Curses Candy Crush!!!

Oh how those luscious calorie-free candies draw me in!  I proudly gave up FarmVille and vowed to never get addicted to another game.  I kept that promise for almost two years.  I got curious as to what all the fuss was about Candy Crush Saga on FB (By King Entertainment) and wound up downloading the free version of what was in the beginning a deceptively simple game.  Initially, it appealed to me because you could pick it up in short spurts.  What I didn't realize is it can be hard to put down.  Luckily, the game will do it for you!

If you've been living under rock candy, the game is kinda like Bejewelled but with brightly colored candies.  There are very annoying sound effects, so I always have the sound off.  But when you do well, there are colorful explosions and Swedish jellyfish swimming around adding points to your score. This is the only place where I don't want to see chocolate because it is evil.  (The game can be evil too.  Lots of nasty surprises can undo all of your hard work.  It is exasperating and confounding, leaving you with little notes at the end saying "You failed!"  Nice to see it in writing...)

Though the app is free, they would love you to buy all sorts of "tools."  Sometimes, they even put you in position to make it nearly impossible to continue without them.  However, I haven't spent a single cent and I am on Level1218 as of 10/01/2016.   But alas, I caved and spent five bucks---still cheap entertainment.)  Lately, they have had a "wheel of fortune" that can get you little boosters for free.  I would like to think I am brilliant and highly-skilled, but there is a bit of luck to this, so it's doable for anyone who can take the punishment and get back on "the horse."  There used to be only 300 levels, but I hear they just added a whole lot more, so I will likely never be done.  I spent days on Level 275 and was getting to the point of putting it away, then things fell into place.  The next few levels often go by quickly as they know not too push you too far or you will give it up.

It's helpful to have FB friends who also play as they can send you "lives" or when you need a "ticket" to the next adventure.  It's fun to see their high scores and we go back and forth on who is ahead.    I have googled tips on occasion from several websites.  Some are helpful, some not.  But often you just need to see a different perspective.  There are actual videos of watching folk's moves and how they beat the level.  There is a "rehab" FB page for folks needing talked away from the edge...

Another benefit is you can play even if you aren't online at the moment.  Once you get back online, they will sync you back up with everyone.  If you are never online, instead of friends sending you tickets, you can do quests to get to the next "chapter" of the game.  I play this on my wi-fi tablet, so when I can't be online, I can still kill a lunch hour!  Takes my mind off of work for a little bit.

If you are looking for something new to play, I suggest you try it.  Let me know what you think and if you have tips...bring them on!  We'd all like to see them!

Until next time (which would be sooner if I weren't playing "Crush!"),
Gale

The 'Creek's 2013 Year In Review

Well, here we are again on New Year's Eve.  I hope everyone had a nice Christmas.  The sun is out, the birds are singing... well, at least the indoor ones.  It's really windy here in paradise (central Ohio) as the snow was blowing sideways.  The hens gathered at their gate to be let out, but though I love my ladies, they aren't terribly smart.  The grass may be greener outside their pen, but it's a lot colder in the wind!

Though the Christmas season was a week shorter, I think the media has made it up by making New Year's longer...LOL!  They started airing those sad tributes to those who have passed (reminding me of "Hunger Games" how they flash on the screen with sad music) last week, along with several shows dedicated to wrapping up last year.  So, I may as well do it too.

Thanks to you, the 'Creek is nearly at 20000 hits!  I welcome suggestions on what you would like to see more (or less?)  As I have stated before, I can't be all things to everyone, but I try to rotate topics enough so something may interest you.  I hope you more recent readers will try out the "Index By Topic" and find something either informative or humorous.  I previously tried to keep a regular posting schedule, but if I don't think I have something worth your time to read, I don't just post willy-nilly.  So, likely it will be only 2-3 times a month.

I heard on the news that this is the first New Year's Eve with a New Moon since 1995.  According to the  "About Astrology" website:

"When the moon is new, the sun and the moon are aligned in the same sign and a powerful energy portal is opened.  New moons are a great time to set intentions for things you'd like to create, develop, cultivate, make manifest."

So maybe resolutions will stick this time????  

It's also going to be the Chinese "Year of the Horse" starting January 31st.  I would love to have been a horse, because what's not to like about them?  But alas, I'm an Ox.  For more info and an app that will tell you what year you were born under check out Travel China.  

Some things that folks have to look forward to in the new year-- apparently Prince William announced at Christmas they are having another baby.  We can watch the Winter Olympics (if the Russians can stop the daily terror attacks.) Ohio State is in the Orange Bowl this Friday.  I have friends that are going to be grandparents for the first time.  My son will graduate from high school and my daughter will be a senior in college.  If nothing else, for those of us in North America at least, the days are getting slightly longer.  In Ohio, we can go for weeks of gray days and the sun is an exception, not the rule.  

The kids and I will be watching movies and eating Chinese food in tonight, but if you are going out be careful but have a great time!  

BTW, try to catch the footage of the Dubai New Year's fireworks.  They are touting it as breaking the Guinness record for most fireworks ever used at once.  Should be neat!

See you next year!

Gale

P.S. Guess I should name posts after I write them.  Not much of a review, more of a preview of 2014! LOL!