I work in the retail biz, so this is the time of year I have a bit more free time – more days off work, which I prepare for accordingly money-wise. I’ve already paid ahead on a few of my bills for next month, and have some “rainy day” money set aside. I basically had no real time off over the holidays at all, except having a three-day weekend for Christmas, and a precious four-day weekend a couple of weeks ago! My husband had the whole week after Christmas off, but I did not! Returned merchandise without tags needed to be re-ticketed. Those ugly sweaters purchased by clueless grandmothers and given as unwanted gifts had to be restocked. Plus, we had quite a backlog of stock that needed to go out to the floor. We’re finally caught up now. I was starting to forget what the warehouse floor looked like…

Next week, I get to spend some of that free time going out for some extra trivia games! I’ve been sick most of this week and spending a lot of nights at home, so it will be nice to get out. That’s right…the plan is five trivia games in four consecutive days! A trivia blitz! Two on Monday (one game will be helping a friend’s team, the other will be my team game), a solo game Tuesday, my “team” game on Wednesday, and one on Thursday (probably helping a friend’s team if they need it). Solo game if not. Thursday’s game/ location is TBD.

My busiest time of year tends to be October through early January. From mid-November until January, I was only able to get out for one trivia game a week (oh the humanity).

I haven’t done a solo trivia game since November. The thing is, I NEED the occasional solo trivia games! I love playing with my team, don’t get me wrong! But it’s nice to not have someone ask me, “Are you sure?” about an answer ten times before we hand it in. It’s nice not to be second guessed when I’m right. And if I’m wrong? Who cares! I got nobody to beat up for that but myself!  And it’s nice to not have to discuss how many points to wager on questions. If I want to toss a coin on a 50/50 answer, I can do that! Roll a d4 on a multiple choice answer? I can do that! Roll a d20 to determine how much to wager? I can do that, too! I actually like the solitude – and having a bit of alone time in the car. If “Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera comes on during shuffle, I can not only crank it up – but I can sing along with it without bothering anyone! Sing it, Paul Stanley! Trivia note, did y’all know Paul Stanley from Kiss played the Phantom in a 1999 Toronto production of Phantom? My husband and I were tempted to go check this out, but life had other plans.

Wow, this MF can really sing! For proof of that, click here

Paul Stanley without his “star child” Kiss makeup. Or a Phantom mask.

Here’s a snippet of lyrics:

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication,
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation,
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in,
To the power of the music that I write,
The power of the music of the night

Damn it, now I wish we could have gone to see this show in Toronto! I’m not sure why we didn’t go, it could have been sold out. Maybe we couldn’t get the time off together. Maybe the tickets were too expensive. What better way to lure my former metal boy husband to see a musical than to say, “Hey honey, Paul Stanley from Kiss is in it.”

And I’ll never have that opportunity again…or will I? Never say never! Maybe Bruce Dickinson has always dreamed of starring in a Broadway musical…I can totally see him as Curley in Oklahoma (not)! Nah, that would be miscasting (he’s no Hugh Jackman, after all).  Plus, unsure if Dickinson has the right stage presence, uh whom else would? Mike Patton from Faith No More does! Hmmm….now THAT would be interesting!

Mike Patton definitely has the vocal chops and stage presence for musical theater! He would be fantastic in Sweeney Todd, or Threepenny Opera (hell, Sting did it). Anything with a darker theme.

Be sure to check in here for game recaps next week! The next recap should be posted on Sunday, if we go play on Saturday. I may take that night off because of the extra games next week, so that’s TBD.  Go Pods!