We began our 20th season with Ethan wishing everyone he saw “Happy new year!” I reminded everyone that we were now starting season “Double X.” My joke was that we were not quite bad enough yet to be “Triple X.” Joseph’s joke was that next season would be “Double Sever.” Two new players joined this season. One of them, Jack, had previously played in the Fear and Trembling Charity Pingolf Tournament, but is new to league. He recently moved to Lansing from the Cincinnati area. Devon brought along the other new player, his friend Rob.
The banks this season are roughly the same as last, with a few adjustments made due to the game lineup changing. The bank theme is still “Constellations, or, The Starry Skies Above,” although my attempt to mildly theme each night’s bank has already been mocked by fate. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles went down before the night started (at least no one had played it yet) and I chose a game from our designated bank for pulling substitutes from. I wanted to avoid something in the alcove as we were already playing several games down there, so I switched in The Simpsons Pinball Party. That means TMNT has been moved to Bank 7, “Canis Minor.”
When we arrived, we discovered that our usual practice of standing behind the upstairs bar to make announcements and sort groups had been rudely denied. The Avenue had put up a rope across the bar entrance! Surely this wasn’t targeted toward us… was it?
The first two weeks we are rotating players between Banks 1 and 2, known (to me) as “Ophiuchus (the Snake Bearer)” and “Lepus (the Hare).” I got sorted into Lepus along with new player Jack and Ethan, from an adjacent group, began telling Jack how good I was at The Beatles and how he shouldn’t feel bad because I was about to blow it up. I nervously told Ethan that he was jinxing me by saying that, but in fact I did have quite a good Beatles game. It was the best one of the half of the league that played it that night, but I’m sure I will be dethroned when the other half of the league plays tonight.
The winner for the night on bank Ophiuchus was Danny (surprise?) followed by Joseph and then Dan. The Lepus winner was a tie between me (thanks Beatles) and Derik, with Ethan coming in third.
We also played a Tuesday Night Smackdown on James Bond. Danny kicked off the Smackdown season with a win, and Ethan won the B division on Medieval Madness.
That wraps up the league report for the first night of our 20th season. The weather may keep some people away tonight but I am hoping to see most of you in a few hours!
