National Wildflower Canasta Tournament - Summit County, Colorado

[Ed & Anita Baker]

At specific dates, times, and locations - yet to be determined - during the week of June 24 - June 30, a national canasta tournament will be held (in between wildflower photography sessions in Crested Butte) sponored in part and hosted by High Country Aerie's magnaminous webmaster and nationally renown published photographer (not to mention card shark extraordinaire) - the one and the only - Mr. Paul Winters. Rules committee and scheduling chairperson Mary Deshaies will have ultimate and final say so in all manner and matters of the ajudication and awarding of points of this event. All interested parties are encouraged to apply - contact Mr. Paul Winters for more information...

[Paul Winters]

Hmmm.....methinks there be a bit of "crockerage" here. If, during those dates, you want to compete in the Phantom Canasta Tournament, contact Mary. I will be incommunicado. Were I available, you could rest assured that we'd have lots of action photos and videos of the card action (yawn), but alas, 'tis not to be. I do hear, however, that Mary and Ed will be providing free five-star accommodations to all participants. Free dinner at the Alpenglow Stube...wow! Be sure to contact Mary or (especially) Ed (repeatedly) for discount coupons! Wow!

[Mary Deshaies]

And rest assured that I, as an impartial and knowledgeable Canasta Player, will call 'em as a sees 'em! And all cards will be examined from time to time throughout the play to make sure they are not part of the 'Magic Deck' that Mr. Winters has been known to use.

[Mary Deshaies]

And IF Mr. Winters does actually play in the tournament to the end, I would consider treating him to a 'Five-Star' meal (not the Stube!), but maybe the new Smashburger.

[Ed & Anita Baker]

One has to watch the Card Shark "Cool Hand Paul" not only might he use a magic deck but is also known to treat his unwary guests to "Contemporary Casual Cross Cultural Culinary Cuisine" (burp).

[Ed & Anita Baker]

Paul only goes for those "MEXICAN BURGERS"

[Paul Winters]

What? Only a lousy smashburger as meager compensation for having to sit out multiple games of canasta (or, indeed, ANY game)??

BTW, I hear they butter the grill before they cook their burgers. I think I'll get my cholesterol checked BEFORE Smashburger.

I wonder if they're doing a Mexican version. The last "Mexican hamburger" I had was in Salida, and it was certainly memorable.

[Ed & Anita Baker]

As slick as you are with the cards and that "Magic Deck" of yours that Miss Mary was telling me about....I would not think you would be that worried about a little butter or cholesterol....and you are most definitely right about the CCCCC Mexican Hamburger - it was memorable for several days...

[Mary Deshaies]

I'll throw in drinks and fries. I understand that they have 'veggie fries' that are really good, so stop your bellyaching! And start shuffling.

[Ed & Anita Baker]

Mary,
Did you catch the slightest, most of subtle hints that Paul is "in" the tournament....notice he said he will get his cholesterol checked before Smashburger - now as I understand it, the condiitions of your offer were that "And IF Mr. Winters does actually play in the tournament to the end, I would consider treating him to a 'Five-Star' meal (not the Stube!), but maybe the new Smashburger"...if he intends to go to SMASHBURGER, then he must be "in" the tournament to the end - is that not your interpretation Madame Chairperson of all Rules, Ajudication, and Points Awarder?

[Mary Deshaies]

He is definitely "in" the tournament. He just likes to play stubborn. We were treated to free meals last night at Smashburger for their grand opening. Paul, of course, took video of the event. Be sure to watch. So he was rewarded before he even played so has no way out of it now! I will be brushing up on the RULES for our Canasta tournament in the months to come so that we are ready to play come June.

[Ed & Anita Baker]

Mary;
I loved the Video! You have so much camera presence....to bad the camera operator kept trying to cut you off.... In Paul's e-mail to me, he said that the "food was free" to celebrate the Grand Opening...but my take on the situation is that was just as good as "earnest money" for the DEAL - he has a binding contract for the Tournament with no contingency out for financing - he has already enjoyed the fruit - no he has to pay the price and come to the closing table - Would that be your take on it!

[Paul Winters]

What deal? Show me the contract....

Going to Ken & Mary's for dinner this evening. I sure hope she's run out of duct tape...heaven knows she used enough of it to tape me to a chair the last time we were there until I agreed to play her latest game--of course by rules known only to HER .. I can't understand how she continues to lose even when only she knows the rules....

And then, today, Ed had the gall to send me pictures of flowers growing on his deck, after we got a foot of snow yesterday. Gads.