I hereby (mostly) forgive Dave all his reluctance to leave voice-mail. I’m not a believer in shooting the messenger, especially when he’s calling not to tell me that I’ve lost my credit card and he’s willing to return it, say, after his shopping spree. 
No, this is much better!
I’m a pinball wizard, apparently.
Well, no, actually, I know that I’m not. But seriously, when you’re at an event with a pinball tournament going on, and everybody around you is plunking down five-dollar bills to take a shot at a prize, including your own husband, the spirit is a little infectious, even when you know that you don’t stand a chance. So I threw my cap into the ring, stepped up to the game, and played my best with a judge looking over my shoulder. Naturally, my best wasn’t really impressive, at least not compared to my pinball-addicted friends; I think ball #2 may have been alive for a max of about forty-five seconds before draining right down the middle. I laughed and walked away. I didn’t even bother to check the scoreboards.
Apparently, though, I should have. It turns out that somehow my abysmal showing actually managed to put me on top of the women’s board.
It’s not really a testament to my abilities, though, so much as a reflection of the fact that most of the “hard-core” pinball players were in Vegas this weekend. I wasn’t up against all that many women at all. But still! I called Eric and laughed and laughed; he’s a more skilled player than me, or at least used to be, but he was competing in the Shmup (Shoot-’Em-Up) tournament instead, thinking he had a better shot at placing in that. But now who’s the family gamer, huh? Huh?
Me, that’s who, because besides winning a trophy, I also won a choice of either a Stern Pinball machine (probably one of the lowest end, out of production machines they make, but still!) or a trip to the Atlantic Pinball and Recreation Installation in Louisville to compete in the Female division of the Open “Odd-ball” Level of competition. Either way, since the trip is comped, it’s a pretty nifty prize!
They’re sending my my trophy (I hope it’s a big one!) and a voucher to decide on the prize, and I can’t stop giggling. Completely out of left field (off the left ramp, I should say?)! Eric’s pouting but congratulatory, Sam thinks I walk on water, and Gabe…well, he’ll think it’s cool when there’s something to actually see. Go, me!
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She’s a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist!
Emphasis on the twist…
Well-played, dear. (And by that, I mean the pinball. Of course.)
Got me. (But not the prize.)
Well played, well played! You got me this year. But it took about 20 minutes of surfing elsewhere to remember you and your ways.
Thinking of you on this lovely holiday!
You’re always the first person I read on this fine day.
How cool for you!
Nice pre-holiday setup for us this year!
You are absolutely the first site I check this time of year, and you never fail to make me laugh!
That is the grandest stroke of luck ever!
If it were my family, the choice is clear–we’d take the pinball machine. I’ll bet Sam and Gabe are lobbying endlessly for the same…
Very subtle, very well nuanced. Just out of curiosity – did you bribe the photographer from the JS to take Sam’s picture, or did this spring full-blown from your fertile imagination as a result of the picture?
I left your site to check email before I forgot what day it is and who we were all dealing with.
You go me. You totally got me.
Dude, I voted and everything.
Got me too, this year. Totally forgot the day.
There I am in the bathroom this morning, putting on my make-up and thinking, “I am NOT going to let Carrie get me this year!”
But you kind of almost did until I was about halfway through.
I love the set-up from yesterday and everything! Well done. *g*
I agree with Sherry and Robyn–you always always are my first stop on April Fools. In fact, every year, I think, “Ooh! Tomorrow’s April 1st! I wonder what Carrie’s trick will be?”
Of course, this only came about after years (AND YEARS) of being fooled, so those who got suckered in shouldn’t feel too bad!
No tattoos this year? You had me for a minute, then I looked at the calendar. As someone wrote earlier, well played!
Diane – sort of the latter.
I look forward to this ever year.
Oh dear–I took the bait hook, line, and sinker.
I’m really sad you won’t bet getting a pinball machine.
And here I thought you’d be pregnant with twins.
You didn’t get me this year.
though.
The First time ever
The year you had “twins” I was a weepy mess, heh.
And then what a schmuck I felt when I realised it was April Fool’s day. That was just mean
Damnit, that makes 3 times I’ve been duped today!!!!
HA! I told myself this morning in the shower “I WILL NOT LET CARRIE GET ME THIS YEAR!” I was on my toes.
I even told my husband. “Carrie will NOT get me this year”
Had I not made such an effort to not be gotten… you have gotten me. Good one.
Sams Club had the Stern machine (Pirates version) on sale last summer. It is really a weak piece of work and probably wouldn’t even stand up to Sam playing it for long. I would go with the trip – you guys could have a BLAST and make forever memories to boot!
And then she realized what a smarty pants Carrie is with April Fool’s jokes. And she blushed. And cursed the redhaired girl for her trickery! Bah!
My hubby just asked me if any of the webpages I read got me on this fun day and I told him I was surprised that you didn’t get me this year!! Not that I dont think you’ve got mad pinball skills…