Monopoly has no end. The rules explain how you can unmortgage a property and when you should build hotels on Madison Avenue but they don’t say, and they should, that the winner is the last player left alive.
And what about Risk? You make a calculation, based on the law of averages, that you can take the world but then you loose because the person you are playing with who think’s he is George W. Bush invades Iceland and it’s game over.
Let me explain why I am writing this. Last night I lost my virginity and, for the first time, played “Guitar Hero.” I was with the wonderful Blum family and young Max Blum was keen to show me his guitar skills. He was simply brilliant as he strummed his way through classic Rolling Stones and Guns n’ Roses classics and mastered songs by bands with names like Slayer and Rat Killers Puke Machine Death Cookie Blackeyed Carrots.
It’s no wonder that this game is so popular at our Circle C and Club O2 events onboard.
For those of you who don’t know what Guitar Hero is…………..let me explain.
Guitar Hero is one of those Xstation play box games. You have a guitar with various colored buttons on it. You choose a song and press the colored buttons as they appear on the screen.
Now, on the screen is a rock band including a very sexy looking girl who is the lead guitarist………………you.
So, you choose a song……….say “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. You follow the flashing lights and if you press them correctly in the order they flash on the screen you and the rock band get a huge cheer and tons of applause from the crowd. If you screw up………..then the song stops in the middle of your Ritchie Blackmore impression and the head bangers in the audience boo, spit and charge the stage and rip your head off.
Monopoly or Guitar Hero?
Given the choice of moving a hat around 42nd Street or becoming Eric Clapton for an hour on Guitar Hero, they’ll take the electronic option every time.
Whatever happened to jigsaw puzzles?
I tried explaining the joy of jigsaw puzzles to Max last night. “Yes, you spend a couple of weeks putting all the pieces together so you end up with a picture.”
“Then what happens?” he asked.
“Well, you break it up again and put it back in the box.”
And it’s much the same story with crosswords. If scientists could harness the brainpower spent every day on trying to find the answer to “French soap is best kept in the arse of a yak,” perhaps then maybe mankind might have cured hemorrhoids by now.
Crosswords, like jigsaws and Soduko, are not really games in themselves. They are simply tools for wasting time. And that’s not something that sits well in the modern world.
We may dream of living the slow life, taking a couple of hours over lunch and eating cheese and drinking port on our patios until dawn, but the reality is that we have a heart attack if the traffic lights stay red for too long or the lift doors fail to close the instant we’re ready to go.
Answering-machine messages are something that drives me to despair. I want a name and a number, and that’s it. I don’t have time to sit and listen to where you’ll be at five and who you’ll be seeing and why you need to talk before then. And even if I do pick up the phone personally, I don’t want a chat. I’m a man. I don’t do chatting. Say what you have to say and bugger off.
Most of today’s love and drama movies are crap. They take three hours before we even meet the main characters. I would much rather watch a Bruce Willis say: “Yippi Ki Yay, m**********r.” before killing the entire cast and all the cameramen.
Slowly cooked tuna in a drizzled peacock urine sauce? Bugger off, I’ll get takeout.
It’s not just kids who have fallen in love with the world of Playbox thingies……..it’s grown ups, as well.
Take my mate Alan who has entered a weird, weird new world. No, it’s not Richard Simmons underwear drawer …………It’s something far, far worse. Allow me to explain.
Alan bought an Xboxstation 380. He has always loved video games and this is the current top-of-the-line console and when I popped over to see him during the three days I had off after leaving the Carnival Splendor…….I got to see him in action……..and it’s quite astonishing.
He was playing a game called Call of Duty 4 and he was playing online. This is where you hook your machine up to the Internet and can start playing people all over the world.
You go online and there are thousands of people round the globe just waiting to play with you. Not only that, but a set of headphones allow you to talk and listen to everyone that you’re playing with. It’s a far cry from the Victorian days when I used to sit at home on my Atari 3600 playing Space Invaders. This is the game equivalent of the Queen Mary 2.
Everyone has a gamer tag a name they go by online. These are things like Laserkiller100 or Galaxyinvader115 and sound quite frightening until you hear the voice and it turns out to be a 50-year-old housewife from Liverpool.
When I was there Alan was playing against some American chaps.
I picture them sitting in huge, leather La-Z-Boy recliners somewhere in a gated community in California, surrounded by enormous plastic cups of Dr. Pepper and discarded pizza cartons.
My Dad doesn’t like PlayStations because they “rot your brain.” And he really doesn’t like Internets because they never work.
I wonder what my parents would make of all this guitar and war stuff that kids and adults play with today. What my Mum and Dad like are “proper” games. And so, because you don’t argue with my mother, that’s what we played and still do at Christmas. Last year was a prime example. My sister Suedrip and her kids had returned from Hong Kong and we were all together……….and that meant “parlor games”………….staring with charades. The kids, initially, were alarmed. They think anything that doesn’t run on electricity is stupid and boring. So the idea of standing up in front of the family and acting out a book or a film and not being able to play Halo Rampage Grand Theft 34 or with a Bratz doll thingy meant there were tantrums all round.
Strangely however, as the game went on they seemed to like it. Mind you, playing with a seven-year-old is hard, since everything he acted out had six words and involved a lot of scampering up and down the dining room, on all fours, barking……….what that had to do with the title Luke had been given “Star Wars” is anybody’s guess.
My Dad on the other hand, could only act out books and films from the 1950s and give him “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” to act out and it’s game over.
But eventually the kids got bored and it was time to play something else. So out came the pens and paper. I can’t be bothered to explain the rules of the game she chose, but in essence you have to think of a country’s or girl’s name or things you find in space that begin with a certain letter. It sounds terrible compared with watching The Simpsons or shooting an LA drug dealer in the face on your Xstation, but you know what, the kids loved this even more than charades.
Heidi and I have a Playxboxstation thingy but it’s used about as much as the George Foreman Grill and the mini disc player…….that’s because Heidi and I love to play cards. There’s no television show, no Internet site and certainly no PlayBox X game that provides you with the same thrill as sitting there, a good cup of tea in one hand and a fist full of bugger all in the other. A game of cards, it seems to me, provides everything you could possibly want out of life. It’s as exciting as any drama and as convivial as any dinner party. It’s also fun, free, environmentally friendly and something you can do as a family.
So, this Thanksgiving or Christmas or even this weekend, while you are stabbing away at buttons on your PlayStation, wondering why the Zombie manages to kill you on level seven every time, or watching a film that you’ve seen a million times before, only without advertisements, instead of picking up the guitar to become Jimi Hendrix might I suggest you flip the trip switch on your fuse box put the kettle on and break out the playing cards, the pens and the paper……..just avoid charades……..it will only remind you that you could never have been an actor.
Good afternoon. In a few minutes I will be off to the office here in Miami to film an Onboard with Carnival segment and then I have treated myself to a Miami Heat game. Tomorrow I will be visiting the Ruby Princess and I am looking forward to sharing photos and blogs with you all.
I will also be answering comments later today as well. Please keep the comments coming. They are the lifeline to the blog and as always I remind you that if you need my help please mark them “John, Please reply” and I will………….as soon as I possibly can.
Let’s go see Jaime now. Her writing style is proving so very popular with you all and I thank her once again for taking the time to write.
November 4, 2008
Dear John,
Like all sea days, the day was filled with activities for all of the hosts. I got a chance to co-host some activities in an effort to make things more entertaining since we can bounce ideas off one another. Lauren and I always have a particularly amusing time since we are roommates and we can pick on each others idiosyncrasies. Lauren is very detail oriented; she is so refined that she could probably tell butter from I Can’t Believe its Not Butter.
After the full day of games, trivias, bean bag, dance class, the list goes on… My schedule worked out so that I had an opportunity to visit the Pinnacle Steakhouse/Supper Club for dinner. I must admit I do indeed love the supper club. In fact, at the beginning of the contract when I was interviewed about the Splendor, all I talk about is the food for 10 minutes… I have gotten so much harassment from the entertainment department about this interview since I regrettably did not even mention the shows.
So I would like to start to make it up to them now: The award winning shows on the Carnival Splendor are absolutely INCREDIBLE. I am proud to be part of such a talented and hardworking department… oh, and the food is good too =). In fact, the dancers and singers probably could not do their job nearly as well if they were not fed such wonderful food at the supper club. I think I was initially trying to say that these amazing meals are basically the source of all their power; that and the years of training and rehearsal. Not that it is any consolation at this point, but at least informing you the shows are amazing is a start to earning forgiveness for the hours of abuse I have faced for the statements I have made about supper club being the most important stop on the ship. That being said, dinner was nothing short of incredible. I had to savor it even more tonight than in the past because I go home in 25 days and who knows if I will have a chance to return.
As you are well aware, today was Election Day. Social Host Owen has a lot to celebrate, not only did he win the election, he can now guarantee celebrity look alike work for years to come! Goose chose to televise the results of the election on Lido deck for all to see. People were rallying up there as if the politicians were actually on board the ship. It was a very interesting atmosphere, one that is not typical of Carnival cruise as most vacationers don’t explore these political feelings to such an extent while on vacation. Usually a cruise is a chance to escape the realities of work and politics. Since I have been in this fantasy land for over a year now, it was refreshing to see guests so adamant about such important issues. Also, it was fun for me because many of the crew members asked me questions about how the American government system works with regard to the electoral college and what we were actually voting for! Thankfully, the area was well staffed and surprisingly there were no riots up on Lido this evening.
Tomorrow is our last morning of European tours. From what I understand Madeira is nearly as beautiful as Croatia, I guess we will find out together tomorrow!
Have a great day =)
Jaime!
Here’s some photos of me filming the “Onboard with Carnival” segment.
And so it’s all over and America and the free world now has a new leader. I thought his victory speech was very, very good, full of pure passion.
What a brilliant team of speechwriters he has……….what I would give to be able to write like that. I think he is a massively talented man and he now has a chance to lead the world.
Anyway, I wish President-elect Obama nothing but good fortune and as a Brit whose country has always stood shoulder to shoulder with America, I hope he sets the trend……….where he leads the UK will follow. I therefore hope he leads us to prosperity, peace and fun for all.
And of course………look out for Hollywood who will be chomping at the bit to make a movie about America’s first black president.
Hollywood likes Obama because he is movie-script material, an underdog endowed with supernatural skills. Let’s face it, Obama’s movie would win a whole heap of Oscars.
However………….what about the Republicans?
Mr McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin would make for a very good movie indeed. As any good casting director knows, the co-star can make the picture. Where would Butch Cassidy have been without the Sundance Kid? Who would have cared about Starsky without Hutch, Sally without Harry?
When you think about the rival tickets purely in the terms of double-act movie pitches Mrs. Palin changes everything.
Obama-Biden becomes “two lawyers go to Washington”……yawn
McCain and Palin? “Cantankerous war hero returns from the dead to storm the White House with a gun-packing, moose-murdering, salmon-trawling sex goddess from Alaska who has the head of a dead polar bear in her office.”
But I know which movie I’d rather watch.
Goodnight
Your friend
John
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Carnival Splendor, Guitar Hero, Jaime's post
Hi John/Heidi/Thingy/Everyone!
Nice pictures from your Onboard filming today. I look forward to seeing the final product.
Playing cards was always something done in my house growing up. Though I love my game systems and all that stuff, cards are great with loved ones.
Good to hear from Jaime. I am sure that she will have many great supper club meals in the future.
Enjoy the game tonight and the tour of Ruby. I look forward to seeing pictures and reading about it.
Take care and have fun!
David
Well I’m glad that you finally did the Wii thingy and Guitar Hero. I do agree though that cards are fun and our holiday or weekend game of choice for family is Scrabble and even the young kids like to try to make a word. The kids do love the electronics and having everything move fast. I’m afraid that will not encourage them to enjoy cards, sit on the beach or a porch swing with a good book and just enjoy the scenery or the company. They will miss a lot.
Good job by Jaime again as usual. I also look forward to your report and photos of the Ruby Princess too.
Have fun as the game tonight.
John:
There is still a lot to be said for Sudoku and Jigsaw puzzles. I play them both (and Cryptogram) every morning on my computer.
My internet service is nice enough to provide me with new ones every day.
It keeps the mind sharp and is a wonderful way to relax from the stressful and demanding job I have of ….. ugh…. being a domestically challenged goddess.
I do understand the wonder of family time though. One of the most precious memories that DJ has is playing “box” with his great grandmother. She had cancer and stayed with us for several months while she went through treatment. (These treatments were not to cure, but to keep her comfortable. )
“Box” is about as simple as you can get. Several lines of dots on a page. Each person taking a turn at connecting (you got it) two dots. When someone made a box…you put your initial inside. The one with the most boxes at the end of the game … wins.
The best part was that she also taught him how to CHEAT at “Box”… and that was the great memory.
A HUGE THANK YOU to Stephanie. We now have Freddie’s Schedule for the Freedom and the staff have been “alerted” that DJ will be aboard. LOL
DJ has reviewed the schedule and of course it will be posted in our cabin for the entire cruise to be referred to daily!!
The silver lining about elections is that if your candidate won…you get to celebrate. If your candidate lost, you don’t have to make excuses for the next 4 years!!! But if you did not vote…then you don’t get the privilege of complaining!!!!
Safe Travels…
Linda (Mom of your friend ~still studying Freddie’s schedule~ DJ)
Hey John,
Isn’t Guitar Hero great? I wanted it for a long time and finally bought it a few weeks ago. I also bought the PS2 to play it on. I didn’t want to go for the big bucks to buy the better system. Oh, did I mention that I am a 53 year old handicapped and retired lady? My son and his girlfriend have been doing great on it, dh and I on the other hand, are so not so good. However, we are having fun!
I guess I am torn between generations…… Too old so I don’t play Guitar Hero (I would really bite at it if I did) ….. and working on jigsaw puzzles is akin to watching paint dry.
I have played Monopoly in the distant past and won that game more than a few times… (not saying that my siblings were pushovers for some not so beneficial property trades or that I was ruthless, tireless, and fanatical about playing to the very end). I also loved playing RISK (for hours and hours and hours) during the annual reunions or during the holidays with several cousins. It’s interesting that when playing that game certain players would always start vying for the same regions…..the younger players would get weeded out very quickly since they would infallibly go all-out and spread themselves thin all over the globe……fun times.
Also I think I played nearly every sort of conceivable card game during these family times…… Cribbage… Euchre… Hearts…. Spades….. Pitch… Canasta….and scads of other card games of odd origins and variations on others…… the rules for which inevitably are forgotten get modified and changed over time.
The election is finally over ….time to take down all those yard signs and such …. and as always there was a winner and a loser…. just like in the games we play.
The Flying Dutchman
Yes, John, the elections are finally over. If there is a bright spot to the results, it’s that the future is looking great for Carnival – the newly elected government will be giving everyone in the United States free cruises (and free everything else)!
Yippee kay yay!
Jeff
Three words…
Mario Kart Wii
Yeah, whatever happened to the games we played when we were younger, as you said if the game isn’t electronic the kids don’t want to play with it. Same for stuffed animals and dolls, if they don’t talk, or DO something the kids don’t want them. Yes, Obama won! Hurray! Now we can see some change in America, finally! Well, when do you go back to the U.K.? Can’t wait to see all the commercials etc. Hi to Heidi, and “wee little one!”
Linda & Mike (my handydandyman)!
John, Please Reply:
Did I misunderstand the change in the Liberty that it would be staying in the caribbean? I have tried to find information on it and the CCL site only shows the winter dates. We are planning another cruise for next September and wanted to consider this cruise. Any information would be appreciated!
John,
Since you are “a man who does not like to chat” this is for you:
Today’s blog: Great
Jamie’s part: Great
Pictures: Great
Princess Susan…princess of a few words…LOL
John – will you be the cruise director on any ship during the week of March 21st or is this near the baby’s birth? Forgive me, I’m in the forgetful stage of life. Planning to cruise at that time and you’re my first choice – doesn’t matter which ship.
My best to Heidi – and you.
Hi John,
I really identify with your thoughts on games. I grew up on cards and board games as well and will always remember the togetherness those games generated. They encouraged talking with one another as well as playing the game. I also enjoy my daughter Laura’s video games…..sometimes. Like once every other week or so. She plays them or is on her computer so much we hardly ever talk. At least she likes to read as well, but still, not much together time there.
Aside from the Carnival cruises this year, I think we had the most fun after Hurricane Ike hit. The power was out for over a week. After the initial “no tv, no games, aaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhh!” meltdown of the first day, (she actually cried), she remembered the fun we used to have and then she remembered how to “go outside and play” like it was a new concept or something!
On another note, it was amazing that so many of the crew from our last two cruises remembered where we lived and left many facebook messages asking how we were doing!
Love to Heidi and the Thingy
Maribeth Kring
PLEASE REPLY
Oops, sent the last one too soon. I am working on something for the Thingy and needed to know a few things. You’ve probably already written them in the blog but I can’t find them.
1) Was the Thingy made on the Splendor?
2) I think I remember that you and Heidi met through Carnival. If that’s true, how and where?
3) When is Thingy’s expected arrival?
4) Do you know if Thingy is a he or a she yet?
Thanks a lot,
Maribeth
PS Can you ask Jaime to send a Giant Hi to Greg Gallello for me and that I’ll see him on Dec. 27th?
John!
I read yesterday’s post, and I just now found out that you were in Gainesville? At THE University of Florida, home of the Gators? Oh man… I could have met you there! I go to school there and live five minutes away from the O’Dome, where you saw the the Gators play at home. If ever you drop by, send me an email. I could give you a tour of the place if you have the time.
Hope to catch you around some time in the future.
Bryan
John i have just read all the comment about the disapointment on sunday last. and I must ask have any of those ( &*^%^&* )seen what happens to a child that has been ran over by a group of (^*(^(*^& ) aduits running for candy. I have to repond to those who have belittle you and Carnival. You and the police make the only safe move you could have if one child had been hurt then you would have been hit by one of the biggrst lawsuit ever and it would have clamed you didnt shut it down. to some peaple you can never please and to all those out there who say they will never sail on Carnival i say good we dont want you it mean more fun for us.
Dconway
aka Dave and Diana
P.S. give your lovely wife and thingy a big hug from us
Hi, John, It’s been a long time since we share a cigar on the Glory. You shared some old stories of the days when you sailed with our friend Ron Ness. Sharied some lies, had a few drinks….he taught you, you taught him. Tried to visit him on Monday when the Inspiration was in Tampa. Computers had crashed and couldn’t leave the ship. Hoped I could con him out of one of his favorite cuban cigars to bring you. Of course he taught you everything about quality cuban cigars. LOL Anyway look forward to seeing you on Saturday, on Destiny, when we sail to?? Probably not to Ocho Rios and Grand Caymen with a storm brewing. Since I grew up in Turkey, can’t wait to hear to about your travel adventures when you visited there. When are you going to pay the Inspiration a visit? Scott Edwards
John…
I can hardly wait for the commercials and to see all you’ve been doing… The ONBOARD is going to be GREAT!!! For not being ‘onboard’ you have been quite a busy beaver!!!
GAMES… Love ‘em!!! I love air guitar… you know, that came before any computer animation… just stand by the radio and ROCK!!! But my daughter loves her Wii and online games… War of Worlds or something is her curent time buster… Give me some Pinochle or poker, Charades or even spin the bottle….
I can make some fun!!!
But sitting on a ship, out at sea, drink in hand, staring at the horizon… and I’m mesmerized, content, and DREAMin’!!!! THANK YOU CARNIVAL!!!!
Smiles,
Lambie
Not much to say today. The election is finally over and thank goodness all the signs will come down – the sooner the better. It’s been a very exciting campaign.
Games are okay but we love crossword puzzles – keeps the mind working. At least that’s the general idea.
Have a good day. Jeri
John, when we have company for dinner, we don’t play any of the games you have mentioned. Instead we have been known to get out the DVD of the Bedtime Story. But if you ever come to dinner I promise you that we won’t show it, I imagine you have seen it enough. ……
I hope you didn’t come back from Philly sick. Don had to go to the doctor yesterday and came home with antibiotics He has bronchitis. Now I have a sore throat and laryngitis and a slight cough. Philly wasn’t kind to us at all. …. Bugger
We’ve got to get well soon. Our trip on the Splendor is coming up in 23 days.
Countess Carolyn and Don
Hi Stephanie. Hope you are getting some rest. How is your Mom doing?
Its time to put the handcuffs on the election.It over .Thank Goodness .We will be fine, there will be another election if we didnt like this one. SOOOOOOOOOOOO now lets get back to CRUSIN
Hi Linda (DJ’s mom),
Glad to see your posts everyday =)
I have already talked to the Camp Carnival director about Freddy’s schedule for when you are here. She may just give Freddy a vacation for the entire cruise, just to ensure that we don’t have any mishaps. I can talk to her one more time and get back to you for confirmation =). Exactly what dates are you sailing? Is it just 11-21?
See you soon!!
Jaime =)
John, you’re looking good in the photos! Can’t wait to see the video you’re doing.
Jaime is doing such a good job, sharing about about life aboard the Splendor. A special thanks to her.
Isn’t it great that the United States and the United Kingdom stand shoulder-to-shoulder? I’m very thankful for that fact.
Hey, John,
It’s apparent Jamie hung around you a lot…her sense of humor has that same little zing!
Did you convince Max to play a game of Monopoly with you? I have to admit that even as a kid I found that particular game boring beyond belief. Granted, I played because of that “majority rules” thing. Personally, I’d rather read a book. Some of my favorite games are Trivial Pursuit (our womens’ team usually beat the guys!) and a “semi-electronic” game called Catch Phrase. Oh, and Pictionary, using a flip chart on an easel for group play. We used to have a monthly Dinner and Game Night in our old neighborhood and had many great times!
BTW, I much prefer your choice of “presidential” movies!!! Sigh….
Send Heidi and Thingy my best wishes,
Your Pal, Myra
Funny this generation that has to remain occupied at all times. Our household has from the original Nintendo to an Xbox 360 now. Watching my sons play Guitar Hero makes me nauseated as the screen rolls and rolls.
So sitting at the table last evening with my son who left the Conquest on Oct 5th and his job with Carnival, I was talking about booking the Pride in May and it will be different for us being on a cruise without our son. My husband would go with him and look at all the techie junk and I would sit on the Lido deck with a very nice blue drink for hours. For me, it won’t change. For my husband, he may be bored. I am with Lambie. There is nothing better than lounging on a Carnival deck, with a drink in my hand, staring at nothing but water!
Karen
Hi John!
As a computer geek who has been playing computer games since before most people knew what a computer game was (anyone remember Hunt the Wumpus?
), and an avid board and card gaming geek, I understand both points of view.
I can see the appeal of Guitar Hero and it’s ilk to all ages. But it needs the dohickey (a dohickey is kind of like a thingy) and all of it’s attachments to be played. Kind of difficult to pack in your suitcase (although I know people who do…). And some of them need the internet connection (like World of Warcrack, which I continue to play…), which isn’t always available.
Whereas a deck of cards or a board game needs at most, the deck or game and maybe a pen and paper. Easy, convienient, portable, and has endless replay value. And today’s board game isn’t yesterday’s Monopoly or Risk — there’s a lot of very good games out there if you know where to find them. (I have a wall in my dining room which is all bookshelves with board games on them…)
Case in point – when I and several friends were on the Carnival Imagination at the end of September, we brought cards and several board games, and spent quite a bit of time in the Library, or late at night on the Lido deck near the 24 hour Pizza buffet (yay Pizza), playing games.
I probably won’t be doing as much of that on the Splendor in a week and a half as I’m traveling solo, but I’ll at least have the cards, because you never know when a friendly game of Hearts or Rummy or Whist or something like that will break out…
Which reminds me: Hi Jaime! I love the reports you’ve been sending from the Splendor. Looking forward to meeting you and experiencing this ship for myself. I’m very happy Carnival arranged to schedule the 4 night right in the middle of my Florida vacation so I could make it.
–>Steve
Jaime:
Thanks so much.
We are doing the Splendor B2B…Nov 15th AND Nov 17th…
(we added the 15th so I could surprise Melvin H. (Karaoke Host) as he is heading out on the 17th.
We have a good size group doing this B2B from Cruise Critic. Host Mach will be there on the 15th…but he isn’t doing the B2B. : (
Thanks again for everything….
Linda (Mom of DJ)
Zgwortz-
Can’t wait to play EUCHRE with you (if you know how)!
Linda-
I emailed youth director to tell her the dates, I will keep you posted.
All the best,
Jaime
Jaime,
Actually, Euchre is one of the few I don’t know. But I’m always willing to learn.
(Which rules do you use? I see a lot of different ones on the web…)
–>Steve
Jaime, We played euchre all the time when we lived in Ohio. We even played games between classes at my university. Of course, that was forty years ago so I imagine I’ve forgotten most of the rules, etc. Looking forward to seeing you on Nov. 17th. Jeri