TV junkies go cold turkey, sort of

Ok, I admit it!

We are a household of TV junkies. I love TV. My husband loves TV. My kids love TV. My 3-year-old is a Noggin addict.

Our Tivo can attest to how much we love TV. Here's a typical weekly list:

• "Chuck" (Zachary Levi is a Buena grad and Ventura County native and a hoot to boot) "Heroes" (the story's been shaky, but it's getting better again.)
• "Castle" (I love Nathan Fillion, sexy and funny. What's not to love?)
• "Medium" (their marriage is just so real!)
• "Two and a Half Men" (No, the kids don't watch it, but Charlie reminds me of my brother, and what's not to love about the writing here? Event the vanity cards are funny.)
• "American Idol" (My ONLY reality indulgence, wait there's "Last Comic Standing" and "America's Got Talent" but they don't count because they're not in season.)
• "Reaper" (The devil has a good son with two sidekicks that remind me of my husband's college buddies -- sorry guys. How cool is that?)
• "Fringe" (Talk about your mad scientist, and he's funny, too.)
• "Lie to Me" (I really like the way they show political and pop culture figures of the past and how their facial expressions give them away.)
• "Smallville" (This one was great in the beginning, but is dragging a bit. I did mention I was a geek, right?)
• "Supernatural" (I just love those guys. What a real sibling realtionship despite the whole demon-hunting gig. And the 80s music is great. This season's writing has been pretty sharp, too.)
• "Clone Wars" (The kids and my husband watch this one.)
• "Legend of the Seeker" (I mentioned in my profile that I was a Robert Jordan fan).

There are other shows, but the rest are in the off-season or have ended. This list doesn't take into account Morgan's addiction to Noggin. That's kind of an all day thing. "Yo Gabba Gabba," "Ni Hao, Kai-lan," "Wow! Wow! Wubzy," Dora, Diego, "The Wonder Pets," and "Pinky, Dinky Doo" Just to name a few. It's preschool on TV, right?

Then you have to add in the video games and computer time. There's the Xbox, the Wii, News sites, YouTube and Facebook (want to join my Mafia or my Vampires clan? just look me up and friend me), blogger, Bejeweled and Word Challenge to name a few. I had to end my addiction to "Ultima Online" when the kids were born or they would have been neglected.

Wow, seeing all this in a list is a bit like an intervention.

But, I don't watch commercials, unless they are trailers for movies. And I usually do the computer thing while I'm watching TV, so that negates those hours, says the addict.

But, alsas, this week has been TV Turnoff Week. The rules were no TV, no video games, no movies. Go unplugged.

We started off right on Sunday with a trip to see the Dodgers blast the Rockies. What a great game! On Monday evening we worked on homework with the Gabe, our first-grader, and read together, making up for the days we hadn't read over Spring Break last week. Eric built a model Mach 6 race car with the boys, too (Speed Racer was one of my favorite cartoons as a kid). I was working on last-minute preparation for the kids' Pajama Reading Night later in the week.

On Tuesday, Morgan spent a rare day at day care. He wasn't under my watch, so I'm not responsible if he watched "Shark Tale" and other movies.

I took a friend out to lunch for her birthday. (Happy Birthday again, Maria!). Then I picked Gabe up after school and took him shopping for shorts. It was really hot and all his shorts were too small. The kid grows faster than the weeds in the backyard. After that, I picked up Morgan and we met Eric for a Family Night Out fundraiser for the school. Mmmmm Me and Ed's Pizza and Cold Stone for dessert. Sorry Weight Watchers! At least it was for a good cause.

While we were eating pizza, Morgan kept suggesting we turn off the restaurant's TVs since it was TV Turnoff Week. I was proud of him, and it was kinda cute. Afterward, the kids headed home with Eric, and I went to a grant-writing committee meeting.

Things got a bit shaky when I got home, the kids were asleep. Eric and I said our hellos and stole quick glances at one another. Then, we snuggled up in our easy chairs and turned on the TV. The kids wouldn't know, they were fast asleep, right?

We headed to bed somewhere after midnight, after burning off our energy points in Mafia Wars on Facebook. My husband is more addicted than I am, I swear.

Wednesday was busy with last-minute prep for PJ Reading Night and getting this blog up and running. So, Morgan, shaking hard from not seeing any Noggin, was allowed to turn on the Xbox, so Mommy could work. Gabe wouldn't find out, right?

I have to say, I enjoyed wearing Pajamas all day. We looked a little silly at Presto Pasta eating dinner in pajamas. Oh well, let them stare. I was having fun in my sock-monkey slippers (Thanks Vicki). They matched my tropical pajamas that have monkeys on them. Who says PJs can't be stylish. Ironically, Gabe was wearing "Ben 10" Pjs during TV Turnoff Week.

PJ reading night was a success thanks to community volunteers who read to the kids. One couple read and signed to student interested in sign language. A graphic artist read to kindergartners. She brought in markers and coloring pages, too. There was the priest who knew the Frank family and read from "The Diary of Anne Frank," a version that included some of the original, unedited writing. I was told that hearing the passages from someone who knew them was awesome. There were also the Ironman finalist from the YMCA, Ventura County Star newspaper employees, military personnel and other dedicated community members who deserve more thanks than I could ever offer.

The most rewarding part, though, was seeing students come up to the volunteers afterward, thanking them and saying they would be going to the library to check out the books or others by the same authors. I have a feeling there will be a run on Madelaine L'Engle books this week.

It's amazing how a few hours of volunteer work can open doors for children and open their eyes to new worlds and new opportunities. The bright looks on those tired, pajama-clad, TV starved students were worth all the hard work involved. It brought back good memories from my childhood: My brother introducing me to the "Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators" series; reading "Charlotte's Web" in the bay window in my childhood room; devouring historical fiction by John Jakes; and spending my summer days in the Hoisington, Kan., library with it's air conditioning, comfy chairs and very, very tolerant librarians.

When I finally got home, Eric showed me a video of the funny dance that Gabe and Morgan made up while I was out. Afterward, we looked at each other and grinned. The kids were all snug in their beds, sound asleep. We tip-toed out to the living room, snuggled in our easy chairs with our blankets and watched a little more TV. We had to see who was kicked off "American Idol" this week.

Thursday was an early start. Morgan running around the house saying, "I want to watch TV," a few billion times before we left the house at 9 a.m. There was his Spring Fling class at the parks and rec, my Weight Watchers meeting and spending time with Maria and her new baby, Clarissa. Morgan was in tow and, well, we turned on the Xbox at Maria's house to keep him entertained so we could talk. After that, it was pick up Gabe, go buy yo-yos at the 99c store (please don't ask, it's a loooong story), and run a few more errands. By 6:30, p.m., I was back at the school for a PTSO meeting.

I was finally home about 1 a.m. The meeting didn't last that long, but a few of us just decided drinks were a good idea afterward. Oh, and guess what, the Lakers game just happened to be on TV at JJ Brewskys. Good game, too. What? no, I wasn't watching. *wink*

When I got home, logged on to Facbook and Mafia Wars to burn off points. I admit it, it's an addiction! Thanks Anthony and Kim. It was your idea to drag me in, right?

So, this morning I'm dragging my heels. Morgan has played a few video games. He's turning into a zombie, walking around the house saying, "I want to watch TV. I love TV," repeatedly. Walking around the neighborhood just wasn't as stimultating, I guess.

We have done other things this week, too. Morgan and I have read "Mrs. Piccolo's Easy Chair" a few hundred times. We've gone for several walks and stopped and smelled the roses. We spent time making faces at each other, pretended a yo-yo was a fishing line and had several attacks of the Tickle Monster.

Gabe has watched the bees on the flowers in the yard, played with the ladybugs and let them go, read a lot, played Frisbee, played catch, watched the stars and actually sat and talked to us about something other than video games.

Tonight is Family Game Night at the school. It'll be fun. Right down my alley with the Renaissance theme, board games and games of skill. But, I'm betting Tivo will be calling when we get home. I know the kids will be glad to watch movies and their favorite TV shows, but maybe in the weeks to come, we'll spend a little more time in the back yard, having friends for dinner and enjoying the sunsets.

Our report card:

Gabe, A
Morgan, C
Alicia and Eric F
Extra time we spent together, priceless.