Hot Chocolate

Beware!
It sounded like a idea: a nice hot chocolate while we were out shopping
on a cold, rainy winter night. So I grabbed a cup from The Chocolate
Bar. There were signs around the register proclaiming that they were
serving the best hot chocolate in the city. I was just about to ask the
kid if he had any proof to back that up when I noticed him dispensing
the chocolate. It was coming out of its urn with the consistency of
used motor oil. I looked over and noticed a busboy throwing away an
almost full cup of the stuff. It didn't bode well.
I asked for marshmallows instead of whipped cream so he blanketed the
surface with a thick layer. It was $4, but in this Starbucks era I
didn't bat an eye. I really thought it was going to be the powdery
stuff one has at home.
Oh no. One sip (once you get through the marshmallow barrier) is like
eating a Hersey bar. This stuff was pure molten chocolate with just
enough other stuff to keep it from molding itself into the shape of the
cup. It was good but very strong. Who ever left that cup behind didn't
finish it cause it was bad, they just wussed out after hearing their
heart grinding to a hault. I couldn't tackle this by myself so I
offered some to The Cat. She had 4 sips before she gave up. Over the
course of an hour or so I finished it. Aside from feeling like I am
completely made from chocolate I don't feel bad at all. Hopefully I
won't have some sort of delayed effect tomorrow. If anything will give
you a chocolate hangover this will.
Oh God, I wonder how many calories that thing was. Probably like 4,000.

At the Galleria

I bravely accompanied The Cat on a shopping expedition to the largest
mall I've ever seen. Lordy, Lord, Lord! It is crowded. Not really a
shocker but annoying none the less.
There seemed to be a large number of slow walkers. You know that family
of six that insists on walking abreast, clogging up the whole walkway.
It is like a rousing game of live-action Frogger just to get anywhere.
I really like retailers that set out a Guy Chair. Whoever put out the
first one was a saint and genius all in one. I bet Guy Chairs have
saved thousands of relationships. No woman in her right mind wants a
guy trolling after her. I just get punchy after a bit of shopping,
commenting on everything we walk by. It drives The Cat up the wall
though she occasionally hides it. She is an angel for putting up with
any of it. It even annoys me but I just can't stop. I need something
to keep me occupied and I can't surf on my SK3 while walking.
Oh, oh, the Santa was skanky. He had a scrawny beard that looked very
nicotine stained. Gross.

Game Night

AHHHH, it’s almost like the “Good Ole Days.” Back in Cigar Town when I was a young pup in CC and working part-time, me and the guys (just 2, maybe 3) had Gaming Tuesday (or was it Thursdays?). We started out with Dungeon & Dragons but we got lazy and turned to board games. While it was the height of the collectable card game craze, the other guys weren’t really into playing and collecting (besides I suck at Magic: The Gathering). We played Dragon Dice (a collectable dice game, but I had all the dice), Cosmic Wimpout and lots of Robo Rally. One guy wanted to play Wooden Ships and Iron Men but we resisted. It has so many charts, forms and tiny, tiny ship tiles. I like bits and pieces but this was just too much. Games shouldn’t require more effort than taxes. We did play once, but it was horrible.

All my gaming stopped when I when to University (say it in your head with a British accent). My roommates didn’t play any games and neither did any of my friends. Though I did get a few people to play Before I Kill You, Mr. Bond. I went to the local game store for game day once and played Mississippi Queen, a great game of riverboat racing, but I never went back. It all seemed too dorky and for some reason I was determined to leave my gaming behind. I was at University now! I didn’t even play video games: I had sold my Nintendo 64 and my computer was to craptacular to play anything good.

While I’ve gotten back in to video games, I hadn’t started to game again. No one that I know seems to be up for RPGs, but more casual games are a different story.

A few weeks ago I picked up Carcassonne. I’m not to sure why I bought it. I think some blog mentioned it then I saw it in a store. I brought it home and begged The Cat to play with Cecil, Barnelia and myself, whom are open to board games. Everyone but The Cat loves it (it isn’t her bag) and we play a game most times we get together. We’ve even been able to rope some others into playing. I’m thrilled that C & B (especially Barnelia) enjoy playing. It’s great to be able to play some games again with people that are eager to play.

Carcassonne a quality game; great rules with a good balance of luck and skill and great construction (Meeples are just so cute). I love games that you can add to with expansions and Carcassonne has some great ones. So we’ve added to the game making a bit more complex, adversarial and fun. It’s the mark of a well designed game that you can add so much to it and it still remains the same game with out “breaking.”

I dug out my copy of Settlers of Catan and we liked that too. Well, we only played one game, but I think everyone is up for another. They are both medieval building games and are similar but not the same. I like Catan but prefer Carcassonne.

Almost any board game searches on the Internet lead you to boardgamegeek.com. I’ve been poking around looking for “the next game.” Both Catan and Carcassonne are German-style board games and winners of the Spiel des Jahres award. The 2005 winner, Niagara, looks just perfect: wooden canoes, a movable board, hot gem mining action and an expansion that involves a plastic beaver. Now that sounds like a fun game.

I don’t plan to buy as many games as I used to but a few couldn’t hurt. I no longer buy crap video games (read reviews before you buy kids) and have been happier for it. The same can hold true for board games.

Still Wii-less

Ok.

Alright.

I get it.

I should have been outside Toys R Us huddled with all the other fanboys
waiting for the Wii to show up. But I didn't and now I must suffer.
I can't say I am totally desperate yet. But I would have purchased one
of those TRU bundles that only suckers buy. You know the ones with the
system, lame game(s) and accessory that no one in their right mind would
buy. Execpt this time the game was ok and the accessory was ok. I
wouldn't be ashamed to have either. But they were out. Out of
bundles? Insanity!

At this point I don't think there will be any Wiis had until after the
new year. Then all the parents should have all they need for their
little brats.