I’m going to cross my fingers here and just hope that a certain ex of mine isn’t reading. Two weeks holed up in a boring town with my boyfriend’s parents and — pulling my hair out not in the cards — the only activity that helped me pass time with his ‘rents was a competitive game of backgammon. Before Scrabulous and Facebook stalking, some people actually did entertain themselves with classic games, and lucky for me, I happened to be a wiz. Nevertheless, I’ve since come to find an unparalleled brand of inter-generational bonding power in such timeless recreations and have vowed to always keep one handy. Finances aside, the Barneys Handmade Psychedelic Lacquered Wood Backgammon ($795) may just be The One: its trippy hand-painting recalls my elders' Haight-Ashbury days and its lacquered wood frame is slick enough for my modern pad. If that won't do the trick, I don't know what will.