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Jezz on!Virginia Howell (Ginger) works to out number her students:hobbesHi !

From: vehowell@swbell.net  Hi Ginger

Date: Sat, 03 Jan 1998 00:08:17 -0800

Jezz on!Dear David,

   I just began playing JezzBall in August when one of my students gave me the game.  The first time I saw the game I thought it was pretty stupid, but then one of my students was playing it and he showed me how.

   I started playing just because I didn't want one of my students to be able to out play me!  (Pathetic)  We print out our high scores and bring them to school.  The last high score I printed out, my students told me to get a life.  I thought I was doing great (606,000) until I saw your web site.  I am totally addicted to JezzBall, and sometimes I have to agree that I need to get a life.

Ginger

P. S. How many marriages have failed due to an addiction to JezzBall?

Date: Sun, 04 Jan 1998 00:08:46 -0800

Jezz on!Dear David,

   I am flattered that you would want to use my story on your site.  I look forward to seeing it there sometime.  I teach Algebra I and Algebra II at Haltom High School in Fort Worth, Texas.  My kids are the greatest!

   I wish my husband had more interest in this game.  He's watched me over my shoulder a few times when I've gotten to some of the higher levels. It just makes me nervous and I lose faster.  He's a chemical/environmental engineer.

   We just adopted a three year old beagle.  We call her  Sadie.  We've had her a week, and we have to leave her at the vet on Monday to begin treatment for heartworms. I don't really know why I'm relating this story to you, besides the fact that she's sitting under my coattails while I play THE GAME.

   I'm very new to this internet stuff, so I'll do the picture thing after I get one of my partners in crime from school to show me how to send it to you.

Nice meeting you.

Ginger

On 1-28-98 You wrote:

Dear David,

   I came home for lunch today to check on the dog and got your e-mail.  My husband is out of town, and I have to stay after school today for meetings and tutorials with students.

   I made that great score on Monday.  I started playing at 4:30 and quit around 9:30.  I played almost non-stop.  I won't even start playing a game if I'm the least bit tired because they just take so long to play now.

   I started doing some of the tricks the others were recommending  like making the little traps along the bottom and letting the balls trap themselves.  It works on the upper levels really well.  I read George C. Thomas's hints.  I don't understand what he means when he says Jezz won't kill you if you do...Could you clarify what he means?  He says he can do the 49th level without losing any lives.  I don't understand.  My students and I were trying to figure it out.

   One of my students, Alex, wants to take home my home score printout to show his mother because she doesn't believe that you can get that high of a score with that many balls.

   The kids mostly think I'm crazy to play the game that long.  Most of them don't have that kind of patience yet.  They're very young.

   My dog is acting very suspicious.  I think she's trying to get into trouble in the bedroom.  Better check on her.

Ginger

I wrote:

Hi Ginger,

   Thanks for the letter. This sounded a lot more like you. I was wondering if one of your students were playing a trick, or something. How old are your students? I wish I could explain George's tips, but I have not been successful in decoding it myself. One other player said you wont lose a life if you make a trap very close to the wall. I'm not sure. I have seen an atom just about to hit the courser as I engaged it and the line forms to the closest wall and the atom bounced off. I think there was no life taken. This might have to do with the cross-hairs.

On 1-29-98 you wrote:

 

Dear David,

   One of my students said he knew how to doctor the screen so that he could make it look any way he wanted it to.   I don't have a clue as to what he's talking about.

   I teach high school kids.  Most of mine are Juniors and Seniors in high school between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years old.  I have one class of Freshman.  They are fourteen and fifteen years old.  The ones who play JezzBall the most are the older ones.  I have four Algebra II classes and one Algebra I class.  I like the Algebra II classes better.  My Freshman this year are really squirrelly.

   I think I've over-stretched myself these next few weeks, and I can't seem to get rested up.  I'm giving my best friend a wedding shower this weekend and going to the school production of The Sound of Music.  It should be very good.  Last year they were asked to perform Into the Woods at the National something-or-other.  They were the final performance (means very good.)  They were chosen from schools all over the nation to perform.  Only five are picked, and our school one the last slot - which means they were the best.  One of my students this year played the Big Bad Wolf in to the Woods, and this year he plays the head Nazi in The Sound of Music.  And, over Valentine's weekend, we're going to San Francisco.

   I want your honest opinion on something.  My best friend asked if her fiancée was invited to the wedding shower.  I said no.  I think she got a little upset with me.  But it just wouldn't be the same if a man were there, and why would he want to go anyway?   She said it would hurt his feelings if her knew he wasn't invited.  So, she suggested he and his father pick out their tuxedos while she is at the shower so that she wouldn't have to tell him that he wasn't invited.  I don't think I should feel bad, but why do I?

I've begun ranting and raving.   I sincerely apologize.

Ginger

I wrote:

Hi Ginger,

   Oh don't stop! I love it when you rant. I completely agree with you about the shower. I don't know if he will have a bachelor party, but that is certainly a tradition that women are not welcome to attend unless they happen to be the entertainment. I think your friend should volunteer to be the stripper at his bachelor party, and see what her fiancée says? I do feel that after the wedding they should strive to be best friend, and want to do every thing together, but for the shower, How are you women going to be able to gossip about sex freely, if there is a man around. It would make for a boring bridal shower. He may act as if he may enjoy going, but unless he is gay, I doubt he would really want to go all that badly.

   I've had a lot of teachers as friends, and I have heard that there seems to be a definite cycle that the group of children seem to different from another. It makes one a believer in the Chinese Zodiac. Spooky isn't it. I did post your new score. Did you take a look? You've out done me, now. I still would like to hear about the reaction of the kids at school that told you to get a life. Are you able to show then your own page on www.jezzball.com? Along with the Top 20 Position you hold? I would even like to hear some comments in their own words. This would make great reading on your page, and do wonders for other Jezz-Freaks around the world. When do I get a picture of you. If you send me a photo, I will scan it in and mail it back to you. Also a picture of you and some of your young Jezz-fans together, would be great. It will make your story seem so much more real to other visitors. If this will just never happen, let me know and I will stop bugging you.

   As for Lee Seed, her area code is 713. I don't expect you to make a long distance call. I thought you might be close enough, but I guess I was wrong. She lives in Houston. A friend of hers just e-mailed me last night, asking me if I would consider building her a web site for her art work too. I think I am going to be real busy with web design. This is her e-mail address albrecht@wt.net

   Her name is Lorie Albrecht. I bought a few of her art pieces at a Sci-Fi Con here in Portland. She lives in Houston also. I don't have her phone # yet. Have you seen the web site I did for Lee? You can link to it from the art page. I would like to hear what you think.

Cool!

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