This evening was “game night” at our cell group. We were invited to bring games to play. I rubbed my hands gleefully and selected four excellent games (two board and two card) from my collection. I love games, and frequently buy unusal games from specialty hobby stores.

Unfortunately, the games I own are designed for small groups of 4-6 people. There were over a dozen at the group tonight. We wound up playing a game – the name of which escapes me – that plays like a combination of “Taboo” and “Hot Potato.” It was fun, although it largely depends on a verbal fluency that one of the players (a Brazilian) didn’t have. It was the best game they had for the number of people, though, so I guess you can’t please everybody.

I like my group, but there are too many women and too few men. Out of the dozen people three (including me) were guys. I like having the opposite sex around, of course; but it’s always awkward to just jump into a conversation two girls are having, at least until you get to know them well. I found myself standing in a corner, scanning the room to find someone, anyone, who wasn’t already involved in a conversation so I could strike one up. I’m sure it’ll get better the more I get to know them.

They (the couple whose house we’re meeting in) mentioned that next week they might fix dinner for us. This would be great, since I go there straight from work and don’t have time to get a meal until I get home. Food has been kind of scarce since I moved here; this area has a much higher cost of living than Kansas City does. Chicken? $4 a pound. I mean, at those prices, it’s not much more expensive to eat out.

I’ll get used to it eventually – it’s just that I’ve been spoiled. I mean, obviously prices are going to be higher in the city than the country, but Kansas City isn’t really all that rural. In the meantime, though, Pan sometimes cooks for Dann, and if I’m lucky, I get some, too.

Maybe it would be better if I just went ahead and started eating out more often. It’d save a lot of time in food preparation, I’d probably wind up eating a lot better, and I don’t think it would cost all that much more. Besides, I love exploring all the little out-of-the-way diners and ethnic food restaurants that the city offers. Sometimes, if I find a place I like, I’ll just start going down the menu, and order a different entrée each time I come. Athens had a lot of cool little eating places; Kansas City, not so many, but I’m sure I can find a number of good ones around here. Dann introduced me to a good Vietnamese place nearby; he’s been eating there for several years.

For now, though, I’m stuck to a diet of Cheerios, chicken sandwiches, and the occasional Papa John’s pizza, delivered conveniently to your door.