Race for the Galaxy

Like San Juan, Race for the Galaxy is another 2-player friendly game that Chris brought back from Chicago. If you've played San Juan, then RFTG is similar, but considerably more complicated. The basics are the same- your goal is to accumulate the most victory points. The game ends either when someone has 12 cards down in front of them (their tableau), or when all of the victory point chips have been claimed. You "pay" for the cards that you place by discarding cards from your hand.
Right there, though, the similarities pretty much end. Players still choose which phases they want to play during each turn, however the phases are chosen in secret. This means that more than one player can choose a particular phase and receive the bonus for that phase. There is also much more variety to the types of cards that can be played. There are developments, production worlds, windfall worlds, and just plain worlds, and each card has different strengths and weaknesses. The most productive way to get cards in your hand is to produce goods on your planets, then "trade" them. Figuring out all of the intricacies of each type of card takes a while- this is one of those games where you should just expect to be confused the first few times you play. As a matter of fact, one of my main complaints about this game is that the instructions can be very confusing. They would be better if they included a play-through of several hands, or of each possible phase. Really, the easiest way to learn is to sit down with someone who already knows how to play. There are several pre-constructed hands that can be formed for first-time play, and this does help a bit with forming a strategy.

Rock N Roll Marathon- PCH

As part of my commitment to train for and run the PF Chang's Marathon as a benefit for Phoenix Children's Hospital, I've committed to running 26.2 miles. Really, you can make all of the jokes you want, but that's a daunting number. The only way to cover a distance like that is one step at a time. I have also committed to fundraising $1500 for PCH. That's another number that can be a bit daunting. Like the marathon, its one of those goals that has to be conquered one step at a time. Unlike the marathon, though, I need your help. People always say that every little bit makes a difference, and truly it does. I know times are tough (boy, do I know), but $10 or $25, or more goes a long ways. I know that not just anyone is capable of running a marathon, but this is a way for everyone to help a great cause. Of course its tax deductible, and many employers offer a matching gift program as well. The easiest way to help is through my firstgiving website. This ensures a secure transaction, and also guarantees that you will get a receipt for tax purposes.

San Juan

In our never-ending quest for games that play well with only 2 people we are finally able to add another to our list. Chris went to a gaming convention in Indianapolis (thanks Scott), placed third in a Dominion tournament, and came back with several new games for us to try. The first one we tackled was San Juan, and it has already turned out to be a winner. Its similar to but considerably less complicated than the game Race for the Galaxy, which we've also been playing (I'll probably review that soon as well).
San Juan is primarily a game of resource management. Your goal is to build manufacturing facilities, produce goods, and play cards in such a way that when the game ends you score the most victory points. There are different "phases" (parts) to each turn, but each phase does not happen every turn. Instead, each player chooses a phase that THEY want, and only the phases that are chosen happen during that turn. There are also bonuses for being the person to choose each particular phase.
One of the most interesting aspects of this game (and of Race for the Galaxy) is that although you build facilities and trade and sell resources, there is no MONEY involved. Instead you "pay" for things by discarding cards from your hand. This adds a whole new dimension to the strategy because you need to weigh the relative value of what you want to do against the cards from your hand that you have to discard in order to do it.
Overall, this game played really well with 2 people. Once we both understood the rules we could play it through in about 30-40 minutes. As I said, this game is more straightforward than others, and the rules were well-written and easy to understand after a few tries. Highly recommended for those who like Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and other out-of-the-ordinary board games.

Snippets

I want a good way to record the various snippets that make up my day. If I don't jot them down somehow I tend to forget. Unfortunately scribbling in a notebook isn't the safest thing to do while cruising down the freeway. I can look at my planner and my mileage log and know that I covered 150 miles today and that I worked with 6 kids, but really those are just numbers and they don't tell me much about what I actually DID.
Things that made me laugh today:
- A big burly man driving a red pickup that was sporting a "freedom" license plate AND an oh-so-manly pink and white sticker that read, "I'm spoiled".
- Little Twin #1 growling (yes, growling) at me when I took a toy hammer from her as she was escaping from our work spot behind the couch.

Things that made my heart hurt today:
- Watching A reach out for her foster mom, and seeing how much she's bonded with them in just 3 weeks and how much she's progressing. I can't say much more about it, but she's in foster care for a reason, and its just a sad situation all around.

Any Baby...

"METRO ATLANTA, Ga. -- Last weekend an Atlanta pastor made a promise that stunned his congregation and most of the people who heard it.
In a speech that discussed abortion, the President, and the sanctity of life, the most provocative statement from Pastor Vic Pentz of Peachtree Presbyterian Church came towards sermon's end:
"I make a promise to you now and I don't want you to keep this a secret," the pastor pronounced, "the Peachtree Presbyterian Church will care for any newborn baby you bring to this church.
"We will be the family to find a home for that child, and there's no limit on this. You can tell your friends, you can tell your family, you can tell the whole world ..."
Reflected Pentz a week later, "I seem to have touched a nerve by saying that to the congregation."
It's a speech he repeated this past Sunday, and it can be found on the church's web site under the sermon title, "Ethics of Life"...." More here.

My question is, shouldn't MORE churches be saying this?? If we, as Christians, are going to stand up and say that abortion is wrong, then we have to be willing to help, in a concrete way, those women who feel that they have no other choice. Then it gets personal. Would I, personally (or I guess Chris and I), be willing to take someone's unplanned or unwanted child if the other option was for the woman to have an abortion? What if the baby had a disability, or had been exposed to drugs or alcohol?
Chris isn't here right now to ask, but my answer would be yes. Unequivocally. With very little hesitation other than what naturally comes from a serious undertaking. As a matter of fact, I currently have a little girl on my caseload whom I would adopt in a heartbeat if the opportunity ever presented itself. I think I'm as well aware of what is involved as anyone could be without actually having been through the experience. Overall, I think this is an area where the church just needs to step up. Its so easy to say "don't", and takes so much more effort to say "let me help".

Yesterday was our first group workout for the Rock N Roll Marathon. I didn't have as much trouble getting up at 5:30 as I was afraid of, and with the weather like it is the earlier starts are definitely better. Our run kicked off at 7, and by 8 when we finished it was definitely hot. I was pretty worried about not being able to keep up or finish the run, since I've only gotten back to really running within the past few months. Fortunately, the time I spent doing the couch to 5K seems to have paid off. The full length of our run was 4 miles, and I ran/jogged almost the entire thing. It was a there and back- 2 miles out, water break, then 2 miles back in again. I jogged the whole 2 miles out, had a good water break, and then jogged almost the entire way back. I took a little walk break when the trail came to a major road that we had to cross.
Since up until yesterday, the longest I'd run at one stretch was 2 miles, I call that a good effort. :) I definitely wasn't the fastest person out there, but I saw a lot of people who either turned around early or walked a majority of the trail. I think what I like most about running is that you're only competing against yourself. It doesn't matter that I'm not the fastest person out there, so long as I either run further (farther?) or faster than I did the last time.
In the final reckoning, I have to admit to being a little sore today. Mostly my ankles, and surprisingly enough, my back and shoulders. I ate a banana when we finished yesterday, and took a few more potassium supplements this morning. Next week I'll try and remember to start them on Friday.
I really want to try and photograph parts of this, but I would need to find a good way to carry my camera without sweating all over it. Since I'll also need to start carrying water fairly soon, I guess some sort of waist belt may be in order.

My new favorite summer treat

These watermelon pops were so easy that I can hardly justify calling it a recipe, but they're so good that I thought someone else would enjoy knowing how to make them. Chris and I got watermelons a few weeks in a row from Bountiful Baskets, and we find it tough to eat an entire one on our own before it goes bad. The first one we sliced up and brought to a potluck with some friends, but the second watermelon has just been sitting here. I've tried freezing it for smoothies, but I think the water content is too high because it ended up freezer burned. Then the other day I ran across this recipe for Watermelon-Blueberry Pops, and just had to try it. It was every bit as easy and yummy as I'd hoped. Here's what I did.
1. Cut a watermelon into chunks
2. Put them in the blender. I actually had to do two rounds of melon.
3. Add in a bit of lemon/lime juice.
4. Turn the blender on and push it down so it all gets blended into a liquid.
5. Taste it and add your sweetener of choice if necessary (I didn't need any).
6. Put some blueberries at the bottom of dixie cups or whatever you're using as popsicle molds.
7. Pour your pureed liquid into the cups, and do your best to stand a popsicle stick up in them. Don't worry if they won't stand up.
8. Freeze till solid- mine were frozen in 3 hours.
Bonus tip!
To get the popsicles to release from their cups/holders, run them under water for a second or two.
Here's what one looked like when I freed it from the cup.The dark spot in the corner is a blueberry, and the whole thing is tilted because I couldn't get the sticks to stand up straight. They still taste great though.

I'm wondering if you could do this with other fruits, such as strawberries or peaches (or the cherries in our refrigerator that are on their last legs).

Uh oh...

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson. I was really looking forward to reading and reviewing it. Chris and I were actually going to read it together. Somehow I don't think that's going to happen. A very sheepish e-mail is on its way to Thomas Nelson, asking if they might be able to send me a new copy, or somehow excuse me from the review.
I'm not even sure how Ava got hold of this- it was sitting on the dining room table. My best guess is that one of the kitties knocked it down and she decided that it was hers. Its funny, generally she's really good about only chewing on her toys, but then just when we start to think she gets it she'll randomly chew or swipe something that's ours. I can't figure it out.

Confession time...

I have a messy desk. Here's the proof.
and a close up of the pile on the right.This is actually a slight improvement- there were a few other things sitting on the desk that I've already put away. I'm hoping that posting a picture of this disaster area will motivate me to get it under control. I have lots of cleaning on my list of things to keep me busy this week. I plan to do a few little things each day, mixed in with lots of sewing, reading and relaxing. I've already started tackling the kitchen- dishes are all clean, our new-to-us spice grinder has been cleaned out, and the floor has been swept. Vacuuming is as simple as starting up the Roomba while I'm doing something else.

A Good Weekend

and fortunately, it was much more relaxing than last weekend. Last weekend I enjoyed everything that we did, but on Monday I was still drained. I'm a natural introvert, so I need quiet time to myself to recharge. This weekend I had that in spades, and still managed to get things done.
I took a trip to Bookman's, one of my favorite places ever. I was lucky enough to find a copy of Wii Sport. Chris and I have been looking for it forever since he bought our Wii secondhand and it didn't come with Sport. Its nearly impossible to find on its own- occasionally they get it in at Gamestop, but there are usually people in line waiting to snag it. I also picked up Breaking Dawn. Yes, I'm finally giving in and reading the Twilight books. I'm not quite sure why, other than to find out what all of the fuss is about. I'm about halfway through the first book, and thus far not that impressed. If I keep in mind that they were meant to be teen fiction they aren't too bad, but I just don't think they're very well written. That being said, I may be interested enough in the characters to want to find out what happens to everyone. That alone can be enough to keep me reading, especially when the books are quick "candy" reads.
I'm thinking of starting a new project (as if I needed another one). I want to read a book beginning with each letter of the alphabet, keep a list, and blog about them. The blogging, I think, would be purely for accountability. Otherwise I'm sure I'd end up quitting when I made it to Q. Or D.

Swallow any liquid before reading

(I’m talking to a coworker when suddenly a child runs into the back of my legs.)

Me: “Hey there, what’s your name?”

Customer: “Oh, sorry about that. This is George.”

(I look up to see a lady holding two young boys, with another two boys sitting nearby in the waiting area.)

Me: “And what are these two handsome young ones called?”

Customer: “They are both called George.”

Me: “And the other children?”

Customer: “George. They are all called George.”

Me: “Not meaning to sound rude, but are they all your children?”

Customer: “Yes, all mine!”

Me: “Why call them all George?”

Customer: “Well, if I want them all to do something, all I have to do is say, ‘George, sit down!’ or ‘George, come here!’”

Me: “But what if you just want to speak to one of the children?”

Customer: “Oh, then I call them by their last name!”

Me: “…”

From: Not Always Right, which is a collection of generally hilarious stories from people who work in customer service.

It IS Sufficient

This was one of the devotionals that was e-mailed to me today:
It had pleased God to remove my youngest child under circumstances of peculiar trial and pain; and as I had just laid my little one's body in the churchyard, on return home, I felt it my duty to preach to my people on the meaning of trial.

Finding that this text was in the lesson for the following Sabbath, I chose it as my Master's message to them and myself; but on trying to prepare the notes, I found that in honesty I could not say that the words were true; and therefore I knelt down and asked God to let His grace be sufficient for me. While I was thus pleading, I opened my eyes and saw a framed illuminated text, which my mother had given me only a few days before, and which I had told my servant to place upon the wall during my absence at the holiday resort where my little one was taken away from us.

I did not notice the words on returning to my house; but as I looked up and wiped my eyes, the words met my gaze, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

The "is" was picked out in bright green while the "My" and the "thee" were painted in another color.

In one moment the message came straight to my soul, as a rebuke for offering such a prayer as, "Lord, let Thy grace be sufficient for me"; for the answer was almost as an audible voice, "How dare you ask that which is?" God cannot make it any more sufficient than He has made it; get up and believe it, and you will find it true, because the Lord says it in the simplest way: "My grace is (not shall be or may be) sufficient for thee."

"My," "is," and "thee" were from that moment, I hope, indelibly fixed upon my heart; and I (thank God) have been trying to live in the reality of the message from that day forward to the present time.

The lesson that came to me, and which I seek to convey to others, is, Never turn God's facts into hopes, or prayers, but simply use them as realities, and you will find them powerful as you believe them.--Prebendary H. W. Webb Peploe

Marathon

So, in my not so spare time I've been running. Mostly in the mornings, before its too unbearably hot (ie before about 7:30am). I'm partway through week 6 of the Couch to 5K, which means I have the big scary 20 minute run behind me. It wasn't easy, but I did finish it. I was going to try and use the google pedometer to figure out how far I ran, but I honestly don't know the route I took. I just kept turning corners every time the voice on my mp3 player said, "just x minutes left."
I'm pretty much considering the couch to 5K to be my pre-training. My plan is still to run (or should I say finish) the marathon in January. And raise money for Phoenix Children's Hospital. My fundraising web page is now active- you can get there from the button in my sidebar. I've decided that raising $1500 really isn't as scary as it sounds. It means 150 people giving $10 each, or even 15 people giving $100 each. And PCH is such a good cause- I have families who have gone there, and although going to the hospital with a child is almost never a good thing, most have had praise for PCH.