Winter is Coming. Yay for TV.

"Repeat after me," said my son. "Dae-ner-ys Tar-gar-y-en."

I pronounce as he has instructed. I think the exercise is over. But he goes on.

"Stormborn, House of Targaryen... yada yada yada"

He is annoyed by my lack of knowledge and mispronunciations of the Westoros world.

It was only a few years ago when I told my husband he couldn't watch the show. All that gore and nudity? We have kids for goodness sake! We need to use discretion! Turn it to Family Guy, will ya?

Back in the Family Guy Days

Fast forward to 2019. Amazon Prime and Netflix have opened the floodgate on television programming. As it turned out, Cole discovered Game of Thrones on this own –the very show I prohibited Doug from watching. Now we're all watching it. (Cole is on his second tour.) Undoubtedly, it's uncomfortable watching "love" scenes with your kids. I simply diffuse the awkwardness by turning my head and asking Cole about Algebra or Chemistry. This typically works unless it's a noisy sex scene. Gosh, I never thought I'd be a mother who would watch this type of show with her kids. But, I have to! I'd be lost without my son's guidance. So many characters. So many families. So many realms. Who can really tell the difference between a Baratheon and a Tyrell anyway?

Amazon and Netflix has created a phenomenon that seems part soap opera and part book club. Our family will wear out the remote looking for a series that will engage us all. As many of you probably know, it's not so easy. Certain stories don't always appeal. (I'm only allowed to see Mrs. Maisel once a week.) But there's nothing like finding that magical storyline that enamors your entire family. And when you find out a friend is watching as well? Jackpot! You don't just want to discuss it with others, you NEED to discuss it with others. Despicable characters. (He reminds me of Dad!) The lovely ones. (Don't you just love that whore?) The plot twists! (I'm never watching this show again! Until tomorrow.)

When I was growing up, it was a well-known fact that watching too much television was going to ruin us kids. Now, video games and phones have taken on that role. I find myself saying to Cole, "Get off your phone. Turn off your PS4. Come up and watch some TV with us." Then I giggle, thinking about my wise parenting. It's almost like the time when I was worried that Alex was drinking too much milk and asked her if she'd like a Sprite instead. But I digress. Watching TV didn't turn out to be the worst thing. Did anyone ever quit pursuing a career  because of an addiction to TV? No. I don't think so, anyway. What we were really addicted to is a good story that allowed us to escape and share. And while a good book can serve the same purpose, television and movies do this with a bit more efficiency –as long as you don't spend too much time browsing options.

I'll close this post with a funny clip of one of my favorite GOT characters: Jon Snow, who attends a dinner party with Seth Meyers. If you're not familiar with Game of Thrones, just know that Jon Snow is a very serious man who has had a tough row of it.

Winter is Coming. Actually, it's here, Mr. Snow. The best part of winter? Lots of TV.

And Dad– just kidding.

Promise of a New Year

2019!

This year I will wrap up another decade of my life. Fifty certainly seems old on paper. But my middle-aged dreams and goals feel as fresh as the dreams of my twenty-year-old self. I traveled back to my junior year in college to compare my thoughts. The similarities are uncanny.

1990 Stef: Celebrate 21 with a bang. In Iowa City! A party! Bar crawl! College pals! 21 42 pitchers of beer. (Laura turning 21 too. Yay!).
2019 Stef: Celebrate 50. Maybe.

1990 Stef: Figure out a summer job.
2019 Stef: Figure out a summer job... for Cole.

1990 Stef: Find a cute bikini AND wear as much as possible at the beach.
2019 Stef: Find a swimsuit that doesn't look ridiculous. Wear only on vacation in a location far, far away from here.

1990: Find true love.
2019: Celebrate 25 years of true love.

1990 Stef: Get tan as quickly as possible. Begin in May no matter how chilly.
2019 Stef: Avoid skin cancer. Wear pants.

1990 Stef: Lose five pounds.
2019 Stef: Lose five pounds.

1990 Stef: Scrounge up some money for beer and cookies.
2019 Stef: Limit beer. Limit cookies. Scrounge up some money for Spanx.

1990 Stef: Keep the rock star dream alive.
2019 Stef: Sing loud in car.

1990 Stef: Figure out a prestigious career! Add a major? 
2019 Stef: Get out of my basement office once in a while.

1990 Stef: Be the best person you can be! Study! Exercise! Eat healthy!
2019 Stef: Be a good person. Make a difference in others' lives.

I have always loved the hope that comes with a New Year. While my observations are somewhat facetious and somewhat sincere, there's one thing that never has changed – my desire to become a better person.

My 2019 resolutions are simple, but great: to love with all of my heart and find joy every day. I'm sure I would not have professed anything like that as a twenty-year-old. My 1990 New Year's Resolution was probably something like "Get a new hairstyle! Bigger bangs!" And that's okay. My compass has changed. Thank God. But there's a big part of me that hasn't changed: my hopeful spirit, still burning bright as ever. 

Wishing you all have a wonderful and peaceful 2019!

1990: Fun and Friends.

2019: Fun and Family.