Kids are off to bed and I’m enjoying a quiet pre-midnight indulgence.
Not sure I’ll make it to the big 0:00.
Here’s to next year!
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MicroMacro: Crime City, Johannes Sich, 2020
This game is Where’s Waldo in a metropolis of murder and mayhem.
As investigators, the player’s job is to track the incident on the map — backwards and forwards in time and space — to catch the perpetrators.
The key conceptual breakthrough is that the little figures are repeatedly shown in the map, tracking both space and time. Of course, it helps that the design team implemented this idea impeccably.
The kids absolutely love this game. My daughter hates competitive games so the team coop is a good fit, and the illustrations are cute as hell (an apt superlative given what’s depicted).
As a parent, I been awful at picking presents, especially games. So it I’ll take any success when where I can find it, even though I dislike the idea of single use games (sorry Legacy!).
Given my cheapskate tendencies, the fact I’m now considering other games of limited replayability is the highest recommendation I could give MicroMacro. Not just me, it won the ’21 Spiel des Jahres!
If it sounds interesting, get it.
Make sure you have a real magnifying glass when you play the game. The thin plastic magnifier that comes with the game scratches up easily. Even better, get a domed magnifying paperweight. It’s perfect for marking a key point on the map as well as exploring the vicinity. I’m happy we had one at home.
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I didn’t even get a hug before he left.
Mamma called out bedtime.
He rushed into our bedroom to say goodnight.
He picked up the bright red foam roller,
Tipped it onto one end,
Stood on his tippy toes,
Rested his forehead top of the new column.
And circumambulated around this monument a few times.
He sauntered out to play with his sister.䷂
avoid forest deep
prince and princess
stone pillar at home䷦
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When two is bad, three is good, especially because numbers are fluid at four.
We gave them a trio of Lego City Stuntz Bikes —
A little push and they zip across the room!
Forcing a teachable moment last night,
I channeled my inner Mommy,
Motorcycles are very dangerous. Never ride one. They’re bad!
The boy ran up with a smile,
Holding a two wheeled toy,
These are tricycles!䷓䷜
contemplate life
don’t ride that varmint
no error -
Day 3 of the New Year — finding pieces of myself at 1.0x speed.
My back was good enough (barely) to go to the park with the kids.
Before getting back into the car* I swung my arms around and discovered back muscles that I didn’t know existed.
Is this the #silverlining of #backpain?
* My wife was driving, there’s no way I would operate a vehicle outside of a dire emergency.
Oh and I survived my first day of living at 1.0x speed.
If it’s not worth 1.0x speed, it’s not worth it.
Maybe this will be rule #5.
Is there a hidden cost of trying to fit everything in? I can’t to remember anything from audiobooks that I “read” at 1.5x speed. Let’s not talk about YouTube.
Such an approach would force me to be pickier about my information consumption.
I also wonder if listening to things at high speed is grooving bad hidden psychological habits.
-
The boy shifted narratives as blocks swapped colors on the pixelated sculpt.
We built the Lego T-Rex from last year.
Couldn’t find the right piece for his lower jaw.
A yellow piece was the correct shape.
The dinosaur has gold teeth!I found the green piece.
He just cleaned his mouth!䷇
auspicious
if it fits -
Day 2 of the New Year.
My lower-back!
I crawled out of bed and across the room.
Tried to stretch it out.
Definitely not exercising today.
Watched YouTube videos to distract from the pain.
(Breaking two of my five rules on the second day!)No clue what happened.
A twinge showed up yesterday.
No cause, no incident.
Nothing stupid — not even negligent inactivity.The mid-40’s hath bestowed a mystery ailment upon mine body!
Now what?
䷽䷧
in small
perseverance furthersextreme care
might avoid
misfortunedeliverance
advantage through inaction
or fortune with quick actionwhich path?
something? nothing?
how do I determine
Habara gani?
Kujichagulia -
The boy masticated the masticated mass of masticated fiber until a deep green extract stained his lips and juice dripped down his chin.
He’s at the phase where food goes down slowly.
Never refuses to eat the meal.
(The consequences would be dire)
Just sits at the table for hours,
Chewing and chewing.
Especially veggies.Those.
Dark.
Green.
Ones.
Momma called downstairs
他吃完了吗？(Is he done yet?)Sister yelled back
No! He’s kale-ing!䷳䷑
the calf will not swallow
the kid did not sow
the buck does not fry -
5 rules for the New Year
starting today, ending tomorrow?
- Exercise first!
- No YouTube until the four dailies are done (Write, Sketch, Photo, Read)
- Play with the kids when they ask me to join them.
- No snacks until down to a proper weight.
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Eight years of not-believing in Santa was enough!
You adults have no imagination. Maybe he exists after all!
She threatened to write a letter to Santa.
It’s for his eyes only!
I couldn’t read it.But then she’s eight.
Didn’t get around to it.
Or so I thought.The morning after Christmas,
I found a folded piece of paper under computer,
She wrote it after all!We guessed right.
She got everything but the candy canes.
Mama maybe forgot those on purpose.䷎
mountains
underground
hidden potential
prevails