Have any of you seen the Amazon series “Red Oaks” with Jennifer Grey, Paul Reiser, Freddy Roman, Gina Gershon, Richard Kind and more? My dear friend (although not a Mah Jongg player!) Jodi D told me that I must watch this series, now in its second season. So, this afternoon I watched the pilot and then binge-watched right into Episode 2…and guess what I saw…the women at the Red Oaks Country Club playing Mah Jongg! Seriously, Mah Jongg is everywhere!!! Now I just have to contact the producers and let them know that in reality these women would have been playing with NMJL sets and racks because I definitely heard them say, “I still don’t have any Jokers!”
Monthly Archives: December 2016
MAH JONGG EVERYWHERE!
Did anyone see CBS Sunday Morning yesterday (December 25th, 2016)? They did an entire segment on Chanukah menorahs and guess what showed up…that’s right – a menorah made of Mah Jongg tiles! Mah Jongg is EVERYWHERE!!!
There actually are many menorahs made up of Mah Jongg tiles – if you have one, please send me photos and I will post them.
Here are some more examples of Mah Jongg menorahs – most of these are from different shops on Etsy or Pinterest (just do a Google search for Mah Jongg menorah):
Here‘s a beautiful handcrafted version: 
And here is a two-toned version: A cranberry-colored two-tone version: And one with the Mogen David as the holder for the Shamash or servant candle:
Even one made of earthenware… And, of course, there is a Mah Jongg Chanukah computer game with menorahs!
WONDER NO MORE…
I was wondering what post I should do for the Christmas and Chanukah holidays when, thanks to Joy H, the following wonderful – and, oh-so-clever! – poem arrived in my mailbox (along with other wonderful gifts which you can see below the poem). Much thanks to Joy and wishing all of you a very merry Christmas and a very happy Chanukah!!
A wonderful gift bag and a dancing angel…
A fabulous Mah Jongg pin but it was presented so beautifully that I wanted you to see the packaging…
And the pièce de résistance…Joyful body lotion from the most joyous of all…our dear friend, Joy!
PLAYING FOR A VERY WORTHY CAUSE!
If you are going to be anywhere near Central California (Santa Barbara County) in late January, please sign up for this fun and very worthwhile 2nd annual Mah Jongg tournament benefitting the Special Olympics Northern Santa Barbara County. Our dear friend Donna E is involved with putting this together and so we know it will be a great day!
UNBELIEVABLE!!!
I have been trying to make “the big hand” all year and have come close but, as we all know, close doesn’t count in Mah Jongg! Imagine my surprise when one of my students, Cheryl C, showed me a photo taken while she was playing Siamese Mah Jongg and where she was successful making that “big hand”…not once, but TWICE! I also noticed that she also had an Eleven Hands Mah Jongg and a closed Consecutive Run Mah Jongg. Don’t you know that I am so proud that I am bursting! She is a star!!! 
GETTING READY FOR 2017…
Our very talented and artistic friend, Katherine Hartman, has designed two really beautiful Mah Jongg calendars for 2017 with special pricing for friends of this blog. The first calendar displays vintage Mah Jongg sets on each of the twelve pages – the cost is discounted for readers of mahjonggandme.com at a special price of $19 per calendar (and that includes shipping to anywhere in the continental United States; Alaska, Hawaii and international buyers, please inquire regarding shipping charges) through December 31st, 2016. That’s $5 off the regular price – thank you, Katherine!!! 
The 2017 Mahjong Calendar is a 12-month wall calendar featuring a variety of Mahjong scenes with vintage Mahjong items, including tiles, racks, boxes, cards, and other accessories. On one page there are full 2017 and 2018 calendars. When you open the calendar you will see that month’s Mahjong image on the top and the month’s calendar on the bottom. The back cover shows an image and description of each month. The calendar is printed in color on #100 matte cover and #100 silk text weight pages in full color. When closed the calendar measures 11″ H x 8.5″ W inches with a black spiral top and a hole for hanging. Each calendar is individually wrapped in a clear cellophane bag.
This second calendar consists of a set of 10 identical postcard-sized Mah Jongg calendars featuring vintage Bone tiles. These are on sale to the readers of this blog for $12 through the end of December, 2017. That’s $3 off the regular price and, once again, shipping is free to anywhere in the continental United States (Alaska, Hawaii and international buyers should inquire regarding shipping charges). Again, thank you, Katherine!
These are great for gift-giving and if you are interested in more than one set, contact Katherine. Each card is postcard size and features a full 2017 calendar on each identical card in the set of 10. The calendars are printed on postcard weight paper and are 6′ x 4′ each. Three vintage bone tiles grace the front side along with the calendar; the back side is blank. The set is packaged in a clear cellophane bag.
To order these beautiful calendars, contact Katherine. Be sure to let her know that you are a reader of this blog so that you will get the special pricing (only through December 31, 2016).
Mah Jongg and Me 