I love Thanksgiving! Check out this video: “In the Spirit of Thanksgiving”

“What are you thankful for?” Hmmm… I’m especially thankful for:

• Watching my wife love and care for our baby, Sawyer. It is a tired-to-the-bone-but-still-loving-him kinda thing. The love of a mother for a child is inspiring.
• Coming home from work and having Abbey (my five-year-old) grab me by the head, grit her teeth, then vigorously rub her nose against mine. It is a rough Eskimo kiss, but, man, I look forward to it.
• Playing boardgames with Nate (my eleven-year-old and oldest).
• Hearing Jasmine (my eight-year-old) talk about the latest pet she wants. One day we were at the pet store. I swear Jasmine has never seen or thought about crabs before in her life (maybe that is an exaggeration), but she leaves the store convinced that a crab (named George) is what she needs. Two hours later in the van—”Crabs, all I can think about is crabs, Dad.” It makes me smile. Love it!
• Seeing Sami (my nine-year-old daughter) care for and nurture her younger siblings. She is growing up so fast!
• Reading with Abbey and seeing her get this big smile and flush of excitement when she understands a word for the first time. I love that enthusiasm and discovery.
• Thinking of my son, Nate, this morning as I was lying in bed. The thought came to me to sit down with him and say, “You’re my son, and I must seem so much older than you. But when you get older, and that age difference doesn’t seem so great, I hope that we think of each other as friends. I would love that.”
• Having the Spirit remind me, inspire me, and comfort me.
• Baptizing Jasmine a few weeks ago. There was such a strong spirit.
• Seeing the love of my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the actions of those around me.
• Having a job that gives me abundant chances to be inspired and challenged.
• Holding my baby boy, Sawyer. He is so CUTE. I can hardly stand it sometimes. I just love coming home to him. I love how he gets excited to see me—his smile and joy cannot be contained—his whole body literally jumps for joy.
• Knowing that this is Diana’s and my last baby and relishing every minute of it.
• Seeing my wife smile and hearing her laugh. Comfort, strength, joy, love—we’re going into our 15th year, and I can’t imagine life without her.
• Having family home evening this week, being able to teach my kids about patriarchal blessings, nearly crying as I read the portion in it about my wife and kids, and knowing that I have a Heavenly Father that is watching over me.

L-R: Abbey, Jasmine, Sami, Nate, Diana and Sawyer, and Dallas

Life is wonderful. It’s not always easy, but it is wonderful.

This is a great video about one man’s experience during 9/11. He talks about how the events of 9/11 changed his life.

Saturday morning my grandpa passed away. This morning, after comforting my newborn son, Sawyer, I was just lying in bed trying to go back to sleep when I started thinking about my grandpa and my memories of him. Light was breaking behind the Wasatch Front, so I figured I might as well get up and type.

Dad and Grandpa, 1958. Grandpa, ever the helpful and skilled craftsman, built a bed for Mom and Dad soon after their marriage.

Memories are a strange thing. It used to be that I thought I remembered everything in my life—that I had a “good memory”—but as I get older it takes more and more effort to recall things. Most of the time, memories come back through divine inspiration when I really need them or at seemingly random times. Sometimes it’s because I’m purposely trying to go back to a particular time and place. Such is the case right now…

• Age. My Grandma and Grandpa Gano were always so much younger than my paternal grandparents, Louie and Opal Petersen. It seemed a little strange to my young mind—”grandma and grandpa” seemed to mean a white-haired, frail, elderly couple in one case, and a younger, more energetic and active couple in the other. For the longest time, they didn’t seem to age. It wasn’t until they hit their 90s that I really started to notice time had passed.
• Travel. Grandma and Grandpa loved to travel, and spent much of their time doing the “snowbird” thing down in Arizona. Grandma would play violin/fiddle in a band, while Grandpa would be reading and playing card games.
• Games. Gaming is a family tradition. Grandpa loved cribbage and other card games. I never beat him in cribbage. One time I almost beat him. Almost. I was way ahead, but then he came back. I really respect that he never let me win. Maybe, after a lifetime of practicing, I can play him again.
• Christmastime. Nearly every year during my youth, my relatives, the Gano family, would get together on Christmas Eve. After a great meal and lots of playing with my cousins, Santa would arrive with a jingle of his sleigh’s bells. I think Grandpa covered for Santa some of the time. I guess that secret will go with him…
• Cooking. He loved to cook. The ensuing clean-up afterwards was a different story…
• Harvest time. Grandpa always seemed to be around during apple harvest time at my Uncle and Aunt Lange’s orchard in Yakima. I remember one summer/fall watching him fix an apple cider press.
• Fixing stuff. Grandpa helped me fix my fishing pole one summer in Minnesota. I remember his methodology for taking stuff apart and putting it back together, and use it still today.
• Woodworking. Grandpa was an amazing craftsman. He could build or fix anything. (A friend of mine posted about his grandpa’s passing and noted the same handyman tendency. I think it is partially a generational thing—perhaps out of necessity and interest they were “do-it-yourselfers.”) Here are just a few of the things that Grandpa built:
  • Camper trailers. Grandpa owned and operated a custom, handmade camper-trailer business.
  • My parents’ first (proper) home.
  • Countless Christmas gifts for family every year.
  • Greenhouses, sheds, furniture… nearly everything around his home.
  • My bedroom. He turned a carport into my brother’s and my bedroom.
  • A wooden pencil box from a tree branch (I still have this sitting on my desk at work).
  • Many, many more things for friends and family.
• Summer of ‘89. My brother, Carl, and I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa for a week. We went to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and saw a jet “buy the farm” during a practice run for a plane show. That plane crash produced the reddest flames I’ve ever seen. We also went to a county fair in a nearby town, then did a bunch of sightseeing in Port Townsend. Mostly, we spent a bunch of time at their house. One day my teenage self was getting bored, so I started watching TV. My grandma said, “You don’t know how long your grandpa is going to be around. Spend some time with him.” I’m glad she gave me the guilt trip—Grandpa and I worked in his woodshop and produced the wood box I mentioned above. I treasure that item, and the memories of making it, to this day. I can’t say the same about Grandma’s homemade raisin-n-rice pudding… I guess I wasn’t mature enough to like it. Nah, who am I kidding—raisins in pudding?!? Come on! That’s just not right. Another memory: After I’d asked Grandma what political party she was affiliated with, she instructed me that “There are two topics you do not talk with people about—politics and religion.” Smart-alec teenager that I was, I then promptly asked her what religion she belonged to… followed up with a quick grin and laugh to keep myself from getting into trouble. Anyway, I’m grateful my brother and I spent that time with Grandma and Grandpa.
• Summer of ‘04. I got to thinking that I needed to visit Grandma and Grandpa, and do some family history interviews with them. My son, Nate, and I drove up to Idaho, picked up my dad, then the three of us did a road trip to Port Townsend. (I took a ton of pictures then, and blogged about it, but lost the blog posts some time after that). While I was interviewing Grandma and Grandpa, Dad entertained Nate (or maybe vice versa), something that I’m impressed with to this day. My dad is a terrific grandpa. My kids love him, and can’t wait for my parents to come visit during holidays and vacation. It’s funny—the trip was about Grandma and Grandpa, but a lot of it ended up being about my dad, my son, and me. As for the interviews, I’m still in the process of transcribing them—they are priceless shared by my grandparents. My wife, Diana, and I did interviews with both of our parents—you never know when those you love will be gone—cherish the moments.

Above and beyond the many things my Grandpa accomplished professionally and personally is this simple, yet powerful thing—he was a faithful husband and loving father. Most of all, I’m grateful for his bringing my mother into the world. I see much of my Grandpa in my Mom—her ingenuity, keen mind, playful spirit, and unfaltering loyalty to her loved ones, to name a few characteristics. Grandpa, you will be missed.

“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” —Tom Stoppard

What a joyful, hopeful thought. Stop mourning for the past and start rejoicing in the now. Look around you and find the opportunities in the present.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why they call it the present. —Eleanor Roosevelt

And here I thought Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda made this up by his own, enlightened, animated self. A tip of the hat to Mrs. Roosevelt—I didn’t know she was a Kung Fu First Lady.

Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful…. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment. —Eckhart Tolle, “A New Earth”

Destiny… divine providence… good/bad luck. Depending on your philosophy/religious beliefs, you’ll choose one of those as the origin/cause of your current situation. You can rail at the situation you may be in, or you can accept it and be at peace—your choice. Regardless, it simply is what it is. What are you going to do about it?

This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now. —President Thomas S. Monson, “Finding Joy in the Journey”

I love and respect Thomas Monson. He is a good man and a worthy example to me of a life well-lived. I believe him to be a prophet of God.

If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. —President Thomas S. Monson, “Finding Joy in the Journey“

Yesterday I expressed my gratitude to numerous co-workers for what they have taught me.  Honesty. Responsibility. Integrity. Humility. Respect. Thanks to them—the lessons learned and examples shown—I’ll move forward… better.

I’ll admit it—I’m a boardgame geek. According to those closest to me, I have borderline obsessive tendencies, but, all things considered, I suppose if I’m going to be into something, it might as well be something that teaches strategic thinking, encourages cooperation, and provides enjoyable social interaction like boardgaming does.

In 2008 I played over 300 games. You might wonder, “Where does someone find the time for that?” Well, most holidays are dominated by hours of gaming—this past Christmas and New Year’s found me in 30+ gaming sessions. Add in a few pick-up games on the weekend, the occasional weeknight, and the Gathering of Strangers game convention and you’ll have the rest of my plays for the year.

Here are the twenty boardgames I played the most this year. Some are my personal favorite games, some are my family’s favs—regardless, they are the ones that got the most play.

1. Dominion (62 plays)
   Dominion is one of the most hyped games of 2008. I’m usually on the skeptical side of hyped stuff (whether music, movie, or games), but this game lives up to it. I learned this game in person from the publisher/owner of Rio Grande Games, Jay Tummelson, at this year’s “Gathering of Strangers” in SLC. Since playing that black and white, photo-copied prototype, I was anxiously waiting for its release. When it finally came in November, I snatched it up, then held onto it (unopened) until Christmas. In the meantime, I played BrettSpielWelt’s excellent online version. I logged probably 40-50 of my plays online until Christmas, at which time the real game was in steady rotation with my son, nephews, and mom. I’ll leave a more in-depth review to some future post, but suffice it to say that this is a great game. Go get it.
2. R-Eco (19 plays)
   This one caught my son Nate’s attention one day we were at Game Night Games in SLC. The illustrations on the box and the name weren’t great, and I hadn’t heard of it, but it was cheap and Nate was interested, so we picked it up. Score one for serendipity—this game is a hit with me and my family. I can actually get my wife to play this one. My parents liked it so much I bought a copy for them. The price is right and the game play is simple, fast, and fun—definitely recommended. I’m not surprised to see it in the top twenty of my plays for this year.
3. Agricola (12 plays)
   This is my favorite game. It’s another game that received a ton of hype during the 2007 Spiel gaming convention in Essen, Germany. Nate and I play this once a month. It has a ton of components, so setup time can be a bit lengthy, especially compared to Dominion or other card games. More details on this game will have to wait for another day.
4. Hive (11 plays)
   Another one of my favorites. This game is simple enough to learn that my five-year-old Abbey joined has played. Imagine chess without a board, and you’d be getting pretty close to what Hive is like.
5. Bacchus’ Banquet (10 plays)
   Light, fast bluffing game. Depending upon the character you are, your objective is either: A. Kill Caligula (by dagger or making him overeat); B. Collect the cards your character needs; or, C. Kill three other players (if you’re Caligula).
6. Cloud 9 (9 plays)
   This family “press your luck” game is all about trying to decide when you exit the balloon—stay too long and roll the wrong dice/have the wrong cards, you’ll crash with the balloon and get nothing. Leave at the right time, and you can slowly build up an insurmountable lead towards victory. This game was inexpensive, the components are simple and effective, and the kids like it. Definitely a great family game.
7. Hoity Toity (9 plays)
   Germans are world-renowned game designers and players. This game won the “German Game of the Year” (Spiel des Jahres) a decade or so ago—from the games I’ve played, you can’t go wrong buying any game that has won the coveted game design award. This game definitely proves that true. I’m actually surprised this only got nine plays this year—I expect to play this short, tense bluffing/bidding game more next year.
8. Niagara (9 plays)
   Another Spiel des Jahres winner and family favorite. The components are so fun that my seven-year-old daughter Jasmine often has this out, playing it by herself. At my home, if you can find a game that both the adults and kids enjoy playing, then it will get played a lot. Niagara is such a game.
9. Boomtown (8 plays)
   This bidding/bluffing game is about having the most mines and money at the end of the game. It’s quick, has great bidding tension, and good quality cards. Other than having some illustrations that needed some well-placed stickers, this game is quite good.
10. Felix: The Cat in the Sack (7 plays)
    I’m sensing a trend here—seems most of the games that get played a lot using bidding/bluffing and are fast. Felix is another such game. I’d take Boomtown or For Sale (not on this list) over Felix, but it is a good game nevertheless.
11. Jambo (7 plays)
    Jambo is one of several two-player games orginally published by Kosmos. Two-player games get a lot of play in my home because it’s rare that I can get the three or more players needed for other games. Of the two-player games, I like this game best—it’s wide variety of cards make the game different every time. It’s a great value and fun to play.
12. Kill Doctor Lucky (7 plays)
    Consider this a prequel to Clue—instead of trying to solve the murder, you’re trying to commit it. With everyone else trying to do the same thing, it can get tricky to accomplish your goal. This game is available in a free, black-and-white, printable format on the web, but I’d just pay the $20 to get this version. It’s worth it.
13. Odin’s Ravens (7 plays)
    Another Kosmos two-player game. Nate and I have had a good time playing this quick-paced game. The objective of the game is really simple, but the opportunities to thwart your opponent make it quite challenging.
14. RattleSnake (7 plays)
    Another favorite of my kids. The objective of this game is to place rattlesnake eggs on an adult snake without touching or knocking off previously-laid eggs. Sounds simple, right? Wrong—these “eggs” are the most powerful magnets I’ve ever seen. Placing the eggs is a fun challenge. This game gets used like Niagara—Abbey and Jasmine like to pull it out and just play with the magnets when they can’t get enough people to play it for real.
15. Bohnanza (6 plays)
    If boardgames were taught in school, this would be in the 101 class. I’m sure it wasn’t the first, but Bohnanza is certainly the most popular of the trading/set-collection games, and has been very influential for other game designers. This is a must-have for any collection.
16. Jamaica (6 plays)
    Fundamentally, this is simply a more advanced version of Candyland. There is nothing new about the game play and mechanics—it’s a standard race game. That said, the production-values—from the illustrations to the components to, even, the box itself—are the pinnacle of the games I own. It’s those virtues that make this game a fun family game.
17. To Court the King (6 plays)
    This is Yahtzee, just with the ability to change/influence your dice rolls with cards you acquire through the course of the game. Diana is the reigning queen of To Court the King.
18. Treasures and Traps (6 plays)
    This is Nate’s game, bought and paid for by him. The illustrations and box don’t look like something I would buy, but, fortunately, my son has a knack for gravitating towards really good games. This game plays somewhat like Jambo, but accommodates more players. I think the fantasy theme is what my son found interesting. Like Jambo, the wide variety of cards maximizes replay-ability.
19. The aMAZEing Labyrinth (5 plays)
    Another classic. This game is very simple, but engaging enough for adults. My daughter Abbey loves to play it, and pulls it out often.
20. Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game (5 plays)
    I won my copy of this game at A Gathering of Strangers this year. It’s a good two-player/two-team game. The game play is dominated by lucky card draws, but it’s fun nevertheless. Nate likes this one quite a bit.

There you have it—my top twenty most-played games for 2008. I’ll dig deeper into a few of the games listed above in future posts, but until then, try a few out. (If you’re in the Utah County or Salt Lake County areas, a great resource for trying-before-buying is Boardgame Revolution. You can rent games there for a week or two, then they’ll credit the cost of the rental towards the purchase of any game.)