Bridge Blog 1059: Dark season

November started with high hopes of making Gold Life Master by Christmas. Now that the midpoint is here, the outlook ain’t so sure.

On the Day of the Dead, Nov. 1, partner Marietta Kalman was half-dead, hours away from a diagnosis of pneumonia. 38.69%.

No St. Catharines on Nov. 2. Canadian partner Selina Volpatti still recovering from her defeat in the municipal elections over there and the respiratory bug that followed. Played here with Alex Miller and did well enough to earn points – 51.67% – but didn’t get any.

Saturdays with Denise Slattery may be my salvation. Nov. 3 was 56%, but just second in B. Extra point games hadn’t kicked back in at the Airport Bridge Club, either. Just 0.28 of a point.

Still no extra points on Monday, Nov. 5. Nevertheless, one of the better efforts with Usha Khurana. 51.61%. Third overall, second in B, but just 0.40 of a point.

Then a downdraft.

Election Day Nov. 6 with Eva Schmidt, 40.42%.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, with June Feuerstein. 44.17%.

Thursday, Nov. 8, with a recovering Marietta Kalman. Our game didn’t recover, though. 32.92%.

Friday, Nov. 9. Miracle of stratification and extra points are back. 46.38% with Nadine Stein is second in B in our direction. 0.58 of a point.

Saturday, Nov. 10. Another miracle. Denise and I have a 48.61% game and are first in the C strat (!). Will I turn down 0.71 of a point? No.

Monday, Nov. 12. Veterans/Armistice Day (observed). Double session at the Airport Bridge Club with Usha Khurana. 53.22% in the morning, third in B overall, 0.80 of a point. Perhaps my worst game of the year in the afternoon – 31.38%.

Tuesday, Nov. 13. Look good but arrive late after a hair appointment. Eva Schmidt and I can’t break 40%. It’s 39.29%.

Wednesday, Nov. 14. Uptick with June Feuerstein. 50% even. Second in B. Just 0.60 of a point.

Thursday, Nov. 15. Marietta has a medical appointment and I play with Saturday partner Denise Slattery. She brings a sandwich for me, just like she does on Saturday, but neither of us bring our game. 45.98%.

Friday, Nov. 16. First visit to St. Catharines in six weeks. Good to see Selina and all those good Canadian folks again, but we don’t have a great game – tied for 10th North-South in a 14-table field – 47.34%.

Saturday, Nov. 17. Best point-winning effort of the month so far with partner Denise Slattery, despite a terrible final round against Alan Greer and Nancy Wolstoncroft. 59%. First in B. 1.43 points.

Total for the month: Just 4.80. And this coming week is Thanksgiving. Instead of six chances to improve my point total, there are only three. Save that wishbone for me. I’m going to need some luck.