Poker Night

I always enjoy having people over to the house, usually more than I enjoy going to socialize at other people's houses. Not sure why that is - it definitely means more work for me... I have to clean the house, sometimes decorate, prepare lots of food. Lots of planning and works goes into having people over to the house... for me, anyway. We sometimes go to other abodes for celebrations and get-togethers, but I really do enjoy putting them on at our house. And in that spirit, Saturday night was POKER NIGHT - Wahoo!!!

We had a bunch of friends over with the promise of food, and the tantalizing hope of winning the pot. We play (on the few occasions it has happened to date) Texas Hold 'Em. It was a blast!! We had loads of food... so much that we had to put the bacon wrapped scallops (those didn't last long!!), some chips & dips, and the veggie tray on another table. Of course, desserts had their own spot too!! The food "theme" was finger-food... that way you could make several rounds between hands or just munch whenever. Several people brought dishes to add to the eating experience - a real group effort in "fine dining"!! When it was time to play, we consolidated food and then ran two tables for a while.

This shot is before food consolidation...

We play for a $10 buy-in per person, and we had 11 people playing on Saturday. It makes for great entertainment. We had people show up between 5-6pm so we could start on the eating right away. The last guest left around 3:30am - we were all yawning, but I was very satisfied with the events of the evening. We ran two tables and then consolidated to one after a few people lost out. Those of us that were out early had a chance to eat some more (of course!) and then started a game of Mexican Train (a domino game). I had as much fun there (more almost) as I did playing poker. We had a really good group of people. Definitely a game night to do over - and I don't think we'll wait as long (last Poker Night was in July or August 2005).

We're planning on having a Game Night when my sister M comes to visit. I'm already working on details, altho I have some time... Not sure if it'll be Poker Night, or Cranium, or maybe group Trivial Pursuit. Last time we had Game Night, we had about 30 people over and never did get around to playing the game... but it was still fun, and that's what really counts!!

Our grand winner had never played poker before - congratulations Cindy!! =)

A very big snowman

Remember... Don't look directly at the sun!!!

Is it summer yet?!?

One of the hardest parts of being in Alaska is the long, cold winters... but as with anything, there are benefits (of a sort). Some of the coldest, most miserable days are also the prettiest. It gets so cold that it hurts to breath and your nostrils can stick together - but that coldness forms ice crystals in the air that clump together and eventually coat everything with a crisp, clean layer (or several layers - depending on how long it's been cold enough to freeze your extremities off) of pristine frostiness that glitters everywhere.

That's not snow... It's ice crystals!!

We've made it through January... *finally*!! The days are noticeably longer, and I can dream that it's going to start warming up soon. Although, if tradition holds, we'll probably get a *huge* snowstorm sometime in February or March. It's sad when you realize it's "warm enough to snow" and are glad of it. I keep my sanity by starting to plan what kinds of flowers I'm going to plant in the flower bed, how many pots I'll get, and where they'll go.

We're going to a Superbowl Party tomorrow - get to watch the ads on a 42" plasma flat screen. Wahoo!! And I don't have to clean the house for visitors - another BIG WAHOO!! So today I just have to do laundry and grocery shopping (mostly for goodies for tomorrow!!). It'll be fun to chill with friends and watch the game (more like watch the commercials!). If I have to pick a team, I'm going to root for Seattle - they're lots closer to me (geographically speaking) than the other guys... whoever they are?!?

I'm still learning how to use this blogspace. I finally figured out how to get a picture on, but not how to do two in one post or update my profile with a picture. I'll keep learning and before I know it... I'll be a whiz! Or at least able to do the things I keep trying to... =)

Go Seahawks!!