Pigskin: My Current Fantasy

Yesterday, I took a major step in my fun-time to mommy to work ratio. I am happy that I'm going BIG with it. I created a Fantasy Football League for the first time. Have I ever played Fantasy Football? No. Have I played Fantasy Pick'em? Yes. My goal is to learn the game and kick some arse.

BE A PART OF THE TRIBE
Two of the great things about joining a group is connecting with new people and having a fun time with a shared interest. Not only that, you earn recognition and have a great sense of belonging to others. I've always wanted to play Fantasy Football. As the non-athletic kid in the family, I wanted to play sports in general, but sucking got in the way. Yes - it's true. I sucked at sports. I'll give myself some credit. I tried volleyball (decent), soccer (decent fullback), softball (sucked), and basketball (what the hell was my mom thinking when she signed me up for that one?).

That doesn't mean, though, that I didn't like sports growing up. I loved football and soccer. I can be entertained by baseball - or at minimum the people watching. Basketball - ugh. No thanks.

What draws me to Fantasy Football is the creation process, the ownership of a team and making them successful, the decision making process and strategy behind putting the right player in at the right time, and the business/leadership aspect of building a team.  I also want to have fun during a dreary time of year, and I want to connect and interact with other people.

LEARN SOMETHING
Lately, I've been stuck in a personal rut. I'm still adjusting to motherhood which in turn makes me confused about what "fun" is supposed to be now. I am BORED and not challenged at home. I have a TON going on at work and at home. I learn at work. I don't learn at home. So when I get home, I go through motions. Feed the baby, feed yourself, change the baby, play with the baby, do laundry, vacuum, change baby, play with baby, wash kitchen floor, do the dishes, feed the baby.... Don't get me wrong - I love being a mom, which has it's own greatness and challenges. But at the same time, I want to learn something new.

Here are my lonely hobbies. I read. I take photography classes and take lots of photos. I watch movies and documentaries. I garden. I listen to music. I walk and workout.

Here are my people-interactive hobbies... golf, corn hole, swing dancing, blogging.

Here are my aspiration hobbies... crochet/knitting, guitar, piano, FANTASY FOOTBALL.

The point is: I need to learn, absorb, grow as a person, and the best way that I do that is by interacting with people.

FEED MY COMPETITIVE NATURE
I've taken lots of personality tests - no, not just the ones on Facebook.Clifton's StrengthFinders and Myers-Briggs both say I'm a driven analytic, with a futuristic, over-achiever mind set mixed with a responsible nature that has lots of WOO, extraversion, and judging. Yes - I judge. Not gonna lie.

That cocktail leads to competition. GAME ON! Bring it. Let's go head to head.   

CONCERNS
I'm now commissioner of a league. Even before I started a Fantasy Football league, I was concerned about the time commitment involved, which is why I only did Pick'em last year - which was the first time. I'm also concerned about ignoring family, not being a great mom and wife, and potentially not keeping up with my home responsibilities. But then the other part of me says that I need an outlet to grow, learn, and have fun. that must be the devil

What are your current hobbies that take a lot of time commitment? Do you feel guilty? I know I have an issue with that. 

However, Fantasy Football wins this year. We'll reevaluate this project in February 2013. Must be the devil. Stay tuned. 

OMG - We're Canceling Our Cable and Home Phone

Never thought this day would come. We're canceling our home phone and cable this week. We had some friends and family do this over the past few years, and the benefits kept adding up - at least for me. It took awhile for Drew to get there, a good six months at minimum. The decision was made easier once we received our bill this week which shot up $45 to $237 for cable, internet, and home phone. RIDICULOUS.

THINGS WE CAN DO WITH $237 PER MONTH
- Hire a cleaning person to visit 4 times
- Stop eating Ramen (doubt this will change)
- Save it (12 months is more than $2,800)


BENEFITS OF CANCELING
- Save money
- House is filled with music
- Hopefully become more active
- Reduction in energy consumption
- More family interaction
- More time to read, do chores, and exercise (not sure Drew will agree with the last two)


DOWNSIDE TO CANCELING
- Drew is making a new television tuner from a Dell computer
- No land line in case of an emergency
- Potential cell phone issues/dropped calls - although this isn't a major issue
- Football season is going to be rough


What does this mean? This means that my tinkering husband is creating a machine that will allow us to watch shows on our awesome television via Hulu, Netflix, etc. So we're not completely unplugging from television, we're just watching less of it in a different way and a MUCH more affordable price. Super excited!