Blum on Bridge Point Schmoints and other Tidbits
	The other day I received a telephone call from Marty Bergen thanking me for critically acclaiming his book "Point Schmoints" in a couple of my articles last month. After telling him I couldn't accept a gift for the praise, he nevertheless offered to send me several of the pens he includes with the purchase of his book. I took the bait hook, line, and sinker and said, "Sure, send me a few." They write well and are multi-colored. And - because my pens mysteriously disappear during use, sort of like the proverbial sock missing in the dryer - they've come in handy, too. At any rate, he told me some laughers about the book that I'll pass on to you. One day when he was in a rush to get to a bridge session, he left a number of his books and pens on the table from which he had been selling. Later he remembered what he'd forgotten and dashed back. He found not a book missing, but someone had taken every one of the far-less-expensive pens. Marty said he felt acutely depressed, as the thief showed absolutely no interest in his book. Another story was that he had received a telephone call from an acquaintance who decided to hire Marty professionally as a Hanukkah present for her mother. Of course Marty gleefully accepted to be gift-wrapped with the playing date to be later agreed upon. However, time passed and so did the holiday. As no further communication had occurred between he and his prospective purchaser, he called her. "Oh," she said, "Shortly after speaking with you I bought mother your book. Not only did she love it, but also she learned so much that she didn't think it necessary to play with you. But thanks anyway." Shortly after my articles appeared, Marty and his wife, Cheryl, coincidentally decided to move to Palm Beach Gardens from their present location in New Jersey. As a precursor to a lecture planned for late October or November at the Naples Bridge Center, he is presently offering "Points Schmoints" at a reduced $15 including both that pen and tax. Unfortunately the offer was presented after my column appeared naming the $19.95 retail price; sorry. It may be purchased at the center, 5865 Golden Gate Blvd. between Santa Barbara and the David Lawrence Center, daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or weekends 1-5 p.m. Also speaking of the holidays, I know an absolutely great gift to give to your bridge-playing spouse. I just received an early birthday present of the 1999 Daily Bridge Calendar. It's a 41/2-by-6-inch desk booklet that has a problem hand for each day of the year. Under the date is still space enough to list your appointments. On the back of each date page is the answer to the day's problem. The hands are constructed by the best, including columnist Phillip Alder, Eddie Kantor, Ron Klinger, Bobby Wolff, Mike Lawrence. It's also endorsed by the ACBL. The calendar costs $12.95 plus shipping and that's a fact. Call Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies at (800) 274-2221. At the end of my private lesson season I often give my students the calendar as a gift. Congratulations to Virginia Lifton, part of the dynamic duo that runs our Monday afternoon duplicate game in season at Mackle Park. Ginny participated in the World Championships in Lille, France. Although she didn't qualify for the finals, she came in 15th place in the consolation event consisting of about 200 other pairs from all over the world. Not too shabby for a Marco Islander. Once upon a time there was a man who dreamed he held a perfect no-trump hand with 13 sure winners against a stranger (Satan) who was in the lead. The Devil then proceeded to run a 13-trick set against declarer by cashing all of the cards of a weird greenish suit called "Hippogriffs." "Hippogriffs" is the sometime-humorous name of a mythical suit. For the next two weeks I think you will enjoy articles filled with other words, phrases and expressions relative to the game. Their meanings and derivations are most interesting and some may greatly surprise you.