(no subject)

[jianantonic]

There is only one way to know for sure that one's husband is answering honestly when you ask "Does it look like I'm losing weight?"  That is when he says "No." 

I asked that question of McKenzie this morning, and I got a "Yes."  But I must be skeptical, because honestly, I know I'm taking it easier on myself than I was when I lost all that weight last year.  But then again, last year I lost close to 40 pounds.  Right now I'm just going for the 10 I gained back.  (I think I've already lost the other 10 I gained back.  Sigh.  I'm like Oprah, only not as rich or popular.)

The thing is, I feel great, and I feel like I'm making real, speedy progress.  I'm well within a healthy BMI, so the main goal right now is to tone up and redistribute the weight I've got -- hopefully making my ass smaller and my boobs larger, but I don't think it works that way.  Anyway I feel like I'm well on my way to my fitness goals, but I want to be extra careful about deluding myself, because I know I could be working harder.  I could be dieting (I'm not); I could be running (I'm walking); I could do more (one can always do more).  I'm happy with the amount I'm putting into it right now, though, and I'm happy with the results, as long as someone else can look at me and see the same thing.  And who better to judge that than the person who sees me naked every day? 

I can only hope that he trusts me enough not to be afraid of what I'll do to him if he tells me honestly that he thinks I'm going too easy on myself and that I'm still the same old tubbo he's always known and loved. 

After I finished writing yesterday, I went out for my daily walk to the Subway to get lunch.  Google Maps says it's .5 miles from here to there.  It feels like longer, and actually I'm pretty sure it is, because the walk takes about a half hour, and I walk much faster than that...

Okay I just looked it up, and even though it says it's only .5mi away, there are three legs of the walk:  .5, .2, and .2.  So it's more like a mile.  That makes me feel better.  Anyway I've been walking there every afternoon, eating a Jared-approved veggie sub (wheat bread, no mayo), and then meandering back to the hotel, usually stopping somewhere along the way to shop.  Yesterday's shop stop was at Fred Meyer, which we don't have back east.  Fred Meyer is owned by Kroger, and it has a grocery section as large as any Kroger, but on top of that it's got everything you'd find in a Target, only more and better.  It's awesome.  I had a list of things I needed to buy, and I bought those things plus only one thing that wasn't on the list -- a jump rope on sale for $4.  So I'm thinking I might get my jump on later today.

Our bridge game last night could have been better.  I was not at my best, and McKenzie gave up some tricks he didn't need to.  Going into the last round, we were hovering just below 54%, and I can't remember if we had a good last round or not.  We left before it was posted though because we were anxious to get back.  Their start times are so weird.  It's a 3.5-day sectional, and yesterday's session started at 6pm.  Today's are at 11 and 5:30, which means we'll be cutting it close to play tonight.  Saturday is 12 and 6, I think.  It's just weird.  Anyway I have a bidding question/poll/whatever for you.

Unfavorable at matchpoints, you hold:
AQTxxx JT98xx x --

RHO opens 1D.  Your agreement for Michaels is that at favorable vulnerability, you promise 7+ HCP in your two suits, equal vul you promise 9+, and unfav you promise 11; always 5-5 or better.  What's your plan?

Another:
Favorable at matchpoints, you've got:
Kxx Kx AKJ98xx x

P (1C) ?

What's your plan here?

I took non-standard approaches on both of these, and while I didn't check the recap, my guess is it cost me big on one of them and should have been a top on the other.

Anyway I'm going to get some work done now.

Peace.

Comments

[quandary87.livejournal.com]

Hand 1.

You are easily allowed to bid Michaels on this hand. Points schmoints. Your hand is easily worth more than 11 HCP. Now, you can also simply bid both suits yourself, because I don't see them getting to where you can't keep bidding. What's the highest it'll be when it gets back to you... 3N? 3N may help you place the KS.

However, distributional hands like this want to make that known to partner so that he can make a decision on whether or not his values are good. Michaels will tell him to devaluate Queens, Jacks and even Kings in the side suits, while highly valuing controls in the majors. Something as simple as Kx Qxxx xxxx xxx makes game a good place to play, after all. Or really any honors in hearts and spades. So if your only fear is the point count limitations, toss that one out the window and bid Michaels.

Hand 2.

I'm guessing you doubled? The hand is simply not strong enough for a double, because diamonds... well diamonds don't really get you anywhere. The other bid I could see here is 3C, but most people treat this as clubs, natural, rather than Western Cue. Over 1H or 1S, 3H and 3S would be Western Cue obviously.

I guess the way I'd bid it is like this: p (1C) 1D *stuff happens* if I can bid 3C at next chance I'll do it. If not, I'll just pass, because they probably have the hand. Kxx Kx just isn't that valuable.

Just my thoughts... I had an awful and wild round of bridge last night... my partner is a big time novice (under 3 points), but he tries hard. So, I went a little crazy. Second to last hand of the night... it goes (p) 2S (3C) and you hold:

QJT9x AKQJ9x xx -

I don't know. 6H is one of the best bids as the cards lie. 6S might do the trick too.

Then there was a hand where it went p (1C) 1H (2N) and you're now sitting there holding T987xx ATxxx x x. I limped 3H (3N) 4H (X) and its cold for 5, makes 6 on a club lead or heart lead and partner goes down 2...

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

That's the trouble with bidding "correctly" with novice partners.

RE: Hand 1 -- our agreement is about HCP specifically in the two suits. It says nothing about outside values. I chose Michaels because I figured that the extra card in each suit made up for the missing controls. 4SX is down one, but they have 6D.

Hand 2 -- Z doesn't like western cues, and never uses them. I'm always afraid to pull it out because he has other ideas for what those bids mean. On this hand, my analysis was that I knew I wasn't very defensive, and I did not feel strong enough for a double and rebid, though it was borderline. We were playing against a weak pair, so I guessed (correctly) that if I preempted high enough, it would shut them out and they'd never find their major suit fit/game/whatever. Since partner was a passed hand and lefty was still undefined, I took a huge chance with 4D -- I figured that by bidding 4 and not 3, I was not only shutting up the opps, but hopefully partner would be more inclined to raise with a trick or two than if I'd bid anything else. It got passed around and I made 5 easily when pard came down with exactly what I needed and nothing more. We also take 10 tricks in NT, but only because EVERYTHING is onside. Still, I think others will be there and this was probably a poor result.

[quandary87.livejournal.com]

Hand 1 -- yeah Michaels seems to be the right call. The playing strength of the hand is pretty awesome.

I guess one other thing to notice. I'm guessing this agreement is made based on experience and pragmaticism (sp?). That's why it requires such discpline within the suits. However, its mainly applied to 1H 2H situations and 1S 2S situations.

In 1H 2H, if partner has spades, then that's great and we can play 2S, but if not, partner has to pick an undisclosed minor at the 3 lvl, which isn't comforting. Over 1S 2S, we play at the 3 lvl again. Unfavorable, this can cause a lot of issues where 3C goes down 2 opposite no game. Hence the need for discipline.

But for the case of 1D 2D or 1C 2C, it really boils down to what is the worst that could happen? You have 2 chances at least an 8 card major fit and one is likely to work out (with 6-6, you're almost guaranteed of it). And you play at the 2 lvl no matter what happens. Unless partner has a great hand, but then you really have a 5 loser hand... which is quite potent for game.

[goob712.livejournal.com]

WWJD? What would Jared Do? NO CHEESE NO MAYO NO SOUL.

I ate too much on my visit home last week, so I am trying to recover by avoiding all cheese for at least a week. Wow, it is hard.

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

I still get cheese, but I cut mayo out of my diet entirely a couple years ago and just substitute lite ranch now. It's yummier than mayo, anyway. The "lite" took some getting used to, but I'm fine with it now.

And when I'm home, I use that fake cheese made from veggies. I honestly can't tell the difference, but McKenzie hates the stuff and calls it an abomination, so I guess it all depends on your taste buds.

[goob712.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an abomination. But I've had vegan pizza before that rocked my socks, so I believe in you.

The foods in Washington are different from the foods in PA. They don't carry nearly enough of the Ken's Lite dressings here. :( And they are so tasty.

I've been making Turkey sandwiches with spicy mustard and horseradish. That makes up for the lack of cheese. :)

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

It would be easier for you to avoid cheese if it gave you the shits every time you ate too much of it.

Want my possibly-lactose-intolerant gene? :-D

[goob712.livejournal.com]

Well... actually...

I never said I DIDN'T get the shits every time I ate too much! ;) I fight lactose intolerance. I pretend it doesn't bother me.

I'm also allergic to onions. They make my throat swell up. I still eat them though.

TMI, I know!

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

I don't get the shits, but I do get the farts, and that's nothing but encouragement for me!

I <3 to fart :)

It's a good day for sharing.