We're really jazzed to have Leanne Banks riding with us today! Leanne has been my buddy for years and it's just a thrill to have her here. Make sure you check out her new supper hot, super fun TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS. It's a great pick me up after a long hard winter! So, please welcome my buddy, Leanne. Thanks! Cindy
We have these great friends -- Ann and Ray Cholewinski. Ann is a constant “ray” of sunshine. Ray is Mr. Be-Prepared. Gotta love them both. It’s a big deal for me to host people at my home. I’m terrified they’ll learn how disorganized I am and stop loving me. I’m not dirty. Just cluttered. My husband and I do a mad-dash de-clutter before we receive guests. Ray and Ann love us anyway.:)
Ann loves to play games. Her family of origin is partly to blame. They hold the “Lineberry” Olympics every summer where the multitudes of the Lineberry clan gather and compete in golf and other games such as racing with a balloon between your legs, threading a needle, etc… Competitors range from young children to seniors, and winners receive a trophy. Ann brings her game-loving ways to many gatherings.
Last weekend I served BBQ, green beans and potatoes, and Ghiradelli brownies. The “Chows” brought homemade slaw… and two interesting games “Would you rather?” and “Whoonu?” We officially played “Whoonu?” I came in second, but it’s mostly about the cards you’re given and the fun is in learning about your co-players. Players take turns choosing their favorite and least favorite ranking their choices1-6. Ann got lucky and chose my top two favorites in one of the turns -- room service and TOMATOES. I would almost ‘ho myself out for homegrown tomatoes! Although one of my fave frozen veggies is broccoli with low-fat butter-ish sauce, it just doesn’t come close to tomatoes. I had horrible cards and made a big mistake and chose climbing a tree for my husband. (Yikes, he’s afraid of heights!) I was busy remembering a tree I climbed when I was a child. My nostalgia got in the way of thinking about what he would like, (however one of my other choices was talking on the phone! So what was I to choose!).
More confession: I totally hate buncko. I’m hanging my head in shame, but I find it irritating. There’s no skill. There’s no psychology. There’s no real math (THANK GOD). There’s technically no way to “learn” from this game. I will play it to attempt to be social, but it’s really hard for me. That said, I suspect it’s so mindless that you could gossip if you really wanted and if you didn’t imbibe too much wine because you were bored out of your mind.:) Not that I ever would. Tee-hee.
I’ve read that playing bridge can help prevent Alzheimers. My mother is an avid Bridge player and at 78, she’s sharp as a tack. She also does Sudoku. I’m convinced part of the reason my daughter and son-in-law got married is because they play card games. My son-in-law plays genius Sudoku and kicks butt. My mother says he’s a sharp guy and I trust her. She’s a smart girl.:)
One of my favorite group games is Left Right Center or Screw Your Neighbor. You put 3 bucks in front of you and roll a set of dice with LRC and dot on them. (L)Left means one dollar goes to the person on your left, (R)right means one dollar goes to the person on your right, (C) Center goes to he pot and you never get it back. Dot means you get to keep it. We’ve played this so that the pot goes to brides, grooms, new mothers, new fathers and, grandparents and charities. We’re all screaming throughout the game. Try it.
Oh crap, I was supposed to tell you about my new book, TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS. It’s a fun book. It will not give you a headache or heartache. It might even make you smile and feel better. Check it out on my website at www.leannebanks.com And even though it’s totally unrelated, I thought it might be valuable to get a word of advice from my 4 1/2 pound Pomeranian named Bijou.
So what’s your fave game? I’m giving away a book to one of the responders.
xo,
Leanne
53 comments:
Leanne, my love! I SO have to play the Screw Your Neibhor Game!
I married into a card game-playing family, and I thought I was pretty good until they said stuff like, "Oh, I forgot to tell you this little rule..." (It was my mom who picked up on that.)
Thanks for joining us in the convertible!
love games
am playing poker on the ninentdo
kh
I'm originally from Wisconsin so when we get together we play the card game Sheephead. We also like Up & Down the River, Texas Hold'um and traditional board games: Clue, Monopoly, Sorry, Mystery Mansion...
Welcome, Leanne! Screw your neighbor sounds like fun-- except where do you get dice marked that way? I'll have to look for them!
And I LUUUV your baby, Bijou! what a sweetheart! And is that her philosophy of life or yours: "Trust Your Crazy Ideas"?
Whoever it belongs, to, it's probably a good idea!
Hi Leeanne! I love playing games, my husband hates them. But cards are my favorite, 500 and bridge. Because, as you said, they take skill and some technique and I'm ruthless, LOL!
One board game that's a lot of fun is True Colors. Up to eight people can play and the more people the more fun. You choose cards and it describes a situation: there's a hole in your fence and your gorgeous neighbor likes to sun bathe in the nude. Which person is most likely to peek? Then everyone has to choose one person at the table (indicated by a color) and vote. It's hilarious. People with strong or definitive personalities usually win because they have such distinctive qualities.
Welcome to the convertible!
I love games too! I'm a great winner but a very poor loser :o)
We love Balderdash because you get to lie. Also, there's a crazy game we play called Liar's Dice. So much fun. And wow, I'm seeing a pattern here. Lies seem to predominate. :o)
Welcome, Leanne,
Our family plays Scene-It! every Thanksgiving, and the winner gets the trophy (which is the ugliest thing we can find) and they must display it through the year.
I also like a really good jigsaw puzzle. I intend to do those until I'm 100!
Christie! We forgot to tell you about that rule.... I think my daughter may have gotten some of that with her husband's card shark family. She learned about bluffing big time.:)
kh tee-hee on nintendo poker. Does it help your real game?
Laurie, I'm taking notes on those games. Do you have a fave?
Betina, I found the dice game for Left Right Center at Target one time, at Spencer Gifts another, but I originally bought them on the internet after playing the game. So much easier to shop via google! As for "Trust Your Crazy Ideas", I aspire to do that!:)
Oh Kylie, I gotta get that game. True Colors. Sounds like a scream! THANKS for the recommendation!:)
Cindy, no surprise that you're a good winner and bad loser. You have so much more experience at WINNING! I'm not familiar with Balderdash. I'll have to google it! tee-hee
Oh Michele, would love to see a pic of that trophy.:) I can go with Scene It...but jigsaw puzzles. Oh man, that's a total act of frustration for me. I do, however, admire those who do them... so consider yourself admired.:)
Hey Leanne! Welcome to the vert!
Your Bijou is a doll - just wanna give her a hug!
I'm so happy to find someone else who can't stand bunco. My neighbors are always trying to get me to sub for them and while I love the socializing part, can't stand the dice part. And they roll 'em too fast to visit.
I love Balderdash too - it can be hilarious - making up meanings for obscure words. We've got a couple jokesters in my family, so it's always good for a laugh.
Hey, Leanne, great to see you!
I grew up on board games. Monopoly, Parcheesi--anyone remember Careers? Twister came out when I was a teen--great party game. When the kids were young I gae one of my friend's kids Mousetrap. She got me back for it on my daughter's next birthday. And I just used Hungry Hungry Hippos in a book. Wonderful memories. But card games...I'll get to those separates. Great topic!
Card games we play a lot are Skip-Bo, Phase 10, and Uno. We also play a lot of dominoes-Mexican Train is a great one. But I do well in that game, so I could be just a bit biased.
Helen, thanks for explaining Balderdash! I'll add that one to my list! Glad you enjoyed my little Bijou. She really is a sweetie!
Kathleen, yes to Twister and Monopoly! I remember my sister had The Dating Game in a box! I think Today's Twister must be the Wii. We got Wii Fit and my husband TRICKED me into doing it and learned my weight, bmi and REALAGE, but wouldn't divulge any of his stuff to me!
Keri, tee-hee! I'm with you. Games are so much more fun when I'm good at them!:)
Hey Leanne, welcome. Great to have you along. I'm a head-on proponent of your Trust Your Crazy Ideas idea.
I just played a board game called Men are from Mars, Women from Venus. Quite fun and you learn stuff you never wanted to know about your sig. other. :)
Card games. A few years back I got into collecting old toys, and I found an Old Maid deck like the one I had back in the day. It was like a reunion with an old friend.
The game of Hearts brings back lovely memories from Guam. I was 10, my brother 18 months younger. We played partners with our parents around the kitchen table, and I learned a lot from Daddy, who was an excellent card player. "Remember the cards that have been played. That's the key to the game."
When our kids were little we used to play Pinochle with another couple--our best friends--whenever we got together for supper or holiday dinners or ND snowbound evenings. The way people play cards often says so much about them. It's such a neat way to socialize with friends and spend time with family.
Hey, Lois, what was that game we played at your house when we gathered for your birthday? That was fun!
Hee! I love Freudian slips, maybe because I make them so often myself.
Introducing this release as '...supper hot...' makes me think the poster may be experiencing hunger pangs..
I also love how it's inroduced by the author as '..won't give you a headache or heartache, might even make you smile and feel better..' That's a fab endorsement.
My favorite game? on my own - Sudoku, with my kids - Uno.
Lois, I played a men vs. women game one time -- The Battle of the Sexes. It looked like fun, but it was hard! I bet the Venus and Mars one was more fun.
Lois, I played a men vs. women game one time -- The Battle of the Sexes. It looked like fun, but it was hard! I bet the Venus and Mars one was more fun.
Yikes sorry about the duplicate post! Kathleen, for me it was Go Fish and WAR! I love watching my daughter and son-in-law play. He's so competitive!lol
M! I didn't see Cindy's "supper", but you're right about Freudian slips. Too fun!:) How long did it take you to learn how to do Sudoku? I'm ashamed to confess I have never tried it, but I think I should. My brain could probably use some stretching!
Hey, Leanne..........Great post!
And I'm with you on the No to Bunco! God it makes me insane. Left Right Center Dot sounds fun, though!
Looking forward to the book!!
Maureen, you're so sweet! I realy WISH I could like Bunco and I've tried, but like Helen says, all that rolling of the dice and having to keep score can really mess up a great conversation!:) xo
I love to play dominoes, although I don't get to play very often. It takes four people at least and hubby want play. So I have to be around a group in my family. I also love to throw darts. I am not good at it but enjoy it.
Leanne-- Hello! And welcome to the convertible. Geez, I haven't seen you in a zillion years. At least not to chat since Loveswept days probably.
So...games...
We're a big game family. Tons of cards. Pictionary usually has us crying by the end of the night (from laughing) and lately I'm in love with the "dance mat" thing that my sister has. That has us crying and peeing our pants. :)
Oh, and of cards? Pinochle is my fav.
I love games! I have played screw your neighbor but I have another one called screw you (see a theme here lol). One deck of cards and any amount of people. Put 3 quarters (or an amount of your choice) in front of you. Everyone gets one card and you start left of dealer. Ace is low and King is high. You decide if you want to keep your card or trade to the left. They have to trade with you unless they have a King and then get to say screw you. Dealer has a choice of keeping his card (which many times is the lowest card passed on) or pick one from the pile. Loser (lowest card) puts a quarter in the pot. After your 3 quarters are gone, you get one "on your honor". Last one standing with money or an on your honor wins the pot. (if two people have the same low card they both pay). The more people, the more fun.
Leanne and Mo - I love BUNCO, lololol. Because of the reasons you described. I can drink, roll dice, count AND gossip all at the same time.
Now don't ask me to walk...Bijou is a doll baby!
I love the Wii, had 5 KO's the first time I boxed. then felt the strain of the muscles I apparently don't use very much!
Can't wait to read your new book Leanne. LOVE LOVE your work!!
Congrats on the new release, Leanne.
I love board games. My favorite are Clue, Life and Trivial Pursuit. We also love to play Scrabble, but there's always a fight over whether a certain word really exists.
Virginia! DARTS! How cool is that! My husband would terrified for me to throw anything sharp. He knows I have terrible aim.
I love playing games of all types, outdoor games like badmitten and bocce ball, indoor games, like trivia pursuits.
My favorite game is softball.
Deb so great to SEE YOU!:) Pictionary exposes another weak area for me. I don't draw well... so I really have to develop superb GUESSING abilities!:)
Catslady, I am taking notes on your "Screw You" game! I will try to introduce that to a group of women who love to play cards! I bet people get rowdy with that one. lol
Traci, what a coordinated woman, what a multi-tasker... do you give lessons?:)
Amy! 5KOs the first time you played Wii boxing!! Why am I not surprised!lol Thank you for the sweet words on my book!
Jane -- on scrabble, if someone is very confident the word is a real word, then I tend to believe them... and then get hornswaggled.:)
Flip, if you can do outdoor games, then you must be coordinated. I'll just have to watch in awe.:)
My favorite game is pinochle.
Estella, any card game is good. Thanks for posting!:)
it does i learn what otehr playes have and their tells. it is fun
kh
Mine is a family that loves comepetion in cards or boardgames. We especially like to place Euchure and Trivial Pursuit. Infact part of us played in once a month Triva tournament and 5 of us played on different teams and one or two of our teams would always be in the money 9 times out of ten.
I remeber one Christmas eve when my oldest brother and I were in our twenties, we started playing Euchure with a couple of our friend in the kitchen about 9 or 10pm and when my mom got up to put the turkey in the oven for Christmas dinner about 5am, we were still playing cards.
I think games keep people young and old gain a sharp mind.
My mom taught all of us kids to count and also taught her grandkids to count by playing cribbage. So any game can be educational.
Cindy! in our family it was my dad that was the sore looser and his name sake, my brother Peter took after him. But they were the two smartest in the family, so they had big egos. But then they said I was a bad winner, so it kind of evened things out.
When me and friends get together we either play Euchre or Scene it the movie editions!
My favorite game? Red Rover, I think.
Your book looks like a hoot.
Susan
I love playing Canasta(4 players) or Scrabble with 2 or more.
Liking your book.
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