Family Matters, Week of 12-17-06

Every week I write about my family. Welcome to it.

Annie (4yr Old Newbian)

Well, it's official: My baby is too big for her britches. She thinks she can run the world. She's hopping on computers with no help from Dad, she's scheming and she's coniving and she's beautiful.

I really, really want Annie to just act right, as they say, but most of the time I try to steer her near "don't go nuts." It's a delicate balance.

She's definitely gained an appreciation for the 'puter, as she wants one for Christmas (but isn't getting it), and likes to play games of all sorts on it.

In that respect, I've tried searching out a few educational games so she doesn't merely become a wiz on Insaniquarium and not learn anything beyond "Feed your fish or they will die. Oh, and shoot the alien before it eats the fishies."

So with that in mind I found Child's Play, a free and open source educational game framework. Inside the program are different modules for different games. Memory/sounds/spelling/etc. The problem is, as most open source things are, it's just unpolished. We're so inundated with slickness on TV, video game consoles and Web 2.0 websites to see an aliased font is jarring enough. The sounds however...ugh. There is much horror to be found there. Ugh.

Finally, Annie did help me out this week as she guest starred on The Magic Show, the YouTube show I produce on a weekly basis for StarCityGames. Beware, however, that you'll need to make your way through "The Twelve Days of Magic" first (or you can just skip to the last ten seconds of the video).

Abby (2yr Old Backyardigan)

Abigail, on the other hand, has yet another problem with her nether regions: Constipation. Yes, bodily functions take center stage as I write another blog post that will forever haunt my daughters' adolescence.

Abby complains about her belly hurting and she wants medicine. Dad, of course, doesn't give it to her but rather marches her into the restroom and waits until something happens.

Sometimes things just take a little patience. But she's never happy about it.

As for cures beyond Wait And See, I've heard everything from prunes to enemas (eek!). I don't think it's quite bad enough for specialized equipment and/or drug store purchases, but prunes (or, at least, their juice) could be on the schedule.

Don't you just love parenting?

Ericka (her myspace)

Ericka, Wonder Woman in disguise that she is, officially wrapped up Xmas shopping for everyone last night. Tromping in after ten o'clock, she proudly proclaimed victory over the Xmas Holiday, plunging the burning and revered Candy Cane deep into the heart of...

...er, kinda lost track there. It's been a geeky week.

Anyway, my baby has done an exceptional job of keeping the house in order and things wrapped and unwrapped as need be. We're planning on which toys are from Santa and hope to finish wrapping the goodies sometime tonight or tomorrow.

Of course, my only problem with her is that she's given me very little to work with in terms of Xmas wants and desires. Three items do not a list make. You gotta give me something to work with here peeps.

As for what I've gotten her so far (and will be getting her this evening), well, that's for next week's post.

Etc.

I got my hands on the new Shins record, Wincing The Night Away, and holy cow is it awesome. I'm a huge Shins geek, as I suspect many are, after having watched Garden State.

Check out the video for their latest insta-classic, Phantom Limb:

The video is kinda meh (as it has nothing to do with the song...at all...period), but the song is what's important. Woohoo!

Merry Xmas peeps and peepettes. I'll be back next week.

Been in love since you were twenty-one,
You haven't laughed since January