It started innocently enough. One of our Twitter followers, while happy to win an umbrella from us back in March, decided he wanted to see if another price was available. Twitter user @jarret23 began tweeting that he wanted to drive the mousecar. He even created a Facebook group: Get Truly Nolen to Let Me Drive the Mousecar!

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”

Six months ago, we completed work at the O.K. Corral ®:

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”

Most people treat their dogs and pets as members of the family, but much like a cold that causes humans to feel sick, people need to be aware of how their pet’s health can be affected by indoor and outdoor insects.

For example, it is easy to forget that pets suffer from mosquito bites too.  Mosquitoes feed on blood, so anytime your pet is in an active mosquito area, they are at risk of being bitten, which can cause conditions such as heartworm disease, which is a slow developing disease that often proves fatal for cats and dogs if left unchecked. In fact, one flea can bite your pet more than 400 times a day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s FDA Consumer magazine. So how can responsible pet owners take precautions against mosquitoes?

Disrupting mosquito breeding grounds is the key in helping to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. It is important to drain any sources of standing water in the yard. In addition, emptying old flower pots, tires and other containers of water can also help prevent the spread. Still water is a magnet for breeding mosquitoes.

Meanwhile, fleas and ticks are no picnic for pets either.  A flea’s saliva can cause anemia, dermatitis and a transfer of tapeworms to a pet, while ticks can cause even more severe conditions such as muscle weakness, loss of coordination and sometimes even death from respiratory failure.

Here are some tips I recommend to help protect your pets from pests ruining their spring and summer:

• Check your pets regularly for mosquito bites, flea dirt and ticks, especially after being outdoors. Any excessive scratching, licking or grooming behavior is normally a tip-off that a bite or infestation has occurred.

• Be aware of tall grassy areas where fleas and ticks gather and try to avoid them.
• Be aware that dawn and dusk is when mosquitoes are most active, so try walking your pets outside of these parameters.
• Be proactive inside the home by thoroughly washing pet bedding and regular vacuuming.
• Consult a veterinarian about heartworm protection, as many monthly pill options exist, and before using any flea and tick treatment.
• If confronted with an indoor pest infestation, contact a licensed pest professional to treat the problem.

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

Protecting your home from termites and ants is a billion dollar proposition nationwide, and one I will be discussing on Saturday, May 2 at 9 a.m. Eastern on WTVJ-NBC 6 in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida. WTVJ’s website address is www.nbc6.net.

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

First and foremost, a Happy Spring to all. Traditionally, this is the season where termites and ants do their worst damage. I will be discussing how to keep these pests from eating you out of house and home on Tuesday, March 31 at 4 p.m. Mountain on KVOA-NBC in Tucson Arizona and on Wednesday, April 1 between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pacific on KMIR-NBC in Palm Desert. KVOA’s website address is www.kvoa.com and KMIR’s website address is www.kmir6.com.

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

After 12 years of touring this great country and providing information about insects and how you can take care of pests, I am excited to announce I will achieve a historic milestone when I reach my 1,000th television appearance this month.

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

With Super Bowl Sunday on the horizon, we are involved with a fun event Sunday, February 1 in Fort Myers. Seventeen talented student groups and their teachers joined with the Edison & Ford Winter Estates to create imaginative and artistic sculptures of big bugs for a new exhibit entitled “Art & Science in the Gardens of the Estates.” As part of the exhibit’s kickoff event, a Truly Nolen mousecar and five hissing cockroaches will be on hand as well as other assorted insect-related tools for the students and visitors. We were happy the Edison & Ford Winter Estates staff invited us, because our mousecar would have felt left out if they had held a “Big Bug” exhibit without inviting him!

In addition, I will be discussing the topic of Thermal Warriors on WOAI-NBC San Antonio during the 10 a.m. central hour on Tuesday, February 3 and then the Nevada State Insect Contest on KLAS-CBS during the 6 a.m. pacific hour on Wednesday, February 4. Their websites are and www.woai.com and www.klas-tv.com, respectively. The trip to San Antonio is my first in almost two years and the trip to Las Vegas will focus on a school project I discussed in this space last week. With these two segments, I am rapidly approaching 1,000 television appearances!

Our voice on Twitter, @TrulyNolen, has laid down the smack and made his Super Bowl prediction – His Home State Arizona Cardinals 27, the Pittsburgh Steelers 20. So what if the Steelers have yellow in their colors? We’re based in Tucson, so go Cardinals! And speaking of Twitter, thanks for the love, @FranchisePick: http://www.franchisepick.com/truly-nolen-the-truly-outrageous-mouse-limo/

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

Although our company is based in Tucson, Arizona, Southwest Florida is where Mr. Truly Nolen resides and it’s a community that’s near and dear to his heart. As a result, I am excited to announce I will be appearing on the Morning Blend in a recurring monthly segment on WFTX Fox 4 Cape Coral/Fort Myers that will feature insects, chances to win prizes and much more. Wild Bill Wood and I go way back, and my first segment will air Monday, January 26 at 10 a.m. eastern. Among the insects I will have on hand are hissing cockroaches and a tarantula. To visit the Morning Blend online, go to www.fox4morningblend.com.

In addition, I will be discussing the topic of Thermal Warriors on Wednesday, January 28 on Fox 35 WOFL Orlando during the 7 a.m. hour eastern and Tuesday, February 3 on WOAI-NBC San Antonio during the 10 a.m. hour central. Their websites are www.myfoxorlando.com and www.woai.com respectively.

Although more information will follow about this next week, I am extremely excited to announce our company and our branch in North Las Vegas is partnering with the Clark County School District in Nevada on a contest to determine a state insect.

Did you know Nevada is presently one of nine states that does not have a state insect? We researched this, and after approaching their school system with an idea for a contest, Nevada State Senator Joyce Woodhouse and State Assemblyman Lynn Stewart decided to hold a spot in late-December’s Nevada legislative session for a bill to be drafted this March.

The contest is open to all fourth grade and Gifted and Talented Education classrooms in Nevada. Among the prizes the winning student will receive include a trip to and from school in our mousecar the day they are recognized as the winner and a trip to Carson City for the construction of the insect bill. More details will follow in my next entry.

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

It’s been a very fulfilling year being able to share my insect ramblings with you since April when we launched. We have worked very hard to bring you helpful information in this Inquirer so that you can treat problems as they come up or call on a pest control professional when needed.

I just want to share a couple of quick notes for this week’s blog, as I’m on vacation next week and will return with a new blog entry the first week of 2009:

• We appreciate all of the interaction that @ TrulyNolen is having on Twitter with you, our friends and customers. We invite you to keep those questions coming!
• For those looking for a career with Truly Nolen, we’re always looking for talented people. Call us at 1-888-TO-TRUST or visit this link for more information: http://trulynolen.com/Careers/working.asp
• On behalf of our entire staff, we wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. In fact, the Truly Nolen Mousecar posted this on his Facebook page today to share with everyone, and I agree with him – this embodies the spirit of the holiday season with a little rodent fun mixed in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83u9HOvHxwQ

Finally – we want the blog to become even more interactive in 2009. We appreciate all of the comments we’re receiving in the blog over the last few months – we’d love you to tell us what topics you’d like to see me talk about here. To provide those, please Comment directly to this entry with what topics you’d like discussed or questions you’d like me to delve into for next year.

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

As we continue to travel through cyberspace while attempting to harness the power of social media, we are excited to announce @TrulyNolen is now streaming on Twitter (www.twitter.com).

Twitter is a micro-blogging website where people talk about what they are doing in 140 characters or less. On our account, we are making people all over the world aware of insect problems, where we are located, providing advice, linking to articles, and doing everything we can to give our mousecars even more personality (if that’s even possible!).

For a write-up about our launch, we were recently featured in MediaPost:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=95835

In addition, you might be asking what’s the mousecar up to today? This week he shared his Little Lost Mousecar Coloring Book on Facebook. In addition, a Truly Nolen employee in Turkey sent the Truly Nolen Mousecar Facebook page a picture of himself standing next to the Turkish version of the mousecar!

To become friends with the Mousecar, we invite you to visit www.facebook.com and then once you are logged in, type in Truly Nolen Mousecar in the Search field on the top right of the screen. When the Mousecar pops up, click on “Add as Friend”, and within 24 hours, you will be added to his list.

Last but not least, congratulations to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on being invited to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl December 31.

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