I do OK at strategic games. My problem is seeing the big picture and thinking ahead. For these reasons and more, I’ve decided to learn how to play Chess.

I’ve been taught before how to play but have never really played. I remember learning how the pieces moved but that’s about it. I plan to read up on Chess this weekend. I believe I have a Chess game that is part of a Hoyle software package.

Hopefully learning to play Chess can help me develop my strategy for other games.

Our company was looking to go to a new phone system. Voice over IP seemed appealing on several levels, so they switched to it. To the end user, it’s wasn’t any different than before. Getting the Internet and the phone system from the same company just seems to make sense. The two are closely related. In fact, a lot of college IT curriculums include some classes about telephony.

For small business phone systems, VoIP can not only save money but can make IT management a little less complicated. Xpander Communications specializes in helping small businesses explore options like VOIP and other technologies to see if it is right for them.

Having your phone system use your Internet connection is very beneficial on a lot of different aspects. Our company was really interested in the money they would save by switching to VoIP. There are other benefits and with the VoIP technology constantly improving, becomes a more reliable way to conduct business everyday.

My casual game obsession of the week is Grimm`s Hatchery. In the game, you take on a role of an outed brother who has been swindled out of his inheritance by his evil brother. But there is hope for our protagonist. For 300,000 gold he can buy his way back into the castle.

He has 80 days to raise the money and has decided to to raise animals to make it. Along the way he can do favors for villagers to earn moe cash. This simulation game that has a tone of role play elements is really easy to learn to play.

Maybe it’s the medieval setting or the RPG style of the game that really has me hooked. It’s very enjoyable, and you can start out in easy mode to get a good feel for the game.

Grimm’s Hatchery is very addicting and fun with an entertaining backstory.

Days of our Lives is my guilty pleasure. I really shouldn’t call it a pleasure since lately the soap just infuriates me.

I’m getting really tired of the current story lines like Belle and Shawn on the run. I wish they’d get caught already and get back to Salem. I’m so tired of their boring dialogue. Another story line I am sick of is Sami. How many times can that girl fake a paternity test? I guess after tampering with DNA evidence every chance she gets, she thinks she’s an expert or something.

I know that it is just a soap opera, but when I was younger, it was such a good soap opera. Now it’s the same old plots played out almost the same way everytime. I have hope that one day they will return to their former glory.

So, last night was the tournament. I didn’t do as well as I’d hope. But playing others really can show you where your weakness is in your warband. My weakness right now is having only one Brighthammer Avenger. That will change soon since I won an ebay bid for him and some other figures.

Making the warband is much like building a Magic the Gathering deck in that you can personalize it however you want. Last night I had forgotten to get into the Dreamscape some of my key figures from my reserve. I have a bodyguard that I thought would be good to move around and follow the Avenger since he will be a target of attacks. The bodyguard has to take all damage first in a cell. It might help to keep the Avenger around a little longer since both games I played last night he was killed within a few turns.

Dreamblade is fun and not too complicated yet. Hopefully with future expansions Wizards will stay true to the game play of Dreamblade.