Oh the games people play.
There are the standards like Clue, Monopoly, SORRY! and Pictionary. Growing up, my sisters, cousins and I even made up our own games - a favorite was called Make Me Laugh.
Nowadays I'm more likely to play Trivial Pursuit than something that really "makes me laugh" though.
But I still love goofy things and fondly remember a game that didn't really involve winners or losers. It was called Mad Libs and I used to spend hours with my older sister playing the word game.
I think most people have tried it at one time or another. It's been at bridal or baby showers and slumber parties, which often involve nasty-word versions of Mad Libs.
This column includes one I've made for our readers.
Here's how to play: Write the numbers and parts of speech, which are shown in parentheses, on a separate piece of paper. Have someone else make their word choices. (Make sure whoever's playing hasn't read the context around the blanks before you start.) When it's all done, read the little story out loud.
Sara Strong is the (1. ADJECTIVE ENDING IN -est) writer whose material I've ever read. She writes about city and county governments, which can often be (2. ADJECTIVE).
Sara also reports on all sorts of topics, and enjoys writing stories about different people, especially the one she did about (3. NAME OF PERSON IN THE ROOM). That was one unique (4. BODY PART).
Because she's a reporter, she often works odd hours, too. One Tuesday she went to work at (5. TIME OF DAY) and didnÕt leave until (6. A NATIONAL HOLIDAY).
So far, she's worked at the Star Herald for a total of (7. NUMBER) years and is (8. AN EMOTION) every day.
You might see Sara out and about covering events in the area such as (9. ANIMAL) Days. You'll know who she is because she looks a little (10. ADJECTIVE) because she (11. PRESENT TENSE VERB) in an odd manner.
Sara is also well known for being a curious mix of (12. FEMALE MODEL) and (13. FAMOUS ATHLETE).
But her story started long before she (14. PAST TENSE VERB) to Rock County.
Sara was born in (15. NAME OF FAR AWAY PLACE) in (16. YEAR).
She is (17. NATIONALITY) but youÕd never guess it because she has (18. COLOR) hair.
She has two sisters named (19. TWO FEMALE FAIRY TALE CHARACTERS). They are always (20. VERB ENDING IN Ðing) but Sara doesn't mind.
On another personal note, Sara was married this winter in a (21. ADJECTIVE) ceremony in (22. LOCATION). Her husband's name is (23. HEROIC MALE CHARACTER).
But no matter what else Sara Strong is up to, when you read something written by her, you know you'll (24. VERB) something (25. ADJECTIVE).