Tetris

There's a problem in my house. The problem is we only have one Gameboy and two adults who are extremely addicted to Tetris. Yes, I'm talking the old school, big, fat, block like Gameboy and the Tetris, the block game where you have to make lines that came with said Gameboy. I have this knack for keeping things forever. And keeping them in excellent condition (I inherited the pack-rat from Gramma). I have no idea when Gameboy came out, but I remember taking it to camp with me when I was 10 (back in 1993). I only had Tetris and Yoshi for it (Yoshi is a dumb, not fun game, but Yoshi is cute so I think that's why I wanted it). So I've had this Gameboy for AT LEAST 15 years.

Anyway, something made me think about it the other day (2 weeks ago) so I went and got it out of hiding. At first it was just something we did when spending a "longer than normal" amount of time on the toilet (Tetris was made for entertaining while pooing). But then it found it's way out of the bathroom and on to the coffee table. Now we fight over it. Yes, two well adjusted, seemingly normal adults are fighting over a video game. We both grab for it and yell next game when the other gets it. We're to the point of watching each other play to make sure that no one is starting a new game and not telling the other person. My highest score is 143 lines. I think Jamie can do like 50 (he obviously hasn't been playing this game for the past 15 years like yours truly). It's sick. We probably need help, but I keep telling myself we're not playing Pac Man or anything like that, we're actually using our brains to fit those awkward shapes into a line and minimizing the least amount of "wasted space." So I think there are some benefits in there somewhere (brain exercise!).

Now the Gameboy has found it's way into the bedroom. While most couples read or watch TV, we play Tetris and fight over who gets it first. We sleep with it on one of the bedside tables. I'm seeing falling blocks and things falling from the sky in my dreams.

If my radio gig doesn't work out, I'm sure I'd be great at building buildings and stuff...