Hi,
I teach swimming.
I love what I do.
I need to get the 'pool rules' out there, poor pool etiquette is rampant.
There are rules to swimming in a public pool setting beyond 'not jumping in on top of someones head' and refraining from screaming "help" unless you really need it. Some are obvious rules, such as "look before you leap", others are more subtle. It's the subtle ones that need review.
It is okay to splash about if there is no one around. Crowded pools are not a good place to throw a fountain-fit. Especially if most of the people in the pool with you are bigger, older and trying to swim laps for their daily dose of exercise. You are bound to get tossed out at the very least and possibly banished for life. The only exemption to this rule are really cute 2 year olds or Golden Labradors (chocolate and black labs qualify also), everyone else is subject to getting their butt walloped.
Sharing swimming lap lanes. You must learn to play nice and share in the pool. The lap lane is not yours and yours alone. A 25m lane can comfortably hold up to six swimmers if they stay in the circle pattern and know to let faster swimmers pass at the ends of the lanes. It's not rocket science, it's common sense. Use it. If you don't want to share, get out of the water and wait until the crowd disperses. No one swims forever and eventually they get tired and go home. You can then have the lane all to yourself... and splash to your hearts content. Until then, man-up and get in the program.
Flotsam and jetsam. Gross stuff, but it sometimes ends up in the water. Get rid of it. Throw it out. Pick it up and dispose of it. Swallow it. I don't care, just don't ignore it and pretend it's not there. I don't like it any more than you do but if we all deal with it, the gunk will disappear and it will be nicer to swim together. Enough said.
Finally, bathing attire. This is a tough one.
Small kids are cute in their rufflie Little Mermaid suits. Over the age of nine, not so much. String bikinis are not swim wear, neither are boxer shorts. Men who insist on wearing thongs must shave their furry bottoms. There is a waist size restriction on two piece suits... if your waist is larger than your hips, "one piece suits only". No sun glasses at an indoor pool, there is no paparazzi to hide from in the deep end. I think that about covers it.
Last one in is a rotten egg.
xox
m
Day Lily!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
February Blahs
Hi,
the month is almost at it's end. Can you believe it? I can't. February is a tough month to get through and having an extra day this year makes it seem that much longer. I always thought the day extra should be tacked on to March... maybe make it March 1(a) and then March 1(b) moving forward. Extra March days seem a lot less painful. Better yet, tack a day on to May. I'd love an extra day in May. I'd love an extra week in May. How about a whole extra month of May. Wouldn't that be lovely?
I can't complain about this winter in Pennsylvania. There hasn't been one. We got a dusting of snow October 31st, 2011. One major dump of snow in January that disappeared in 48 hours and since then, nada! Cold? Not really, Most people have been walking about in light jackets all winter. Wet? Yes, it's rained and been dreary, but the average rainfall is far below what is 'normal' for this time of year. The only bummer are the short days and long hours of darkness but that's already moved around enough so that it's just dusk at 6:00pm and the sun is almost up at 6:00am. I can live on this. Can we declare winter finally over? I think that would be a bit premature. There is always that last storm that can blow up in March here.
The flowers are totally confused. The snowdrops have already bloomed. The crocuses are up all over the place and my tulips and daffodils are 4" out of the ground.... it's only February guys, it's still too early to start growing. I fear for their lives if it gets snowy. It will all be over before it begins if the weather crashes on them. Of course the weeds are in full bloom too. I can't believe I have to do weeding in February. There should be a law about this. If I am having to start with weed control this early I will never make it through the gardening season. February to November is just too many months of playing in the dirt for me. I need to winter to recuperate from bending over flower beds for hours on end... and then there is the pond.
The fish are as confused as the plants. Normally they get this hibernation season to just catch up on their sleep, or what ever it is that they do at the bottom of the pond when it's 1°F out side. Not this year. They have had to keep swimming the whole time. The water never really got cold. Even Freckles & Babette (pond frogs for those of you not following along regularly)are up and atom in February. No rest for the weary or the ugly around here.
I'm ready for summer and that will probably happen next week at this point.
xox
m
the month is almost at it's end. Can you believe it? I can't. February is a tough month to get through and having an extra day this year makes it seem that much longer. I always thought the day extra should be tacked on to March... maybe make it March 1(a) and then March 1(b) moving forward. Extra March days seem a lot less painful. Better yet, tack a day on to May. I'd love an extra day in May. I'd love an extra week in May. How about a whole extra month of May. Wouldn't that be lovely?
I can't complain about this winter in Pennsylvania. There hasn't been one. We got a dusting of snow October 31st, 2011. One major dump of snow in January that disappeared in 48 hours and since then, nada! Cold? Not really, Most people have been walking about in light jackets all winter. Wet? Yes, it's rained and been dreary, but the average rainfall is far below what is 'normal' for this time of year. The only bummer are the short days and long hours of darkness but that's already moved around enough so that it's just dusk at 6:00pm and the sun is almost up at 6:00am. I can live on this. Can we declare winter finally over? I think that would be a bit premature. There is always that last storm that can blow up in March here.
The flowers are totally confused. The snowdrops have already bloomed. The crocuses are up all over the place and my tulips and daffodils are 4" out of the ground.... it's only February guys, it's still too early to start growing. I fear for their lives if it gets snowy. It will all be over before it begins if the weather crashes on them. Of course the weeds are in full bloom too. I can't believe I have to do weeding in February. There should be a law about this. If I am having to start with weed control this early I will never make it through the gardening season. February to November is just too many months of playing in the dirt for me. I need to winter to recuperate from bending over flower beds for hours on end... and then there is the pond.
The fish are as confused as the plants. Normally they get this hibernation season to just catch up on their sleep, or what ever it is that they do at the bottom of the pond when it's 1°F out side. Not this year. They have had to keep swimming the whole time. The water never really got cold. Even Freckles & Babette (pond frogs for those of you not following along regularly)are up and atom in February. No rest for the weary or the ugly around here.
I'm ready for summer and that will probably happen next week at this point.
xox
m
Sunday, February 19, 2012
the Party
Hi,
last night the NAC (Newtown Athletic Center) where I teach swimming, held a blow out bash. They have recently expanded the building, adding 12,000 sq/ft to the exercise room and a million dollars worth of new equipment. To show it all off they planned a huge party and we were encouraged to invite guests. They set up the main gym with decorations, a dance floor, food stations, bars with wine & beer, an 18 piece dance band on a stage with a light show..... and it was all for FREE! It was like a wedding without a bride or groom.
I invited a load of my dance friends. I figured a free dinner with drinks and a live band can't be a bad night out for a bunch of dance-rats. We had a ball. Once we figured out how to avoid the line up for food (you had to approach it commando style: jump in grab a plate and what you want and then run for the hills) and found a quieter table up on the running track, above the fray, we settled into our own zone and danced away. I never knew that running tracks also make the best dance floors. Just slick enough to slide your feet on but cushioned and very responsive to dancing on. It was also a great place to watch the crowd from without having to deal with them.... and being 'above the music' meant it wasn't ear piercingly loud and obnoxious. Balcony seats rock.
I took everyone on a tour of the facility. It's quite impressive with a separate childrens' center so can drop your kids off. A full salon for hair, nails, massage, tanning, facials, the works. The Techno Gym where you can be set up on a personal training schedual and a memory chip card automatically sets the machines up for your personal work out. Spin room, Pilates, Zumba studio, Yoga den, the pool, chiropractic office, a 'Refresh' clinic for Botox treatments (really!), a café, ritzy locker rooms and of course the new workout arena. I may even have talked a few of my friends into joining. They were impressed.
The party was still in full swing when we left after 11pm. Who knows how long they boogied for with the booze still flowing. I had an excellent time and I hope my friends did too. This is the way to throw a party, especially when someone else is picking up the tab. I guess I'm not getting a raise this year, they blew the budget on this extravaganza. Thanks for the memories.
xox
m
last night the NAC (Newtown Athletic Center) where I teach swimming, held a blow out bash. They have recently expanded the building, adding 12,000 sq/ft to the exercise room and a million dollars worth of new equipment. To show it all off they planned a huge party and we were encouraged to invite guests. They set up the main gym with decorations, a dance floor, food stations, bars with wine & beer, an 18 piece dance band on a stage with a light show..... and it was all for FREE! It was like a wedding without a bride or groom.
I invited a load of my dance friends. I figured a free dinner with drinks and a live band can't be a bad night out for a bunch of dance-rats. We had a ball. Once we figured out how to avoid the line up for food (you had to approach it commando style: jump in grab a plate and what you want and then run for the hills) and found a quieter table up on the running track, above the fray, we settled into our own zone and danced away. I never knew that running tracks also make the best dance floors. Just slick enough to slide your feet on but cushioned and very responsive to dancing on. It was also a great place to watch the crowd from without having to deal with them.... and being 'above the music' meant it wasn't ear piercingly loud and obnoxious. Balcony seats rock.
I took everyone on a tour of the facility. It's quite impressive with a separate childrens' center so can drop your kids off. A full salon for hair, nails, massage, tanning, facials, the works. The Techno Gym where you can be set up on a personal training schedual and a memory chip card automatically sets the machines up for your personal work out. Spin room, Pilates, Zumba studio, Yoga den, the pool, chiropractic office, a 'Refresh' clinic for Botox treatments (really!), a café, ritzy locker rooms and of course the new workout arena. I may even have talked a few of my friends into joining. They were impressed.
The party was still in full swing when we left after 11pm. Who knows how long they boogied for with the booze still flowing. I had an excellent time and I hope my friends did too. This is the way to throw a party, especially when someone else is picking up the tab. I guess I'm not getting a raise this year, they blew the budget on this extravaganza. Thanks for the memories.
xox
m
Friday, February 17, 2012
Should I, or shouldn't I?
Hi,
if you are over 45 you may remember the Clairol ad "Does she, or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure". It was a brilliant campaign that ran for years. Since I don't colour my hair any more, Clairol is not the issue. Having hair is.
Since my head surgery, a little over three years ago, I have chosen to remain 'the bald chick'. It has it's advantages. No more beauty salon trips, to say nothing of the cost savings. No more bad hair days, unless I let the stubble get a little unruly. No need for shampoos, clips, blow dryers, sprays, gels, head bands, brushes, combs, bobbles or even a bobby pin. On the down side: I get some weird comments on occasion when I forget to keep my head covered. It's bloody cold to be bald in February. I don't know how men do it without a multitude of hats and scarves. It does require a prosthetic hair covering (better known as a wig) when a formal event just won't work with a cocktail dress and a shiny scalp as your entrance ensemble. For the most part I have become very used to not seeing myself with a head of hair. Travis Tritt said it best when he sang "honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair.... and if it all fell out, I'd love you anyway...". Marshall has never once cared about my bald status, except that mine is by choice and his is natural.
I have been considering trying to grow my hair out recently. I have a surgical patch on my head that will never grow any hair, ever again. It's rather large and on the back of my skull, off to one side. If I had thick, luxurious locks like my sister I'd give the 'comb-over look' a try, but I'm afraid that my skinny, straight, fine, limp hair is just not going to do the job. Should I even bother to try and grow my hair out? I'm not sure I want to bother. It's been great for three years of low maintenance for my head decor. I have amassed a fabulous collection of head paraphernalia from hats to scarves in every shape and colour. My life has been extended by at least 3 extra days worth of time since I don't have anything to blow dry (you do the math). I get told that my bald head 'suits me', what ever that means. Since Telle Savalas has died how many other bald sex symbols are around? It's a tough job but someone has to do it.
I think I have talked myself out of growing in a head of hair again. It will take too long. I'll need to replace all the hair grooming crap I've tossed and don't miss. Who will stand up for the rights of women to be bald like the guys if I cave in? Someone has to prove that bald is beautiful, even if it's a short Jewish broad. Telle would have approved, I think?
Who loves ya' baby?
xox
m
if you are over 45 you may remember the Clairol ad "Does she, or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure". It was a brilliant campaign that ran for years. Since I don't colour my hair any more, Clairol is not the issue. Having hair is.
Since my head surgery, a little over three years ago, I have chosen to remain 'the bald chick'. It has it's advantages. No more beauty salon trips, to say nothing of the cost savings. No more bad hair days, unless I let the stubble get a little unruly. No need for shampoos, clips, blow dryers, sprays, gels, head bands, brushes, combs, bobbles or even a bobby pin. On the down side: I get some weird comments on occasion when I forget to keep my head covered. It's bloody cold to be bald in February. I don't know how men do it without a multitude of hats and scarves. It does require a prosthetic hair covering (better known as a wig) when a formal event just won't work with a cocktail dress and a shiny scalp as your entrance ensemble. For the most part I have become very used to not seeing myself with a head of hair. Travis Tritt said it best when he sang "honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair.... and if it all fell out, I'd love you anyway...". Marshall has never once cared about my bald status, except that mine is by choice and his is natural.
I have been considering trying to grow my hair out recently. I have a surgical patch on my head that will never grow any hair, ever again. It's rather large and on the back of my skull, off to one side. If I had thick, luxurious locks like my sister I'd give the 'comb-over look' a try, but I'm afraid that my skinny, straight, fine, limp hair is just not going to do the job. Should I even bother to try and grow my hair out? I'm not sure I want to bother. It's been great for three years of low maintenance for my head decor. I have amassed a fabulous collection of head paraphernalia from hats to scarves in every shape and colour. My life has been extended by at least 3 extra days worth of time since I don't have anything to blow dry (you do the math). I get told that my bald head 'suits me', what ever that means. Since Telle Savalas has died how many other bald sex symbols are around? It's a tough job but someone has to do it.
I think I have talked myself out of growing in a head of hair again. It will take too long. I'll need to replace all the hair grooming crap I've tossed and don't miss. Who will stand up for the rights of women to be bald like the guys if I cave in? Someone has to prove that bald is beautiful, even if it's a short Jewish broad. Telle would have approved, I think?
Who loves ya' baby?
xox
m
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Useless Airlines
Hi,
todays' story has to do with the insulting stupidity of US Airlines, better known as "Useless Airlines" in our house. For this I have to back up a couple of months.
Back in September we booked a transatlantic cruise, from Puerto Rico to Malaga, Spain. Yipee! To get me home from Spain we used Marshall's multitude of air mile points to get me a ticket on US Air with connections from Malaga to Barcelona, then leaving the next day from Barcelona to Philadelphia. Unfortunately the airline, Spanair, which was the company flying me the first leg of the trip, went bankrupt and Marshall happened to notice the announcement three weeks ago in the news. We waited to hear from US Air about how they were going to handle this issue but I got antsy and insisted on calling them to see what other arrangements were being offered. Yesterday we got on the phone with US Air and after speaking to eight different people, yes "8" (Tom, T.J., Tina, Maria, Mary, Genene, Karen & Bill), we were no further ahead of the game with no new game plan either as to how I was to get home from Spain.
There didn't seem to be any way to get me out of Spain unless I wanted to make at least two separate stop-overs and incur 2 nights of addition hotel costs, at our expense of course. We even offered to meet US Air part way by getting me to Madrid (by train) then having them fly me home on on their direct flight from Madrid to Philly.... but to accept this compromise we wanted them to refund ½ the air mile points they charged us (which was 60,000 points since you can't book a one-way fair with points on US Air) or, I was willing to get bumped up to business class in exchange for spending the 60K in points. No dice. They wouldn't budge and I spoke to everyone in 'customer service' last night before I finally gave up in disgust.
Meanwhile, Marshall got on line and looked to see who else offered a flight from Madrid to Philly....BINGO, United Airlines could get me home... for only 30,000 points and for exactly half the cost in taxes and fees. Here's the kicker... the United flight is actually the same US Air Flight I was trying to get on to start with. Since they are all part of the Star Alliance Group, it's a wash who you book with to get on the flight.... Today I spent a half an hour booking myself onto the 'United' (US Air) flight and then another hour, and three more useless customer service people (Shawanda, Bobby & Diana) with US Air, canceling my original booking and getting the taxes, fees and air mile points refunded in full. All in all I spent 4 hours of my life and spoke to eleven different people at US (useless) Air before I finally got my trip straightened out.
My next move to to write Mr. Ken Fischer, the Director of Customer Relations at US (Useless) Airlines and let him know how badly his department is run. He should be ashamed of the crap I had to go through, only to end up with travel plans exactly the way I wanted, at half the original cost.... and I am now able to rag on about what a useless airline US Air is.
I hope my blog goes viral
xox
m
todays' story has to do with the insulting stupidity of US Airlines, better known as "Useless Airlines" in our house. For this I have to back up a couple of months.
Back in September we booked a transatlantic cruise, from Puerto Rico to Malaga, Spain. Yipee! To get me home from Spain we used Marshall's multitude of air mile points to get me a ticket on US Air with connections from Malaga to Barcelona, then leaving the next day from Barcelona to Philadelphia. Unfortunately the airline, Spanair, which was the company flying me the first leg of the trip, went bankrupt and Marshall happened to notice the announcement three weeks ago in the news. We waited to hear from US Air about how they were going to handle this issue but I got antsy and insisted on calling them to see what other arrangements were being offered. Yesterday we got on the phone with US Air and after speaking to eight different people, yes "8" (Tom, T.J., Tina, Maria, Mary, Genene, Karen & Bill), we were no further ahead of the game with no new game plan either as to how I was to get home from Spain.
There didn't seem to be any way to get me out of Spain unless I wanted to make at least two separate stop-overs and incur 2 nights of addition hotel costs, at our expense of course. We even offered to meet US Air part way by getting me to Madrid (by train) then having them fly me home on on their direct flight from Madrid to Philly.... but to accept this compromise we wanted them to refund ½ the air mile points they charged us (which was 60,000 points since you can't book a one-way fair with points on US Air) or, I was willing to get bumped up to business class in exchange for spending the 60K in points. No dice. They wouldn't budge and I spoke to everyone in 'customer service' last night before I finally gave up in disgust.
Meanwhile, Marshall got on line and looked to see who else offered a flight from Madrid to Philly....BINGO, United Airlines could get me home... for only 30,000 points and for exactly half the cost in taxes and fees. Here's the kicker... the United flight is actually the same US Air Flight I was trying to get on to start with. Since they are all part of the Star Alliance Group, it's a wash who you book with to get on the flight.... Today I spent a half an hour booking myself onto the 'United' (US Air) flight and then another hour, and three more useless customer service people (Shawanda, Bobby & Diana) with US Air, canceling my original booking and getting the taxes, fees and air mile points refunded in full. All in all I spent 4 hours of my life and spoke to eleven different people at US (useless) Air before I finally got my trip straightened out.
My next move to to write Mr. Ken Fischer, the Director of Customer Relations at US (Useless) Airlines and let him know how badly his department is run. He should be ashamed of the crap I had to go through, only to end up with travel plans exactly the way I wanted, at half the original cost.... and I am now able to rag on about what a useless airline US Air is.
I hope my blog goes viral
xox
m
Friday, February 10, 2012
accounting mess
Hi,
I have found the solution to cleaning up the health care problems in the USA. Kill the accounting department. They seem not to be able to keep anything straight and they are causing this mess we try and call 'health care'.
In the last week I have had three, count 'em, three occurrences of health care accounting problems... and I'm only one little person. Multiply this by the 300 million that use the system here and you get about one billion problems per week, times that by 50 weeks and you start to see the magnitude of this. The system has to go, along with the pea-brains who are working in it.
I received a bill in January, for services that I received in November. Right away you have a 60 day delay in receivables. That would cause a flag in most businesses. When I sent in payment, promptly, using our health credit card (a pre-loaded VISA that covers off health costs with tax benefits... complex, but stick with me). I get a notice in February that the account is "over-due". Four phone calls later I realize that they received my payment but didn't know what to do with it since it wasn't a cheque, so they threw it in the "over due" pile. No where on the statement does it say they only except payment by cheque, not credit card. I finally get to a person who understands that if she takes my credit card info over the phone I will clear up the payment due. It's now over 90 days since this health service should have been accounted for, and several hours of working time have been wasted trying to collect on the payment. Waste, waste and more waste. That was issue number one.
The chiropractor I see at the club where I work assured me that when I saw him, back in December, there wouldn't be any further payment necessary, the insurance would cover the visit. February I get a bill for chiropractic care from a place I don't recognize but the date of appointment looks like the one I had in December. I call the number on the bill and ask if it is for this chiropractor at the NAC. The woman says 'yes, but don't pay it'. Their accounting service has messed up and sent out bills that are already paid by the insurance companies.... a great way to double-dip if you aren't honest to admit this has happened. Good thing I called first before I started sending in payments. Issue number two.
While I was chasing down the first problem I had to try and see if payment had gone through on our account. This is the most difficult process you can imagine. Marshall's company controls this and the web site you have to use is so complex it's mind boggling. I can't solve the mystery as to whether anything has been paid or not but I do notice that I'm not getting 'health credit points'. These credit points turn into money in your health savings account. You get points for seeing doctors or dentists regularly, filling out a personal health record, taking tests, dressing pretty... who knows. Well, I'm not getting credits for medical appointments I know I've been to and should get credit for. We had this happen last year and we missed out on over $1000 worth of credits. I can't even chase this down because Marshall is the employee, I'm just a lowly wife. They want him to waste his time on the phone dealing with this stupidity. That costs Tyco a huge amount of money and his time down the drain. More waste, issue number three.
I want to barf, it makes me so sick. Oh no, don't get sick, that will cost more waste!
xox
m
I have found the solution to cleaning up the health care problems in the USA. Kill the accounting department. They seem not to be able to keep anything straight and they are causing this mess we try and call 'health care'.
In the last week I have had three, count 'em, three occurrences of health care accounting problems... and I'm only one little person. Multiply this by the 300 million that use the system here and you get about one billion problems per week, times that by 50 weeks and you start to see the magnitude of this. The system has to go, along with the pea-brains who are working in it.
I received a bill in January, for services that I received in November. Right away you have a 60 day delay in receivables. That would cause a flag in most businesses. When I sent in payment, promptly, using our health credit card (a pre-loaded VISA that covers off health costs with tax benefits... complex, but stick with me). I get a notice in February that the account is "over-due". Four phone calls later I realize that they received my payment but didn't know what to do with it since it wasn't a cheque, so they threw it in the "over due" pile. No where on the statement does it say they only except payment by cheque, not credit card. I finally get to a person who understands that if she takes my credit card info over the phone I will clear up the payment due. It's now over 90 days since this health service should have been accounted for, and several hours of working time have been wasted trying to collect on the payment. Waste, waste and more waste. That was issue number one.
The chiropractor I see at the club where I work assured me that when I saw him, back in December, there wouldn't be any further payment necessary, the insurance would cover the visit. February I get a bill for chiropractic care from a place I don't recognize but the date of appointment looks like the one I had in December. I call the number on the bill and ask if it is for this chiropractor at the NAC. The woman says 'yes, but don't pay it'. Their accounting service has messed up and sent out bills that are already paid by the insurance companies.... a great way to double-dip if you aren't honest to admit this has happened. Good thing I called first before I started sending in payments. Issue number two.
While I was chasing down the first problem I had to try and see if payment had gone through on our account. This is the most difficult process you can imagine. Marshall's company controls this and the web site you have to use is so complex it's mind boggling. I can't solve the mystery as to whether anything has been paid or not but I do notice that I'm not getting 'health credit points'. These credit points turn into money in your health savings account. You get points for seeing doctors or dentists regularly, filling out a personal health record, taking tests, dressing pretty... who knows. Well, I'm not getting credits for medical appointments I know I've been to and should get credit for. We had this happen last year and we missed out on over $1000 worth of credits. I can't even chase this down because Marshall is the employee, I'm just a lowly wife. They want him to waste his time on the phone dealing with this stupidity. That costs Tyco a huge amount of money and his time down the drain. More waste, issue number three.
I want to barf, it makes me so sick. Oh no, don't get sick, that will cost more waste!
xox
m
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Maj Jong
Hi,
I love to play Maj Jong. I have played the game almost 30 years. My mother plays, the grandmother played and my fondest memories are playing with both of them at the cottage, by the lake, for hours on end. I grew up listening to maj tiles 'click' late into the night as the women played in our house. Being allowed to watch them play was mesmerizing. Their hands flew as playing tiles were picked, discarded, switched, shanghai-ed and reset into starting walls.
For those of you who do not know the game, it's like gin rummy but with Bakelite tiles. Instead of hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs you have suits of bams, cracks, dots ("O's" in Canada), winds, dragons, flowers and jokers. I learned to play the 'American' rules, but I can also play the original Chinese style game too. The Maj Jong League publishes a card of 'hands' that we play to, with set point or monetary amounts for each hand. Every year they change the card up a little but it really hasn't changed much in the 65 years the League has been going. You have to collect the right number of tiles to match the set hand and the first one to accomplish that wins the Maj. It's very addictive. I can play for hours and hours.
I now have a group of ladies that include me in their weekly game. I'm a lowly substitute, not a full fledged member. During the winter I get to play almost every week since they travel to the southern USA and need a fill-in. I'm the youngest of the group by at least 20 years but I like their game and it's like playing with my mom & grandmother all over again. They are all experienced players so the games are fast and funny. They can chat and play at the same time, it's always entertaining. I don't know who or what they are gossiping about but it's amazing how similar the chatter is to what I grew up listening to. The names are different but the stories are pretty much the same. Children and grand children all get discussed. Hadassah events, weddings, bar mitzvahs, luncheons, husbands, travel plans..... I swear it's the universal language of Jewish women around the world. Every maj table is having the same discussion.
We play for money, not a lot. The most you could lose in an afternoon of playing is $4. I need to play for money. No investment in the game is boring. Since I don't dial into the chatter, I win most of the time. My average take home loot is about 80 cents. It doesn't cover the gas for the car ride but it's the cheapest form or entertainment I have going. I wish I could find a group my own age to play with but it doesn't seem to appeal to women to sit down and play regularly, or develop the skill. There are a group who play once a month but that doesn't hone their playing fast enough and they will be forever beginners at that rate. Oh well, my Hadassah ladies keep me occupied for the winter. I'll go back to gardening in the summer and wait for the migration to Florida to start up when I get called in to sub for the maj mavens.
It's a great way to pass the time.
xox
m
I love to play Maj Jong. I have played the game almost 30 years. My mother plays, the grandmother played and my fondest memories are playing with both of them at the cottage, by the lake, for hours on end. I grew up listening to maj tiles 'click' late into the night as the women played in our house. Being allowed to watch them play was mesmerizing. Their hands flew as playing tiles were picked, discarded, switched, shanghai-ed and reset into starting walls.
For those of you who do not know the game, it's like gin rummy but with Bakelite tiles. Instead of hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs you have suits of bams, cracks, dots ("O's" in Canada), winds, dragons, flowers and jokers. I learned to play the 'American' rules, but I can also play the original Chinese style game too. The Maj Jong League publishes a card of 'hands' that we play to, with set point or monetary amounts for each hand. Every year they change the card up a little but it really hasn't changed much in the 65 years the League has been going. You have to collect the right number of tiles to match the set hand and the first one to accomplish that wins the Maj. It's very addictive. I can play for hours and hours.
I now have a group of ladies that include me in their weekly game. I'm a lowly substitute, not a full fledged member. During the winter I get to play almost every week since they travel to the southern USA and need a fill-in. I'm the youngest of the group by at least 20 years but I like their game and it's like playing with my mom & grandmother all over again. They are all experienced players so the games are fast and funny. They can chat and play at the same time, it's always entertaining. I don't know who or what they are gossiping about but it's amazing how similar the chatter is to what I grew up listening to. The names are different but the stories are pretty much the same. Children and grand children all get discussed. Hadassah events, weddings, bar mitzvahs, luncheons, husbands, travel plans..... I swear it's the universal language of Jewish women around the world. Every maj table is having the same discussion.
We play for money, not a lot. The most you could lose in an afternoon of playing is $4. I need to play for money. No investment in the game is boring. Since I don't dial into the chatter, I win most of the time. My average take home loot is about 80 cents. It doesn't cover the gas for the car ride but it's the cheapest form or entertainment I have going. I wish I could find a group my own age to play with but it doesn't seem to appeal to women to sit down and play regularly, or develop the skill. There are a group who play once a month but that doesn't hone their playing fast enough and they will be forever beginners at that rate. Oh well, my Hadassah ladies keep me occupied for the winter. I'll go back to gardening in the summer and wait for the migration to Florida to start up when I get called in to sub for the maj mavens.
It's a great way to pass the time.
xox
m
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)