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Keeping the Spirit

On Friday night, I learned my limitation. I took ten pre-teengirls to the ice rink--along with little brother Victor, who hadnever ice-skated in his life.

At fortysomething, I had no deep-seated desire to skate; thegirls afterall would skate by themselves and completely ignoreme. I was cold. I was sore from my early-morning tennis game andhalf-hour workout with weights. In tiny Ridgefield, Connecticutin January, ice skating on a Friday night is as good as it gets:the place was packed. Clearly two hundred children and hormone-impaired middleschoolers were lacing up, while little Victorbegged me to skate alongside him, at this never-before-seen rink, with an almost-desperate look on his face.

Of course I had to oblige. "How tough could this be anyway?" Ithought as I snapped on my rented skates. "I work out everyday,"I reassured myself. I skated as a kid. We'll take it slowly. Ilook the part, what with my jeans, turtleneck, and down vest. Imean...I could pass for one of these kids if you caught me at the right angle!

We got onto the ice, Victor holding my hand with a look of "Can I do this, Mom?" and me with an "it's-like-riding-a-bike-you-never-forget-how" assurance.

The first time around was, well, awkward would be anunderstatement. I was wobbly. Victor held me up. When I asked him how he was doing, he was clearly in control. "I rollerblade,remember, Mom?" Oh yeah...that.

Dozens of wiry boys...barely as high as my kneecap...who hadclearly been skating since they could crawl...zigzagged in andout of my path like cockroaches when caught in the dark by a quickly-turned-on light. Whippersnappers! In and out they skated, so fast and with such precision that it took my misted-breath away.

Did I mention the strobe lights? Just when I thought it was safeto look down and see where I was going, the lights playing on the ice only made me dizzy. I was reassured by my assessment when Victor exclaimed: "Mom, don't look down! You'll throw up!"

By the third or fourth time around, I was feeling much moreconfident. But when a pre-teen girl caught sight of a hottie andabruptly skated backwards...directly in front of me...I wasknocked smack on the ice. I landed on my wrists, and fullyrealized how hard the ice really is...and how much more brittlemy bones are at my age...when I picked myself up with a half-laugh and an under-my-breath grunt of "I hope he was worth it."

We were great, Victor and I. He took to the ice like a duck towater and passed me whenever he could, checking in with me everyfew dozen yards to make sure I was still alive. The second crashwas my swan song; I exited to the slightly warmer viewing roomwith ice on my butt and two clearly bruised wrists, totallyticked off that these kids had gotten the best of me.

Five minutes later, I reminded myself why I was there in thefirst place: I had a 9-year-old son who needed me, for crying out loud! It was back to the ice for another half-hour. Round and round we went, avoiding the whippersnappers and pre-teen girls with a vengeance. My daughter and her nine friends? Forgetaboutem. Caught in their own little world-on-ice, checkingout each face that whirled past them, I was only the night-timedriver and MasterCard-holder.

The evening ended with hot cocoa drunk by giggling, rosy-cheekedgirls. Victor, encouraged by my proddings of "You're doing sogreat!" now had his sights set on ice hockey. And my left wrist,though clearly black and blue from a dozen broken blood vessels,was not much worse for the wear.

Will we do that again? Absolutely. Cold air, oxygen to the brain, rosy cheeks, laughter, friends, bonding with my kids, and a sense of community in this New England town of mine are just too compelling.

Looking like a fool when I fall? Black-and-blue reminders of mymiddle age? Bruises to my ego? Well...that's all part ofmotherhood.

Keeping the spirit of the holidays after the holidays haveclearly passed is one of the challenges of being a Rocket Mom.Keep your eyes wide open for opportunities throughout the nextcouple winter months to create special memories with your kids.Be it snow-skiing, ice skating, or sledding; or creating uniquepottery at your local paint bar...be prepared for giggles and memory-making...and check your ego at the door.

posted by xtrx @ 9:39 PM 0 comments

Electronics: Newer, Faster, Better

When it comes to electronics, newer, faster, and better models of everything from computer processors to cellular phones appear at least every six months. The evolution of technology means manufacturers are incorporating more features and more power into virtually every type of consumer electronics. When you're in the market for consumer electronics - whether for yourself or as a gift idea for someone else - the question becomes, do you need to buy the latest and greatest?

As an example, let's take a look at digital cameras. Virtually everyone is making the switch - if they haven't already - from film to digital. Seven mega-pixel digital cameras are everywhere, and single lens reflex digital cameras are poised to dramatically drop in price within the next twelve months. With the dozens, if not hundreds, of models from which to choose, does it make sense to buy a top of the line digital camera?

Not necessarily. The type of digital camera you need depends on how you're planning to use it. If you primarily use a camera on vacations or while traveling, the most important feature might be the weight of the camera. The ultra-thin, lightweight digital cameras now on the market may not have all of the features of their heavier counterparts, but they're perfect to stick in your shirt pocket and pull out at a moment's notice.

If you take most of your pictures outdoors, an LCD screen with backlighting - and a viewfinder - might be the most important feature for your needs. There's nothing more frustrating than not being able to see what you're shooting. On the other hand, if you primarily use your camera indoors, a red-eye reduction feature is a must-have. If you want to use your camera at your child's soccer games, a digital camera that allows you to take short movies might be perfect for you.

You also need to consider how you'll be using the camera when it comes to selecting the appropriate picture resolution. Most people don't really need a seven mega-pixel camera; and you definitely don't need one if all you're going to do with the pictures is view them on your computer monitor or post them online.

Unlike jewelry, where more is almost always better, consumer electronics don't need to have every single feature in order to be useful. Let's face it: most of us only use a fraction of the power and features in our computers and software. So, when we're buying consumer electronics, it's important to think through which features we'll use and which are extras that add to the price but not the value.

posted by xtrx @ 5:53 PM 0 comments