If I Never Blog Again After Christmas.. Now You'll All Know Why

A little while ago I was shopping for myself Christmas at a fairly major chain store, and I saw the greatest gift for my nephew ever: a matchbox cars kit where the towers fell down 9-11 style with a bunch of noise and you could shoot cars off a ramp into the open mouth of the included Tyrannosaurus Rex.

I was patting myself on the back all the way to the register and out to the car, picturing how I would be the coolest aunt ever this Christmas for getting the two things little hellions boys like most in one kit: dinosaurs and cars.

A little later, as I was pulling my purchase out of the car, my thoughts turned to something else: the fact that my sister's house is absolutely immaculate with lots of breakables around it.

I looked down at my purchase, and thought about my nephew and his friends flinging little metal cars from the launcher all over the place: into the T-Rex's mouth, into the walls, into the picture frames, at the lamps...

Then I thought about what my sister would think of this cool gift as a parent.

My throat began to tighten.

I had now gone from picturing myself as aunt of the year to having my sister's hands wrapped around my neck as she strangled me for giving my nephew what she will no doubt view as a slingshot for little metal objects.

And now I am afraid. Very afraid.

It's okay, Jordan, you can thank Aunt Erin for the awesome present on Christmas.

That is, if I'm alive after your mother is done strangling me.

Tis the season.. for charity!

I know I haven't updated in a while, and I'm going to keep this brief as I'm under the weather today, but I wanted to take time to point out a charity that I hold very near and dear to my heart: Child's Play.

I like to play video games. For me, it's nothing more than a hobby. But to kids in hospitals, facing a bevy of ailments some of us couldn't even begin to imagine, playing with video games and toys is more than that: it's a chance for them to have some fun, to forget about where they are or what they are facing for a short period of time, and most importantly, something to make them smile when they need it the most. Child's Play furnishes children's hospitals across the world with gaming systems, games, coloring books, DVDS, toys, and much more.

I would ask readers to please join me in donating to Child's Play this holiday season. Two of the hospitals that Child's Play supports are within 2 hours of Albany. You can choose a variety of ways to donate- by mail, through Paypal, by e-bay auction, or buy an item from a hospital's Amazon wishlist to be directly shipped to that hospital. You truly can make the holiday special for many children who cannot be at home this year with just one simple donation to this foundation.