You may have read the following reaction from Michael (a.k.a. "Edmund" on his bulletin board, The Pauper's Sky) to this year's  McDermott (belated) birthday surprise...

"wow....i just got the gift from the pauper community and i must say, its simply amazing.....absolutely blown away..."

If so -- and particularly if you're a participant (a.k.a. "player") in it -- surely you're wondering what the finished gift we collectively created (and which, thankfully, proved such a hit) turned out to be.  Well, since a picture's worth a thousand words, here are a few pictures (so it seems, about a thousand of those alone!), and yes, a couple of words as well, to tell the tale more fully.

To start with the latter of those, here's the book that accompanied the gift, describing its various components (and providing instructions for "play") to Michael himself:

First, the completed, bound form (I apologize here that some of the photos throughout this "unveiling" didn't come out as clearly as I'd hoped -- rest assured, the actual items look much better "in person")...

...then the breakdown of the pages inside...

So, now that you've read the explanation, here's a bit of background on how the gift was constructed...

As always, it began with a bit of panic around mid-June, at which time I had absolutely no idea what might be yet another both fun and meaningful theme around which to build a gift -- when suddenly one word literally just popped into my head...McDermottOPOLY!!!

To bring that to life, I pulled out an old Monopoly board from the back of a closet, and made a rough sketch of its squares, renaming these with McDermott-related places.  Next I typed out a couple of sheets listing thoughts for potential "Second Chances" and "Life Choices and Circumstance Cards"...

Naturally, some of these ideas changed or were tweaked a bit as the work progressed -- and others were expanded upon in ways I'd never at first imagined.  For example, while I'd intended to alter the "in jail" space to include "Cook County" jail specifically, when I actually sat down to start working with the piece I was hit with another inspiration -- that resulted in...

Similarly. in light of events on a particular night in Rockaway, NJ, I used a photo from that show...

...as the "foundation" on which to construct a certain very significant "Wall"...

A copy of the robe from the CD insert adorns the space "Gethsemane" -- and, of course, "Home" is where the "heart" is...

That said, here's a shot of the entire "McDermottOPOLY" board...

...which you'll notice features such "properties" as "Sacred Ground", "#49", "The Temple of Martin de Porres", "Where The Ocean Ends", "Antique Store" -- and, of course, spaces marked "Second Chances" and Life Choices and Circumstance" -- which brings us to the cards created for these categories...(many of which, like the "in jail" image, have been altered to include appropriate photos -- from the NY Times, XPN's Singer/Songwriter Festival, etc.)...

It should be noted, by the way, that the same "Happy Birthday" greeting appearing on both the (orange) "Second Chances" card and the (yellow) "Life Choices and Circumstance" one isn't an error.  Rather, this is to point out that both headings include events that have led to the same place, or "present". 

In any case, after printing, the cards were cut apart...

...then wrapped in cellophane and affixed with removable glue dots to their respective spots on the McDermottOPOLY board...

Of course, that leaves to be revealed the boxes mentioned on selected cards, which provided the instructions as to when each should be opened...

The first said, "You have won a very special audience favorite award.  Open Box #1."  And, here's what Box #1 contained...

...a uniquely colored "gold record" (leftover from last year's "Broken Record" birthday project) -- which already bore the appropriate label, "Peerless" -- since, of course, Michael's work indeed stands in a class all by itself.

The second "gift card" instructed Michael to "find some surrender at The Temple of Martin de Porres.  Open Box #2 while there."  As one would expect, the object inside this miniature "[community] treasure chest" corresponds to this directive... (incidentally, like the board itself and the object in Box 3, this was another fortuitous eBay find)...

Moving on to the third card, this said, "Self-titled album is released.  Celebrate one of its songs.  Open Box #3."  And, what did Michael find inside?  A hand painted guitar strap (okay, I actually used these great real-paint markers rather than a brush, but close enough...) featuring a related lyric from "Wounded"...

Last, but not least, a fourth card directs, "A designer has implemented your work into the latest fashion line.  Open Box #4 for a free sample." That sample being an item recalling 2005's "Album Jacket" -- and including all of the submissions from the projects' participants/players...

...covering both the front and back (not to mention the sleeves as well!)...

Finally, one special space on the board (as previously noted) is marked "Open Box Marked 'Community Chest'".  But just what is this particular "community chest"?  Simple -- a Count of Monte Cristo worthy "treasure chest"...

...indeed filled with a bounty truly "priceless" -- the birthday cards, gifts and greetings sent in for Michael...

But, of course, no pirate chest would contain such a disorganized pile of "gems"...so they were appropriately bundled up and tied before "setting off to sea" (including the originals of all submissions [since scanned copies had to be printed on special media for transfer to the T-shirt])...

Well, there you have it, and I hope you enjoyed this "game".  And, to everyone involved...

...thank you again so very much for "playing...

                                                                                                                          Mil