Monthly Archives: May 2017

SIMPLY THE BEST!

If you follow this blog then you know I always say that Mah Jongg people are the best people. Now I need to add to that statement by saying that my Mah Jongg students are the very best people! One of my classes had their last lesson the other day and brought me a present – and what a present it is! I was actually speechless – an unusual state of being for me – and so very touched by this most thoughtful and beautiful gift. It is a Kent Stetson evening bag – so incredible!!! Here is a photo of the front of the bag – the clasp on the front flap is a large Mah Jongg tile!

Here is the back of the bag with the Kent Stetson bar label – it’s a little hard to see in this photo but it is there.

Here is the bag in its sleeper case plus the Kent Stetson description of the bag. Isn’t this the most fabulous gift?!!!

Gorgeous asymmetrical clutch featuring a playful Mahjong set. Hand crafted to perfection. All bags come with a removable cross-body chain, logo dust bag, clear vinyl inner pocket, and are individually signed. Dimensions: 12 x 7 x 1

And who are these thoughtful, wonderful, and generous people who gave this amazing gift to me? Well, you have met them before…Much thanks to these terrific ladies – and I will say it again…you are the best!

HAPPY MAH JONGG MEMORIAL DAY!!!

HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND WONDERFUL MEMORIAL DAY –

AND I HOPE YOU HAVE TIME TO PLAY LOTS OF MAH JONGG!

IT’S MAH JONGG BBQ SEASON!

On this Memorial Day weekend I hope you are getting out your barbecues for those first delicious burgers of the season – along with lots of Mah Jongg. If you are playing any games outside this weekend, send me some photos and I will post them!

LOL!

I know that so many of you are enjoying the wonderful online game, myjongg.net. Matt has created the most fabulous website and, if you haven’t played it yet, I encourage you to get on it right away. But, beware! It is incredibly addictive!!!I hope that those of you who play with the bots have taken a moment to enjoy the very clever – and very funny – names such as this:Matt definitely has a wicked sense of humor along with being an amazing programmer. If you have come across any particularly funny bot names, send them on over to me. So far, one of the funniest one – although there have been many! –  I have come across is FAYE SLIFT – love it!

A SHOUT OUT FOR HELP!

Quite a while ago I posted a shout-out for help for Babs, a good friend of this blog. You can read the original post at the bottom of this message. Babs has now sent an update and we are appealing to you for help. Here is what she wrote:

Hi Ann! It’s me again! I am just checking in with your readers one more time. I have almost accumulated all the images of the NMJL cards. I am still missing 1946, and pre-1940 cards. I have managed through the generosity of fellow Mah Jongg players nationwide to find images of all the other years! Absolutely amazing! So, if you could post another plea for help I would be most appreciative. Someone must have a friend-of-a-friend with one tucked away somewhere! Feel free to share my email with anyone who can help! Thanks so much! Babs 

If you can help – and I hope you will! – please contact me and I will put you in touch with Babs. 

Here is the original posting: I received an email from Babs, a good friend of this blog. Babs is working on a very interesting and novel project. As she wrote,  “I am looking for older Mah Jongg cards. I am trying to make a complete image collection of all cards from the first year the NMJL made the card to the present. A big task, I know….do you or your “friends” have any  images of cards from the following years: 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1993,  1992, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1975, 1974, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1967, 1966, 1962, and all earlier years. Hope you can help or point me to a friend that can…

I am not aware of anyone else who has tried to put this together. I think it would be fascinating to see all the different hand combinations since the early days of Mah Jongg. Yes, I did get a number of images off eBay, but they are not complete. Most are missing the rules page which tell you the number of Flowers/Jokers for the years, or the images are too blurry to see all the hands. I have googled umpteen hundred searches for every year from 1938 and on (searching: NMJL, Mah Jongg card, Mah Jongg rule, Mah Jongg hands) so far to try and complete this, but there are not enough images online to make complete renderings of all the years. I have managed to buy a lot of cards when they are reasonable in price…but some people are charging $40.00 or more dollars for a single card…ridiculous! Considering I have 78 years to find, that’s quite expensive. Any help is appreciated. I don’t care if they have 6 separate images for each card’s panel or have 2 images , one for each side. I am stitching together what I can….and if anyone wants to donate their cards in the years I noted, I am happy to provide an address to send it to….:)  My oldest card, that I own is 1944.  Let me tell you, there have been some crazy hands……….Thanks! Babs

So, if anyone has cards from the years that Babs has cited, please let me know and I will put you in touch with her. It would be such fun to see the finished product so let’s try to help her, even if we are just loaning her cards to use for the images.