A Board Gamer's Odyssey

Call it a Board Gamer’s Odyssey, Autobiography, History, or whatever you please, but today we’ll be exploring many of the games and moments that made Nick into the designer, publisher, and gamer that he is today.  What games were his favorites at certain times in his life, and why?  Are they still among my favorites, or have they fallen out of favor?  How have his preferences changed over time?  Let’s do the Odyssey!