Risk...... the game of apartment domination

The winter's been cold and it seems to only be getting colder lately. We really don't have the desire to go out like a few months ago so it's mainly been TV til she zonks out and I play Playstation til I'm tired. There's always been a bit of a rivalry between us from the get go. Pool, bowling, miniature golf, etc. Actually you really can't call it a "rivalry" when one dominates the other all the time - not saying who's up in the total tally, but I will say that I don't remember what it feels like to lose anymore.

Recently, I saw the board game "Risk in the laundry room and thought, "hey, what better way to pass away the winter nights". Tonight was the start of the battle. I had to refresh my memory on the rules, which are fairly complicated and the setup takes forever, but we got nothing but time at this point. I took this picture so that I have something to compare when I get home tomorrow night. Not saying she would cheat, but my stronghold in East Africa is tenuous at best and I can't afford to have a troop missing tomorrow night.

I've never played 2 on 2 Risk before and it's a little different than multi person Risk. You draw cards to see which territories you occupy first. Essentially you're all over the board. Luckily I was able to draw Western Australia and we all know the Australian territories are the easiest to defend. I'm not saying what my strategy is, but as they put it in "Saving Private Ryan":

"You got to take Caen so you can take Saint Lo, You've got to take Saint Lo to take Valognes, Valognes you got Cherbourg, Cherbourg you got Paris, Paris you got Berlin........ And then the big boat home."

So far my stratgy has proved worthless and we're in the midst of regrouping. The rolls of the dice have been less than good to me and now I'm in a defensive position. I'm sure most of the day tomorrow will have me consternating on my next move. She's up first and I have no doubts she has her eyes set on Asia. Depending on how that battle turns out, we may have to flank her in Europe with a little Weakside Hammerhead.

Stay tuned. I'm sure you're already on the edge of your seats!!

Faithfully submitted
This 28th day of January.
Douglas C. Niedermeyer
Sgt. At Arms