Early Saturday afternoon, Sue drove me up to TriCity Subaru to pick up my car. I had left it there Friday night after work for Colin to switch out my snow tires, change oil, and get my inspection done this morning.

We brought it back here, and after I had stowed the snow tires into the garage, Sue and I headed out to Kingman Farm for a quick walk through the woods for some much needed exercise.

From there, we swung by Hannaford's to shop for food for tonight's The Great 2012 Eight Years At The Garrison Backgammon Tournament And Spaghetti Bolognese Celebration! The party was terrific! Sue gave me her early birthday present: a beautiful old wooden backgammon set. A perfect gift and I immediately set it out onto the coffee table in the living room.

Because I fix Spaghetti Bolognese for this party, I had to start food prep right at 4:00pm so we'd be able to eat around 7:00pm as it really has to simmer for awhile. Tim brought a couple of bottles of a nice Malbec, so we got that going. While I finished up the sauce prep work, he and Sue battled it out over the board. Then she and I played while Tim took on Tony. After playing for awhile, Sue commented that we should be out on the deck as the weather was so nice. So off we went, followd soon after by Rick and then Jim and Chris.

Now, it's always been a tradition at the annual move into the Garrison celebration party to play the movie Top Gun. However, there have been grumblings among some of the fans to maybe switch that out for something different. I have resisted but since Tony had not seen the 2009 Star Trek, nor have I seen it in quite awhile, and by unamomous vote of the fans: that's what we did!

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Tony readies himself to take on Tim.

I'm readying the wine!

Tony, Tim, and Rick: friends until the dice start being thrown.

And it just couldn't have been a nicer day. We all spent quite awhile out on the deck enjoying the weather and sipping wine.

Tony is glad it isn't him in Tim's clutches. But Rick doesn't care: he can hardly wait to get across the board from Tim and choke him on the score.

Chris and Jim enjoying the show.

Not real sure what the interest was that caused Rick and me to look that way, but it must have been Tim falling off the deck or something because why else would Rick be so interested? I dunno.... Just a thought.

Tony's probably wondering when the games are going to get going.

When the games start doesn't seem to be an issue with me!

Tim and Tony enjoying the day on the deck.

Chris and Jim.

And Rick can hardly wait to get over the boards with Tim. You can just see that twinkle in his eye....