May 23, 2009

How I Almost Got Arrested at Monkey Joe's - Kid's Play Place

On Tuesday we were invited over to Monkey Joe's to celebrate our pal's 4th birthday. We brought him a few very loved stuffed animals that belonged to Ella but she decided her pal would like to have them instead of packing them for the big move to Houston. Also in the bag, and a homemade card and necklace and a promise to send something cool from the Houston Space Center when we get all settled. At the door, we signed all our rights away and traded Ella's shoes for some jumpy castle fun. The adults sat down at a lovely table in the center of the facility. The kids never looked back.

As we sat and visited, Sarah the manager came over to our quiet conversation to ask if the bag on the table was a present. I answered with a puzzled yes at which time she insisted my friend then bring it out to the car as we weren't allowed to exchange gifts unless we booked a party room. (Now it was just one bag and the two of us sitting there, we didn't exactly bring in a cake and twenty kids and a sack full of wrapping papered boxes.) I quickly back tracked and said "well really then, it's just a bag of stuff I'm giving to them" and Sarah the manager said "You already told me it was a present; someone has to take it out of here - now." My pal took it out to her car.

This was when I decided I was going to do a blogular review of Monkey Joe's jumpy fun place. I took a few of pictures of the jumping kids mid air, I took a picture of the rules posted, I took a picture of Sarah the manager, I took one of the snack bar, and Sarah the manager came stomping over yelling "Did you just take a picture of me?!" Now I could've easily said no, but I was a little amused at this point and said yes. Sarah told me I wasn't allowed to just take pictures of people without their permission and she was going to call the police if I didn't delete it. This is when I started laughing, a lot. I think I even said "Really?! You've got to be kidding" and then Sarah said that if I didn't delete the picture of her right there in front of her she would ask us to leave AND call the police, then she turned to the lady at the counter and said "Call security."

This is when I did a quick review of my options

A) Stand up for myself and let her call the police who would also laugh at her but still get kicked out and the kids all cry.

B) Tell her what a rude and stupid person she was and inform her about a person's rights when they are in public and how it doesn't include being paparazzi free, but still get kicked out and the kids all cry.

C) Delete the stupid picture let the kids play and write this review.

At this time my pal told her she was a real "killjoy" and I had enough time to decide on option C. I deleted the picture while Sarah stood over my shoulder watching. It wasn't enough because she accused me of actually not deleting it and indignantly demanded I give her my phone. I handed it to her and she proceeded to delete the pictures of the jumping kids mid air, a picture of the rules posted, and one of the snack bar. I told her I would be writing a review of the place, without those pictures. She pointed her finger and said "You'd better not write anything slanderous about me, the authorities will find out, and you'll have to remove it." and I laughed again and asked her if she was implying I would lie about her on the internet. She said no and stomped away mumbling something like "You'd just better not."

A little later she appeared again to hand me her boss’s business card and say she already informed her boss of the whole situation, I thanked her and told her I would be informing the internet. I think she was trying to apologize, but I didn't actually hear the phrase "I'm sorry" what I actually heard was more threats about writing this piece. I wanted to tell her - if you don't want people to think you're an ass then you've just gotta not act like an ass, but the afternoon really wasn't about me and I was pretty sure I couldn't put the toothpaste back into the tube if I said it, so I didn't - I just nodded.

The rest of the visit was wonderful for the kids and I really considered live blogging it from the free high-speed internet next to the recliners and the big screen TV in the adult relaxation area while the kids burned off whatever endless energy they had flinging their bodies about and sliding down giant inclines, but I was really trying not to get kicked out at that point. I didn't know if Sarah would come stomping out again and read what I was doing over my shoulder at the computers, so I just sat at the tables. When we finally left I asked the lady at the snack bar for the manager's name and she said she couldn't tell me what it was.


So after all that, my conclusion - I recommend Monkey Joe's, but not Sarah.

(Rockford franchise on Tuesday, May 19th between 10:30 and 1:00pm.)

13 comments:

Mike Lyons said...

Oh, get real. Screw Monkey Joe's and any place that hires a turd like that!

Jenny said...

Thanks for the support Mike. Damn the man!

She calls me "daddy" said...

Thats crazy. I work right nearby that place at the office max. I never knew what the place was like. Interesting indeed.

Anonymous said...

You handled it beautifully Jen. While I certainly would have supported you telling Ms. Attitude where she could stick it and how deep, it was big of you to remain calm so that the kids could keep playing. It's a shame really that such a cool place has to have such crap help.

Jenny said...

Thanks, though it may have been fun to tell her off, I'll wait until it's my birthday.

Mike Lyons said...

You missed it, genius. :)

DD Hunter said...

You go girl, you can always call them up and ask about the manager at a later date.

Jo said...

Geez, what a weird job to have if you are on a power trip. Hopefully she will get a job where she can wield her nastiness in a better fashion. That sounds lame, but you know what I mean.

Anonymous said...

Funny how you forgot to mention the part where you said you were going to post the picture of me on the internet on your blog, and that the actual focus of the conversation was that it's illegal to post someone's picture on the internet without their permission. Funny also, how to make yourself look better in this post, you feel you have to lie and say I deleted your pictures, because I didn't delete a single one! I also find it amusing that you conveniently left out the part where I told you to go ahead and write your review, just not to post my picture on the internet or their would be repercussions. Oh yeah, you also forgot to mention how you were a real joy to deal with as well. It's nice to have a blog where you can make up your own fictitious version of what happened, but it would be better if you actually told the truth~ I would like to see how friendly you would be if someone invaded your privacy by taking your picture and threatened to post it on the internet when you were doing your job! We had a nickname for you at Monkey Joes, it was "the crazy picture taking lady." By the way you can feel free to go back to Monkey Joes because I quit that job for a better one a few months after the photo incident...just don't come to my new job and try and take my picture and we will be fine! =)

Rockford said...

If you tried to take my picture I'd Sean Penn your ass.

Jenny said...

Sorry to tell you Sarah, but it's legal.

And Zombie you'd have to catch me first to Sean Penn my ass.

Lilnjax0305 said...

Wow, Jen... I guess it's a good thing she got another job as I don't know if someone that unstable should be around children....

Anonymous said...

I know its 2013 and this happned a few years ago but this is hilarious... Lol well i believe this blog... I know one thing... Im going to make sure i never go where Sarah is because she would of been fired if it were me... I would not of stopped until she was fired for her ignorant behavior... Although reading this now, I believe she lied to the readers, I believe she got fired lol... The manager didn't want that kind of attention around the store, come on now.... And I just have to say its rules like the you cant bring in your own present and cake if its not a big party that is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS LOL... THIS IS WHY I WILL NOT BE GOING TO MONKEY JOES FOR MY DAUGHTERS 2ND BIRTHDAY