Newsletter: Sleep in the Sunshine

Greetings

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

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Tropical Drinks

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.

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News of Mad Gringos

Mad Gringo scientists hard at work have discovered that naps make you smarter.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/nap_memory.html
Nature Neuroscience. Sounds official to me. Mad Gringo is a genius.

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.

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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.

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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.

http://www.beachwalks.tv/2007/08/22/beach-walk-479-finding-all-that-matters/

Cheers to Rox, Secret Camera Man and Lexi. Your Prizes are on the way.
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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.

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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.

Patience. It will be here soon.

Go slow.