December 8th, 2009 by Cy

On Wednesday, November 18th, myself and @TheWocket, @EvilCutie, and @TheHufford started our journey down to BGG.con 09. Just outside of Dallas, at the Weston Hotel in Irving, TX.

What is BGG.con 09 you ask? Why simple my lovelies – It’s the ultimate in Board Game conventions put on by BoardGameGeek.com,  and this year I was honored and highly privileged  to be able to attend it. Not only did I attend, but as I mentioned above, @EvilCutie, @TheHufford, @TheWocket, @NAMG, and @Jstud attended too!

Envision 1000 or so of your closest friends all seated at tables in every corner of space, playing board games of all sorts, types, styles and ages…….. THAT is BGG.Con in a nutshell.  In the picture to the right you can see The Gang: (starting from the fuzzy, orange hat and working counter clockwise) @TheWocket, @TheHufford (His blue shirt is visible behind @TheWocket), @EvilCutie, @NAMG, and @JStud playing a game of Looting London.  Note the obligatory gamer’s snacks and beverages in closed containers at the table. Good Gamers never muck up the game components with greasy fingers or open beverages that could spill and cause drastic damage to expensive games. Aren’t The Gang ever the considerate gamers? Indeed they are….. unless of course we’re playing a different game……

A Game such as QUELF! Quelf is a game that @TheWocket really wanted to play and all of us played together. Quelf is described as “the unpredictable party game that gives Random a new name!

Whether you’re answering hilarious trivia, performing ridiculous stunts, or obeying silly rules, Quelf will inspire you to use your creativity, wit and sense of humor in ways you’ve never imagined.

As you move around the game board, as one of eight quirky characters, crazy things start to happen. Your friends start talking strangely. Your mom’s face is wrapped in toilet paper. Your dad is acting like Dracula. And you are reciting a poem about your armpits.”

If you think I am joking about the above description of the game, you are so wrong! To the right here,  is a picture of my pants, my jeans – turned inside out due to a direct result of playing the game Quelf. As the result of a card, I had to turn one item of my clothing inside out and wear it or pay a penalty. Well I was wearing my jeans and my t-shirt that says /Spit. I was not about to turn my cool shirt inside out, so jeans it was! Later during the game I was forced to be conjoined to @TheWocket and watched as other players performed just as random acts. If you all want an uber cool game to play at parties or collage? QUELF! I’m just saying! I LOVE this game!

Of course not all the games that we played were random and whacky. Here is a shot of the 2 player game, Day & Night.  @Jstud and @TheWocket played this game as I sat watching and learning. Their review of it was that is was a very good game, but they questioned the games flexibility since it only had two, fixed decks. I personally loved the myriad of art work this game provided, as the obvious different between the Day & Night themes was lovely to the eyes. If you are into two player games. I’d definitely point you this way!!!

Now I could go on and on about the vast number of games played, not just by me, but by all of The Gang…. but seriously? This is the most image filled post I’ve ever done and it is getting long winded even for me.

I have to say, that while I had a brilliantly wondrous time at BGG.con 09, I was gobsmackingly impressed with the BGG.con Staff. Best Con Staff ever!! This con ran so smoothly and seamlessly I was truly impressed. I was thrilled to speak to various members of the staff, s well as having finally had the opportunity to meet one of my most cherished NaNoWriMo friends ever – InkyGirl. Debbi, is Geek of the Week #222 @ BoardGameGeek.com yet I have known and loved Debbi from her years of NaNoWriMo Comics she has drawn. When she finally found me in one of the many gaming ballrooms, we squealed and hugged!!! It was so awesome! Then Debbi presented me with a tiny gift – an entire set of the NaNoWriMo badges!  Thank you sweet Debbi – next year we have to actually schedule time to play a game together

I loved the games (Space Alert in the elevator FTW), and the peoples I met at BGG.con. Space Alert is a co-op game where you work as a team to save your ship thru a mission. We actually played one round in the working elevator of the WESTIN. I LOVED IT. Talk about a hoot and a half, for 10 minutes that elevator was our ship!! Thanks Guy and all of my shipmates. I loved learning various games and learning what I don’t like. I truly loved everything about this con.

But the bestest time I had at BGG.con 09 had to be with @TheWocket and The Gang. In my life I have never laughed, smiled, hugged, and had fun as I did with this con and these people. When my sugar crashed and I went into a deep hypoglycemic spell, somehow in a crowd of 1000 people I managed to find @TheWocket and he took care of me immediately. Then The Gang stepped in to the rescue as well, and before too long, I was at an Ihop eating the carbs I needed surrounded by people I love. I have the best friends evar!!!

<—- This is @TheWocket and I. I am nestled easily into the Meeples Tote Bag meant to carry games, and he kicked back, King of all……

It is my favorite picture…….. of all time.

Note – It is I, in the submissive posturing. You know your life is worthwhile when you have someone like @TheWocket in it. And at BGG.con09 I was not just limited to having @TheWocket by my side, I had @EvilCutie, @TheHufford, @NAMG, and @Jstud too.

Thank you sweeties for an excellent time and allowing me to come play along!

BGG.con – I highly recommend it!!!

Why Not – Right?

@cylithria, BGG.con, Gaming, Review, TheWocket, Why Not - Right?

November 18th, 2009 by Cy

Yesterday Evening I had the opportunity to go out to dinner with some wonderful people.  I believe it was a wonderful time – but you all know my inability at all things civilian – so maybe I am just hopeful? Who knows…. lol….. but either way I was thrilled to not only have an evening with @TheWocket, but his family as well.

In keeping with Why Not – Right? Tradition, I will be nicknaming the family….. because for someone reason I nickname everyone I blog about. Hopefully @TheWocket’s family won’t ever mind their newly formed nicknames

The reason for the dinner with @TheWocket’s entire, immediate is family is that on the 9th of November it was @MommaWocket’s birthday.  Due to schedules of @MommaWocket and the rest of the family, her official birthday dinner was scheduled for last night – and an invitation was kindly extended to me.

I met @MommaWocket at @NAMG’s wedding last Sept. At the wedding I was busy rushing about and din’t get to spend much time at all with @MommaWocket or @TheWocketPop – so it was nice to be able to do such yesterday evening.

@MommaWocket is an awesome lady! She has a total killer sense of humor and her smile is beautiful! She is a new Mac user and we sat some last evening speaking of the Mac laptop she had as well as the New OS Snow leopard. She is truly an excellent lady to talk to and has a great many talents.  I listened with absolute awe as she and @TheWocket spoke bowling lingo that my non-bowling ass had no earthly comprehension of. It was awesome. She also golf’s, rides Harley’s and does a vast amount of other things.   She’d be cool just for all she does and her personality, but seriously – a mother who rides a Harley. Folks that is cool as all hell!!!!!  I truly adore her and hope she had the happiest of birthdays

@TheWocketPop is just as delightfully funny and sly as @TheWocket. now I know where @TheWocket gets his evil grin from; @TheWocketPop! While @TheWocketPop’s eyes were bright and bold, he often remained observingly silent. He is the type of man you can see his mind working through his eyes.  He too has a great sense of humor, and has an endearingly kind side that just glows from within.   His mind works fast and he is quick witted which is totally awesome and his eyes twinkle with delight when he looks at @MommaWocket.  I’d love to sit and pick his brain, just because I am willing to bet his mind is incredible sharp and fantastically entertaining.

Of @TheWocket was present, and seeing him in the element of his family left me with tons of smiles. They are an incredible family and obviously he loves them very much.

Also at dinner was @IgoogleWocket – the sister. @IGoogleWocket is so funny, and a total “googlegirl” at heart – and how could I *not* love that… right???  At dinner we both ordered the exact same thing –  without even consulting one another, then later on we sat side by side as she googled stuff and I totally understood the whole “I’ll google it” ideal! I love, love, love the color of her hair…….. for some reason it just shimmers and sparkles – and it is natural!  She has a very right personality and she allowed me to view her pictures from her reccent cruise where she went cave tubing……  D00ds who does not love an @IgoogleWocket who Cave tubes……… I have never met another person who has done it until her. She TOTALLY RAWKS!!!!!

And I also had the privilege of meeting @BrainyWocket – @TheWocket’s Brother.  I call him @BrainyWocket because he seems so cerebral. We spoke of books last night and it is obvious by his reading list he is no fool. I have always loved minds of high intelligence and I believe @BrainyWocket to be one of them. Although quiet at first, as the night wore on we chatted so easily and naturally. He made me feel extremely comfortable, perhaps because we could easily discuss books? I don’t know, but like @TheWocketPop and @TheWocket, @BrainyWocket has a devious smile with a touch of mischief too it as well.  Delightful!

It was a wonderful evening. I was admittedly nervous. I *SO* don’t know how to do civilian outings such as this. But the entire @WOCKETFAMILY was so welcoming, so sweet, so funny and so interesting that my evening was amazing!!!  My thanks to each of them for such a wonderfully warm night when it was actually freezing and dreary here in Kansas City.

and @TheWocket – I think you are very lucky – your family in incredible! Thank You for introducing me to them. *kiss to cheek*

@cylithria, Dinner, Family, TheWocket, Why Not - Right?

November 11th, 2009 by Cy

a couple of years ago,  my biological mother and I were introduced via video conference.  I wish I could say it was a great. It wasn’t great and it wasn’t bad…. it just sort of was.  I got to hear her “story” if you will and I watched a woman who looked like me – no…. wrong, whom *I* looked like. It was………. interesting. Nice perhaps. It was simply…. an aspect of my convoluted life.

After that initial connection between my bio-mom and I, I never heard from her again. At one point the rumor mill told me she had died.  Again, the news wasn’t bad or good, it just was.

But for some reason, somewhere in the back of my mind I felt a need to confirm this woman’s death. I started investigating and voila….. Marlianna was NOT DEAD….. I located this woman, this biological mother I never knew in a run down facility – in a coma. Lupus had shut down her body to the point of coma and she was alone. No one to care for her…..

How ironic eh?

That was the year I shifted my everything financially. I felt I had to. I could not allow Marlianna to lie in filth, in poor care simply because that was all the state could afford.

I did so willingly and not because I felt an emotional pull towards the woman. I did it because it was the RIGHT thing to do. NO ONE should have to suffer simply because there is no one to care for them when they are ill and unable to care for themselves.

So in answer to the mysterious question, “But Cylithria if you retired where is your pay?”   – It’s been dedicated to a woman’s care, to keeping up with her estate bills and to use for her best interests.  That’s where. Judge at will.

Friday, Nov 6th I get the call – they have put Marlianna on breathing tube. She apparently got some infection…. it’s reeking havoc on her stagnant system. I sigh, and just accept that which we knew would come one day.

Saturday, Nov 7th – I get the call. Marlianna died.  My immediate reaction is an odd, empty sigh. Then silence. At first I told no one….. There was a lot going on and I’ll be damned if my personal shit was gonna add to any ill sensations at @NAMG’s home.  All these people, including me; came to enjoy each other and the weekend, announcing your bio-mom just died doesn’t bring about happy, happy joy, joy, in my opinion.

It was late Saturday Night… and inwardly I struggled with how to process Marlianna’s death. I knew the situation of her estate and that my retirement will be tied up for about 4 years to pay off everything. I am okay with that. Totally.   I also knew I was being a bit distant if given the opportunity to have a moment alone.

I needed time to process. I needed to know if I was sad, relieved, or …. what????? I mean this woman gave birth to me and GAVE ME UP so I could have a chance at a better life. I admired that, and yet…… I didn’t honestly know her. How was I to feel??? I just didn’t know.

Enter @TheWocket

Standing out in the “smoking section” of @NAMG’s house (The front porch) I am balancing on the bottom board of the porch rail, staring at the starry sky. @TheWocket comes outside and stand beside me. We chat sort of. Basically a “hey” exchange.

Then I look up at him and blurt it out. “My mother died.”

….

You know there were umpteen ways @TheWocket could have handled the situation. With the already high emotional energy in the house that night due to the chick fight, to say nerves were raw was an understatement. @TheWocket could have gasped, expressed deep, deep sadness and shock…. tried to coddle me thus allowing me to break down……. he could have simply stared at me unable to say a word. He didn’t do those things. Instead an arm went around me, a gentle, non-pressuring hug wrapped around me and he said “I’m sorry angel.”

No drama, no avoidance, no unrealistic reaction…. just quite acceptance and gentle support. For the first time ever, I felt accepted because @TheWocket didn’t have any expectations of me or for me, he was just there understanding me. I am a very lucky woman.

That’s @TheWocket and my mother, Marlianna.

The nice thing is with @TheWocket on the porch with me, the three minutes of tears and then the wash of relief and peace hit me quick enough. He truly is my best friend – above all others.

Thank you @TheWocket for being there for me.

So yeah…. that is the latest update on people in my life..or recently departed from me.

—–

Update on my health:

I made it to Kansas easily enough. I slept almost the entire trip. I spent the weekend carefully participating and also trying to rest and begin recover. The weekend was filled with laughter and I only had one time i needed the high power pain pill to get past the kidney pain.

Sunday all the company left and it was just myself and @NAMG, @JSTUD and @AID …..  by Monday I started truly feeling the weariness of the last few months. Since then I have been alternating between awake moments and unwanted but much needed restful naps.

I managed last night to eat a full bowl of dinner. Which as @NAMG can attest to, is a massive accomplishment. My ability to consume food has been compromised. but I am working on it.

I am weak. but the last two dys I have rested My brain should start coming back to me anytime now, which will be nice. I have been quiet online because thinking has been too damn hard. Sorry folks.

I managed to get my NaNoWriMo word count up to 21,163 so that is good i think. The story sucks and I am starting a new one tomorrow. But I am still writing.

Doc will be calling soon as Pancreas tests come back. The weight is … well slowly falling off instead of rapid weight loss, so right now……. I live hour by hour.

I’d love to be able to say I am getting better – but I can’t, not yet. Am I working on not stressing so I can go into Lupus Remission? Am Iworking towards a healthier body to fight off cancer, YES.   Am I better yet………… hell to the noes. So giving an update to me is pointless……… right now nothing has changed except my current physical location and my outlook. My health still blows bad.

But I am still alive. I am supporting friends through their losses as best I know how, which admittedly isn’t good enough but all I can offer. and I am learning how to accept help, truly rest and allow others to do for me.

Life is still filled with beauty and wonder for me.

That’s my explanation(s)

w00t

Death, TheWocket, Why Not - Right?