Super Fail

Let me say upfront that I am not a fan of SOPA or PIPA, which attempt to police the internet.  Nor am I a fan of internet piracy that seeks to subvert legal copyright.  One can believe both things.

That said, here at the Homestead, we try to pinch some pennies.  So we don't send our dollars to cable or satellite, instead we use a Roku box, and Netflix.  Generally, we watch a whole lot less TV than we used to, so it is a win-win.  But the times when we miss traditional TV the most are when we want sports.  Live sports are hard to get on the internet, and sometimes one must turn to a less-than-official site to watch a live-broadcast.  However, if given the choice between an official broadcast and a pirate-y broadcast, we would like to choose the official one.  Which is why we were so excited that the NFL would be streaming the Super Bowl this year. 

The Super Bowl just ended, and I have to give the NFL and NBC a fail.

Let's talk about what could have been, first.  NFL and NBC created a unique opportunity here.  I think they recognize that a lot of people want streaming sports.  And that scares them.  What if people don't watch it on regular TV?  How will they make their money?  So they tried the streaming experiment.  Now what they could have done is provide a high-quality, steady streaming experience.  One that clearly matched the live broadcast.  One that kept you riveted to your window.  One with clickable stats and interactive features.  They could have bilked their advertisers for specialty spots - they could have made more money by selling advertising that only the internet folks could see.  They could have given us something to talk about.  It could have been a glorious, money-making, fan-pleasing adventure.

What we got, was a whole lot of suck.  Pardon my vernacular, but there it is.  The streaming was hurky-jerky.  That could have been my internet, but I don't think so.  We tested it.  We stream just fine thankyouverymuch.  There were no interactive features.  I did see a streaming twitter feed, but since I was also watching twitter on my smartphone (and getting better, up-to-date-info from it), I didn't pay attention.

And there were only 3 commercials.  Two for a phone, and one for a confusing movie starring Navy seals.

That's right.  No commercials.  Well, that isn't fair.  There was also a constantly repeating something with a man who looked a whole lot like Rainn Wilson, but couldn't have been, who kept encouraging us to click on a link to watch the commercials, but Who Does That?  Why make it harder to advertise to us?  Why make it harder to earn your money?  Bad business, NFL.  Bad business NBC.

But, wait, that's not all.  Guess what else was different about the streaming experience.  No Halftime show!  Yup.  So while I could read all about it on Twitter (and get proof that the streaming was on a 3-minute delay), I couldn't watch Madonna look like skeletor, or melt into a puddle, or something about Betty White and Clint Eastwood.  No, I don't know what I am talking about, because the NFL didn't stream it.

Now, I am sure there were intensive discussions about marketing, and residuals, and market-share, and money money money.  I don't care.  What we ended up with is a fan experience that sucked.  Big time.  How is that good business?

And it doesn't make me want to buy from your advertisers.  Or get cable.  Or even get an antenna.  It makes me want to blog about it. 

You know, marketing experts have a saying: a happy customer will tell two people.  An unhappy one will tell 20.  This one will put it on the internet.

Oh, and why didn't I just switch to my favorite not-quite-legit site for streaming, a site where I would see the ads and maybe be inspired to spend some dough?  Ads from which NFL and NBC were making money?  Because the feds shut down most of them last week.  That is the power of the NFL.  I think we should all be a little worried.

Make a List - 2012

OK, here is my list of New Year's Resolutions.  In no particular order, I present:

Jen's List 2012

1. Weight loss.  Lose 10 lbs by February 25th (special event), and 25 lbs by May 15th.  Maintain weight thereafter for rest of year (and onward).  I have been tracking my calories through Live Strong, and it has been a great resource.
2. Exercise.  Work fitness needs into daily schedule.  For almost half of 2011, I went to the gym 5 days a week.  Then I went back to work and couldn't fit it in.  Right now, I am aiming for 3 days/week, with at least one Zumba class.  I have missed Zumba.
3. Fitness, part 2.  Once I am in shape and feel confident in keeping it up, no later than June 15th, expand fitness horizon.  This one is deliberately vague. There is a new fitness trend I read about that I might like to pursue as a trainer.  No one does it in my area, and that would be a huge, HUGE leap for me.  But I like having it in my goals.
4. Chickens, dammit!  I am saving my personal money to buy chickens this Spring.  The household will need to budget for the hen house and fencing, but the chickens are coming out of my money.   I already contacted a breeder.  Dammit.
5. Garden.  Sigh, gardening.  How I love you.  I have to find a way to fit gardening successfully into this year.  Maybe raised beds.  Maybe truckloads of soil.  Probably a combination of both.  But we need a real commitment to growing out own this year.  The garlic is already planted.  Now I need to order some seeds, and plan out where everything will go.  Realistically.  Reality is hard.
6. Family/household structure.  This one is already off to a great start!  We are making a real effort to eat our meals at our kitchen table, instead of in front of the TV, which was our habit for much of last year.  So far the kids are responding really well to it and we are actually talking and enjoying each other's company.  And the kids are relearning their manners.  (yay!)  Homework is also happening there, too.  The kitchen table is becoming the heart of our household and I love it!
7. Laundry.  Ugh.  I hate putting away clothes.  Washing, folding, and wearing clean clothes don't bother me.  But actually putting them away always seems like too much.  So I am going to fold laundry the night it comes out of the dryer, and put it away within 24 hours of folding it.  Let's be realistic!  
8. Painting.  I want to paint the living room by February 10th, so it will be finished by my younger son's birthday.  I just need to figure out colors.  I love painting.  And I hate the builder-white of that room!
9. Painting, part 2.  And then the kitchen.  By Christmas.
10. Finances.  This one is ALWAYS on my annual list.  I fall off the wagon and have to drag myself back up.  But we are in good shape and have these goals planned out.   We have some improvements already budgeted, too.  I don't talk money, in general, so suffice it to say that we will be more in control of our money.
11. Goats.  A girl can dream, right?  Goats would require a much bigger commitment than chickens so this may have to wait another year.  We need fencing, shelter, etc.

Here's wishing you all a happy, successful, and fun 2012.

End of Year Recap

My gosh the blog is dusty!  I guess I better open some windows and let in a little fresh air.  Apologies to anyone who was actively following the blog.  The year just got away from me.

I wanted to look back at how I did on last year's resolutions, so here is a brief retrospective.  (AKA, how Jen dropped the ball and/or changed her mind so very many times!)

Jen's List 2011

1. Knit or sew one project per week.  Well, this one lasted until about May, when I started my new job.**  I did manage to knit a dog (pictures coming), some toys, and created a pattern for an arm sling for my mother's upcoming surgery.  So the year wasn't without projects.  I just lacked the vision and time to keep motivated.  And the Etsy shop I created for my knitting has completely stagnated.  Chalk one up to wasted effort!
2. Chickens.  This one got shunted to the side for a year.  We needed to do some other projects first, and then the well broke, and the van died and we had to buy a truck, and then the heatpump died and we had to get it fixed, and then ...  You get the picture.  But next year, baby.  Next year.  And goats.  Maybe.
3. Wood-burning stove.  Well, Last year I stated that "the heat pump just can't hack these winters."  It turns out that the heat pump has a major leak.  It can't hack anything!  So we had it tuned up and decided to delay the wood-burning stove and see if the heat pump could actually function for a winter.  So far, so good.  The house is warm enough and the energy bills are reasonable, so far.  But it will need to be replaced in the next year or so.   And the thought of that sets my blood pressure rising.
4. Financial end. Isn't this always a work in progress?  Fell off the wagon a bit this year, but still moving forward.  Enough said about that.
5. Financial, part two.  Um, yeah.  See above.
6. Garden!  The garden did pretty well this year, but suffered from some neglect, potato bugs, and clay soil that still needs some work.  Our seeds didn't wash away, but I think next year I am going to buy seedlings.  Growing the seeds myself was a lost cause for a lot of things (ahem, squash!)  We did have an amazing bumper crop of okra, which I pickled and canned.  And we had potatoes.   I had to go and buy a supplemental crop of tomatoes just to have some to can, but it is all gone, already.  Our garlic came up great (but is long gone), and I have already planted next year's crop.
7. Rain barrels.  I don't know why this project didn't happen, but all that we have done with our barrels for now is try to keep the hornets from nesting in them!
8. Mud.  Grr, mud.  This project was a total success!  Husband created a wonderful stone patio that has completely solved the mud problem.  Very cool.  I should post pictures.  The dogs are happy, I am happy, everything is sunshine and roses!
9. Then I am getting the carpets cleaned!  Or not
10. Keep trying one new dinner recipe per week.  This fell completely apart as I readjusted to working full-time.  But it is a great resolution to carry over into 2012.

**Oh, I haven't mentioned my new job?  Well, it seems that I was in desperate need of a good serving of my own words  So I ate them! 

Last October, I was offered a position at a local library.  For reasons of my own, I turned them down.  Then, in March, they contacted me and asked if I would reconsider.  It seems that the person they had hired when I declined didn't work out.  So I reconsidered.  After a lot of thought and discussion, I accepted and am so glad I did.  It is funny what a little time and perspective can do.  I now have a wonderful job in a great community, my kids are in a fun afterschool program, and it all worked out well.  It has been a hard adjustment for me, getting back into the full-time swing of things.  My craft projects were the first to suffer, but my exercise and diet focus also suffered.  Which means that while I am feeling very proud of my work, I am not very proud of myself. 

2012 will be a year for finding balance between work and home, wants and desires, fitness and relaxation, and homesteading and modern living.  Finding that balance should be interesting.  Maybe I will even find the words to blog about it.

Well I'm not asking for one!

I recently sat around with a group of women and the talk inevitably turned to birth stories.  As usually happens, the group talked about the size of their children at birth, the humorous side stories, and our husbands.  When it was my turn, I told how my first child was 9 lbs 2 oz, and I delivered naturally.  One woman laughed with derision and said, "you know they don't give out medals for having a natural delivery.   That is why they make drugs."

I didn't respond, but what I wanted to yell was, "I'm not asking for a medal!"  But I do want the right to express my full birth story without judgment from the other women present.  This isn't the first time I have heard this sentiment, and I admit I don't fully understand it.  Why the hate, ladies?

I chose to have a natural delivery; I chose to deliver in a birth center, with a midwife.  I made informed choices based on my wants and beliefs.  What I didn't do was make any statement whatsoever about anyone else's choices.  Truly there is no competition or judgement here.  Every woman has a different experience: a hospital delivery, home birth, midwife delivery, epidurals, emergency C-section, inducement, natural labor, slow labor, fast labor.  Your story is your story, not a commentary on the way birth should be. 

My story is mine.  And I have a right to be proud.  As any woman who has ever delivered a child from her body knows, it is a life-changing experience.  Not just because you made a person, but because you chose to put your body through something difficult and stressful and came out stronger at the end of it all.  Because deep down, we all wonder if we can do it. 

Part of my story includes that I labored and delivered without drugs.  And that my children were large!  My choice; my story; my equal voice in the community of women telling birth stories.

That is all the medal I want.

Waiting for a Hero

In most fiction it is fairly easy to tell which character is the protagonist.  Some gifted authors may lead you to sympathy for a rogue character, but you still have that gut instinct that you are cheering on the right person.  Or even that there is a protagonist.

So what do you do when you read an author like George R. R. Martin?  A phenomenally gifted author, Martin is someone for whom you cannot let down your guard.  In his A Song of Ice and Fire series, which has become blazingly popular with the new HBO series, Game of Thrones, based on the first novel, you find yourself constantly looking for the hero.  Which character should you cheer for, who will prevail in the end?  It is hard to choose; there are so many intricate characters, so many interwoven plotlines. 

Well let me tell you a secret.  Don't get attached.  Martin pulls no punches, and to quote my review (egotistical, I know) which goes live today, "No character is safe, no ending assured."  That is the truth of Songs of Ice and Fire and that is the truth of his newest, wonderful installment,  A Dance With Dragons, which is on shelves today!

Go ahead and cheer for the ones you love, I do. But prepare for the heartbreak.  George R. R. Martin is a master, and the reader is but a slave to his imagination.  Winter is coming!

Taters!

Three of our potato plants wilted and died today.  So I decided to pull them out.  I admit, I was half hoping I would find one little potato.  Instead, I found...

Aren't they beautiful?  These are Yukon Gold potatoes.  I am now more motivated to take care of the other, sad, ugly potato plants.  Here's hoping they are cooking up more, gorgeous tatties!

Happy Father's Day

Tonight, some pirates and I are providing a fresh Father's Day dinner of BBQ chicken and homemade cornbread.

With a salad of greens, carrots and onions directly from our garden.

Delicious.

Happy Father's Day, babes!