Maya and Monsters

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. In the US this means that all life as we know it comes to a halt. Runs are made to the grocery story for the unhealthiest foods and the worst beer. Families gather to watch grown men act like a combination of warriors and two year olds. Our family gathered here for a buffet of chili, tortilla chips with guacamole, nachos (disgusting neon colored cheese melted over chips), vegetables with ranch dressing (another only-in-America non-food item) and barbecued chicken wings and ribs. Multiple trips to the store were necessary to get the required number of wings. (Apparently there is a massive shortage of chicken wings--an essential Super Bowl food) Those who aren't particularly interested in football can watch the commercials, upon which millions and millions of dollars are spent, and Beyonce who performed the halftime extravaganza.

Did I mention that the San Francisco 49ers are playing the Baltimore Ravens?

While we waited for the game to start, Maya showed me her latest obsession--Monster High dolls. These are supposed to be the daughters of famous monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, etc.) Maya was carrying one of her dolls through the supermarket and an older man said to her, "What is that--a dead Barbie?" No accounting for childhood fads....

We all gathered around the television for the first half of the game. We made quite a crew--Maya in her tutu and fancy high top shoes, Owen on the floor with Joni playing with blocks, Ozzie lurking around hoping for some dropped nachos, Dana making cynical comments about the 49ers who she can't stand (only a true sports fanatic could get so worked up...) The commercials didn't strike me as very clever or funny. The halftime show with Beyonce was pretty spectacular with lights, flames, fireworks, smoke, scantily clad dancers swinging their hair (and other things...) and a cast of thousands. Apparently she blew more than the minds of the male audience--about two minutes into the second half the lights in the stadium went out and are still out as I write. There will be repercussions....

Did I mention that I'm not a huge fan of football? But I do enjoy the excuse for the family to gather.