Last year Debbie and I had the Great Backgammon Challenge. Since neither of us knew the first thing about playing backgammon it rapidly devolved into a game of chance which Debbie won only because of her sell-your-soul-to-the-devil ability to roll doubles[1].
So this year we are basing our winter long challenge on a game of skill and intellect, Boggle[2]. As last year, we’re going to the total the scores and on the first day of spring, March 20th, the winner will get to name their prize.
Date | Debbie’s Score | Chuck’s Score | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
12/31/2012 | 25 | 24 | I spelled both “whore” and “hoar” which should be bonus points. |
1/1/2013 | 10 | 30 | Yeah, you read that right, 10 to 30. |
1/2/2013 | 23 | 32 | |
1/3/2013 | 15 | 13 | The rolls were brutal tonight, one had a big block of consonants, the other was all vowels. |
1/4/2013 | 17 | 20 | |
1/5/2013 | 17 | 25 | I found ‘benefit’ today. Woo hoo! I’m the best! |
1/6/2013 | 21 | 23 | |
1/7/2013 | 22 | 24 | |
1/8/2013 | 9 | 7 | Debbie claims her first victory, even after she tried to pass off ‘diss’ as a word. |
1/13/2013 | 19 | 21 | I come back strong after a layoff to attend the National No-Till Conference. |
1/15/2013 | 13 | 16 | I spelled ‘wren’, which is a little brown bird. |
1/16/2013 | 27 | 32 | A high scoring bout. Maybe we’re getting better. |
1/17/2013 | 27 | 37 | |
1/18/2013 | 24 | 20 | Debbie wins! I figure this is the beginning of the end for me. |
1/19/2013 | 21 | 29 | I resume my winning ways! |
1/20/2013 | 26 | 20 | I still think “homie” should’ve counted. |
1/21/2013 | 10 | 22 | Debbie said, “At least I got ‘duh’.” |
1/22/2013 | 36 | 42 | Debbie said, “If I had done better in the first round I would’ve had more points.” Her logic is inescapable. |
1/23/2013 | 30 | 21 | |
1/25/2013 | 26 | 31 | |
1/26/2013 | 26 | 25 | |
1/27/2013 | 36 | 34 | |
1/28/2013 | 29 | 32 | |
1/29/2013 | 36 | 23 | |
1/30/2013 | 21 | 27 | |
1/31/2013 | 17 | 22 | Can you believe ‘yape’ isn’t a word? |
2/1/2013 | 35 | 34 | |
2/2/2013 | 23 | 30 | |
2/3/2013 | 21 | 25 | |
2/4/2013 | 27 | 16 | I feel like the 49’ers must’ve felt in the first half of the Super Bowl. |
2/5/2013 | 20 | 17 | My losing ways continue. I’m feeling despair. |
2/6/2013 | 26 | 34 | Whew! I thought I was never going to win again. |
2/8/2013 | 28 | 29 | |
2/9/2013 | 34 | 25 | |
2/10/2013 | 41 | 48 | High scores! Either we’re getting better or the rolls were kind. |
2/11/2013 | 27 | 20 | |
2/12/2013 | 35 | 36 | I squeak out a victory in the last round with ‘tod.’ |
2/13/2013 | 35 | 34 | |
2/14/2013 | 39 | 41 | I pulled out a 28 point last round to steal the game. |
2/15/2013 | 20 | 19 | |
2/17/2013 | 15 | 27 | This was a makeup bout since we missed last night due to our reading group meeting. |
2/17/2013 | 27 | 32 | Debbie, after getting 0 in the second round, nearly pulled off an amazing come from behind victory. |
2/19/2013 | 23 | 18 | We need a better dictionary, “geat” is definitely a word. |
2/21/2013 | 17 | 23 | |
2/22/2013 | 23 | 24 | We’ve decided if someone makes up a word and it’s not in the dictionary the other person gets hitsies. |
2/23/2013 | 35 | 31 | |
2/24/2013 | 27 | 21 | I don’t care if ‘brit’ is in the dictionary. It’s still cheating. |
2/25/2013 | 28 | 37 | Debbie has resorted to name calling. |
2/26/2013 | 30 | 40 | |
2/27/2013 | 35 | 29 | Debbie pulls ahead with the masterful find of “sunder” |
2/28/2013 | 29 | 18 | We played early today because Debbie had to go work at the Home and Garden Show. Clearly early play gives her an advantage. |
3/1/2013 | 30 | 15 | Now I have resorted to name calling. |
3/2/2013 | 23 | 21 | I’m getting very discouraged. |
3/3/2013 | 12 | 31 | I’m back! |
3/4/2013 | 17 | 24 | |
3/5/2013 | 34 | 28 | Debbie says I am not allowed to say that she doesn’t know everything. |
3/6/2013 | 36 | 29 | |
3/7/2013 | 32 | 31 | Debbie said she was on fire, and then asked me if I wanted to “feel the sizzle.” I declined. |
3/8/2013 | 18 | 20 | Who’s sizzling now? Uh huh! |
3/9/2013 | 18 | 23 | Hoo! Like an owl says. That’s a word! |
3/10/2013 | 16 | 15 | 16 to 15, a scoring frenzy! |
3/11/2013 | 18 | 20 | I eke out a victory with ‘batts’. |
3/15/2013 | 24 | 29 | After a hiatus for our Australian visitor I record a compelling 5 point win. |
3/16/2013 | 18 | 24 | With just four days to go, I think I can start contemplating what I want for my prize. |
3/17/2013 | 33 | 39 | |
3/18/2013 | 50 | 44 | 94 points in one game, a record! |
3/19/2013 | 36 | 27 | Debbie gives me a merciless thumping. |
3/20/2013 | 17 | 16 | Debbie wins the battle… and loses the war. |
Total | 1715 | 1796 |

1. Can you say, “sour grapes?”
2. It’s also the game of one of my favorite TV characters, Peggy Hill of “King of the Hill.”
uh, isn’t there some chance involved in what letters come up? Aren’t you afraid of any deals Debbie has done this year?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diss?s=t
It wasn’t in our dictionary. Debbie said that our dictionary is too old, and besides it’s “prescriptive.” She hates our dictionary (it’s her dictionary though) yet she accepted it’s authority on this issue.
Prescriptive?
Or the rolls were easier tonight. 🙄
Homie only counts if he’s being dissed.
OK…so I stink at Boggle. When I’m on my own I do just fine. I win every time.
It’s the pressure of the blog. 🙂
Hmmmm…. location didn’t seem to make a difference for ya, Chuck. 🙂
Were the lights out in your half of the room?
Isn’t Geat a proper noun?
Geat is a proper noun when referring to the people Beowulf hung out with. I can’t remember if they were friends or enemies and I’m too lazy to pull my copy of Beowulf off the shelf to find out.
But the Webster’s unabridged on-line also says geat is a gate or opening.
Next time we play there will be a penalty for making up words and wasting time between games! Just sayin…..
You guys crack me up
I used to play racquetball with a friend that always beat me, but it was always close enough that I thought I had a chance and she claimed she enjoyed the process.
See how that shoveling gave Deb an edge?
So even if there is snow on the ground it is all over at the spring equinox??
Yep, it’s over at the equinox. We must have rules, and follow them. We’re both a little too hard-wired to do otherwise.
Um, what about the missed games during your visitor? Are you going to make those up? What do the rules say about that?
and the prize is??????
I’ve been hesitating to name my prize, because I’m nearly mathematically eliminated in my NCAA bracket already, so I’ll be owing Debbie a prize soon.
LOL So you are hoping to break even?
WELL????????
Anne, back me up here. Doesn’t he forfeit after a certain amount of time without naming his prize?
The contract was obviously not adequately negotiated before play began
🙂