Twenty Six.

When my dear husband started working on publishing a game, I started thinking about what kind of game I would create.  I have one idea that has been lingering in the back of my head, I'm not sure how to execute it, so I sat on it.  Recently, a new game struck me.  It's a combination of poker and a word game.  Immediately, I knew what I wanted the cards to look like. I wanted brown cards with distressing, lots of words, a typewriter font, and swirls.  Almost like magic before my eyes, J had designed the cards I was describing.  We were able to play test rounds of the game, which went pretty well.  I chose to call the game Twenty Six, because that's how many letters are in the alphabet.  I also wanted that to be the part of the game that was kind of risky.  Score as many points as possible, but go over 26 in your round and you get a zero! We have changed the letter counts, changed points values, and added in some fun bonus point opportunities.  When all was said and done, the game came together beautifully! I am hoping that it's been published in time for holiday gift giving and more importantly for families to spend quality time playing games together over the holidays!

So, without further introduction...you can check it out and purchase it here! 

Fallinter

While we have been enjoying the colors of fall, we were graced with over 10" of snow in the last twenty four hours.  We ended up being without power or heat for 16 hours.  Despite the cool weather, I loved seeing fall colors poke out behind tufts of white snow.

Our source of light and heat!

Halloween Costume & Potluck

1.) Should I be a leperchaun or should I be a flapper (with tights and a long sleeve shirt under the dress)? Believe it or not I have everything in my closet to pull off both of these costumes. I could also go as Barbara Bush with a mask I have and suit.
2.) I am bringing a main dish to the potluck. One of the 8 attendees cannot eat bread or pasta. So I was thinking of taking an enchilada casserole or meatballs or funeral potatoes, what do you think?

Wintersong

There is a beautiful noise that accompanies snow.  Tonight we sit in peace and listen to the silence.  I have such a deep appreciation for quiet.  I havent always felt like it was the most amazing sound, but in the past few years I have found myself just wanting to drive with the radio off, to sit and read without the noise from a television, or work without the constant blaring of a fan.  The irony of all this is that as I was thinking of wanting to be enrobed in silence and it made me think of soft music. Sure, I am happy to see a new season approaching, but I think I am most content with the white noise it brings to my evening.

Dreaming of War

Last night I dreamt that I was a soldier who was shipped off to war.  Our uniforms were blue and the other side was red.  We weren't on American soil, we were over seas.  It was probably the 1950's. Our troop was set up in a grassy open field in the middle of a town.  It was kind of like a park.  We were going to do a surprise attack, but before we could a civilian who we thought was a passerby, opened fire.  We then opened fire.  I had one job.  My one and only job was to pull this heavy rope which would launch a heavy metal object that was like an over sized washer.  It was round, had a hole in the middle, and writing around the outside.  I knew I was suppose to wait to the pull the rope, but felt like it needed to be pulled in that moment, so just did it. I remember the general looking at me, surprised I pulled the rope already.  He wasn't mad, just surprised.  After that brief interaction he went back to rallying the troops.  This is when I deserted.  I snuck out the back of the white tent we had set up.  From there I just kind of jogged down a block and tucked in to a museum. I waited there for a while, hiding behind a display curtain.  I think I even stayed there a couple days.  I wondered if they knew I deserted or if they thought I was missing in action.  I contemplated whether I'd ever be able to go back.  I wasn't ashamed, I knew it wasn't for me and that I had good intentions.
So, I've been thinking about this dream on and off throughout the day.  I didn't have much time to really think in depth until a few minutes ago.  I looked up in the dream dictionary about being a soldier, about being in war, etc. All I can figure out is that the battle has to do with my work-life balance.  I haven't really gotten in to any fights or disagreements with anyone lately.  In fact, I'm pretty at peace with every part of my life except my work-life balance.  I really believe your dreams can tell you something, but sometimes it is just isn't clear.  I wish my dream gave me a clue as to what was next! I suppose I can be patient though.

Fall. Beautiful Fall.

This afternoon we treated ourselves to afternoon at a local pumpkin patch. The colors were gorgeous, the air was comfortable, and the time with family was fantastic. Here are a few of the shots of fall in Colorado.

Blue Jean Bliss and Lutefisk

Today I went to lunch with my supervisor and another co-worker.  After lunch we ran an errand in preparation for the training we are planning next week for around 500 volunteers. We've been working very hard and keeping long hours.  I was delighted when we decided to randomly stop in a store that none of us had ever been in before.  We walked in to the store and discovered a cute boutique.  I was kind of doing a complimentary once over of all the cute clothes, assuming nothing would fit.  A moment later my supervisor picked up a pair of jeans.  She knows I can never find pants that fit.  They are either huge through the thigh or saggy in the butt, or both.  She told me I should try the jeans on.  The jeans were cute. I loved the color and they had some bling.  They were the classy kind of jeans that never come in my size, are super expensive, and even if they did have my "size" they probably wouldn't fit.  I decided to be a sport and try the jeans on anyway.  I slipped in to the dressing room.  As I began to slide my legs into the jeans and go for the zipper, something amazing happened.  The associate outside my dressing room and co-workers asked how it was going.  I paused, unsure of what to say.  It was actually going well.  The jeans fit.  They didn't just like fit around my waist, but they were not too big through the seat or the thigh.  I was in shock.  For the first time in my life, I walked in to a boutique and found an amazing pair of jeans. I quickly texted the husband and told him about this strange occurrence.  Everyone who knows me, knows I have a very difficult time finding pants.  I was down to one pair of jeans, one pair of khaki capris, a pair of grey slacks, and a pair of black slacks.  Those are all of the pants in my wardrobe.  I'm happy to share that I, for the first time in my life, have an amazing pair of jeans.  I also think they are almost slenderizing or something.  I swear they are magic jeans! I had to share because it was like a moment straight from the book about the traveling jeans. Incredible. I can't wait to wear them out in public!
In addition to my blue jean bliss, my dear sister-in-law texted to see if I wanted to go the lutefisk dinner this weekend! She hasn't tried lutefisk before, but she knows I've wanted to go to one for years.  They don't frequently have dinners here like they did in Montana.  I am so excited to go tomorrow!  I'm also looking forward to sharing this little piece of my life with my husband, niece, and of course sister-in-law! I am so blessed.  Blessed beyond words.