Yahtzee Death Match

Let's talk about game-playing. No, not the kind that takes place in passive aggressive interpersonal relationships. Let's talk real games like Yahtzee. Yahtzee - beautiful in its simplicity, comforting in its own repetitive dice-rattling way. Playing games with your children is supposed to be the hallmark of The Good Life. You gather around the game board and you play and you laugh and you love each other just a little bit more when it's all over. Just look at this commercial playing on televisions everywhere these days:

Doesn't that look like fun? Can't you feel the love? What does it mean, then, that this is what our familiy game nights look like this:

The fighting begins as soon as we open the box. They argue over who gets to be what color. They argue over who goes first. They get mad and cry when they aren't winning. There has even been some attempted stomping of the hands. We have trouble even when we play a cooperative game. Every game is a nightmare. We stop the games immediately when they are acting out but it makes no difference. The next day, they ask to play a game again and promise that their behavior from the previous day will not happen again. They lie.

I want the good times promised by the commercials, dammit. I want my share of laughter and family fun. Actually, at this point, I'd settle for quiet seething and dirty looks - my standards have dropped quite a bit.

Seating Diagrams to Follow

I don't dwell on the eventual end to this crazy ride but I'll admit that sometimes I think about my funeral. I try to imagine who would be there to celebrate my life and what people might say. I think about the music and the montage - I love a good montage. I've even thought about selecting some photos to be used and tucking them away in a special folder. So, basically, I'm just really controlling. Don't worry though, I wouldn't tell you where to sit or what to wear. Well, except, I really don't think you should wear plaid. It's very rarely flattering and I want you all to look good. So...yeah...I'm controlling. A couple weeks ago, Luisa and I were driving around and a song came up on the iPod and I turned it up and said, "You should play this at my funeral or use it in the montage". She turned it off immediately and said that she didn't want to hear some song I'd chosen for my funeral. She can be such a buzz kill. This is why someone else will have to handle the montage. I am not fascinated by death and I certainly hope that I'm around for a very long time. That doesn't mean, however, that it never crosses my mind and when it does, I plan. The interesting thing about allowing yourself to think about death is that you realize fully what is most important to you in life. When you imagine who will be at your funeral, you are placing value on the people in your life and claiming those important to you. When you imagine what people will say, you recognize what you like most about yourself and hope that others notice. When you think about a montage of your life, you recall the moments that meant the most to you. As for the music, we all have a soundtrack to our lives...those songs that speak to us in ways that we can't begin to explain. When it's all said and done, I just know that I'd love to be able to say, "That Don't Worry Me Now".

Without a Hitch

Luisa made a gorgeous bird. I mean she cooked a gorgeous bird. The way I wrote it the first time made it sound like she dressed up like a bird and looked quite fetching while doing so. She did not dress up as a bird though now I'm feeling rather disappointed because that would have been amazing. I'm glad that I'm writing this all down because next year someone damn well better dress up as a giant bird and come to my house for Thanksgiving. Anyway, it was the first time she'd ever made a turkey and it was absolutely perfect. Everything that accompanied the bird that was not Luisa was delicious as well...roasted vegetables, chestnut sausage stuffing, vegetarian stuffing, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce and wine. The pies were made at the May Day Cafe just down the street from us and were fabulous (we had pumpkin, banana cream and maple pecan). We served everything on my mother's china just as planned and every piece survived. The kids were a little wild but I did not kill them. I did make Miguel cry at one point but he rallied quickly. Good food, good company, laughter and even tears are all part of the deal, right? Now, I'm sitting on the couch wishing that NaBloPoMo didn't take place in November because my Thanksgiving posts are always short. I don't even have a picture of anyone dressed as a bird which really would have made this entry pop. There is so much for which I am thankful. My life is filled with love and that is all that I have ever wanted. If you celebrate the holiday, I hope that you have had a good one. If you don't, I hope the rest of us haven't annoyed you too much with our turkey talk. Until tomorrow...