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I seem to be on a classic games kick. And by "classic games", I mean I've found myself utter fascinated by go, shogi, xiangqi, mahjong, and hanafuda. (Strangely, chess isn't doing it for me) This, of course, has led to a in-depth search for game sets that don't actually break the bank. (Hanafuda was easy; I knew Tokai down the street sold sets of cards) Because there are some really beautiful wooden shogi sets, let me tell you. And a goban and stones can easily set you back $100.
Anyway, after much irritation, I finally gave up and ordered a slightly-questionable shogi set from Amazon (there's some confusion as to whether the tail side is painted red or not. In the case of the latter, it's nothing some Testor's paint won't fix). Because apparently, shogi sets are really hard to find in the US if you don't like eBay (which I don't, for long and complicated reasons). It's enough that I was tempted to hijack the laser cutter at work after-hours and make my own, but that's a little more effort than I want to commit at this point. In any case, I should, I don't know, actually learn to play the game.
The go set, that's a little more complicated. Go sets are apparently easy to find. Go sets that are a) reasonably portable, b) quality, and c) not wallet-breaking are apparently only used by dragons and other creatures of questionable existence. I really don't want to drop $60 on a go set when I'm just learning how to play.
(Yes, my life is hard.)
Anyway, this all explains why I got the hilarious (read: stupid) idea I got to tease my mother when she and my dad show up next week on her birthday. See, my mom is really, really good at Chinese checkers (which I found out has nothing to do with China and was actually invented by a German company. THE MORE YOU KNOW). Except the set at home is from sometime before 1980 and is missing most of the pieces. She has also tried many, many times to teach me how to play Chinese checkers. This has had varying amounts of success, mostly because it usually goes this way:
Me: *stares at board* *tentatively picks up a piece and moves it*
Mom: *immediately takes piece and jumps over like 10 of my pieces*
Me: *stares*
Mom: Why did you do that? Didn't you see that coming?
Me: ...
...
...
...no.
Mom: Well, why not?
Me: ...
ANYWAY, I thought it'd be really funny to show up at their hotel and pull out a brand-new Chinese checkers set as a birthday present. So I got a set. And I'm reasonably sure that I'm probably dooming myself to playing many, many futile games, but the shit-eating grin on my face when I present it to her next week is going to be totally worth it.
Anyway, after much irritation, I finally gave up and ordered a slightly-questionable shogi set from Amazon (there's some confusion as to whether the tail side is painted red or not. In the case of the latter, it's nothing some Testor's paint won't fix). Because apparently, shogi sets are really hard to find in the US if you don't like eBay (which I don't, for long and complicated reasons). It's enough that I was tempted to hijack the laser cutter at work after-hours and make my own, but that's a little more effort than I want to commit at this point. In any case, I should, I don't know, actually learn to play the game.
The go set, that's a little more complicated. Go sets are apparently easy to find. Go sets that are a) reasonably portable, b) quality, and c) not wallet-breaking are apparently only used by dragons and other creatures of questionable existence. I really don't want to drop $60 on a go set when I'm just learning how to play.
(Yes, my life is hard.)
Anyway, this all explains why I got the hilarious (read: stupid) idea I got to tease my mother when she and my dad show up next week on her birthday. See, my mom is really, really good at Chinese checkers (which I found out has nothing to do with China and was actually invented by a German company. THE MORE YOU KNOW). Except the set at home is from sometime before 1980 and is missing most of the pieces. She has also tried many, many times to teach me how to play Chinese checkers. This has had varying amounts of success, mostly because it usually goes this way:
Me: *stares at board* *tentatively picks up a piece and moves it*
Mom: *immediately takes piece and jumps over like 10 of my pieces*
Me: *stares*
Mom: Why did you do that? Didn't you see that coming?
Me: ...
...
...
...no.
Mom: Well, why not?
Me: ...
ANYWAY, I thought it'd be really funny to show up at their hotel and pull out a brand-new Chinese checkers set as a birthday present. So I got a set. And I'm reasonably sure that I'm probably dooming myself to playing many, many futile games, but the shit-eating grin on my face when I present it to her next week is going to be totally worth it.
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