iPud: The XXX-M Game

The past couple o' weeks have been spent traveling the countryside, riding roller coasters and going to Rush concerts. Yep, it's another summer of Rush and Rollercoasters! Woo hoo! We're going to see seven shows on this leg of the Rush tour. Well, I should say that Mumi is going to see seven shows on this leg of the tour. I'm skipping out on a couple of the shows to pursue my own interests...



So far, we have been to four out of the seven shows. Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Atlantic City. We drive to most of the shows and that's a lot of time spent together cooped up in the car. As others have already so hilariously pointed out, traveling with one's partner can be a very trying and difficult experience. In fact, it can be a big 'ol pain in the ass!

In order to make our travels less stressful, we often invent little games to play to make the trip go by faster and to make sure we have something to talk about on the long drives. Like The License Plate Game, for example. The object of The License Plate Game is try to spot one license plate from each and every state during your journey.

Another game that we have played a few times is The Alphabet Game. To play The Alphabet Game, you first have to pick a subject, like bands, for example. Then, everyone takes turns naming bands in alphabetical order. The first person might say Abba. The the second person has to then repeat Abba and add a band that starts with the letter B, like Boston. The third person has to repeat Abba and Boston and then add a band that starts with the letter C. And so on. Believe it or not, it's tougher to play than it sounds.

Well, during last week's trips to Pittsburgh and Atlantic City, I invented a new game. It is called iPud: The XXX-M Game, and it is the most fun game we have played on a road trip so far! The iPud Game works best with XM Radio, but I suppose that any old radio station will do, so long as they lay lots of music that you and your partner like.

Anyway, we found some stations on XM that were playing a lot of music that we both like. Here's where the game gets fun. Every time a song comes on the radio that is also on on your iPod, you have to flash your partner! And, every time a song comes on the radio that is also on your partner's iPod, he or she has to flash you!

It is recommended while playing The iPud Game that you wear loose clothing with easy access to your unmentionables. Athletic shorts with no underwear are the preferred uniform. It is also recommended that you have some idea of what kind of music your partner enjoys. That way, you can search the XM channels looking for songs that you think are on their iPod.

Also, you get bonus points if you happen to find a song on the radio that is also on your partner's iPod just at the exact moment that a bus load of Christians heading to their mountain retreat is passing you on your partner's side of the car.

It's fun stuff. Try it some time. You'll see.