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Two big blow-outs a year, one for Daphne's birthday and one for Joel's birthday. This was Joel's 40th birthday and we had a full house for games and gossip.
This party was only two days after the second great Winchester flood. The basement was still damp from the six inches of water that poured in on Thursday so the kids all had to play upstairs. We cleaned the bedrooms and set up videos in the master bedroom.
Instead of a cake, Daphne made cupcakes -- yellow, chocolate and spice. Daphne and the kids decorated them on Friday with lots of frosting and candy. The kids really appreciated the cupcakes, but they were not as popular with the adults so we will be eating them for days to come.
People came in and out all day but there were around 20 adults here for pizza at dinner time. Turn out was good for a gaming party and we easily filled all available table space. Things got a little cramped during dinner when everyone piled into the kitchen, but we never ran out of chairs like the last party.
A few people asked us to also celebrate the kid's birthdays so we would have more parties during the year. I take that as the sign of a great success.
Party Journal
Bart: Liz, Joel, Nat and I played Mississippi Queen from 1 and a little until 2 and a little. I guess I won, having never played before people didn’t worry about stopping me. My main strategy was to avoid the congestion of the other three, conserve coal early and pick up people, then turn it on at the end. The river kept turning the wrong way for Nat. No other games started while we were playing, though now people are coming in greater numbers. Nice sunny day. Snow mostly melted.
Scott: I played Hellrail for the first time and won by delivering 23 souls to the inner circles of hell. I played with Joel, Chuck, and Bart. It’s a weird but fun game.
Joel: I wanted to play Tigris and Euphrates because we do not play it much; parties like this are my only chance. We played but the game was a little one sided. I won with 13 points in my weakest color. All three other players tied for second, each with 4 points in the weakest color. The secret to victory - well, knowing the rules the best helps. But my key is to keep all my leaders together in one big kingdom and let the others keep attacking me. I also had good luck with getting lots of red tiles.
Dean: He whupped us all right. I feel completely humiliated.
Dean: Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! What game were Joel, C----, Laura, Steve, et. al. just playing? You guess.
Ben: The kids finished a second video at 5:30. I am still bored. I am waiting for The Great Dalmuti to be played.
Bart: Dan, Ellen, Nat and I played Streetcar with 3 stops each. None of them had played before, and I got a lucky layout, and I won, with Nat coming in 2nd. I like it because it’s a good match of strategy and luck, and there aren’t loads of fiddly little pieces and it doesn’t take too long.
Ken: Citadels (Ohne Furcht und Adel) is a game won by building the required number of buildings first. The difference between 1st and 2nd was only 3 points (26,23,23,23,18). There are aspects of poker in figuring out what characters the player with the most gold will choose when you are the thief. Once the king is acquired, it is easy to stay the king, which worked well for Terry. I came from behind after being killed and stolen from the first two rounds.
Dcp: Happy Birthday, Joel! (I’m a little bit Twitchy, but I’ll survive.) Welcome to middle-age, but don’t drink the Geritol all at once.
Paula: Mike Elkins introduced a couple of us to a fun card game, Frank’s Zoo. It was great catching up with Chuck, Ken, Daniell, Dave and Terry. Happy B’day, Joel.
Hugh: I failed to raise sufficient Hell in HellRails losing to Nat by only one point as he “fanned the flames” to end the game. ‘Twas a fun matchup! Happy Birthday Joel! I’m glad to finally attend one of your wonderful all day gaming events! Was great to be here.
Nat: I won Hellrails in blazing come-from-behind style. Who says the devil doesn’t look after his own!
Anthony: Janet told me I wasn’t allowed to buy new games after coming here… Oh well! (Happy Birthday, Joel!)
Dean: People seemed to enjoy some of the games I brought - Streetcar, Apples to Apples, Twitch. I played Great Dalmuti and after three hands, I ended up most lord high Dalmuti, which I tenaciously held onto for the duration of the game, despite a serious blunder in one hand. Happy Birthday, Joel! Thanks for a great party, Daph.
Terry: Thanks for turning 40. I enjoyed participating, even though it was only for a few hours. Would you consider turning 41 on a Sunday? Let’s keep in touch, ok?…. Deserter! 8-)
This web page (http://www.gouldhome.com/JoelsBirthday01.html) was last updated on March 24, 2001.
For any comments or suggestions about the site contact Daphne Gould.
Contents copyright © 1999-2003 by Joel and Daphne Gould.
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