Eric, Diana, Jim, David, Barbara and more

I know I haven’t been blogging much lately.  It seems like I am full of other things to do.  The last few weeks have been very busy.  Yesterday was Master Point Press day at the Nationals and I got to play author and attempt to do a book signing.  I say attempt since I actually only signed one book.  They did mess up the advertisement in the daily bulletin and post the ad with the wrong signings so maybe it was because didn’t know I was there.  I would like to think that was the case.   Anyway Andy Stark and Barbara Seagram kept my company and I got meet and talk to quite a few people.

Barbara Seagram and Linda Lee

Professor Silver came by with Peter Hambly his favorite partner with some stories to tell from their pairs game.  We saw Fred Lerner with Debbie and Jim Howie who were playing a knockout teams.  Everyone was dressed in colorful shirts, kind of the Hawaiian team.  Ray got to talking with Jim about wine and decide we really should have the Howie’s over when Mark Horton is visited next time since they both are wine experts and we can all drink some lovely wine.

I ran into Diana Gordon the previous day still holding her trophy as one of the newest members of the Canadian Bridge Hall of Fame.  I couldn’t help but think that she really deserved it.  She seemed very pleased about the whole thing.

Julie Fajgelzon, from my Wagar team also visited.  We talked about our early exit.  Julie was unhappy to have missed a good slam but I could easily top her.  I am not going to repeat the hand but I will tell it as a story.  I think it is instructive (for me at least).  I had bid clubs on my own vulnerable once at the one level and once at the three level.    When my left hand opponents bid three hearts my partner doubled.  She then lead a spade.  Declarer won and led a hear.  Partner won and switched to a diamond (I had signaled for a diamond on the heart play).  Dummy had two clubs, I had seven.  Who had the rest?  By this point I was completely convinced partner had none.   I laid down the club ace and all followed, partner playing a high club (suggesting  an odd number).  Now it should be obvious that partner would have led a singleton club.  Thus partner had three clubs.  She didn’t lead a club because she had a stiff spade.  She had a plan.  Her idea was to lead her singleton spade and get to my hand for some spade ruffs.  But I just couldn’t believe she wouldn’t raise clubs with a stiff spade, the ace of hearts and three clubs.   I had a mind set and I couldn’t get passed that.  Well the fact that it was about one in the morning probably didn’t help.  They went down one instead one {Partner did actually get one of the her two spade ruffs) instead of down two (the best we could have done).

Which brings me to my gripe.  Why do they have to start long team games behind screens so late.  Couldn’t they have started the third set at 7:30.  Is it de rigeur to have a long dinner break?  I wasn’t home until 2:00 AM.

If you haven’t seen the Rodwell interview on u-tube don’t miss it.  It was amazing how articulate Eric was.  He had no script.  He just answered the questions.  The book has been selling very well and for good reason.

Rodwell Interview

Eric signing books

Lineup for Eric signing

Tomorrow we are off to Washington with my grandson Cassidy and Mark Horton to watch a Manchester United exhibition match and see at least something of Washington.  We are definitely going to the National Mall and probably the spy museum.  But Cassidy will have lots of choices.  We just have such a short time there and so very much to see.  Then it is off to Gettysburg.  All the guys are really looking forward to going through the battlefield.  Me too really.  It has been a while and it will be fun to watch Ray describe Pickett’s charge.

Want a smart tool for bridge players and bridge clubs.  Pianola.net is launching soon.  I talked to James who was proud of his upcoming product.  You can check it out at www.pianola.net.

I am proud of the work we did for the Toronto NABC and the ABTA.  I hope that everybody is having a wonderful time.