Still Alive...

She likes math and made a math board game :)

Who has a blog and never updates it? This girl! I seriously forgot this blog even existed and after nearly two years randomly remembered it because...I don't remember why. So I figured I should at the very least post here.

How much has happened since 2017? SO MUCH. But instead of updating you on that specifically I'm just going to tell you exactly what I'm doing right now in this moment. Typing obviously. But also trying to learn how my youngest daughter operates. She's having trouble sleeping and I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that she's got that high IQ gifted brain.

I never gave any of my older children screen time limits. My oldest is now a double major in college and doing well, so I figured however I raised her wasn't the worst thing ever. She turned out pretty amazing. But this youngest one...she's not sleeping so well.

So last night when she said she couldn't sleep I turned on a low light and handed her a book. I told her to read for as long as she'd like. That seemed to work for her. Tonight I told her no TV, video games, etc an hour before bath time. I expected some sort of major rebellion but no...this wonderful little girl is plopped on the couch with her face in a book and I'm so proud.

She has crafts, a big desk in her room with all the things in the world to create, board games, a library of books. But she loves games. No clue where she got that from. LOL. I'm pleased to see that when asked to do off screen stuff she slipped into it easily.

As someone who was in the gifted program as a child I feel like I understand her a lot. Even before she was tested I knew and I parented her a little differently. Or maybe I parented her differently because I was an older parent with more knowledge of how to parent. And maybe that's why she's doing so well. Or maybe it's because she has so many family members around giving her their time. Either way she's a lucky girl with a lot of wonderful people around her and she's learning SO MUCH.

So that's my evening. Sitting here typing while watching her read quietly on the couch. I tried to talk to her but I got shushed and figured I'd also find something quiet to do.

Anyhoo, hope the three of you that still follow this, likely because you also forgot it exists, are doing well. Maybe I'll write again. Maybe I'll forget about it for another couple years. Heck, with as much as I've learned about websites I could make this prettier...but for now I like this old setup.

Comment if you're still around :)

This blog is still here and so am I. It's never been for anyone else. I've never tried too much to push it on social media or else it would be super famous because social media is my jam. I'm also super humble always. This has just been a fun place for me to dump out my thoughts and I forgot about doing that for a while. I enjoy having a place to do that and maybe I'll post here more...but knowing me I'll probably forget about it again for a couple of years. So why am I posting again?

It's a little after 11 pm on the evening before I turn 40. That's one of those age numbers that I always thought was just...so old. I don't feel old. I'm seriously sitting here right now in an Iron Man night shirt surrounded by video games. Outside my room my little sister and a friend from high school are sleeping on a pull out couch that they swear is comfortable if you find the right spot. My little sister brought along her two babies ages two and Elise who just turned four a few days ago and inspired this trip because she wants all you can eat crab legs.

I'm living near Myrtle Beach now. It's beautiful here and there are a lot of fun things to do, and apparently a lot of all you can eat crab leg places. I'm excited to challenge my niece to a crab leg eating contest tomorrow. And as silly as it sounds, I am happy that I am streaming tomorrow too. I absolutely want to get up early and do things with family, but the fact that I'm getting to showcase a new game to my friends is just always fun. I insisted on a few hours for streaming on my birthday. My Twitch community is my family. I wake up five days a week and chat with friends, and I miss the shit out of it when I'm not there. There are times I wish I didn't have other things to do so I could be there more often. It's a wonderful addiction.

In regards to turning 40 I've always joked about being 25, or some random age younger than my actual age. I've actually shifted my way of thinking about age stuff lately. 40 when I was growing up meant somethng completely different than the reality of me at 40. I'm still a mess, I still love video games, I have been dream chasing for a while but only in the past year decided to hit it hard. I'm healthy. I'm happy. I'm tingling with anticipation because I feel like I'm on the cusp of something epic.

I've learned a lot about life and myself over the last fourty years. I most recently learned that not giving up on what you want pays off. Fight for that thing you want. If you have a dream, chase it. Do you know how many years you get in life? NO one does. Choose how you spend yours wisely. I took a chance and am doing the most untraditional train wreck of a thing imaginable.

The path I am on scares the shit out of me on a regular basis, but I am not faltering. This makes me happy. This gives me more time with my kids. I'm going to continue to work my ass off and fight for what I want.

Marcia the Intern

Oh look! I still have this blog...I should totally write something on it! But what? I suppose I could talk about my current life status, but that would take multiple blog posts and honestly...I just don't want to. So let's talk about something fun.

In 2009 I had this crazy idea to finally go to college. My then two kids were old enough that I'd have the free time...so away I went. A lot has happened since then. A lot of good, and a whole lot of bad. I've survived, but changed so much and my closest friends know how much...and even those who just follow and care about me have probably picked up on a lot. This last semester has kicked off another exciting yet exhausting chapter of my life. I'm almost done...and I'm interning at the best place I could ever imagine me being at...

Children's Miracle Network

Apparently this internship is causing some confusion for my friends so I'd like to use this blog post to explain a bit more about what this whole internship thing is all about. This is an official class I have to take to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Communications/Public Relations. This is my Senior Internship and I have to complete 190 hours in the Children's Miracle Network office here in Jacksonville, and an additional 20 volunteer hours for a grand total of 210 hours in addition to my other classes, juggling kids, and everything else I do.

This is an UNPAID internship. This is not a job or a promise of a job. As many others have said regarding internships: “It’s worse than working for free. They’re actually paying to work.”This is nothing but a positive experience for me though and I am so thankful that they took me under their wing. Yes, technically I am literally paying to volunteer to work as an intern for Children's Miracle Network. I do NOT work for CMN. The way local CMN offices work is that they are an extension of the hospital they support (if I'm getting this right), either way I am currently considered a volunteer for UF Health. I am not doing this as a "job", I am still very much without income...but I do get free lunch each day! WIN WIN WIN!

They put my name on the wall and everything :) Kidding...mostly...

The major difference between myself and those who begrudgingly say that they are doing a "required internship" (that you pay for in credit hours), is that I WANT TO BE THERE. I want to be there so much. I love everything that these ladies do for our community. For our hospitals and most of all for our kids and their families. I want to soak it all in. Every task I do, no matter how simple is a joy to me. And I am NOT just saying this. Everything matters in a non-profit. Thanking people is a HUGE part of what they do, and as silly as it sounds I had a blast today putting address labels on postcards to thank people for a past event. I get a kick out of the energy in the office, and for someone who is MUCH older than the rest of them...I am learning more than I hoped. Whether they know it or not, every day I am learning SO MUCH and I am just soaking it all in.

My favorite part about this internship is that I feel like I am giving as good as I am getting. I've picked up a lot of skills along the way and love that I am able to give back and help them out as well. I hope that in the end this not only results in me learning from them, but also continuing to strengthen our relationship in terms of Extra Life, and that we can all learn from each other.

Bonus, I can actually use my experience with Extra Life and helping our local hospitals toward my degree. Could it get any better?

My current schedule is exhausting. I'm falling behind in my podcasting and writing, but school will be over soon, and hopefully the 3-4 hour commute each day to get things done. I miss gaming, I miss writing, I miss podcasting...I miss having a social life...but there's a light at the end of the tunnel and the tunnel is going to have some amazing lasting learning experiences.

Extra Life Fundraising by Jax at PAX

Here's your chance to make me do ANYTHING you want while I'm at PAX East April 10 - 13, 2014.

As most of my friends and family know, I am an avid (ok obsessive) supporter of Extra Life, a 24-hour video game marathon that takes place each year to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals all over the United States.

In an effort to get my fund raising kicked off for 2014 I'm offering to do things...crazy things...to earn your donations.

Drink a beer at 10 in the morning? Sure, it will be a sacrifice, but I'll do it for the kids. #FTK

Post a picture of me sitting on one of the "thrones" (rumor has it there will be toilets) at the Big Fish Games booth? Selfie from an actual toilet? Yes

You could even be kind and suggest I do something like sleep in until noon :)

You name it, I'll do it. As long as it isn't illegal or harmful to my already mostly tarnished reputation...it's fair game.

All you have to do is make a donation to my Extra Life fund raising page. Everything you donate will go to Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. When you donate, you can leave a message with your request, or if it's something personal just shoot me a message via email Jaxboxchick@gmail.com or hit me up on Facebook.

Here's the link to donate: http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=89026

You can donate $24 to sponsor me as I game for 24 hours in October, or whatever you can spare. It all goes to help sick kids. There's also a neat feature where you can set up a monthly donation. Say you want to donate $50 but can't do it at once. Set it up as $10 for the next five months, you won't even miss that $10...and it's tax-deductible.

Have fun, be kind to me...and let's help sick kids.

(Please note: shenanigans from PAX East will be hash tagged as well #JaxEast14 wi-fi signal willing)

Extra Life 2013 - PlayStation Prize Round 1

It's that time of year again! Extra Life! On November 2nd 2013 gamers all over the world will sit down on their butts to do what they do best to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. I have taken on a very active role locally in Jacksonville, Florida and am building a team of the most caring, amazing people I have had the pleasure of knowing. Together we will be putting on the biggest, most swag-filled, fun-filled live-streamed marathon that this town has ever seen. (or at least that's our plan...)

So far Team Jax has raised $2,500. Our goal is $5000 and I am determined to do whatever it takes to reach that goal. Even if it means I have to dress up like Batman, or Robin, or put on a Fox suit and recreate this video:



I have no shame :) However in pumping up my teammates and offering them weird ways to torture me if THEY raise money, I seem to be sliding behind. So keep an eye on this blog for some great prizes from PlayStation all weekend long to kick things off.

First prize is a digital download code for one month of PlayStation Plus,. The first person to sponsor me for $1 an hour for the 25 hour marathon ($25) will get the code. You can donate to my page here:
http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=46563

Extra Life raised over $2 Million dollars last year, and Jacksonville only raised $2,000 of that. Gamers here have raised nearly twice that amount so far, and I know we will do even more. Thanks for your support (it's tax deductible!) in helping us help sick kids here in our town.

You can join Team Jax if you'd like, we'd love it if you wanted to raise money for Wolfson, but we welcome any of you to join our team and support your own local hospital too. We'd love to have you join us.

Robert Workman - Lounge Singer Extraordinaire

Robert Workman is one of my most favorite people in the whole world. However, he does have a habit of taking embarrassing pictures of me and posting them online.   Example A: Robert could have taken a great picture of Kelly @Mrsleftybrown of TheMarriedGamers, Desirai @SickNdehed (my partner in crime at TheMommyGamers) and I enjoying some fun dancing at the Dance Central booth one year at PAX. Instead he chose the exact moment we were all grabbing our girly bits...

Thanks Robert...and I won't even get into a certain picture he took that circulated through the office at Twisted Pixel. Can't people just have fun, without fear of being photographed? Obviously not. So when Robert jumped on stage at the Destructoid hosted party at PAX Prime 2013 I was all over it. Enjoy Robert's singing skills and amazing stage presence :)

This is all in good fun, and I really do love Robert Workman. He's a great guy and an amazing friend. May the photo wars continue. 

Episode 47: JoCo Crazy

Our podcast is still fairly new, with less than 50 episodes under our belt. We try to find fun people in the industry to interview, that are parents, or are involved in something that we feel parents could relate to. It's not always video game related (ex...episode 48 featured a half an hour of Vampire Diaries chat) We have had lots of amazingly entertaining guest hosts. One of my favorites so far was our interview with Jonathan Coulton, who is a Daddy and a gamer...and a musician...and a lot of other things.



You can leave comments on the episode at The Mommy Gamers website if you'd like. We'd really enjoy knowing that you...enjoyed it. http://themommygamers.com/2013/08/episode-47-joco-crazy/