Wii like free

Because I want to keep Tramping Roanoke completely germane to the Roanoke area, I almost didn't write about our Wii party on Saturday night.

I mean, you can play Wii anywhere, right? What the heck does that have to do with Roanoke? Thinking about it further, however, I think it does have a lot to do with Roanokers, because we don't always have scores of cool free stuff to do like my brother can find within spitting distance of his condo in LA.

So, sure, why shouldn't playing Wii Sports and Mario Kart classify as something germane to Roanokers? After all, in these more economically unsound times, maybe we shouldn't flock to the mall and the movies when we're looking for some fun and escapism. You might have a little Wii soreness the next day, wondering if maybe you'd gotten into a fight the evening before and couldn't remember it, and you do have to clean up for friends - boot the dogs outside and light candles to cover the aroma of the laundry you just gleaned from the floor and shoved into the bedroom.

But even if you eat and have a few drinks, a nice Wii party with friends is a small fraction of what a night out would cost, it lasts longer, and you're practically guaranteed a fun time.

Well, unless that friend of yours who can't stand losing gets a little tight and starts swearing about how you cheated at Wii Boxing. But hey, what are the odds of that happening?