Loose Leaf Notes

I usually like to play Scrabble between 12 and 2:00 p.m. By noon I’m awake enough and after 2:00 I start getting tired. But this Scrabble game was scheduled for 10:30 because Rosemary had an appointment to get her haircut at 12:30. “So you can take advantage of my sleepy state and Rosemary’s long hair,” I wrote to Mara in my email confirming I’d be there.

Mara wanted to know how Rosemary’s hair could hinder her game. “Maybe it would get in her eyes,” I guessed. Rosemary suggested that she’d feel better about herself after the haircut and that self-confidence would boost her game. Biblically speaking, Mara reminded us both about Sampson, whose long hair gave him strength, which made me think of the Red Sox who finally won another World Series after most of the players grew their hair.

The high protein peanut gallery at the table next to ours included Tom Ryan, a local satirist who authors the Floyd Enquirer, and Doug Thompson, political commentator and founder of Capital Hill Blue and Blue Ridge Muse. Both are red meat writers who from time to time stir up controversy. Tom had his notebook spread out on the table, so I took mine out too, just to level the playing field, in the event that something other than Scrabble got played.

New Improved Super, Speed, and Regular Scrabble were all represented. After Rosemary complimented Doug on his haircut, the word “blog” was played and photographed, and Emma (seated with short hair) proved she could prevail, Mara showed me and Café owner Sally (standing) how to play “Speed Scrabble.” Then it was time for Super Scrabble. Emma and Mara were playing it as I was getting ready to go. I noticed that the board was much bigger; there were two Z’s, and a number of quadruple word score boxes.

I can verify that the leather jacket biker rumors about Doug are true. Here he is revving up his Harley engine and waving to Rosemary who is off to get her hair cut off. And HERE is the result of some of Tom’s latest notes. Close up of Doug and his Harley HERE.