Sunday, January 27, 2008 is Football Free TV

Listen up ladies; this is something you should know in particular. Sunday, January 27, 2008 there will be no football on TV. I just stumbled upon this important information moments ago and I for one am very excited about this news. Of course, neither hubby nor my sons told me this. I had to find out about it on my own. Normally Sundays here are spent doing my own little thing or housework while I watch my family, all men, watch football. They lounge, they eat, they sleep, they scratch and they make noises and put forth smells as they cheer on their favorite team. Or any team for that matter. It doesn't matter who's playing they'll watch it. It's the same thing during basketball season and baseball season, just different days. But that's another article. This one will focus on 10 alternatives that you and your family or your peeps you hang out with can do instead of watch football this Sunday.

These suggestions are in no particular order nor are they all family/friend-oriented ideas. No matter what your situation, hopefully one of these ideas will spark you to do something different other than the football thing for a while. Next week the football thing will be at it's peak with Super Bowl Sunday featuring the New York Giants and the New England Patriots being a big blow out around here and countless other homes across the United States. This Year's show promises not only some fierce football competition at it's best but also an overall great variety of entertainment for those not so fond of the football itself. For information on the Super Bowl entertainment lineup, please also read my article, 2008 Super Bowl XLII Pregame and Halftime Entertainment. Again, in no particular order, here are 10 ideas to replace what you could do instead of the routine football viewing this Sunday. Enjoy!

Go Sled Riding or Skiing/Snowboarding

If you are fortunate enough to live in a naturally snow piled area right now, think about wrapping the kids up and taking them out for some fun in the snow. Go sledding, build snowmen or make snow angels, whatever you enjoy with your family. If you live near a ski lodge or ice skating rink, crowd everybody into the car and head out on a road trip and make a day of it. Get together with your snowmobile ridin', four wheelin' friends and go out and blow the stink off.

Have A Big Old Food Feast

Go to the grocery store and get some yummy stuff you don't usually have for just one meal or for the whole day. Invite all the family and your friends and just have a regular old chow fest and talk, catch up, play games, anything goes. Ask people to help with the meal and maybe have a potluck where your guests bring a dish or party supplies like plates, napkins, soda, chips, cookies, cakes, etc.

Throw Together A Poker Game/Dart Throwing Contest/Wii Game Play-Off

Get all your pals or kids and grandparents, aunts and uncles together for a fun Texas Hold 'Em Tourney. Use nickels and dimes and let everyone participate. Throw darts and play 301 or cricket and have contests of some sort. Another excellent way to pass time with the gamers in your home is to have some sort of Wii competition. Bowling and tennis are a few fun games most can play and have a good time with.

Go To Church And Have Sunday Dinner Together

Some of us go to church every Sunday, some of us only go when we have to or have the extra time. Whether you go full time or on your own schedule, think about taking the family to church and seeing if there is any family activities planned for the day with the church group. Volunteer together at a soup kitchen or another function. And either prepare a nice sit down meal at home and demand everyone's attendance or go out after services and have a good meal together. Take your time to catch up on the week, make plans and agenda's for the week, talk about things everyone wants to discuss and make it an up in the air, anything goes type conversation.

Make Something With The Kids

Make it a craft day. Dig out all of your craft making supplies and have a creative free for all. See what comes of it. There are some awesome family fun sites on the web that offer free kids craft ideas. Usually most things are already on hand for simple projects and if you have to, plan a trip to the craft store and let everyone pick out a small kit for the day's project. A real favorite and fun thing to do to pass some time is scrap booking. Everyone can participate in some way or another with this project.

Go Somewhere You Have Always Wanted To Go In Your Area

Have you ever been going along, busy with your daily life and see a place in your town that you never visited and have always wanted to stop and check out? There are numerous little shops popping up all over my hometown and with all the hustle and bustle of the week, I never seem to have time to go see them. Usually on Sunday, it is family day and I prefer to stay here with them. But why not venture out and see some of these places and do something a little off key for a change?

Lay Around The House Naked Day

If you're childless and don't need to spend every waking moment with your friends, try having a little nudist day with your mate. Shut the drapes, use your imagination and let the day take its course. It's very doubtful anyone will walk away with any regrets especially if there might be candles and oil, toys and outfits, or music and wine.

Trail Walk, Take The Dog for A Run

Weather permitting, put on some warm clothes and gather everyone up and head out on a walk. We live near a state park with nature trails and we have a few wonderful local parks with great walking paths. See what all kinds of things you can find outdoors in the winter and make a shadow box or other craft project out of the items some other day when you have nothing to do and need a quick project.

Go Visit Family or Friends You Haven't Seen For Awhile

Haven't seen Grandma in ages? Does your cousin have a new baby you haven't seen yet? Did your best friends invite you over for dinner and a movie? Get in the car and go. Too many of us these days think we just don't have the spare time to do things we know we should do and at times often end up regretting our priorities and choices when we don't. People to people contact is still the best over any other type of contact there is. You never know when someone might really need to see a friendly face and you could be it this Sunday. Call those long distance relatives who always want to yack when you least have the time and hear what they have to say. Do yourself some good and yack back just as hard as they do for a change. Do a conference call or use speakerphone so everyone can talk. Call your old college friends; see if anyone is interested in a conference call or Internet chat or video meet-up. You might be surprised at who all you can call up online on a football-less Sunday in January.

Tackle A Household Project

This suggestion is not a fun idea for most folks including myself. However, into everyone's life a little home maintenance/household chore must fall and needs addressed when we have time. It could be shampooing your carpet, bathing the dog, cleaning out the garage or in my case, my husband has offered to fix my computer that we've begged him to do for a month in exchange for a haircut he's bugged me about a month for. If it's not too cold, we may be outside doing some outdoor work that should have been done months ago. In that case, I will require the help of my sons as well, making it a great friendly, fun filled day I'm sure. Not! But I can deal with a little gripping along with the work I'll put them to in exchange for a Football Free Sunday! Not to mention not having to hear "not today babe, the game's on" or "I can't until this game's over ma."

Good luck to everyone on the 27th who deals with this football situation every Sunday and has no idea what to do instead. Hope everyone finds something fulfilling to occupy themselves in the absence of the same old, same old.