Monday, October 22, 2012

Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk



Many people came to walk:
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Some to celebrate:
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Some in hope:
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(His group's shirts read walking in hope, not in fear.)

Others with a sense of urgency:
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There were those who walked for people who could not be there today:
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Some came to kick cancer's ass!:
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There was enthusiasm for the cause:
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Hordes of teen-aged boys came to save second base!:
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This guy came to have people sign his balls, which would make you wonder if he had somehow missed the walk he really wanted to go to:
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Some people had a harder time of it:
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But we were all spurred on and buoyed by the generosity of those kind enough to sponsor us:
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Friday, April 10, 2009

He who hesitates

Well, I woke up thinking of bridge. It's been so long since that happened.
I've been thinking about Walsh. I like Walsh, but I'm not sure why exactly.  Maybe it's because Luis Argerich indicated that he plays it. Maybe it's because it makes me feel like I know a code - it makes me feel smart.
Some of the people I know gasp in horror at the mention of the W word. And then there is the debate about Walsh Style vs Walsh.

Yesterday I had a hand that I wanted to bid. I liked it. I like to bid. Now all sorts of experts are telling me that sometimes pass is the right bid. Clearly, that is just a conspiracy. They just want me to shut up and stay out of their auctions. Clearly. Right? But I'm on to them. And I like to bid.

Here is the lesson I learned, if you have a hand that you really feel the need to chime in with, and you wonder if your partner's head might explode when you do, it's probably better to do it at the lowest level you can rather than waiting and coming in at the 5 level.
Yesterday's hand:
X
Axxx
QTX
KJTxx
You are south and east opens 2S. His p bids 4s. 5clubs = not right.
In the cold light of morning, I think passing looks more attractive. But I am not officially embracing the P bid.





Sunday, February 08, 2009

Good advice

I was whining (you know how I do) about how badly things were going. About how I wanted to play better. Bid better. Think more. Make fewer mistakes. My friend HagarH said: Play slower.

Damn. He's right.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Hint: Play barefoot

My time away from the table leads me to believe that the memory is an interesting thing. You forget the good habits and remember the bad. The muscle of the mind learns to recognize patterns and keep running tallies, but without practice that reflex will atrophy. 

Counting is crucial. One way to get it back is to count outloud as each card is played. 

Take note: This practice may be better suited to computer bridge than live.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Not a bridge post really

For someone who doesn't like bridge books, I'm sure reading a lot more of them. This is due in large part to commuting by bus. The truth is, I still do not read at home very much. But I read during my lunch hour and on the bus. I'm enjoying it. I'd like to think I'm learning something.

The problem is I'm not learning/retaining as much as I'd like. There's an awful lot of to take in. I'm under the impression that there are techniques you can employ to boost the efficacy of your study time. Anyone know of anything I can read on the subject?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

"I Love This Game"

I'm reading on the bus, again. I was reading Hardy - 2/1, and then last night I played with Dano. Dan's my favorite partner. I thought about this some today. I get to play with some incredible people. Many of them are so much better than I that I always feel as though it's a special treat when I get to play with them. And it's great fun, but there isn't always the ease that comes with playing with someone who's in step with you. Dan's a stronger player than I, in many ways, maybe chiefly in that he's more consistent. But he's also still learning many of the same things I am. It's hard to explain why that's so nice. It just is. Of course, there are many people learning things, so it's not just that. I play some of my best bridge with Dan. And we have a meeting of the minds, where we can a feel for what might be going on with our CHO. Also, I think our outlook and approach to the game is very similar. I like that we don't do much discussing at the table, and that we review after.

Anyway, before I digressed I was about to say that I have been reading Hardy, with Dan. And I think we've agreed that we are going to read through, then think about where we're going to make changes. Because at this point, we're thinking we'll use everything, and really, I think we'll just end up confused. There's too much candy in the store to try it all in one day. So, we'll read through then decide what to incorporate and reread there. We might read Lawrence before doing that to see what else is out there, before settling on anything.

Well, we played in the 299er last night. We had some bad boards. Dan pointed out (very gently and tactfully) that I made some mistakes that were not things I'd usually do - he forgets how unfocused I can be, and he thinks I might need a brain rest. He finds that sometimes when we try to read and practice and read, practice there’s a dip in performance at the table, and we can use a little time to rest our brains.

So, with Dan's blessing I took a break from Hardy, which is nice because I've been trying to find time to read Sabine Auken's I Love This Game.

I have such hero worship for Sabine. You know, it's easy to explain why you think something, but much harder to explain why you feel something. What is my fascination with great women players? I cannot define it in a way that makes sense. But maybe it's not so unusual, really.

On Sunday, I went to the museum with my family. My father, who is getting older, I suppose, was very fascinated by the fact that there were two paintings by Miro that were done in his seventies and eighties. Maybe we like to see proof that greatness is possible, regardless of our age or gender or whatever. Maybe I just want to be Sabine when I grow up. Of course, it's too late for that, and I'm far more likely to turn out to be Mrs. Guggenheim than Ms. Auken at the table. But I can dream.

I'm surprised at how accessible the book is. I can follow it, I can understand it, and I'm excited by the exciting parts. She's a wonderful writer, and storyteller. If you haven't read this book, you might take a look.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Automatic trump lead

1x-p-1y-p-2z-p-4z.

They probably need ruffs to set up their side suits. We need to cut down on them.
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