Preparations and other fun stuff

Scrabble? Check!
Trivial Pursuit? CHECK! CHECK!
Clue? GOT ONE... no wait... we've got two of those, too!
Sorry? Don't be! I mean CHECK!
Twitter? Yes, please!

Mom and Kelli are finalizing their lists of to-dos and groceries. I've raided Mom's AND Janma's game closets, in person and remotely. And Dad pulled the camper around, so you know things are getting serious.

I've also cornered the Harlesses to get them set up on Twitter and made arrangements to set up the Petersen kids when they get on the road later today. Extending the same offer to the Powells via txt msg... and anyone else who wants to give me a call. (We can POSSIBLY set you up when we get there, but it will depend on what kind of signal we've got.)

T-minus 2 days, and counting...

Get a...

Much discussion about board games today. Not looking good for Killer Bunnies. I forgot mine, and Ben didn't think about it either. Erik doesn't have one. Maybe Dryden does? Otherwise, our hopes will hang on Jeff, who introduced us to the game in the first place.

Or there's Clue. Mom's anniversary edition is sitting on the table in its progression toward the camper; Michelle found one on sale at Target. (We told her she didn't need to pick one up, but it seems she's always eager to get a Clue ... har har.) Some version of Monopoly is bound to turn up, along with infinite decks of cards — and don't forget the UNO, preferably Gina style (more on that later). Becki's bringing some "next-gen" party game called Catch Phrase that I think has been a hit at the Powell household. And Trivial Pursuit is considered a staple at these things by now, isn't it? We'll see which version(s) turns up...



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IN OTHER NEWS:

I raided Mom's refrigerator today. Had to. She had so many good pictures hanging on it, I couldn't resist scanning a few of them in and feeding them to Slideshow Bob.

It's also worth mentioning that I found a pic of Kelli and Mike playing box hockey. BOX HOCKEY!!! ...Good times...

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ON DECK:

I sure hope someone remembers to bring food. I'd hate for us to starve while we're at Ft. Rob. Oh wait...

Three weeks and counting (or, LOW-TECH RULZ!!!)

Actually, by the time you read this, I'm guessing there will be a lot less than that. (Is anyone reading this right now at all, anyway? Hellooooooooooo...?)

Well, that's OK. From what I hear, there's lots of planning in the works... meals, vacations, driving arrangements.

And don't forget the entertainment. (Not that we're all not entertaining enough...)

My favorite memory of all Fort Robs is... BOX HOCKEY! YEEEAH!!!

Despite all the gizmos I imagine will be floating around the houses (DS and PSPs... DVD, CD and MP3 players... digital cameras, blog equipment *ahem*), box hockey will still be the coolest form of family entertainment there. ANYONE can play, and taking turns is kinda built in because you're bound to tire out if nothing else.

I'm not sure how many box-hockey games are out there. I know my parents have (at least) one, or used to. I know Butch built the one we used in the Fort Rob gatherings when I was among the youngest there. And I know there is a really funny video out there of "the Mikes" — Harless and Dvorak — playing box hockey (if I can figure out a way to get that clip posted, I definitely will).

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Next time: Facing the mental giant (or, How to Avert a Rick Petersen Trivial Pursuit Victory)

Be afraid...

Brace for the carnage and the subsequent rubber-chicken farm. Two words: Killer Bunnies.

For those of you who know, I really don't have to say more. For those of you who don't, it's probably prudent to let you know what you're walking into. This card/dice game pits players against one another, armed to the teeth (if they're lucky) with a Kitchen Whisk, Torque Rings or, worse yet, Sharks WFLB*. And that's only if they survive the Cyber Bunny attacks or the Plutonium Radiation. But be warned: It doesn't pay to be nice in this game, and somebunny will always get hurt, or at least abducted by aliens — if they're lucky.

Having noted a few choice tidbits of information on the subject here and there since the last Ft. Rob, I'm anticipating several knock-down drag-out fireball competitions of epic proportions between Dryden Meints and Ben Harless, with a close eye kept on Aldy, which I imagine is always a good idea. ;-)

The rest of us will likely perish several times over and in spectacular fashion, no doubt. Myself, I can only hope my bunnies suffer a terrible misfortune while trapped in an old Fiat before being attacked by the Ebola Virus — or WORSE, (Bittersweet) Chocolate-Covered Anti-Matter Raisins — power-boosted by the Minilith, thus rendering my F18 Hornet and my wimpy-yet-thoroughly-entertaining Green Gelatin (With Evil Pineapple Chunks) utterly useless. I really hate when that happens.

There will be tears. There will be laughter. There will be many people awake past midnight. Choose your bed-down locations wisely.

*With Frickin' Laser Beams!