The Arkham 100

It's been a long time since I've done anything with this blog! I just got so distracted and busy with other things. 

I'm coming back with a big new idea. I read about a board game challenge in which you place a game 100 times and keep a record. My favorite board game is Arkham Horror, which is different every time you play, so I decided I wanted to play it 100 times.

The idea evolved into not just recording the results, but keeping detailed noted of the game and turning it into a story. 

I have the results and the story ready from my first game. It's very rough because I'm not quite sure where I want to go with these stories. I have this one written in a sort of first-person, diary-entry way. I tried doing a sort of "accent", or way of speaking, but it's not throughout the entry. I'd really like some feedback on the style and such, so that I can improve the next entry. I might consider taking pictures of set up and stuff as well.

For some background, Arkham Horror is a board game set in Arkham, Massachusetts, which was a small town created by H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft was an author of horror along the same lines as Edgar Allen Poe; the horror that Lovecraft created is also known as the Cthulu Mythos. The premise of the board game is that it is the roaring 20's and an ancient monster is about to awake and destroy the world. It is the job of the investigators to stop this from happening. 

So, without further ado, here's Arkham Tale 1, from the perspective of "Ashcan" Pete, a drifter:

I spent many years driftin' 'round this country. I don't have no place to call home. I'm a man of the streets, but I've got Duke, my dog, and my rifle, which keep me safe. I've seen many a strange happenin' as I've roamed the streets, but somethin' stranger has been hauntin' me at night. And it's leadin' me to Massachusetts.

I've finally come to this place... Arkham... after weeks of nightmares drivin' me here. It seems to be a small town, very quiet. There's somethin' strange 'bout this place, can't put my finger on it. Seems I arrived during some sort o' festival, 'n' it's bein' held by some strange lookin' folks, not quite like the rest of the people here. I'll have to poke around and find out what's goin' on in this little town. Maybe then I can sleep soundly at night.

I went to the Science Buildin' up at the University to ask some questions today, thinkin' one o' them smart teachers could answer me. I stopped in the Department o' Alchemy first. One o' the professors looked at me with somethin' like fear in his eyes. He started to chantin' and wavin' some odd-lookin' trinket in my face. Once he were done, he told me I was blessed. I don't know 'bout any blessin' that could come on me, but we'll see if there's anythin' different. He also told me there's been strange goin's-on up at the Woods. 

I didn't want to go straight up to the Woods without knowin' what I was gettin' myself into, so I decided to head over to a place called the Silver Twilight Lodge. I was told the people there think they know magic. When I was pokin' around, the head "wizard", Carl Sanford, wanted to speak with me. He pulled me into his study for a lil' chat. This man had a terrible, powerful air about him that just about scared me right outa that place, but I stood my ground and learned much more. He said somethin' about a... Nightgaunt... that were flyin' round the Woods. He also talked about some kind of gate and a place I never heard of afore, somethin' bout a Great Hall. Afore I left, he mentioned a ritual they were goin' ta begin that night, and that gave me tha shivers. I also heard 'bout more strange trouble near a bar downtown, I think it were called Hibb's...

I decided ta stop by the Historical Society on ma way towards the Woods. I was able to glean more information from some town folk. They were talkin' more 'bout that bar downtown. They was sayin' it's gone to the Abyss and some kind of Spawn is roamin' the streets. It seems that these strange things is happenin' all over town...

When I woke this mornin', I saw somethin' strange shamblin' around. I took my stuff and went after it. I was scared nearly to death by this creature, and I'm a street man who's used to seein' strange things! After I got over ma fear, I shot tha thing and killed it. Now I feel blessed, even though there's a great storm ragin'.

I finally made it ta tha Woods this mornin'. Then somethin' happened! I felt a peculiar sensation, and tha world around me seemed ta change. Now I'm in a strange place and I don't recognize a thang. This must be that Great Hall them wizards was talkin' 'bout. While wanderin' around, I did stumble upon a small gun. I added it to my stash of items.

I took some time this morning to exercise my body, seein' as I don't know what I may encounter here. I did learn from observing the strange people here. This is another world that I'm in! Those rituals and festivals bein' held in Arkham are intended to call some great and powerful being. Now I know that I must stop it.

I spent more time trainin' today, but I don't feel blessed like I were before. I found my way back to Arkham and managed to use all the information I'd gained to make sure that the Woods are safe again. However, as I was beddin' down a great monster attacked the Woods. I was injured slightly, but mostly I'm mighty anxious.

I braced my mind for what I may find in Arkham today. I snuck out of the woods and went to South Church, hopin' to find comfort there. Father Michael merely convinced me that there are others in greater need, so I gave him my only dollar. The ritual that was goin' on when I left has been completed, I feel that hope is gone...

I went to the Witch House near by that Lodge with the wizards. I was taken through another one o' them gates. This place feels almost like Arkham, but there's somethin' different... I got so lost in the town that I didn't make much progress, it was almost as if it weren't the town, but a maze instead.

I felt I finally got out of that maze, but it took me another day. I had to sneak past many monsters that were a-lurkin' around.

The Ancient One awoke! He is a great reptilian being by the name of Yig. As soon as he appeared, I felt his curse settle upon me. I intend to fight until I have no strength within me, though. I lost Duke in the scramble, but I'll fight to honor him and his loyalty!

During my first encounter with Yig, I used a magical powder I had been given during my travels. I could see the damage I did to that great monster! He got a hit on me, though... I didn't get away fast enough.

I took some time to prepare myself before going after Yig again. I missed my shot, but he couldn't catch me either.

I got him this time! And I'm still too fast!

Got him again! But he caught me one, too.

I shook off that curse before I went for him one last time. I knew this had to be the end for one of us. I managed to get off enough shots to destroy that great monster!

After the commotion cleared, the people of Arkham named me First Citizen. Maybe I have me a home now.

And here are the technical details for anyone interested:

Arkham Game 1

Played with Base Game. Ancient One was Yig. Character was "Ashcan" Pete.

Starting Possessions: $1, 3 Clue Tokens, Duke, Rifle, Powder of Ibn-Ghazi, +1 Luck

Play: Took 15 turns, Yig woke up the 12th round because of too many open gates.

Score: 11

Please let me know what you think! I need some good critique!

Operation Wake Up

So I've started working on a new project, which I call Operation Wake Up. The goal is to make it easier for me to get up in the mornings so that I can have some quiet time to myself to study and such before the kids wake up.

I've currently been trying to create a better environment to wake up in, that way I will want to wake up more. I'm also in the process of making different ringtones on my phone to wake up to. For weekdays, I have the beginning of the song "Breathless" by The Corrs. This is a song that I've loved for many years and that has always helped me "get up and go." I'm trying to get a song for Saturday and for Sunday now, but my Saturday song is stuck on Mitchell's old computer and my Sunday song is on a CD that's lost at my mom's house, so it will be awhile before I finish those.

I've been organizing things near my bed. I'm planning on eventually getting a diffuser to diffuse an essential oil to help me wake up. So I'm creating a space to make that possible. We don't have nightstands or anything, so we've never had a place to put things. Yesterday, I moved my bookshelf next to my side of the bed so that I can use it as a sort of nightstand. I dusted it and cleaned off fingerprints, and then reorganized my books. I think it looks so nice, and I love to have a safe spot to put my glasses at night.

Now I'm working on that lamp as a mini-project. You can't tell from the picture, but the shade is really just balancing directly on the bulb because it's missing a part, so we have to take the shade off when we actually turn the lamp on.

Kids' Clothing Organization - Part 4

On Saturday, I went to Kid-to-Kid again. I bought a lot of stuff for just over $175, including a snowsuit for each kid, a pair of snow boots for Joseph, and 2 brand-new costumes, Boba Fett and Sleeping Beauty. I should have taken pictures of the bags or the clothes, but they've already been scattered around the house and worn. I got Charlie a shirt, sweater, and pair of pants to wear to church, as well as 3 long-sleeve shirts and 2 jackets. Annabelle got a dress and a couple shirts. I think that might be everything we got...

Annabelle enjoys wearing her snowsuit around the house, which is pretty funny to see. It's a puffy, magenta, one-piece snowsuit, and you can hear her swishing when she wears it. I need to get a picture of her in it one of these days.

I've gotten almost everything on my shopping list for the kids. Annabelle and Charlie will need snow boots eventually and Charlie really needs some pajamas, but I'll probably complete that shopping a little slower.

Toy Organization - Part 2

Last week, I pulled all the boxes with toys down from the attic. Then I sorted through all those toys. That was an interesting process because the kids were so excited to see all these new toys, so they didn't want me to put any away. I had to sneak away all the ones I wanted to get rid of or store again.

Their room has been really messy since then because I didn't have containers for all the toys that were brought down. I think it's been a bit of a miracle that Joseph has been so good about cleaning his room, but when his motivation is video games, he does really well.

Yesterday, we finally went to IKEA to get the rest of the bins we needed for the toy sorter. We also got a couple other bins of a different type for keeping toys that will be kept in the closet. And we got a fun rug for them to play on. I'm excited that all of their stuff is going to be more neatly organized. I know that they are going to have more fun playing in their room, plus it's so cute!

I'm trying to decide if I want to make labels for the bins or just paint right on them. Any suggestions?

Kids' Clothing Organization - Part 3

I finished doing the inventory for Annabelle's clothes, and I have a shopping list all made up. Charlie needs the most clothes, but Annabelle needs almost as much; it's probably because they actually grow, haha!

I also sorted through the huge pile of stuff to get rid of. I came up with a box of clothes to take to Kid-to-Kid to sell. Their inventory was full, though, so they only bought one thing! I got less than $5... I was really hoping for, and expecting, more than I got, so I was really disappointed when I left. I was able to buy one pair of pajamas for Joseph with the store credit. They are a bigger size of his current favorite pajamas, so that worked out really well. Everything else was taken to DI, so now the living room is back to it's normal state of chaos, which is way better than it was.

I don't know if I want to drive all the way out to Kid-to-Kid to shop again, or if we'll just get the rest of their clothes at stores in our area. But that's all that's left! Shopping! Next week when we get the rest of our school loans, winter clothes shopping is on our to-do list.

Kid's Clothing Organization - Part 2

It took a few days, but I got ALL of the kids' clothes clean. Then I went through and inventoried the clothes Joseph and Charlie have for the winter. I'm using an Excel-type program to make the inventories in. I have each type of clothing (shirts, pants, etc.) and how much they need of each item in the rows, while the columns are the sizes. I would put it on here if I knew how to, but I don't know how and I don't really want to try figuring it out right now. I also finished going through the rest of the baby and girl clothes.

Annabelle's grow-into bin.

 Baby items that are used for either gender, which I'll gather as Charlie grows out of them.

 All the girl bins, ready to go into the attic.

I'm already part of the way through inventorying Annabelle's clothes. I'm getting so close to being done with this project!

Kid's Clothing Organization - Part 1

When I was first cleaning and organizing the kids' room, I pulled several disorganized boxes and bins full of clothes out of their closet. The pile of clothes sat in the living room for a couple weeks, but last week, I decided to start tackling it.

In the middle of the sorting process.

I've been sorting through the boxes and organizing them. I sorted out stuff I didn't want to keep and then sorted everything by size.

My growing pile of giveaways.

I've been concentrating mostly on the boys clothes first. After a few days of sorting and organizing, I think I've taken care of most their stuff.

These are the bins that will be going up to the attic until their needed.

And these are the ones for putting the clothes they are currently growing out of and into, which are kept in our storage closet.

As part of the project I'm also inventorying their clothes for the upcoming season, so that I know they have everything they need for the winter. This means A LOT of laundry because I haven't washed clothes in forever. So that's what I've been working on the past week, along with being sick.