During my high school days, which seem like eons ago, I used to make it my business to keep a firm connection between my backside and the couch once a year for the Academy Awards.  Somewhere down the line, I lost interest in the glam and stopped paying attention to movies altogether.  For the first time in years, I felt excitement percolating all of last week in anticipation of tonight (Sunday).  My eyes are fixed on the screen right now as I type.. i kniw theer’s no way I’m gfonba have any typos with mu wondyful typing skills.

For the first time, I’m watching these awards in HD.  The wrinkles, bad skin, uneven foundation, the unforgiving fit of a dress.. Yay for imperfections!  They are not robots.  While I enjoy watching the women, what I really love is the smart suits the men sport.  The cutting and detailing of each tux is uniquely exquisite.  It’s a shame about that Hugo Boss boycott this year though.

My favourite napping buddy also joined me at the TV set.

Are you a fan of the Oscars?  What do/don’t you like about it?

Remember rainy Sunday afternoons spent playing Scrabble in the basement?  Or a monopoly game that ran into the wee hours when you and some friends had nothing better to do after dinner one fateful night?  How about mindless games of snakes and ladders with the 3 year old cousin you babysat or UNOing until you couldn’t possibly UNO anymore while you waited for the grown-ups to “finish talking”?  Kids fall out of love with board games when they discover the wonders a DS can bring.  We’ve traded in time spent playing cards with friends for sitting at home to watch Youtube videos.

Lately, I find myself spending a major part of my weekends on board games!  This is bringing me so much joy.  It feels like finding a dusty toy I thoughtlessly tucked away and rediscovering my love for it again.

Here are my top picks from what I’ve been playing:

Scattergories: Be warned, this game WILL make your brain feel useless. Test yourself against the pressure of time while coming up with creative answers.
Source: Amazon.com

Taboo: Think fast, talk even faster. This lightning-quick game is one of my favourites. You’d like this game if you are a descriptive person.
Source: Amazon.com

Clue: Wow. This game is not for the faint of heart. If you’re stupid, tired, or drunk, CLUE is not for you. It gets intense and demands your full attention.
Source: Amazon.com

Monopoly Deal: A spin-off on the king of all boardgames. This is a simple deck of cards that is small enough to fit in my purse. Super simple to learn, but dangerously addictive. Great portable fun and does not require hours of commitment. If you have an hour or so to fill with a small group, bust this out.

Settles of Catan: This game took the world by storm! Some people dedicate their lives to playing Settlers, no joke. I played this for the first time yesterday and I’m already looking forward to next time!

I say, bring back board game culture!!