Playing Well With Others

Thanks to Darsden for tagging me (in elementary school I would often punch the kid who was 'IT' in the throat if they tried to tag me, because I wasn't that fast of a runner) I am going to try and play along (this time) Dars - it's because you've been so kind and well, after the incident in 1983 - it's been mandated that I attempt to play well with others. . .

8 things I'm looking forward to
1. Having the Squaw home -
2. Higher Guaranteed Interest Rates
3. Hugh Jackman as 'Wolverine'
4. Heaven
5. Learning four more 'H' words so I can do a joke right - (I was going to list all of these starting with 'H')
6. June and making Council
7. Losing more weight
8. Increasing my 401 (k) participation

8 things I did yesterday
1. Woke Up
2. Rubbed my . . . eyes (yawn)
3. Said 'Good Morning" to the boys
4. Made breakfast for the boys
5. Checked Dashboard
6. Made Phone Calls
7. Got stood up for an appointment
8. Posted Rock'n'Roll Friday!!!


8 things I wish I could do
1. Fly like Superman (Heck, even fly like the Greatest American Hero)
2. Really stick to my Ideal Schedule
3. Have a Select Preferred rating again
4. Close that HUGE account sale - which would solve a lot of problems
5. Visit with my friends (not enough time)
6. Remember birthdays before they happen
7. Bake the most delicious cake
8. Beat Sylvester Stallone in an Arm Wrestling match (Over the Top! Baby - Rent It - Watch It - LOVE It)

8 shows I watch
1. The Office (above all others)
2. LOST (when I remember)
3. Biggest Losers (We order KFC while watching it)
4. Southland (New show on Thursday night - check it out folks, it's really good. & -Monk (We always forget about this show until it comes on late Saturday afternoon)
5. Today Show
6. The Ultimate Fighter* (Honoree mention - we don't have Cable - but I'd totally watch it. There's an Alaskan on there right now)
7. True Blood - again an honoree; I've heard great things about it, but haven't actually seen it.
8. Law and Order: SVU

8 People I tag:
Umm . . . people I know who will enjoy this

* The Ginabean (sorry folks she's private - but it'd be great if she went public)
* Travels with Orgilly - He'd weep if I didn't mention him in one of these things.
* Brent - I forget the name of his blog - but he's the youngest sibling of the above mentioned (both) - I don't think he'd weep though...
* Mitchell Madness - haven't brought her blog up; but she always sends e-mails when her blog is updated which really helps me visit it.
* Me & My Boys - I think she enjoys this tagging kind of stuff . . . I know she likes scrapbooking. I think . . .
* Riding the Tailboard - he's one of the boys in the aforementioned people I tag.
* Kara - she brings reason and sanity back into the cyberspace.
* Steve - undoes Kara's work in above statement.

Family Game Night

So earlier, my oldest said that he wanted to start incorporating Family Game Night into our schedules. We put our calendars together and decided that Friday nights would work best.

The boys were very excited and waiting patiently (not so much) with bated breath of anticipation for our Friday night activities. I assured them that it was scheduled and that it would be a lot of fun.

I had prepared the events and knew what would lead to a night of frivolity and build a life long memory. Yes - I am in contention for 'Best. Dad. Ever.' When trying to meet the expectations of the night I looked back to treasured memories of my past and the example that my father gave to me.

So the evening of Friday arrived and we gathered together for Family Game Night. I gathered everyone into the living room and declared that Eskimo Bob's Psychological Game Night was about to begin. I then went into my bedroom and took a nap for 45 minutes. Once I got back and they weren't playing, of course I went ballistic and said how they were ruining Family Game Night. (Eskimo Bob: 1, Rest of Family: 0) - that round was the "Corner" game.

Round two was the "Wooden Leg" game: for those who are not familiar with this game I will benevolently share with you. (This game elicits sympathy and is used as an excuse for failing to become responsible or independent. In effect, the game player asks, "What do you expect of a wooden leg?" The "wooden leg" may be a personality deficiency, a physical handicap, or an unstable past. For example, the parent asks, "How do you expect me to be patient with kids? I have a short temper." Or the person who drinks too much asks, "What do you expect from someone whose parents were heavy drinkers?") After everyone dried their tears and was asking why I was behaving this way I replied: 'How can you expect me to play without having a nap.?!?You know how hard I work.' EB: 2 Family: 0

Round Three was "Crazy Making". I knew that I excel in this area and knew that I was going to make a sweep of the best 3 out of 5. Again for you folks who don't know (which is probably everyone) - "Crazy making" refers to a variety of maneuvers used to make a partner doubt his or her sanity or to send a partner "up the wall." The crazy maker gains power over the victim. Many variations of Crazy making are possible:
* Denying the feeling the partner can clearly see ("If you don't know what's wrong, what's the use in telling you?").
* Denying something that has been discussed and agreed upon or insisting on adherence to exact wording. ("I never agreed to go out of town THIS weekend.")
* Building up hopes and then shattering them without an acceptable reason. (After hinting they will go out, the parent later says "Why are you dressed to go out? Are you going somewhere? I've changed my mind - don't nag about it.")
* Attributing vicious motives to another ("Where did you hide my socks this time?" "You conveniently forgot to make reservations, didn't you?")
* Ignoring the other person's wishes. The person who just cannot be on time, or the person who continues an annoying mannerism after being asked to stop, or the child who will not pick up toys or dirty clothes.
* Seeing a hidden psychological significance in every action. "People who choose cats for pets are introverted." "Your body language tells me that you're sexually repressed."

So - it was down to wire. "So why isn't everyone in bed? You know it's past your bedtime." (But there's no school tomorrow! You said we could stay up late playing games!) "Well fun's over - it's time to grow up." (Eskimo Bob - we promised the kids.) "I never promised them, it's not my fault that you can't keep your word, or that you give half promises."

Tears were shed - and no one has said a word today. Sweet sweet victory.

Perfect Phrases for that Inopportune Moment: Blind Date Edition

So here we are again - I'd like to play a game. This will require some involvement other than my wife's witty cousin Gina. I'm sure she will set a good example and lead into the foray with guns blazing.

So before I continue on with the game - all that is needed is to click on the comment link at the bottom of this post. Then just type in a phrase or a few words. Now - today's game is Perfect Phrases for that Inopportune Moment: yes brevity is not a strongsuit of mine. It dates back really to my great-grandmother on my father's side, when asked if she preferred . . . . (what? ----I'm distracted?) Ohhh. Yes. Forgive me. Perfect Phrases - so each person needs to think of a perfect phrase (or imperfect) in a given situation. For example: Perfect Phrases from a Nature Documentary -


Bob: What if hamsters fought in the American Revolution? (puts two hamsters down and stands back to watch).
Steve: (back to audience) BAAA! (turns around, embarrassed)
Gina: Tonight on The World of Insects - fondue!
Tony: One of the best things you can do, of course, to these charming chihuahuas is to set fire to them.
Chris: Now how do you put the leopard back together?
Ryan: Turtles are usually a slow animal - but ... (spins one around and watches it race off).

So on and so forth: So without further adieu the Blind Date edition of Perfect Phrases. . .

Rubber Match

Good evening; I'm sorry to those faithful followers who have been waiting since Friday to read a new post. Today has been extremely busy, I know - priorities. . . don't stone me yet.

So today I was in Anchorage, all day. In fact, as of this posting, I am still in Anchorage. It's quarter to nine, and I ended up visiting my friend Grant. We're going head-to-head in a best of three Scrabble game. Hence the title of the blog - no it's not gay code - I'm quite pleased that I've beaten Grant. After all he's quite literary, he has a Master's Degree in English and I have received secondary education from Idaho and Utah; so basically just verification that I graduated high school from a rural Alaskan town with a class size of 29.

My friend Steve, has updated his blog, and thankfully seems to have found a muse; as his writings are 100% Adami and I just get intimidated with his depth of humour. Of course it helps that he grew up in Moose Jaw, Canada, and was also fit to get secondary education from Idaho and Utah.

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that there has not been more enthusiasm or participation in my various games posted. But life is full of disappointments, and if my blog can be of any solace to folks, they can see the disappointment that is my blog.

So here goes the rubber-match. Wish me luck.

Sustaining

If you're reading this - then that probably means that we are friends, or at least you were tricked in some way to get to this site. Either way - you're here. Welcome once again to my experiment of blogging. If you have strong drink or hallucinogenic drugs, I suggest you take them now as it doesn't get any better than this.

I'm sure some of you have been able to get some amusement out of my periodic ramblings. Hopefully you haven't been able to notice the difference between my writings, and those of my ghost written blogs, after all I just laid down $2,400 for a year subscription. Sorry Amber, looks like no trippy to Venice this year. Priorities.

So in order to maximize my investment into my ghost written blogs - I turn it over to you, my blaudience*. As previously mentioned, my friend Steve, a former Canadian as of, I think a month ago - who is now living off of Social Security that my grandfather/father/and many more natural born citizens paid into, but were never able to receive - have put our plagiarizing abilities, and general American can-do attitude together to come up with a new party game, titled "Life of the Party".

So here's another game - since it's been such a big hit so far. . . this game is called: Captions.

It's fairly easy - I'll post a picture, and you just put down a caption for it. So here we go.

Life of the Party

My friends, look - tonight is the third and final debate between Barack Hussein Obama and John Sidney McCain. I imagine we will hear this more than anything else: My Friends, and Look. We can make a drinking game out of this: if hard liquor is your preference you are welcome to that, but be prepared to call in sick for work tomorrow.

Speaking of games, my friend Steve and I came up with an idea a few years ago that is still in the mill. It is a board game titled "Life of the Party". It is a game of quick wits, creative thinking, and a load of laughs. One game which is fun is the Alphabet Game. A group of folks, with a minimum of two (2) enact a given scene in which each sentence must begin with the subsequent letter of the alphabet, beginning with a random letter. The performers must go through the entire alphabet once. Typically done within a 90 second time period.

For example - Topic of conversation: Did you watch the Debates last night? Random Letter: F

Player 1: Fuh Cryin Out Loud - Obama can't answer a question directly to save his life.
Player 2: Going for McCain eh?
Player 1: How could you guess?
Player 2: I have abilities.
Player 1: Justice League type of abilities?
Player 2: Klingon specifically.
Player 1: . . . .

Player 1 loses, and a third player can jump in or start a new game.

So let's play a game - Topic: A Rebellious Elephant Ate a Biomechanic at the Beach. Random Letter: J

Bob: Just when Scott thought he was safe. . . WHAM! he was eaten by an elephant.