Does the Gyrobowl gyro well when put to the test?

For quite awhile now, Henry has wanted to get Anne a Gyrobowl. Last time we were at the mall, he pulled me to the "As Seen on TV!" store and insisted that we should get Anne one for her Cheerios. According to the infomercial, this is the bowl from which no item will ever spill. Kids with snacks, dips at parties, little clips at work or nails for your home improvement project, all stay tight in the bowl even if you flip it upside down or throw it down the stairs due to its start of the art design.

Well.

We procured aforementioned Gyrobowl as an early birthday gift for Anne. We got it home. We filled it with Cheerios. I handed it to Anne.

She held it by the handle, and it spun just like in the commercial and the Cheerios stayed intact. I was impressed. She carried it for a few steps and then plopped down to attack the Cheerios. Holding the spheres in place with her pudgy little hand, she dumped the Cheerios out onto the floor.

Now, I couldn't blame that one on the Gyrobowl. That's called "user error." But clearly it's a loophole that is easy for any baby to figure out and still make a mess.

Next came the true test. As Anne ate Cheerios off the kitchen floor, Henry popped fresh ones into the Gyrobowl and and took it to the top of the stairs.

"Ok Mommy, here it comes, just like in the commercial!"

I heard an initial bump, followed by the unmistakable sound of Cheerios scattering down the stairs and onto the wood floor.

"Mommy. It doesn't work like in the commercial. This is very disappointing."

So there you have it.

Wait, did I just see that?

Anne is going through a "phase" these days, which can be translated into "She's Stuffy and Miserable and Sleeps Like Garbage." Hence, in the wee hours of Saturday morning, she and I were downstairs trying to get comfortable on the couch. When she's stuffy, it seems to aid her when she can sleep inclined but still on her belly, so Mike and I take turns lying on the overstuffed arm of our sofa with her on our chest. I always put the tv on since the light seems to soothe her. And I almost always turn to the schlocky Christmas movies currently airing 24/7 on the Hallmark Channel.

On Saturday, I was trying to doze while Anne seemed determined to elbow me in the chest in her quest to get comfortable, so I wasn't exactly going off to dreamland as quickly as I'd been hoping. Suddenly, what I always hope for in the middle of the night happened:

I saw what has to be the funniest infomercial I've ever seen.

EVER. This is epic, people.

Because, you know. I've already seen infomerials for Pajama Jeans and the Eggie.

As I watch wide-eyed, with much incredulity, I see that there is a new product on the market called "Forever Lazy." It appears to be a giant fleece sleeper, minus the attached footies, for adults.

And as with all of these sorts of infomerials, we're first presented with these ridiculous scenarios in which people struggle mightily with everyday tasks that don't present much difficulty for regular folk. In this case, placing a blanket over your legs.

"Are you tired of wrestling with blankets to try and get warm?!"

Well, if my crocheted throw ever tries to "wrestle" with me, then yes, I will be deeply disturbed.

"If so, then Forever Lazy is just right for you!!"

We're then brought into the lives of our sleeper wearing friends as they study for exams with classmates, relax with their spouse on a cold winters night, even have cocktails with their neighbors out on the back deck, all while each of them wears this oversized fleece jumper with arms.

"you just zip yourself right into warmth, so that you can BE LAZY!"

Do we really want to encourage BEING LAZY as a characteristic so revered that we name clothes after it?

But WAIT. The best is yet to come. Given that our fleecey buddies are consuming so much liquid while wearing their Forever Lazies (by the time I later found this on You Tube to show Mike, we were HOWLING with laughter watching people *tailgate* in these things) the inevitable call of nature surfaces.

"Uh oh, gotta go? Forever Lazy has zippered hatches in both the front..."

Oh God, no. Please don't let them...

"...and the BACK!"

Oh.No.They.Didn't.

Yes.They.Did. THEY TOTALLY WENT THERE. This thing actually has...*hatches* for your, ah hem, private parts, so that you can use the facilities without having to take off your lazy suit. The guy in the commercial actually unzips his so that we can see the side of his underwear to demonstrate.

I mean, ok. Seriously. A butt hatch. Have we really sunk that low as a society? In which pulling down our pants is just too much work?

My eyes were open as wide as my mouth by the time the infomercial wrapped up.

"All yours for just $19.95! And if you call now, we'll throw in a companion pair of fleece footies!"

At first, when I later awoke, I thought maybe I had dreamt the whole thing. You Tube to the rescue. Nope, it's real.

Now, I'm all for wearing your pj's all day when you're sick or have a newborn, or have recently had surgery. Or maybe you just want to spend a Sunday morning relaxing with your coffee. I totally understand this. But if I ever answer the door because *I'm having a party* wearing a fleece one-piece suit with a drawstring hood, somebody please, for the love of all that is holy, just shoot me.

Because that would mean that I've officially given up on ever hoping to look attractive Ever.Again.

Henry, the walking infomercial

"Mommy. When Anne gets bigger, are we going to get her a Gyro Bowl?"

"A what, Honey?"

"You know, a Gyro Bowl. The one we saw on tv? That doesn't spill?"

"Oh. Well, I don't know, Honey. But that's a good idea. That's so nice of you to think of Anne."

"I think we should, Mommy. Did you know that it can fall down the stairs and still it won't spill? It also can go in the dishwasher, and comes with a lid."

"Wow Honey, you really know a lot the Gyro Bowl."

"Yes, and if you call now Mommy, you get another one free. You can also use them for paperclips on your desk at work."

"I guess...that's a good idea, Sweetheart."

"Yes, it's kid-proof and a great value."

A ha.