Leaving My Family

Day 29: Alliteration  

Birthdays and Batman

The birthday fairy visited our home yesterday to celebrate the birth of my favorite little man.  He requested bacon, eggs, and gold coins for dinner.  He also asked to play Lego Batman and totally made me feel completely inadequate as he guided me through each level with ease.  Because he is a generous little person, he let me play as Batman and I chuckled as the lego version of the dark knight followed behind Robin as we jumped platforms and built contraptions.  We told my son he could do anything he wanted with the family on his day, and he chose to play video games with his mom.  There are a lot of things that I am failing miserably at this phase in my life, but I think I am doing alright with raising this kid (the jury is still out on the other one).

Birthday Fairy visited 

Family Birthday Selfie 

 Traveling and Trusting

Today I am leaving Bakersfield for the Bay Area and will be gone for three full days.  My heart aches that I am leaving the hubs and kiddos behind.  Several people have inquired about the “plan” while I am traveling and I happily reported that turn-based games Carcassonne and Agricola have been added to our digital devices by the hubs.  After yapping on for a few moments, I realized that the intention of this question was not about my plan to keep up my gameplay while I travel.  So truth time, we don’t have a plan.  All we have is trust.  Well trust and a strategy that we will keep playing video games, even while we are apart, and that everything will be okay.  If you find that as you read that last line, you are shaking your head from side-to-side, just remember, it is technically none of your business, and you are being super judgy right now. 

RL Romance (so ominous)

It is a little over a week until Valentine’s Day and if you read this blog you know that subtly is not in my arsenal.  In case I forgot about the looming holiday, the 50 Shades trailer that shows on every Hulu show I watch reminds me in regular intervals (vomit).  I am thinking of re-posting my blog from last month about why it is great to send gear and not roses to your fellow gamer.  I am torn because maybe sometimes it is good to send the guy in your life flowers.  Not because consumer culture deems that you should, in fact we are told all women want jewelry and flowers by every commercial currently running on Hulu (FYI big ole lie).  So to challenge gender norms, to support small business, to have something pretty blooming in the house maybe I should send my husband roses.  But just so I am being totally clear, I fully expect and desire to receive gear in my Diablo 3 mailbox on Valentine’s Day.  I would also not object to a clean house in RL with that gear.

Wil Wheaton & other Blog Updates

As soon as I arrive back from my trip this weekend we will start playing Grim Fandango on the PS4.  The blog received a twitter challenge by another couple to defend the Ticket to Ride title and I will post the outcome soon.  The hubs is open to guest blogging again but I need to come up with some questions.  If the two people who read this blog have anything they want him to write about, please tweet or write in the comment section below.   

Most importantly, I have not heard anything new about Wil Wheaton coming to Bakersfield.  I went to mass yesterday and added Wil's visit to my silent intentions.  What did you do today to get Wil to B-town?  What should we be doing?  How can we make this happen?

Getting Two-Timed

DAY 17

The last few days have just blurred together.  Christmas is over but the leftover food and festivities are still going strong. We played Bunko for three hours tonight with the Boone and McGraw familia.  I played Wii this afternoon with Marissa but not John. Even though John and I were at the same place it seemed as though we were not together at all today.

By the time we got home we were all gamed out. We miserably attempted to play Lego Batman.  This is the first time we have played this game without beating a level.  John had to check a Game Faqs walk through because we got stuck midway through the level.  There is no shame in the frequent use of www.gamefaqs.com a convenient alternative to dropping twenty bucks on a strategy guide.  We did not even get to see any of the tongue and cheek humor cut scenes that make me love Lego Batman so much.

Today I found out John is two-timing me.  I have long known he has a bromance with his best friend Rocky.  They maintain a long distance relationship with regular phone calls, emails and games.  Since I have been gaming with John every day I thought his primary gaming needs were being met by me?  He is still playing solo games via Dragon Age and talking through play with his boyfriend.  On top of that, they are also keeping late night play dates when I am sleeping.

When I first realized Rocky is dominating Johns gameplay time I was surprised.  I must admit as the day wore on and they talked for hours about games I was jealous.  They also tried to lure me into Diablo 2.  I am reluctant because past precedent has shown that whenever I begin any Blizzard title I get addicted.  Diablo 2 and I have some history that pre-dates motherhood.  The last thing I need is to turn into Clara from The Guild.

On the subject of The Guild I am thinking of experimenting with video blogging instead of journal entries?  On that thought it is time to wake  my wheezing sweetie and drag him upstairs to bed before he picks up the controller again. 

Multi-Tasking, Like Batman

Today we watched the premiere of Sing-Off and played Lego Batman.  We finished our level after the show but it was a nice break switching back and forth.  I forgot how hilarious Lego games are.  Today was refreshing because instead of regimented play it seemed like we were playing during commercial breaks without any thought of why; we were just hanging out and playing like we might have before we had kids.  

I cannot find my glasses an hour of play did give me a bit of a headache.  John seemed annoyed that I kept asking him where my character was until he realized I could not see the screen.  I am glad we were playing Lego Batman because we enabled unlimited lives to compensate for my squinting.

I need to finish my post soon because Dollhouse is waiting in my queue and must be watched immediately; as you all know I am an avid fan of all things Whedon. 

First I need to illuminate a few thoughts about multi-tasking.  Having kids seems to almost demand multi-tasking.  John hates that I blog or make tea or write little notes when it is not my turn to play.  He thinks that I am not “really” there.  So does the hour count if I multi-task?  Today we divided our attention between television shows and play so we were technically both multi-tasking.  It is okay if we both divide our attention but not if I lose focus?  Can multi-tasking be so bad if Batman does it?