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My daughters are nothing if not creative. They thought my Mother's Day gifts were boring, even though they were what I requested when prompted. So to liven up the gifting they created a scavenger hunt for me.
They sent me downstairs to the playroom, aka the dog room, aka mildew's room, while they hid the clues. Then they handed me the first origami-heart-shaped clue and waited.
Have you ever tried to figure out a clue while two grown girls are practically jumping up and down waiting for you to solve it? It ain't easy, friends!
With a couple of small hints, and one doozy, I managed to follow the trail and find my three "boring" Mother's Day gifts, three CDs from my Amazon wish list.
So how smart are you? Here are my clues.
1. What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries? Go to where it is stored.
2. What turns everything around but does not move? Go to the newest one.
3. What is full of holes but still holds water? Go to where it is stored.
4. What room has no floor, ceiling, windows or doors? Go to where it would be stored.
5.What fastens two people but only touches one? Go to where it would be stored.
6. I have legs but walk not, a strong back but work not, two good arms but reach not, a seat but sit and tarry not. Your favorite.
7. Take one out and scratch my head, I am now black but once was red. Where you'd use one.
8. With pointed fangs it sits in wait, with piercing force it doles out fate, over bloodless victims proclaiming its might, eternally joining in a single bite. Where you'd typically find it.
Well, how did you do? If you solved them all without help and without hints, hats off to you. If not, comment or email me and I'll give you the answers.
Oh, and my card from the girls was Maxine, you know, the old lady? She says, LET'S SEE...HOURS of screaming labor, about a MILLION poopy diapers, THOUSANDS of loads of laundry, YEARS and YEARS of sleepless nights... and you get a Mother's Day card. Sounds fair to me.
A Mother's Day card, a scavenger hunt, and three CDs. Sounds fair to me, too. :)
It's been so long since I've posted anything that I wasn't sure I remembered how to log in here. But lucky readers, all one or two of you, here I am again, still living in a virtual world. My Vampire Wars playing has slowed down since I completed all the missions, but my newest craze is Happy Aquarium.
What is it about virtual fish that is so soothing? I just love watching them swim around in their little fake fishy world. Of course these fish are even better than real ones. They smile when you feed them, look oh-so-woebegone when they're hungry, and never die. Well, I guess they die if you don't feed them for a week or so, but you never have to watch their little fishy carcasses go swirling down the... er, I mean, you never have to play taps for their burial at sea.
And you can breed them to make the cutest little babies ever. And believe me, breeding is an event. You get sleazy music, a rosy cloud with hearts pouring out, and a distinct *pop* as an egg suddenly appears and drifts to the bottom of the tank.
My tanks all have themes, with appropriate fish names. Blue Hotel, top, and Rose-Colored Glasses are kind of self-explanatory. I also have the Gallery, with Michaelangelo & Mona Lisa, Scream & Munch, and Mary & Cassat.
Then there's 
Candyland, with Sweet Tartlet & Rolo, Almond Joy & Pixie Stix, Pez & Mike N. Ike, Reese & Snickers, and Mounds & Hershey. Of course there has to be a Circus, with Ringmaster & Flying Fifi, Bareback Rider and Freakshow, Emmett & Kelly, Tightrope Walker & Fire Eater, and Strongman & Bearded Lady.
Finally, there's Tara, with Scarlett & Rhett, Melanie & Ashley, Mammy & Big Sam, and my personal favorites, Frank Lee M'Dear and Dona Giva Damn.
Of course the neighbors are shocked when Mammy breeds with Rhett, but hey, I say breed and let breed.
Some people may think I'm wasting my time feeding and breeding virtual fishies, but the creators of this game certainly got the name right. Happy Aquarium makes me happy. :)
My friends have probably noticed the plethora of Vampire Wars posts on my Facebook page. The smart ones have no doubt blocked the VW feed so they don't have to deal with the flood. My online friends, of course, are right there with me, attacking right and left, doing missions for blood and experience points, accepting hundreds of new friends just to have a bigger clan.
What is it about Vampire Wars (and Treasure Madness, and Facebook itself) that's so addicting? Or is it just me?
Okay, I admit, I'm an addictive personality type. I get into things, like fan fiction, like Yahoo groups, and go all out. It got me thinking. What is it that makes an addictive personality? And in other circumstances would I be mainlining heroin instead of biting fictional opponents?
I found a listing of addictive personality traits on drugrehabtreatment.com and read them with interest...
Antisocial personality: Yes, it's true, I'd rather be home on my computer than out partying.
Low distress tolerance: Yup, that's me, getting all anxious over every little thing. Even had to quit playing Lexulous (a Facebook game similar to Scrabble) cuz I couldn't take the pressure.
Difficulty delaying gratification: Not so much. Never been one of my problems.
Compulsive behavior: Well, duh! I wouldn't be addicted if I weren't compelled to play these stupid games, lol!
Substituting vices: Damn, I wish I could substitute game playing for overeating. Unfortunately, I've discovered one can eat in between kills.
Insecurity: Funny thing about that. Most of the time I'm very comfortable with myself. But there are certain situations and certain people that can bring out those hidden insecurities.
Depression/anxiety: Big maybe there. It's never severe, but I tend to be right on the edge.
Well, addictive personality? Absolutely. So what should I do about it?
Gotta think on that one a while.
:)
Did you know stress and depression can ruin your holidays and your health?
Big duh!
Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? Why does everything have to be done to perfection? Why do we have to spend so much, for so little pleasure?
This year we had some family health problems, and I decided I wasn't going to get out all my decorations. After our cruise we agreed not to spend as much. Since I had lots of stress getting everything ready for the church services, I told Dave he was in charge of Christmas dinner. And after trying to cope with laryngitis for almost three weeks, I finally called the doctor for an antibiotic.
And you know what? It worked.
No, it didn't alleviate all the stress of the season. But it did make things better.
Now the worst is over and I can just chill.
yay
What is it about the first snowfall that excites us, that brings back that sense of childlike wonder? Even the most jaded, the most inured to snow has to admit to that little frisson of elation as those first frosty flakes fall.
I was thinking about that today as I drove up to my mom's. We only had some wet snow mixed in with the rain in South Jersey, and it melted the moment it hit the ground. But as soon as I headed north out of Philadelphia, the ground was white, and the foothills of the Pennsylvania mountains were a winter wonderland.
I can think of at least three reasons I love the snow. First, it's a silent surprise. Unlike rain or wind or other weather phenomena, the snow falls without sound. You can be sitting around reading or watching TV or doing whatever you like and all of a sudden you look out the window... OMG! It's snowing! Even when you're expecting it, it's still a thrill.
Second, it's pure, covering all the ugliness of reality with pristine whiteness. Yeah, I know, it probably picks up all kinds of pollutants from our tainted atmosphere, and it certainly isn't pretty after it's been sitting on the side of the road for a few days. But that initial fall of virginal white sparkling in the sun makes my heart swell.
Third, snow is beautiful. 
Every snowflake is unique and wonderful, a lacy filigree of crystals forming a work of art. I realize it's science, a matter of chemistry, air currents, temperature, humidity and so on. Still, I can't help but imagine God looking down after creating the first snowflake and saying, "Oooh, pretty!"
Silent, pure, beautiful. That's what I think.
What do you think?
My daughters are nothing if not creative. They thought my Mother's Day gifts were boring, even though they were what I requested when prompted. So to liven up the gifting they created a scavenger hunt for me.
