MONOPOLY

The board game of Monopoly...has been around for 75 years...at least the version that 'we' are all familiar with.

There's really quite an interesting story that can be read about how this game came about and who really invented it.

I just remember as a youngster, my friend Mike and I would play entire weekends. We'd play into the wee hours of the morning...go to bed...and resume again when we woke up.

When Mike, or someone else, wasn't around...I'd play by myself. I'd sit on one side of the board and I'd play for the 3 'pretend' guys on the other sides. I'd be the banker...the deed watcher...house and hotel distributor...the dice roller...I did it all.

I was easily entertained. But I had fun...and stayed out of trouble.

Like my article about baseball cards and comics the other day...I've owned several versions of Monopoly. Sounds like the 'new' versions don't even have money these days...it's all done on a computer chip. The last one I owned...the houses and hotels were plastic.

I swear that first one we had...the houses and hotels were made of wood. Oh...to still have that version. Probably worth some real cash today.


Dan

WHAT...ME WORRY?

Nearly 2 years ago, Cindy surprised me with a gift of a laptop computer. Her main purpose...was that she was tired of me always disappearing to the computer room and not spending time with her.

It wasn't that I was ignoring Cindy. I was working...almost daily...on a personal project using our desktop computer.

The gift of the laptop, allowed me to still work on the project if I wanted...but at least I could be in the same room as she was.

Today...I rarely use the desktop...I'm hardly ever in the 'computer room'. Now...I can be found all over the house...in the bedroom...in the TV room...with the laptop...on my lap.

Today I read...the dangers of men having their laptops...on their laps. Scrotal hyperthermia.

Now...that may be an issue that some men need to worry about. But after all I've been through...it's not something I will.


Dan

MURDER IN PROGRESS

Cindy's trying to kill me! She's disguising it by cute little tricks...but oh don't let that fool you...she's trying to kill me.

The reason? Because my 'to do' list is so long...I get too flustered to even start working on it...so when a new task comes along...it just goes on the bottom of the list. She gets tired of me not working on a project...so today...the slow killing began.

She disguised it...by asking if the two grandsons...Mason & Owen...wanted to earn a few bucks. She walked them to the half bath...where the wallpaper has been in need of getting taken off the wall for...well...for a long time. So she told the boys to start peeling.

Well they started...but guess who's finishing? Yep...me! And my body is aching tonight for all the reaching...stretching...bending over...sitting on the floor...laying on the floor...reaching behind the toilet...under the sink...over the medicine cabinet.

I took three Advil to see if I can limit the body aches...but they don't seem to be doing any good. Of course...Cindy will get me loosened up in the morning...when she sends me back in there to finish the job.

I'm guessing this job will run me a couple of weeks. Hopefully by Thanksgiving, I'll have the bathroom done and newly painted. No wallpaper getting put up this time.

Cindy will try to kill me again if I do.


Dan

OH...TO GO BACK IN TIME

Every time I read a story like this, I think about my younger years when I had more comic books and baseball cards than I could count.

I'm sure I didn't have a Honus Wagner card...like the article...but I'll bet I had some cards (and probably old comics) that today might be worth hundreds...maybe thousands of dollars.

But no...they got thrown out...or left somewhere...or given away...or cards used to make my bicycle sound like a motorcycle.

To go back in time and find those cards...would be a real treat. And while I was back there...I'd invest in IBM, Apple and Google.

Then I guess I wouldn't need the cards!!


Dan

MEET MR. GRUMPY

This has been one of those days where bad news has come in bunches. It's put me in a less-than-friendly mood...and at bedtime that's not good for me...as I will toss these ideas in my head all night and sleep poorly.

I read where the Republicans have gained control of the House. They boast. I'm not sure why. They say they want to take the country back. Back where? They want to fix the problems? Good. As far as I'm concerned...they caused them...so they 'should' fix them. My gut tells me they won't be able to fix anything any better than the current administration. Try working out solutions that everyone gains...something...especially your constituents. But alas...I fear it won't be that easy.

Then...I hear that one of my friends is leaving their job...because of someone they have to work with. That person has no integrity...and gives no respect...yet demands it from others. My friend has had enough...and is taking their skills elsewhere. My friend...feeling they have asked for the matter to be addressed...with no changes taking place...has decided they will take their 30 skilled years to a competitor. I wish them well.

There's more...but it only makes me more frustrated to continue talking about them all. I am angry. My stomach is turning. I'm grumpy.

I am a firm believer in justice...'karma' if you will. My only relief is that I believe all the above will work out. My frustration is that it won't be as soon as 'I' want it to.

That's the part that will keep me up tonight.


Dan

NEW POLL

After work...I stopped off to vote...then came home to check email and Facebook before getting ready to go see my Boilers basketball team play tonight. Looking forward to a great basketball season.

While on Facebook...I thought it was interesting that you could click on a box to indicate to people that you voted. (I didn't click the box...because I don't think it's anybody else's business).

What made me chuckle...is that...as I write this...5,881,889 Facebook people say they have voted. The purpose for the chuckle...was because I wonder how factual this number really is. Usually at mid-term elections, such as this...voter turnout is usually very low. Yet 6 million Facebook folks say they voted.

I wonder if it's like the 600,000 people who say they attended Woodstock in 1969? Reports are that somewhere around 250,000 actually attended...but it's 'cool' to say "I was at Woodstock"...and who's gonna know?

Who's gonna know if 6 million people on Facebook voted? And for me...who cares?

I hope you voted. All I know is that I did...and that's all that counts.


Dan

I MADE IT !

It is the evening of November 1st. I have survived my first day back at work...after a full month off.

Now...not that I was loafing that month off...there were a few days in there that 'no one' would want to go through if they didn't have to.

But that month allowed me to heal...and get rested...and get as ready as one can get...to return to work.

I was greeted by a number of co-workers throughout the day who gave me a hug and a comment that they were glad to see me back. And in all honesty...it was good to be back. After 35 years...some of those folks are just like family...and I missed interacting with them as much as I would miss my own family.

I did comment to one of them that the only reason I came back...was because I didn't win the lottery while I was off. That's not 'totally' true...but if I'd have 'played'...and 'won'...it would've been very interesting!!


Dan