Omens Never Lie

They just take a while to work.  For the first time ever, I have been running out of hummingbird food because so many of the little beauties have been swarming the patio feeder flashing their gorgeous red throats.  In addition, it did rain a lot and guess what?  Points are rolling in.  Friend Fran and I posted a 67.78 percent game today for first overall and last Tuesday friend Leslie and I posted a 62.2 tying for first overall with big guns, club owner Marilyn and hear much feared partner, Bill.  Last Monday night, great players Terry and Carolyn decided to take us under their wings and straighten out some stuff in our game.  The women placed first with the men second.  Terry wants a rematch.  Husband/partner and I are so grateful to all who help us.  I am very afraid to think that I am actually improving for fear that the bridge goddess will whack me a good one.  I will keep those burnt offerings going as suggested by club manager/friend Paula. Actually, Paula likes the "due to" theory better.  In case she is wrong, where did I put those matches and incense?

Rain but not Points

6 + inches yesterday and about 5 more today.  However, no points for me today.  I'll have to find a new theory.  Maybe I will resurrect the fave family sports theory - "due to win".  It drives son, Alex, nuts and he, in an very exasperated manner, not too patiently explains the statistical probability of winning, (usually the Phillies or the Girls (Cowboys) are under discussion), remains the same at the start of each game no matter the record. .  A string of losses, in other words, doesn't change the probability.  I don't like his explanation.  It seems much more logical to me that after a bunch of losses, one (read here  me and not the Phillies or the Girls), should be "due to" win.  I'm ready.  Bring on the New Braunfels sectional this weekend.  I'm due for cascades of silver.

Richardson Regional

In our continuing quest for gold, we talked friend/partners Jay and Paula into coming up to Richardson (near Dallas) to play knockouts with us.  We shared much fun, laughter and food and won about 3 gold for which we are most grateful.  Paula and I played together and, one afternoon, two nice ladies sat down at our table for the usual 12/12 boards and introduced themselves as June and Bonnie.  Bonnie was a no nonsense looking woman with a nice thick cane which, I thought, could do some damage if I acted up.  June was a willowy lovely woman with feather cut white hair and gorgeous jewelry.  After the first hand, when June put her hand down as dummy, Bonnie said, "Ah've seen better hands on a washerwoman"! Uh oh.  Paula and I started laughing which is bad because it usually just escalates.  Sure enough, a few hands later, Bonnie said to June, "Yer ahs (eyes) look like two frahd eggs in a SLOP BUCKET! Go get yerself some coffee!"  Well that was it, I was laughing with tears running down my cheeks.  Husband/partner said he heard me from 3 tables down and thought I had badly screwed up a hand.  Nice.

Bonnie said to me, "What are y'all laughing at?  Haven't yew ever seen frahd eggs in a slop bucket?"  When I admitted that I had never seen a slop bucket in my life she said, "Whar y'all from anyway - I thought you said San Antonio?  That's how we talk here in Texas".  I think I lost some credibility there.  So, we finished our twelve boards and chatted while we waited for 10 minutes, as usual,  for Jay and husband/partner to get done.  Director Guillermo wandered by and I asked if he would go give them a kick in the rear.  I added, "or this nice lady probably has a cattle prod you can use".  Bonnie said, "Ah DO!"  I was afraid that cane would do some  prodding  on it's own if they took much longer.

Richardson is a great regional; one of the best we have attended.  The hotel was really, really nice.  The manager met us at the door and was around the lobby every day talking to guests and watching staff.  Hands on management is rare these days and I was impressed with the clean, well run hotel Renaissance.  The free food after the night game was really good and the coffee was sometimes free in the afternoon.  There were plenty of directors and none of them were crabby.  Even when I doubled husband/partner's bid and director Kevin showed up to adjudicate, he simply said, "I've seen him play - I'd probably double him too".  Kevin usually directs in Austin and has helped us several times with great advice over the past couple of years.  I was embarrassed, though, to do such a stupid rookie thing.

My sister in law, Paula, wrote today and said, "well, you said in your blog you wanted rain!" and we had a tropical storm blow through yesterday, 7 inches in the back yard.  I hope the points pour down with friend/partner/new life master Rebecca today or I will have to throw out my beloved omen theory.  I hope I will be joining Rebecca in the near future - about 30 points total to go with 5 of them gold.  It seems doable. Ha.