magic wand remote

STFU

This magic wand is a programmable tv remote.

it will learn up to 13 commands from your existing remote controls and map them to particular magical motions. Flick the wand from side to side to flip the channels, twist the wand to turn up the volume.

There's a way to mess with your kids, never use a remote, only a wand, then send them to a friend's house.

eta: tagline from the wand remote website
You look like an idiot waving a wand in front of a TV. Unless it suddenly works.

skipping

Skipped a game at curling last night for the first time in ages (definitely the first time this season and I don't think I skipped last season either). I did okay. Calling the shots was fine (when I got stuck my team, the other skip, RB, and/or fox helped me out). It would have gone better if I had *made* more of my shots. They stole 3 in the first end, then we gained 1 back and forth. Only had time to do 7 ends, we won 3 of the, and only lost by 3 points so not a bad showing. Still prefer vice though.

I'm having a bit of OMG Christmas prep, still so much to do! We have decorated the tree and done some Christmas shopping. Need to do more shopping then wrap and ship one box to OH and wrap presents for VA. Also cards? We'll see.

christmas shopping

It is getting down to the wire with the Christmas gifts so I ventured out shopping today. It was not as crazy as it would be after work or on a weekend, but still not fun for me.

My major goal was to buy for the children: P. (4, boy), Jo. (10mos, girl), and Ja.(10mos, boy, nephew). I don't have a clue what is age appropriate, and that was very frustrating.

I started out in the bookstore, this was fine. Got some board books for the babies. Your Personal Penguin made me tear up in the store. I would recommend it for anyone that you love, of any age.

Also got an extended version of the book with the mouse and pancake that had recipes for things (like pancakes) and songs for the 4 year old after calling my mother (with a patient), my aunt (his grandmother, didn't pick up), and finally his mother to see if he had it. Also got something called PailPets for Jo (not like garbage pail kids which is what the name reminds me of). This was fine. Went to some other places, had no luck.

Ended up at Target for toys because I couldn't deal with the idea of going to Toys R Us. Thought I would get some sort of tent/tube combo for Ja since he's very into crawling/walking-while-pushing-something everywhere and could use some changes of scenery. Store employee (working in the toy dept.) tells me they don't have any. Later I find a whole aisle of them (wtf?), but all of them have licensed characters and are for 3+ so forget that. The whole toy dept. is organized by brand (aisle sub-headings are all logos), it was a little intense.

Also wanted a baby doll for the boy. Didn't think finding a doll for a baby under two would be a big deal. IT'S LIKE A STUFFED ANIMAL BUT IN THE SHAPE OF A SMALL HUMAN. Plenty of stuffed animals. Lots of dolls for 2+ that talk, suck, shake, pee, whatever. They all make creepy noises when you walk down the aisle past them. Ended up with a stuffed monkey, it's kind of like a baby (except not, because I fail at toy shopping).

Ended up getting a lego man head lamp (it says 5+, but he's an advanced mature 4 *shrug*) at HTO and a t shirt online for P. (he's into Star Wars and Wizard of Oz right now).

All the cool toys seem to be for kids who are 8. Can't wait for 8. (There was a hydroelectric kit that I wanted to get for my dad, a civil engineer, to play with the kids when they get to 8, but I decided that was too many years away.)

Still have nothing and no ideas for my mother, and need something else for my sister. Ideas welcome.