Evening Time

I have an expiration time at night. Sort of a two step process.
First, I stop being a rational individual around 7:30 pm. My kids have learned NEVER to ask for permission to do something after my rational hour has clicked off the clock. The experience will be sort of like opening a pack of chicken after it's "use by" date; you're not gonna get what you want, and the next day it will be even WORSE.

Second, I stop being a functional individual around 9:30 pm. Seriously - I can't TELL you how many movies I have never seen the end of, because we put off turning on the DVD until 8:30 or so. If I sit down and do anything passive after that time, it's not so much "falling asleep" (which implies some amount of consent) as it is just "falling over.... asleep. See the difference?

Which brings me to my question - if one were to have a very rare free evening, what would one DO with it? I mean, I have STUFF to do - but most of it takes serious brainpower, which is severely lacking when my meter is reading somewhere between rational and functional.

My mom and my grandmothers would often busy themselves during their downtime with something creative, yet fun for them to do. Cross stitch, knitting, and needlepointing are all things I remember watching them do in the evenings. I love that it was something industrious while still being somewhat relaxing.

I can do that stuff - it's just that I don't really need anything that can be cross stitched, knitted, or needlepointed. Take scrapbooking out of the running on the DOUBLE fault of using brainpower AND making a mess.

I want an activity that takes no brainpower; I can do in the same room as others - being social / available to help with homework; makes very little mess; and doesn't cost a lot; and feels like fun.

That or I could watch TV.

Maybe it's just me.