November 2025 Wrap--Up
October work and family things spilled into November, making it feel like it was over in the blink of an eye. We kept busy doctor's appointments, game days, another Fall Festival, seeing the new Wicked movie in theaters, and traveling back to Syracuse for Thanksgiving. On the work side, I'm still trying to hire a couple of people after some disastrous interviews and happenings. I also started completing some end of they year deadlines so I can relax when my week off around Christmas comes around.
One disappointing note was that I didn't find time to make cookies in November. So, the Cookie of the Month segment will be missing in this post, but it'll come roaring back next month with a full report of the Christmas Cookies I make. A counter bright spot was me playing a crazy amount of games and possibly finding a new favorite filler game that might even push into my top 10.
Blah Blog Log
Just the one post for November.
- October 2025 Wrap-Up - A return to 100+ game plays, a new food related segment, and an underrated sitcom we've been enjoying.
Bored Board Games
In November, I played 23 games a total of 165 times which was huge increase from last month where I barely broke but still had a hair over 100 plays. My total plays for the year stands at 1603, which means there is a small possibility that could have double the amount of plays from last year (892). I'd need to have another amazing month plus a little more to get there. I don't think I'll try to do that, but if I find a couple of really enjoyable new to me games again in December then it could happen. There were no games added to the 100 Games 100 Plays List, but there are a few looming in the 90s and high 80s that could make it soon. This month's highlighted game is Castle Combo:
From BGG: "Each player will spend coins to draft 9 cards from 2 open markets on the table (the lower and upper city), creating along the game a 3x3 square of people interacting with each other to trigger instant effects and end-of-game bonuses. After everyone has played 9 turns (i.e., everyone has 9 characters in front of them), the player with the most points in their tableau wins the game."
I LOVE this game. I started playing it on BGA and ended up with 42 plays in the month of November. It plays quickly and I love trying to create high scoring combos in just 9 cards. Each game is so different because of what cards come out in the market and having to balance your coins and keys is hugely important in order to be successful. I will 100% be purchasing this game and the expansion if I don't get it for Christmas this year. If the gameplay wasn't enough, the art is fun and the theme is unique. When I do my next Top 10 or Top 5 x 3 games list, it's very possible that this crashes in, knocking some old favorites out.
Enjoyable Eats
As mentioned in the beginning of this post, we went to another Fall Festival in November and this one is the kids' favorite. Sitting on hundreds of acres of farm and orchards in the small town of Camden Wyoming in Delaware, Fifer's has been around for over 100 years. Over the years they have grown their Fall Festival to include all sorts of games and activities for kids, food trucks, craft vendors, and a corn maze.
Whenever we go during the fall, we always get a the Apple Cider Donuts and this year we also got some Apple Cider to drink. The donuts are always so tender and cakey with all of the wonderful fall spices from the apple cider. They also have their own snack and food stand separate from the farm store serving burgers, sandwiches, fries, ice cream, and other meal options. We always have a great time when we visit Fifer's during their various events.
I'm Watching 👀
IT: Welcome to Derry is a prequel to the IT movies and is set in the universe based on the 1986 novel by Stephen King. Right from the get go it is shockingly gory and full of nightmare fuel. I was not expecting to continually be slapped in the face throughout the first episode. The fact that it is a HBO show, means the production value is through the roof and they've gone all out to make this a successful series.
The premise of the show is in 1962, a couple with their son move to Derry, Maine just as a young boy disappears. With their arrival, very bad things begin to happen in the town. It really gives off a lot of Stranger Things vibes, so if you're into that like we are then you'll enjoy this series. You don't need to know the lore or have seen the movies, but it wouldn't hurt I'm sure.
Resolutions Update
I decided on a single resolution for this year: Read all 35 issues of Simplify Magazine. Which means I'll need to read 3 issues each month. Each issue is about 75 - 100 pages long and is comprised of short essays on whatever that issue's topic is.
- Goal Progress - 15 out of 35
If I don't watch TikTok, hockey, or play boardgames on BGA, I MIGHT have time to finish this in December. It's not looking good folks.
Whatcha Snackin?
If you know me, I love a deal. Especially when it comes to food products. During a weekly shopping trip to Aldi, I was in the seasonal a.k.a. "crap aisle" where it's a mix of home products, decorations, and oddball food items that don't have a regular place on the shelves. When seasonal items go on clearance, you can normally get a great deal because they want the stuff gone. I was the benefactor of that when I was able to purchase 6 bags of this month's snack for just $0.49 each.
The bags aren't terribly big, but there are 8 servings per bag which means I paid just over 6 cents per serving. I love trail mix and I love garlic so this mix of roasted almonds, sesame oat bran sticks, honey roasted sesame sticks, pretzels, roasted chickpeas and garlic seasoning is perfect. Snatching the remaining 6 bags from the shelf was almost at satisfying as how good it tastes.
Wrap It Up
Please comment below with any thoughts or comments on anything I've covered. Thanks for reading!
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