A while back, I wrote a post about qwerds, words that can be typed using one hand (assuming standard keyboard hand positions).

Lately, thanks to Ro, I’ve been concerned with words that can be formed using a given set of letters. Which is really just Scrabble, with fewer limitations. Namely, what letters Ro has available in is Enormous Alphabet Library.

He has:

• A mostly complete set of magnetic plastic letters that fit into this device that sticks to the fridge; When you put a letter into the device, it says the letter and what sound it makes. Then it plays an annoying electronic version of the ABC song.
• A couple sets of those standard plastic letters with the little magnets in them that everybody has probably seen at some point.
• A set of wooden letters with magnetic paint on the back¹.
• A set just like above, but without the magnetic paint.
• Wood blocks with letters on them.²
• Small foam puzzle pieces with letter printed on them, along with Sesame Street characters.
• Larger foam puzzle pieces with the letters cut out as separate pieces.

I’ve spent some time trying to figure out how to spell ELECTRICROCKET using as few different types of letters as possible.

I’ve been helping Ro learn to spell words using his collection, but until the innovation of the magnadoodle, we’ve been restricted to only certain words. However, the Magnadoodle allows us to make imprints using the wooden letters with magnetic paint, so we can spell anything. ANYTHING.

Well, anything that will fit on the Magnadoodle. And since Ro isn’t hung up on getting the letters in the proper order, or even in a line, we’re usually okay.

—-
This evening, Ro and I are headed off to the Lucas Family Reunion in Tennessee, where we will relax in a mountain lodge with 8 members of my father’s generation, 10 or 11 of my generation, and 7 of Ro’s generation. will be stuck in town, rabble-rousing with and .

This is my second trip flying solo with Ro on a multi-hour trip. It went so well last time, I guess I’m getting cocky.

——–
¹ Did you know you can buy magnetic paint, and basically paint the equivalent of a refridgerator door anywhere you want? Amazing. I really feel there’s something very cool that can be done with that. Maybe just a good prank.

² Bought, inexplicably, from the U.S. Treasury website. I tried to find the link just now and couldn’t. But at the time, the U.S. Treasury was the only place I could find them. Weird.