video game voo-doo

I'm ever in awe of the 'grown ups' in my life that actually schedule their weekends around Saturday morning cartoons. I'm not talking about the adults with young children that watch the dumb little drawings dance around the tv. No, grown ups, who of their own mind and choice make high priority of watching shows that were created to enternain four year olds. If you've just been offended by this, here are a couple of tips; first, don't get your panties in a wad. Just admit that you like kiddie shows, and it's weird. Second, don't freak out, this isn't going to be all about you.

Contained within the same box in my mind (conveniently labelled 'current irritations') are all the 30 year olds who spend more time and effort in creating, controlling, and growing a make believe, super-powered troll than they actually do in real life. More important to most of these are the weapons and battles of their fantasy universe than the real, live people around them every day.

I'm not saying video games are bad. They're entertainment, right? But when entertainment becomes an all encompassing obsession, you've lost it, my friend. Admit it. I know people who are broker than broke, having to bumb rides because they don't have the money to fix their cars. But these same people spend hundreds of dollars on games. Games!

They argue that because video games are so much more cool now, it's okay for adults to play them. What the-? That's not an argument. Something being 'cool' doesn't equate to socially age appropriate. Nice try. My favorite argument so far is that these video games are a way to help deal with the stresses of normal, every day life. Sure they are. In the exact same way, and to the same degree that alcohol helps AA members cope with the weight of the bills they can't pay because they spent all their cash on booze. It's not therapeutic or helpful. It's escapism.

Rather than dealing with the fact that they hate their jobs, their car doesn't work, their friends have moved on and left them sitting zombie-like, controller in hand, they continue to strive for the ever so meaningful escape of the warlock and his evil minions. Seriously?

It makes sense why these games are so addictive, doesn't it? When life sucks and there's nothing they can do about it, they run to their fake world where they're in charge. They can be as bad or good as they want. They can fight a fake fight without risking anything real. If they lose, they lose. No real loss. But if they win, their pride swells. And the funny thing, is that the pride is real, the accomplishment was not. It's often too great a challenge to change who we are and become the person we want or ought to be. But in a game, with a few clicks of a button, suddenly the 'low-on-the-totem-pole-marriage-falling-to-pieces' guy is king of the world.

Call me old fashioned, but I just don't get it. And more than that, it irritates me to see people wasting their lives away. Rather than investing in individuals that can actually have a lasting impact on their lives, they prefer their fake reality. Not only is it sad, it's a cripplingly stark realization that the generations to come are going to develop into a society of people who have no social abilities whatsoever. People who's best honed skills and talents will only amount to 'Honor Points'. Living a life engulfed in false reality will never help anybody achieve their greatest potential.

If mediocrity is a high reaching goal, then play on, little ones. Play on.

cold feet

The following is an actual conversation (if you will) that took place between Miss Thang and I yesterday evening.

Standing in front of the toilet, Miss Thang: "potty. potty. now."

Me: "Do you need to go potty?"

Miss Thang: "Mine potty"

Me: " Ok, lets go potty"

I proceed to take off her shoes, her pants, her diaper, and stick her on the toilet so she can do her business.

Instantaneously, Miss Thang: "Ah dee. Ah dee" (her version of 'all done') as she waves her hands to say all done in sign language as well.

Me: "No, you haven't gone potty yet. We'll just sit here for a few minutes, okay? Go potty."

Miss Thang shrugged her shoulders and let out a sigh.

Miss Thang: "shoes on."

Me: "You want your shoes? But you need to potty first."

Miss Thang: "Shoes on. Please. Mine potty."

Me: "You want your shoes on WHILE you potty?"

Miss Thang: "Yesh. shoes please."

*note for those of you who have made comments regarding this topic- If a child can tell you when she needs to go, and likes being a 'big girl', not only is it not forced, she's not too young. I'm not mean for letting her go potty in the toilet when she wants to. I'm not going to force her to go in diapers until she's five for for kicks.

If this offends you, stop reading my blog.

switch-a-roo

We've had our Honda CBR for a while and even though we love it, we decided to get rid of our street bike and get dirt bikes instead. Now we'll have something we can do together without having to go very far. With Jade, we wont get much use out of our motorcycle since we can't use it for trips and things like that. I'm really excited about the switch. Now I don't have to ride on the back. I get my own bike. =] Plus, it's cheaper, and that's always a plus. But mostly the excitement is because it means I get rad gear.

i've fallen

...for fall, that is. this one is being published in an anthology

if you're lucky, you know where this is

such beautiful contrast, i think

a little alone

little girl, big heart

There once was a little girl who's heart was as big as the world... Ok, that's a big fat lie. Nobody's heart can be that big.

This is Claire and Garen. Claire got Garen when he was just a little tiny puppy and has been training him to be a Seeing Eye Dog. In a few weeks Claire is going to give Garen up so he can go do what he has been trained for. Soon he'll have a different family and a different life. He will be responsible to be sight for somebody who cannot see.

Claire wanted to do this shoot so she would have pictures of the two of them to remember Garen by. She is so unbelievably brave about giving Garen back even though she loves him so much. In spite of how close she and Garen are, Claire understands and realizes just how important Garen will be to whoever gets to love him next.

Maybe it isn't such a lie after all. Perhaps there is a girl who's heart is as big as the world.

"yellows"

One day while on a walk, Jade and I saw some cute little flowers. We stopped to look at them and I told her they were 'yellow flowers'. Now, she thinks flowers are called yellows. Well, ylellyo's (yes, that's how she says it) to be completely accurate.

On Saturday she helped me dig up the dirt and plant little seeds that are going to grow into pretty little 'yellows' like these. They're pinwheel zinnias, and I think I'm really going to like them. Granted, that's boldly assuming two things; both that they grow and stupid animals don't get in my yard and eat them. If the little rascals do eat them, we'll just have to teach Jade "air-soft gun" next.