The 4th Annual Masque of the Black Death, recapped

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The 4th Annual Masque of the Black Death, recapped

Possibly the fewest people who have ever showed up for a Masque of the Black Death came last night, but the crowd there was relaxed and friendly and looking to have good time. Several (well, at least four but I have a feeling I'm not counting some one) of the regular from the previous three were not able to attend, and where missed, but a couple people who have not been able to attend for the past few years were able to show up; so it kind of balanced out. Assuming there is a "fifth annual", maybe we can get the whole herd back in.

The punch recipe was tweaked to be closer to its initial configuration. Two parts juice and club soda, about one part spirit. Due to the absence of sloe gin, made due with something called "Sweet Tea Vodka". It's good, kind of a similar flavor base, and worked its purpose well. The flavor combination was just about right for what I wanted. Fruity punch with a hint of something else and a slight bubble on the tongue. It is not a sophisticated drink, and mostly boils down to a complicated "gin and juice"; but I should remind you all that gin-laced-juice-punch was a big deal and a delight in The Pickwick Papers, so I see no reason to speak out against dear old Samuel. A fine old man.

Jenga was played, of course, as is the tradition. The first game was the most amazing if you consider the length of astonishment achieved. The tower leaned into non-euclidean space. A great preposterous, cyclopean thing it was, bent and misshapen, a vision from the Pit. It finally gasped and died of old age, the spine cracking into several places. The next two rounds were wastrels. I caused the pieces to splatter too early for a real sense of challenge to come out of it. The fourth round, though. Amazing. If the amplitude of astonishment is considered, it was the winner of the four. One of the guests, Rita, played on her own for the first part. She started on the bottom level and removed the two outer pieces, then the next level and the same, and the next and the same. Had she continued unabated, it is possible she would have "solved" the Jenga board into its tallest possible configuration. However, outside forces, i.e. a second party, brought Doom to Unknown Jengath. In some alternate dimension, that game continues on, miles high, impossible in its splendor.

Hmm, what else from the night? We did not, as intended, play chess-drinking. Too much background booze. Too high of a noise-to-signal ratio considering our blood and our blood's abv. It would have been tug-of-war with broken legs, a long jump in high gravity, a race through molasses. Something would have been accomplished, and that something would have been pain and agony. Maybe next time.

We did watch the MakersLocal invention: Youtube-athon. It plays random Youtube clips. I think they are from a large and interesting playlist, but it might also bring in random clips from time to time. We also watched videos on Cracked.com and Youtube and elsewhere. And Twilight Zone on, sigh, SyFy. A bunch of geeks in a single place. Surprise! The Internet was involved.

The sad thing is, the only other thing I can really remember about the night was wearing lipstick. Voluntarily. I even could be said, if you believe the rumors, to have started it. Why not, you know? By the end, nearly every other guy was also wearing lipstick, and more than one of the other guys had kiss marks on their face. Again, rumors point to me, but who really knows?

I think that is it for next year, unless someone wants to share something else in the comments. Have a good one.

Si Vales, Valeo

file under (...on Me in 2010)

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