We’re still in the freezer here in Maine like a lot of other places around the country.  It’s another stay in, stay warm, and stay at home nite for sure.  I have a few things I need to get done today including a general cleanup of the house since we’re having guests for dinner tonight.

Shish-kabobs are on the menu so a little marinating is required for the meat and blah . .  blah . .  blah.  That sounds almost as boring to me as it must to you.  I spent a few morning hours on the computer answering emails and visiting some of my favorite blogs.  It’s amazing the amount of diversity that can be found on WordPress.  If I’m not disciplined I can spend hours just roaming around randomly reading everything in sight.

I also need to log a little X-box time today to calm my nerves and relax a bit.  Our guests this evening are serious gamers who take no prisoners in any activity they participate in and I assume the X-box will be involved.

My better-half arrived from work in mid-afternoon and began a flurry of activity before the guests arrived. As always I did my part by cracking open a bottle of Chardonnay to assist me in my supervisory capacity.  It’s a tough job but someone has to do it and I’m always first in line.

The guests arrived right on time and before I realized it we were on the X-box for a raucous darts tournament.  I did my best to win but it just wasn’t meant to be. I was beaten like the proverbial rented mule and in damn short order by my better-half.  Don’t you just hate people who spend all of their time telling you how bad they are at something and then proceed to kick your ass? It’s like rubbing salt into the wounds as far as I’m concerned. It was a disappointing way to start the evenings activities but I’m not demoralized just yet.

The dinner was excellent but for me it was just an minor annoyance before the Hearts games began.  Playing Hearts with these guests can be a little like armed combat.  We take no prisoners and offer no mercy whatsoever.  We’ve played Hearts with them for years and the competition is as fierce now as it was the first nite we played.  For a change I managed to prevail with a decisive win and was exceptionally kind in my victory offering no smartass wise cracks or fake sympathy to the losers.  It’s always great to win and a big hooray for me.

More snacks and drinks then it’s back to the freaking X-box for a round of fun yet vicious bowling.  I should have stopped while I was ahead because I was crushed without mercy.  Well, at least I won something tonight.

These game nights are a great deal of fun and it’s something we’ve always enjoyed.  They’re especially nice during cold snaps like this where going out is problematic.  Staying in and sharing a few relaxing hours with friends is as good as it gets. It wasn’t a late night which then gave us some quiet time to relax a little before heading to bed.  I think the kitchen cleanup will have to wait until tomorrow because I’m suffering from a real lack of interest.

Check the doors and locks, turn on the electric blanket, and snuggle in for a few chapters of my new book.  Tomorrow is another day.