Traffic jams in the east...

Left Gettysburg this morning and drove to Hershey... got caught in a small traffic jam on our way to Hershey's Chocolate World. I had decided to avoid Newark and New York City by going north to Scranton and then west to Hartford... only adding about 30 miles to our total trip. (I knew we'd be arriving near New York City too close to the afternoon rush - and on Friday to boot.)

As it turns out, we ended up hitting a major jam just north of Harrisburg due to some minor road construction... the loss of one lane near an on-ramp completely and utterly immobilized traffic for miles. Sat completely still for 5 minutes. Then went about 4 miles in 40 minutes. Traffic was backed up behind us for even more miles and miles. Pretty much in the middle of nowhere too!

Then a log jam in Danbury, Connecticut, as well as two in Waterbury, and another in Hartford.

Maybe I should have taken my chances in New Jersey. (Not sure it would have been worse than Connecticut. I think Danbury, Waterbury, and Hartford are all just part of the same city... or will be soon.)

Then there was the offramp at I-465 off the Massachusetts turnpike... Wham!

(I really, really hate sitting in traffic on the Interstate with more passion than I can describe to you.)

On to New Brunswick tomorrow! (Where there is MUCH less traffic.)

Good deals, board games, and Tanga.com

Those of you who know me know I love to find a good deal online. You also know I have a "thing" for new board games...

Stay away from Tanga.com.

The people who run Tanga (the folks responsible for the well-known online board gaming Mecca and mega-site BoardGameGeek.com) usually run one special each day on Tanga. When it's a board game, it's hard to resist... almost always well below retail value.

Since October of 2006, I've purchased Oasis, Wolgang Kramer's Saga, Return of the Heroes and its expansion Under the Shadow of the Dragon, a 3-for-1 -- Nexus Ops, Vegas Showdown, and Rocketville -- all by Avalon Hill, Hoity Toity (Hilarious game!!), Aquadukt, and today's purchase, Sunken City.

10 games for a grand total of $138.88. (Taxes and shipping included.) A little less than $14 per game.

Now in order to justify my purchases to you the reader, I must show you how much these games would cost if I were to attempt to purchase them at the two most inexpensive online game stores which I have been able to find.

"Oasis" @ TimeWellSpent.org -- $22.75
"Saga" @ Cardhaus.com -- $8.99
"Return of the Heroes" @ TimeWellSpent.org-- $33.25
"Under the Shadow of the Dragon" @ TimeWellSpent.org -- $26.75
"Nexus Ops" @ Cardhaus.com -- $29.99
"Vegas Showdown" @ Cardhaus.com -- $33.45
"Rocketville" @ Cardhaus.com -- $26.00
"Hoity Toity" @ TimeWellSpent.org -- $20.75
"Aquadukt" @ TimeWellSpent.org -- $17.75
"Sunken City" @ TimeWellSpent.org -- $25.75

Grand total -- $245.43 (and that does NOT include shipping)

I rest my case.

Board Game addict? Or simply "Good deal" addict?

We report. You decide.

(Oh, great! They're running a Tangathon today and Power Grid just went up for sale... Curses, I say!)