Give Boredom the Boot when You Get Snowed In, Play Solitaire

Mother nature has definitely left her mark on the US this year. Winter snow storms, which have been moving across the US landscape leaving record breaking snow accumulations since late December, are sending many into "cabin fever" mode.

Snowflakes are always a welcomed guest for students like Cody MacLean from Pocalla, Sumter, South Carolina, eagerly looking forward to a day off from school during the winter months. Skiers and snowboarders are equally thrilled when the weather forecast mentions the possibility of snow moving into the area. Unfortunately there is a downside to heavy accumulations of snow that can quickly turn the chilly white flakes of precipitation into our enemy.

For Juanita Quillen of Pound, Virginia, and the other 19,457 homes in the area left without electricity for several days during the late December storm, mother nature's winter blanket knocked out TV service, CD players and computer access. Fortunately, Quillen was able to stay with friends until electricity was restored in her home.

Jami Butler, of Tuckahoe, New Jersey, was not as lucky as Quillen when the snow began to fall on Wednesday, February 10th. Tuckahoe's nearly two feet of snow couldn't melt away fast enough for Butler. "I'm so sick of the snow! I've been stranded in the house with no movies and no internet minus the phone. The snow is everywhere and they're calling for more. I'm going crazy sitting in the house with nothing to do. Enough already!"

Butler, is not alone with her frustrations and hopes that the snow will miraculously melt away overnight. Hundreds of miles away from Butler, in Roanoke, Virginia sits Amy Blough wishing for the same miracle. "This winter's snow, frigid temperatures and blustery winds have transformed southwest Virginia into Minnesota Normal life has simply ground to a halt closing schools and businesses since no one is prepared to deal with it. Even someone like me, that is used to being inside most of the time, is getting bored and restless."

Fortunately, there is a one way to nip boredom in the butt when we are stuck inside our otherwise enchanting homes twiddling our thumbs for what seems to be an eternity. Play solitaire! With hundreds of versions of the game to choose from one could "play away" an incredible amount of hours even when the lights go out.

Solitaire, which has been played throughout the world for centuries, can be played with one or two decks of cards. Some games such as Poker Solitaire, Golf and Monte Carlo are quick and easy to play. Others like American Toad, Busy Aces and House on the Hill are more challenging therefore last longer, which isn't a problem if you're looking at a full day of thumb twiddling.

Poker Solitaire, taught to me by a friend, is one of my favorite games. The object of this game, as the name implies, is to arrange the playing cards into ten hands of poker that will give you the highest score possible when you combine the scores from each hand at the end of the game. To get started, deal out 25 cards face up in five rows and five columns. Set the remaining cards off to the side as they won't be needed. Each row and each column is one hand of poker. Rearrange the cards, you're allowed to move each card only one time, so that you will have the highest possible poker score for each hand. After you've rearranged the cards, add up the score from each row and column as follows: A Royal Flush (A 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit) equals 100 points; A Straight Flush (five cards of the same suit in sequence) equals 75 points; Four of a Kind (four cards of the same rank) equals 50 points; A Full House (three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank) equals 25 points; A Flush (five cards of the same suit) equals 20 points; A Straight (five cards of different suits in numerical sequence) equals 15 points; Three of a Kind (three cards of the same rank) equals 10 point; Two Pair (two cards of one rank and two cards of a different rank) equals 5 points; and One Pair (two cards of the same rank) equals 2 points. If you've a score of 100 or above pat yourself on the back for winning.

With forecaster's predicting more snow for the Midwest, South and Northeast regions of the US this week, residents in the storm's path might want to stock up on some playing cards before the snowflakes begin to fall.