Fun and Games Blog Fest

It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye.

Sorry. I'm incapable of saying 'fun and games' without following with that.

So today is a fun and frivolous blogfest. Alex Cavanaugh is hosting, and wants us to talk about our three favorite games. I played a lot of games as a kid—it was my mom's nefarious plan to get her only offspring to spend time with her. But it was also something I periodically did with my dad or my grandma.

Dad taught me chess when I was seven “because he didn't think my mom was capable of learning it” (wasn't he a prince?) At the time I felt honored. Now I feel a little like my mom should have thunked him in the head. He also taught me cribbage, but THAT one mom played, too, so for me, it stuck a lot longer.

There were a couple 'lake' card games. My grandparents had a lake cabin with a big round table, perfect for large card games. The two I remember were called Up the River, Down the River and Oh, Hell. They were both trick taking games, if I remember right, and Up the River, Down the River involved increasing then decreasing hand sizes (meaning how many cards everybody got, not that we had growing then shrinking gloves or something)

But the ones that have stuck...

Monopoly

Somehow this has become a new years ritual. My kids like to play, but only if there is no option of being off with their friends... I have always loved this game, but as an only child, I didn't get to play much—everyone KNOWS it isn't a two-person game! As a kid, we would leave a card table set up for days and keep coming back to it. I'm currently married to Mr. McStuffypants and he doesn't like to leave stuff out (which also makes me sad on a puzzle front). So when we play, it always ends up a marathon... hours and hours of Monopoly.

Uno

This is one I never played as a kid. I have no idea when it was invented, but it never made it to my house... it is great though, in that it is easy enough for all ages, unpredictable, and a little wacky. Honestly, though, I think what I like best about it now, is it is so quick to get out and put away... low maintenance.

Backgammon

I have UNCANNY Backgammon luck. I think it is a good mix of luck and skill—I know how to not leave my men alone... If I HAVE to, I know which ones have the least to lose. Cribbage is this right mix, too—of thinking and luck, but my card luck doesn't run quite as deep. I really enjoy the game, but I'm not much fun to play with.



Honorary mention: Best Tart Game

This is actually Disco Crisco Twister

Crisco Twister

So how many of you in college greased up your Twister boards so everyone fell all over each other and the game culminated in a large group shower? Just me then?

Our board (meaning mine) was actually covered in margarine... it just seemed a better option than Crisco unless we wanted to end up light and flaky. And MAN we (this time I really do mean we) had fun.


And FYI on BuNoWriMo

Microbrew Mystery
is 32% complete



16029 / 50000 words written