Growing up my family would watch TV together. There were many shows that we enjoyed watching together. I should say that my parents seemed to enjoy the shows but I can’t remember actually asking them if they liked them too. Maybe they just tolerated watching with us. Anyway, we would watch Growing Pains, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Macgyver, The A Team, Airwolf (that one was my absolute favorite!) Silver Spoons and others. The series finale of Growing Pains and The Cosby Show (i think) were on at the same time. I remember my Dad bringing another TV into our front room so we could watch them at the same time. When one had a commercial we would turn that TV down so we could focus on the one show for that 3ish minutes.

I look at the TV shows that are on today and I often wonder what families do. The shows of 25 years ago seem like after school specials compared to the things that are on today. I would like to be able to watch a TV show with my kids that isn’t a cartoon. But that isn’t to be, at least at their current age. I enjoy watching Cake Boss on TLC and if there is an episode that I think the girls would enjoy we later watch it together, and sometimes we catch on episode of 19 Kids and Counting. But other than that there aren’t many live action shows that we will allow the kids to watch.

Do you have any favorite family friendly shows that you enjoy watching as a family?

The last few weekends we have gone to Big Bear. We really enjoy spending time in the mountains away from the busyness of life. We spent time with family enjoying the park and the zoo.

Miley even enjoyed having a new playmate.

During one of our recent trips the kids were very distracted with the iPad. It was funny to watch them crown around to see the latest game.

It has been fun to have a getaway every now and then.

Today is my friend Susan‘s birthday. I know how much she enjoys the journal posts, so in honor of her birthday here are several ridiculous entries. Enjoy! Happy Birthday Susan!

October 25, 1987
Taped 21 Jumpstreet tonight. Johnny Depp is gorgeous.

November 9, 1987
Macgyver is majorly gorgeous.

March 28, 1988
Today Mindy said, “If Shawn were to ask you to go with him, would you say yes?” And I said, “Yes”, “But he would have to understand that when I moved we would break up. And then she said, “Are you prepared?” “For what?” I said. “For him to ask you” So she has talked to him and he said he liked me! He might ask me!!

March 29, 1988
Today Mindy said she was just kidding about Shawn!! He is sooooo cute!!

July 19, 1990
Why are guys so adorable but so stupid at the same time? Joe* is a major hunk of guy and he’s got a great personality, and he’s got a sense of humor. I admit he does rip on people, (especially me!) and he does do it a bit too much, but anyways, he knows that I like him so I just wish she would tell me what his feelings are for me! Cuz’ he knows how I feel about him, I mean it’s only obvious that I try and get him to notice me and I don’t know if he gets the hint or not.

I wish I could remember more specific things about that time of my life. I cannot imagine that boys were all I thought about, but for whatever reason it is all I decided to write about. Ridiculous.

There have been a few times in my life when I came to a fork in the road and a choice had to be made. I certainly do not regret the decisions that I made since those choices led me to my life today, but sometimes I think back and wonder what my life would be like if I had chosen the other path.

For example when I was thinking about college I really wanted to attend Penn State. For various reasons I didn’t really talk to my parents about it and I ended up going to the sensible choice college.

My original major was pre-med. I was really excited about becoming a doctor. I started out with a full load of science classes. My first biology test was over 14 chapters. I studied like I never had before. I failed. Without much thought I rapidly dropped the class and changed my major.

Do you have any significant forks that you wonder about?

I have been on a quest for forever for a good pair of jeans. I have tried the Gap, Aeropostale, Lucky, Old Navy, even Target. It is shameful how many pairs of jeans I have bought and returned in my quest to find my own “perfect” pair of jeans.

While they may not be perfect I think I have found 2 that are pretty close. My sister in law recommended these, that I found at Kohls. They sit nicely at the waist, but aren’t so high you feel like they are riding up to your chin, they have a small amount of stretch, and they are really comfortable. The next pair are Calvin Klein, lean boot cut. I got them at Costco and I haven’t seen them again. I love them! Every time I am at Costco I check to see if they have more. I hope that they bring them back sometime.

Do you have a favorite pair of jeans? Are they the perfect pair?

Everyone has their own way of decompressing when the day is done. Some read, some work on a hobby, some may even work on the computer. I have found that my way of relaxing is to watch TV. Sometimes I wish I had a more productive way of unwinding because TV really is a waste of time. Even so nearly every night I find myself sitting in my cozy corner of the couch, wrapped in my blanket, letting my brain turn off.

How do you decompress?

While I was growing up I loved to keep a journal. I would write in it every so often. Today the plan was to post an excerpt or two out of one of the journals. I was looking through it trying to decide what to post and it is almost too embarrassing. It is unreal that I took myself so seriously. I fell in and out of love several times a month. I just have to laugh. It is good that I have these journals so when my girls act like this I can remind myself how I went through it too.

Here we go.

May 2, 1991
Well now I know that I am in love! Don’t ask me how I know, I just do. Jason* and I talked and we decided that on May 1 our relationship began. I mean it really began way back in December when we both liked each other, or it could’ve began when I told him how I felt in April or now! So we decided on it being now! It’s been a whole two days!!
He is the best thing that has ever happened to me! He makes me feel so good about myself! He just builds up my confidence and when I’m with him I feel like I could do absolutely anything! I will remember him for as long as I live! Right now he is in (a certain place) for (a certain school thing). I miss him so much! I’ll manage to survive somehow. I don’t know what I am going to do when he goes to college. Probably die! I just hope that he doesn’t forget all about me! There is no way I could ever forget him, because I love him too much for that! I hope that we’ll be together for a very long time! But I guess time will tell.

Be honest now, did you laugh out loud? I did.

Oh it gets better. 26 days later I wrote that my parents found out about our relationship (since I wasn’t allowed to date or even have a boyfriend) and we had to break up. I must not have been too broken up about it because at the bottom of that entry I wrote,

Oh! By the way, in case you were wondering Matt* is one hunk-o-man! I know! Gotta control those hormones.

If this is how I was, what kind of crazy will my girls give to me!?

*the poor innocent boys names have been changed for their protection.*

Tonight at church as apart of the sermon our pastor asked us where our safe place was. Where is it that you can be wholly you? Where is it that you feel totally yourself? Where can be yourself without worry of criticism?

When he asked the question my first thought was, running. That really surprised me. I would have never thought that running would be my safe place. When I am running I am stripped of all pretenses. It is a raw, and sometimes emotional thing. Mile 18 can be ugly and it is hard to play games at that point. So I am totally myself there.

I also feel totally safe at home, with my family, sitting in my corner of the couch with my blanket. That is where I decompress.

Where is your safe place?