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blogging, Dominoes, Edgar Ramirez, Game Night, games, Monday, S.A. Young author, Van Morrison, videos
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Good Morning and Happy Monday!
How was your weekend? Perhaps you were one of the over 160 million people in the world who watched the Super Bowl last night. (160 million is a mere drop in the bucket when compared to the more than a billion people who watched at least part of the World Cup series in 2014, and yet there was arguably three times the hype for last night’s grid-iron extravaganza.) In any case, I was not among them.
I did do something fun this weekend, though. I learned a new game. Actually, the game isn’t new at all. It’s been around since the 13th century and the Yuan Dynasty of China. It was new to me, however. I’m referring to Dominoes. Apparently, much like soccer*, this is a game played by millions and millions of people all over this planet, but in America, not so much.
The only time I ever thought about dominoes, if I thought about them at all, was when a feat of engineering, patience and rock-steady hands, like the one below, made the evening news.
Occasionally one could catch a glimpse of old men playing in a park in a scene from a movie or a photo in National Geographic.
Of course, there’s the classic song by Van Morrison (Monday’s earworm – you’re welcome)
And the late Tony Scott’s last film, Domino, about the late daughter of actor Laurence Harvey, who looked absolutely nothing like Keira Knightley (Ya know, I’d give the whole bounty hunter thing a go if it came with Edgar Ramirez)
But I digress.
On Saturday, eight of us got together for a “Game Night”. Someone had offered to bring “Twister”, but that idea was quickly nixed. The devil on your shoulder may tell you that you can do everything you did at 20, but the angel with the common sense on the other still occasionally wins the day.
Instead, we played “Cards Against Humanity”, which I’ve mentioned before and is hilarious, especially after a few adult bevvies, and tried a round of Trivial Pursuit (2000’s edition). Quite honestly, I don’t like the way they’ve changed the rules for that one, in an effort to speed up the game.
The highlight of the evening for me? I learned to play “Chicken Foot” which is a variation of another variation of Dominoes called “Mexican Train”, both of which are popular in Hispanic cultures. If you’re interested in the rules, the internet has you covered.
Some may see playing Dominoes on a Saturday night as the next step on the way to Bingo Night in the church basement, but it didn’t feel that way. We may not be up for Twister anymore, but you haven’t lived until you’ve heard a Puerto Rican and a Cubano smack talking over the tiles, no trip to the emergency room for a dislocated hip required.
So what did you do for fun?
*The world calls it football, but Americans have to have their own word for it because they’ve co-opted football for a game that isn’t played with feet. That bugs me – always has, always will.
5 Comments
February 6, 2017 at 12:11 pm
Welcome to my America! 😉 We’ve been playing at family reunions and church picnics since I was a nibblet. I worked for a seed company during college and dominoes was the lunch time game of choice. Epic smack talk! The guys finally figured out I was cool with R-rated sparring. Good memories.
February 6, 2017 at 12:21 pm
I was just about to say, what America you talkin’ about Willis?! Then I saw K’s comment. Yeah, dominoes was always big in my Southern family gatherings. Usually the grownups would wait until we were all in bed to play, smoke, drink and, yes, smack talk, but eventually we grew old enough to be let in on it. If an adult was willing to give up their seat. In which case they’d lurk at our shoulders kibitzing and generally talking smack about our inept plays. Fun times!
Thanks for the memories!
February 6, 2017 at 12:35 pm
LOL Where have I been? (Well, to be honest, I have never spent a lot of time in the South – The Gulf Coast of Florida does not count)
February 6, 2017 at 3:22 pm
My dad and I played many a game of dominoes when I was young (that, and chequers) – although I don’t recall any smack talk with him . . . but I don’t think I have played for many a year. Could definitely be fun over a few ‘coldies’ . . . . 🙂
February 6, 2017 at 5:02 pm
I’m still focusing on Cards Against Humanity. I’ve played several times (adult beverages definitely help). The couple of times I’ve played with my adult children AND my mother required copious amounts of liquor to help with my being completely mortified at all times. Game nights are the best!