January 2009

Happy New Year! We rang in 2009 @ my house this year. There was lots of drama leading up to start time. It all started the day before with all those bastard weather people predicting a “major snow event” just in time for Pokeno. I franticly hatched a backup plan just in case. Saturday comes & um…where’s all the snow? At noon I decided it was “game on” & rolled along with the rest of my preparations. A few hours before game time, Patt was still undecided as it was snowing over her way & she’s got an hour plus drive. Always the true road warrior, she came to play the first round. Then, Peg decided she wasn’t feeling well & couldn’t make it. This left me without the 2 dishes that she was responsible for. So, I scrambled again to get everyone to bring extra cash to order something (or starve). This actually worked out quite well. I still provided my appetizers, we got chicken fingers & assorted pizzas. Thanks again to all you fine ladies for making my delivery guy “feel like a celebrity”! I hope I’m not blacklisted in the future from ordering food from there… For dessert, we had chocolate chip cookies (thanks Debi) & an assortment of crème puffs/éclairs (thanks Phyllis). As usual, everything was delicious!

We pigged out first, and then played until 8:45. Marge, Kate L & Patt all left after that one. Kate L kept hitting the pots during that first round. I put on a pot of super fantastic coffee which pepped us up for another round. This one lasted till a little after 10, and then everyone headed for home. During the 2nd round, Debi called for the first time ever! She didn’t feel as much pressure w/ just the 4 of us. She didn’t mind calling once she found her groove & realized she can call at her own pace & still cover her card too. I continued the hostess winning streak by winning the first cover all (by myself) & split the 2nd cover all w/ Katie G. If the hostess winning streak continues, I wonder who’s gonna win next month - the hostess or the hosting house? Hmm, we’ll just have to wait & see.

MYSTERY BOX

Kate L. was in charge of the first Mystery of the New Year. I’ve always told you guys that you can put whatever you want in there & boy did Kate run w/ that one! She provided 2 boxes heavily taped & wrapped in the Catholic Star Herald (recycling), used the bows from her prior Mystery from Peg (recycling again) & even packaged one of the mysteries in the box/tissue paper that Marge used for her Christmas churches (wow – who knew Kate was so “green”?).

Phyllis was the winner this month. She won a tangerine candle, a sign that said “some days are meant to be playing” & a wack kitten that’s some sort of fabric/ceramic. Phyllis said she’s gonna name it “Katie”. In case you forgot what it looks like, please see photo on the side there. I wonder what sort of goodies Phyllis will put in the February box…

FEELIN’ THE LOVE

Our annual Valentine’s party will be held SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST @ 6:00. Kate L will be hosting, but we’ll be playing at Phyllis’ house since Kate doesn’t have a place of her own. Phyllis decided on an Italian menu. I’m sure this will be a super swell party!

JANUARY SHOUT OUT

Here’s one great big birthday shout out to Patt who celebrated her birthday on January 5th. Debi got her a few bags of magnetic chips & a magic wand to use at Pokeno. Patt was very excited to use her new goodies. The first bag of chips didn’t seem to be bringing her much luck, so she switched to the other bag. As soon as she did that, she won a pot! Maybe her wand really is magic!

RANDOM FUNNIES

Put that in your pantry! Debi noted that as her Christmas gift, she got new carpet & a new pantry for her kitchen. She told Patt, “Oh, you’re gonna love my pantry!” to which Patt replied, “I’ve ALWAYS loved Debi’s pantry!” That got a few laughs…

Go, go, gadget arm! Katie G (avid techno geek) was playing w/ her camera phone & was taking some sort of panoramic shot when Phyllis called her “Inspector Gadget”. Huh? Why? Because she’s always gotta play with her gadgets!

What’s that card? Joker? Jokeno? Nope – it’s actually a Jack of something or another! Good thing we all keep an eye on each other while we’re calling, or we’d really be confused.

What kind? Phyllis hit for a flush. Not sure what came before she said it, but it came out, “It’s not that kind, it’s THAT kind!” Oh, of course….that kind! Now it all makes sense!

QUOTES FOR THE NEW YEAR

• The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to. ~P.J. O'Rourke

• A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

• People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~Author Unknown

• An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

I’d like to take this opportunity to say peace out to 2008. I know some of you are glad it’s over. Here’s looking forward to 2009 & all the opportunities (or in our case…dimes) to come!