Hearth

It was cold last night. But I wasn't disappointed. For the first time I started a fire in our new fireplace. I don't remember the last time I lived in a house with a working fireplace. Our recent move has been stressful, but to be able to relax in the living room with a fire crackling was nice. I admit on my first try, there wasn't much heat, or much light. I'll do better tonight.

Chimney sweeps, family and the internet have passed on their fireplace knowledge in the last two weeks. Add to that fading memories from summer camp long ago and I had a pretty good idea of what to do. Tinder, Kindling and Fuel. I was most concerned with burning down the house. I made sure to double and triple check the dampers in both fireplaces and had a pit in my stomache when we turned in for the night, even though the meager fire had burned down. A new simple pleasure to enjoy.

Monopoly

Monopoly is a waste of time. Growing up, my mother didn't allow the game to be played in her house. I do remember playing it as a kid from time to time at friends houses, but I don't recall it making any impact beyond Life or Sorry or Parcheesi or any other game I played as a kid.

I do recall playing a little more in college. It seemed more like a game of chance, and I don't remember a time I played with a strategy. The game did seem popular with some of the other guys I played with though. I didn't play well with others. I remember long discussions about whether or not you could refuse to charge rent to another player. Or whether you could give some or all of your money or property to another player.

But I recall having longer discussions about Monopoly in law school. One friend of mine, who had roughly the same opinion about the game as I did made some particularly interesting comments. He said "nobody wins that game." Now sure, you can meet the criteria on the game board for a victory, but then what happens? Presumably you put the game back in the box for next time. But the message of the game is flawed. Once one person controls all the money and all the property what do you do then? I suppose the winner could divide everything up again, which would be interesting. I'd think you are more likely to get Baltic Avenue than Park Place though. Perhaps a parent would step in applying the Sherman Act. Maybe in some cases it would be interesting if the winner had to fight to retain his winnings. The answer that history gives us is a violent one.