Every year I have had a backgammon dinner party get together to celebrate being here at The Garrison. This year marks my 7th year and so on June 25th I held The Great 2011 Seven Years At The Garrison Backgammon Tournament And Spaghetti Bolognese Celebration! And what a great time we all had!

Lots of folks turned out for it, and lots of games got played. And as You'll see from the pictures: lots of great food was had by all. Sue had even fixed a mah-vo-lous key lime cheese cake that we had mid-movie.

Not only is the Spaghetti Bolognese a tradition, but the movie of the night, Top Gun, is one of the highlights of the whole night - tiring for some who just-don't-get-it. But for those, we just smile and allow them their opinion.

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Tim arrived early and we wasted no time in getting right down to it. Of note is that we also didn't waste anytime getting into the wine!

Sue making sure the Bolognese sauce was kept stirred while the chef was off fooling around over the backgammon board.

Rick arrives ready to play!

Rick gave me this neat candle lantern. Maybe the hint was to help light the way through the darkness of my worst nightmares playing backgammon with him. Hummmmm.... I don't think it worked out that badly for me....

Ahhhhh.... A small representation of how Rick's games were going for him.

Tara offering moral support to Brian as he takes on Tim over the board.

We just don't know when to quit. Exactly the reason Sue had to keep popping up and stirring the sauce.

Finally, Sue gets a break from sauce stirring detail to play Brian.

I have no clue what caused all of this, but it must have been something of note....

Marissa between games.

Oh noooooo.... The dreaded Standing Throw. Brian's calling his throw in anticipation of vanquishing his prey, which in this case would be: Sue. Better watch out there, Brian. If you don't make that throw, you're gonna take a world of grief for the show.

I don't think Gary cares much for how his game is going against Marissa.

Solving the problems of global warming, or talkin' trash about throwing doubles three times in a row?

Everyone taking a break after dinner.

Massing in the kitchen for some desert.

Just hangin' out!