Puzzles and games
Jan. 4th, 2012 08:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soniaFor New Year's Eve, I went to a friend's 24th annual (!) puzzle and game party up in Seattle. I wasn't sure it would be worth the trip, but I had a ride and a place to stay, so I decided to go for it.
I hadn't attended lately because I've had a Balkan dance party at my house the last four years. Attendance had gotten discouragingly light (I guess people either go out drinking or stay home?) so I gave that up.
I had a fabulous time at the party! I lost all the games I played, because they were new to me and I've never been much for strategy games. It was still fun to try them out and chat with people inbetween. I stayed up until 5am, which... I can't remember the last time I did that. College? I normally stop being functional at midnight or so, but then there was Auld Lang Syne to sing, and a great conversation with a new friend, and then another puzzle to solve, and further puzzles to discuss, and then someone *read me a story* :-) :-) :-) and then I finally went to bed.
I didn't sleep very well, but I was still functional and having a good time the next day. There were a couple of jigsaw puzzles out for group solving at the party, and this one was barely begun. So I worked on it with the others who were still around, and won a game of Scrabble (with all 4 S's and both blanks, it would have been embarrassing to lose, but still), and took a walk to admire the sunlit mountains all around, and went out for Indian food, and then came home.
I was the one most interested in finishing the puzzle, so I brought it home with me in its barely-started state. It took me three days to finish, but I finally did. That is a hard puzzle. I didn't realize I missed doing jigsaws, although now I think I'm done again for a while.
My new friend liked the idea of a Year of Connection, and decided to adopt it for herself too. That seems like a good sign, to connect around connection. There are a lot of connections to be made in completing a jigsaw puzzle, too. My health seems a lot better, to be functional on so little sleep. I am encouraged.
I hadn't attended lately because I've had a Balkan dance party at my house the last four years. Attendance had gotten discouragingly light (I guess people either go out drinking or stay home?) so I gave that up.
I had a fabulous time at the party! I lost all the games I played, because they were new to me and I've never been much for strategy games. It was still fun to try them out and chat with people inbetween. I stayed up until 5am, which... I can't remember the last time I did that. College? I normally stop being functional at midnight or so, but then there was Auld Lang Syne to sing, and a great conversation with a new friend, and then another puzzle to solve, and further puzzles to discuss, and then someone *read me a story* :-) :-) :-) and then I finally went to bed.
I didn't sleep very well, but I was still functional and having a good time the next day. There were a couple of jigsaw puzzles out for group solving at the party, and this one was barely begun. So I worked on it with the others who were still around, and won a game of Scrabble (with all 4 S's and both blanks, it would have been embarrassing to lose, but still), and took a walk to admire the sunlit mountains all around, and went out for Indian food, and then came home.I was the one most interested in finishing the puzzle, so I brought it home with me in its barely-started state. It took me three days to finish, but I finally did. That is a hard puzzle. I didn't realize I missed doing jigsaws, although now I think I'm done again for a while.
My new friend liked the idea of a Year of Connection, and decided to adopt it for herself too. That seems like a good sign, to connect around connection. There are a lot of connections to be made in completing a jigsaw puzzle, too. My health seems a lot better, to be functional on so little sleep. I am encouraged.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 04:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 05:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 10:35 pm (UTC)Wow, that is a devilishly hard puzzle. I think I would have given up after half an hour. Do you preserve your finished puzzles, or decompose them for someone else's enjoyment?
Connection can include the momentary ritual of the toast, right? L'chaim.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-06 01:47 am (UTC)The person I beat at Scrabble was rather flummoxed, but very gracious. He's used to winning most of the games he plays, and said it was his lowest Scrabble score in 20 years.
I was a little surprised this puzzle grabbed my interest. There were definitely moments (half-hours...) where I didn't know what to do next, but then I'd notice some other detail and keep going.
I haven't kept any completed puzzles before. I would consider it with this one, since it's beautiful, but it's only on loan. I'm going to show it off at Friday dancing here and then pack it away for its return to Seattle.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-07 08:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-07 11:43 pm (UTC)