It boggles my mind

I love word games.  As long as I've been able to read and write I've enjoyed word search puzzles, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, Boggle and so on.


I still have my puzzle books lying around the house and a Scrabble board in the game closet.  Puzzle books are all well and good because I can pick them up whenever and I don't need to bug someone to play with me and Scrabble is only good if I have someone else to play with.  I like the challenge of playing with a competitor so I find myself more and more attracted to digital word games like Words with Friends (a Scrabble-like game) and Scramble with Friends (A Boggle-like game).    I find these games engaging because even though I am playing against another person I can still play at my leisure as time permits.  And the best part is that I can have multiple games going with multiple people all at once . . . often more than one game going with the same person at the same time, too!


That being said, my sister and I have a healthy rivalry when it comes to Scrabble and I like to play against her whenever I have the opportunity.  Nothing beats a one on one, face to face, get in  your face game.  You know with all the ribbing, jibing,  gloating and whatnot.


However, I've noticed an interesting trend while playing Words with Friends and Scramble with Friends . . . specifically with my sis.  She tends to be better at crossword type games . . . like Words with Friends.  And I seem to better at anagram type games . . . like Scramble with Friends.  


I seem to lose more Words with Friends games when I'm playing against my sister (I do win some) as opposed to winning most (if not all) Scramble with Friends when she is my opponent.


I find it to be an interesting trend.   They are, of course, totally different types of word games.  Words with Friends being more strategy and has not set time limit and therefore allows more thought to go into each move.  Whereas Scramble with Friends is more of a spontaneous, fly by the seat of your pants three round game with a set amount of time to complete each round.


I don't know if its that I see words in anagrams better than she does . . . perhaps I've had more practice playing anagram type games.  I don't know.  But it is interesting . . . and at least I'm better than her at something.  


Anyhoo . . . just my observation.






Black Bean and Corn Salad

1 Can, 14 Ounces, Black Beans, Rinsed and Drained
2 Cups Fresh or Canned Corn
1/2 Red Onion, Chopped
1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
1 Handful Cilantro, Chopped
2 Teaspoons Hot Sauce (Or More to Taste)
1 Lime, Juiced
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt And Pepper

This is a great recipe to use for left over corn on the cob.


Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Let stand at least 15 minutes for flavors to mingle, then toss and serve. 


Print Recipe

What in tarnation??

What in tarnation??  What in the hell is that supposed to mean . . . that word ‘tarnation’?

My first recollection of hearing that word was from my youth . . . Saturday morning plopped in front of the boob-tube with a heaping bowl of Cheerios watching Looney Toons.   Yosemeti Sam would exclaim in frustration . . .  “What in tarnation??”

What in indeed.

Tarnation . . . a word used to express exasperation.  I always kind of thought it was a made up nonsensical word used in cartoons . . . after all, that was the only place I’d ever really heard it used.

It turns out it is, in fact, a real word.  Tarnation is defined as the act of damning or the condition of being damned. 

The word was popularized in gentler times when men were careful not to offend the delicate sensibilities of the weaker sex.  God forbid you use profanity in front of a woman . . . she might require the waiving of smelling salts under her nose or a cool towel touched upon her brow.  Basically, it would cause a scene.

So other words were used in the stead of everyday ordinary vulgarities. 

Many, many, many years ago . . . like a couple hundred or so . . . ‘tarnal’ was a vernacular form of 'eternal'.  ‘Eternal damnation’ was slangified into ‘tarnation’ and this became the acceptable substitution for expressing anger at something or other . . . most likely about how frustrating it was keeping women from fainting all over the place at the drop of a misspoken expletive.

Another good one is ‘where in the Sam Hill?’ . . . another Yosemite Sam favorite.  It’s a variation on the same theme . . . let’s not offend the babes and come up with a supposedly civilized way of saying something that everyone knows what it means but heaven forbid we say the actual words. 

‘Where in Sam Hill’ is simply a euphemism for saying ‘where in the hell’ . . . such a naughty, naughty word. 

Southwest Black Bean Chicken in the Crock Pot

4 Chicken Breasts (You May Even Start With Frozen)

1  8 Oz Can Tomato Sauce

1/2 Of A 6 Oz Can Tomato Paste

2  15 Oz Cans Corn

2  15 Oz Cans Black Beans

2  15 Oz Cans Kidney Beans

2  14.5 Oz Cans Mexican Stewed Tomatoes

1 Southwest Marinade Packet 

Sour Cream

Tortilla Chips or Whole Wheat Tortillas

Mix all ingredients except the chicken, cheese, and sour cream and tortillas in the bottom of a large crock pot. If you want it a bit thinner to eat as a soup, then add the liquid from two of the cans. Otherwise drain the liquid from the cans.

Place the chicken into the crock pot and cover it up with the sauce.

Cook on high for 4 hours. After it has cooked for 3 hours, take the chicken out, shred it and put it back in the crock pot for the remaining hour.