Happy Thanksgiving 2024!
With a quick review of Mine Turtle and notes on where to shop for Black Friday
Hello, friends! I have just finished digesting a very delicious Thanksgiving lunch provided by Java Nation Silver Spring (the prime rib was divine!) and am trying not to feel guilty about catching up with work while other people are presumably doing fun family/group things. I’ll hit up the kids for a board game or something later, tho everyone seems more into a little quiet time right now after our raucous lunch (with running commentary and gossip from my far-flung siblings via WhatsApp) and several short walks. Actually, the twins are wrestling on the ground behind me as I type, so maybe they’ll be amenable to a game or movie sooner rather than later.
I haven’t had a chance to play any games otherwise, as this week has been full of music, Arsenal being amazing, and recovering from the double whammy of getting my COVID booster and flu shot on Tuesday. My Kickstarter shipment of Mine Turtle came in tho, and the rest of my family had a blast playing it! The adults are a little less enthusiastic about getting future rounds in but the kids loved it, especially after we took out the stuff that was less relevant to them. It’s not an adult game per se — it’s rated for ages 13+, after all — but challenges to “text your ex” are far less interesting for kids with neither phones nor exes.
I’ve also been prepping for Black Friday despite not really needing anything myself this year. Just a reminder: Amazon workers in 20 countries including the United States are on strike from Black Friday through Cyber Monday! Don’t be a scab! And if you need books, Bookshop is a terrific alternative. I have a storefront there too, if you’d like to throw a few commissions my way.
Speaking of books, I feel like I read a lot more than I actually did this week, tho apparently I’ve broken previous years’ records and am now on book #311 of the year, with over a month still to go. Let me celebrate that by telling you about the fantastic What I Must Tell The World by Jay Leslie & Loveis Wise. This children’s picture book tells the story of playwright Lorraine Hansberry in superlative text and, somehow, even better illustrations. It’s a gorgeous, glorious biography that’s a must-read for anyone of any age who cares about creativity and authenticity.
I also really enjoyed reading Erin K Browne’s The Ultimate Guide To Dollywood. A big trip isn’t in my family’s plans for the foreseeable future, but my vote would definitely be for Dollywood if it were. This guide was great for not only learning about the theme park and daydreaming about visiting, but also for learning more about the fabulous Dolly Parton.
Alright, gonna try to cram in a little more work before bringing the family in for their vaccinations tomorrow and seeing how much brick-and-mortar shopping we can get done. See you in seven, friends!
Currently Playing (Music): Beethoven’s Symphony #1; Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in F Minor; my Declan Rice and RHJ playlists; Duran Duran’s Danse Macabre De Luxe & Greatest Hits; The War And The Treaty’s Lover’s Game; Kendrick Lamar’s GNX.
Currently Playing (Games): The Light In The Mist puzzletale, Enigmas by David Kwong & Co, The Wild Beyond The Witchlight, Metazooa and Metaflora by Trainwreck Labs, Learned League trivia, NYT Connections, Britannica’s Tightrope, Magic The Gathering: Puzzle Quest and CCG, Koriko.
Currently Reading/Writing (Games): Ghosts Of Saltmarsh.
Currently Reading or Just Read (Books): The Ultimate Guide To Dollywood by Erin K Browne; Murder At The Lemonberry Tea by Darci Hannah; What I Must Tell The World by Jay Leslie & Loveis Wise; The Queen by Nick Cutter; Nothing Special Vol 2 by Katie Cook; Smarty The Brain: Stories by Brian S Hamilton.