iphone7

Friday, January 4, 2008

A Family Home Evening Idea You'll Totally Want to Copy

Do you ever get to Monday night and don't have a plan for FHE? Have I got an idea for you! We did it last Monday and it was so spiritually enriching and made us closer as a family. You ready?

Invite your local Dance Dance Revolution master over to show you some tips!

(for some reason, Ryan took no pictures of his face. He'll probably appreciate not being mobbed and asked for autographs, because of Ryan's discretion.)

There's a boy in our ward, leaving on his mission soon, who, Ryan found out during a Get-To-Know-You in Priesthood meeting, has apparently spent his pre-mission years diligently prepping himself for...all the DDR (or "didder" as those in the know call it) arcades in Brazil. (Seriously. He has already looked up all the locations in his mission boundaries. "If I beat this level, you have to commit to baptism, deal?")

So we invited him over to give us tips on our new Christmas present. He was very knowledgeable, if not slightly (okay VERY) condescending, and this is what we learned:

Only people who want to "play bad" return to the middle between steps. He had his body positioned at a diagonal and basically rocked back and forth between the front, back, right and left squares.
If you want to be really good (at the highest level then he makes the music faster on purpose), you have to build your own wooden and plastic platform, with all the computer boards, that hooks up to the PlayStation. Which he brought over, because he couldn't possibly play on our lame mats. He has also used metal piping to construct a railing system, so he doesn't have to support his body weight. (Duh. "That just wastes energy.")

All of the dancers have names. Emi is our favorite. Jenny in her little bikini bottoms and gyrations is NOT.

There are ways to unlock new songs (and it's by being good...oh yeah, I've unlocked a few this week. I'm coordinated that way.)

If your parents try to limit your playtime, you just buy your own stuff and then they can't do anything about it. (We thought that was GREAT insight for our 2 oldest.)
Phrasing: "didder" (what Dance Dance Revolution is called), "shadow playing" (when you stand behind and do the steps without being on the mat), "coin lines" (at the arcades, you place your ID on the game in order of how you arrived, so you can go play other games while you wait. This will come in handy on our next date night.)

So ask around for your own "Revolution Guy" as Jane calls him. It will be a night to remember.

And then come see if you can beat the Romneys. To the Celestial Kingdom, of course. What did you think I was referring to?

The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 11

Jeremy's Status Message Proudly Presents The Twelve Days of Christmas:

On the eleventh day of Christmas my Hokies gave to me... a loss.

That was my actual status message on Sametime. For completeness, here's the rest:

Eleven special teams players, none of whom accounted for the Kansas player who ran up the middle untouched to block a short field goal attempt. The final score differential? Three points.

Ten senior starters who just played their last college game and went out with a whimper.

Number nine, linebacker Vince Hall, who is one of the best defensive players on the team, about whom I read the following yesterday:

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Virginia Tech starting senior linebacker Vince Hall is questionable for Thursday's FedEx Orange Bowl against Kansas with a bruised left knee he injured Sunday at the team beach party.

Eight months until Tech plays another meaningful game. That means eight months of moping about this loss.

A seven point gift of an interception return for a touchdown thrown by our quarterback of the future for the game's first score. Good thing he's the quarterback of the future, because I don't think I can take the present anymore.

Six Buffalo wings. OK, so the Hokies did not give them to me, but they were the highlight of my evening, so I figured I should mention them.

Five sacks allowed.

A fourth and ten conversion when Tech opted to bring their cover guys in from the gunners to rush the punter... and then the Kansas up-man threw the ball to an uncovered gunner for a 22 yard gain. Through some fluke, this drive contained a 1st and goal from the Virginia Tech 1-yard-line, followed shortly by a 2nd and goal from the Virginia Tech 29-yard-line, followed by a Tech interception, keeping Kansas from scoring. This lessened the pain a bit after the aforementioned missed field goal... but only a bit.

Three turnovers, resulting in 17 Kansas points.

Two quarterbacks. We had two quarterbacks this season along with the best receiving corps our school has ever trotted out on the field. The result? Nothing special. Who'd have thought I'd be longing for the days of Bryan Randall?

And one good thing: At least we're not Notre Dame.

Explanation: OK, so technically they gave me all of this stuff last night on the tenth day of Christmas, but the eleventh day was the first day I could post about it, so that's why it's here.

Answers to Yesterday's Cryptic Crossword Clues:

10) Bounding angle pi confused clearing (7): LEAPING
Bounding is a synonym for leaping. "ANGLE PI" confused, or mixed-up is "LEAPING". Clearing is also a synonym for leaping.

9) Women's mixed-up ideals (6): LADIES
Women's is a synonym for ladies' and "IDEALS" mixed-up is "LADIES"

8) In the beginning man ate insects, dinosaurs, sometimes the help (5): MAIDS
In the beginning of "Man Ate Insects, Dinosaurs, Sometimes" is M-A-I-D-S. "The help" are maids.

7) She was a nun's sister initially (5): SWANS
"She Was A Nun's Sister" initially is S.W.A.N.S.

6) Placing some of replay in green (6): LAYING
"Placing" is another word for "LAYING". Some of "repLAY IN Green" is "LAYING".

5) blonde returned part of reasoned logic (6): GOLDEN
"Blonde" is another word for "GOLDEN". Part of "reasoNED LOGic" returned is "GOLDEN".

4) Art or craft racket (7): CALLING
Art, craft, and racket are all synonyms for CALLING.

3) We would be yes to the ear, cheese eaters (6): FRENCH
To the ear, "We" and "Oui" are the same. And it would mean yes in FRENCH. "Cheese-eaters" is a dirty clue, but if you know me at all, you know that I like to call the FRENCH "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys."

2) Peacemakers do vestment introduction (5): DOVES
Another word for "peacemakers" is "DOVES". The introduction of "DO VEStment" is "DOVES".

1) We hear twins appear topless (4): PEAR
Twins would be a "pair" which we hear as "pear". "APPEAR" without it's top is "PEAR".

Bonus Clues That Didn't Make the Cut:

10) Creators marry ladies (5): LORDS
"Creators" are lords, and lords "marry ladies"

9) Rather croon it sounds like waltzing (7): DANCING
"Rather croon" is another way to say, "Dan sing" which sounds like "dancing". Waltzing is a synonym for dancing

8) Bleeding breed seen in a ruling dynasty (7): MILKING
"Bleeding" is another word for "milking." Another word for breed is "Ilk". A ruling dynasty is "Ming". "ILK" in "MING" is "MILKING"

7) Stroking oddly sows IBM's main nags bathing (8): SWIMMING
"Stroking" is another word for "SWIMMING". "SoWs IbMs MaIn NaGs" oddly is "SWIMMING". Bathing is another word for swimming.

5) Beheaded cellos worn by Elrond and Galadriel (5): RINGS
Cellos are "strings" and if you "behead" of "STRINGS", you get "RINGS". RINGS were "Worn by Elrond and Galadriel" in Lord of the Rings.

1) Danny or Shirley even spray rotors in degree (9): PARTRIDGE
Danny and Shirley were PARTRIDGEs in the "Partridge Family". The even letters in "sPrAy RoToRs In DeGrEe" spell "PARTRIDGE".

1) Astronaut reentry conceals ash or Aspen shades (4): TREE
"astronauT REEntry" conceals "TREE". Ash and aspen are types of tree, and trees shade.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 10

Jeremy's Status Message Proudly Presents The Twelve Days of Christmas:

On the Tenth Day of Christmas,
My cryptic crossword gave to me...

10) Bounding angle pi confused clearing (7)
9) Women's mixed-up ideals (6)
8) In the beginning man ate insects, dinosaurs, sometimes the help (5)
7) She was a nun's sister initially (5)
6) Placing some of replay in green (6)
5) Blonde returned part of reasoned logic (6)
4) Art or craft racket (7)
3) We would be yes to the ear, cheese eaters (6)
2) Peacemakers do vestment introduction (5)
1) We hear twins appear topless (4)

Explanation: These are all cryptic crossword clues. Once you figure out the answers, try to figure out the clues! I'll post the full explanations tomorrow.

Bonus Clues That Didn't Make the Cut:

10) Creators marry ladies (5)
9) Rather croon it sounds like waltzing (7)
8) Bleeding breed seen in a ruling dynasty (7)
7) Stroking oddly sows IBM's main nags bathing (8)
5) Beheaded cellos worn by Elrond and Galadriel (5)
1) Danny or Shirley even spray rotors in degree (9)
1) Astronaut reentry conceals ash or Aspen shades (4)

New Year, New Colors, New Resolutions

As fresh as the blue on this page, that's how I felt this morning when I woke up! (When you are done gagging, come back and finish reading...ready?)

So I married a guy who LOVES to make goals and New Years is the highlight of his life. It's probably why he's so accomplished and good and easy to be married to; he sees the value in self-assessment, writing down his ideas for change and putting in the hard work to see those changes through.

I, however, get a sick feeling in my stomach when he brings them up. No exaggeration. I seriously feel ill--my heart beats faster, I get crabby and stressed at the thought of adding my "probable failure" into my life.

Because, come on...when do we ever do a Resolution all the way?

BUT, I talk myself down, knowing that trying and getting just a little bit better, is better than not trying at all. And most years, I set a few and feel better once I've done it.

So today, I was ready. The big kids went back to school, the house got cleaned and purged of all Christmas decor and mess and my body, sick from the constant drip of sugar I'd given it for a month (with the weight gain to back it up), was ready for a change. As was my too-much-computer-too-little-scripture-reading-and-quality-kid-time soul.

But I need some help.

I am someone who appreciates authority as I look for ideas on how to improve and so I need your ideas, your articles, your books so that I can get to work on the following (certainly not inclusive--some things are actually too private for the blog) Resolution list:

1. I need to strengthen my relationship with my oldest daughter. (Without too much embarrassing elaboration, let's just say that her similarity to myself causes much friction...totally my fault and I need to make it better.)

2. I need to lose weight by eating better. (I need ideas on how to "Make the Connection"--should I just read that book? or do you have better ones?)

3. I need to feel the Spirit more regularly throughout the day. (I do pretty good at designated "feel the Spirit times" such as scriptures, prayers, meetings, music...but I want to learn how to tone down the business and the noise and feel it's whisperings more often in my daily life.)

4. I want to see the needs of those around me better, know how to fill them--but balance it with the needs of my family. (Could that be a taller order??)

I only wish I could do this all 100%, but I need to focus on whatever positive changes come out of this list, right?

Wish me luck...and give me something concrete to go on! (email anything too long or too private to jessicaromney@hotmail.com) ...Thanks!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 9

Jeremy's Status Message Proudly Presents The Twelve Days of Christmas:

On the ninth day of Christmas, that person who always tried to read the Sunday comics out loud to you gave to me:

"So, there are these nine stick-figure ladies dancing in a Rockette line and this guy says to the first one, 'Are you chicks?' and she's like 'We are LADIES, thank you very much!" so the guy says "I couldn't tell" and the lady yells back, "WE'RE STICK FIGURES, YOU IDIOT!" The guy responds, "I know. You should really eat something."

"There's this guy alone in a stable with a cow. The guy checks his watch, waits some more and checks his watch again. Finally he says, "Where are they?" to which the cow responds, "They're still working on the pigpen."

"This guy is standing by a pond and he sees these seven poorly drawn little ducks swimming. He says, 'Man, you guys are ugly! Where are the swans?' to which one of the ducks responds, 'Just give us some time...'"

"There's a man standing in front of six doors, all of which are dressing rooms with 'GOOSE' written under a big star on the door. Each door has a necktie hanging from the doorknob, and the man asks aloud, 'Is this comic appropriate for all viewers?'"

"A guy is standing in a Burger Hut and his tray has a burger and soda on it. He's holding a container of onion rings and yelling at the person behind the counter, 'You call this a large? I only got five!!!'"

"A guy is sitting at a poker table and he thinks to himself 'This is it! This is the perfect time to bluff!' He then says aloud, "I'm all in!' to which four birds immediately respond 'I call!' The man is clearly dejected with his head in his hands and one of the birds whispers to another, 'Should we tell him we read his thought bubble?'"

"Three chickens stand atop a giant castle wall of some sort, and one of the chickens is yelling to the others, 'FECHE LA VACHE!'"

"Under the heading 'TMNTD', there are two large birds, each wearing a mask and martial arts gear. One has a giant staff and is labeled 'Dovetello' while another has two nunchaku and is labeled 'Dovelangelo.'"

"In the middle of a field, there's this tree with pears on it and sitting on a lower branch is a game bird, who asks the reader 'Can I be a turtle, too?'"

Explanation: As you may recall, due to the strike by the Writer's Guild of America, we at Jeremy's Status Message were forced to draw our own comic strip. Well, due to the rousing support by our readership, this tradition was supposed to continue. In fact, these comics were all designed and just awaiting the great artistic abilities of our wonderful staff. Unfortunately, in the process, we forgot that we don't actually have said artistic abilities, which really slowed down the drawing process. So, instead of spending our entire winter vacation staring at a blank sheet of paper, we opted for the above status message instead.

Feliz 2008

Hace casi un año, a raíz de unos mails que me intercambié con uno de los guionistas más famosos del país y raíz de que éste hubiera leído unos textos míos, recibí un correo en el que ponía "Feliz 2007. No tengo ninguna duda de que este año va a ser muy importante para ti".

¿Acertó?

Sí, pero no de la manera en que pensaba. Por suerte ha pasado 2007 y no creo recordar un año más lleno de decepciones, depresiones, estupideces, problemas, locuras y todo eso que los buenos amigos siempre terminan reduciéndote a la expresión "mala racha". Tras haber cerrado 24 horas del 2008, me encuentro igual de descorazonado y no creo que el nuevo año mejore las cosas. Eso sí, espero que a vosotros no os pase lo mismo y que este 2008 sea, de verdad, importante para todos vosotros.

Un abrazo (os dejo con la felicitación que envié hace poco a mis contactos)