Saturday, April 28, 2007

World Placemats

I'm sure my kids will chime in here, lol. 2 of them belong to my "Frequent Reader Club". (Hint...if you come out of lurkerdom(even just to say "Hi!", you too can be a member! *snerk*)

About 20 years ago (can it possibly be THAT long ago?) I purchased a set of plastic world placemats.



Our family resembled Roseanne Barr's family on her sitcom...very noisy, active, and going every which way ALL the time. Three kids in sports and one or two exchange students living with us each year made it quite lively. Even tho we were running at break-neck speed, we managed to sit together for dinner most nights. OK, dinnertime was 9pm sometimes, after a game or two or three, but we sat together nonetheless.

We used to play a game before, during and after dinner to challenge each other on the hidden places of the world. "Can you find __________ ?" Yes, you likely needed a magnifying glass to find this obscure location, but that was part of the fun.

I guess we have more family traditions than I realize, what do you remember of your childhood traditions?

20 comments:

Rian said...

I have an old world atlas book I've had for well over 25 years and it's obsolete and out of date, which is exactly why I hang on to it. The world has changed so much--new countries and boundaries are being formed and some places don't exist any more or have changed their name. I bet your kids are good with geography today because of this game you played.

Swany said...

haha that's great! i remember playing that game!

do you like how i'm not anonymous anymore!

i'm in the hammock right now in the back yard! we get internet out here! i'm never leaving!

Swany said...

oh, did i tell you i have a new pet?! it's a possum! it must have fallen from a tree or something but it was in our back yard and i found it... well zeb found it and then i was like hey! what you fucking with! anyway, he's super tiny, only a weee baby, like the size of my hand... he's cute and get's along perfect with the ferret! so as long as he stays alive i have a new pet! not quiet the great dane i wanted... but oh well!

Swany said...

oh and don't forget all the tv shows we used to watch together! that was my favorite part of growing up! well... i was the one who got us cable when i was like 12 wasn't i? haha paper route came in good for my MTV!

you remember the tv show the dinasaurs? well the last season (3 & 4) DVD is coming out in may! i pre-ordered it like 2 months ago! put yeah i liked that show and you should get the dvd's because now that i watch it that show was so ahead of it's time! so good!

QuiltingFitzy said...

Think I need to wash SOMEONE'S mouth out with a bar of soap!

Swany said...

come on, that's all you say after i say all that!

get with the times MOM!

fu*k, it's the new pink!

Tanya said...

Hi. I take it Swany is one of your kids! Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. You reminded me about the spigot on the toilet so I'm planning to write about that next. What an exciting post. Oh well, sometimes they're interesting, sometimes they're not! I've put you on my blog list!

Erika Jean said...

I thought it was more like ... "I'm sending you to _____"

Susan H. said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I feels good to be back. Wasn't sure anyone would be reading other than Nancy. Glad to know I wasn't forgotten. Looking forward to getting reacquanited with all you great ladies.

Anonymous said...

Echoing Rian, as I read your post I wondered how many countries on your placemats don't exist any more. I'm still trying to get used to Sri Lanka over Ceylon, and it's only been 35 years.

Bet those placemats are why your kids are so far-flung. I raised my kids to love travel, but it only took with one. When she was living in London, I regretted my lessons!

Marisa said...

If you drop some jelly (and it's big enough) you could make a new island or maybe a small country! I would call it Marmalandia!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

What a great memory, thanks for sharing! I love thinking back to things like this that we did with our kids when they were growing up. They have a slightly different "take" on all my memories though! Ha!!

Anonymous said...

MAAAMM!

Aw. I love that memory. Love it love it loove it. so- do you still have them? keep em if you do-i wouldnt mind having them-(to study off of- of course)

i think its kinda funny that-im horrible at countries names and location...although for some reason i know where the middle eastern countries are now- i heard they are a good vacation spot-maybe ill go early next year.ill send you postcards!! hehe.

any way. im procrastinating..ugh..i hate homework- you wanna do it like you use to do saras at the kitchen table?lol! (where did we get that table anywaay...i like racking your brain)

love you maamma :-)

your peach!!

QuiltingFitzy said...

OK soldier, I wish you WOULDN'T go tour the middle eastern countries just now, thank you very much.

XO

Erika Jean said...

omg Lisa visited your blog! The meanie. she needs to comment on mine.

PS you should do Friday flashbacks to.

PS please blog about ur 1st day at the maybe "temp" job.

Swany said...

hey lisa is it fun to be part of a government that the american people and yourself don't believe in?

...i mean he does have the lowest approval rating in history... well, i take that back.... maybe Hitler had more...

but i'll go on a vay-cay to africa, i hear their civil wars are just so cool, fun and exciting!

Swany said...

doing my part to stir the chilli....

Erika Jean said...

omg, mom do they drive you as insane as me? UGH

Swany said...

shut up erika!

Anonymous said...

what the heck. sara posted that comment at 7:17AM- she still up from the night before or for the first time in history to not be tardy for class? lol

you two dont 'be hatin' on me- for god sakes- its not my fault that everyone loves me more-jeesh-who wouldnt?- Im the baby!!