30 thoughts on “December 29, 2015: The Ace of Spades”
I really, really liked Metallica's cover of "Overkill" (on the "Until It Sleeps" single). What a weird pairing of A-side and B-side.
I hadn't ever heard anything by Motörhead before (though I was familiar with their name).
So . . . today. My bus was on time and my commute was easy. And I'm in love with my new snow boots. But I didn't have to go on the freeway, so I can't promise getting around everywhere is that easy.
Thoughts:
1. If we meet today, I say let's meet at Red Cow at noon.
2. If tomorrow is better for people, we could just shift this whole gathering a day later.
Tomorrow also works for me. Thursday or Friday? Not at all.
I can do tomorrow ... probably better for me, though I'd have to meet up after lunch, rather than at noon (don't alter any plans to accommodate my lunching ... I was really only coming for the Twain-initiated beer run).
I can't seem to get out of my alley, so I'm probably out for today.
So it looks like today's a no-go.
Let's try for tomorrow.
Maybe Pepper and I meet for lunch and whoever else can make it should come?
I can do tomorrow.
Shout out to Punman. I actually played a board game with my family last night. On WGOM recommendations, I bought us Ticket To Ride for Christmas. Miraculously, wife won by a point and deemed it "fun." I may need to try to do this more often.
Ticket to Ride was my introduction to board games as an adult as well. It's a good one, though we don't play it much anymore.
Great introductory game. I can see it getting stale though.
Yup. It helps to mix up players since everyone had different strategies
The problem with my brother is he and his buddies played it so much they had the cards memorized. Place one set of track and they'd know what you were doing with a very high degree of certainty.
Agreed. Its also good proof that it's not just Americans who suck at world geography.
Duluth=St Paul?
I was just having this conversation with my Czech friend, literally within the hour. She was Googling Minnesota since she didn't know much about where I lived, and then mentioned "Oh, Duluth! We saw that on Ticket To Ride and had never heard of it"
Funny how that happens sometimes.
I read an explanation for it somewhere but I can't remember what it was.
That link goes to Reddit. The linked thread is fairly neutral, but...it's Reddit.
edit: For those who just want the explanation...
In case you're curious, because I know I was, the developer wanted to use Duluth because it had historical significance during the days of the railroad but they also wanted to make sure they stayed within their design constraints. Since all the routes are just a giant web if you move one point you have to either move a ton of other points or stretch out the spacing for the cars on the board. Neither of which they wanted to do. It did, however make me feel better to know that it wasn't just us who got the shaft, I don't recall all of them off the top of my head but pull up a real map and compare and you'll find at least 4 or 5 more that are WAY off mark from their actual locations.
I believe Chicago is a rather hilarious one.
We also got that for Christmas, too, but haven't had a chance to play it yet. Looking forward to it, though!
I received Takenoko for Christmas. I know very little about it, other than Keith Law apparently likes it. And the person who gave it to me deliberated between this one and Carcassonne, but he pronounced it "carcass one." (We have that one, which is an awesome game, by the way, but I believe it's pronounced "Car-caw-sown")
I still have yet to play Takenoko, you'll have to let me know what you think.
Boog has this one too. We pronounce it "Car-caw-sown"
Ticket to Ride was one of the gateway games I was introduced to as well. It was also one of the first ones I got. My wife and I had played it with a couple and she liked it enough that it ended up being one of my first modern board games.
Funny story: earlier this year, we met up with another family we knew at the Dells and got together for a board game night. My wife, who rarely plays board games, taught half of them Ticket to Ride (while I was busy teaching Pandemic to the other half). For not knowing the game, she did a good job of teaching it.
So, the Girl. Delayed out of ABQ to KC. Delayed for about 5 hours in KC, so forced to overnight in Boston. Missed her shuttle this morning to Farber College. Caught the next one. Now it appears that the shuttle has mechanical problems.
Nice! I'm guessing the TC is on one of the sides not showing.
Maybe I'll have to break out the jigsaw for the new nephew.
So if anyone feels like seeing Star Wars at MOA in the 21+ theater at 9pm, well I and some friends will be there.
Went to dinner last night to some friends' house in Lake Elmo. They made Lomo Al Trapo (Columbian-Style Cotton Cloth-Wrapped Grilled Beef Tenderloin).
The host had a big bonfire with charcoals going on in the backyard fire-pit. He laid out two (water-soaked, then wrung out) cotton towels on the table. He then poured out a LOT of salt on the towels, and spread it out to be about 1/4" thick, leaving about an inch on the edge not covered with salt, then sprinkling ground oregano over the salt. He then laid the beef tenderloin over the salt, and carefully rolled up the cloth so as to wrap the salt around the meat, folding it up so as not to have the salt spill, tying it up with string.
This entire package got placed on the freshly stoked fire, and then he scooped up coals to cover the package. About 9-9.5 minutes into it, he flipped it over. Took another 10 minutes and then we brought it indoors (just beating the snow). The cloth was completely burnt. He used a chisel to bust apart the crusted salt, which forms like a shell, and then served up the meat. Twas delish - I gotta try this when we get back to H'istan.
I really, really liked Metallica's cover of "Overkill" (on the "Until It Sleeps" single). What a weird pairing of A-side and B-side.
I hadn't ever heard anything by Motörhead before (though I was familiar with their name).
So . . . today. My bus was on time and my commute was easy. And I'm in love with my new snow boots. But I didn't have to go on the freeway, so I can't promise getting around everywhere is that easy.
Thoughts:
1. If we meet today, I say let's meet at Red Cow at noon.
2. If tomorrow is better for people, we could just shift this whole gathering a day later.
Tomorrow also works for me. Thursday or Friday? Not at all.
I can do tomorrow ... probably better for me, though I'd have to meet up after lunch, rather than at noon (don't alter any plans to accommodate my lunching ... I was really only coming for the Twain-initiated beer run).
I can't seem to get out of my alley, so I'm probably out for today.
So it looks like today's a no-go.
Let's try for tomorrow.
Maybe Pepper and I meet for lunch and whoever else can make it should come?
I can do tomorrow.
Shout out to Punman. I actually played a board game with my family last night. On WGOM recommendations, I bought us Ticket To Ride for Christmas. Miraculously, wife won by a point and deemed it "fun." I may need to try to do this more often.
Ticket to Ride was my introduction to board games as an adult as well. It's a good one, though we don't play it much anymore.
Great introductory game. I can see it getting stale though.
Yup. It helps to mix up players since everyone had different strategies
The problem with my brother is he and his buddies played it so much they had the cards memorized. Place one set of track and they'd know what you were doing with a very high degree of certainty.
Agreed. Its also good proof that it's not just Americans who suck at world geography.
Duluth=St Paul?
I was just having this conversation with my Czech friend, literally within the hour. She was Googling Minnesota since she didn't know much about where I lived, and then mentioned "Oh, Duluth! We saw that on Ticket To Ride and had never heard of it"
Funny how that happens sometimes.
I read an explanation for it somewhere but I can't remember what it was.
A bit of discussion in a Reddit thread.
That link goes to Reddit. The linked thread is fairly neutral, but...it's Reddit.
edit: For those who just want the explanation...
I believe Chicago is a rather hilarious one.
We also got that for Christmas, too, but haven't had a chance to play it yet. Looking forward to it, though!
I received Takenoko for Christmas. I know very little about it, other than Keith Law apparently likes it. And the person who gave it to me deliberated between this one and Carcassonne, but he pronounced it "carcass one." (We have that one, which is an awesome game, by the way, but I believe it's pronounced "Car-caw-sown")
I still have yet to play Takenoko, you'll have to let me know what you think.
Boog has this one too. We pronounce it "Car-caw-sown"
Ticket to Ride was one of the gateway games I was introduced to as well. It was also one of the first ones I got. My wife and I had played it with a couple and she liked it enough that it ended up being one of my first modern board games.
Funny story: earlier this year, we met up with another family we knew at the Dells and got together for a board game night. My wife, who rarely plays board games, taught half of them Ticket to Ride (while I was busy teaching Pandemic to the other half). For not knowing the game, she did a good job of teaching it.
Glad you had a good time Zee!
Boog also got "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" That was insanely fun and super tense.
So, the Girl. Delayed out of ABQ to KC. Delayed for about 5 hours in KC, so forced to overnight in Boston. Missed her shuttle this morning to Farber College. Caught the next one. Now it appears that the shuttle has mechanical problems.
A trip to remember....
I know christmas is over, but if anyone wants to make a toy box for someone for whatever reason this instructable was a hit: http://www.instructables.com/id/Giant-Wooden-Letter-Block-Toy-Box/
Nice! I'm guessing the TC is on one of the sides not showing.
Maybe I'll have to break out the jigsaw for the new nephew.
So if anyone feels like seeing Star Wars at MOA in the 21+ theater at 9pm, well I and some friends will be there.
Went to dinner last night to some friends' house in Lake Elmo. They made Lomo Al Trapo (Columbian-Style Cotton Cloth-Wrapped Grilled Beef Tenderloin).
The host had a big bonfire with charcoals going on in the backyard fire-pit. He laid out two (water-soaked, then wrung out) cotton towels on the table. He then poured out a LOT of salt on the towels, and spread it out to be about 1/4" thick, leaving about an inch on the edge not covered with salt, then sprinkling ground oregano over the salt. He then laid the beef tenderloin over the salt, and carefully rolled up the cloth so as to wrap the salt around the meat, folding it up so as not to have the salt spill, tying it up with string.
This entire package got placed on the freshly stoked fire, and then he scooped up coals to cover the package. About 9-9.5 minutes into it, he flipped it over. Took another 10 minutes and then we brought it indoors (just beating the snow). The cloth was completely burnt. He used a chisel to bust apart the crusted salt, which forms like a shell, and then served up the meat. Twas delish - I gotta try this when we get back to H'istan.