Pat Finds Mah Jongg and We Both find Tolstoy

I have been having withdrawal symptoms since I have not played mah jongg since we left home!   I didn't realize how much I liked it, but I went to the senior center today and played with the group.   I didn't want to play with all the seniors, I was one of the youngest, but it was fine.   The women were very nice, they are non-competitive, and about at my level, so it was fun.   They have a teacher who plays along with them, and I was at her table.   She told me about a few other games in the area, so i will try those too.   She is very nice, and gave me some very good tips.    I asked her if she just knows the card really well, and she said that yes, she does.   She says sometimes when she can't sleep, she'll go down the list of possible hands in her mind!
The good thing was, I felt energized all day!   This has happened before when I've played in Traverse City.  Not sure if it's the using of my brain, or the companionship, or what, but it really makes my day.
Dan went to a poker parlor in Petaluma while I did that, he enjoyed that.
We later went back to our new find, the Left Bank for Happy Hour.   Had the steak tatare again!    Then, went to a movie, "The Last Station".   It's about Tolstoy and his wife, and whom he'll leave his estate to when he dies.   Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer.   Very good movie, but it was hard to watch it after 2 glasses of wine.