January 9, 2010
At approximately 8 p.m., the first drizzles of sleet begin to fall outside my home. I have only been home about ten minutes as I finished my weekly journey to the laundromat. I had bought a few cans of soup, but not many other things to sustain me through what I assume will be a solitary snow day.
The snow piles up quickly. In just a few hours, there seems to be about six inches of snow piled up on the ground outside. I do not go outside to measure it though. I stay up late watching the snow, knowing that I will not have to work tomorrow. After midnight, a tow truck comes down the street with my neighbor's car. I watch as the tow truck tires spin as it struggles to maneuver into position at my neighbor's driveway.
January 10, 2010
All schools are canceled. I sleep late. In the afternoon, kids start sledding down the icy hill that was the street in front of my house. Others explore the snow in four wheelers. I watch as two four wheel drive vehicles successfully leave up the street. Later on I watch as a couple of vehicles do not make it up the hill and start slowly rotating around. They complete the rotation and go back down the hill to their homes.
I get out the bread to make a sandwich, but it is moldy. I decided to tear the bread into small pieces and toss it outside for the birds and squirrels to eat. I am amazed as each piece bounces on the snow and slides to a stop.
I am alone in my home, save for the dog. She refuses to go out into the snow. After several attempts, she finally does go down the three steps and there she stops, refusing to move. I go down to get her. I notice that the snow has a half inch thick crust of ice on it.
I am not feeling well and go to bed at halftime of the NCAA BCS championship game between Auburn and Oregon. I wake a few hours later with extreme pain in my ear. There is no pain medicine to be found in the house, but someone tells me to try a heating pad. I find a hot water bottle and sleep with it on my ear. It makes it tolerable for me to sleep.
January 11, 2010
I get a phone call that one of my employees made it into the office. Not that there is anything to do there. The economy has really affected our business. We essentially waste most of the work day doing nothing, because there is nothing to do.
Later I spy a blue jay eating the bread I had thrown out the day before.
I decide to make myself oatmeal for breakfast. It is old-fashioned oatmeal, but I make it in the microwave anyway. It turns out good. Who needs instant? I did discover that I do not have any regular sugar in the house though. I used some brown sugar. Oddly enough, I discovered 8 bottles of sprinkles.
After seeing a picture of a facebook friend shoveling the snow on his driveway, I decide to do the same. Mind you, I do not have a snow shovel. I find the best technique is to turn the shovel on its side and scrape the snow to the edge of the path I am creating.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Forget Failures
Forget failures. Forget mistakes. Forget everything but what you're going to do now... And do it.
A friend of mine recently shared this saying with me. Forgetting my mistakes is something I have had a hard time doing. Instead of moving on, I want to dwell on those mistakes and sulk. Instead of getting back up and trying again, I want to just lie there and do nothing. Instead of being defined by my successes, I choose to identify with my failures. And in doing so I have chained myself emotionally to an imaginary cell that prevents me from moving forward to accomplish the tasks before me.
A friend of mine recently shared this saying with me. Forgetting my mistakes is something I have had a hard time doing. Instead of moving on, I want to dwell on those mistakes and sulk. Instead of getting back up and trying again, I want to just lie there and do nothing. Instead of being defined by my successes, I choose to identify with my failures. And in doing so I have chained myself emotionally to an imaginary cell that prevents me from moving forward to accomplish the tasks before me.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My First Scrabble Tournament
Scrabble Tournament you say? What is that? I didn't know they existed a year ago either. Now I have experienced one for myself.
The tournament was held in a meeting room at the Hyatt Place near the Atlanta airport on December 4-5, 2010. A complete listing of the results can be found here. My name is listed as 13th place in Division 4. If you click on the plus beside my name you can see a game by game summary of my results.
I was excited about my first tournament. I had gotten some pointers from some of the people in the club I regularly attend. The tournament director told me that she thought I would do well, although I took that with a grain of salt as she was trying to get me to sign up. I really just wanted the experience, but I did hope to at least break even with wins and losses.
DAY ONE
Saturday morning my first game was against an elderly woman who had difficulty hearing and moved very slowly with a walker. On her 7th play she made the bingo SAILING. Meanwhile I was struggling with a consonant heavy rack. I finally elected to exchange. Then she plays TOONIES for another bingo. I elect to challenge, but the word was acceptable and I lose my turn. At this point she has two bingos and I have taken two zeros, so I whimper home to a humiliating loss. She is a good player though and I have gotten the nerves out of my way.
My second game is against a young man who graduated from Georgia Tech in 2008 and who is playing in his first tournament as well. We had chatted a bit waiting for the tournament to start. I figure I should be evenly matched against him. He goes first and opens with the bingo SEAGULL for 66. Two plays later he bingos with GROUPIES and I am down by 109 points. I never find the big play for myself and wind up losing by that same margin.
My third game is against the number one seed, a fourteen year old red haired girl. I play the bingo DOILIES on my second play and am able to maintain that lead until she bingos with RACKING for 84 points on her ninth play. From there she scores 40, 23, 38, 34, 22, 11, while I struggle with 5, 14, 14, 23, 6, 18, 6. I feel like I should have scored much better in the end, but played poorly.
My fourth game is against an opponent that attends my regular scrabble club. I am confident against her because I have played her in the past. I open with QUEASY for 56 and make the bingo WOOLIEST later for the win.
Lunch is then served at the hotel, but it is rather forgettable.
I next play a young lady from Huntsville, Alabama. I play horribly in this game and get really frustrated. She finally bingos with DIRTIES on her twelfth play and follows it up with QAID for 48. This game has me questioning what I am doing here. My best play is only 30 points.
Next I take on the eventual champion. She is a local young lady in just her second tournament and her appearance makes one think she would be more at home in a beauty pageant than at a scrabble tournament. I succumb on the strength of her two bingos, RECLINE and AREOLAS, to my none. This game was played on a board with orange tiles with blue letters. The letters almost seem to jump up off the tiles like 3D. After this game I am mentally exhausted, but the day is not over yet.
My seventh game of the day is against another regular from my club. I have never beaten her at club though, so I know it will be tough. She goes first and opens her word vertically, the only vertical opening I have seen at the tournament. My play opens up the DL-TW for her. She says, "Preston, you know better than to leave a vowel there like that." as she scores 48 points. She bingos with MUSKETS a few plays later and as she normally does, she shuts down the board. I take another loss.
My final game of the day is against an older gentleman. He moves out to an early lead, but I get the bingo STILLEST on my ninth move. He slowly crawls back into it and I eventually lose by ten points after I struggle with a vowel heavy rack playing EAU, OE, and EAU on consecutive turns. After only winning one game on the first day I am not so sure I want to do this any longer.
DAY TWO
My first game of the day (9th overall) is against the number two seed. On her second play she bingos with STABLES, but I bingo right back with GRINDERS. From there she slowly extends to a bingo sized lead. Finally the bag is emptied and I have my last chance to bingo. I glance at the clock. 2:52 left. I decide that I have to bingo so I look and look and look. There is one bingo lane that would required my word to start with a vowel. I try and try to find something for that spot, but finally give up. There is another spot where she had left the word CROUTE. I could add an S and make a bingo through the TWS, but surely she would have closed that lane off. I decide it is my only shot. I lay down STORIES, creating CROUTES, for 79 points. She challenges the word. She is certain CROUTES is not valid. But it is! I am out. I catch her with the Q and a lot of letters and get 38 points added to my score. I have a 10 point win. She congratulates me, dumbfounded because she was certain she would win. We fill out the slip to turn in. Then she looks at the clock. She says, "you went over." I look at it and see a -0:53. 10 point overtime penalty. The game has ended in a tie. Now I am in shock. I thought I had won. But it is a tie.
My next game is against the 10 year old sister of the 14 year old number one seed. She is playing in her first tournament and hasn't won a game yet. It is almost like taking candy from a baby, but I try not to run up the score or play questionable words against her as I coast to a win.
My next game is against another first time player. Neither of us bingo, but she passes on a turn, swaps twice, and I successfully challenge off one of her words. She also takes an overtime penalty and I win the game. So far so good.
My next game is against someone I had played and beaten at the Decatur Scrabble club. I have a tight game going. I play a two blank bingo TAMALES. On his 14th play with a 40 point lead he lays down LWEI for 23. I challenge and lose. Then I desperately play a word that he challenges off and I wind up losing big.
My next game is against another older lady. I get one bingo SPARING. She plays ZEDS for 53. She has a lead of that amount when I play SIX for 43 on my 16th turn. She manages to hold me off for a 20 point lead, but she kept repeating, "I don't like this game" on her last several turns.
My next game is against a guy from South Carolina. We play a tight game. Then I make a huge mistake and leave a triple letter square exposed next to a vowel. Finally he plays the X on it both ways and scores 61 points on his 15th turn and I lose by 56 points. Huge mistake on my part on a game I should have won.
My final game of the tournament my opponent bingos on his third turn with BAILERS. I am behind. He plays ROUTE leaving the hook exposed into the TWS for CROUTE which was such a pivotal word in my first game of the day. I get 41 points for the word I did not record. He challenges CROUTE and loses his turn and I am back into the game. He struggles through some vowel heavy racks and we go back and forth in a very tight game. That is until I leave a vowel exposed next to a premium square and he uses the X to get 36 points late in the game and I limp home from there.
The tournament ends and I have gone 3 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie. I am not happy about my results because I believe I could have done better. I made some critical mistakes. I also realize that I really need to learn the three letter words, especially the twos into threes. We'll see when I make my next venture into a Scrabble tournament.
The tournament was held in a meeting room at the Hyatt Place near the Atlanta airport on December 4-5, 2010. A complete listing of the results can be found here. My name is listed as 13th place in Division 4. If you click on the plus beside my name you can see a game by game summary of my results.
I was excited about my first tournament. I had gotten some pointers from some of the people in the club I regularly attend. The tournament director told me that she thought I would do well, although I took that with a grain of salt as she was trying to get me to sign up. I really just wanted the experience, but I did hope to at least break even with wins and losses.
DAY ONE
Saturday morning my first game was against an elderly woman who had difficulty hearing and moved very slowly with a walker. On her 7th play she made the bingo SAILING. Meanwhile I was struggling with a consonant heavy rack. I finally elected to exchange. Then she plays TOONIES for another bingo. I elect to challenge, but the word was acceptable and I lose my turn. At this point she has two bingos and I have taken two zeros, so I whimper home to a humiliating loss. She is a good player though and I have gotten the nerves out of my way.
My second game is against a young man who graduated from Georgia Tech in 2008 and who is playing in his first tournament as well. We had chatted a bit waiting for the tournament to start. I figure I should be evenly matched against him. He goes first and opens with the bingo SEAGULL for 66. Two plays later he bingos with GROUPIES and I am down by 109 points. I never find the big play for myself and wind up losing by that same margin.
My third game is against the number one seed, a fourteen year old red haired girl. I play the bingo DOILIES on my second play and am able to maintain that lead until she bingos with RACKING for 84 points on her ninth play. From there she scores 40, 23, 38, 34, 22, 11, while I struggle with 5, 14, 14, 23, 6, 18, 6. I feel like I should have scored much better in the end, but played poorly.
My fourth game is against an opponent that attends my regular scrabble club. I am confident against her because I have played her in the past. I open with QUEASY for 56 and make the bingo WOOLIEST later for the win.
Lunch is then served at the hotel, but it is rather forgettable.
I next play a young lady from Huntsville, Alabama. I play horribly in this game and get really frustrated. She finally bingos with DIRTIES on her twelfth play and follows it up with QAID for 48. This game has me questioning what I am doing here. My best play is only 30 points.
Next I take on the eventual champion. She is a local young lady in just her second tournament and her appearance makes one think she would be more at home in a beauty pageant than at a scrabble tournament. I succumb on the strength of her two bingos, RECLINE and AREOLAS, to my none. This game was played on a board with orange tiles with blue letters. The letters almost seem to jump up off the tiles like 3D. After this game I am mentally exhausted, but the day is not over yet.
My seventh game of the day is against another regular from my club. I have never beaten her at club though, so I know it will be tough. She goes first and opens her word vertically, the only vertical opening I have seen at the tournament. My play opens up the DL-TW for her. She says, "Preston, you know better than to leave a vowel there like that." as she scores 48 points. She bingos with MUSKETS a few plays later and as she normally does, she shuts down the board. I take another loss.
My final game of the day is against an older gentleman. He moves out to an early lead, but I get the bingo STILLEST on my ninth move. He slowly crawls back into it and I eventually lose by ten points after I struggle with a vowel heavy rack playing EAU, OE, and EAU on consecutive turns. After only winning one game on the first day I am not so sure I want to do this any longer.
DAY TWO
My first game of the day (9th overall) is against the number two seed. On her second play she bingos with STABLES, but I bingo right back with GRINDERS. From there she slowly extends to a bingo sized lead. Finally the bag is emptied and I have my last chance to bingo. I glance at the clock. 2:52 left. I decide that I have to bingo so I look and look and look. There is one bingo lane that would required my word to start with a vowel. I try and try to find something for that spot, but finally give up. There is another spot where she had left the word CROUTE. I could add an S and make a bingo through the TWS, but surely she would have closed that lane off. I decide it is my only shot. I lay down STORIES, creating CROUTES, for 79 points. She challenges the word. She is certain CROUTES is not valid. But it is! I am out. I catch her with the Q and a lot of letters and get 38 points added to my score. I have a 10 point win. She congratulates me, dumbfounded because she was certain she would win. We fill out the slip to turn in. Then she looks at the clock. She says, "you went over." I look at it and see a -0:53. 10 point overtime penalty. The game has ended in a tie. Now I am in shock. I thought I had won. But it is a tie.
My next game is against the 10 year old sister of the 14 year old number one seed. She is playing in her first tournament and hasn't won a game yet. It is almost like taking candy from a baby, but I try not to run up the score or play questionable words against her as I coast to a win.
My next game is against another first time player. Neither of us bingo, but she passes on a turn, swaps twice, and I successfully challenge off one of her words. She also takes an overtime penalty and I win the game. So far so good.
My next game is against someone I had played and beaten at the Decatur Scrabble club. I have a tight game going. I play a two blank bingo TAMALES. On his 14th play with a 40 point lead he lays down LWEI for 23. I challenge and lose. Then I desperately play a word that he challenges off and I wind up losing big.
My next game is against another older lady. I get one bingo SPARING. She plays ZEDS for 53. She has a lead of that amount when I play SIX for 43 on my 16th turn. She manages to hold me off for a 20 point lead, but she kept repeating, "I don't like this game" on her last several turns.
My next game is against a guy from South Carolina. We play a tight game. Then I make a huge mistake and leave a triple letter square exposed next to a vowel. Finally he plays the X on it both ways and scores 61 points on his 15th turn and I lose by 56 points. Huge mistake on my part on a game I should have won.
My final game of the tournament my opponent bingos on his third turn with BAILERS. I am behind. He plays ROUTE leaving the hook exposed into the TWS for CROUTE which was such a pivotal word in my first game of the day. I get 41 points for the word I did not record. He challenges CROUTE and loses his turn and I am back into the game. He struggles through some vowel heavy racks and we go back and forth in a very tight game. That is until I leave a vowel exposed next to a premium square and he uses the X to get 36 points late in the game and I limp home from there.
The tournament ends and I have gone 3 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie. I am not happy about my results because I believe I could have done better. I made some critical mistakes. I also realize that I really need to learn the three letter words, especially the twos into threes. We'll see when I make my next venture into a Scrabble tournament.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Atlanta Sunday Scrabble Competition Conclusion
I was reminded that I have not posted any blog entry in over a month. My last blog entry was about a competition at the Atlanta Sunday Scrabble club. I really left my readers hanging on the outcome.
The final week of the competition was my best yet. By this time I already had an idea of who the stronger and weaker players are. Fortunately for me I was not paired against some of the stronger players on this day. The first game was against Patricia and I won 348-268. The second game was against Fred whom I had never before seen at the club, but was apparently a regular before some health problems. I beat Fred 321-288. My opponent for Game #3 was Lisa. I made 87 points for STRIFES and won the game 408-285. The final game of the day was against JJ. It was a tight game and then she challenged VIG late in the game. Four plays later I had won 330-303. I was able to turn the day into four wins. I still finished out of the money though.
The final week of the competition was my best yet. By this time I already had an idea of who the stronger and weaker players are. Fortunately for me I was not paired against some of the stronger players on this day. The first game was against Patricia and I won 348-268. The second game was against Fred whom I had never before seen at the club, but was apparently a regular before some health problems. I beat Fred 321-288. My opponent for Game #3 was Lisa. I made 87 points for STRIFES and won the game 408-285. The final game of the day was against JJ. It was a tight game and then she challenged VIG late in the game. Four plays later I had won 330-303. I was able to turn the day into four wins. I still finished out of the money though.
My friend has a blog!
One of my good friends has finally published some of her writings into a blog. Check it out!
From Caterpillars to Butterflies
From Caterpillars to Butterflies
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Atlanta Sunday Scrabble
For the past few weeks I have been attending a scrabble club on Sundays. You can read about my first experience at the club on this previous blog post.
At my second time to the group, the organizer Artis had decided to host a month long competition for the regular attendees. To be eligible you had to have attended at least three previous meetings. Only games against other eligible participants would be counted for the competition, so I was a bit concerned that no one would want to play scrabble with me. After I finished my first game, Artis came to me and said since she had the power to make up any rules she wanted that she would allow me to participate in the competition. She said I was good enough to compete fairly with the others and I helped even out the numbers.
The first game that week was against Cynthia. Cynthia is actually from another club, but said she wanted to get in as many games as she could before she went to the National Scrabble Championship the next week. She played very quickly and very well. I was a bit intimidated honestly. I do not remember the outcome of the games from that week, other than I lost most of them, maybe all of them.
The next week things ran a little more smoothly as far as moving from table to table for each game. We all played four games apiece. I challenged my first word and was successful. I actually challenged a few words that day successfully and one unsuccessfully. I also had a good word that I played challenged. When you opponent takes a zero for a turn, it helps your chances of winning. I won one of four games that week.
The third week in August was a disaster for me. I lost all four games I played. I had no bingos. I lost two word challenges.
Today was week four. My best week yet. The first game I played JJ and won 387-318 with a bingo. Game #2 was against Lisa whom had barely beat me the previous weeks. This time I came out on top 356-344 with a bingo. I almost lost at the end trying to play too conservatively. Game #3 was against Bright. I successfully challenged two of his bingo attempts. However I did not challenge his third bingo attempt. I knew the word was good, but I failed to pay enough attention to the hook. After the game we checked and his hook VEGS was invalid. I did not have a bingo myself in this game, although I did have a double letter J in a triple word score in JOINS hooked by the S to make SHAGS on another triple word score for 81 points. I lost this third game 341-368 and I am still kicking myself. The final game of the day was against Pearl and she beat me handily 315-428. I did manage another bingo though. So for the day I was 2-2 with three bingos.
Today I tried some of the pizza for the first time. I had a slice of Oz Special and a slice of Veggie Deluxe. The pie was thin and slightly doughy underneath the heap of toppings. The crust at the edge was thick and chewy and well done. The veggie certainly had some interesting flavors on it with the baked eggplant and artichoke hearts. The Oz Special was very good. They served the pizza with a knife and fork and I tried to use it, but the bottom crust did not cut very well. At the same time it was not stiff enough to really pick up and eat by hand, at least not while trying to play a game of scrabble.
Next week is the end of the competition. Cash prizes will be awarded for most cumulative bingos, highest cumulative score, and highest word score. I am really not in the running for the first two prizes, but it only takes a one shot deal to win the third. Wish me luck next week.
At my second time to the group, the organizer Artis had decided to host a month long competition for the regular attendees. To be eligible you had to have attended at least three previous meetings. Only games against other eligible participants would be counted for the competition, so I was a bit concerned that no one would want to play scrabble with me. After I finished my first game, Artis came to me and said since she had the power to make up any rules she wanted that she would allow me to participate in the competition. She said I was good enough to compete fairly with the others and I helped even out the numbers.
The first game that week was against Cynthia. Cynthia is actually from another club, but said she wanted to get in as many games as she could before she went to the National Scrabble Championship the next week. She played very quickly and very well. I was a bit intimidated honestly. I do not remember the outcome of the games from that week, other than I lost most of them, maybe all of them.
The next week things ran a little more smoothly as far as moving from table to table for each game. We all played four games apiece. I challenged my first word and was successful. I actually challenged a few words that day successfully and one unsuccessfully. I also had a good word that I played challenged. When you opponent takes a zero for a turn, it helps your chances of winning. I won one of four games that week.
The third week in August was a disaster for me. I lost all four games I played. I had no bingos. I lost two word challenges.
Today was week four. My best week yet. The first game I played JJ and won 387-318 with a bingo. Game #2 was against Lisa whom had barely beat me the previous weeks. This time I came out on top 356-344 with a bingo. I almost lost at the end trying to play too conservatively. Game #3 was against Bright. I successfully challenged two of his bingo attempts. However I did not challenge his third bingo attempt. I knew the word was good, but I failed to pay enough attention to the hook. After the game we checked and his hook VEGS was invalid. I did not have a bingo myself in this game, although I did have a double letter J in a triple word score in JOINS hooked by the S to make SHAGS on another triple word score for 81 points. I lost this third game 341-368 and I am still kicking myself. The final game of the day was against Pearl and she beat me handily 315-428. I did manage another bingo though. So for the day I was 2-2 with three bingos.
Today I tried some of the pizza for the first time. I had a slice of Oz Special and a slice of Veggie Deluxe. The pie was thin and slightly doughy underneath the heap of toppings. The crust at the edge was thick and chewy and well done. The veggie certainly had some interesting flavors on it with the baked eggplant and artichoke hearts. The Oz Special was very good. They served the pizza with a knife and fork and I tried to use it, but the bottom crust did not cut very well. At the same time it was not stiff enough to really pick up and eat by hand, at least not while trying to play a game of scrabble.
Next week is the end of the competition. Cash prizes will be awarded for most cumulative bingos, highest cumulative score, and highest word score. I am really not in the running for the first two prizes, but it only takes a one shot deal to win the third. Wish me luck next week.
ZELDA'S QUEST FOR ZAGNUT
STAGE 1
Today I accepted a challenge for the Princess Zelda. Her kingdom is void of the rare confectionary jewel known as Zagnut. Her desire is to hold in her hands this rare jewel. I being the noble warrior that I am, have undertaken to provide her this pleasure.
My first step in this quest is to formulate a plan. To that end, I researched among the records of the Zagnut manufacturer for locations which are known to house this jewel. Alas, the villages in and around my current locale show no presence of the confection. I broaden my record search to include the closest metropolis. Eureka, there are a handful of locations known to contain the rare jewel. Each of these bear the name of a common retail merchandiser.
Suddenly my research is interrupted by an incoming signal on my communication device. My last born offspring is in dire need of transportation. I hastily discontinue my work to rescue the fruit of my loin. I speedily navigate my warship to her transmitted location. I arrive there safely only to find she has departed by the hand of her embryonic hostess without a notification unto me to abort my emergency mission.
I am now faced with a choice. Do I begin the quest with the incomplete knowlege I have already attained or do I seek nourishment for body? I opt for nourishment amidst the company of other warriors while listening to the exhortation of a journeyman.
My body and soul refreshed, I slowly traverse back to my abode keeping my eyes alert for possible places that a Zagnut may be kept. I spy a shop bearing the name of those shops encountered during my research. I slow my warship into the docking area to gain access into this structure. Time has been unkind to the environs here. I enter the shop and scour the aisles in search of the treasure. I spy another rare treat with the name of Zero and gain hope, but those are quickly dashed. The shopkeeper approaches me to offer assistance. The puzzled look as I pronounce the name Zagnut causes my heart to sink even before the word no escapes her lips.
Stage 1 has failed, but failure is only a stepping stone towards future success.
STAGE 2
I have received intelligence reports that indicate the elusive Zagnut may be found within striking distance of my weekly gaming rendezvous. I shall allot time to detour to these destinations as I make my trek in several days.
In the meantime, I searched a trio of local establishments during the hour reserved for consumption of midday vittles. Although the Zagnut jewel was not found, I did manage to corner another rare jewel known as the Clark Bar. I have provided photographic evidence of my conquest here.
Clark Bar
STAGE 3
Several days have passed since my last excursion on Zelda's Quest. Armed with the intelligence reports, I resumed my search this afternoon. Would success be mine?
I had a route planned based upon the deviation from the standard course. The first stop was just a few hundred yards from the major interchange of defense highways which are a part of my normal Sunday routine. However it has been twenty years since I last actually stopped my vehicle in this territory. Media outlets often contain reports of lethal violence at the large closed market just across the way. This is not exactly a destination for tourists.
I slowly proceeded along the local thoroughfare keeping my visual field attuned to my surroundings. It was only a few seconds before I spotted a tall mast bearing the name of the establishment purported to contain the Zagnut.
As I pulled into area designated for parking I was immediately struck by woeful neglect that afflicted this habadashery. A large crater with the appearance that it had been caused by an improvised explosive device interrupted the flow path of the entering and exiting ships. Sadly, I believe this crater was actually formed by the unabated erosive forces of nature over time.
The building housing the mercantile also showed signs of age and neglect and evidence that a criminal element oft lurked nearby. The glass doors and windows were protected by vertical bars of steel to prevent unauthorized access. Nothing I saw inspired peace about my expedition.
I docked my warship and proceeded on foot into the structure. Scanning the natives in the midst, I quickly ascertained that my appearance betrayed that I was an alien to these parts. Taking a deep breath I went straight to the rack containing the type of treasures that I sought. My eyes quickly caught the large yellow lettering on the bright red background. ZAGNUT it proclaimed in the bottom left corner of the rack.
I kneeled down to take my prize into my hands. I carefully felt the long rectangle of crunchy peanut butter toasted coconut throught its protective layer. The first few I felt had evidence of rough treatment and were not whole. Then I felt one that was complete. Having come so far I decided that I would not stop with just one bar. I found one for myself as well as one for Princess Zelda.
I stood in line to hand over the monetary value of these precious jewels to the woman in charge of collections. She barely acknowledged my existence as she shoved the change into my hand. My quest complete. I hurriedly exited the premises and entered my trusty warship to depart from this place.
Here is the photographic evidence of my success.
Zagnut
Today I accepted a challenge for the Princess Zelda. Her kingdom is void of the rare confectionary jewel known as Zagnut. Her desire is to hold in her hands this rare jewel. I being the noble warrior that I am, have undertaken to provide her this pleasure.
My first step in this quest is to formulate a plan. To that end, I researched among the records of the Zagnut manufacturer for locations which are known to house this jewel. Alas, the villages in and around my current locale show no presence of the confection. I broaden my record search to include the closest metropolis. Eureka, there are a handful of locations known to contain the rare jewel. Each of these bear the name of a common retail merchandiser.
Suddenly my research is interrupted by an incoming signal on my communication device. My last born offspring is in dire need of transportation. I hastily discontinue my work to rescue the fruit of my loin. I speedily navigate my warship to her transmitted location. I arrive there safely only to find she has departed by the hand of her embryonic hostess without a notification unto me to abort my emergency mission.
I am now faced with a choice. Do I begin the quest with the incomplete knowlege I have already attained or do I seek nourishment for body? I opt for nourishment amidst the company of other warriors while listening to the exhortation of a journeyman.
My body and soul refreshed, I slowly traverse back to my abode keeping my eyes alert for possible places that a Zagnut may be kept. I spy a shop bearing the name of those shops encountered during my research. I slow my warship into the docking area to gain access into this structure. Time has been unkind to the environs here. I enter the shop and scour the aisles in search of the treasure. I spy another rare treat with the name of Zero and gain hope, but those are quickly dashed. The shopkeeper approaches me to offer assistance. The puzzled look as I pronounce the name Zagnut causes my heart to sink even before the word no escapes her lips.
Stage 1 has failed, but failure is only a stepping stone towards future success.
STAGE 2
I have received intelligence reports that indicate the elusive Zagnut may be found within striking distance of my weekly gaming rendezvous. I shall allot time to detour to these destinations as I make my trek in several days.
In the meantime, I searched a trio of local establishments during the hour reserved for consumption of midday vittles. Although the Zagnut jewel was not found, I did manage to corner another rare jewel known as the Clark Bar. I have provided photographic evidence of my conquest here.
Clark Bar
STAGE 3
Several days have passed since my last excursion on Zelda's Quest. Armed with the intelligence reports, I resumed my search this afternoon. Would success be mine?
I had a route planned based upon the deviation from the standard course. The first stop was just a few hundred yards from the major interchange of defense highways which are a part of my normal Sunday routine. However it has been twenty years since I last actually stopped my vehicle in this territory. Media outlets often contain reports of lethal violence at the large closed market just across the way. This is not exactly a destination for tourists.
I slowly proceeded along the local thoroughfare keeping my visual field attuned to my surroundings. It was only a few seconds before I spotted a tall mast bearing the name of the establishment purported to contain the Zagnut.
As I pulled into area designated for parking I was immediately struck by woeful neglect that afflicted this habadashery. A large crater with the appearance that it had been caused by an improvised explosive device interrupted the flow path of the entering and exiting ships. Sadly, I believe this crater was actually formed by the unabated erosive forces of nature over time.
The building housing the mercantile also showed signs of age and neglect and evidence that a criminal element oft lurked nearby. The glass doors and windows were protected by vertical bars of steel to prevent unauthorized access. Nothing I saw inspired peace about my expedition.
I docked my warship and proceeded on foot into the structure. Scanning the natives in the midst, I quickly ascertained that my appearance betrayed that I was an alien to these parts. Taking a deep breath I went straight to the rack containing the type of treasures that I sought. My eyes quickly caught the large yellow lettering on the bright red background. ZAGNUT it proclaimed in the bottom left corner of the rack.
I kneeled down to take my prize into my hands. I carefully felt the long rectangle of crunchy peanut butter toasted coconut throught its protective layer. The first few I felt had evidence of rough treatment and were not whole. Then I felt one that was complete. Having come so far I decided that I would not stop with just one bar. I found one for myself as well as one for Princess Zelda.
I stood in line to hand over the monetary value of these precious jewels to the woman in charge of collections. She barely acknowledged my existence as she shoved the change into my hand. My quest complete. I hurriedly exited the premises and entered my trusty warship to depart from this place.
Here is the photographic evidence of my success.
Zagnut
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