Plague of cuteness.
The original title of this post was “500 photos of kittens”… which the kittens published for me, this morning, (accidentally,) by stepping on the keyboard… and I guess I should be glad they did not somehow email North Korea.
Kittens = wild hooligans of destruction.
I keep going with the kitten photos below, keep scrolling if you donāt care what Iām reading!
***
What I’m reading: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond
On the surface, this explores housing issues in Milwaukee, in the very poorest neighborhoodsā¦ but itās incredible insight into how the instability of poverty utterly destroys social structure; disproportionately affecting children and women.
If that sounds boringā¦ itās not. Itās amazing. And insane. And infuriating. And terrifying.
This is what poverty takes from you: the ability to choose from GOOD OPTIONS.
It reminded me of one of my favorite books:
Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx, by byĀ Adrian Nicole LeBlancĀ Ā
The reporting spans over 10 years and follows two young women from the Bronx.
Reading these stories makes you realize how EXHAUSTING poverty isā¦ how being poor is a JOB THAT LEAVES NO TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE; the systemic nature of it, to escape is nearly impossible… especially when you had a baby at 13.
PS, if you are a “game” family, and have a favorite game, I would love some recommendations!! We like Balderdash, Spoons (the card game– it’s super easy and moves fast!), Taboo, Cards Against Humanity (limited audience, not for kids! and also not for parents, if your parents are like mine), stuff like that! And it’s nice to have a new one at the holidays.
December 15, 2017 @ 11:30 am
Hi, We bought Apples to Apples for our Granddaughter its like cards against humanity but G rated for mixed audiences and just as fun….
December 15, 2017 @ 11:32 am
I wondered about the 404? post early this morning-I have become totally paranoid about hacking and scam stuff. My extreme aversion to the Dread Dufus now leading us into Poverty for All but the Precious 400 has me convinced that a 404 is code for black helicopters snatching me up and dropping me into the nearest body of freezing water. Glub….Glad to see your quick correction. Whew!
If you don’t do just a shot of the porch disco balls and you in your blue diaphanous skirt and Paul in Tails dancing like the scene in LaLa Land I will be forced to …..be very very verklempt. I was going to avoid the eggnog and jack daniels but fear it will be my only consolation. Just a widdle? Prease?
December 15, 2017 @ 11:46 am
Pitt is a quick card game that, when played with the right group of dorks, is hysterical.
I truly enjoy your blog!
December 15, 2017 @ 11:47 am
This game is SO MUCH FUN!
https://www.amazon.com/Dutch-Blitz-201/dp/B000BBU0KS
Also, thank you for brightening my rainy cold day with kitties!!
December 15, 2017 @ 11:48 am
Telestrations! Itās amazing. Itās a cross between telephone and pictionary.
Also, random family is amazing. I think it should be required reading for everyone who ever said, just pull yourself up by your boot straps! Or really just everyone.
December 15, 2017 @ 11:49 am
We really enjoy Cover Your Assets. It’s a quick and simple card game that involves legal stealing.
December 15, 2017 @ 11:49 am
Let me recommend, if you haven’t read them, Amazing Grace, and Savage Inequalities, both by Jonathan Kozol. He writes on poverty, especially as it relates to education. Both were written about twenty years ago, and sadly, little has changed. Another book you might find interesting (I love the title), is Praying for Sheetrock, by Melissa Faye Green. And to be random, someone you might enjoy, if you haven’t read his work, and just for his beautiful writing, is Wallace Stegner.
December 15, 2017 @ 11:53 am
Games for dayssss!!!!!
-Carcassonne
-Settlers of Catan (really great game that gives you opportunities to enrage your opponents)
-Ticket to Ride
-Betrayal (someone gets to be the bad guy in the end)
-Lords of Waterdeep (build up your shops, complete all your quests and become the biggest bad ass in Waterdeep)
-Navegador (if you can find a copy – this is the best!)
-Pandemic (cooperative game where you save humanity from infectious diseases)
December 15, 2017 @ 11:53 am
Wits and Wagers is fun as well as Upword by Scrabble
December 15, 2017 @ 11:53 am
Due to a Settlers of Catan incident a number of years ago, for which I still refuse to take responsibility even though it was mostly my fault, we tend to gravitate more toward cooperative games where either we both/all win or lose together. Castle Panic is greatātogether you defend a castle from various attacking monsters. Itās pretty straightforward, quick to set up, suspenseful, and rounds only last about 30 minutes or less. Touch of Evil is also super fun, especially around Halloween. Itās cheesy and atmospheric and it COMES WITH A RIDICULOUS SOUNDTRACK CD. I always feel like I should be wearing a silly costume hat when I play. Finally, my dorkiest pick but favorite board game is Arkham Horrorābut it takes forever, has a billion rules, and set up and break down are major activities in themselves.
For a non-cooperative option, try Dixit. Itās kind of hard to describe, but lots of fun, especially if you know the other players well!
December 15, 2017 @ 11:53 am
Codenames is a great group game. Lots of hilarious connections and easy to learn.
December 15, 2017 @ 11:57 am
Thank you for the fun kitten pics! They do look like they smell amazing. I don’t have a game recommendation but I just bought one that was recommended higher up by another commenter: Secret Hitler. If you are that commenter, thanks for this! Looking forward to playing it with the (only-adults) family next weekend. I’m also bringing my Cards Against Humanity. My parents are in their late 70’s but are liberal so I’m hoping it won’t be too raunchy for them. BTW did you see the recent “Cards Against Humanity redistributes your wealth” stunt? As someone who did donate $15 and did not get a check for $1000, and also didn’t get my $15 refunded, I was thrilled with the company’s actions. I got one of the ‘tough titties to the rest of you’ letters and it made my day. Feeling very fortunately to not be in dire straights financially; my heart goes out to those who are. Life during this administration is feeling very dystopian right about now.
December 15, 2017 @ 12:03 pm
The kittens are adorable. This just made my whole morning.
Also, Scattegories is really fun! And Catchphrase is a crowd pleaser normally. xAllie http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com
December 15, 2017 @ 12:06 pm
Obviously, the game for you is exploding kittens. Not literally. Itās a card game along the lines of CAH but…different. Look it up.
December 15, 2017 @ 12:06 pm
Thanks for the book recommendation — looks like it is well worth the read. Wish more people understood the vicious circle of poverty and the nihilism that accompanies it.
Love, love, love the little fluff balls — so glad they picked you for their foster mother! Not sure how you can part with them.
Happy Holidays to you, Paul and the kittens!
December 15, 2017 @ 12:07 pm
OH. MY. GOSH. I think my brain exploded.
Those are the cutest kittens I’ve EVER seen. I’m literally frozen on this page now staring at the fwuffeh yittle baaaabbies with their jelly bean paws and I now want one to sleep in my sleeve too!!! How do they expect me to get back to work NOW??! haha Oh gosh – how do you do ANYTHING with them around?!
As far as games go – we play TONS of games at the holidays. Recently we’ve included Cards Against Humanity, Bucket of Doom, “Jesus vs Santa: The Epic Party Game” (TOTALLY recommend for Christmas!) but more kid friendly ones include Hink Pink and Scattegories. Except we create our own Scattegories using notebook paper and our own categories including Name, Color, Place, Food, TV or Movie , Animal, etc – and our own system. You write until someone yells stop (when they’ve filled up all their columns) If you’re the only one with an answer (ex: “Betty” for a B name) you get 5 points. If someone else has your same answer you only get 1 point. If you have a double letter answer (ex: Betty Boop) then you get 10 points. We play till someone everyone gets bored.
This year I’m introducing the oven mitt game to everyone- you wrap a present really tight (maybe in a few boxes, one inside the other.) Everyone sits around a table. You have to wear oven mitts and a santa hat while opening the gift. Except the person next to you is rolling dice – and when they get doubles, you HAVE to pass everything to them. Then they put on the mitts and hat and continue to try to open the gift while the person next to them is trying to roll doubles. Whoever gets into the gift wins the prize. (There’s a few videos of this on youtube and floating around Facebook)
HAVE FUN!!! – and MORE KITTEHS PLEASE ! š
December 15, 2017 @ 12:10 pm
“Catch Phrase.” The bigger the group playing, the better. It’s hilarious and appropriate for all ages.
December 15, 2017 @ 12:13 pm
The kitty poos are adorable. I love the game Mexican Train and no, it has nothing to do with legal or illegal aliens from a Southern country. Vikki in VA.
December 15, 2017 @ 12:15 pm
Dixit is fun. Adorable kitties!
December 15, 2017 @ 12:24 pm
We are a game family for sure! For cards we like Fluxx (there are several theme versions Pirate Fluxx and Star Fluxx are our favorites) and Spite and Malice. For Board games a few of our favorites are Sheriff of Nottingham, Forbidden Desert, and Tsuro of the Ocean. If you have more players Saboteur is great too.