Today’s expression: “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.”

Meaning: This isn’t over yet. There is still time to complete a task before it is due or before it is too late.

Origin: Opera.

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It’s been a wonderful month of Wall Ball, hasn’t it? As we approach the end of our 6-part journey in the Wall Ball series, take a moment to review the last of the rules of this most spectacular game.

Other ways to lose lives:

There are a couple more ways in which players can lose lives.

If Player 1’s ball is caught by Player 2 after the ball bounces off the wall (and before it bounces on the ground), Player 1 is now on fire. Player 2 may shoot. Player 1 must touch the wall before Player 2’s shot reaches the wall.

Note that if Player 1 catches their own throw after it bounces off the wall, Player 1 must intentionally fumble (or drop) the ball, as they are now on fire. In other words, it is not usually wise to catch your own thrown ball unless you first let it bounce on the ground after it rebounds from the wall. You should also note that Player 1 may not intentionally throw, kick, push, roll, or otherwise send the ball away from other players to provide more time for Player 1 to put out their own fire. More generally speaking, a player is not allowed to touch the ball again after they have fumbled until they have touched the wall to put out their fire.

The final way to lose a life is by throwing a ball out of bounds. If a player throws the ball off the wall and it sails outside of the boundary lines (without first bouncing on the ground or making contact with any player within the boundary lines), then they lose a life. Whoever retrieves the ball from out of bounds will be the one to serve and resume play.

Additionally, if a player throws the ball and hits anything (or anyone) within the boundary lines other than the wall, that player is now on fire.

Other important rules:

If another player yells “Wall Ball!” while you are in possession of the ball, you must throw the ball within 3 seconds. If you are running or walking with the ball when someone yells “Wall Ball!” you must come to a stop as soon as possible. Regardless of how quickly you stop, you must release the ball within 3 seconds.

Clothing, hair, and anything connected to a player’s body is considered part of that player’s body. In other words, if the ball comes in contact with any accessory or anything that moves as a direct result of a player’s bodily movement, it will be as if the person has touched the ball with their skin.

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Brain teaser:

The blanks in the sentences below can be filled in with three different homophones (words that are spelled differently but sound alike) to make coherent sentences. Can you fill in the blanks?

1. The cut on his __________ won’t __________ in time for the race, so __________ have to drop out.
2. The man was so upset about being __________ that he regularly __________ himself up on the bed and __________ his eyes out.
3. I couldn’t __________ any of the __________ in the flower shop, because for some strange reason I had 50 __________ crammed up my nose.
4. A bloodthirsty pirate will wander the __________ and essentially __________ everything he __________.