BLESARCB (Scrabble)

Eric and I have many hobbies. Some of them we even do together. Such as playing Scrabble. During our dating faze, I bought Scrabble for Eric as a birthday present so that we would have something fun and brain-worthy to do together instead of studying. Since Eric is a genius at everything, naturally I lost every game (and we're talking like by 200 points). Eric was nice to me though (I mean, he was trying to woo me into marrying him), and kept encouraging me to play and would give me helpful hints now and then. I think he even went so far as to allow me to play words that I made up sometimes (probably since I was already so behind...)!

And then it happened. Two weeks ago, Eric and I got new phones. He immediately started downloading free apps that would provide him with hours of brain bending exercises (such as the shark game, where you navigate a shark through the ocean to eat other fish and people, if you're lucky). Another app, (and not quite so gory) Wordfeud, is his new best friend. And the best part about it is that he can play online with people other than me (you will realize why this is a good thing in a minute).

So because Eric is playing with people he doesn't know and can't see, he cheats a little bit - ok a LOT a bit, and uses the Scrabble dictionary while he plays. Anyone who is an avid Scrabble player knows that this is a BIG no no. You study the dictionary in your free time. NOT while you are playing. So here is Eric, scoring massively high scoring words such as QUAT, ZA, ZERK, BRITZKA (and I could go on, but then I won't want to ever play with you either). And these poor people! Many of them resign halfway through the game because they are so far behind it's pointless to continue spelling silly words like HIT, BAT, FUN, and PIN.

Ok, I admit it. I thought is was a little funny. I did play a Wordfued game with Eric over the course of several days in which I was winning until the very end (when he spelled a 40+ point word and I could never recover afterwards). Since I am his wife, he promised to not use the dictionary while playing with me. The problem was, once he learned these crazy words existed while cheating on everyone else, they now exist in every game he plays.

So the other night, Eric suggests we play a game of real Scrabble after dinner. No dictionary allowed. Wooden tiles. All good. By the second turn, he is already to 80 points. You get the picture. I was 100+ points behind the entire game because of his newfound crazy vocabulary.

This is a problem. I still want to play Scrabble, but my husband is a genius, made even more genius by his cheating abilities. The only thing I could come up with to match his skill is to either study the scrabble dictionary (not gonna lie, sounds boring and hard) or start getting into shape so I can have stronger muscles and thereby be able to beat him up when I get angry that he just scored 75 points with two letters (just kidding).

(Not really)

Behold, Jillian Michaels, my new personal trainer!

Don't be deceived. It isn't as corny as it looks. This is a HARD CORE 20 minute workout! I mean, just look at that smirk on her face! And no, I don't have 30 lbs. to lose (I would probably die if I lost that much, but the chubby belly can go), but I CAN use a good cardio-strength-abs workout! I can do it while Lexi takes her early morning nap and then be energized (and sore) for the rest of the day. I have completed day 2 and am immensely proud of myself for stooping so low as to have purchased a workout DVD (since I am now admitting to everyone that I am in no way disciplined to do this on my own). I have almost died both times while doing this workout (trust me, it is HARD). In fact, as Eric watched me working out this morning, he became slightly intimidated, realizing that if I do, in fact, stick with this for 30 days, I will be very strong....

In conclusion, I already know I'm a dork, thank you. Also, Scrabble may or may not take on a new look in the future. Either that or maybe we should just find a new game.