We sincerely wish each and every one of you a safe, prosperous and trump-filled (not the Donald kind) 2008! While you nurse those hangovers today take comfort in the fact that the annual Anniversary Cruise is only 7 months away!

There are only two rooms left for our first ever ECC Spring Break! We leave Wednesday, March 12 for sunny (and way gay) Fort Lauderdale, and four fun- filled days later return on Sunday, March 16 (that's the Sunday before Easter, for those of you keeping track). There's still room if you'd like to join us, and airfares, while cheap now, are only going to be going up as we get closer.

If you agree to share a room, your total cost should be right around $500/person (plus or minus), including your room and airfare. We'll also take care of getting you to/from the airport in Fort Lauderdale, and once there, you can partake in the sun, the surf (beach is only two blocks away), plenty of Euchre (did you know there's a gay Euchre Club of Fort Lauderdale?)-- and did we mention the hot tub?

If you're interested in more information or to put your name on the list, talk to ECC President Ron Hall or send an email to euchrechicago@yahoo.com -- and also let us know if you are looking to share a room if you're registering by yourself.

And to get you in the mood, here are a few links for you:

GuysGoneWild.com

This week's weather provided by the meteorologists at WFLD-TV Fox Chicago.

TUESDAY 17 / 15 Cloudy & Cold
WEDNESDAY 20 / 5 Sunny
THURSDAY 33 / 5 Sunny
FRIDAY 35 / 22 Partly Cloudy
SATURDAY 42 / 25 Partly Cloudy
SUNDAY 44 / 0 Drizzle

At 12:01am, Chicago joined the other 22 cities nationwide that have gone smoke-free in all public places. This means that all play venues are now non- smoking, so smokers will have to take it outside for their nicotine fix (and be sure to check out that forecast if you need some incentive to quit).

To keep play from being held up, we ask that smokers try to limit their trips outside, smoke quickly, or at least keep an eye at your table to see when they're ready for you.

And if you need some help kicking the habit, may we suggest the following websites:

American Lung Association

whyquit.com

QuitSmokingChicago.net

January 1 - New Years - No Play!
February 12 - Next Variation Night
March 12 - 16 - Spring Break!

We have some catching up to do. Congratulations to the following winners!

Tues. Dec 11 - Fester Hugunine with a 54!
Wed. Dec 12 - Dan Miracle with a 53!
Sat. Dec 15 - Dan Miracle with a 54!
Sun. Dec 16 - Rick Ewing with a 54!
Tues. Dec 18 - Andy Ulman with a 53!
Wed. Dec 19 - ???
Sat. Dec 22 - Larry Smith with a 50!
Sun Dec 23 - Jason Buskel with a 50!
Wed Dec 26 - David Gershenson with a 51!
Sat Dec 29 - Jason Buskel with a 58!
Sun Dec 30 - Greg Para with a 52!

It's time to start thinking about this year's inductee into the Euchre Club Hall of Fame. You'll recall last year we introduced the Hall of Fame by inducting Liz Custer, Marv Leach and Paul Zehren to get things started. Moving forward we'll award one more ECC member the honor of Hall of Fame membership. And this is where you come in.

We'd like your input on this year's inductee. Is there someone in the Euchre Club, past or present, who has affected the club in a positive way? Shown consistent good sportsmanship and sets a good example for others? Is pleasant to be around and a good Euchre player?

Induction into the ECC Hall of Fame is not by popular vote (so no use stuffing the ballot box -- in fact, there is no ballot box). Instead, we ask you to nominate someone who you think has all the attributes above and should be honored this year. All nominations will be reviewed by the Board of Directors, who will make the final decision.

To give consideration to any player, please send their name, along with your explanation of why they deserve to be inducted, to euchrechicago@yahoo.com. The board will make its decision by May 31, so you have some time to think about it.

"I was swallowing. You know I can't think when I'm swallowing!"
-ECC member Paul Sullenger, shedding light on many of our questions.

host [hohst]
-noun A person who loses all five games, thereby sitting at the same table (and possibly, in the same seat) all night. Also - verb The act of sitting at the same table for all five games.
Usage: "Paul had the worst cards ever and ended up hosting table one". See also Schadenfreude

Ever find yourself with way too much extra time in front of the computer? You may be sorry we ever told you about this site, so consider yourself warned.

An incredibly simple yet wildly addictive word game, Word Sandwich ( wordsandwich.com) asks you to guess a 5-letter word, and in The-Price-Is-Right-Clock-Game fashion, tells you whether your guess is "higher" or "lower" in the dictionary from the actual word. Strategic guesses let you narrow in quickly on the word for more points-if you keep guesses coming quickly, your score gets tripled or even quadrupled, although you may be left wondering what 5-letter word falls between DEBIT and DEBUT?

Dear Hoyle,

My opponent on my right was flirting non-stop with another player and not paying attention. When his turn to deal came, he was practically throwing himself at the other guy, so I got frustrated, scooped up the cards and dealt. Just after I turned over the top card on the kitty, Flirt Boy snapped to and demanded to redeal since it was his turn and no cards had yet been played. I maintained I had legitimately stolen the deal since he wasn't paying attention and I completed a full deal. Who's in the right? - Take Heed: I've Effectively Filched

Dear MISSING:
Stealing the deal is perfectly legal in Euchre, but there's a way to do it without being an asshole. The right thing to do would have been to poke Flirt Boy in the back and say "Hey, horndog -- it's your deal" or implore Flirt Boy's partner to step in. In fact, Flirt Boy's partner should have been aware that you were stealing the deal, so he/she is as much at fault as Flirt Boy.

Now if you've actually found yourself dealing when it's not really your deal, and so far no one has said anything, then more power to you -- but deal fast, because anyone at the table can stop the deal before the trump card is turned up. BUT, once that card is turned up the deal is effectively stolen, and no amount of whining or angry glares can undo it.

One more but, however -- please don't be a jerk about stealing the deal. We're a friendly club and the object is not to win at all costs -- so while stealing the deal is legit, it's also the equivalent of farting in an elevator.

-Hoyle

If you have a question about Euchre strategy, ECC club rules, relationships or just life in general, send an e-mail to resident expert Hoyle at euchrechicago@yahoo.com. We promise all e- mails are anonymous, and the answers may just