Fat Albert Teaches Kids about Rabies. Awesome. And, ACK!

Even though I am not being paid to say this or being compensated in any way, (you know how careful we need to be these days with our open adoration) let me just say I am SO happy that Netflix came into my life. So so so so times 10 nonillion happy! (nonillion represents the number one followed by 30 zeros, so says my son...I also love Brainpop. I digress...)

And I hate bats. I don't ever need to be paid to say that! HATE HATE HATE! DIE DIE DIE!

Sorry.

You're scratching your head asking, "why am I reading this?" "what the what do these two things have to do with anything?"

Well, recently my kids stumbled upon the popular 1970's series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.

You're totally following me now, right?? Do you all remember this show? You're all, "no?" "ohhhh I get it now she TOTALLY makes sense!" I loved watching this show as a kid, and now, watching it as an adult, I love it even more. It ran for 12 years, and I hope good ol' Netflix adds every single season. Because I love Netflix. I just do.

Bill Cosby was pretty fly in the 70's if you ask me, and strangely enough I cannot find a picture to explain what I am taking about; but it's amazing to see how he changed over the years, becoming quite Dr. Huxtable-ish towards the end of the series, where before he was a young, awesome fro wearing, tight-yellow shirt donning, bicep-flexing dude...

Anyway...

So when this show is on, I have no problems just letting the kids watch, without any supervision (well I am around it's just, I can, um, just, sit). The characters are endearing and thoughtful, they are silly but not obnoxious, they have wit and they always learn a lesson, whether it is the lesson of not being had or taken by false advertising, brushing your teeth and not eating too many sweets to avoid painful dentist visits, being patient and saving your money to buy what you want, or

FOR THE FRICKEN LOVE STAY AWAY FROM THE MANGY DOG THAT IS GROWLING AND FOAMING AT THE MOUTH AND IF YOU GET BIT FOR THE LOVE OF LOVE TELL AN ADULT ASAP!

In this particularly frightening episode it wasn't a bat (thank the Lord above) but a mangy dog who nipped the finger of one of the characters. If the kid had been bitten by a bat I might have blown up the computer monitor with my mind powers and called 911, Animal Control, Poison Control and the Pentagon all at once. Maybe someday I'll explain why I hate bats so much, but even now seeing the word like 3 times on my blog makes my intestines do things I don't want them to do...as does the word rabies. Why do I torture myself?

So Fat Albert and the gang were able to quickly locate and identify the evil, 4-legged frothing creature from the many evil, 4-legged frothing creatures roaming about, and it in fact did not have rabies (it was just dang ugly and maybe a tad thirsty and crabby) and therefore the character didn't have to get shots and I didn't need therapy. I nodded my head in earnest when Bill came back onto the screen and implored the children of the world (or at least the US) to never ever EVER EVER!!! touch a stray animal ANYTHING outside, even if it's cute, lost, hurt, sad, free, dead, little, or talking to them. Especially if it's talking to them.

So c'mon moms, on that upcoming rainy day or snow reprieve (I'm so so sorry) turn on Netflix "watch instantly" and learn your kids something beneficial in a wonderfully made cartoon series by Bill Cosby.

Man, am I the queen of free endorsements or what??