The game I played with family while growing up was pinochle. Granddad taught me cribbage. My niece and nephew taught me something called Mao or Mow or whathaveyou--I never did see it spelled out. You draw a certain number of cards. The first person decides the first rule and doesn't tell you. Then you go around the table and everyone puts down a card. Unless you break the rule you don't know about, in which case the rulemaker says what it is (no red on black, no face cards on top of other face cards, etc.) and the rulebreaker draws a card. The next time around the next person makes up a rule you don't know about, which can't contradict a previously stated rule. The rules all stay in place until the end of the game (winner puts down all his/her cards), adding up. It's kind of evil, but fun to play with the right group and mindset.

Also, while I was on one phone with H&R Block, my father called on the other phone -- returning a call to his cell, but I haven't called his cell in ages. I went to call back on the home phone and the machine picked up. I'm sure he was calling me from home, so maybe he just went to see my grandmother? Oy vey!

Does anyone else remember having the Which Witch? board game?

YES!!! I was the star of the 3rd grade because I had a copy!

YES!!! I was the star of the 3rd grade because I had a copy

When I Googled it, I found a copy on eBay for $179.00. Holy shit! Now I'm pissed we got rid of ours at our garage sale back in 1985.

Fun game, but NEVER play it with anyone who has rules lawyer tendencies.

Yes this. Also true for Mao. Unless you are with playfully contentious people, that way lies sharp objects and alibi seeking.

Jesse, it wasn't something the software was supposed to tell you about? That's a major major pisser. My return got kicked back, but in time for me to resubmit ahead of the deadline.

I remember we played a lot of Illuminati in university. It was so bad that people wouldn't want to get up and pee. I don't remember thing one of the rules, just that it induced the most severe paranoia, more than Diplomacy, at which I was actually (technically) cheating.

Jesse, it wasn't something the software was supposed to tell you about?

I do believe it was something the software was supposed to tell me about, but damned if I know exactly what happened. So annoyed!

Is 5 pieces of regular paper per ounce the actual rule of thumb, or did I make that up? To top things off, I'm almost out of stamps, and have no idea how I would get to a post office. I wonder what the mailroom at work can do for me?

GRRRRR.

Jesse, that massively sucks. I am sorry.

OK, am taking deep breaths now. And remembering that I can be in a Turkish bath in just over a week....

Also, Jen, I voted for your roommate, and not only because we have the same Le Crueset!

I was hoping that this would be a quiet week at the office. But then today happened, and now I would like to resign from adulthood, please.