New Orleans National

Hot, dirty, smelly and loud.  That's about it for New Orleans.  Oh yeah - and great food!  It was not my fave National though.  We were playing pairs and the women near the door all jumped up and started screaming.  The men, of course, laughed.  One 80ish guy got up with a large, heavy cane and started to head over there - theoretically to crush the poor little mouse which had been running around for three days.  Some smart dude opened the door and it ran away into the hallway.  It was difficult, in most matches, particularly consolation KOs to find a direcctor.  The conference rooms were jammed with KOs and pairs in the same room which upped the noise level considerably when one of them ended while the other was still going.

Still, we did manage to scratch out 2.5 gold from a consolation KO as well as a bunch of red, doing well in two pairs game, much to our surprise.  Best of all, we learned new stuff.  We met pro teacher, Lisa Berkowitz, in the bar and, after treating her to a glass of chardonney, she told us what to do over 2 club opener interference.  We had not encountered that before and we were stymied in our bidding, ending up in a really bad contract of 6 hearts, down 2.  Now, we will know what to do next time, not that we won't end up down anyway but we thank her for her kind advice and patience.  She really is a gifted teacher.

Club owner, Marilyn, and her partner, Jerry, explained how we could have used a maximal double to get to a game we missed.  Great info!!  We thank them and friend/partner, Rebecca, for our two and half gold.  We feel that we should have done better, but are grateful for what we have.  It gives us more opportunity to continue to travel to regionals and nationals for a while.

Biig Al and dementor Robert played a couple of KOs with us but we were KOed.  However, Biig Al won BIIG at the casino and took us out for a great dinner.  We finally walked to the river on the morning we were leaving and scarfed down some beignets.  Diet starts Monday ........  again.

Most interesting sight in New Orleans:   a gorgeous girl in leather mini and boots with legs starting at her neck and which were covered in fish net hose, on the arm of not one but two older gentlemen.  Think she's a bridge pro or really a guy?  We had fun.