Four Square

So my friends and I are really cool. The other night, we played a little four square. Since no one had played four square in about 15 years, we had to have a little refresher on the rules. Lucky for us, some hip kindergarten girls happened to be passing. They were kind enough to join the game and help us out. After a while it became obvious that their rules were skewed to keep them as King and we had to kick them out and send them home. Ten seconds to retrieve a ball from out of bounds?? Children these days are so soft.

Anyways, below is an abbreviated list of the rules of four square. I feel like it is significantly more complicated than it was when I was six.

Around The World: Any player in possession of the ball may call Around the World regardless of rank at any moment. If it is called, the calling player can hit it to an adjacent square, and that person must hit it to the remaining adjacent square until it reaches the player who called it, at which point the game returns to normal. A "permanent" version may be called, in which case the sequence must continue until a player gets out, even if it reaches the caller.

Backboards (Treetops, Double tap): Hitting the ball upwards into the air one time before hitting it into another player's square, often used to give a player a better aim.

Baubling (Bubbles, Double Touches, Popcorn, Juggling, etc.): A way to get around holding the ball, one bounces it lightly between their hands before hitting it to another square.

Black Magic: King says “black magic” while twirling a ball in hands before throwing it at another player. When they throw it, they yell “dare!” If the player does not catch it, they must perform a dare of the Kings designation.

Catching between one’s legs (The Annihilator): If this is called, and a player catches the ball between his or her legs (typically between the knees), all players except for the person to catch the ball are out. The person completing the play then moves to the serving position.

Dodge Ball: If a player is able to catch the ball before it bounces in any square or out of bounds, the game play shifts to Dodge Ball, wherein all players must abide by the standard rules for the game Dodge Ball. This entails the player with the ball not taking more than three steps, and attempting to throw another player out by striking them with the ball (recommended only with soft large rubber balls). If the target player catches the ball or the ball misses all players the player who threw the ball is out.

Fairy Bomb: When a player catches the ball they may jump in the air as if about to throw a cherry bomb but instead softly say, "Fairy bomb," and lightly drop the ball in another player's square.

Midget World: The King may call "Midget World" before they serve and all players must play in squatting position for the match.

Passback: If a player calls Passback during a game, the next person must hit it back to that player.

Sharking (Skunk, Sting, etc.): Aiming directly for any part of an opponent's body rather than playing it normally. If the sharker hits the opponent, the opponent is out. If the opponent dodges the ball, the sharker is usually out (because the ball did not bounce in his or her own square).

Spinning ((Texas) Twisters, Screwballs, Peppermint Sticks, etc): Hitting the ball, usually with both hands, in such a way that a spin is imparted on it, causing it to bounce unusually.

Typewriter: A rule in which a player grabs or baubles the ball, moves close to an adjacent square, and bounces the ball in that square a predetermined number of times. The usual variant is to spell out the opponent's name, one letter per bounce. If the player successfully completes the move, the opponent is out. If the opponent hits the ball to disrupt the spelling, the person who initiated the typewriter is out.

The complete list of cooool rules can be found here. The site even has a map of four square locations. Sadly, most are centered around Boston (the four square mecca) and no where near Louisville. Last time we played, we only had four players (after we kicked the kiddos to the curb - cheaters) and need more. Come play. Drink some beer. It's more fun than you think!

I heart KY

Who wants to do a taste test with me?

Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon

I LOVE SUMMER.

Daily Fluff

This little lover ate a shoe last night (not mine...whew). We are trying to get him used to sleeping outside of his crate before Derby and all my amazing hosue guests. Guess we still need to work on it.

Herb Chicken Salad

So while Stud was dying, I was appreciating some chicken salad my mom had just whipped up for a little summertime dinner. And everyone should know, my mother is an AMAZING cook. I really don't think anything less than delicious has ever been served out of her kitchen. I hope one day to have the same skills. Once Stud had come back to life, I harassed her for the recipe. I normally stick with my curry chicken salad, but this one, ooh man yum yum. And of course, when I ask her for the recipe, all I get is add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. So here it goes:

My momma's herb chicken salad
Roast chickens and remove meat from bone. Mix with:
Mayo
White wine vinegar
Salt
Pepper
Cayenne
Chopped Tarragon
Chopped Parsley
Capers
Green Onions

With her measurement-less recipes, I usually start with small amounts and keep adding until it tastes amazing. Because it will. So I will probably be making some of this in the near future.

So this happened

So last night, Stud and I were having dinner at my parents house. Some delicious chicken salad, avocados, asparagus, tomatoes and deviled eggs. Bring on summer. Then I look over at Stud, who has obviously swallowed an air bubble and is trying to burp it up. Totally normal.

THEN HE KEELS OVER. Limp, face in his food. Out cold. I am shaking him and my parents still think Stud is some sort of freak. I get up, my parents realize that he has passed out and all we can think is that he is choking on some delish chicken salad. He falls out of his chair and in my super human strength, I keep him from injuring himself as I lower him to the ground. My dad then tries to give the Heimlich since we still think he is dying and I notice that his eyes are starting to refocus. He is alive. Whew. But still not speaking. A few more seconds and he speaks. He had no idea what had happened. But as a future doctor, as he gathers the details, he immediately begins self diagnosing. And as of this morning, he needed a heart transplant. But he has moved on from that and he has...(I am copying and pasting this from him)

A typical neurocardiological episode of syncope (medical jargon for passing out). There are a lot of triggers for it to occur, like giving blood, seeing blood, getting into a hot shower, etc etc- one really rare trigger is called swallowing syncope. There are two types 1) drinking a cold carbonated beverage (Stud was enjoying a delicious cold Bud Light) 2) swallowing a big mouthful of food, called the vaso-bagel response. The swallowing being a trigger is really rare (he is a medical freak), the episode itself isn't serious unless it happens a lot. It typically happens to young healthy people who happen to have a trigger.

So Stud will survive. Whew. I thought he was a goner for a while as he lay unconscious on my parents kitchen floor.




PS the chicken salad was really good. Made fresh by the mother. I'll get the receipe and maybe, if I'm kind, I will share it with you, my few and far between blog stalkers.

Daily Fluff

This is Beau the day we picked him up. Love at first sight.

REUNITED

My friend Bevo is back from Thailand where she was teaching English for six months. Pretty friends!


We are too cool for you.