Now we're thinking in Portals

Yes, this is a repeat from my notes from 2 years ago. But been talking gaming lately, and thought it was appropriate.

Congratulations!!! You are in love with a unique breed. One who can sit endlessly looking at a screen and never seem to move but gets pure enjoyment out of the experience. This is great. As long as you don't mess with the gaming system area you can do whatever you want with the house, go out with friends, and have plenty of personal space. Now the bad news. You are in love with someone who can sit endlessly looking at a screen and never seem to move...

Anyhoo, I decided I wanted to write a few facts when it comes to you, the girlfriend/boyfriend of a gamer. Now I am a woman who married a non gamer. I find it funny listening to my friends complain about their gaming husbands because it sounds a lot like my hubby complaining about me. And of course, my husbands co workers thinks he is the luckiest man alive being married to gamer. I listen to them complain about what their wives nag about and it sounds a lot like me complaining about my hubby. So below are a list of things that you will just have to come to accept. It has nothing to do with being a man/woman. It is all about the game



1. Before we met you, Saturday was reserved for nothing but gaming. This has been our life style for God knows how long. We realize that we need to spend time together but don't expect us to be happy going antiquing/shopping/going for a walk at the park. We go because we love you, not because we want to. We will NEVER want to.



2. Since we are doing things we hate for you could you please let us have a couple Saturdays to sit and melt our brains? I mean, really? Is is so much to ask for you to leave us alone one day a week. You don't have to leave the house but just don't bug us that day, or give us the evil eye for sitting around doing nothing. (Yes we hear you say it's ok but your tone and your facial expression say much different)



3. We keep different hours than you. Staying up till 2, 3, 4 in the morning is normal for us. (And if we have spent the day at that art gallery you really wanted to go to, you forfeit your evening with us anyway, so pick one)



4. Just because you decide today is a great day to deep clean the house doesn't mean we agree. Here we are, minding our own business, playing that new COD and you bust out the mop bucket and dusters. Sorry hon. Doesn't work like that. We will keep on playing and you are just going to get pissy. But that is not our problem. YOU decided that ceiling fan was looking dingy, not us. Wait, we have a ceiling fan?



5. If we have a controller in our hands, don't talk to us. We may respond but we have no clue what you are saying nor do we care. Don't ask us where the new bookshelf should go, if the food you cooked taste good, when we should go see your mother. Just walk away. We are not listening.



6. Want to spend time with us. Pick a game you can play with us. For my husband and I, it's Mario Cart. I get to game, he gets quality time with me. Everyone is happy. Well almost....



7. Don't expect us to let you win. We play to win. That's why we game. Just because you and I swore before God to hold and cherish each other forever or had children together does not mean we have to let you win. Get over it. I know for a fact I will never be asked over to some of my friends house because I am "too competitive" I don't care either. I won. That's all that matters. And when we do win, we talk smack. We will rub your nose in it. We expect the same from you if you (ever) win.



8. Someday we may have children and realize that we will have to give up some of my gaming ways. I know this as a mom of a 4 year old and an 18 month old. I don't game NEARLY as much as I used to. I accept this. But if you really love us, buy us Halo Reach, then offer to take the kiddos out for awhile. We promise to return the favor.



9. BUT accept the moment that child is old enough to hold a controller it will be our life goal to turn him/her into a gamer. That way, quality time with the kids revolves around the almighty PS3.



10. And although we may not beat the kids as we beat you at games we won't just let the kids win either. I mean, how else do they know they need to get better. Besides, any child of mine better be giving me a run for my money before they are in kindergarten. If my child can't game...well we won't even go there.



So here you are. This is just the facts of life when you decide to love a gamer. You can't change them. Most of us have been gaming since before we could write our name. So next time that gamer is getting you down, take a deep breath, look over this list, and go buy that $100 dress you have been wanting. We probably won't even notice. (And your nagging is drowning out the screams of the dying in God of War, so just get out)

Who I am today

This isn't one of my funny blog post today. This one is serious. I have been holding off in writing it till I thought it would be a good time, but there is never a good time. I have a secret. A secret that I am scared is going to cause me lose so many people that I love and care about. But I know some of my post have been seen and I think it only fair you hear it from me. I don't believe in God. It's plain and simple. I have spent 28 years praying, worshiping, and serving a God that doesn't seem to exist. And when I decided to really get down and read the bible, it just seemed to convince me more that there can't be a God. What caused me down this road? A lot of things. But a big one is my relationship with Michael. I guess that is another secret. Michael and I are technically separated, though we still live together. The only reason we aren't divorced is our financial situation, my work schedule, and the girls. For years I have been the good Christian housewife and mother. And what did it get it me? Nothing, except an empty relationship with a man who doesn't truly care about me. So where do we go from here? I have no freakin clue truthfully. I love each and one of you on my FB. But, I know how deep some of your beliefs are. And I am afraid some of you won't want to accept me or love me the same. And that terrifies and scares me, but at the same time, I can't deny how I feel or believe. So I will have to wait and see how you all react. I do ask that this not become a flame or hate war. I will understand if you unfriend me. I do believe that people should be able to believe what they want, even if I don't agree with you. You are all my friends, and I hope that our friendships will survive this. Thank you for listening to me.

How motherhood has changed me.

I have never been much of a Susie homemaker kinda girl. Instead of an easy bake oven as a little girl, I had Dinosaur Mountain. My idea of gourmet cooking while single was hamburger helper. After I got together with Michael, our 2nd Christmas together HE got the really fancy pots and pan set and I got a Craftsman toolkit. But motherhood has changed this.

1. I actually want to go to a kitchen gadget store AND I know what most of the things do. Before I just assumed everything was torture devices you used on your husband when he pissed you off while cooking.

2. I have a wish list of kitchen items including but not limited to muffin tin set (yes, I need more than one), some sort of carrier for my cake and cup cakes, and different containers the different flours that I use. I think the fact I have different flours makes me cry the most.

3.I make things from scratch. And I mean from scratch. Pumpkin pies with fresh pumpkin, real sweet potato casserole. Hell,I even bake my own bread. And if anyone ever tells me you can't tell the difference, or worse, says store bought is better, remember, I am now very talented with large kitchen knives.

4. I used to have to call Michael at work if I was (attempting) to cook because I had no freakin clue where anything was. Now, not only do I know where everything is, I become very pissy when I go to reach for things and they are not where they should be. I guess I should tell him to read the last sentence of number 3 next time he puts something away wrong.

5. I don't use recipes anymore. I now look at a recipe, decide I don't agree with most of the ingredients, and make it my own way. Because, when you rock the kitchen like this mom does, you don't need a recipe.

Heart stopping moment.

First a warning. I know when people tell me scary, horrible things that have happened to their kids it freaks me out. I will think of it happening to my girls and I can't stop till I become a paranoid freak. If this is you, please don't read this.

Anyone with kids knows how much they love wearing their parents things. This is especially true of little girls with their mother's clothes. Ari is no exception. She loves my shoes, dresses, shirts. Even my bras. Her latest article of mine is my black scarf. It is a scarf fit for a princess. It is sheer and gauzy with fringe at the end. And it is long. So very, very long. Today we were heading over to a friends house. She asked if she could wear it. I saw no problem with this. Told her to be careful on the stairs as it was trailing on the floor and I didn't want her to slip. Also we had the car today, not the van. We start getting loaded into the car. Ari has finally reached the age where she can not only buckle herself in, but she can shut the car door also. So she does her thing while I get Kira in. I look over and see that she is buckled up and away we go.

So get over to our friends house and I go to pull up to the curb. I pull to far forward and I start to reverse. Next thing I hear is Ari crying in the back seat. I look back and ask her what's wrong "It's pulling on me." It looks as though she is pointing to the seat belt. I figure the locking mechanism got activated and start to reverse some more. Now I hear an even louder scream. I look back and she is bent sideways sobbing. There is nothing but fear in her eyes. My mom instincts kick in. I immediately stop, put on the parking break. I don't even put it in neutral, just let my foot off the clutch. I jump out of the car (which is still sticking out into the street) and run around to Ari's side. Before I open the door I see it. I see that beautiful scarf she is in love with. The one wrapped around her neck. I see it starting to get wrapped into the wheel well of the back tire. My heart stopped. I threw open the door, and pulled it off of her and the tire. I grabbed her and just held her there. She was crying so hard. I just sat there holding her. All I was imagining that in the 5 mile drive there, what if it had gotten tangled sooner. When I was going 35 miles an hour and not just a couple inches. What if, what if, what if....

We are home now. She is happily eating a hotdog and watching Fern Gully. I just keep looking at her. She doesn't even know that I almost lost her today. There is a horrible looking red mark around her neck from the scarf. That scarf. It is sitting on the floor boards of the car. I told her she wasn't allowed to wear it anymore. I will probably throw it away. I don't think I can ever wear it again. Hell, might even burn it in the fire place. *sigh* what if...

Why I don't wanna live on this planet anymore

The current generation of youth scare the hell out of me. And I think when they get old enough to actually be in charge of things, I may just kill myself. Here are my top 10 reasons why.

1. They think Justin Bieber is actually a good musician (this alone is enough to make me weep each night for the fate of the world)

2. That when asked a very important question through email, text, or FB you get the resulting IDK LOL!!! as an answer...

3. That young girls think that acting obnoxiously stupid is an attractive quality, and that it actually is, is very, very scary and sad.

4. That their relationship status changes at least once a week, and it always is either "I am so in love!!!!" or "My heart is broken but I won't become hard to this world"

5. They can't spell even simple words. And when this is pointed out to them they laugh it off (please refer to item number 3. This seems to explain it)

6. They all seem to think that they have the worst lives that ever existed and that no body has ever suffered like they have. Usually this is announced when something happens along the lines of "Got in trouble for not doing something I was suppose to" "Phone broke" "I was completely irresponsible and stupid but I still don't see why I have I have to suffer the consequences for it"

7. They have an obsession with name brand things. They will complain they are broke, poor, and can't pay their bills but then will proudly show off one item that probably cost more than my electric bill, just because it is a certain brand.

8. They show no interest in learning about things older than them. They have the entire internet at their finger tips, but when you reference something from before they are born, they say something along the lines of "Well how am I suppose to know that, I wasn't born yet"

9. They will add "LOL" to the end of the last statement.

10. Each and every young person I know that reads this will assume I am talking specifically about them. But instead of maybe taking some of it to heart, they will become extremely offended and think I am a horrible mean hearted person.

10 signs you are married to a nerd

For an upcoming post I am working on. And all these things do apply to me!!

1. They think saying "Engage" when you ask if they are ready to go is the best joke ever.

2. They get really excited when they hear someone talking about "The Doctor" then get really disappointed when they realize you are actually talking about a real medical doctor.

3. The word Ferengi has come up in bed...multiple times.

4. They own more gaming systems than kitchen appliances.

5. The release of a new book by their favorite author causes them to hyperventilate. (Only if it is Scifi/fantasy of course)

6. They are convinced their baby just said something in Klingon. (for me I swore Kira said "Kapla")

7. Final Fantasy anything, and I mean anything, is the best gift ever!!!

8. They think baby's heartbeat in the womb sounds like a warp core.

9. They have used the phrase "I want to run a level three diagnostic" to get you in the mood.

10. They swore that the shower head sounded just like the Tardis and spent the rest of the day looking for a blue police box.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Life is all about change. Change is inevitable. And for the most part, I like change. But change also disrupts your life. Especially when you have small children. This last month has been full of change. We started small. We wanted to move Ari into a big girl bed so we could have the crib for Kira. Well, instead of a simple bed, I found bunk beds for the same price. Long term, I saw this as a good investment. Well. after getting the bunk beds, I realized that after you put a set of bunk beds up and the crib in the girls room, there was no room left for toys. Long story short, Michael and I now have our bedroom in the family room downstairs, our old room is the play room/guest bedroom, and Kira still sleeps in the pac n play but at least in the separate room in the basement.
And now the big change. Pre-school. No, we aren't enrolling. We just don't have the money at this point. No I am going to home school. Unfortunately this means I have to change a lot of our daily habits. Big one is me getting up in the morning. Usually I don't have to roll our of bed till around 8:30 (I know, so spoiled) and I don't go to bed till midnight. Then we poke around all morning and get nothing done. This is not going to fly. I need a schedule. I hate that word by the way. So starting next week I am going to start waking up at 6, going to the gym, getting my quiet time in. Have the girls wake up around 8. Eat breakfast as a family and start school around 9:30 and end around 11:30. Also going to have to start going to bed early myself...:P I think this is going to be harder on me than the girls. Waking up early is not my thing, or getting myself going for that matter.
So any pointers from anyone. Not only in me getting up and getting going but how do I break up a 2 hour school day for Ari. For putting my family on a strict schedule they have never had to follow before. (Michael is so getting up with me. I am not doing it alone!!!) And just to teach Ari that for these 2 hours, they are different and separate?
After typing this I am trying to figure out why I decided to write on two separate things. Does rearranging my house and starting school really have anything to do with each other. Not really. Do beds, cribs and school really fall in the same category. Nope. But I think the thing is, that when you have kids, you have to change and be willing to change. And all your carefully laid out plans really mean nothing. When I bought the bunk bed, I never thought it would result with us sleeping in the basement. And I never thought that Ari finally being able to start school would have to completely change the way we function in our daily lives. I think we will live though, as long as the coffee doesn't run out. :)