One of the guys in my Scrabble club - one of our best players, as a
matter of fact - had participated in a spelling bee as a youngster and
he has offered to be my coach for the next 11 days.
Not
sure how it's going to work out... I can only study for about an hour
at a time before I need a break...also he lives in town and I live 10
miles out of town...
So we'll see how it goes.
Our first meeting is today at the library.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
I'll have at least 46 competitors
Got an email from the Spelling Bee folks today...there are 47 people signed up for the Spelling Bee that will take place in 2 weeks times...
I'm kind of bummed...I have to be at the hotel where it's being held at 8:30. 8:30! Normally I don't get up until 9 am! That is going to be a killer!
There's a Facebook page where photos and brief bios of all these folks are uploaded. I'll be facing lawyers, other professional people, some who have won spelling bees in their home town...
So I'm not sanguine this time...but I will definitely spend the entire year studying so that I can win out next year.
This year - it will all be about gaining experience, meeting people, hopefully networking.
I'm also going to be wearing my Scrabble t-shirt, so I hope I'll get a few people to join my Scrabble club out of this...
I'm kind of bummed...I have to be at the hotel where it's being held at 8:30. 8:30! Normally I don't get up until 9 am! That is going to be a killer!
There's a Facebook page where photos and brief bios of all these folks are uploaded. I'll be facing lawyers, other professional people, some who have won spelling bees in their home town...
So I'm not sanguine this time...but I will definitely spend the entire year studying so that I can win out next year.
This year - it will all be about gaining experience, meeting people, hopefully networking.
I'm also going to be wearing my Scrabble t-shirt, so I hope I'll get a few people to join my Scrabble club out of this...
Monday, July 23, 2012
Procrastination is a killer
I'm going thorugh my Merriam's Websters Dictionary, 11th Edition., writing down each word - including those I know, on a page of my notebook, 4 columns to a page.
I'm still in the As. Three days, and I haven't even finished the As.
Some of it isn't my fault. Typically, I had a toothache last night, got no sleep, so slept several hours today. I only got through a couple of pages, therefore. (I had "real work" to do as well.)
This morning, I'll have to go to the dentist, I fear a root canal is in order. So I won't be feeling like doing any work today, I'm sure. Another day lost.
Well...it's time to start planning for the future. Even if I totally tank this Spellng Bee, there'll be another one next year. And if I study at least two hours every day for that...I've got a good chance of winning. Much more so than studying for 26 more days from now til Aug 11, which is what I'm doing right now.
I have some slight confidence - according to the instructions at the AARP website, each person gets 3 chances - 3 ! - to spell the same word. So assuming I don't choke, if I mispell a word I can fix my mistake and have 2 more shots at it. So if i say the prefix of -able instead of -ible, for example, or something like that, I know what to change for my second or third chance to fix it.
What's got me worried of course is the polysyllabic Greek or Latin words for medicines, names of trees, etc., with their ae's and their eu', etc.
Well, we'll see.
But once I start studying seriously, as I will be as soon as I get this damn tooth taken care of, I might as well carry on until next year. Use this year as a training exercise, learn the ropes, see how I react to having to stand up in front of an audience (presumably there'll be an audience) and spell a word, etc.
So...we'll see.
I'm still in the As. Three days, and I haven't even finished the As.
Some of it isn't my fault. Typically, I had a toothache last night, got no sleep, so slept several hours today. I only got through a couple of pages, therefore. (I had "real work" to do as well.)
This morning, I'll have to go to the dentist, I fear a root canal is in order. So I won't be feeling like doing any work today, I'm sure. Another day lost.
Well...it's time to start planning for the future. Even if I totally tank this Spellng Bee, there'll be another one next year. And if I study at least two hours every day for that...I've got a good chance of winning. Much more so than studying for 26 more days from now til Aug 11, which is what I'm doing right now.
I have some slight confidence - according to the instructions at the AARP website, each person gets 3 chances - 3 ! - to spell the same word. So assuming I don't choke, if I mispell a word I can fix my mistake and have 2 more shots at it. So if i say the prefix of -able instead of -ible, for example, or something like that, I know what to change for my second or third chance to fix it.
What's got me worried of course is the polysyllabic Greek or Latin words for medicines, names of trees, etc., with their ae's and their eu', etc.
Well, we'll see.
But once I start studying seriously, as I will be as soon as I get this damn tooth taken care of, I might as well carry on until next year. Use this year as a training exercise, learn the ropes, see how I react to having to stand up in front of an audience (presumably there'll be an audience) and spell a word, etc.
So...we'll see.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Procrastination sucks
I'm going thorugh my Merriam's Websters Dictionary, 11th Edition., writing down each word - including those I know, on a page of my notebook, 4 columns to a page.
I'm still in the As. Three days, and I haven't even finished the As.
Some of it isn't my fault. Typically, I had a toothache last night, got no sleep, so slept several hours today. I only got through a couple of pages, therefore. (I had "real work" to do as well.)
This morning, I'll have to go to the dentist, I fear a root canal is in order. So I won't be feeling like doing any work today, I'm sure. Another day lost.
Well...it's time to start planning for the future. Even if I totally tank this Spellng Bee, there'll be another one next year. And if I study at least two hours every day for that...I've got a good chance of winning. Much more so than studying for 26 more days from now til Aug 11, which is what I'm doing right now.
I have some slight confidence - according to the instructions at the AARP website, each person gets 3 chances - 3 ! - to spell the same word. So assuming I don't choke, if I mispell a word I can fix my mistake and have 2 more shots at it. So if i say the prefix of -able instead of -ible, for example, or something like that, I know what to change for my second or third chance to fix it.
What's got me worried of course is the polysyllabic Greek or Latin words for medicines, names of trees, etc., with their ae's and their eu', etc.
Well, we'll see.
But once I start studying seriously, as I will be as soon as I get this damn tooth taken care of, I might as well carry on until next year. Use this year as a training exercise, learn the ropes, see how I react to having to stand up in front of an audience (presumably there'll be an audience) and spell a word, etc.
So...we'll see.
I'm still in the As. Three days, and I haven't even finished the As.
Some of it isn't my fault. Typically, I had a toothache last night, got no sleep, so slept several hours today. I only got through a couple of pages, therefore. (I had "real work" to do as well.)
This morning, I'll have to go to the dentist, I fear a root canal is in order. So I won't be feeling like doing any work today, I'm sure. Another day lost.
Well...it's time to start planning for the future. Even if I totally tank this Spellng Bee, there'll be another one next year. And if I study at least two hours every day for that...I've got a good chance of winning. Much more so than studying for 26 more days from now til Aug 11, which is what I'm doing right now.
I have some slight confidence - according to the instructions at the AARP website, each person gets 3 chances - 3 ! - to spell the same word. So assuming I don't choke, if I mispell a word I can fix my mistake and have 2 more shots at it. So if i say the prefix of -able instead of -ible, for example, or something like that, I know what to change for my second or third chance to fix it.
What's got me worried of course is the polysyllabic Greek or Latin words for medicines, names of trees, etc., with their ae's and their eu', etc.
Well, we'll see.
But once I start studying seriously, as I will be as soon as I get this damn tooth taken care of, I might as well carry on until next year. Use this year as a training exercise, learn the ropes, see how I react to having to stand up in front of an audience (presumably there'll be an audience) and spell a word, etc.
So...we'll see.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
*$#@@##@@ @%#@$$@#@ @@$$@!
I was 6 games away from getting to .500, now I'm 12 games away and fed up.
Lost 6 games in a row, all because I could never, ever get any decent tiles. Each rack, 6 vowels and 1 consonant, or vice versa. Turn in your letters and get worse ones.
Extremely humbling, as it kind of confirms what I'd suspected...all my wins weren't necessarily because I was 100 points better than my opponent, or more strategically savvy, but all because I was getting good letters and my opponents were.
I'm definitely giving it up now until after August 11. I must study for the Spelling Bee!
Lost 6 games in a row, all because I could never, ever get any decent tiles. Each rack, 6 vowels and 1 consonant, or vice versa. Turn in your letters and get worse ones.
Extremely humbling, as it kind of confirms what I'd suspected...all my wins weren't necessarily because I was 100 points better than my opponent, or more strategically savvy, but all because I was getting good letters and my opponents were.
I'm definitely giving it up now until after August 11. I must study for the Spelling Bee!
Monday, July 16, 2012
I'm 9 games below .500!
Yes, I know I said I was going to give up playing Scrabble at Wordbiz
until after August 11 - which is the day of the Cheyenne AARP spelling
bee. Yes, I know I said I was going to study seriously for the Spelling
Bee and take up scrabble again afterwards.
But what can I say. I'm obsessed with getting to a .500 record...once I do that, I can stop playing until after August 11!
I've played 697 games total, over the course of the last year and a half or so. I have 344 wins and 353 losses.
Once I got into the 200s and 300s, I was always about 30 games below .500, until I mounted this current charge over the last month or so which has seen me get it to only 9 games below the even mark. From t his point on, I expect to go up in wins...I don't want to have played a thousand games and only be at 100 games over .500. If I play 500 more games, I want it to be 400-100 at the least!
Well, we'll see.
But what can I say. I'm obsessed with getting to a .500 record...once I do that, I can stop playing until after August 11!
I've played 697 games total, over the course of the last year and a half or so. I have 344 wins and 353 losses.
Once I got into the 200s and 300s, I was always about 30 games below .500, until I mounted this current charge over the last month or so which has seen me get it to only 9 games below the even mark. From t his point on, I expect to go up in wins...I don't want to have played a thousand games and only be at 100 games over .500. If I play 500 more games, I want it to be 400-100 at the least!
Well, we'll see.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
United Arab Emirates: A way with words
From Kaleej Times: GSC: A way with words
Scrabble enthusiasts from across the region descended on the Etisalat Academy in Mirdiff on Friday to begin the two-day Gulf Scrabble Championships (GSC).
Still going strong in its 22nd year, the GSC attracts a mix of experienced players and emerging talents. This year, 30 players are battling it out for the crown.
Nikhil Soneja, GSC organiser and competitor, said the challenge of tournament play is addictive for avid Scrabble fans.
“It’s a challenge; it’s one way to fire up those grey cells,” said Soneja, who’s been playing the game since 1993. “In some ways, once you get playing, you find it difficult to stop, so it’s just endless entertainment.”
Scrabble may be considered a hobby for most, but in tournaments the game takes on a new twist. Each turn is timed, special tiles are used and a computer is on standby containing the latest version of the dictionary to settle disputes.
In the end, though, success in the game comes down to quick thinking and a good memory. However, understanding the words that you place on the board isn’t a pre-requisite.
“As far as possible, we try to learn as many words with the meanings while sometimes you just have to recognise words without knowing the meaning,” explained Soneja. “That’s why Scrabble has been taken up in some countries where people don’t speak English and don’t know the meanings. Obviously, it’s a bit easier for someone who is English speaking, and it’s a bit easier to remember the words when you know the meaning. I think our champ is the one who probably knows the most words — his word base is probably three times what you would say normally.”
While some players return year-on-year for the GSC, the transitory nature of populations in this region means experienced hands often leave the circuit to return to their home countries. To combat this, organisers are looking towards the youth.
Soneja said: “A problem we’re trying to remedy is that in the Gulf, people often move back home, so what we’re trying to do is target the schools. It’s really important and kids are really good at Scrabble. So we’re very excited about that because it’s the next generation of Scrabble players. And, of course, it spreads, because they talk to their friends about Scrabble. And teachers are really happy because it’s a good way to apply yourself, and even the competition is a good learning tool.”
The two youngest competitors at the GSC — 15-year-old K. Sudharsan Surya and 12-year-old Sanchit Kapoor — are already avid players despite only recently taking up the game.
“We’ve been playing for about six months and this is our first senior tournament. We got beaten pretty badly in the first games but it’s a learning curve,” said Sudharsan.
This year’s tournament features a prize fund of Dh15,000 and comes to an end today. Khaleej Times, Jashanmal Books and Etisalat Academy are supporting the GSC this year.
Scrabble enthusiasts from across the region descended on the Etisalat Academy in Mirdiff on Friday to begin the two-day Gulf Scrabble Championships (GSC).
Still going strong in its 22nd year, the GSC attracts a mix of experienced players and emerging talents. This year, 30 players are battling it out for the crown.
Nikhil Soneja, GSC organiser and competitor, said the challenge of tournament play is addictive for avid Scrabble fans.“It’s a challenge; it’s one way to fire up those grey cells,” said Soneja, who’s been playing the game since 1993. “In some ways, once you get playing, you find it difficult to stop, so it’s just endless entertainment.”
Scrabble may be considered a hobby for most, but in tournaments the game takes on a new twist. Each turn is timed, special tiles are used and a computer is on standby containing the latest version of the dictionary to settle disputes.
In the end, though, success in the game comes down to quick thinking and a good memory. However, understanding the words that you place on the board isn’t a pre-requisite.
“As far as possible, we try to learn as many words with the meanings while sometimes you just have to recognise words without knowing the meaning,” explained Soneja. “That’s why Scrabble has been taken up in some countries where people don’t speak English and don’t know the meanings. Obviously, it’s a bit easier for someone who is English speaking, and it’s a bit easier to remember the words when you know the meaning. I think our champ is the one who probably knows the most words — his word base is probably three times what you would say normally.”
While some players return year-on-year for the GSC, the transitory nature of populations in this region means experienced hands often leave the circuit to return to their home countries. To combat this, organisers are looking towards the youth.
Soneja said: “A problem we’re trying to remedy is that in the Gulf, people often move back home, so what we’re trying to do is target the schools. It’s really important and kids are really good at Scrabble. So we’re very excited about that because it’s the next generation of Scrabble players. And, of course, it spreads, because they talk to their friends about Scrabble. And teachers are really happy because it’s a good way to apply yourself, and even the competition is a good learning tool.”
The two youngest competitors at the GSC — 15-year-old K. Sudharsan Surya and 12-year-old Sanchit Kapoor — are already avid players despite only recently taking up the game.
“We’ve been playing for about six months and this is our first senior tournament. We got beaten pretty badly in the first games but it’s a learning curve,” said Sudharsan.
This year’s tournament features a prize fund of Dh15,000 and comes to an end today. Khaleej Times, Jashanmal Books and Etisalat Academy are supporting the GSC this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)