Dear Leapfrog People

Dear Leapfrog Person Who Visits Me,

Just so you don’t think I hate you (I don’t), I just wanted to say that I own all your products (many in triplicate). I have learned never to try to get three boys close in age to share the same toy. It doesn’t work. That’s why we own several Leapsters, several versions of Leap Pads, Imagination Desk, shopping cart and cash register, phonics board game, and about 9000 games and books for these items.

And don’t forget the videos.  We have them all.  We loved them so much, I even wrote you a letter asking when more would be released. I love your products so much, I almost bought your stock when it tanked in October 2004. Almost. Whew!

Anyway, my gripe is not with your products, it is with your marketing. But hey, you’re just saying what you think parents want to hear. And the scary thing is that you’re probably right. But I believe that kids need to be kids. Kids need to have fun for the sake of having fun. Hell, they can even LEARN for the sake of having fun. There doesn’t have to be this intense pressure to succeed that starts IN PRESCHOOL.

Sincerely,

Not June Cleaver

September 26, 2007 | Filed Under Rants, Moods and Attitude | 3 Comments 

Enjoying my site?

It has been awhile since I’ve seen you here. Cool

September 23, 2007 | Filed Under Fun Stuff | 6 Comments 

New Oven = New Kitchen?

Update! The new oven arrives on Friday — to be installed by geeky handyman husband (just like the first one was, and it lasted 13 years, so I’m not worried). It’s a single convection oven with an upper microwave oven. VERY EXPENSIVE, not planned for. Ugh. I can’t wait. We’ll gain counter space and lose the second oven (the one we used maybe 6 times in 13 years). Unfortunately, the new unit isn’t as tall as the existing double oven, so handyman hubby has to create a visual distraction (perhaps a deeper pan drawer below, or perhaps some lovely wood-grain contact paper a la my mother?).

Oh hell, let’s just remodel the entire kitchen! Maybe knock out a wall or two and make more table space. I mean really, when the bathroom needed new wallpaper, we ended up with a 4″ wider shower, a new toilet, new walls, and a new cabinet. This should be a no-brainer!

September 16, 2007 | Filed Under Rants, Moods and Attitude | 10 Comments 

Prepare them for preschool??

Aaaack! I just heard a commercial on TV for the new “ClickStart My First Computer” by Leap Frog. It looks like a little keyboard and it attaches to your TV to give your child her “first computing experience.” They show kids playing with it and having a bunch of fun and the mom tells us how great it is that they will learn all the basic skills they need to “prepare them for preschool.”

PREPARE THEM FOR PRESCHOOL.

I think I’m gonna barf.

September 3, 2007 | Filed Under Rants, Moods and Attitude | 22 Comments 

Compliment?

Our double wall oven died last night while we were cooking dinner. It is almost 14 years old. My husband is pissed because he thinks it should have lasted longer. I say we’re lucky it happened on the big sale weekend! :)

Now we are deciding whether to replace it with another double wall oven, or get a combination unit that will free up some space on the counter where the microwave lives. We really only used the bottom oven about 6 times in the last 14 years anyway.

DH: Instead of getting a combo microwave and convection oven unit, let’s just buy a single wall oven and get a separate built-in microwave to put above it. That way if one of them breaks, we don’t have to perhaps do without the other.

Me: Oh that’s a great idea. You’re so smart.

DH: No I’m not, I’m a dumbshit. That’s why I married you.

Me: Was that supposed to be a compliment?

September 2, 2007 | Filed Under Rants, Moods and Attitude, Fun Stuff | 7 Comments