Spaw et al,

Oh!!! I remember all too well the first time I encountered Big Mouth Billy Bass in our local Walgreen's. I was innocently wandering in search of some random item when suddenly I jumped out of my skin! After examining the offending article (singing rubber fish, to wit), I was overcome with relief--obviously it was just a silly novelty item, and really so obnoxious--who would ever actually BUY one?

How very, very wrong I was.

The next week, when my friends and I showed up for our weekly sushi date at the Takahashi, what should be lying in wait for us by the counter but--ack! BMBB! I attempted to fork the evil eye at it, which it derisively answered with a rousing chorus of "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Did I forget to mention that this particular restaurant is usually very crowded and requires waiting at least ten to twenty minutes--BY THE COUNTER--to be seated? And, of course, every minute or so, new blood would waltz up to the counter, take a gander, say "What's this, then?" and press the little red button. Murder and mayhem, anyone? It was horrible.

Rather tame story compared to most others, but I feel your pain :)

Moll