I have a little problem with one of my neighbors.  I need a little advice. I asked JP, but frankly didn't like his answer.  I would like a different approach, but I am not quite sure what that approach should be.

There is a man who lives down the street.  We will call him Juan for our purposes.  Juan owns a landscaping company that he runs out of his home.  Every morning his employees meet him at his home, and then they leave together in the trucks. 

As the come and go individually or as a group they stare.  Now, if I were thin, hot, or dressed like a stripper I could understand this action, but given my current body condition and dress I can not understand. They unashamedly stare.  Three guys in the front of the pick up will lean forward to stare.  Juan started waiving when then went by as an attempt to be neighborly, but it is still weird. 

It really has been bothering me.  I spend a lot of time in our yard, and I don't think I should have to worry about being watched. Painting the kids play house or hauling dirt is not exactly errotic activty, so why should it be interesting at all?  Shouldn't I be able to hang out my laundry without fear of men craning their necks to see if I am out in the yard?

I feared it was only my imagination, but Julie has noticed it too.  They have cast their gaze upon her also.  They just like to look at women. 

JP's answer is very direct.  He thinks that I should take to his wife.  I don't know his wife very well.  I have only recently carried on a conersation with her.  They live a ways down the street, and there isn't a lot of rerason for me to head to the culdesac often.  I don't want to talk to her.

I don't feel like I can prove anything by my discomfort.  He could deny it by saying he just waves to be neighborly, and throw his guys under the bus.  However, he is staring too.  

I would prefer a more creative approach.  I have considered putting signs in the yard.  Maybe something that says, "Why don't you just take a picture?" or  " What would your wife say"  or "If you look any closer you may see my stretch marks"  I am sure it would confuse the other neighbors, but the intended target would know who it was for. 

I could stand there and pointedly stare back everytime they pass.  

I could gather some friends, set up some lawn chairs near the road, and wait for them to pass.  Then we could stare, use binoculars, and make them as uncomfortable as they make me. 

I could strut around the yard naked.  I am sure that would scare them, but considering that it is illegal - and cruel and unusual punishment- I don't think that this is my best option.  

I am at the point that I must do something. I just don't know what yet.  I am tired of feeling uncomfortable in my own yard.  I should be able to walk around the yard without fear of being watched.

Any ideas?

Yet another sign we have been playing too much Rock Band...

Lexi came over yesterday afternoon to play Rock Band.  We have had the Endless Setlist hanging over our heads for a while now and we wanted to conquer it.  We were scared and we knew it would take a long time, but we overcame.

Four hours and forty five minutes later we had played all 58 songs.   Yes,  58!  and we now have legendary status. 

He is so busy, and it is a good thing he is cute. 

"Oh, look Dad is looking the other way, and here is the camera.  Ooooh, what does this button do?"

"Here is Daddy's Blue Tooth.  I am not supposed to touch that either."

"I had better get out of the car.  Look at our pretty driveway.  See the paint that I spilled on it last summer?"

"This is my mommy's new grass in our front yard.  I am not supposed to be here either, but I stepped over the bright pink ropes that are supposed to keep me out of there."

" I had better get inside where I am safe.  Oh look, my brother and his friend are playing the Wii.  This should be fun."

*I could only post one the 15 pictures he took here.  He really liked the Wii.

"Oh, shoot here comes Mommy."

You may remember that I posted a simliar post last November when we met our little cousin's horse Daisy.  On our recent trip to Wyoming, we visited Daisy again.  This time little cousin was our of town, but Uncle Dale and Aunt Susan took us to see Daisy.  Our kids were talking about visiting Daisy on the way to Wyoming, so we knew we had to visit.

The three big kids in front of one Daisy's neighbors.

#2 was the first to volunteer.  She was very excited to ride Daisy! We couldn't believe how grown up she looked up there!  What happenned to our baby girl?

#3 is our animal lover.  She loves anything with fur or feathers.  We knew that she would happily ride Daisy. Now, she wants a horse at home.

#4 is desperate to be a big kid.  He was adamant about riding all on his own like the big kids. Of course, it required three adults to let him be the big kid.

#1 is our ever cautious child.  Last year it took him an hour just to pet or feed Daisy.  After watching his three sibliings and making sure that they were still intact and breathing he took his chance.  He did really well and Uncle Dale even let Daisy trot a bit with him on her.

Again, we have to thank our wonderful Uncle Dale and Aunt Susan for giving us the chance to go see Daisy again.  The kids had a wonderful time, and the parent enjoyed themselves a whole lot too!

I venture to guess that there are some who have starting praying for my salvation at the mention of the words Rock Band, but I will continue even in the face of legalism. 

I hate video games.  I really do.  If you know us, you know that I hate video games, and my husband loves them.  I don't ever worry that he will run off with another woman, but maybe with a new gaming system.  This is a man thinks he is deprived if he has only been online playing games for less than ten hours this week.  When we were first married he begged me to play games with him.  I tried.  Honestly I tried.  I hated it.

Then we got a Wii.  I enjoyed the Wii.  It required activity.  I like to move.  I don't sit still well, so the Wii was right up my alley.  I also loved that fact that we can play with our kids and have fun.  WOW - a game that I didn't have to hate.  We played with my entire family last Easter and  my mom even liked it.  She got one for her birthday last year. 

A few months ago, JP told me there was a game coming out for the 360 that I was going to like.  I had seen kids playing Guitar Hero in Wal-mart and was not impressed, so when he compared it to GH I was less than excited.  He saved his money, and walked in with a huge box full of fake instruments.

You can just imagine how impressed I still wasn't.  I am a real musician.  Why would I need to play fake plastic ones?

Why you ask...  BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH FUN! 

I have been sucked in like countless others into the mysterious deep.  I stare into the  screen stalking bits of color and banging on my plastic drum set.  I sing songs I have never heard whilst staring at an glowing line that is supposed to tell you what pitch to sing. 

It is scary that our couple friends come over to play ROCK BAND.  What happened to Scattergories or Pictionary?  How old are we?  12?

"Lexi*" has been swept into the hysteria too.  She is as addicted as I.  In fact, she is coming over tomorrow for breakfast and a playdate.  Our kids will play, and we will too.  We have band practice.  We dress our rocker alter egos in clothes we would never dare to don in our real lives.  We have green hair and dog collar chokers.  We are rockers.  

      *names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I am a wee bit concerned we have spent too much time playing the game, but hey....  everyone needs a hobbie.

Five Signs your mom is playing too much ROCK BAND

1. Your mom got up at 5:30, put dinner in a crockpot, did her housework, and sent you out to play all day because her band was conquering the Endless Setlist today.

2. You have a special fan in your family room just in case mom gets hot while drumming.

3. You scrape your knee and need a band aid.  She hollers over the music,  "Not now, Mommy has to finish this solo.  I am trying to get a jet."

4.  Your mom and her friends are referring to each other by their alter egos.

5.  When your four year old sister is asked who she looks like she breaks out in song,  "Oooh ee ooo, I look just like Buddy Holly."