When a lobster comes to visit
This Father’s Day, a special friend tagged along.
Meet Booger. Booger the lobster.
Booger has been part of the Pike family since I was in seventh grade. You see, it all started in Maine. We had tagged along with Dad on one of his buisness trips to Portland. While we toured lighthouses and raced over rock-covered beaches, Dad sat in long meetings.
He slipped out early one afternoon and took us to the docks. Pointing to some lobster cages, he cried, “See those lobsters? I’m going to go talk to one of these old fisherman and get one for a pet. And I’ll name him Booger. Booger the lobster. He’ll live in the bathtub.”
“My bathtub?” I cried in horror. My dad cackled, refusing to answer.
And I knew my father. I had no doubt that he would get a lobster for a pet and I would spend all my showers from then on fighting for my toes and darting away from snapping claws.
So we bought a fake lobster, stuck it in the bathtub and left it for my dad to find the next morning before his convention.
Booger became more than a plastic lobster, he became a member of our family. He also became the source of many games. Booger would be hidden under sheets, in pillowcases, stuffed in cowboy boots, dangling from clothes hangers, popping out of drawers, entangled in underwear and peeking out of purses. One time, he hid in my lunchbox, much to the delight of the eighth grade boys that saw me pull it out. He spent the afternoon in the assistant Principal’s office. He also had a habit of popping out in class, right between my books and binders.
Today, he hid in a cooler to come to the Pond.
Queen Bitty was not amused by his prescence.
She shoved him into the Great Divide of Couch Cushions.
We invited Booger to go to the shooting range with us, but he declined.
He preferred to guard the pie. You never know who might steal a pie when you’re gone.
When we returned, he had whipped up a batch of burgers for us.
Booger likes burgers.
He even allowed Dad to share his chips and salsa.
Though he did get a bit pushy when it came time for the pie.
Booger really likes pie.
They have that in common.
Who knows where he’ll turn up next?
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have a new Coconut Queen tomorrow and a tasty recipe Thursday! Also, stay tuned for a new Twirl and Critter Confession from the pink penguins!
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:19 am
Too funny! I love the memories that you shared about this plastic lobster(I mean family pet)!
Take Care!
Jen from Creative and Curious Kids!
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:47 am
My sister and I used to play with stretchy rubber lobsters as children..
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:02 am
That is very funny! What fun Booger memories!
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:07 am
Oh my gosh M, this is hilarious! Now I see where your love of creatures comes from! I love it!
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 am
Do lobsters and ducks get along?
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:31 am
Watch those fingers when a lobster comes a calling…
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:51 am
You are hilarious! The lobster really takes the cake… or should I say pie?
The best part of the post is the “look” on Queen Bitty’s face!! She really does see offended by the lobster.
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:57 am
How fun! We have a tiny plastic black spider monkey that shows up in the weirdest places. When we would move from house to house during Dr. Hubby’s med school we would always find him in the weirdest places. Great memories!
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:07 am
Very cute!
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:25 am
Ha ha , that is too funny! I love family jokes like that
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:54 am
LOVE the lobster!
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:44 am
I love all your cute stories!
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:07 am
LOL!!!
I love Booger…and I really like how stoic your Dad looks with the lobster. A serious matter
Hey Booger, give me a slice of pie!
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 am
What a cute little Booger
Your dad always has such a stoic face in pictures!
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:23 am
Ha! I love this line – “Great Divide of Couch Cushions”.
That pic of your dad in the hat, holding the lobster is almost iconic – “American Gothic Lobster”, if you will.
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:39 am
ha ha -very funny!!
to answer your question the other day-have yout tried any of the mineral make-up? very light and kind to skin….let me know what you’ve tried..
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:47 am
Booger is one seriously realistic looking lobster. I think I’d get scared over and over again. You clearly have a fun family!
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:05 am
I adore these posts the very most! You are so funny and creative. Adopt me?
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:29 am
You ALWAYS make me laugh out loud!
I do adore little Booger. He’s my new favorite critter at the pond. More Booger stories please!
Have a wonderful day. ~Melissa
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:31 am
It’s funny how some traditions just stick around!
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am
i’m sorry, but the simple fact that your dad refuses to smile for the camera just cracks me up. what a character he must be.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
that is so funny!
I have a lobster friend too!
Only mine is a little soap lobster Hubby and I got for our first road trip waaaaay back when. It travelled on the dashboard of our car and does so to this day -for every road trip we take.
sort of our good luck lobster, if you will!
(wish mine made burgers!)
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 am
I love everything about Booger: his name, his games, his place in the family, his posing with your dad!!! LOL! Bitty has the best “not amused” look!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 am
This was soooo cute Duckie! I just love the expressions on your dad’s face! They really make me laugh. He is so funny! We had a stuffed Kermit the frog that did much the same thing in our family. I think every family needs a booger!! Love ya loads! xxoo
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 am
You have a sparkling fantasy! Beautiful images!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 am
I’ve never really even been around lobster… so this was an eye opener! lol!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
I love this!! My husband likes to terrorize me with a plastic toad, but that’s not nearly as cool as your lobster. I love lobster.
Especially with a little butter.
(thanks for the SiTS visit!! Love the new look!) Em
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
I LOVE that daddy played along with this!!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Awe! How sweet that your Dad still plays around:)
Thanks for emailing me about my blog. I checked it out and right now it seems fine. I have had issues visiting other blogs. Sometimes I have to scroll down a bit before I can start reading their blog. Not always though. Weird:)
I wouldn’t be surprised that you had issues. Seems alot of people are having issues with blogger and IE 8. Did you recently download Internet Explorer 8? The two do not get along.
Thanks again for emailing me. I appreciate it:)
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
I’m afraid of lobsters!
I wanted to find you an online recording of “Lobster Time” by Annie and the Natural Wonder band,but was unable to do so. It would have been the perfect accompaniament to this post.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
That is dang cute, yours sounds like a great family to grow up with!
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Cute story. I lived in a Maine for about 6 years. They say ‘Lobstah’ up there.
Do you make a pie everyday? Everytime I visit your blog you’ve got pie. Looks yummy!
-FringeGirl
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I think there may be a genetic explanation for your humor
. I do have to ask – where do you keep all these things and how do you keep track of them? Inquiring minds want to know.
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Aww, Booger is so cute. What a great guard pet.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
That is hilarious! And kind of sweet! I bet Booger has some wild stories he could tell… I’m not sure how to get the bitterness out of frozen berries. I hardly ever eat the frozen kind. I’ll do some research to see if I can find out.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
How funny, I must say that queen Bitty doesn’t seem pretty please with Boo!
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Lobsters are my favorite animal. (Dead serious.) In my family, we have a little beanbag lobster named Dorian, who is the “Easter Lobster”. He comes at Easter instead of the Easter bunny and leaves candy, drawings and ocean-themed trinkets in our baskets. Yeah, it’s weird.
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
From blog distance, that thing looks darn realistic!
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
What a great story!! I love your dad’s deadpan expression in all of the pictures.
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
You site is so cute! Seriously, I thought that thing was real
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
LOL!
Your Dad reminds me of my husband. He rarely smiles in pictures!
I would love to visit you in San Antonio. I just have no idea what all we’re doing since we’ll be with family. But I’ll be there another time I’m sure since my parents live nearby. I’m excited about the Mexican food! Yum!
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Queen Bitty does look seriously UN-amused!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:18 am
And you just had to name him Booger! LOL Too cute!
June 24th, 2009 at 5:29 am
“We invited Booger to go to the shooting range with us, but he declined.”
best line yet, I was in stitches!
kHm
June 24th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Did Booger get all swat on everyone whe he was defending HIS pie?
June 24th, 2009 at 8:10 am
This is too funny. We have a stuffed doll that we had bought for our dog who was going to be having puppies. And it turned into the same game with my mom and I! It goes back and forth between who can get the “baby” as we call it, off of their hands. From hiding her in the fridge, to stuffing her in my suitcase when I travel annd even sending me pictures of the baby doing devilish things; all I have to say is I am glad there are families out there like mine
Thanks for sharing and yes, I am patiently waiting for the book!! my sister in law actually got it for me for my birthday!! thanks!
June 24th, 2009 at 10:07 am
What a funny lobster!
June 24th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Cool lobster! We have a stuffed lobster that likes to do funny things too
June 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Ahahahah! Love Bugger’s story! He’s a cutie!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
What a great family tradition! Great story and love Boogers name – very apt.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:17 am
vat a funny post. hehe love the booger memories
cheers!!
June 25th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I loved this story. It was so sweet and I laughed imagining Booger hiding in your lunchbox:)
June 26th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I love Booger!!!
Too cute, Duckie!
June 26th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
LOL – hope when visiting your Dad, Booger likes his pie with gravy.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:24 am
I love Booger! And of course he’s a little pushy when it comes to pie, you said he was a member of the family.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am
I love Booger! Now I have to find a family creature of our own! Thank you for the inspiration!
(Booger loves burgers…snort cackle snort….!
July 1st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
That is hilarious!! Haha!
How nice of Booger to make your burgers! =)