YEah, they installed this giant ride right off the freeway that is REALLY distracting when you are driving down a very busy stretch. but when I was in San Jose last weekend I was reading this funny article, in the paper, about a ride that looked exactly this same - this monstrosity that just spins around. & then when I looked closer I realized the article was about the Sacramento one - LOL.

The gist:

"The Scandia Family Fun Center, which operates a super thrill ride (168 feet high, spinning at 60 miles an hour, pulling 3.5 g’s) called the Screamer, in Sacramento, Calif., decided in March that because of neighborhood residents’ noise complaints, riders would be prohibited from screaming (and subject to ejection from the park)."

The article we read didn't say anything about expulsions from the park. Dh and I were joking how would they enforce that rule. Seriously? No screaming? LOL. I guess they enforce it with expulsion from the place? LOL. That's just too much!

No screaming on the Screamer... What next.

Which reminds me, I am kind of crazy. LOL. I told dh I want nothing for mother's Day. You notice we will go out and buy what we want - like a HDTV - hehe - on ocassion, but most holidays we really don't buy each other much or even want much. I think for the most part we are just happy with what we have overall, and can afford what we want in a sense, holidays really annoy me when people start asking me for lists. I frankly would be more pleased if everyone would donate in my name than pile on the material goods that I don't want anyway. We can be a little scroogey I guess. But I don't really remember the last time dh or I bought each other a gift for a particular holiday or event. So we were arguing because I Said I really just don't want anything. Like peace and quiet would be the nicest - LOL. Nothing material though PLEASE!!!! & he was going on and on he has to get me something. Maybe joking. But anyway, I decided roll up gym mat might be nice for my aerobics class. Something I really couldn't justify otherwise, but could make a nice gift - so I told dh that was what he had ot get me basically. LOL. Well, either that or nothing.

Then I decided it had been a LONG while since we had a date night and maybe we could try a night next week. OF course when I think about it I do just cringe. In the range of $35 for a night away with the kids. Blows our budget out of the water before we even decide what to do. But figured it had been a while and maybe we should splurge this month, in the name of Mother's Day - sure - why not. So I mentioned it to dh last night and he says, well what do you want to do? I said well, my first instinct is to go to the nice Indian place, but no way it will fit int he budget. It is ridiculous that with dinner out and babysititng the night could top $80. That is just insane. We'll go for Indian next time the grandparents visit - free babysitting. Then we were talking movie. Still a good $50+ night, but a little more easy to stomach. Thing is all the movies out there suck. I really don't want to watch a movie. All dh wants to see is GrindHouse and I sure as hell don't want to see that. LOL. So then he says, how about GolfLand? Eh, it just doesn't sound very appealing to me. Now you must know he proposed to me at Golfland and was one of our cheap date hangouts in college - LOL. But, I don't know, just doesn't sound very fun. IF we were back home we would have the nostalgic factor, but eh, not here. & then he mentioned bowling. Which again, I don't know why, sounds bad. We were like, well we could just enjoy quiet time at home. IT doesn't even have to be scandalous - LOL - just a quiet dinner at home. But we realized we just have so much to do without the kids around, around the house, we would not spend any time together. LOL. So it's official, we are pathetic. I am like, we don't know how to get out of the house any more, do we? Nope. LOL.

WE will probably just got for a more affordable dinner out in the area of the babysitter, but I don't know. It doesn't even sound that appealing. We go out a lot with the grandparents watching the kids. Well usually anyway. But when you got to shell out $35 for a night out it suddenly doesn't seem that important I guess. But it is important, and we'll figure something out. One of these days. NExt week is shot so we will try the following week. We are still so particular with babysitter and Ms. daycare only does Tues - Thurs night (but donates the money to a family in Africa which I have to keep in perspective - it's more than just paying for care) and then a friend we trade with on occassion, but it is just so exhausting when it is our turn to babysit - LOL. & the grandparents are always great but I think with tax season and all we just haven't got out much. Sounds like it is time to ask them for help with a night out!