With all the TV's and wiimotes getting hurt, Nintendo is offering free jackets for up to 4 remotes per Wii. Any new units shipped after October 15th will have them included.

I wonder if they are like helmets and have to be replaced after any major crash?

Write down your serial number and get your free Wii jackets here.

_{Cross posted here.}

For all ya'll Mom's out there......

I admit it is easier to blog about Texas football when we win. And we have lost the last two games.

The first to Kansas State. It rained the third quarter. Big drops. It stopped for awhile, then started back walking back to the car. It was not even worth running since either way we were as wet as we could be. I was not prepared so we did not have any towels. Overall a bad day.

The second game was to OU this Saturday. It was a close game and we could have won. And we were rained on during our walk back.

Bah to losing.

The other day a colleague of mine was snacking on a small can of bean dip and chips. I mentioned how I had given up bean dip when I was watching my weight.

She replied “It’s really not that bad for you. It has lots of protein and a can only has 7 grams of fat.”

Me: “Really?”

“It’s BEANS, Amy!”

Me: “Oh.” I pause as it sinks in......

“YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE GIFT OF BEAN DIP!”

Really – she is right. I bought a can the other day and looked at the nutritional information. On Weight Watchers the regular size can is 5 points. A frozen dinner is usually 7 to 8 points. Weeeeee!!!!

Youngest dressed up for Hawaiian Day at her school. One of the benefits of a small school is the elementary students are included in Homecoming Week. Good thing I saved a few leis from Hawaii.

Whenever someone in the family hurts ourselves my Dad is the first to suggest cutting the hurt body part off. Because that will make the pain go away. Or it puts things into perspective.

Today he suggested I cut of my feet since they are giving me problems. After a visit to a podiatrist there is light at the end of the tunnel and I don't have to cut my feet off. I have two problems going on my feet that I think is caused by my weight gain. With my sleep apnea problem treated I was ready to start walking, but the pain in my feet, legs, and back were not helping.

I googled my foot pain and came up with plantars faciatiis. The tendions that connect your heel to to your toes tear. It is worse at night since they heal themselves then tear again the first time you walk in the morning. I was getting the pain after sitting for awhile. So I tried better shoes, inserts, stretching, foot wraps. No help.

Then football season started and walking could not be avoided. The first game was bad. 15 minutes into walking my legs were killing me, my back ached, and I had to walk in slow motion. OK, for most people I was probably walking a normal speed, but my husband is 6 foot 9. For every step he takes, I take two. And if he is in a hurry - make that 3 steps. The next game I just left from our tailgate early so that I did not have to rush.

But I knew at that point I needed to visit a doctor. So today he confirmed my self diagnosis and added something else to it. Morton's Neuroma. The nerve between the toe bones connected to my 2nd and 3rd toes is being squished by the bones and swelling. Must be why they feel numb. Usually it is between the 3rd and 4th toe, but not with my bones being close and my extra high arches.

I am taking anti-inflamitory drugs for a week and daily stretches. And I have to limit my walking. I hope our initial treatment works since the worst case scenario is surgery. Blah!!!

I did enjoy looking at the x-rays of my feet and my doctor took the time to explain it all to me. And when I went to confirm his diagnosis on-line - he is on target. So if you need a podiatrist in the Fort Worth area - let me know!

I flew into southern California on Sunday night with bad turbulence. Winds from Santa Ana came down the mountains and gained more speed. Some up to 100 mph. These winds contributed to the wildfires.

To get to a company plant we drove through a mountain range affected. We were able to see the fires and the highway we were on was shut down at one point.

As a result of the strong winds there were several semi-trailers blown over on their sides. Trees knocked down and debris all over. Some of the dust was blown around so much that it looked like smog. Ashes were in the air like a light snow. And outside was smoky, not like a bar, but like it is when you walk through or by a smoking area.

The second day when we drove up to the Victorville area, on the ocean side of the mountains, we initially though we got tar on the rental. But then we saw some fires still smoldering on the side of the road, up to the very edge. I figure it may have been blown residue from fire retardant.

I talked with a couple that was evacuated from their home with no clue on the condition of their home. I could see the worry on their faces.

Today when we left the winds had died down. I hope this makes a big difference in fighting the fires.

My thought go to all those affected by the fire.

Last week and the next three weeks, I am in overdrive. I am in California two days each week, with a football game each weekend but the last. So each evening I am home, I am making sure I am caught up on laundry, easy fixin's are in the fridge, and packing for the weekend is ready.

Two weekends ago we took the girls and the Grandfathers to the Texas game at Baylor. We all had fun and the girls did very well. I think they are ready for a full game next season.

Here they are in burnt orange practicing the balance beam.