This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2025 the theme is a random assemblage of things that are on my mind--or that just pop into my mind. Whatever! Let's just say I'll be "Tossing It Out" for your entertainment or however it is you perceive these things.
Showing posts with label International Jugglers Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Jugglers Association. Show all posts

Monday, June 6, 2011

Fun and Games

 



           It's all fun and games with Alex J. Cavanaugh today.  Alex has come up with some good favorites lists in the past, and I think this one is the easiest so far.

           A nice easy post is something that I need and I always find these subjective favorites posts no hassle respites from trying to be all serious and deep.  Sure, I could make this a big complex deal, but I won't.   I'm just going to list the game, maybe some runner-ups, and a little background or explanation of what the game means to me and why I liked it.

       When I was growing up I always loved playing games.  I was never a sports nut or any athletic type, but I did enjoy the games like dodge ball, kick ball, baseball, and volleyball.  You certainly won't find me playing any of these games now, but I liked them when I was in school.

         Most of the games I enjoyed were board games (since we didn't have video games when I was growing up), some card games, and certain "mind" type games.  Checkers, Parcheesi, Monopoly, Life, and Clue were some of the games we played that I enjoyed considerably. 

         Then there were an array of card games with which we used to pass the time.  I still play Solitaire on the computer, but it's more of a time waster than a favorite.   And there were the entertaining games like Mad Libs and various guessing games.

           Here are some game favorites that define me:

Scrabble  --- It has to do with words and since I consider myself a writer, I like words.  I work Crossword puzzles almost daily so if we consider that a game then Crossword puzzles would be a favorite.   I tend to take my Scrabble very seriously, but I rarely play since I usually have no one to play with.  "Tumblebees" is a computer game that kind of reminds me of Scrabble and I used to be obsessed, but haven't played Tumblebees in the past couple of years since I've become more obsessed with Blogging.

Sonic the Hedgehog -- I don't have much experience at all with video games, but I must say they look pretty cool and I could probably really get lost in them if I started playing.  One game I did get seriously involved with in the mid-nineties was Sonic the Hedgehog.  My daughters had the game console in their bedroom and I would frequently go in to play.  There was something about the surrealism of the storyline, the psychedelic imagery, and the whacked out music that entranced me.  I would sometimes play for hours.  One of my daughters said recently, "You thought I was asleep, but I saw you playing Sonic the Hedgehog at night."   Busted!   I also played Mario sometimes, but I was obsessed with Sonic.   I never got very far into the game as much as I played--there are levels that I guess I will never see.

Juggling Battle -- Just to get something more unique I thought I might include this one since it is more defining of me.   My sister and I were usually the only ones to play this since I didn't have too many friends who could juggle.  The game's premise is perhaps comparable to a demolition derby.  Players would begin juggling--preferably clubs ( or pins as they are sometimes called)-- and attempt to cause other players to drop their juggling props while keeping their own in action.  The last juggler to remain juggling is the winner.  Our Juggling Battle rounds were pretty short since there were only two participants, and rarely more than three.  

         Combat Juggling has actually become a competition at Juggler's Conventions and other juggling events.  Here is last year's event at the International Juggling Association convention:






             Sign up and add your own games or visit the other participants here:




Have Fun playing the Game!






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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Some Obscurities, But There Nonetheless

          In my Monday post I had mentioned that a short piece which I had written about myself and my blog appears in the current issue of Jackson Brigade Quarterly (Vol. 18, No.2 issue dated February 2010).  This quarterly magazine is a publication of  Jackson Brigade , which is a genealogical association for descendants of John and Elizabeth JACKSON, who were the great-grandparents of Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. 

        Stonewall Jackson, along with Robert E. Lee, was one the greatest confederate generals in the American Civil War.  He is considered to be one of the greatest military minds of United States history. Stonewall Jackson is part of my family tree.  I am  not a direct descendent of Stonewall Jackson, but I descend from his family line which is celebrated by the Jackson Brigade organization.

          I am proud to be part of this heritage and this was the primary reason for my article in the Quarterly.  Since membership is spread all across the United States and I am a fairly recent member of the organization, not many members knew of me.  The article gave me a chance to tell a bit about myself and my blog.  I hope to see members of the Jackson Brigade add themselves to my blog followers. And if Stonewall Jackson is a part of your family tree and you haven't joined the Jackson Brigade check out the website and find out how you can join.   In the future I hope to include some more stories about this Jackson family and those related to it.

         Unfortunately, most readers will not have access to the article that I have written for Jackson Brigade Quarterly since distribution is limited to members of the organization and a handful of libraries and historical organizations.  However, on the internet you can read another article that I wrote back in 1990 that is a tribute to my father.

         I was quite surprised many years ago when I ran across this article listed on Google.  The article does not appear under my pseudonym which I use in this blog and on my current written work.  You can read this article which appeared in the magazine Juggler's World , a quarterly publication of The International Jugglers Association.  My father had been among the earliest members of this organization and served as president in 1957.


          Getting published is almost always a thrill for a writer.  After all isn't that why we write?  I hope to have many future posts about articles that I get published.  Do you have any articles appearing in recent or upcoming publications?  What are some of the more obscure publications in which your written work has appeared?