Wednesday, April 29, 2009

FAIL!

Well, we didn't make it a week without the TV. And I've been trying to post since Friday when the computer came back on. Unfortunately, our computer somehow picked up 9 viruses while it was turned off. NINE! I don't understand it at all. Supposedly all the viruses are quarantined now, but my computer keeps locking up, and this annoying box keeps popping up in the middle of the screen. It's pretty frustrating. I can now do a pretty good impression of Rainman as I rock back and forth in the chair saying, "We're going Mac next. Definitely, definitely, we're going Mac, we're going Mac." Anywho, I have lots to post and not enough time to post it at one time, so I'm gonna split it up. I hope I can remember it all. Well......

The whining started Monday morning when Cameron wanted to watch one of his favorite movies, I Am Legend. We told him the TV wasn't coming on and he took it as the TV was broken and asked if we could call Joe, the TV repairman from Imagination Movers. When I informed him that Joe was only on TV, he got quiet and seemed to be thinking pretty hard. After a couple of minutes he looked up at me and exclaimed, "I KNOW! We can go to Anneke's house and watch it!" After I composed myself because, hey that was funny, I had to then inform him that Anneke lives in Las Vegas and that's way too far away and that she probably doesn't want to watch I Am Legend anyway. He was pretty bummed about that. Oh well. So then I cheered him up by breaking out the Bendaroos that he has been bugging me to buy. I found them at Toys R Us for the same price as on TV with no shipping and no waiting. Let me tell you. These things were totally worth it. I will be buying them again. My kids sat and played quietly for about 4 hours, no lie. Cameron made some bugs and Prince Edward from Enchanted, and a ton of other things. Gabriel made hubcaps for his chunky Tonka car. But these things are not "no mess" as they say on the commercial. They are basically candle wicks and leave a waxy residue. No big deal to clean up, just some elbow grease, still worth it though. Here's the pics I got for Monday.


Bendaroo Prince Edward.
Prince Edward.
Ladybug cockroach

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Purple Hair Y'all

Emily's visit with Grandma and Grandpa ended today. She came back home tonight. She has purple hair. OK--just strips of purple. You can't really see it in the indoor light. I'm sure I'll get a picture or two this week when we are outside.
Emily brought home Marley & Me and seasons 10 & 11 of Naruto, just in time for no screens week. Ah well. We have something to look forward to. Mentalist will be a repeat this week so the only show we will truly miss will be American Idol. We'll live.

Emily drew this on the plane cause she was bored silly. I like it and wish I could be as creative.Well, I just wanted to get this posted before no screens week happens. I've accomplished this. So that's all for now folks.

We're Unplugging


National TV-Turnoff Week starts tomorrow, April 2oth. TV Turnoff Network is chock-full of interesting facts concerning screens and also has ideas of what we can do instead of vegging out in front of the boob tube. There are events all over the U.S. planned for this week. In some cities, Barnes & Noble is providing activities; not in San Diego though. In California we can volunteer to help build playgrounds; again, none in San Diego. *sigh* Looks like we gotta come up with activies on our own.

I've been warning my family for a couple of weeks that we will be participating. Everyone seems to be onboard. I'm hoping to make it the full 7 days. Tonight before we go to bed, we will be unplugging all of the TVs and shutting down the computer. I spent a few minutes on Friday hitting up the dollar section at Target finding things for the kids to do, and Saturday we went to Walmart and picked out seeds for our garden this year. Cameron and Gabriel also picked out some potted plants. We are going to repot them tomorrow. We plan to visit the library, a museum or two, spend some time in Balboa Park, go investigate a tide pool or two, play soccer, play board games, and anything else we can think of. I have about three books I've been trying to read. Hopefully I will finish at least one this week. I don't know though; I'm gonna be trying to keep kids entertained.

I'll probably pop online a few minutes in the evenings to post pictures of the day. I do have to check online for the tide charts later this week. I really don't consider that cheating. I dunno, maybe I won't post. We shall see.

Bob


Without any help, my two year old took this picture of "Bob". Ain't he good? And I'm not kidding. He really took it by himself.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

I know I Shouldn't Judge, but Dang!

Yesterday Amanda and I took Cameron and Gabriel to Burger King so they could play at the playground. No really, it's true. We went so they could play. We bought drinks and went to the play area. While we were sitting there enjoying watching the little ones run around and wear themselves out, a police car pulls up. Then we notice these two cars parked side by side with these two women standing there. I had already seen the woman in red kinda pacing around behind her car but I just thought maybe she was waiting for someone who was still inside. Anyway, then we hear these sirens and I realized what had happened. I said, "Oh no, don't tell me that these two women just had a little fender bender and one of them called 911." Sure enough, the fire department pulls into the parking lot, followed by the ambulance. The EMTs jump out and go to the women, who promptly turn them away. The EMTs walk away, pulling off their blue gloves and shaking their heads, looking disgusted. Then I got kinda ticked and pulled out my camera. Because I'm pretty sure that is the single most idiotic thing I have ever witnessed, and I want pictures to prove it. Why call 911 when there is not a true emergency? What a waste of tax payer money. I also can't help but wonder how much gas that huge fire truck burns. And for no reason.

I have called 911 exactly 2 times. The first time, it took the emergency services a very long 12 minutes to get there. Why? The police department was less than 2 miles from my house and it was about 2 o'clock in the morning. How much could have happened in that twelve minutes?

The second time I called, it took emergency services 26 minutes to arrive. Again, why?
Both times I called, someones life was on the line. Someone was in immediate danger. I've always believed 911 was for that kind of situation. Someone needs emergency assistance NOW.

Did it take EMS so long to get to the emergencies I called about because some attention seeker had to call 911 over some minor thing, like a bent license plate?

Watching these two women walk around without a single thing wrong with them really urked me. Exchange your freakin insurance information and move on. As far as we could tell, there was no damage to either car except the license plate of the darker car was a little bent under. Big friggin whoop. No reason for 911. Especially if you're just going to turn the EMTs away when they get there.

Well, here's some pictures. They're not very close up as I didn't want to be obvious. The woman in the red shirt gets the Drama Queen award since she's the caller. I really think she should get a fine for abusing the emergency system. The man in the red shirt holding the door for her in the last pic is her husband. He showed up in a separate car after the EMTs. Yeah, she called him too. Gimmie a break. *Insert eye roll here.*



Friday, April 10, 2009

Umm...Help me.

He's crazy I tell ya! C.R.A.Z.Y!

I live with him.

I'm afeared.

She's Outta Here


Emily left for Missouri on Friday, the 3rd, to visit Grandma and Grandpa Sinclair for Spring Break. I feel so...abandoned. She didn't even look back after she handed the agent her boarding pass. Chris says Emily was probably thinking, "So long suckers!"


I think he's right. That's what I'd be saying if I were going on vacation all by myself. I'm so jealous. Emily gets to experience thunderstorms and lightning. So not fair. She's so lucky.


Thursday, April 2, 2009

I no feel good.




You know what Cameron and Gabriel had last week? Yeah, everyone else has it this week. Well, everyone except Chris. He's the one who brought it home in the first place so he's already over it. Grr. Fever, cough, headache, sore throat, sore EYEBALLS.

Monday was Christopher's 13th birthday. He still hasn't had a cake. He didn't want one until he can taste it. Can't say I blame him.

Well, I really don't feel like writing at the moment. I just wanted to check in.

Bye now, take care then.