Visited my grandmother today

[exatron]

My family visited my maternal grandmother today, and it was the usual afternoon of strange fun.

I did some simple chores for her, like helping replace a tray under one of her plants and replacing a fluorescent lightbulb on her over.

We went to Buddy's for lunch and had the usual- a large pizza, an antipasto salad, and I split some mostaccioli with my sister since she doesn't like the pizza at Buddy's.

Afterwards, we played Scrabble and a few games of pinochle while making odd jokes and hearing about relatives we don't see very often.

My grandmother kept trying to say that I needed a girlfriend in her own less than subtle way. I really wish I could stop the pointless nagging and tell both of my grandmothers that it's not a girlfriend I want, but I've seen how they react to news that doesn't fit with their beliefs and ideals.

Comments

[invisiblewolf.livejournal.com]

So, I take it that you're gay, then? :-) Or is it something other than a guy that "something that you want"? ;-)

-Spiritwolf.

[exatron.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm gay. Thanks to the classmates I had, it took me a long time to acknowledge that and actually say it.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Mm, pizza.

You play pinochle? Never learned that, but I know some bridge players who expressed interest in learning that too.

Do you mean you've seen them react specifically to news of someone gay (ie another cousin/etc), or just in general to something atypical to their beliefs?

[exatron.livejournal.com]

I figured you would like hearing about that. Buddy's was even named one of the country's five best pizza places by the food network.

I also play euchre.

Pinochle is a weird game at times. The order and number of cards is different from a poker deck (Tens go between kings and aces, and there are two of every card). We also simplified the scoring a bit since the game itself is less important than chatting about stuff as we play.

It's kind of both. I had to listen to one rant about how being gay was wrong after she saw something on TV about gay marriage, and the other reacted strangely when my younger cousin mentioned that he roomed with a gay guy while at college. I also had to hear them complain about how awful it was that my older cousin moved in with his girlfriend, and my maternal grandmother likes to point out that my youngest cousin gave up being a vegetariain and is disappointed that my younger cousin doesn't do the same.

[kylet.livejournal.com]

Like? I can't have it right now, tho ;-p Oh well, at least I know a chain to look out for if I'm in the area. What style is it?

Dunno that one.
Yeah, they showed me a pinochle deck. Weird...
And same thing for bridge. We play more to do something together than to really PLAY play.

Oh. Um. Yeah, I think that's a pretty good indicator of their feelings. Was hoping they might make an exception, but I"m guessing no. Yikes. x_x

[exatron.livejournal.com]

It's square deep-dish pizza. Supposedly, it just barely predates Chicago's deep-dish offerings. They recently introduced a whole wheat crust, so at least it doesn't have to be completely bad for you.

Euchre is similar to pinochle, but was designed by factory workers to be a really fast game to play during their coffee breaks. Playing to do something together is usually the best reason to play.

Scary as it sounds, they're actually nice when they aren't nagging. I think part of it's because they're both over eighty and are kind of set in their ways.

[nekura-ca.livejournal.com]

All this talk of pizza is making me hungry. ^_^

I love Euchre, I use to play in extensively during University between classes. I'm not too bad at it. Another game I like is Cribbage. I've tried to learn Bridge a couple of times, but the people I was trying to learn from were fanatical bidders, and expected perfection, so it wasn't fun. Never played Pinochle, but it looks like an interesting cross between Bridge, Gin, and Euchre.

I know exactly where you're coming from with the classmates thing. I've still never been able to say it out loud to anyone.

[exatron.livejournal.com]

I know it's kind of late now, but I hope you get something tasty to eat after hearing all that talk about pizza.

It's been a while since I played Euchre, and I've never played Bridge or Cribbage. Expecting perfection while trying to teach someone is a very bad combination. My family tends to avoid bidding when we play four-handed Pinochle since you don't have a kitty to win and possibly improve your hand.

I'm still wondering what made most of them decide to bother me.

I was planning on telling my aunt at Christmas, but never got the chance since we rarely see her and everybody wanted the chance to chat while she was here.

[nekura-ca.livejournal.com]

It is late, but I went to Quiznos tonight, it was good.

Every now and then I jump onto Yahoo! games and play a round or two when I'm bored. Bridge bidding is really complicated, it's a code speak telling your partner what you have in your hand, so making the wrong bid can get them very mad. I shoud try Pinochle sometime.

I had the extra problem that my family moved a lot, so I was always the new kid in class, and didn't know anyone.

[exatron.livejournal.com]

Good to hear.

Pinochle has something similar where you bid two higher if you have a lot of meld, but can't actually name trump.

Interesting. Most of my friends moved away. Usually just far enough that my parents would grumble if I wanted to see them.