First right off the bat - it's cool to really want to play with your kid's birthday gift a lot, right? I mean, that's nothing bad. She can still play, she's just gotta wait her turn. The playground works that way, sharing is good. It's fair for us to have some fun too.

Ahh crap, that's not gonna fly is it?

Our birthday gift to our daughter was a Wii. We got family to give her games, extra controllers and other stuff for it. She got it a few days early because family was coming in down this weekend with their gifts plus we knew she'd want to play it and giving her that mid-week might be a bit disruptive to the school night.

The Wii has been evaluated and discussed at length but I can certainly give it two (or six) thumbs up in our house. We let our daughter play with it for awhile but then my husband, her uncle and I wanted to try and eventually we dragged all four of her grandparents who were there into playing too.

Having a game that could include up to four people really made the Wii for all ages. How goofy is it to say a video game system could be a great family night or holiday event for all of your family? I can see next Thanksgiving as turkey, football, dessert and then a Wii bowling tournament!

By the time we all played and then took nine people out to dinner on a Saturday night, the evening was gone and our daughter didn't get to play the Wii when we got back as it was well past her bedtime. She was mightily peeved but we kept saying, you can play tomorrow and until it breaks! Family was leaving early Sunday morning so she'd have lots of time.

After our daughter went to bed, I decided to play some alone. I made my Mii. I practiced some, did some fitness things, fired up some tennis and baseball.

I used to be a good athlete. Always short and pudgy but that intense kid who never stopped scrapping. My lack of physical prowess was offset by great hand eye coordinator and quick reflexes. Of course now at 37 years old my lack of physical skills is at a whole new all-time low with my creaky knees, ever plumping self and general couch potato malaise.

But now on the Wii, my lack of conditioning wasn't as big a deal. I could use those fast hands to play these games well. Don't get me wrong - by the time I was done, I was covered in sweat and actually had one of the best workouts I've had in about 10 years. I had been gulping water the entire time and almost wanted to take a shower. It is addictive but what was also addictive was feeling like an athlete again.

Of course my 37 year old body woke up with a right arm that felt like it had been wrenched out of its socket. Do you think that the universe is making me pay for putting my kiddo to bed and then playing with her birthday gift? Typing on this laptop isn't bad but I just tried to scratch my nose and my bicep burned.

Is there a Wii-hospital for my Wii-Injury? Why didn't someone tell me to Wii-stretch first?? Do they market Wii-motrin?

Of course my daughter played this morning for about 90 minutes and then went off to a two hour soccer 3x3 tournament where she placed fourth overall and now is going to play the Wii more. Boundless energy.

She just hopped in the shower and said, mom play with me when I get out.

I'm looking for a Wii hiding place for me and my sore arm.