Chuck Zumbrun

Tales from Skunk Hill

The Great Boggle Challenge

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
A Graphical View

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.”

26 responses to “The Great Boggle Challenge”

  1. Game On! « zumbrun.net

    […] on! The Great Boggle Challenge of 2012/2013! Categories: Skunk Hill Merry Christmas, Part 2 /* […]

    Reply
  2. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    uh, isn’t there some chance involved in what letters come up? Aren’t you afraid of any deals Debbie has done this year?

    Reply
  3. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diss?s=t

    Reply
  4. chuck Avatar
    chuck

    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.

    Reply
  5. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Prescriptive?

    Reply
  6. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Or the rolls were easier tonight. 🙄

    Reply
  7. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Homie only counts if he’s being dissed.

    Reply
  8. Debbie Avatar
    Debbie

    OK…so I stink at Boggle. When I’m on my own I do just fine. I win every time.

    Reply
  9. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    It’s the pressure of the blog. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Hmmmm…. location didn’t seem to make a difference for ya, Chuck. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Were the lights out in your half of the room?

    Reply
  12. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Isn’t Geat a proper noun?

    Reply
  13. chuck Avatar
    chuck

    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.

    Reply
  14. Debbie Avatar
    Debbie

    Next time we play there will be a penalty for making up words and wasting time between games! Just sayin…..

    Reply
  15. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    You guys crack me up

    Reply
  16. anne Avatar
    anne

    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.

    Reply
  17. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    See how that shoveling gave Deb an edge?

    Reply
  18. anne Avatar
    anne

    So even if there is snow on the ground it is all over at the spring equinox??

    Reply
  19. chuck Avatar
    chuck

    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.

    Reply
  20. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Um, what about the missed games during your visitor? Are you going to make those up? What do the rules say about that?

    Reply
  21. Anne Avatar
    Anne

    and the prize is??????

    Reply
    1. chuck Avatar
      chuck

      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.

      Reply
  22. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    LOL So you are hoping to break even?

    Reply
  23. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    WELL????????
    Anne, back me up here. Doesn’t he forfeit after a certain amount of time without naming his prize?

    Reply
  24. anne Avatar
    anne

    The contract was obviously not adequately negotiated before play began

    Reply
  25. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    🙂

    Reply

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