Bridge Night 5.2.06

✳ NOTES ✳

April bridge took place in May at the home of Miss R. The snack selection, including two types of tea sandwiches, was modest, though the bubbly was ample.

Three notrump was the bid of the evening. First bid by Ms. A, then followed by Miss R and (if memory serves) Mrs S. Ms. A did not make her bold contract, Miss R did and Mrs. S was also successful. I think. Two new goals for future bridge nights: 1) keep score and 2) assign the lady seated in the dummy position to take notes on the bidding and outcome of play. This new responsibility will improve the accuracy and balance of the Official Bridge Notes.

Discussed were The young Mr. D’s first dentist appointment and Ms. A’s role as a stylish representative of the Soon-to-Give-Birth Community. Mrs. S was pleased to report that having her house invaded by in-laws has at least one benefit: free babysitting. Miss R was also grateful that a retired neighbor has voluntarily taken over dog walking, gardening and security at her house, giving her a new lease on life.

Mrs. S mentioned her disappointment that little Miss S would not be attending a certain school this fall and none of the ladies could get over the fact that the little lady is already nearly five years old.

Miss F was asked if her future offspring with the celebrity restauranteur would be schooled in either the Montessori or Waldorf style, sparking a brief sidebar about their status as a couple. As it turns out, he has resigned his business, renounced his restauranteur status, and taken off to Mexico. He remains devoted to Miss F, however. It was then determined that none of the ladies knew enough about Waldorf vs. Montessori to have a productive debate about it.

Miss F agreed to research scoring and report on the topic at the next meeting. It was also noted that she has not filled out her Official Bridge Club Questionnaire making it more of a challenge for the hostess to be sensitive to her likes and dislikes.

Next Bridge night: Later in May at Miss F’s. TBD.

Weekend Bridge 3.20.06 and Bridge Night. 3.22.06

✳ NOTES ✳

It has been a big week for the Official Bridge Club. Two meetings were held within three days and though nine shouldn’t be an impressive number of hands for two meetings, thousands of calories consumed and many liters of alcohol swilled, that’s where the bar (no pun intended) has been set. On this Sunday afternoon at least one lady enjoyed the excuse to stop pulling weeds and go where the homemade lemon curd and pomegranate-vodka punch were flowing freely.

A surprise ski trip arranged by Mr. D “for Kate’s birthday” sounded fishy to some ladies but seeing the genuine enthusiasm of Mrs. D and the packing services of Mr. D, suspicions were rescinded. Apologies, Mr. D.

Tuesday evening at the S’s residence, four ladies were in atendance and four hands of bridge were played. Team S&R declared 3 hearts in the first hand and, given Miss R’s massive number of hearts, had absolutely no excuse for falling two tricks short of contract. The next hand went better and the pair made a 2 notrump contract.

Miss R managed to spend an evening at Mrs. S’s without injuring the small human with a champagne bottle or any other blunt object, though she did deliver an aggressive hug. As the only male allowed to remain in the house, the Bassett Hound showed off by dragging a small cat around by its neck, to the delight of at least one guest. Ms. A brought a clipping from the local newspaper that claimed the average bridge player’s age is 68, adding to the sense that we are true pioneers of our generation. Exciting resources bridgeiscool.com and the Northeast Portland Bridge Club were noted in the article, though Ms. A warned that the NEPBC is in a “scary” neighborhood.

It has been noted (by herself) that Miss R’s house is officially the most ghetto of the group and will be until she lassoes a man who brings home a nice paycheck or at least a sawz-all and a refined aesthetic sensibility. Get ready for cheez whiz, ladies.

Until next time. Tuesday, May 2 at Miss R’s.

Bridge Night 2.27.06

✳ Notes ✳

A lively evening of bridge took place at the home of the Ms. A. Two types of tea sandwiches, mini quiches and an array of dates, cheese and sweet and savory almonds were devoured by the ladies. The food was delicious as usual, but the most consistently discussed item was a certain bun, which remained in the oven.

This meeting marked the first official meeting under a new regime that will henceforth be referred to as “The New Regime.”

New Regime
Bridge Night Protocol

1. The first 30 minutes of bridge night are reserved for chatting and eating. Thereafter, bridge-playing takes priority.
2. A minimum of 5 hands of bridge will be played. Possibly more!
3. Dessert, if there is any, may be served after 5 hands have been played.
4. The alternate player shall rotate and shall be the lady who shuffles the hand.

Mrs. D had an unexpected equine-related errand that caused her to be tardy. She eventually arrived with mud on her boots and a healthy appetite. In accordance with the New Regime, play began promptly at 8 pm and the ladies tried to restrain themselves from chatting with Mrs. D. It was not easy.

Five hands were played and no cheat-sheets consulted. Progress! Team F & S bid 3 notrump for game and made their contract. This was, according to F, “kind of a big deal.” however, Team D&R successfully defended against another bold bid by Team A (?)&F and were also quite smug about it.

Topics of discussion included how Ms. A is great looking as a pregnant person; the glamorous new homes of Mrs. D and Mrs. S, paint stripping, the imminent move-in by Mrs. S’ Mother- and Sister-in-law and the mayhem that will quite likely ensue. Miss F’s steamy romance with a local celebrity restauranteur had the ladies’ mouths watering for more reasons than one. Cheers to romance!

Next Bridge: Saturday, March 18 at 11 am. Pix Patisserie on NE Williams Ave.