Great "Game Night"

Earlier this week I thought we were due for a “game night”. Our last “game night” was New Year’s Eve with our dear friends and I thought it would be great if we could reconvene. My wife agreed and we invited our dear friends over for barbecue pizza and “game night”. By the way I do recommend barbecue pizza; I was introduced to this during a “visit” and it was delicious. The recipe has been perfected since the first time and it really is quite easy along with being delicious. Thankfully being in Southern California the outside grill is available year round and making the barbecue pizza is a pleasure. Our dear friends did arrive and it is truly amazing how well our families are matched. Their children are the exact age as our children and it is always a pleasure having them over.

Dinner went well and pina coladas were poured. (No, I didn’t “indulge” and still remain abstinent as I continue to honor the promise I made to myself when I was released. As I have embraced recovery I realize the difference between being abstinent and being in recovery. I am clearly in recovery from my compulsive gambling ways but I am only abstinent from drinking alcohol. My wife doesn’t understand why I have chosen to refrain from alcoholic drinks as I serve parole and really it is only my paranoia that caused this promise to me. I don’t know if I will remain abstinent after my parole has concluded but really it isn’t much of an issue.) The children went upstairs to the “lounge” to play on the Wii and my “favorite” game was brought out as “game night” commenced. I say “favorite” with tongue firmly implanted in check because Pictionary is one game I really “suck” at!!!

It has now become a running joke and hopefully I am good natured enough to always play this game. It is usually the “guys” against the “girls” who means my dear friend draws the short straw having me the “drawing” challenged partner. Somehow we have actually won in the last few “game nights” so maybe I am not that bad. Oh yes, I am that bad! I do have an idea of what I want to draw but my brain and my hand are certainly not connected because I have difficulty drawing a straight line with a ruler!! Additionally I get too intricate and instead of just drawing the subject I take the circuitous route. I was given some good pointers last night about just cutting to the chase. I listened to the advice but wasn’t very gracious as it was all part of the game.

Once again the team with the drawing challenged partner prevailed. I don’t know how we do it especially when I am drawing but somehow we won the very long game of Pictionary. This game seemed to last all night long because it did!! Usually we will play another game but last night there just wasn’t enough time. I did and I think everyone had a very good time because it was wonderful being with such great friends. The evening was filled with laughter and good natured teasing. The old guys did rule for tonight and we relished in the victory.

This morning it was a very slow start to the day because we went to sleep very late. Everyone had a slow start and as I was waiting for the family to wake up I did watch the CBS Sunday Morning Program. As the show ended my son made his entrance and just about everyone was awake. We made our way downstairs for the usual pancake breakfast and yes, it was a typical Sunday morning. The children had religious studies to work on and after this was finished I took my daughter to the softball field. Softball season was postponed for one week because of the rain but today my daughter wanted to join her friends at the softball field. She is so enthusiastic about playing softball that it is wonderful. I took her to the field and stayed for awhile but I had to take care of something but I did come back with my son.

All three of us had a good time on the field and my daughter was very happy how she was playing. She received some very nice compliments from one of the coaches she was practicing with and her pride did show. My son is just happy to move around outside and he had a great time practicing his over the fence catches. I didn’t realize this until today but my son is a bit of “showboat” on the baseball field and I think he has watched too many “Sportscenters”. He is a good player but likes to do the things that the major leaguers do such as one hand the fly ball catches. This is a habit that needs to be broken and I did talk to him about it and he was very receptive. It seemed to screw him up a bit but hopefully he will embrace the fundamentals very soon. It was a wonderful afternoon on the softball diamond with my children and there was nothing I would trade for this day!!