Video Game Epiphanies

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Long ago I had a boyfriend who loved video games.  It's not that he was a nerd or something, he just found it a nice release from the stresses of college, working and a bitchy girlfriend. (me).  I was pretty condescending in my self righteous way.  I thought playing video games was a waste of time, and I was pretty vocal about it.  (Have I ever mentioned I am opinionated?)  I couldn't understand why someone would want to spend that kind of time toying around with it.  I watched my dad and brother growing up playing Asteroids on the Atari, they would spend hours getting so far in the game, and then when they run out of lives they would have to start back at the beginning.  I, on the other hand, was the kind of girl who read classics for the fun of it, went to plays and played board games and cards.  Can you hear the snot in me?  I wasn't and still am not the kind of girl who watches hours of TV.  The longer that box is off the better!

Over the years I have come to a video game epiphany.  They really aren't that bad.  When the boys were little and their daddy worked nights, I would play Mario for hours.  I'm sure I could have been doing something a little more productive like scrubbing bathrooms and laundry, but that stuff got done, too.  I became pro at that game and found most of the secrets.  It kept me company...Now years later, my boys are playing Mario on the Wii.  It's fun to watch them look for the same secrets and enjoy it as much as I had.  I still love playing Mario, though I don't spend hours doing it.  Bejeweled is my new love and there is no denying that one, it's the gospel truth... 

WOWW

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"Your blog is your unedited version of yourself."

~Lorelle~

Don't I know it!  I like to hang my laundry out there for everyone to see.  Sometimes I post things I wish I hadn't.  You and I both know I can go back and delete, but it's already out there, it's already been read, which is why it is the unedited version of yourself.

Homeschooling, hair loss and 15 pounds heavier

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Once upon a time, about 5 years ago, I was a homeschooling mommy. Yes, it's true, I had a lapse in judgment. No offense to those who home school. I have a true appreciation for homeschooling, and I really admire what you do for your children. It just wasn't the best choice for me. The first year, wasn't too bad, I taught Miguel while TJ was in 6th grade and Ladybug was in kindergarten. Miguel struggled with ADHD and CAPD. I hate labels, but he had them...He couldn't even write a paragraph. I thought some one on one might be the answer after the school system seemed to fail him. It was fun and we gained a closer relationship.

The next year, TJ wanted to come home and be schooled with me as well. There had been some scary events at school that just didn't make him feel safe.  Instances where kids were bound and beaten on the football field. I must admit, I didn't feel safe either. So I agreed to bring him home, then I felt that if I was going to do it for the two of them, I should do it for Ladybug, too. Teaching three grade levels was such a challenge. It was so hard jumping from phonics to algebra to science. My brain just doesn't work that way.  I put on 15 pounds and started losing hair from stress. I love my kids and loved having them home with me, but didn't love who I was becoming, a fat, balding screaming mom. The very next year I got two of my kids into a charter school and TJ decided he would man up and deal with public school.  He's only had to defend himself in a fist fight once!

My hair has recovered, but those pesky 15 pounds are still causing me trouble...Sometimes I briefly flirt with the idea of homeschooling Ladybug again. I think that would be awesome. Someone please slap me back to reality.

What is it with...

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...Teenagers and cellphones?! Why can't they have them for more than three months without breaking them? Seriously, are my boys clutzes or what? How can you miss your pocket that many times? My dearly beloved number one son, TJ, approached me recently and complained that his phone wasn't working, and I needed to get him an upgrade. I'm sure he was stressing about missing a highly important text that might read something like, "k" or "brb" or "gr8". I mean, I wouldn't want to miss something so important. Looking him in the eye I smiled and handed him my phone. It was done he was upgraded. I've had my phone for over two years. I've only dropped it a couple of times, it still works and looks good, too. He was actually quite excited and quickly went to work on changing over his stuff.

I was liberated and free from technology. No more phone, no more leash. I was no longer tethered to that cell.  I went shopping without fear of getting calls from helpless children who can't find the peanut butter or want permission to eat Top Ramen. I wanted to scream out at the top of my lungs, "I'M FREE!!!" My euphoria over my new found freedom slowly diminished as I drove around town. I was suddenly feeling quite lonely and cut off. I felt guilty without letting my dh aware of my whereabouts."I'm out spending money!" " I think I'll get lunch!" It's courteous,it's just how we roll . I almost felt sneaky. So I drug my butt down to the ATandT store and got myself a new phone. My Christmas gift to me...Then I got KT one, too, because, yes, I am that kind of wife.

Truth be told...Why should the kid who broke his phone be rewarded with a new one?  I selfishly just wanted a new one for myself.  Feel free to nominate me for Mother of the Year Award...

WOWW

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"After the game,

the king and the pawn go into the same box."

~Italian Proverb~

**I love this one!  So many of us, including myself,  look up to celebrities or are envious of those with more.  But really, when all is said and done, they are just like the rest of us.** 

Say what?

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 Recently KT and I were out driving when we passed a gym with a sign out front that read "Look better Naked!". I read it to him, and he was a little perplexed by their ad. Ironic that I had to explain to him, anywhoo, I told him that what we women all know...that we are our own worst critics and when we look in the mirror naked we see all our flaws. He answered back "When I look in the mirror, I see an adonis." As I laughed, he said, "What?  I can't help it, that's the way God made me."

Say what???

I have a testimony...of what you say?

I have a testimony, I really do! I have a testimony of extended warranties. Don't you? I believe in them with all my heart.  I know it adds a few bucks onto your purchase, but so worth it! Sometimes you don't always use them, but other times...

We have had our television for 3 1/2 years. My husband started to notice little spots in the screen. Apparently, an issue with rear projection televisions. He called the warranty company who sent out a technician. The technician said it was a thousand dollar part, and he couldn't fix it without approval. The warranty company denied the fix and instead offered us a brand new television BETTER than the one we had. Yes, you read that right. Not a refurb, but a brand new BETTER television. An LCD instead of rear projection and two inches bigger. In a man's eye, bigger is better, at least that's what my husband says.

My testimony has grown that much more.  There is no denying the truthfulness of the extended warranty.  And, guess what we did? We bought the extended warranty...

WOWW

Always be a first-rate version of yourself,

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

~Judy Garland~

My love affair...

I have a little companion, a buddy, really, who goes every where with me.  He is small and black and follows me every where I go.  I call him Bud.  There is no sense cheating on him, because, inevitably, he will know.  He is the Body Bugg.  Let's face it, after the food orgy over the past few weeks, it is time to do a little calorie counting.  I love this little contraption that helps me track my calories burned vs. my calories consumed.  I am a visual learner, and this is such an eye opener!  It is the BEST toy!  If you are considering weight loss, I certainly would recommend it.  I think it is so much better than any of those special foods diets.  I've seen people go on those only to regain their weight when they were done with the foods.  With this little contraption, I get to eat what I eat.  I read labels more diligently.  I consider the calories before I put something in my mouth.  Like...two miles of walking only burns off two cookies?  CRAP!  We will have our ups and downs together, Bud, and I.  I'd like to think he will stick with me through better and worse and think and thin. But, hopefully, more thins in the future.

**The FTC requires bloggers to state whether they have received any sort of compensation for their product review post.  With regard to this, I would like to disclose that I have not received any kick back, I just reviewed this product because I like it.**

Why yes, hell did freeze over...

It's true! Over Christmas break, hell did freeze over. I live amongst a family of skiers and snow boarders. I've skied....Been there, done that...It's cold, it hurts, I suck...Hell would have to freeze over to get me up on a mountain to ski again. But, for Christmas I received a nice ski coat, pants and gloves. My excuse for being cold and unstylish, I am that vain, was gone. I would be totally warm in my new gear. Caught up in the excitement of my family, I reluctantly agreed to go up to Bogus Basin.

I remember the last time I skied thirteen years ago. I spent more time on my back sliding backwards down the hill than I did on my feet. I'm sure I was pretty comical to look at giving more than one person a reason to laugh. I was determined not to make a fool of myself this time, and I definitely didn't want to get hurt. You know I am 40! I warned my peeps to snap a picture as this may have been the first and last time they would see me on the slopes. Alas, they did not heed my warning and no pictures were snapped. Really, who wants to take a picture of their mom when they are teenagers. They were more than likely snapping photos of the cute girl sitting next to them on the lift.

I have perfected sliding down the hill on my butt, and backwards on my back. Chanting "I'm not going to fall, I'm not going to fall..." really doesn't work. I tried...On the plus side, I am very proficient on the bunny hill. I can do that without falling. I do fall getting off of the ski lift, though. What a loser!

And to prove I went up, here is the one picture I snapped from Bogus with my phone.  It is called "The top side of fog." 

 

WOWW

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A New Year's resolution is 

something that goes in one year and out the other.

~Author Unknown~

**I don't know about you, but I'm just not setting myself up for failure this year.  I'm taking one day at a time**

My Fetish...

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It is not some weird sexual thing, I promise! I have a fetish for snowmen. They are so dang cute! They are round and happy and have the cutest smiles and carrot noses. I don't know when this fetish started. Perhaps it was when my loving husband started taking on a nice rounded middle age shape. (Love ya, KT!) I've begun collecting snowmen. Tree ornaments, wall hangings, pillows, blankets, books and more. I was reading Snowmen at Night once in a store and I was giggling out loud. I'm sure the little child standing next to me in the in the children's section of the book store thought I was just a crazy lady, but it just really struck my funny bone. I could visualize these silly snowmen doing races, snow angels, snowball fights and sipping hot cocoa all while we are tucked snug in our beds oblivious to what is going on outside our windows. Doesn't it make you laugh too? We can be crazy together. What do you think?

Typically snowmen tend to come out at my home in December, but I've decided that snowmen can bring warmth to the heart all year. I am going to leave a few key pieces out so everyone who comes by will know I've gone off the deep end. CANNON BALL!!!

I'm BAAACCCKKK!!!!

After taking some time off from blogging, I'm BAAACCCKKK!!! Didn't you miss me? I know you did. Without all my witty posts and comments on your blogs, life just wasn't the same...I'm sure of it...Don't burst my bubble.

I took some wonderful time off to spend with my family over the holidays. I wanted Thing 1, 2 and 3 to know they were most important to me. I didn't want to have to say, "Not now, I'm blogging..."

Christmas Eve was spent at home with a surprise visit from Santa Claus who came bearing candy canes. He is real! I saw him, it's true! Christmas Day was spent at my parent's house with my brother and his family. In the end it was wonderful and exhausting at the same time. It's good to get back to normal, though I'm sure the kids would disagree.

May your new year be filled with laughter, comedy and humor because that is what truly makes the world go round.  Money?  Phooey....My normal posting will resume on Monday...See you then!