Interaction with my children

Well, I have been wondering what to post about today - nothing new, eh? Anyway my oldest has been trying to get ready for our visit to his cousins in Texas next month. Last year his cousins gave him their cast off "Yu Gi Oh" cards and since then he has drawn his younger brother into the fray. They've spent some of their money (birthday, allowance, etc.) on more cards. Even once asking me to order some for them on-line, etc. Well they are both pretty intrested in having me play games with them. I've just never gotten into the game. So one day my oldest asks me, "well what card game would you like to play"? I told him I'd look around and see. Well I cam e upon a now out of print game called "Netrunner". Now for me, a geek, Netrunner is an ideal game. :) Since then I've sought out some cards here and there and now we play about once a week. It's a pretty fun game and I know that the latest and greatest cards are not just waiting to be bought, and the company is not going to be releasing any new suppliments any time soon so I am safe there. The overview is essentially each player takes up the role of either a corporation trying to move forward 'agendas', or a 'runner' that is trying to 'liberate' (i.e. steal) them. There is a trend among games like this. Collectable card games (Yu Gi Oh, Pokemon, etc.), and even collectable miniature games (Mech Warrior, a Baseball one, etc.) where companies create games that are not too expensive to get into - maybe $10-$30 will get the 'basic' set - but they will also sell "booster" sets. These are usually about 25-50% of the basic set. The catch is these booster will always have more powerful cards or whatever. And if you and your friends have even one of these the competitive juices will always want to get the latest and greatest. And oh course the game companies will continually release new items and make the older ones obsolete. An endless cycle. It's sort of like why I stopped playing another table top wargame once upon a time. Warhammer 40,000. This game is a sci-fi table top miniatures game. Well, I used to really enjoy this game, but once they released the 3rd edition of the rules, and obsoleting yet another set of miniatures, I decided to not play anymore. I don't really have a point in all of this. But these 'hobbies' had become money pits. I enjoy wargaming (essentially complicated versions of chess), I like the miniatures, I like painting and 'customizing' them. But as I've gotten older I am less intrested in spending money on them to get the biggest or best. I just want to enjoy them for what they are supposed to be. A temporary diversion. Verse for today: Psalm 44:4-8, esv You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob! Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah