Brazos Valley This Morning's Barbara Smith and Steve Fullhart often have quite the discussions on a variety of topics.  A lot of times, it's via e-mail.  Now, they're giving KBTX.com readers a look at their regular back and forth in their blog series, appropriately titled "Back & Forth".  Read what they've been chatting about, and chime in with your opinions!

BARBARA: Do you Sudoku?

STEVE: Watch your mouth, young lady!  Do you use that language around your children?!  I don't like reading that kind of stuff in my e-mail...

Oh, sorry...the Japanese number game...my bad.  Yes, in fact, I do.  I used to a lot more regularly.  In fact, during the rare occasions where we had breaks in the evening back when I worked nightside, we'd do Sudoku challenges to see who could finish first.  We've talked before about the fact that I'm not a number-inclined person, but surprisingly, I'm a fan of the ol' 'ku...you?

BARBARA: I'm a bit of an addict.  And, you know I'm not good with numbers.  Fortunately, since there's no actual math involved, it's okay.  I can arrange things just fine.

I have a huge book that I've been working on for a good six months.  I do a puzzle (or part of one...depends on how tired I am) each night before going to sleep...kind of helps me wind down from the day.

I can't read before bed because then my imagination kicks in and tries to complete the story line, but numbers are easy for me to forget about and fall asleep.

STEVE: Did you know that there are 6,670,903,752,021,072,936,960 different Sudoku puzzle possibilities?  That's 6.6 sextillion!  Did you also know that I look too much into things?

I have Sudoku on my iPhone, so I'll occasionally dial it up.  If I'm on a plane, about the only thing in the complimentary magazine that I'll get to is the puzzle...if it hasn't already been done by a previous flier...hate it when that happens.

I'll make a confession that may force suspension of my Man Card: almost daily, I'll pull up iTunes, crank some hard rock, rap and/or sappy stuff, and play Mah Jongg online.  How you like 'dem apples, ladies?

BARBARA: Mah Jongg??  Haven't gone there yet.  Don't get me started, though.  The fewer addictions I have to feed, the better.  Sudoku is enough, thank you very much.

I must admit, though, I don't know which I think would be funnier to see: you with Mah Jongg and hard rock; you with Mah Jongg and rap (??!!); or you with Mah Jongg and some sappy stuff (examples needed, please).  Either way, I'm pretty sure it would be worth a good laugh.  Shel will be back Monday to collect your Man Card.

As for Sudoku on the iPhone...me, too.  But I try to save it for emergency purposes only.  There is some block game that Josh put on my phone that I'm compelled to play right now, though.  Don't know it's real name...Unblock Me, or something like that.  It's another puzzle.  WARNING: can be habit forming.  If you're not looking for a new habit, don't try it.

And, I can't believe you asked if I knew about the 6,670.....whatever different Sudoku possibilities.  I think you already knew the answer to that before you asked.  You look too much into things.  I, however, do not.  I'm able to play a game without researching the statistics behind it.  Remember, numbers aren't my thing.

Now where's my Sudoku book???

STEVE: How would I know? It's your book.  Also, I'm off Monday, so Shel will have to wait?

Sappy stuff? The latest download was probably Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now". Nice tune. We have neither the time nor the energy to hash out our differences on Boyz II Men, so I'll leave the examples at this rare country song that I enjoy.  Also, play Sudoku or Mah Jongg or whatever to a little 50 Cent and Eminem and tell me it doesn't enhance the experience.

BARBARA: 50 Cent and Eminem, huh?  Sounds like you've been spending too much time with Mike Wright!

Give us your opinions, tips, techniques, knowledge, and anything else in the comments section of this blog!