Pointless, yet somehow fun, Games

Since the beginning of our marriage, Jason and I have played a few strange games. These games probably seem pointless to those outside of our marriage. Maybe they are even pointless to those of us inside our marriage (simply because I can't think of a good reason why we do it besides the fact that it's a game and so it must be played.)

Here a few of those games and the rules they entail.

1. "I love you." How is this a game? It is a game because when someone says "I love you" then someone else gets to say "I love you more" and then the other person gets to reply "I love you most" and then the game ends with the phrase that says it all..."I love you mostest." Whoever declares their love with the "mostest" wins.

2. " Train, I saw it first." This really is a strange game. If you see a train then you say, "Train, I saw it first." and you win. However, watch out for the sneaky side-kick to this game, "Train, I heard it first."

3. And the last example I will give you...and the reason for this post...The sleeping Game. When Jason and I read at night eventually someone will give in and turn off their light. Now, here's where it gets tricky because Jason and I played this game for 9 years and we apparently had DIFFERENT rules the whole time! I would say the rules were, "The first person to turn off their light, pretend to snore, and say 'I WIN' wins the game." Jason would say, "The first person to turn of their light, pretend to sleep (which OBVIOUSLY entails closing your eyes AND snoring), and say 'I WIN' wins." Can you imagine the argument we had one night when he tried to claim I didn't win because I didn't close my eyes? Well, it was a doosy. In the end he tried to take back all of my wins because I had been cheating for 9 years and I laughed for an hour because he had been closing his eyes for 9 years! Anyway, lately, Jason has been reading and I have been doing other stuff, or not reading, and NOT having my light on. And for the past couple of weeks he has been claiming wins when he turns off his light. Imagine our conversation...

"Ha, I win."
"You can't win if you are the only one playing."
"Yep, I win and you lose."
"I can't lose if I'm not participating."
"Yeah, you didn't even try..so I won."
"No you didn't, you ninny. Nobody is even playing with you!"
"Yeah, and I still won."
"Okay, fine, I hope you enjoyed winning your stupid game that you played all by yourself."
"Oh, you played, you just got a DNF."
"Did not finish? I didn't even start!"
"Okay, fine, you got a DNS."
"You are so dumb."
"I am not dumb just because you lost."
"Yes you are dumb and I didn't lose and you didn't win. There wasn't even a game."
"Yep, there was a game that YOU LOST!"
"Okay, new rule. Every time you claim a win when I am not even participating, you owe me a backrub."


Yeah, we have been seriously having this argument for several weeks now. I plan on claiming one of my backrubs tomorrow.

Calling All Movies

I am Craving a Movie Night....The quesition is, "What to Watch?" Ever find yourself staring at the RedBox Screen wondering what you will be bringing into your living room? Good? Bad? Totally uncalled for?

I would like to compile a list of "Must See" movies... Will you help me? What is your favorite all time movie? What are some good ones you have seen lately? Please spare me the Rated "R"s and even the "PG-13"'s that aren't worth seeing...it has to pass the kid-friendly test...

At the top are some of my favorites...and by favorite, I mean that I will watch them more than once, and may even own them (and that's saying a lot).

So, tell me, what else should I watch?

How To Successfully Cook Brown Rice

A While back I was searching for a sure-fire way to cook brown rice...since many of my attempts have turned out less than tastey and less than appealing and my rice cooker doesn't like it. I found this interesting method...and I have to say that it works for me!

Bring AT LEAST 4 cups of water to 1 cup of rice to a boil (I like a little more water).

Boil for 30 minutes.

Drain.

Place the rice back in the pan and cover tightly for 10 minutes.

Voila! Scrumptious brown rice that isn't crunchy, sticky, pasty, or burnt.

*You can add spices to your boiling water too.

So many thoughts have encompassed my mind and life lately. I consider blogging about them, yet I can't seem to formalize them into words or sentences or paragraphs that make sense. They're just thoughts and random feelings. Tears for people lost. Anger over trivial things. Frustration at having to clean something, anything, again. You know the drill....

I think Aaron's funeral (my SIL Nicole's big brother) has affected us all. His viewing amazed me and I continue to think about it. It started at 5:00. We got there around 4:45 and within minutes there were over 200 people in line. By 5:30 the chapel was full, the line was out the door, and people were still streaming in. Wow. Really. It made me wonder...If I died, would people flock to my viewing? Who have I helped and loved and affected enough that they would mourn for me? Hmmm. I feel like I am falling short here. Really. And so I think and ponder and consider the changes that I can make...

Jason and I have also been talking about obituaries. What are the kinds of things that would be put in your obituary? What's special about you? Here is my problem...I am very un-unique. Hmmm. Once again, I am falling short. Really.

Don't get me wrong. I am not having a pity party. I don't need your words of encouragement...trite as that may sound. I am simply self-evaluating and feeling like I am coming us short of where I really want and need to be. I mean really, half of the time my big accomplishment for the day is taking a shower. And don't tell me how important being a mom is either. Because I know. But it's not like I am the only person on the earth struggling with keeping my house clean. I know some amazing people and sitting around my house thinking about doing laundry simply doesn't fit into the 'amazing' category.

So from the death of someone that seemed to be truly special...I will evaluate and re-evaluate and take from him the chance to be a better person...and maybe someday I will achieve 'amazing' or 'special' too!

In the mean time...here are the things that I think are amazing and special about my husband...

Jason is a most unique genius. I call him cocky, but mostly as a joke because really he is confident and secure in who he is. He never, ever, tries to make anyone feel inferior and he never flaunts his knowledge to strangers in hopes of making a quick impression. In fact, Jason would like nothing better than to save the world, one person at a time, with his knowledge and know-how. Jason can fix anything. He can build anything. He can do anything. And he is good at just about everything...And I am trying to think of something he is not good at just so there can be one thing...oh, yeah...sympathy. Ha ha. Jason is very goal oriented. Everyday, every minute involves a goal that he is evaluating and re-evaluating. He thinks non-stop. And from all that thinking...magic happens. Math formulas are created, marathons are run, houses are built, parties are planned. Jason is very logical. He thinks about any given situation and always, always, always, takes the most logical direction. He ignores the mundane or trivial things that others often let get in the way...like pain and emotions. He simply acts, evaluates, and continues to move forward. Jason is also all about fun. He is the party planner, the one who will drive all night to make a trip to Disneyland more pleasant for everyone, the one who finds a gourmet recipe to try, the one who has single-handedly inspired friends and family to run, run, run, the one who never misses playing a good basketball game, the one who will listen and contribute to an all-night chatting session, the one who will willingly sit through a chick-flick, the one I love.

A Few Things that make me Happy...

SHELVES In MY CLOSETS
Thanks Dave (and Fancy Nancy)

HOMEMADE BABY FOOD!
Made out of Millet--supposedly much better for a first food than rice

THE ANTICS OF A TWO-YEAR OLD
I can't remember what I was cooking, but I heard Nikell turn on the water and tell me "it" was cold and she needed to make it warm, "okay?" I agreed and then looked over to see her washing all of my eggs.

SISTERS WATCHING OUT FOR EACH OTHER
This is what happens when you nurse and can't get to an owie. Big sister has to help out.

The Fight Against Cold Sores

There were a few things my husband neglected to tell me before I agreed to marry him...one being that he is a carrier of the herpes simplex virus, i.e. COLD SORES! To be honest, I don't think I had ever encountered a cold sore before I got married. Then, one day, boom, a had a sore the size of California, was wondering what hit me, and feeling extremely betrayed by the one I agreed to spend the rest of my life with. Imagine my horror when my 11 month old daughter contracted this virus and was knocked flat for 2 weeks with cold sores covering her throat and mouth. No, I'm not bitter. I just think there should be some kind of form you fill out before you get married so you're not suddenly and shockingly one day lost under a giant yellow pussing scab.

So, over the years, I have tried just about everything in my fight of this unexpectedly shared virus. Home remedies include 1. Lysine 2. Garlic 3. Olive leaf extract. Some people swear by them. Personally, I think it depends on your body. Try them and see.

Here are the stages, just for your information.

COLD SORE STAGE: #1 - LATENT - Here the herpes simplex virus (also referred to as the cold sore virus) is hiding in the nerve ganglia near the back of the jaw on the same side as your sore usually appears.

Your cold sore virus may "sleep" for weeks or years without incident. Your body's defense "soldiers" keep them in check. When there is stress in another part of your body, the defenses may drop at this location. Then the virus may wake up and travel to the surface to replicate.

COLD SORE STAGE: # 2 - PRODROME - The cold sore virus reproductive cycle begins here. The cold sore virus travels down your nerve fibers to the surface. This movement causes your cold sore target area to itch or tingle. You may even notice a burning or dryness sensation. This stage could last a few hours to a few days before entering the more intense cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGE: # 3 - INFLAMMATION Your cold sore virus has now arrived at the surface and begins it's reproductive cycle by entering the cells at the end of the nerve. This causes a lot of swelling and redness at the cold sore site as your cells react to being invaded by the herpes cold sore virus .

COLD SORE STAGE: # 4 - PRE-SORE - Cold sores at this stage are defined by the appearance of cold sore vesicles. A full blown cold sore is not one big blister but a grouping of small blisters called vesicles. You will notice these vesicles as tiny, hard pimples or red bumps that are painfully sensitive to the touch.

COLD SORE STAGE: # 5 - OPEN SORE - Your most painful and contagious of the cold sore stages. All the vesicles break open and merge to create one big open, weeping sore. Depending on the severity, you may develop a fever and swollen lymph glands under the jaw.

The weeping fluid is teaming with newly born cold sore viruses. Touching this fluid, you could easily spread the cold sore virus to another part of your own body or to someone else - either by direct touch or shared objects such as hand towels, telephones, and faucets.

COLD SORE STAGE: # 6 - CRUSTING - A cold sore will develop a yellowish crust or scab as it begins to finally start the healing process. Your cold sore is still painful at this stage. More painful, however, is the constant cracking of your cold sore scab when you move or stretch your lips, as in smiling.

COLD SORE STAGE: # 7- HEALING - Cold sores, once scabbed over, begin healing from the inside out. As new skin forms under the crust, you will experience continued itching, irritation and some pain. Your cold sore virus is now retreating back to the nerve ganglia area where it will sleep until the next opportunity.

COLD SORE STAGE: # 8 - POST SCAB - Cold sores at this stage no longer have a visible cold sore scab and your skin has healed.

But use caution - under your new skin, healing is still taking place as the destroyed cells are regenerated. This produces a reddish area that may linger for another 2 to 14 days - depending on your personal healing speed.

You are still contagious until this red spot disappears. This waiting is the most frustrating of the cold sore stages.


Yeah....so here is my solution. Once you hit stage #4 and you can see all the little bumps that are full of viral crap (yes, I said crap)...take a needle and poke them. Poke 'em till they drain. Then wait a couple of hours and poke them again. This is a good point to put garlic or lysine or toothpaste or a big giant band-aid on it too :). Don't squeeze them, don't irritate them, just poke them to release the viral crap (yep, there I go again).

I have done this two or three times now and have successfully avoided stages #5 and #6--the worst part, which makes me a happier camper and a little less bitter towards my virus hoarding soul mate.

P.S. 89% of the bitterness in this post was for humor effect...please understand my need to over-exaggerate. My marriage is happy and no, Jason, I am not mad at you...anymore.

Vote for SMA

Thought I would put in a plug...only one day left to VOTE. SMA is in the top 10! They need your vote!

Researchers at UC Irvine are really REALLY close to a cure for SMA, but they need funding to push it towards FDA approval. JP Morgan Chase Bank has committed to donating $5 million dollars to non-profit organizations and through a Facebook voting system, the voting for the BIG prize $1,000,000 (yes, one million) starts tomorrow, Friday, January 15th, 2010. We are asking that everyone go to the polls and vote for GSF so we can win and donate the money to end this cruel disease.This is important for one main reason, $1,000,000 towards SMA research could actually END THIS DISEASE. Not "get the ball rolling" on research, not "hope for a cure," but actually end it. And, most importantly in my eyes, it could save the lives of children who currently have SMA. The research that is so close to FDA approval is one that could affect babies who already have SMA, and could completely remove them from symptoms. Here are some facts:Dr. Kierstad (UC Irvine) has dedicated his life to spinal cord injuries. He has already successfully performed a lab experiment on mice that allowed the previously-paralyzed animals to literally get up and walk. He is now focusing on SMA research. It is his belief that a groundbreaking surgery could allow the body to re-build the proteins that are missing in children with SMA. Money is holding back a cure. Other diseases, such as breast cancer and AIDS, have massive amounts of funding and research behind them, but "cures" are still unknown. The "cure" for SMA is just around the corner, but nothing can be done until the funds are there to continue the research.SMA is the #1 genetic killer of children under two years of age, and 1 in 40 adults (unknowingly) carry the gene to pass it on.Voting is open (Jan 15 - Jan 22) and each person gets one vote per day. This is an effort sheerly driven by people voting: the GSF needs every single vote it can get. So, please, please, please, PLEASE vote and spread the word to every person you know

To vote, go to http://VoteForSMA.com