454th Friday Blog Roundup
The Wolvog has started his own game of Candy Crush. Early one morning, he waited until I was half awake and then whispered, “I need help passing a level.” So I crawled into his bed and coached him, explaining why I was moving each candy. It took us two tries, but then we passed. And I climbed back into my bed and went back to sleep.
I have to help him; I know how it feels to struggle with a board. Oh yes, I know how it feels.
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I went on holiday with my siblings and our parents, and we ended up at an arcade one night. There are two things I rarely do in front of other people: play piano and play pinball. I don’t really know why; they’re just both things I like to do without an audience. A few years ago, I picked up the kids from school and took them to an arcade so they could see me rock the pinball machine, but since then, I haven’t played in front of anyone.
But there was a Sopranos pinball machine at the arcade, and in honour of James Gandolfini, I dropped my two quarters into the machine.
And yes, I am bragging: I got over 16 million as my score the first time playing it. And 5 extra balls during the game. And yes, I did take a photo of the machine afterward because I am a freakin’ pinball wizard.
There are a few things I’m really proud of: my chocolate chip cookies, my parenting skills, and my pinball wizardry. I have no clue how I got those crazy flipper fingers.
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Amazon chose Measure of Love to feature as one of the books of the month for the entirety of August. Which is all kinds of cool, and they’re offering it as a $1.99 deal on Kindle. I’d still love any help in getting word out there about the promotion. And a massive thank you to everyone who has already Facebooked and tweeted.
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And now the blogs…
But first, second helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:
- “Leaving” (And Then There Were Two)
- “Coexisting” (MissConception)
Okay, now my choices this week.
Res Cogitatae has a post about an amazing moment when her toddler was able to explain himself to her for the first time. When he stops wanting to take a path to the playground, it puzzles her until she has a conversation with her son and connects all the pieces. I love this post because I can still remember my moment like this with the Wolvog when I realized he had just explained himself. It’s a really magical moment to capture, and she does such a great job of following those complex thoughts to their conclusion for her child.
The Noona Musings has a post about having that need to write and nothing to say. She states: “Some times I feel like I have nothing interesting to say, but the urge to say it is still there. I try and pick out the things that run through my mind, the things I find interesting and relevant, but it never seems to come out nearly as fascinating as I imagine.” It’s ultimately a post about feeling good about just being yourself.
Lastly, Lavender Luz has a post about listening to your gut. It’s an idea she stumbled across while following the lawsuit between the Honest Toddler and the Honest Company. Her post is about the difference between what you feel and feelings; being nice vs. being kind (I especially loved this distinction). As someone who has been known to not listen to her gut at times (and then feel anxiety gastrointestinally in the aftermath), this post serves as a good reminder.
The roundup to the Roundup: I brought the Wolvog into the world of Candy Crush. I have mad pinball skillz. Measure of Love is on sale (and I’d love your help continuing to get word out). And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between August 2nd and 9th) and not the blog’s main url. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week? Read the original open thread post here.
14 comments
You brought me into the world of Candy Crush too. 🙂 I love that you are a pinball wizard and would totally have taken a picture of the score/machine! Thanks for the reminder about the Kindle deal, I still need/want to promote it.
Thanks so much for the shout-out, Mel. 🙂 And I am in awe of your pinball skillz. I’m really good at making the paddles flail wildly and ineffectually as the ball sinks to the bottom of the machine and disappears…
Mina’s post http://kmina.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/this-is/
just melted my heart, it captures the essence of happiness, family, love.
I will totally not play the piano in front of anyone either…except maybe my daughter. My husband can be in the house, but not in the room.
I can’t believe you would let your child start an addiction like that! What’s next, crack? 😉 Actually, I think kids are much more blase about these things – when it gets boring, they move on to something else.
I was going to recommend Lori’s post. Now I got nothin’
Well, except for this, of course. Someone had to do it!
Shelley’s post (tales from the waiting room):
http://fromthewaitingroom.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/trying/
Made me cry – heart wrenching post about where she’s at post-IF and in the trenches of NICU.
Thanks to both you and A 🙂
Who knew you were such a flipper finger wiz? How’d you get that way?
You come to my house and we’ll do a piano duet. Or I’ll sic a Soprano on you.
Thanks Ana for recommending Mina’s post. I too want to recommend it!
As for Candy Crush, I finally!!! after almost 4 weeks of trying level 147, with hubby trying too, I made it past! I silently screamed my joy and relief because both boys were asleep at the time.
Elizabeth at BebeSuisse’s sweet post about the funny challenges of being a new mama and being in love with her babe.
http://bebesuisse.blogspot.ca/2013/08/mind-and-heart.html?m=1
Momfession:
There is a pizza buffet near us that has a small game room. My youngest (4) doesn’t yet know that sometimes the candy machine will give you multiple turns. Sometimes, I use his coins to feed my pinball addiction. Other times, I talk him into playing pinball, but he is only interested in the first ball. This is probably the part where I should say I feel bad, but one time, I beat the high score!!
Congrats on the Amazon mention!
Here is a list of beautiful posts from this week (with a dose of narcissism)
http://kmina.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/this-is/
http://itiswhatitisorisit.net/?p=4703 (“life is meant to be lived and not only saved for living.”; Beautiful!)
http://saintaltrove.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-comes.html
Nikki’s new blog…takes her past her former IF journey…to transracial adoptive Mom new beginning.
The first sentence made me cry…
“When I see his tiny 7 week old face, I don’t see a white face.”
http://unparalleledlove.blogspot.com/2013/08/when-i-look-at-him.html
Thanks for the shout out 🙂
I never want to play piano in front of people, but mostly because i’m not very good. Sounds like you have nothing to fear on the pin ball front 😀
I love the round up, because when i haven’t been reading many blogs it’s nice to have a few pointed out for me.
A super post by the Queen of the Slipstream about setting boundaries and putting her family, the “circle of three,” first:
http://queenoftheslipstream.blogspot.ch/2013/08/establishing-boundaries-step-one.html
(An unintended tit for tat, Alicia!)
For tomorrow’s blogroll? Becasue we all need to find the funny some days: http://thatbadadvice.tumblr.com/post/58332839540/help-my-sister-had-a-baby