These are the days of our lives...
Last fall, I posted the tale of The Outback Letter, the story of a fellow graduate student whose enthusiasm for a department outing proved to be his downfall.
At the time (in the comments following the blog), I promised a follow-up regarding The Bughouse Letters. For those of you unfamiliar with this game, it's a four-player game played with two chessboards, and our hero was a big fan.
What follows are The Bughouse Letters, all seven of them, in their entirety. Names have been deleted to protect the guilty. Enjoy this taste of Boulder, Colorado - the way it once was!
January 17, 1996:
Hi everyone!
If there is anyone that I have not said hello to, have a great
semester.
I do remember that I had offered a chance to tryout bug house
(siamese chess) to a few people last semester when we had some time.
Well, I thought before the semester got too busy, that this first week we
all could squeeze some games in tomorrow, Thursday night. This is a good
night because there's a chess club that regularly has people playing bug
house. I would be glad to give up to four people, the passenger capacity
of my car, a ride there and back.
If you are interested, I will be in math modes (MATH170) tomorrow
from 1 until 3. Come by and let me know.
If enough people are interested in playing bug house on a regular
basis here in the department, I will purchase the equipement nessecary
for us to play here. I already have two chess sets ideal for bug house
and am waiting for the digital clocks to become available.
I would point out that as mathematicians, the penticle of
intellectual achievement, it is almost embarassing if we are found out not to play
a descent chess game.
Yet many of you may feel that chess is too long, boring, not socially stimulating,
and requires in depth study to play well.
Bug house is the solution to all of these faults.
Standard bug house games last less than ten minutes. Every bug
house game I ever have played has lasted less than ten minutes (with the
soul exception being that I know someone who tried bug house by mail).
In bug house, you have a partner that you can communicate with. Every
bug house game that I have played has been fun, exciting, and quick
moving. Bug house has caoticness built into it which eliminates
effectiveness of studying books on standard chess openings. Even a book
on bug house openings would be of limited value because of the random
nature of the game. Yet, despite all of this, who can learn to play a
reasonably good game of chess because you get great combination practice.
Folks, I have to leave for class now. Sorry that I have not done
a better job of communicating how fun the game is or more on how it is
played or a full list of advantages. Just stop me today or tomorrow if
you have questions. Otherwise, I hope to see everyone tomorrow in
Math170, Math modes tutoring room, between one and three.
By for now, ***.
February 9, 1996:
There's a WHAT in your tea?!
What could be finer than to be sipping tea while franticly trying to keep
the bugginess of bug house under control. Yes, that is to say, as you
guess tea time and bug time are now one in the same on friday afternoons!
I will set up the bug house and tea equipement by 3:30 on fridays and
will leave the bug house equipement setup until at least 5:30. So come
what ever meetings you have, there is still time for a few games of bug
house.
February 9, 1996:
Water is heating
Tea will be ready soon.
Cookies are out.
The boards are set.
Time to go to 350 and have some fun.
BUG HOUSE TIME!
February 9, 1996:
Beware!!!
The team of Beth G********* and John M**** were undefeated in bug house
this today! I think they are out for blood.
So, if they come knocking at your door, HIDE! DON'T ANSWER IT! Or if
you dare answer, practice, practice, practice (because they have) or
ELSE!
If you find a partner and willing opposition to prepare for Beth and
John's onslot, you can borrow the bug house equipement from me.
The only team we have any hope of defending us from Beth and John's
attack is the team of Bob R*** and John M****** who got some games in
last Friday. Oh where, oh where was our defending team of Bob and John?
Are we lost, or will some new team come and defend us next Friday during
Bug House-Tea Time?
Are the only good teams have initials B'n'J? Can you think up a better
name for your team? Let me know. See ya at the Buggy Tea.
February 23, 1996:
It's Friday...
and we all know what that means. But in case anyone forgot, it's Buggy
Tea day. That is, Bug House today.
Last week we had a record attendance-- This week we can do even better!
So...
Same Bug time (3:30 to 5:30)...
Same Bug channel (MATH 350)...
See ya there!
February 23, 1996:
The tea is hot
So it must be, and it is, Buggy Tea time.
Come enjoy the tea, cookies, and bug house.
March 1, 1996:
Time to relax with tea, cookies and bughouse.
One person did ask why I was going to the effort to set up for tea and
bug house as well as to spread the word. The answer is this is my gift
to my fellow grad students in this department. This is an opertunity for
you to save your money, relax and have fun at the end of your week.
Personally all I get out of this is to be able set back and watch others
have fun playing bughouse.
So everyone, come and enjoy a quiet afternoon.
And there we have it. That's another piece of the puzzle as to why I am the way I am. Office...submarine!!!
As one last treat, while we were busy experimenting with forging e-mails, during the height of the Great Bughouse Crazy of 1996, my good friend Curtis penned this little tribute "from" the student in question. Enjoy!
February 18, 1996:
Sung to the tune of "Our House" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young:
You set the clocks,
I bring the pieces, which I
Place on two chess boards side by side.
You brew the tea,
I'll bring some cookies, and we'll
Sit down on a Friday afternoon.
Bug House
Is a very very very fine house;
With non-stop action, challenge, fun, and sport.
Bug House
With its wacky random style of play;
There is no other game of its sort!
I think it fits well, don't you? Thanks again to other people for writing my blog yet again, and mad props to me for keeping every e-mail I ever receive. And as mentioned in November, I'm still soliciting guesses as to what this gentleman looks like. Enjoy your Tuesdays!
(Please note that with the use of the plural, I'm wishing that multiple people enjoy a single Tuesday. I am not advocating that one person enjoy multiple Tuedsays, although you are free to do that at your own risk.)