Day 1, Public Events
Every day you received your shift assignment for the next day. On Thursday I was assigned "PM Public Events", which meant working in the area where tournaments are open to the public from noon till 8:00 pm.
I attended the judge meeting at 8:00 am, followed by the official photo which you've probably already seen on the web. Then I had some time to myself until noon.
I spent some time back in the room reviewing rules to Two-Headed Giant (a two-person variation which I knew the Public Events would offer) and the latest changed to the Penalty Guide, then went out exploring.
Memphis has a trolley which prowls up and down Main Street, parallel to the Mississippi but a block east. I took that down to the Post Office and bought postcard stamps (alas, postcards still not written). Then I caught the Riverside Loop trolley, which runs the length of Main Street then makes two turns and runs the same distance along the river. The trolley driver and I chatted. When we got near the Peabody Hotel he said "That's where they have the duck walk at 11 and 5." I got off and went to see it. Unbelievable, and best described in person. Truth is, I had no idea what he meant, and when I reached the hotel lobby I was astounded to learn that ducks would be walking on a red carpet from the elevator to the fountain. There's a Duck Master in red suitcoat with gold braid carrying a cane topped by a duck who explained the history of the famous duck walk. Then he went up the elevator to bring down the ducks from the Duck Palace on the roof. School children sat cross-legged on either side of the red carpet. Businessmen took pictures on their cell phones. The whole thing was a riot. Friend me on facebook (skipper lufkin) to see the photos.
Afterwards I caught a trolley back to the hotel and convention center (across the street from each other), ate lunch and donned my stripes for Public Events. I worked several tournaments, helping out where needed. And yes, one of them was Two-Headed Giant. I helped investigate a DQ in a Sealed-Deck tournament: someone thought it might be a bright idea to bring his own cards with a deck list to match. Alas when the shift ended at 8 pm our end of downtown is pretty much closed down. A bunch of us did find a small café where I got the last order of rib tips.
Next: Deck Checks 3 - the Main Event