My Love/Hate Relationship with Gardens of Time on Facebook

When I signed on to Facebook, I was delighted to see that they offered games. I really needed one more thing to distract me from doing my work, but hey, everyone needs a diversion now and then. After I started playing Gardens of Time, I could see this was going to be a love/hate relationship.

On one hand, I love that it's a hidden objects game, sort of like the fun "Highlights Magazine" I played as a kid. You know, the one where you try to find a tractor in a tree. Gardens of Time makes it even better by putting you on the clock, so not only will you search for your 10 objects frantically trying to find that last tambourine or green lizard in the midst of that rain forest, you're pushing that blood pressure to the limit. On the other hand, I hate Gardens of Time because even though they give you hints to help you find that green lizard, they penalize you. Now, I ask you, what good's a hint if it hurts you?

I love the creative aspects of Gardens of Time with its colorful garden where my friends wander around in their 1800-style clothes, along with a few mummies thrown in for good measure. Here, I am expected to fill "Pattie's Garden" with all sorts of statues, flowers and buildings that I purchase with all those points I make looking for those green lizards. On the other hand, I hate the fact that I can't buy some neat things because I don't have gold bars, and I can't figure out how to get them.

To play the hidden object games, I have to have energy, which look like lighting bolts. The powers that be give me some each day, and my friends, who apparently feel sorry for me, send me a number of them along. I do love that. Unfortunately, it took me forever to realize that my lightening bolts kept going into my "inventory," and then when I tried to use them, the ruler of this universe informed me that I could only have 60 on one day. What? But I've got a trunk full! Obviously, I offended the lord of the Gardens or something because then my game stopped, and I was kicked back out into the real world. I hated that.

Oh, well, it's probably all for the best anyway. I should have learned my lesson from Farmville when my crops all withered, and I went bankrupt. I've decided it's hard enough for me to exist in this world, much less take on a virtual life. Better I should stick with BeJeweled. It only makes me slightly crazy.