Play
time takes
so little effort.
Why not just enjoy
fun?
This poem is linked to Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads' Tuesday Platform.
Liner Notes For this Groove: If, as Alice Walker said
in The Color Purple, “Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors” then
vacation to me is just a chance to get my nerd on. Don’t get me wrong. I love
rambling on the rocky beaches, watching the ocean, and taking in the gorgeous
scenery. But if the day is stormy, the mosquitoes are vicious, (or let’s be
real, I just feel like it), I love indulging in some geeky games.
Last summer, one of my husband’s friends introduced us to
the X-Wing Fighters minatures game, based on the Star Wars movies. I hadn’t had
a chance to play since then, and there’s been a few upgrades to game play, allowing
for an option to run it something like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. We get
to be Rebel Alliance pilots and fly missions against the Empire.
I had a blast with this new version. My character (who I
named Calamity, after Calamity Jane) took down five ships and easily scored the
most points (a mighty 13). Jokes were made about the Imperial fleet running
away when they saw the X-wing with the anime pin-up boys start flying through
their sky.
 |
| There she is, mighty Red 27. |
Of course I wanted to play again as soon as possible. The next game I wasn’t so lucky. We all rolled poorly, barely escaping the Imperial Forces, and I had to eject and leave my trusty X-wing behind (weeps). But I totally want to keep playing. Heck, I wonder why I don’t play more games like this at home. I know life can get pretty hectic and I need to work on self-care. But self-care doesn’t always mean taking a bubble bath. Sometimes it means taking a couple of hours, goofing around, and high-fiving the husband on that sweet, sweet shot I made on an Imperial Interceptor.
So do any of you Groovers like playing games to de-stress? Or
have you done anything fun recently? Talk to me about it in the comments
section and feel free to drop a link to your cyberhome if you want to continue
the conversation there.
Song Choice: Many jokes were made about Calamity needing a theme song. While I had fun making up alternate lyrics to Bodak Yellow (I’m an ace, you a nerf-herding wimp. I make bloody moves), I think the first song I thought of was the best one, Shoot to Thrill by ACDC.
Ok! And this is such a playful reminder. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMischief managed!
DeleteSounds like you are having a lot of fun. Cool.
ReplyDeleteYeppers
DeleteThat’s just what I need right now, Rommy, fun!
ReplyDeleteWoot!
DeleteI have not been a fan of games actually... I think that I love winning too much and there is always a risk that the game turns more serious than it's worth... so for me it's watching the waves that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of friends who are the same way, but they aren't as thoughtful as you are. :D
DeleteThe only games I play these days are with the computer. Maybe once my son and I have moved to the new house, there will be a board game night. I would like that.
ReplyDeleteI'll play video games with the kids every now and again too, but my shoulder keeps me from going too crazy with it.
DeleteCatan... https://www.catan.com/game/catan Our family craves this game - the boyfriends, spouses... and we all want to dominate. It is so much fun. We are able to have fun even if we lose ... no bad sports.
ReplyDeleteSettlers of Catan! Though I see they shortened the name to just Catan because of the expansions. I never played those, but I love playing the original Catan. I think I first played it, if not in college, not too long after that. Sometimes the game can get cut throat, but for the most part we handle losing gracefully. Mostly. :D
DeleteThe good old board games back in the day... no patience for them now.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know board games are not everyone's cup of tea. They've exploded wildly beyond Monopoly and Risk these days though.
DeleteI had the thrill of attending the Garth Brooks concert in Eugene Oregon at Autzen Stadium recently .... life changing. Yes, even for an almost 78 year old! You could feel the love flowing throughout the night ~~ 60,000+ attendees screaming at the top of our lungs. He was awesome. And fun.
ReplyDeleteGarth Brooks concerts cab be like that. :) I was lucky enough to get to one back in the 90's. He's an AMAZING performer. Glad you got to experience that.
DeleteSometimes games are fun, sometimes they can be a bit stressful. depends on how serious the players are and how many rules and strategies! Simple games are best!
ReplyDeleteThe version we played was a cooperative play one. I have to say, as much fun as one on one play is, the co-op one is sooooooooooo much more fun. It's pretty cool to plan out our flight strategy with other rebel squadron pilots. :)
DeleteThough yeah, complicated rules can be a buzz kill.
Your poem is spot on, play time takes so little effort. Yet we don't play anymore. Such as life!
ReplyDeleteRight? LOL, I have plans to get some more of the miniatures and download the modules.
DeleteYes, all work and no play makes you boring. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, and life is too short to be boring
DeleteLove this!💖 Just this morning my sister and I were reminiscing about the time when we used to play Nintendo and Sega. We went online and to our delight all those games were available! So we ended up spending the entire afternoon playing games to our heart's content💖
ReplyDeleteSweet! Yeah, the hubs and I were discussing breaking out some of our favorite games and seeing if we can set it up on the big TV in the living room.
DeleteGlad you're having fun!
ReplyDeleteLOL, well I'm home now, and there's dusting to be done and groceries to be bought. But I did have a blast.
DeleteYes, we do have to take time to enjoy fun! Life is too short to do otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely
DeleteYou had me at Calamity and 13 and, of course, at that yummy elfchen that seems to wink at my reading eye. I love how much fun you had (I can feel it) writing the poem and the rest. The emotions bright and contagious.
ReplyDeleteLet's see... what fun thing have I done lately? Well, my Piano Man and I went to see Spider-Man. Also, I've been gardening and rearranging my books (for therapy, of course) *grins*.
One of Eric's friends may have a way we can play it on line, though it seems pretty tricky because the rules can be a little crunchy. In the meanwhile we have a basic set. That may mean that instead of playing cooperatively, my husband and I will have to play competitively (Darth Calamity has a nice ring to it) until we have enough minis to run a campaign. But we shall indeed play more games like this.
DeleteLOL, sounds like you have been having a lovely time too. :)
So nice that you get such pleasure from video games. I've never been much for games of any kind (only child - no one to play with) but I sure do like having fun and I consider my time writing poetry, drawing and painting my play time. So... I do love to play.
ReplyDeletePlay means something different to everyone. LOL, I did a fair amount of playing that way on my own too! There was no way I wasn't going to write while away.
DeleteJames & I have our online game...which I sometimes have to remind myself is supposed to be a game...I get weirdly completist with online stuff, no map area unexplored!! Love the poem & the notes striking into the idea that play is both fun & good for us! :)
ReplyDeleteI get that way with video games too! My brother made fun of me when I was a kid playing Ye Olde Mario Bros on my then state of the art Nintendo.
DeleteHow important it is to unwind this way. We can all indulge in activities that do this for there are so many options I wish more people would do it. Hoewever in my family we are addicted to something.
ReplyDeleteThis age is filled with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to ways to spending our leisure time. I'm just glad that my family all seem to enjoy similar types of activities.
DeleteLove this! My whole family enjoys board games, card games - and penny poker. Me … not so much. I do however love crossword puzzles: the more challenging … the better.
ReplyDeleteMike and I make a point of spending a couple of hours every afternoon working on 2 newspaper crosswords and just chatting. We have a cable channel here called Stingray Nature. It is a wonderful mixture of light jazz/classical/celtic type instrumentals that are intermingled with nature sounds … bird song, surf, rain as well as the occasional wolf howl and whale 'vocals' and we put that channel on, in the background, while we work on the crosswords. It lifts the ordinary up into 'some secluded rendezvous'. Hanging out - alone or together - is more important, I think, than we give it credit for.
Oh that channel sounds cool! My husband has a few go-to classical music spots on YouTube he likes to have on in the background for game time. It got to be a little funny to hear soothing music while we were cracking each other up playing Apples to Apples. We've also done "Reading Hour" where I make everyone the hot beverage of their choice (Coffee for the Hubs, tea for me, hot cocoa for my son, and whatever looks best to her at the moment for my daughter) and we read for a bit and then talk about it later. I agree with you...it's really important.
DeleteYes! fun is good :)
ReplyDeleteHere here! :)
DeleteI play video games to de-stress (when i was working) and when i hit a writer's block. i have a PS3 at home and is currently playing Dark Arisen,
ReplyDeletea wide world RPG. I have done a series of haiga for my blog 'inspired' by a video game i have played, Grand Theft Auto V. :)
Dark Arisen sounds interesting. Is it anything like Diablo in feel? I liked playing that one ages ago. The boy child and I have been on a classics kick, downloading the old Earthbound games and working through those.
DeleteGreat reminder! Great post! For me, I like to dance. I'll just start to dance, even if I'm outside gardening. LOL! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI have been known to bust out in spontaneous dance moves too. :)
DeleteI like to play cards too!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since I've played a card game with a classic deck of cards. LOL, our cards tend to involve zombies, giants, or superheroes.
Delete