His feelings did not fall on deaf ears. Although it is not possible for a nonemployee to drive a mousecar, we decided as a company to offer something we.ve never done before: rides in the mousecar. Even better, we turned his desire into a fullblown
South Florida mousecar parade!

We selected 5 of our Twitter followers who told us in 140 characters or less why they wanted to ride in the #MousecarParade. We then decided to schedule some stops along the way to help build up the event. We immediately reached out to Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale, whom we.ve worked with several times in the past. We brought Pizza Fusion Fort Lauderdale aboard as our lunch provider and then a final stop at Butterfly World for an on-site insect demonstration with yours truly!

How excited were people to have this opportunity? For some of them, it was a childhood dream as evidenced in these pre-event blogs:

http://bit.ly/dqSTMq

In addition to blogging and taking photos, our participants were given all kinds of goodies as part of the fun (shirts, umbrellas, Bug Baskets, etc!). They were also asked to shoot video and tweet under #MousecarParade, where they managed to exceed 300 tweets!

Ever wonder what it looks like for a #MousecarParade to come over the SE 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale? Look no further…

First stop . MODS, Fort Lauderdale!

It should be noted that none of this would have been possible without the complete buyin of our sales staff . they enjoyed the day as much as the #MousecarParade participants, so thanks guys and gals!

Thanks to MODS for the goodie bags and the Tarantula fun, among other things!

The next stop was lunch at @PizzaFusionFTL AKA Pizza Fusion in Fort Lauderdale. Here.s the approach and arrival:

Much like MODS, Vaughan Lazar and his awesome staff were extremely generous to our #MousecarParade participants and drivers. In addition to the delicious pizza and soda, Pizza Fusion donated hats, shirts, gift certificates and other assorted goodies. They are an amazing restaurant and we look forward to working with them again.

We then headed out to Butterfly World by way of Sunrise Boulevard, which without any pre-planning whatsoever, we somehow ended up with this fun shot:

The #MousecarParade eventually got to Butterfly World, where most of our participants had never been, including myself.

The group headed immediately to the on-site Bug Zoo:

I then began my presentation for the participants and other Butterfly World spectators:

Did I mention there were Butterflies?

So as you can see, the #MousecarParade participants and I had a great day on Saturday, July 24, all because one participant asked a simple question. But don.t take my word for it. Here.s what the participants themselves had to say afterwards:

Jennifer Thomas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skIacQUz8Dc

@TwittGoddess:
http://www.christinatierney.com/2010/07/25/on-the-road-withmousecar/

@MiamiShines:

http://www.blancastella.com/truly-nolen-mouse-car-parade/

@vicequeenmaria interviews me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF3ZbZI5XQk

@bachinaminuet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3zZKa0D0H0

@amandastewart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW0l9lN9ygo

@EmilyOnTheAve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_GPgsw6Rs

@jarret23:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00-_A_sC8A

In addition, all of the videos from #MousecarParade can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TilsonPR

We can’t wait to do this again!

Always remember – The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry “The Bug Guy”

I’m sorry fans. I have no crystal ball and can’t help you with that question. I can, however, tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the horsefly.

No groans of disappointment, please. These insects can quickly draw all your attention if they bite you – whether you’re a horse or human.

These babies hurt – and they’re among the loudest and noisiest of flies, so you can see and hear them heading your way as well. Unlike some bugs that have more of a stinger, horseflies have mandibles that rip or cut the flesh – sometimes actually taking out a chunk of skin. Once they do the damage, they lick up their victims’ blood. It won’t make you feel any better to know that the females need a blood meal to reproduce.

Here’s some more bad news: Horseflies are present around the world. And their virtue – I know, it’s hard to believe – is that they’re an important pollinator of flowers.

This’ll ring truer to you: Horseflies are also known as gadflies, a term the dictionary defines as somebody regarded as persistently annoying or irritating. We’ll find out a week from Sunday which team – the Colts or the Saints – better earns the distinction.

Always remember – The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry “The Bug Guy”

Now, beginning Tuesday, December 1, our next phase of insect eradication will take place from December 1-3 at The Bird Cage Theater, which back in the 1880s was once referred to in an article by The New York Times as “the wildest, roughest, wickedest honky tonk between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast.”

Assisting us with this project is Larry Riggs, Technical Fumigation Director for Ensystex and a self-described “Old West’ history buff. Larry will be monitoring the fumigation with state of the art Zythor Gas Fumigant and equipment manufactured by Spectros Inc.

The Bird Cage job has been measured as a 110,000 cubic foot structure. The infestation of western drywood termites are among the nuisance insects we will be eliminating, and we expect to have everything done within 72 hours.

According to reports, the Bird Cage Theater served as a theater, saloon, gambling hall and reportedly even a brothel over 120 years ago. A rough and tumble establishment in the Old West, 26 deaths occurred there during the eight years it was open. Historic figures such as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were among those that spent time at the Bird Cage Theater.

Have a Great Thanksgiving, Everyone! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry “The Bug Guy”

This month’s Truly Nolen “Bug-Off”: Which insect do you dislike more?

We would like you, the reader of this blog, to vote for your least favorite insect among the Cockroach and Dung Beetle.

You can vote either in the comments section of my blog, on Twitter at @TrulyNolen, or the Facebook page for Truly Nolen Mousecar.

To access the company on Twitter, visit http://www.twitter.com/trulynolen. To access my friend on Facebook, visit http://tinyurl.com/na677n.

Voting will take place June 1-14, and on the 15th of June, the winning bug will be announced on Facebook, Twitter and in my blog.

In addition, three voters (one from each avenue) will be randomly chosen to win some fabulous Truly Nolen Truly-Wear merchandise.

I look forward to you continuing to help us determine a Bug-Off winner each month!

In the meantime, be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

Beginning today, we’re starting a “Bug-Off” competition on our Facebook page and also accessible through Twitter.

This month’s Truly Nolen “Bug-Off”: Which insect do you like more?

We would like you, the reader of this blog, to vote for your favorite insect among the Ladybug and the Butterfly.

You can vote either in the comments section of my blog, on Twitter at @TrulyNolen, or the Facebook page for Truly Nolen Mousecar.

To access the company on Twitter, visit http://www.twitter.com/trulynolen. To access my friend on Facebook, visit http://tinyurl.com/c899v2.

Voting will take place May 1-14, and on the 15th of May, the winning bug will be announced on Facebook, Twitter and in my blog.

In addition, three voters (one from each avenue) will be randomly chosen to win some fabulous Truly Nolen Truly-Wear merchandise.

I look forward to you helping us determine a Bug-Off winner each month from now on!

In the meantime, be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

In the meantime, I wanted to talk a little bit this week about an insect that seems to
harbor as many surprises as it has legs – the millipede. It’s a pet, the star of a game, larger than expected and sometimes beautifully colored, to name a few points of astonishment.

The millipede never struck me as especially popular with humans or glamorous. But people welcome this creature as a pet. And it’s the star of a Nintendo game released in 1988 that’s simply called Millipede. The Millipede on the game cover looks much scarier than most, though.

Giant African millipedes are among the varieties kept as pets and reach an adult length of 10 inches – compare that to the most common millipedes that range from a half inch to an inch-and-a-half. The African millipede can live up to 10 years. Don’t break out that crystal-studded collar and leash, though. They’re kept in aquariums and fed fruits and vegetables.

The millipede is clearly not always the little bug I think of curled into a tight little ball as it protects itself in the moist soil of my garden. Large or small, millipedes have other protection mechanisms: They secrete a caustic compound that can irritate the skin and in some instances leave a stain. Primarily nocturnal, they like moist areas and usually they’re herbivores, feasting on slightly decayed vegetation. Their bodies are segmented, with two pair of legs per segment.

Millipedes are essentially harmless and aren’t damaging when they get in the house. They can be controlled by controlling the moisture and dryness in both home and garden. In the garden, don’t let fruit and vegetables rot on the ground.

Amazingly, despite its name, the “thousand legger” doesn’t have a thousand legs – at the very best, it has 750, but more commonly 40 to 400. Chalk it up to inflation.

Be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

I just got back from a trip last week to both Las Vegas and Carson City. On March 17, I visited Mr. Slater’s 4th grade class at Beatty Elementary – their essay about the Vivid Dancer Damselfly was selected from over 70 entries as the winning essay for the Truly Nolen-sponsored Nevada State Insect Contest. Below is a photo of the children seeing the Truly Nolen Mousecar from our North Las Vegas Branch (702-798-0010) for the first time up close:

After the students explored the mousecar, we brought out the stars of the show – Five hissing cockroaches – and I showed them to the students:

The following day (Wednesday, March 18), Mr. Slater, three of his students and I flew to Reno, Nevada and then drove to Carson City, the Nevada state capital, to testify on behalf of Senate Bill 166 and why the Vivid Dancer Damselfly should be adopted as the Nevada State Insect. Here is a photo of Megan Anders (left), Ryan Underwood and Lexie Arancibia testifying:

Following their testimony, the five of us posed with State Senator Joyce Woodhouse (left) and Clark County Representative Clark County Assistant Superintendent of Schools Joyce Haldeman – two of the catalysts who helped get the contest off the ground:`

It was a great trip, and I thank Judy Myers, Clark County Coordinator, School-Community Partnership Program, for her tireless work on this project, and for with whom none of this would have been possible.

Be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook (Truly Nolen Mousecar) and tweeps on Twitter (@TrulyNolen) – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

My February schedule has already taken me to San Antonio, Las Vegas, Palm Desert, Calif., and Tucson, and my February 23 appearance on WFTX Fox 4 in Cape Coral will be my 1000th appearance.

For those of you that don’t know, I discuss a wide range of subjects during my television appearances, including West Nile Virus, termite infestation, fire ants, rodents and a host of other pest control problems facing home- and business-owners.

Being “The Bug Guy” has significantly increased the exposure and market presence for Truly Nolen in all of our domestic cities; however, as many miles as I’ve logged, our primary marketing element for visibility is our Mouse Car, and its ears and tail make it a lot more attractive than me.

In addition, just a reminder to those Nevada students participating in the Insect Contest – the deadline to submit your entry in your local public school is Friday February 20.

Be safe, stay dry, and hope you all have a buzzing day! The Mousecar is riding around with his windows down, looking for more friends on Facebook and tweeps on Twitter – interested?

Barry The Bug Guy

We enjoyed partnering with the Museum previously on our Spider Central event in May 2007 and the ROBOBugs Exhibit in September 2007. Our company is happy to provide something that children will find truly creepy without scaring them too much.”

Children will begin their Halloween adventure in the Museum’s Grand Atrium where they will encounter creepy crawly critters as they enter the Truly Creepy Crawl. The Crawl will feature a haunted house-type environment with ghoulish insects and special tricks-or-treats.

While in the Grand Atrium, children are invited to pick up a Trick or Treat on Second Street Passport. Passports will be given out at the following locations: Grand Atrium, Esplanade Park, The River House and Fort Lauderdale Historical Society. The challenge is to get a passport stamped at each of the four locations without getting tricked along the way.

Once they’ve received a spooky stamp from each site, they should simply drop it in a winners box (located at each site) to be entered to win the Trick or Treat on Second Street Grand Prize. One lucky winner will receive the following grand prize: one-year, family membership to the Museum of Discovery and Science; family membership and historic photograph from the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society; youth “Learn to swim” lesson package, one tennis lesson and one Yoga or Pilates class courtesy of the Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department; and a gift certificate from Tarpon Bend.

Trick or Treat on Second Street guests can park in the Arts and Entertainment garage, located on S.W. 5th Avenue. Parking is $5 before 6 p.m. Northwest Second Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

We’ll see you there….BOO!