(9008,1,'2012-01-12 10:06:44','2012-01-12 17:06:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “I know!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the world of music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-60','','','2012-01-12 10:06:44','2012-01-12 17:06:44','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-60/',0,'revision','',0),(9009,1,'2012-01-12 10:06:44','2012-01-12 17:06:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “I know!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the world of music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-61','','','2012-01-12 10:06:44','2012-01-12 17:06:44','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-61/',0,'revision','',0),(9010,1,'2012-01-12 10:07:53','2012-01-12 17:07:53','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the world of music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-62','','','2012-01-12 10:07:53','2012-01-12 17:07:53','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-62/',0,'revision','',0),(9011,1,'2012-01-12 10:07:53','2012-01-12 17:07:53','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the world of music.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-63','','','2012-01-12 10:07:53','2012-01-12 17:07:53','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-63/',0,'revision','',0),(9012,1,'2012-01-12 10:09:48','2012-01-12 17:09:48','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the pop world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-64','','','2012-01-12 10:09:48','2012-01-12 17:09:48','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-64/',0,'revision','',0),(9013,1,'2012-01-12 10:09:49','2012-01-12 17:09:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the pop world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-65','','','2012-01-12 10:09:49','2012-01-12 17:09:49','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-65/',0,'revision','',0),(9014,1,'2012-01-12 10:11:11','2012-01-12 17:11:11','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-66','','','2012-01-12 10:11:11','2012-01-12 17:11:11','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-66/',0,'revision','',0),(9015,1,'2012-01-12 10:11:11','2012-01-12 17:11:11','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day and was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  You can record it for future dancing!  You essentially create your own avatar!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCOOL!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-67','','','2012-01-12 10:11:11','2012-01-12 17:11:11','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-67/',0,'revision','',0),(9018,1,'2012-01-12 10:14:40','2012-01-12 17:14:40','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-70','','','2012-01-12 10:14:40','2012-01-12 17:14:40','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-70/',0,'revision','',0),(9016,1,'2012-01-12 10:13:39','2012-01-12 17:13:39','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-68','','','2012-01-12 10:13:39','2012-01-12 17:13:39','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-68/',0,'revision','',0),(9017,1,'2012-01-12 10:13:39','2012-01-12 17:13:39','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did I do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo of me and chloe set to scissor sisters.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-69','','','2012-01-12 10:13:39','2012-01-12 17:13:39','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-69/',0,'revision','',0),(9020,1,'2012-01-12 10:22:49','2012-01-12 17:22:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-72','','','2012-01-12 10:22:49','2012-01-12 17:22:49','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-72/',0,'revision','',0),(9021,1,'2012-01-12 10:22:49','2012-01-12 17:22:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nvideo of Freestyle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-73','','','2012-01-12 10:22:49','2012-01-12 17:22:49','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-73/',0,'revision','',0),(9023,1,'2012-01-12 10:23:47','2012-01-12 17:23:47','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Do kids still say that?)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-75','','','2012-01-12 10:23:47','2012-01-12 17:23:47','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-75/',0,'revision','',0),(9022,1,'2012-01-12 10:23:38','2012-01-12 17:23:38','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-74','','','2012-01-12 10:23:38','2012-01-12 17:23:38','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-74/',0,'revision','',0),(9038,1,'2012-01-12 10:26:40','2012-01-12 17:26:40','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a>iframe&gt;</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-90','','','2012-01-12 10:26:40','2012-01-12 17:26:40','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-90/',0,'revision','',0),(9024,1,'2012-01-12 10:23:49','2012-01-12 17:23:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-76','','','2012-01-12 10:23:49','2012-01-12 17:23:49','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-76/',0,'revision','',0),(9025,1,'2012-01-12 10:23:50','2012-01-12 17:23:50','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-77','','','2012-01-12 10:23:50','2012-01-12 17:23:50','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-77/',0,'revision','',0),(9026,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:15','2012-01-12 17:24:15','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-78','','','2012-01-12 10:24:15','2012-01-12 17:24:15','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-78/',0,'revision','',0),(9027,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:15','2012-01-12 17:24:15','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-79','','','2012-01-12 10:24:15','2012-01-12 17:24:15','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-79/',0,'revision','',0),(9028,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:37','2012-01-12 17:24:37','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-80','','','2012-01-12 10:24:37','2012-01-12 17:24:37','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-80/',0,'revision','',0),(9029,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:37','2012-01-12 17:24:37','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-81','','','2012-01-12 10:24:37','2012-01-12 17:24:37','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-81/',0,'revision','',0),(9030,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:43','2012-01-12 17:24:43','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-82','','','2012-01-12 10:24:43','2012-01-12 17:24:43','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-82/',0,'revision','',0),(9031,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:43','2012-01-12 17:24:43','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-83','','','2012-01-12 10:24:43','2012-01-12 17:24:43','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-83/',0,'revision','',0),(9032,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:49','2012-01-12 17:24:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-84','','','2012-01-12 10:24:49','2012-01-12 17:24:49','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-84/',0,'revision','',0),(9033,1,'2012-01-12 10:24:49','2012-01-12 17:24:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-85','','','2012-01-12 10:24:49','2012-01-12 17:24:49','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-85/',0,'revision','',0),(9034,1,'2012-01-12 10:25:42','2012-01-12 17:25:42','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-86','','','2012-01-12 10:25:42','2012-01-12 17:25:42','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-86/',0,'revision','',0),(9035,1,'2012-01-12 10:25:42','2012-01-12 17:25:42','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-87','','','2012-01-12 10:25:42','2012-01-12 17:25:42','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-87/',0,'revision','',0),(9036,1,'2012-01-12 10:25:46','2012-01-12 17:25:46','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-88','','','2012-01-12 10:25:46','2012-01-12 17:25:46','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-88/',0,'revision','',0),(9037,1,'2012-01-12 10:25:46','2012-01-12 17:25:46','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-89','','','2012-01-12 10:25:46','2012-01-12 17:25:46','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-89/',0,'revision','',0),(9039,1,'2012-01-12 10:26:40','2012-01-12 17:26:40','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a>iframe&gt;</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-91','','','2012-01-12 10:26:40','2012-01-12 17:26:40','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-91/',0,'revision','',0),(9040,1,'2012-01-12 10:26:44','2012-01-12 17:26:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a>iframe&gt;</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-92','','','2012-01-12 10:26:44','2012-01-12 17:26:44','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-92/',0,'revision','',0),(9041,1,'2012-01-12 10:26:44','2012-01-12 17:26:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a>iframe&gt;</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-93','','','2012-01-12 10:26:44','2012-01-12 17:26:44','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-93/',0,'revision','',0),(9047,1,'2012-01-12 10:35:31','2012-01-12 17:35:31','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wonder if my d\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Do kids still say that?)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-99','','','2012-01-12 10:35:31','2012-01-12 17:35:31','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-99/',0,'revision','',0),(9042,1,'2012-01-12 10:27:19','2012-01-12 17:27:19','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-94','','','2012-01-12 10:27:19','2012-01-12 17:27:19','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-94/',0,'revision','',0),(9043,1,'2012-01-12 10:27:19','2012-01-12 17:27:19','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-95','','','2012-01-12 10:27:19','2012-01-12 17:27:19','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-95/',0,'revision','',0),(9044,1,'2012-01-12 10:30:09','2012-01-12 17:30:09','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-96','','','2012-01-12 10:30:09','2012-01-12 17:30:09','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-96/',0,'revision','',0),(9045,1,'2012-01-12 10:30:10','2012-01-12 17:30:10','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-97','','','2012-01-12 10:30:10','2012-01-12 17:30:10','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-97/',0,'revision','',0),(9046,1,'2012-01-12 10:30:13','2012-01-12 17:30:13','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-98','','','2012-01-12 10:30:13','2012-01-12 17:30:13','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-98/',0,'revision','',0),(9053,1,'2012-01-12 10:36:31','2012-01-12 17:36:31','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI can\'t help but wonder if the video may have gone viral if my drawers dropped.  I heard on the news that those viral video peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Do kids still say that?)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**********\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-104','','','2012-01-12 10:36:31','2012-01-12 17:36:31','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-104/',0,'revision','',0),(9048,1,'2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if the video may have gone viral if my drawers dropped.  I heard on the news that those viral video peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-100','','','2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-100/',0,'revision','',0),(9049,1,'2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if the video may have gone viral if my drawers dropped.  I heard on the news that those viral video peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-100','','','2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-100/',0,'revision','',0),(9050,1,'2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if the video may have gone viral if my drawers dropped.  I heard on the news that those viral video peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-101','','','2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-101/',0,'revision','',0),(9051,1,'2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if the video may have gone viral if my drawers dropped.  I heard on the news that those viral video peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-102','','','2012-01-12 10:36:15','2012-01-12 17:36:15','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-102/',0,'revision','',0),(9052,1,'2012-01-12 10:36:20','2012-01-12 17:36:20','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if the video may have gone viral if my drawers dropped.  I heard on the news that those viral video peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-103','','','2012-01-12 10:36:20','2012-01-12 17:36:20','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-103/',0,'revision','',0),(9054,1,'2012-01-12 10:41:07','2012-01-12 17:41:07','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-105','','','2012-01-12 10:41:07','2012-01-12 17:41:07','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-105/',0,'revision','',0),(9055,1,'2012-01-12 10:41:07','2012-01-12 17:41:07','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-106','','','2012-01-12 10:41:07','2012-01-12 17:41:07','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-106/',0,'revision','',0),(9056,1,'2012-01-12 10:41:39','2012-01-12 17:41:39','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-107','','','2012-01-12 10:41:39','2012-01-12 17:41:39','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-107/',0,'revision','',0),(9057,1,'2012-01-12 10:41:39','2012-01-12 17:41:39','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-108','','','2012-01-12 10:41:39','2012-01-12 17:41:39','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-108/',0,'revision','',0),(9058,1,'2012-01-12 10:41:44','2012-01-12 17:41:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8947\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8945\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8944\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8946\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-109','','','2012-01-12 10:41:44','2012-01-12 17:41:44','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-109/',0,'revision','',0),(9059,1,'2012-01-12 10:41:44','2012-01-12 17:41:44','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-5/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-3/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-2/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-4/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-110','','','2012-01-12 10:41:44','2012-01-12 17:41:44','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-110/',0,'revision','',0),(9060,1,'2012-01-12 10:44:53','2012-01-12 17:44:53','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-5/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-3/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-2/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-4/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-111','','','2012-01-12 10:44:53','2012-01-12 17:44:53','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-111/',0,'revision','',0),(9061,1,'2012-01-12 10:44:53','2012-01-12 17:44:53','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-5/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-3/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-2/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-4/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy and Jazzy.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-112','','','2012-01-12 10:44:53','2012-01-12 17:44:53','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-112/',0,'revision','',0),(9062,1,'2012-01-12 10:50:22','2012-01-12 17:50:22','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-5/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-3/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-2/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-4/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy, Jazzy, and a guest appearance from Penny the Dog.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-113','','','2012-01-12 10:50:22','2012-01-12 17:50:22','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-113/',0,'revision','',0),(9063,1,'2012-01-12 10:50:22','2012-01-12 17:50:22','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-5/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-3/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 out when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-2/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-4/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy, Jazzy, and a guest appearance from Penny the Dog.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-114','','','2012-01-12 10:50:22','2012-01-12 17:50:22','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/8943-revision-114/',0,'revision','',0),(9064,1,'2012-01-15 15:37:47','2012-01-15 22:37:47','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-5/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8947\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8947 alignleft\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo3-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>What better way to kick in the New Year and The Year of Play than with a very special playdate!  On January 1<sup>st</sup>, I invited World’s Most Precious Niece to join me in my playful quest.  Since she’s a kid, she’s a natural at this sort of thing.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI asked World’s Most Precious Niece for ideas.  When you ask a digital native for play ideas, there is a 99.9% chance that they will choose some sort of video game.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Just Dance 3,” was her suggestion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“What’s that?” was my obvious question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe then rattled on about a video game on Kinect where you follow dance moves, yada, yada, yada.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had limited Kinect knowledge.  I knew it was a streaming device, but what makes it different from Xbox, Wii, and all of those other video game thingies?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-3/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8945\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8945 alignnone\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece explained that Kinect senses your body movements, and therefore . . . .  This part is still incomprehensible to me . . . . <strong><em>Your body is the joystick.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\">Toto, we’re not in Atari-Land anymore.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though the bulk of my video game knowledge stems from pre-1985, I am certainly (minimally) aware of changes in video games in the past 30 years.  In order to feel more hip, I like to keep my pinky finger on the pulse.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was that one summer circa 2000 when my sister and I stayed up late every night playing The Sims. </span> We spent countless hours locking grunting virtual people in their virtual rooms to see what would happen without virtual potty breaks and food.  How mature.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA couple of New Year’s Eves ago I played Rock Band with friends.  I was the lead vocalist and was booed off the stage by a rude cast of virtual characters.  As a trained singer, I found this terribly amusing, although the virtual me was miffed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k., o.k.  So the real me was equally peeved.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Surly cast of virtual characters, <em>excuse me</em> for living and showing expression while I’m singing rather than popping out notes like a robot!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then there was that trip to Fiddlesticks last winter <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/01/day-94-i-play-a-real-guitar-but-i-suck-at-guitar-hero/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>when World’s Most Precious Niece attempted to teach me Guitar Hero</strong></a>.  Young Brendan kicked my bootie to Foghat even though Young Brendan had never touched a real guitar while I own and play an acoustic.  Go figure.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, I was more than a little skeptical about this Just Dance 3 nonsense.  My possible saving grace was that I’m a clueless dancer in real life, so perhaps I might bring it for Virtual Dance Fever.  Based on my past video game history, this makes perfect sense, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>Good at things in Real Life = Sucky in Virtual World.  Sucky at things in Real Life = Fabulous in Virtual World.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece and I took the virtual stage in my sister’s living room.  I watched WMPN wave her arms about in spazzy kid fashion.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_8944\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"WMPN is deceivingly unspazzy in this photo, but my sis can attest to my perception in the comments section if you doubt me.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-2/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8944\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-8944  \" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVideo games may be child’s play, but it takes a controlled, seasoned professional to set the stage.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/12/playdate-1-just-dancing-fools/photo-4/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8946\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-8946\" title=\"photo\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/photo2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was mildly concerned when 10 year-old World’s Most Precious Niece wielded her arm to select the first dance selection of our Dance Off:  \"Promiscuous\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI turned to my sister.  “Promiscuous????”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSis shot me a mixed look of exasperation, disgust, and resignation.  I feel for the parents of today.  I really do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWorld’s Most Precious Niece blurted, “Don\'t worry!  I don’t know what it means either!!!!”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n“Oh, I know what it means,” I muttered under my breath.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe music started, and I was pleased to see that WMPN and I were assigned the more child-friendly alter-dancing-egos of \"Happy\" and \"Jazzy\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWMPN danced jazzily while I danced awkwardly.  However, I was indeed happy over the fact that I was sweating and elevating my heart rate after a week of Christmas gorging.  A video game that gets kids <em>moving?</em>  YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe next selection was my choice:  \"I Don\'t Feel Like Dancing\" by The Scissor Sisters.  Questionable band name, but waaaaayyyy over a kid\'s head, and hey -- you\'re rarely going find squeaky clean in the rock world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million.  How did we do?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AYL1jNavlYY\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs you may or may not have noticed, I forgot to wear my belt that day, and I was in grave danger of revealing plumber\'s crack to the world.  Thank goodness for small New Year\'s miracles.  Although....\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI can\'t help but wonder if this video would have gone viral with a wardrobe malfunction.  I heard on the news that those viral YouTube peeps make 100+k off of their videos.  Oh, well.  No YouTube windfall for me.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOut of breath but ready for more heart-pumping moves, WMPN and I discovered a mysterious entry in the Just Dance 3 menu entitled \"Freestyle\".  It didn\'t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that for these selections, we didn\'t have to follow our alter-dancing egos.  We could shake our groove things any which way we wanted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd here\'s what the tweeny digital native figured out in a nanosecond:  We could record our moves for future dancing!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>COOL!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Do kids still say that?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLadies and 3 Token Gents, I present to you Happy, Jazzy, and a guest appearance from Penny the Dog.  If your feet just can\'t behave, feel free to imitate their tremendous dance moves while burning off those extra Christmas cookie pounds in the process!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/S8MRtzDB118\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n**********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever played Just Dance 3 or something similar?  What did you think?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #1:  Just Dancing Fools','','inherit','open','open','','8943-revision-115','','','2012-01-15 15:37:47','2012-01-15 22:37:47','',8943,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/15/8943-revision-115/',0,'revision','',0),(9190,1,'2012-01-23 19:03:14','2012-01-24 02:03:14','','Playdate #3:  Gadgeting My Way to Parlais-ing Francais','','inherit','open','open','','9189-revision','','','2012-01-23 19:03:14','2012-01-24 02:03:14','',9189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/23/9189-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(9189,1,'2012-01-23 21:06:27','2012-01-24 04:06:27','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/6053333742/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9220\" title=\"6053333742_cfea2607cc\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/6053333742_cfea2607cc-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I am not a gadget person.  Romeo Mio is a gadget person.  Therefore, I am now learning how to play nicely with gadgets.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Gadget du Jour:  The iPad 2.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWould I ever buy an iPad 2?  Heck, no.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/21/day-113-i-joined-a-cult-please-dont-tell-my-mother/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>I may be drinking the Magic Kool-Aid,</strong></a> but there\'s still a trace amount left at the bottom of my dixie cup.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have a MacBook Pro which is beyond A-W-E-S-O-M-E.  It does everything that I want it to do and oh so much more.  Why <em>on earth</em> would I complicate my life with yet another gadget that isn\'t as functional as my most cherished treasure?  (Next to Romeo Mio, my family, my friends, and Little Miss B, of course.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI won the iPad 2 at work for a sales contest.  Woo hoo!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt sat in the box unopened for about 3 weeks until Romeo Mio arrived for his <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Thanksgiving visit</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Romeo Mio and I had our one and only spat over that bloody iPad 2.  </span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt started with me whining about emails.  Something to the effect of . . . . I am under a steady email stream at work, at home, on my Crackberry (See? I told you there was some Kool-Aid leftover!), <em>and now I am expected to manage emails on my iPad 2 as well?!?!  </em>ARGH!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy temper tantrum annoyed Romeo Mio to no end.  Romeo Mio, who consumed every last drop of his Kool-Aid years ago, reprimanded for me behaving like a selfish wench.  If I wasn\'t grateful for my FREE iPad 2, then he would gladly take it off my hands.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>Hmph.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realized that it was a tad silly for me to get ornery over a gadget that so much of the world coveted.  There must be something to all this fuss.  Why not play with it and see for myself what all this fuss was about?  After all, I could disable the email deluge from my iPad.  I sweetly asked Romeo Mio to help me with that task.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>I then journeyed into App World.  Ooooo.  Ahhhhh.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou could easily become lost in App World because there\'s an app for everything.  At the grocery store and need a dinner recipe accompanied by the shopping list of ingredients?  There\'s an app for that.  Want to turn your photos into pop art so you can look cool on facebook?  There\'s an app or two or more for that.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\"><strong>I just heard this one on the radio this morning and couldn\'t believe it:  Need to know why he hasn\'t called you back?  There\'s an app for that.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMamma mia!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs a former teacher, I\'m always a fan of play that is educational in nature.  Last week, I gravitated towards the \"I\'m leaving for France in 10 days and I barely remember any of the French that I studied for a year in college\" app.  Other people, including the app\'s creators, call this app \"MindSnacks French\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOo la la!  J\'adore snacks!  I couldn\'t wait to feed my brain with all things French!  For FREE!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/23/playdate-3-gadget-girl-tackles-french-lessons/olympus-digital-camera-688/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9195\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-9195\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1170007-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/23/playdate-3-gadget-girl-tackles-french-lessons/olympus-digital-camera-689/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9196\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-9196\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1170009-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat describes my current French?  We\'ve already been over that.  \"I\'m leaving for France in 10 days and I barely remember any of the French that I studied for a year in college\" wasn\'t an option.  I chose the closest thing:  \"Jumbled up words without any structure\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/23/playdate-3-gadget-girl-tackles-french-lessons/olympus-digital-camera-690/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9197\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-9197\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1170010-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNeat?  Did you seriously just say that?  Well, gosh oh golly, aren\'t you swell!  Wait a minute.  Am I talking to a computer?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd hold on a sec.  Shouldn\'t I review my numbers first?  Kindly take me back to Level 1, per favore.  (I could only remember \"please\" in Italian at the time.  At the time of this writing, I\'ve just remembered that \"please\" in French is \"si vous plait\".  I\'m quite pleased with myself.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/AbDh25_T_Yk\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s right.  I filmed my MindSnack lesson demo with my low-tech Olympus camera.  Sideways.  (Unintentionally.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI thought about staging a \"Take Two\" until I realized how this mishap would prove my non-gadgetness and make you laugh at the same time.  I\'m always willing to take a hit to entertain my troops.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI mastered Level 1 -- Numbers in no time flat!  Woo hoo!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/23/playdate-3-gadget-girl-tackles-french-lessons/olympus-digital-camera-691/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9198\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-9198\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1170013-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWait a minute.  Are you kidding me?  I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.  Now you\'re telling me that there\'s no such thing as a free MindSnack???\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Hmph.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Maird.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suppose imaginative people deserve to be paid for their creations.  I dished out the more than reasonable $4.99 for more educational fun and games.   I am now reacquainted with my colors in French.  I\'m hoping that the next level includes key phrases such as \"Where is the bathroom?\" and \"May I have a chocolate croissant, si vous plait?\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank goodness I have a built-in translator aka Romeo Mio when I descend on the French Alps in 4 days.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #3:  Gadget Girl Tackles French Lessons on the iPad','','publish','open','open','','playdate-3-gadget-girl-tackles-french-lessons','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/21/day-113-i-joined-a-cult-please-dont-tell-my-mother/\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/11/15/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/','2012-01-24 09:50:09','2012-01-24 16:50:09','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=9189',0,'post','',7),(9068,1,'2012-01-17 01:11:20','2012-01-17 08:11:20','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/26/and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is/\" target=\"_blank\">Romeo Mio.</a></strong>  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the <strong><a href=\"http://www.les3vallees.com/\" target=\"_blank\">French Alps</a></strong> to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the meantime . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>HELP!</strong></span>  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Please share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to <a href=\"http://www.rei.com/\" target=\"_blank\">REI.  </a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy main concern is my feet.  Or to rephrase, what the heck do I wear on them?  You may laugh, but these are the shoes that I\'ve been wearing most frequently during this year\'s Phoenix \"winter\".  Something tells me that they\'re not going to cut it in an Alpine village.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/17/playdate-2-its-top-secret/olympus-digital-camera-684/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9084\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-9084 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter assessing my current shoe wardrobe, Romeo Mio narrowed my prospects down to these.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/17/playdate-2-its-top-secret/olympus-digital-camera-685/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9085\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-9085\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThose are my hiking boots on the right.  I would wear them if we\'re walking across a snowy parking lot from the car to dinner.  When I gasped over the thought of WEARING HIKING BOOTS TO DINNER, Romeo Mio told me that I would need to throw fashion right out of that car window.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI would then wear <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/08/day-41-you-need-cowgirl-boots-not-plastic-surgery-let-me-explain/\" target=\"_blank\">my beloved cowgirl boots</a></strong> (pictured left) while walking around the towns during the day which (Romeo Mio assures me) are not snowy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am not a fashionista by any means, but I\'m still grappling with the idea of traveling afar with only 2 pair of shoes.  And when I consider that 1 pair are ugly hiking boots, I want to shout <em><strong><a href=\"http://www.italylogue.com/about-italy/italian-swear-words-jessicas-8-favorites.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"MADONNA!\"</a></strong></em> just as Romeo Mio does when he is horrified by something.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring our side trip to Romeo Mio\'s hometown of Torino, I will have the option to purchase Italian shoes and boots which are deeply discounted this time of year.  And I will have spare room in my luggage to accommodate!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSound like a plan?  Or do you have other thoughts?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMerci, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','publish','open','open','','playdate-2-its-top-secret','','','2012-01-16 21:05:56','2012-01-17 04:05:56','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=9068',0,'post','',9),(9069,1,'2012-01-16 10:05:12','2012-01-16 17:05:12','','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision','','','2012-01-16 10:05:12','2012-01-16 17:05:12','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(9070,1,'2012-01-16 10:10:18','2012-01-16 17:10:18','','4587873964_93fd37973e','','inherit','open','open','','4587873964_93fd37973e','','','2012-01-16 10:10:18','2012-01-16 17:10:18','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(9071,1,'2012-01-16 10:05:22','2012-01-16 17:05:22','','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-2','','','2012-01-16 10:05:22','2012-01-16 17:05:22','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(9072,1,'2012-01-16 10:10:58','2012-01-16 17:10:58','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/amatuerphotographer/4587873964/\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-3','','','2012-01-16 10:10:58','2012-01-16 17:10:58','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(9073,1,'2012-01-16 10:11:02','2012-01-16 17:11:02','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/amatuerphotographer/4587873964/\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-4','','','2012-01-16 10:11:02','2012-01-16 17:11:02','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(9074,1,'2012-01-16 10:17:30','2012-01-16 17:17:30','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\n\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #2 involved','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-5','','','2012-01-16 10:17:30','2012-01-16 17:17:30','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(9075,1,'2012-01-16 10:33:30','2012-01-16 17:33:30','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\n\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for Romeo Mio.  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the French Alps to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the meantime . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your \"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-6','','','2012-01-16 10:33:30','2012-01-16 17:33:30','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(9076,1,'2012-01-16 10:34:30','2012-01-16 17:34:30','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\n\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for Romeo Mio.  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the French Alps to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the meantime . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to REI.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMerci, peeps!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-7','','','2012-01-16 10:34:30','2012-01-16 17:34:30','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(9078,1,'2012-01-16 10:35:30','2012-01-16 17:35:30','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\n\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for Romeo Mio.  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the French Alps to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the meantime . . . .\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to REI.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMerci, peeps!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-9','','','2012-01-16 10:35:30','2012-01-16 17:35:30','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(9077,1,'2012-01-16 10:35:14','2012-01-16 17:35:14','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for Romeo Mio.  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the French Alps to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the meantime . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to REI.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMerci, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-8','','','2012-01-16 10:35:14','2012-01-16 17:35:14','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(9079,1,'2012-01-16 10:40:11','2012-01-16 17:40:11','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for Romeo Mio.  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the <strong><a href=\"http://www.les3vallees.com/\" target=\"_blank\">French Alps</a></strong> to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the meantime . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to <a href=\"http://www.rei.com/\" target=\"_blank\">REI.  </a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy main concern is my feet.  Or to rephrase, what the heck do I wear?  You may laugh, but these are the shoes that I\'ve been wearing most frequently during my Phoenix \"winter\".  Something tells me that they\'re not going to cut it in an Alpine village.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nphoto\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMerci, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-10','','','2012-01-16 10:40:11','2012-01-16 17:40:11','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(9080,1,'2012-01-16 10:42:48','2012-01-16 17:42:48','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/26/and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is/\" target=\"_blank\">Romeo Mio.</a></strong>  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the <strong><a href=\"http://www.les3vallees.com/\" target=\"_blank\">French Alps</a></strong> to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the meantime . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to <a href=\"http://www.rei.com/\" target=\"_blank\">REI.  </a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy main concern is my feet.  Or to rephrase, what the heck do I wear?  You may laugh, but these are the shoes that I\'ve been wearing most frequently during my Phoenix \"winter\".  Something tells me that they\'re not going to cut it in an Alpine village.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nphoto\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMerci, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-11','','','2012-01-16 10:42:48','2012-01-16 17:42:48','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(9081,1,'2012-01-16 10:43:18','2012-01-16 17:43:18','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/26/and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is/\" target=\"_blank\">Romeo Mio.</a></strong>  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the <strong><a href=\"http://www.les3vallees.com/\" target=\"_blank\">French Alps</a></strong> to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the meantime . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to <a href=\"http://www.rei.com/\" target=\"_blank\">REI.  </a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy main concern is my feet.  Or to rephrase, what the heck do I wear?  You may laugh, but these are the shoes that I\'ve been wearing most frequently during my Phoenix \"winter\".  Something tells me that they\'re not going to cut it in an Alpine village.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nphoto\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMerci, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-12','','','2012-01-16 10:43:18','2012-01-16 17:43:18','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(9082,1,'2012-01-16 21:06:01','2012-01-17 04:06:01','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/26/and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is/\" target=\"_blank\">Romeo Mio.</a></strong>  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the <strong><a href=\"http://www.les3vallees.com/\" target=\"_blank\">French Alps</a></strong> to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the meantime . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>HELP!</strong></span>  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Please share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to <a href=\"http://www.rei.com/\" target=\"_blank\">REI.  </a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy main concern is my feet.  Or to rephrase, what the heck do I wear on them?  You may laugh, but these are the shoes that I\'ve been wearing most frequently during this year\'s Phoenix \"winter\".  Something tells me that they\'re not going to cut it in an Alpine village.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/17/playdate-2-its-top-secret/olympus-digital-camera-684/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9084\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-9084 alignnone\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter assessing my current shoe wardrobe, Romeo Mio narrowed my prospects down to these.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/17/playdate-2-its-top-secret/olympus-digital-camera-685/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9085\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-9085\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThose are my hiking boots on the right.  I would wear them if we\'re walking across a snowy parking lot from the car to dinner.  When I gasped over the thought of WEARING HIKING BOOTS TO DINNER, Romeo Mio told me that I would need to throw fashion right out of that car window.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI would then wear <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/08/day-41-you-need-cowgirl-boots-not-plastic-surgery-let-me-explain/\" target=\"_blank\">my beloved cowgirl boots</a></strong> (pictured left) while walking around the towns during the day which (Romeo Mio assures me) are not snowy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am not a fashionista by any means, but I\'m still grappling with the idea of traveling afar with only 2 pair of shoes.  And when I consider that 1 pair are ugly hiking boots, I want to shout <em><strong><a href=\"http://www.italylogue.com/about-italy/italian-swear-words-jessicas-8-favorites.html\" target=\"_blank\">\"MADONNA!\"</a></strong></em> just as Romeo Mio does when he is horrified by something.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDuring our side trip to Romeo Mio\'s hometown of Torino, I will have the option to purchase Italian shoes and boots which are deeply discounted this time of year.  And I will have spare room in my luggage to accommodate!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSound like a plan?  Or do you have other thoughts?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMerci, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-autosave','','','2012-01-16 21:06:01','2012-01-17 04:06:01','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(9083,1,'2012-01-16 10:43:56','2012-01-16 17:43:56','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9070\" title=\"4587873964_93fd37973e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4587873964_93fd37973e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\nI apologize, but I am unable to share with you what I did for Playdate #2 at this time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy silence may seem pretty lame considering that this is only my 2nd entry of the year, but . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlaydate #2 involved the creation of a BIG and UNIQUE surprise for <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/26/and-the-winner-for-name-that-italian-is/\" target=\"_blank\">Romeo Mio.</a></strong>  And since Romeo Mio reads this blog . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAhhhhhh.  <em>Now</em> you understand.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a couple of weeks, I am off to the <strong><a href=\"http://www.les3vallees.com/\" target=\"_blank\">French Alps</a></strong> to visit Romeo Mio at his winter abode.  We decided that we would celebrate our Christmas together at that time, and this is when I will present The Top Secret Surprise.  If it\'s o.k. with him, then I will reveal to you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the meantime . . . .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHELP!  I live in the desert.  Are you a snow dweller?  Share any and all of your cold-weather \"must-haves\" for me.  I\'m compiling a list and heading over to <a href=\"http://www.rei.com/\" target=\"_blank\">REI.  </a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy main concern is my feet.  Or to rephrase, what the heck do I wear?  You may laugh, but these are the shoes that I\'ve been wearing most frequently during my Phoenix \"winter\".  Something tells me that they\'re not going to cut it in an Alpine village.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nphoto\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMerci, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Playdate #2:  It\'s Top Secret','','inherit','open','open','','9068-revision-13','','','2012-01-16 10:43:56','2012-01-16 17:43:56','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/01/16/9068-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(9084,1,'2012-01-16 19:33:31','2012-01-17 02:33:31','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-684','','','2012-01-16 19:33:31','2012-01-17 02:33:31','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160004.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(9085,1,'2012-01-16 19:37:36','2012-01-17 02:37:36','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-685','','','2012-01-16 19:37:36','2012-01-17 02:37:36','',9068,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1160002.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0);
