Slightly diminish a band: Candle Light Orchestra

Tenth game of 2026 is Endangered by @grandgamersguild.bsky.social with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social which I received for Christmas. We're in danger of not getting the support of the Canadian and possibly American ambassadors before time runs out. Got to playtest with Joe Hopkins at @unpub.org years ago

Okay, seldom do I DNF a movie from my watch list, but "Lost in Space" (1998) was a real disappointment. Cheesy and two-dimensional. Really tried to like it, but just had to quit it for sheer inability to suspend disbelief any further

Ninth game of 2026 is Sagrada: Glory playing the Strife module by @adrian-adamescu.bsky.social @boardgame.bsky.social @floodgategames.bsky.social for the first time with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social - a nice twist with some challenging constraints

Seventh and eighth games of 2026 are "Money" and "Lords of Vegas" at the FLGS, both with @dagopher.bsky.social , who taught us "Vegas". I had heard of it often and was glad to get to play it. I really like the speculation and the opportunities for taking over casinos. Fun game

Sixth game of 2026 is "24/7" with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social , a tile-laying "Scrabble with numbers" kind of game that is remarkably fun. The bakelite tiles are nice, too.

For no particular reason at all, here's a poem from my poetry collection MEXICANS ON THE MOON.

Fourth and fifth games of 2026 were at friend's last night with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social - "Flip 7" and "Architects of the West Kingdom," both big hits

Mentioning @mluckovich.bsky.social because history repeats itself

Third game of 2026 is a very competitive round of "Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries" with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social . We both had tickets to Bergen, Helsinki, Kobenhavn, and Oslo. And both going through Stockholm. Hat-tip to @teangames.bsky.social for the reminder of how good this game is.

I listen to podcasts on Spotify, and out of the blue, it cued up Dice Tower Episode 180 from September 2010. Wild to hear Tom Vasel and @ericsummerer.bsky.social discuss Agricola and Lords of Vegas as recent games

Ever relevant, this poem by Mary Oliver, especially today.

Share someone who looks stylish wearing gloves

Second game of 2026 is Luthier by @paverson.bsky.social with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social . The Erard family is working on a fortepiano and a natural trumpet for their patron, Frederick the Great.

Hey, just to let people know. If you repost three things in a row, I unfollow you. Nothing personal; just a thing I do.

Screenshot Merriam-Webster's gif to determine your word for 2026. Is this short for "mid-term"?

Narrowly lost at Daybreak by @mattleacock.bsky.social @baddeo.bsky.social @cmyk.games with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social in our first game, on easy mode (U.S. and Europe). Crises pushed the U.S. communities over the edge despite our reduced carbon footprint. Love this game!

FLGS game night tonight with @hokiestone.bsky.social - taught Nature, learned Apiary

Please quote this from the time you didn't interact with someone famous. I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.

Played three games yesterday. First, at a friend's house, we played Hansa Teutonica on the England map, followed by Machi Koro. Then at home, played Knitting Circle with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social .

Eleventh family game for Christmas was another round of Farkle. Sometimes, all you need are some dice to chuck.

Tenth family game for Christmas is Nature by @dcrapuchettes.bsky.social @northstargames.bsky.social , which I received as a gift. @arctick9.bsky.social and went after each other with hunters while @kbowenwriter.bsky.social scavenged and foraged her way to a narrow victory.

Ninth family game for Christmas is a seven-player session of Citadels including @kbowenwriter.bsky.social @raptor788.bsky.social @arctick9.bsky.social - crazy hidden identity game when seven out of eight roles are in play

Eighth family game for Christmas is "Cities of Splendor: The Orient" with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social and her mother, who won with her infamous two-point strategy (and some coaching).

Seventh family game for Christmas was another session of Flip7. Mother-in-law stayed at 208 points, but @kbowenwriter.bsky.social flipped seven for the win. So much fun!

Sixth family game for Christmas was a seven-player session of "Just One." We got 11 out of 13, our best ever.

Search first name and glamor shot

Fifth family game for Christmas was Catan with the extension for six players - took a while to play out but surprisingly fun with Longest Road and the lead continually changing hands

Fourth family game for Christmas was a couple rounds of Codenames. Lots of lucky wrong guesses (not what the clue-giver had in mind but the right color anyway).

Yesterday we played the first three family games for Christmas - Farkle, Kings in the Corners, and Flip7. All three brainless fun

Just in time for Christmas - update pack for "Santa's Workshop" by @hokiestone.bsky.social

First time I've seen the phrase "low information voters," and that strikes at the heart of what democracy needs to remain vital, vibrant, and valid. More important to the defense of democracy than guns and flags is education, pursuit of truthful information, and critical thinking.

Share someone who looks stylish in a winter coat

Excellent

I don't know whether a Douglas fir is suitable as a Christmas tree, but @kbowenwriter.bsky.social and I are about to play Under Grove by @elizhargrave.bsky.social @alderaceg.bsky.social and it looks seasonal enough.

@kbowenwriter.bsky.social is watching "Christmas in Connecticut" while baking snickerdoodles in Virginia.

Second call - still haven't figured out which game this goes to. Anybody recognize it?

December 20th is Go Carolling Day

The #1 movie when you were ten years old is how your 2026 is going to go. I guess no air travel for me.

Played "Terraforming Mars: The Dice Game" by @strongholdgames.bsky.social with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social - we were both terrafoming more aggressively this session than we usually do.

I wrote about THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, its enduring emotional power, and the importance of throwing objectivity aside and opening yourself up to cinema. Free and open to the public, a small Christmas gift from me to all of you <3 www.patreon.com/posts/118684...

Not to be trusted

Troyes with @kbowenwriter.bsky.social - really top-notch dice-drafting game from 2011

It's Saturday! Post a cartoon TV Series you love.

Lost in "Port Royal" by @stevejacksongames.bsky.social to @kbowenwriter.bsky.social who achieved the only Mission between us

Name your favorite Harrison Ford movie.

I don't recall where I got the recommendation to watch "Scavengers Reign," but every minute is an animation marvel.

Second game at the FLGS with @dagopher.bsky.social was Harmonies, which I enjoy but haven' got the hang of yet.