My favorite board games. . .

I seem to be into lists lately, oh well, here it goes. . .

Monopoly - I love this classic game! Like most well loved games it comes with a ton of great memories. When I was young, my best friend and I would play Monopoly all the time when we would go to his cabin in Brighton and his cabin in Idaho. I played the game occasionally with my family. And I play it now when I get the chance. Many don't like it because "it takes too long!" If you stay focused and play by the rules, most games finish in two hours or less. However, I don't mind a leisurely and long game with food, good friends and great conversation.

Risk - This is the game I loved playing with my Dad and brothers! Dad would usually win. Then the siblings got smart and renamed the game Eliminate Dad. I had a brother in law who would get two or three games of Risk going at the same time during a family holiday get together and that was a lot of fun. I have had hours of fun playing this game.

Chess - My Dad taught me chess. I went on to compete in the Roland Hall St. Marks School and win for my grade (but not overall). I won first place at the Bryant Jr. High chess tournament. I loved helping out the deaf students in New York with the "Chess in the Schools" program. In fact, the coordinator for the program (former CEO of NBC) gave me a tournament mat and chess set which is my favorite to this day. I do have a cool collection of chess sets including an Aztec design from Mexico and a skull army with a hand made board. It has been too long since I have played, much less played seriously, so I don't know how I would do. . .but perhaps we should play a match.

Stratego - I played this with my brother all the time when I was growing up. I could occasionally get my Mom to play me a game. Gotta love the bombs, the spy, the scouts, the bluffing, boasting, and blowing up. The game is more dynamic than you might think and lives up to its name.

Settlers of Catan - I was only introduced to this game a few weeks ago but what a great game! I am excited to get it for my family.

Connect Four - I am great at this game and played it all the time with my cousins in Arizona at the family reunions. This game of Tic Tac Toe on crack is simple but a master at teaching the subtle art of misdirection and double jeopardy. A great precursor to same principles in Chess.

Thank God for Guns, eh. . .

Here is the Shatner's take on gun controll. . .

140 Pounds to Humility. . .

Just before the new year I weighed in at 272, today I weigh 261. This is due in part to my MMA (Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, Boxing, Wrestling, and Kick-Boxing) workouts four times a week.

Today I did some light sparring with 140 pounder named Zack. To be clear, I weigh 120 pounds more than this guy. Zack handed me my lunch with a extra serving of humble pie! Twice he picked me up completely and dropped me on the mat. I have only been doing MMA for a month but my BJJ is ok and I usually can give my opponents trouble or at least make them work for the tap. . .this guy was a crazy spider-monkey and bending me in ways that make a pretzel blush. I was absolutely handled.

Zack was really gracious though and taught me a couple of great techniques. It is pretty clear I have much more losing to do before I start winning.

Happy Birthday Rebekah!

Today is your Birthday! I would serenade you but my voice is awful so I hired this guy to do it for me. . .


Thanks for being a wonderful wife and mother. I love you and happy birthday!

Pachelbel's Rant

Too funny. . .check it out. . .

Pachelbel's Rant

My 100th Post!

It is important to celebrate the little milestones in life. . .this is my 100th post!

Why do you labor?

Henry David Thoreau
Walden

I see young men, my townsmen, whose misfortune it is to have inherited farms, houses, barns, cattle, and farming tools; for these are more easily acquired than got rid of. Better if they had been born in the open pasture and suckled by a wolf, that they might have seen with clearer eyes what field they were called to labor in. Who made them serfs of the soil? Why should they eat their sixty acres,when man is condemned to eat only his peck of dirt? Why should they begin digging their graves as soon as they are born? . . . The portionless, who struggle with no such unnecessary inherited encumbrances, find it labor enough to subdue and cultivate a few cubic feet of flesh.

Who made you a serf of the soil? Why do you labor? Do you pick up plow as an inherited lot in life? Or do you have a conscious purpose? Thoreau later goes on to give his take on the question but what is your answer?

I labor to fulfill my covenant obligations to provide for my family, help those in need, and build up the Kingdom of God on Earth. I also view my labor as an opportunity to serve my fellow man and refine myself.