Monster Trucks

OK, I know it's rare for me to make a cameo and post on the blog, but this past Friday, Babs had a treat for Asty...Monster Truck Jam at the Bobcats arena!!! Mom (Kate) had a yoga class conflict so it was just me, Asty, BB and Babs for the festivities. We were the first and only ones when we got to the suite thinking we would have the whole thing to ourselves. A few minutes later every seat was taken, but at least we had the front row. The air was thick with exhaust fumes and smoke, and the dirt track was really really disappointingly small…nothing like the Monster Truck shows Asty and I watch on Speed TV.

I saw a bunch of people around us with ear plugs and since this was our first Monster Truck extravaganza, we did not know what to expect...so before it all began I ran downstairs to find some plugs for Aston. When I got to the souvenir station, the lady gave me some foam ear plugs. I also picked up a toy ‘Grave Digger’ monster truck treat for Aston. I looked at the small yellow foam ear plugs thinking the two small fluffy cylinders were such a rip-off for $2 and wondered if there is any chance in hell that Aston would keep these things in his ear holes…so I got back in line and asked the same lady if there were any alternatives. She points to these giant earmuffs with rubber monster truck tires for the ‘muff’ and says that’s all they have…she tells me they’re $20, which is even more of a gouge than the $2 foam, but I decide to take the gamble that Aston might actually wear these.

I made it back upstairs just in time for some local NC/SC four-wheeling race that was the opening act and was kinda lame, but Asty was intrigued. When the Trucks started coming out to the dirt we realized how loud it was going to get. I pulled the ear muffs out of the package but the headband part was really thick tight plastic and didn't know if Aston’s big head would fit comfortably in there…I tried stretching them out really quickly and then just threw them on his head…it worked! He kept them on and didn’t fuss too much. I guess he knew it was loud and went with it. Anyway, the show went on pretty long and it was getting late. I had a headache from all the exhaust/carbon minoxide in the arena, my contacts were foggy and my ears were ringing (no earmuffs for me). It was already after 9:00, we didn’t stay for the whole thing and coupled with the fact that instead of watching the trucks Aston was staring at the group of high school kids, who happened to be un-chaperoned in the adjacent suite being obnoxious and drinking the beer from the fridge, we left.

It was an experience for all of us. This is the most attentive Aston's been for any event at the arena (Disney on Ice, Basketball, the Circus), he didn't wander as much and actually sat in our laps. The ear muffs were priceless.