Please don't forget that we're now accepting dues for the 08/09 season. As always, your annual dues are only $15, and are accepted at any play venue during sign-up.

The fourth annual Anniversary Party at Sea will be Sunday, July 13! We start sign-up at Navy Pier at noon, board the ship at 1pm and set sail shortly thereafter. The party is free for all members who have paid their dues for the 07/08 season and have played at least three times before July 1.

You will need a partner for this tournament, and it makes everyone's life MUCH easier if we end up with even tables.

Keep watching the newsletter for more infomation, and soon to come: how to sign up for the party!

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

TUESDAY 78 / 57 Thunderstorms
WEDNESDAY 65 / 44 Thunderstorms
THURSDAY 60 / 43 Showers
FRIDAY 62 / 46 Partly Cloudy
SATURDAY 63 / 44 Showers
SUNDAY 60 / 41 Showers

A long forgotten Broadway musical, Promises Promises is responsible for one of the worst and best songs in history. Click this link here for a clip from the 1969 Tony Awards as the cast performs the strangely catchy "Turkey Lurkey Time." We dare you not to dance.

Sunday, May 18: Board meeting -- 4:30pm @ Charlie's
Saturday, May 31: Board nominations close
Sunday, June 1: Elections begin
Saturday, June 14: Next Variation Night -- variation TBD
Sunday, July 13: ECC Anniversary Cruise

Congratulations to the following winners!

Tue. 4/29 - Dave Pimm with a 51!
Wed. 4/30 - ???
Sat. 5/3 - Eric Walbruch with a 55!
Sun. 5/4 - Geoff Dankert with a 53!.

# of days since Dan Miracle last won a bar tab: 13.

With 16 wins this year, it's only a matter of time...

We're 24 days and counting away from Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha's premiere on the (Mr.) Big Screen in the Sex and the City movie! As we pondered the fabulousness of this supersize spectacle, and Sarah Jessica Parker's 81 costume changes, we couldn't help but wonder: wouldn't it be fun to see SATC with our girlfriends in the ECC?

Send an email to euchrechicago@yahoo.com if you'd like to get together for a late-night screening of SATC on opening night Friday, May 30.

Don't be fashion roadkill.

lon·er in·ter·rupt·us [loh-ner in-tuh-ruhpt-us] - noun
The act of your partner ordering the upcard into your hand after you've dealt, thereby thwarting your intended loner.

Dear Hoyle --
Tell me again why the club is raising play fees? Is it so the club can fund more trips to Fort Lauderdale? I hardly understand how paying for a drunk fest in Florida is a good use of the club's funds. - MISER

Dear Miser:
First, I need to correct you on a misperception: the club did not pay a dime for anyone's travel to/from Fort Lauderdale, anyone's housing, any food/drinks or anything else for that matter. Any and all club activities, beyond our tournaments, are the sole responsibility of the club members themselves. The "Spring Break"-type trips are open to anyone in the club, but to attend you have to pay your own way.

Now having said that, where is the money going? Seemingly out as fast as it comes in. Aside from the general running of the club (game slips, table sheets, new cards and other supplies) there are the costs for the bar tabs, tournaments and parties and other miscellaneous expenses. The club actually operates in a deficit each year, and many of the board members have donated out of their own pockets to make ends meet.

What's on the agenda for next year? The increased play fees will allow the club to purchase new tables for Charlie's, possibly increase bar tabs (especially on Tuesdays), and allow for additional events during the year. And as always, you're encouraged to attend any monthly board meeting if you really want to see how the sausage is made.

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.