo is not condoning this behavior. Just pointing out the dangers of letting not taking your inner mad gringo out to play a few times each year.
I admit that it has taken me a while to work up the courage to re-visit Mad Gringo's visit to the Surf Expo.
I'll walk you through it as we head into the weekend.
Orlando in January. 75 and sunny. No humidity. Few afternoon rainshowers. Very nice.
So where did I spend my daylight hours? Inside the Orange County Convention Center.
Nice place, but not sunny.
I walked in to set up my booth and found this huge banner hanging over the entrance.
I was happy to see my logo, but would anyone notice?
My 10 x 10 booth was waiting for me. Spot 220N. It wasn't quite a mile away. It just felt like it.
13 minutes later:
No doubt you noticed all the fancy fixtures I purchased to display my Mad Gringo finery.
There's a story here.
When I looked at the bill to buy and/or rent fixtures for a booth like this, I was shocked! Literally thousands of Wendy's singles. So, I consulted with the Mad Gringo brain trust of Mad Tim and he said, "bikini models".
So I threw all the clothes on the floor and hired some bikini models to help me spread the word for Mad Gringo.
That's Mad Nickie and Mad Michelle surrounding some grumpy guy.
He hung around for a while.
If you take a look at the model's hips you can see the Mad Gringo temporary tattoos that the young women were to take around and place on people. Bring the tattoo back to the Mad Gringo booth and you might win a free tshirt, I said.
There I am showing off the Rainbow Hibiscus Tropical Shirt. The models were there too. When things were slow we had to find a way to keep ourselves busy. Stickers were an endless source of entertainment.
I didn't put that one there but it drew a lot of attention.
I have a little video of the models coming back from a sticker/tattoo frenzy too
I met an original Mad Gringo. Corky Carroll - five time US surf champion and 3 time international surf champion. He lives in Mexico full time now. We traded tshirts. But not the Daiquiri Daze Tropical Shirt.
Lots of other people stopped by the booth too. . .I think they were after the Go Slow Pledge cards that you see tucked into Mad Nickie's bikini. (If you can read it, you're too close)
Even the skateboarding guys came by - they told me they love Hawaiian Shirts.
I met Mel Puu, one of the Paddle Surf Hawaii sponsored riders. Above he is serenading a lovely woman. Follow his link to see Mel in action - he's the bald one. (Big man - I gave him a shirt)
I need to learn how to play guitar.
Wild Bill found a tall fan of the Mad Gringo.
Maybe I should focus on stilts.
There were a lot of bars - one that was sponsored by Mad Gringo. This guy was really happy about that.
I picked up some new customers and met a lot of people that just didn't "get it". Oh well. You can't win 'em all.
Reminds me, I will be sending out a survey to all of my customers and newsletter subscribers asking for feedback on what products you would like to see in 2008. Look for that in the next few weeks.
If you've read the whole post, thank you. If you want to join me at the next trade show, get in line. If you know some retailers that should be carrying my stuff, get them on board.
Mad Gringo needs little sunshine and sleep. Gotta fight the scurvy.
"Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine." -- Alexander Smith
Nice quote sent in from a loyal subscriber. It's been a while since I put some thoughts out, so let's get to business. If you read on, we will be covering:
* Tropical Drinks * News of Mad Gringos * Product Announcements * The 2007 Go Slow award winner * Mad Gringo in Orlando
Mad Gringo has been busy in the kitchen. UFB delivered an amazing device a few weeks ago. The Margaritaville Bahamas Frozen Concoction Maker. Besides having a little glowing green light, making a lot of noise and crushing ice, it makes frozen drinks. You can't help but smile when it makes the neighborhood lights dim as it cranks up. I love it.
Reminds me, some of you have been sending fun drink recipes and I need to share.
I'll start with this one.
O Hana Ho Punch - "L'aissez le bon temps rule" says Mad Adamscat
Get out a punch bowl One fifth of rum. (Efficient. No waste) 1.5 quarts of pineapple juice Squeeze a bunch of lime juice in it (fight the scurvy) Add some coconut cream if you feel like it Ice. Make an ice ring out of one of those jello molds. Put in some pinapple, mango, cherries, strawberries etc, add water and freeze it.
Then l'aissez le bon temps rule!
Speaking of jello. How about this one from Mad Carol:
Mad Carol's Infamous Margarita Jello Shots
You'll need: Some of those little plastic shot glasses 1 small box of Lime Jello Enough limes to make 1.2 cup of juice (again, to fight scurvy) 1/2 cup of tequila Orange Liqueur
Dissolve the jello into one cup of boiling water. Stir it for two minutes and then place that bowl on top of a large container of ice and water to cool.
Squeeze dem limes. Once you have a half cup of juice, add a dash of the Orange Liqueur. Toss in the 1.5 cup of tequila. Mix the cooled jello and the lime mixture. (cooling the jello keeps the alcohol from cooking out)
In each of the plastic shot glasses, place a sliver of the lime peel - green layer only (thin as a toothpick). Fill the glasses with your mixture and chill. Baby.
Serve with a toothpick to loosen.
Good stuff. I know it's a lot of work to appease your inner mad gringo, but he'll thank you. Believe me. Gracias.
*********************************** News of Mad Gringos
Speaking of genius. My alarm clock is bad. But I like the idea of someone else's alarm clock being even more annoying. http://www.nandahome.com/products/clocky/index.php You snooze, it runs and hides. I may need to give that to Uncle Tommy.
Speaking of annoying and relatives, the nice people at 43 folders have a way to cut down on those emails you get forwarded to you from family members. http://www.thanksno.com/ I know I'll be getting that one back in triplicate. Ha, ha.
Forms. Some enterprising mad gringos are trying to help us find more free time. Take a look at this site next time you find yourself spending time stewing about your boss' habit of clicking his coffee cup with his wedding ring. http://www.bureauofcommunication.com/compose/air Simple, anonymous, perfect.
Necktie news. Lawyers must have inner mad gringos too. Check this out. Instead of wearing a necktie, he wore an ascot. http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/01/10/wi/7w.txt Contempt of court my donkey. That guy needs a trip to Nevis.
*********************************** New Product Releases
Mad Gringo took some new stuff down to Orlando to show off to the resort retail community. A sneak peek for you:
Introducing the Mad Gringo Switch Off Camp Shirt - $59 It may be hard to see in that little picture, but these shirts are a solid color with a small graphic on the front right and a big graphic on the back.
Mix and match the colors and the graphic. Want a Black Black shirt with the tiki motif? Done. Hula Girl Bobble Doll on the Purple Haze? Done.
More colors and more graphics to come. Think of it as a steel drum player that can move from Marley to Led Zepplin with ease. Just remember to leave a tip in the hat.
2008 TShirts - $24 Mad Gringo is making his own labeled tshirts.
Solid cotton. Thick like a shake. Holds spills and can withstand 3 days of beach attacks. Pillow tested.
These are some of the designs. More to come.
Sand Angels is a winner in the snow belt, the sun bleached didn't really get it. Oh well.
Bug your local retailer to carry some of this stuff. It's good for them and good for you.
*********************************** 2007 Go Slow Award Winner
Are you still reading? I know I promised to get this out before year end. I delayed making the decision and then UFB gave me that crazy blender. Productivity enhancer it is not.
Let's catch up a bit.
To remind you, the nominees are:
Lito Atienza the Phillipine government official that said not wearing Tropical Shirts was a "grievous mortal sin". I love it. Roxanne Darling, the video blogger that offers her thoughts while walking along the beach at Beach Walks with Rox. Bringing Aloha to us every day. Chillmaster Flex who brought us some instant online relaxation with his cool tool. The sunset might just be perfect. AppScout the geniuses behind LiveLook.com. A Google Maps mashup that allows us to visit webcams all over the world. After battling ice in the midwest it's nice to see sunshine - even if it's only virtual. And Carl Honore who wrote the book "In Praise of Slowness" and sent me a copy that I am in the process of savoring. As he says "slow is the new fast". The award inispiration: Instant Coma-Like State. Yes. Bob Ross. There's something about his voice. Or maybe it's the use of titanium white. It's probably the "happy little trees".
After putting much thought into it and consulting with the highest authorities in relaxation, the winner is:
Roxanne Darling from Beach Walks with Rox!
Not only does she rock the sarongs I sent her, but those videos really do put you in an aloha state of mind. Any day you need a little tropical pick me up, just watch her video # 479 - Finding all that matters. I love it.
Cheers to Rox, Secret Camera Man and Lexi. Your Prizes are on the way. *********************************** Thoughts on Orlando's Surf Expo Show
I know some of you have been waiting anxiously for news from the Orlando trade show. The big news was that Mad Gringo had a choice to make. Invest in a fancy booth, or hire some bikini models.
Yeah. Not much of a choice, I know.
I'll have pictures of the people I met and more on the blog. I know it's weak but I'm tired. No nap today and Mad Gringo cranky.
*********************************** If you are still with me, you have effectively wasted at least 30 minutes of your morning and have little to show for it but a Deep Desire for the "Sand Angels" tshirt.
It's bound to be picked up by all the major news outlets and featured on CNN. I'm sitting in the airport waiting for it to roll across the screen after they get done with this New Hampshire stuff.
My favorite part?
The photo!
Any haikus for trade shows? Put them in the comments.
smile, shake hand, repeat promise big order comes soon bikinis, oh yes
"You
are so sure of yourself right now that you can't be bothered to listen
to other points of view. That's actually okay -- but only because
you'll be back to your old self in a few days or so."
(photo from The Pioneer Woman Cooks)
Recent Comments