I have expressed my affinity for board games in previous entries. I am blessed to have some friends who share the passion and keep me updated through letters with reviews of new games they play. Last week they sent a letter with not only a review bit instructions on how to play a new game called Finito!. The game is similar to Bingo, but does require some thinking.
For those of you who haven't been in prison (probably very few, if any) or had ad overabundance of time to kill in the company of strangers, you may not realize the excitement that comes with the arrival of a new way to slay the interminable hours. Because there are not many activities to take part in around here, the few games we do have tend to last far longer before boredom settles in. This new game Finito! will definitely fill in some time.
After preparing the boards and bits all week, I finally played my first round last night with Alan after rack time (the time at night we are shut in our cell.) That game was so fun and so much of a different experience that we spent the next hour playing five more games, knowing that we had to wake up early this morning. If you can't tell, we are both hooked. I can't wait to share Finito! with some of the other guys. I know they are just as eager to waste time in a fun way.
It started yesterday, but caught up with me today. A slightly sore throat developed into a ruby red one coupled with a stuffy nose. Blech! I hate being sick, especially during the holidays. Last year I was really sick on Christmas. I couldn't even eat the big meal or the orange they gave us. That was the only fresh fruit I got all year and I had to give it up. Later that day I puked out the little bit of food that I did eat.
I don't think it will be as bad this time around. My throat feels like a mouse is trying to chew its way out, but my stomach isn't acting up at all. It hurts on the way down but I can still eat food and I make sure to drink a lot of fluids. I want this bug to be gone as fast as I can. At least it waited 'til after the Christmas meal to hit. And I have bowl games to keep me entertained as I lie in agony. Ugh... I hate being sick.
College bowl season is upon us! The first few bowls were played last weekend, but, in my opinion, tonight is when it really kicked off. Going into tonight's game between TCU and Boise State are two of the top three teams not involved in the championship bowls, one of which is undefeated. This Poinsettia Bowl was my most anticipated game other than the national championship. I really wanted my hometown team, TCU, to win and show that their football program should be taken seriously.
To make the bowl season a little more entertaining, I set up a bowl game pick-em with fifteen games that guys entered for a postage stamp per pick-em ticket. Despite a few guys' predictions that nobody would get in, I was able to get twenty-three tickets sold for a nice little jackpot for the winner. These next couple of weeks should be filled with excitement as people cheer for their picks instead of just arbitrarily choosing a team. It also ensures that more college football gets watched in my dorm - a real plus.
I got back from Bible study tonight to see TCU down 13-0 five minutes before the half. Apparently, my Horned Frogs looked pretty ugly before I came in. Luckily, the Frogs led a charge down field just before halftime to cut Boise State's lead to six. The second half saw the Frogs do what they do best - defense - and take the lead 17-13. The rest of the game was almost all TCU as Boise State managed to get only a field goal. Two interceptions by the Frogs, one as the final seconds ticked away, insured a TCU win and the longest winning streak in bowl games (4) in TCU history. A perfect way to start the end of the season.
