Archive for June, 2010
The Game
Jun 30th
So here I am to tell you about “The Game”. If you have a teenager in the house you may know about it already.
Those of you reading around my age might recall a game we used to play as kids. You see a punch buggy, you punch whomever is around you in the arm and call out “Yellow Punch Buggy No Punch Backs!” with the color being whatever color the car is. When I was a kid there used to be a lot of these fun punch buggy’s in a car lot which made for a painful ride for whomever forgot about it. That lot doesn’t exist anymore and you don’t see as many of the buggy’s either, but fun still I think.
I am always reminded of that game when my kids bring up “The Game”. So now whenever we see a Punch Buggy not only are you punched “You Lost the Game” meaning the newer game. The subject was brought up when my son saw a colored buggy and proceeded to punch us all in the arm when we were down the Strip District. I told him about the above story and how it reminded me of “The Game”. My oldest daughter proceeded to text friends telling them they lost “The Game”. At first I’m all yeah, whatever. But I find myself playing right along with her. Last time I thought of “The Game” I texted her and told her.
Hmmm maybe I should tell you about the game.
From Wikipedia:
The Game is a mind game where the objective is to avoid thinking about The Game itself. Thinking about The Game constitutes a loss, which, according to the rules of The Game, must be announced each time it occurs. It is impossible to win The Game; players can only attempt to avoid losing for as long as possible. The Game has been described alternately as pointless and infuriating, or as a challenging game that is fun to play.
There are three rules to The Game:
1.Everyone in the world is playing The Game. (Sometimes narrowed to: “Everybody in the world who knows about The Game is playing The Game”, or alternatively, “You are always playing The Game.”)2.Whenever one thinks about The Game, one loses.
3.Losses must be announced to at least one person (either by using a statement such as “I lost The Game” or by alternative means).
So for those of you who have an inner child or those of you who play here is a fun video. Pass the link to this blog post to your friends or use one of the social sharing links like twitter or facebook to make your friends loose the game too 
Oh and by the way by reading this post you did loose the game.
Pass this video on to your friends and make them loose the game!
Creative Kids
Jun 29th
I’ve never been that mom who cared if their room was clean, if all the dishes were done, etc. I spent alot of time with my kids as they grew up. We played with play dough in the dining room. Sometimes it got smashed into the carpet. We drew with chalk in the backyard. My kids played with boxes and made them into homes. I encouraged them to make a mess.
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We have always believed in fostering creativity in our kids. I suppose because hubby and I are both creative types. I used to sing and love to make stuff. Hubby plays guitar and draws very well.
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We allow the creativity to follow them into their wardrobe and hair. As long as it’s not hurting them or anyone else it’s a go. They can be free to be themselves. Not everyone likes it nor understands it. I have received many judgmental comments especially from family. My kids are happy and that is all that matters. I don’t force anything on them. They talk to me and tell me most everything and for that I am a happy mom.
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I’ve shared a video of my daughter playing sax and a poem my son wrote.
Now I will share some art work they have done.
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Autumn
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Jeremy
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Alison
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Autumn also loves to take photographs. Right now she is hoping we can find her a professional camera at a price we can afford. You can look at her work on DeviantArt.
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Jeremy likes to take photographs too, however online he makes comics on Pixton, videos on YouTube and I believe this is a writing project by himself and a friend.
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Alison is too young for me to allow to do anything online yet.
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Tell me about your creative kids.
Lucky Me
Jun 28th
I’ve recently been told I’m a lucky person. I’ve never really thought much about my being a lucky or unlucky person. Yeah sometimes when life seems to suck I feel my luck might suck sometimes. You know when you say “With my luck this will happen.” But most often luck has nothing to do with those bad things that happen. At least I don’t think so.
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Other than being lucky to have 3 of the greatest kids i could have ever hoped for, great friends, etc. I guess I am pretty lucky. I don’t play the lottery, but maybe I should. I dunno is it luck or is it life? Right place, right time? Regardless I am happy with the little bit of luck I have had.
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In 1992 I went to the Faith No More, Guns N Roses and Metallica Concert. With a friend we managed to get backstage passes from a roadie. I met all of Guns N Roses and one member of Metallica. I managed to get one autograph by Slash 
It was an interesting night I must say.
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Edited 6/30/10 to add: When we lived in Savannah in 1994 Interview With the Vampire was just coming out. There was a huge event at a local bookstore. I was reminded of this event last night when I heard the new Twilight movie was doing showings at midnight. Anyway, we didn’t know many people there being military so we figured why not. We walked around the bookstore with another couple in the military and we all filled out raffle tickets. I won the Interview with the Vampire book set and 2 tickets to see the midnight showing. Our friends won tickets to see the movie as well.
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I won two tickets to the Warped Tour in 2006. I got to play PlayStation with a band called Stretch Arm Strong and received a prize pack.
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Last year I got to meet Less Than Jake at Warped Tour!!!! I took my shirt off in line and put on another one so they could sign my t-shirt. They weren’t allowed to sign on your body. I hope none of the many teenage boys around really cared enough to see a mommies boobs that day LOL
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At the same Warped Tour I won Skull Candy headphones.
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And my daughter met someone from A Skylit Drive. I am pretty sure she was all “OMG he touched me!” LOL
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Edited 6/30/10 to add: This year I won a 50/50 raffle at my daughters school music event. I dontated the money back as it goes to a music scholarship fund. I won two tickets to The Best Restaurants Party this year from Pittsburgh Magazine. I got to taste many great foods from all over Pittsburgh. Something I would love to attend again.
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I won a cookbook this week. Make it Fast Cook it Slow from another blogger.
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In the past I have won many chinese auctions and games at local carnivals. My kids usually went home with something. Like this cute dog from a local carnival just this past Saturday night.
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Hubby has been lucky for me. Two years in a row he won Penguin
s tickets from his boss in a contest they ran. On the glass seats! He doesn’t like hockey. Me on the other hand am a big Penguins fan.
The Game last year I took my sister.
This close makes for great pics!
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The Game this year I took my youngest daughter.
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Another great pic we took.
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I went to the Rivers Casino for a work party last December. Here is what I cashed out with (I believe I put about $50 in that night total).
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I look forward to whatever luck may bring me next.
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Do I believe in silly things such as wishing on a star? Hmmm you gotta be a kid inside every now and then to truly enjoy life in my opinion. I am hoping that my wishes do come true. I purchased and put on 2 wish bracelets on vacation last year. The idea of them is that when they fall off (I contemplated ripping them off a few times but didn’t wanna chance it) then your wish will come true. One is on it’s last leg, the other is just starting to come apart. Hubby said not long ago that one wish must rely on the other to come true. While not one soul knows what I wished for, hubby was very right.
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Is there anything that makes you feel lucky?
Tell me about your wishes that have come true.
Ipod Playlist
Jun 26th
Some people say that your Playlist says something about you. I have a couple of playlists. Below is the one I listen to most often. What do you think my playlist says about me?
Shake It – Metro Station
Kids – MGMT
Whataya Want From Me – Adam Lambert
The Idiots are Taking Over – NOFX
Helena – My Chemical Romance
First Day of the Rest of Your Life – MXPX
When your Around – Motion City Soundtrack
Rest of My Life – Less Than Jake
You Get the Life You Choose – Pennywise
CrushCrushCruch – Paramore
Highway 101 – Social Distortion
Have you Ever – The Offspring
Mutt – Blink 182
Don’t Trust Me – 3OH!3
Control – Metro Station
Drunken Lullabies – Flogging Molly
Franco Unamerican – NOFX
Los Angeles is Burning – Bad Religion
Overrated (Everything is) – Less Than Jake
Time to Pretend – MGMT
Teenagers – My Chemical Romance
I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! at the Disco
Play It Loud – MXPX
Closer – Pennywise
Wide Awake – Zero Return
Bottles to the Ground – NOFX
So What – Pink
The Kids Aren’t Alright – The Offspring
Feel Like Rain – Motion City Soundtrack
Time to Dance – Panic! at the Disco
Punk Rock Girls – The Queers
What’s Left of the Flag – Flogging Molly
I Wasn’t Born to Follow – Social Distortion
Misery Business – Paramore
Those Ghosts of Me and You – Less Than Jake
What’s My Age Again? – Blink 182
It’s Been Awhile – Staind
Home – Three Days Grace
For Your Entertainment – Adam Lambert
Only Anarchists Are Pretty – The World Inferno Friendship Society
Why Don’t You Get a Job? – The Offspring
Supersonic – Bad Religion
You’ve Gotta Die for the Government – Anti Flag
American Idiot – Green Day
Moon Over Marin – Dead Kennedys
If I had $1000000 – Bare Naked Ladies
Arts Festival Take 2
Jun 25th
I am finally getting around to sharing this with everyone. I know the Arts Festival is over but you might wanna know what all the hub bub for kids is about so you can go next year.
We walked from Station Square, which isn’t far at all. Midway however we ran into PPG Place and what we found was welcomed on a hot, sunny day. I didn’t know that they turn the winter ice rink into a mini water park. They have these same spray holes in front of the Cheesecake Factory at Southside Works but I think PPG Place’s is larger.
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Just standing back taking pics of the kids I got cooled off pretty good.
First we hit the I Made it Market. There were vendors there selling some handmade items and tables with crafts for the kids. The items for sale were pretty reasonable compared to many of the other vendors outside the point area.
My son made a magnet out of aluminum pop cans. You just punch shapes out with a big punch, place a brad in the middle and glue a magnet circle on the back.
My daughter made a sun catcher. They had baskets of natural items and you place them on a square of contact paper. When your finished you place a piece of contact paper over top to seal it in. Cut whatever shape you want, punch a hole in the top and attach a piece of yarn to wear or hang it.
We also got to watch a lady blow some glass. Really neat but extremely hot! My youngest got a little too close but luckily didn’t get burned.
We then went to the Creative Reuse Tent. This was our favorite tent last year. My kids sat there for well over an hour creating. It poured down raining and luckily we had a seat under this tent of heaven. They have supplies of things you normally wouldn’t think to craft with! They even have a shop you can go and buy the stuff if you wanna do it at home.
The theme was Whirligigs. I’m the only one who followed the theme and made this:
Your encouraged to leave your pieces there for others to see, so I did just that and hung mine up. The kids don’t like to part with stuff they make.
My son can make houses, hotels, you name it out of cardboard and junk. He does it at home all the time. I thought this was pretty neat:
My daughter and her hat. We still have it in one piece at home.
It was a long day but we enjoyed it. I had to end it with something that wasn’t good for me. I have been craving my cheese fries! Only thing missing was bacon.
Burgh Signs
Jun 24th
When isn’t there road work in PA?
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I will be sure to remember that upside down trucks are not allowed up hill to go to Wolly World.
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You have no idea how bad I wanted to honk! I wanna know exactly what they are gonna do. It is my dream that they get out and give you free beer!
Strip Me Again
Jun 23rd
I love the Strip District!
Ok, I will give up my secret for Silly Bandz. Every other outdoor vendor in the Strip on a weekend! So many choices. Almost all vendors sell them $2 for 12 in a pack.
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Peace, Love & Little Donuts. If I didn’t have enough of a bacon obsession dammit I do now! Do you see the mini donut with bacon? Bacon is breakfast, donuts are breakfast, hell why not! That was the yummiest thing I ever put into my mouth and I want more now please! Beware all the donuts below are $1.25 each. That will keep me from pigging out on them for sure. But definitely worth at least buying 1 to eat.
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Trax Farm Strawberry Fest
Jun 22nd
I love all Farmers Market and Farm places. I enjoy walking around and looking and coming home with great fresh stuff. I have been to Trax’s Strawberry Festival before. It was on a weekend and it was packed! So if your able to I suggest going on a week day. I did this year and there weren’t very many people. Last year we waited in a very long line to get food and do much of anything.
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For the Strawberry Festival they have an area all set up with kids activities and picnic tables to eat strawberry everything! My strawberry shortcake was delicious!
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A girl came around and gave the kids balloons, which of coarse they couldn’t seem to hold onto and watched them hit the ceiling. We then went onto the Petting Zoo. This poor little guy, he looks soo cute, hey he almost bit my dress off!
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I always feel bad for animals in a petting zoo and now I know why. While adorable to see a baby pig he wasn’t happy being disrupted to go into a tiny cage with his other two friends. The kids thought it was funny.
What’sa Happenen
Jun 21st
Try, if you can, imagine me saying……….. What’sa happenen hot stuff.
Yeah, I’m in a weird mood. Right now is the one time my kids aren’t bothering me and letting me write but everyone and their mother wants to chat and/or text with me.
Sometimes you have one of those days. Yeah well I have a story about one of those days.
If your from Pittsburgh you will understand that those from the South Hills just don’t venture to the North Hills often and vice versa. Meaning we don’t often go over bridges to get somewhere. Don’t ask me why, it’s just the way it is.
So I had plans to meet up with some people for a job, ok an interview. Now I am from the South Hills and this job was in the North Side. So I look on the map and see that I only had to walk across the 9th Street bridge and down the street. Technically that was right, but that’s not what happened. Really I don’t get lost very often. I can tell you how to get anywhere on Hilton Head Island, SC right now from Pittsburgh. Maybe it’s a South/North thing.
I walk across the 9th street bridge, and under the overpass. I ask a Penn Dot worker where the street I was looking for. He had no clue. Imagine that a Penn Dot worker doesn’t know the roads. So I walk under the overpass and realize there are bags, boxes and PEOPLE under there. I’m guessing it was a homeless camp. You see them on TV and you hear they exist but in all my years in Pittsburgh I had never seen one.
I get over the underpass and well it wasn’t one of the best area’s for a white girl, in a dress, appearing lost, carrying an Ipod Touch to be. I wound up severely lost. I walked passed a guy smoking a joint on the sidewalk and every one’s look on their face told me they knew I had no clue. I wound up on some back road where no one could see me. At this point I was hot, tired and getting a little worried so I called the guy who was expecting me. He looked up where I was on a map and gave me some help to get there. Ugh I should have went down the steps after the 9th street bridge, up the river trail a little bit and would have been there.
I get in the building and completely forgot where I was supposed to go inside the building so I had to make another call. I felt like such an ass at this point like half an hour late.
At any rate the people were all very nice. The office felt homey. I definitely could work with them. It’s alot to think about and I’m pretty sure they have to think weather I would make a good fit for them too.
I took a few pics while I was on my walk………
Oh yeah I almost forgot! The bus driver on the way home. This guy wouldn’t open the door until the bus in front of him moved up. Then as I got on he muttered some nonsense about people needing to know what the hell they are doing. On Carson St. he was at a red light and a guy walked across the street telling the driver to wait for him. Of coarse the driver put his foot on the gas pedal and left the guy in the middle of the street. He made a turn where he couldn’t fit as there were cars in their lane. Yep he pushed his way through. What is it with Pat bus drivers thinking they own the road?
A Box
Jun 18th
I keep telling my son he is the next Stephen King. He attends a school for the arts, majoring in Literary Arts. This child puts chills through my spine sometimes with the things he writes. Imagine being a mom of a kid writer and having her young teen son asking “Can I use swear words in my writing?” Oh boy. First thought aww how nice he is asking his mom………. oh dear god what do you wanna write about? Being the creative family we are I told him he could write anything he wanted to.
He is very talented and it would be nice for him to get published one day. Not long ago his school held a Literary Arts night where kids read excerpts from their novels, poems, etc.
That’s my adorable son next to a book of random stuff he wrote. I love that the school provides books of the kids writings. The end of this year he brought home two with just his own writings and a few more that had something of his as well as other students. It’s amazing what these kids can do!
Here is what my son read out loud at the Literary Arts night.
This was a story about a box he played with, and tore apart. My husband works in HVAC and when they were younger he used to bring home giant furnace boxes for them to play with. Gotta love free stuff to keep little ones busy. Apparently he remembered it well
