Martha Lufkin, Level 2, Maryland, United States<\/p><\/div>Editor’s note:<\/strong>\u00a0Here we have\u00a0a parody of \u201cA Visit from Saint Nicholas\u201d, a poem celebrating Christmas. The author\u00a0polled judges there on how they took care of themselves over a long day, and this was the result. Happy holidays everyone!”<\/em><\/p>\n December 13-14, 2014 with apologies to Clement Clark Moore<\/a> Twas the night before Grand Prix and in each judge house The team lead and crew chiefs were ready to scatter On Carlos, on Seacat, to a meeting with players, From the top of the stage to the back of the hall, Watch out for each other, drink water, take breaks, As our shifts neared their ending our spirits were low, And then in a twinkling our shift it was ending, Please leave your feedback, comments and holiday wishes here<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n1235 players, Sealed
\nBaltimore, Maryland, USA<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nThere’s a flurry of packing, some starting to grouse.
\nWith compression socks, insoles, and tissues and pills,
\nWith cough drops and band-aids our cases are filled.<\/p>\n
\nWhen out on the floor there arose a great clatter.
\nDid a table collapse or a water main burst?
\nThey ran to investigate fearing the worst.
\nBut no need for worry or panic at all,
\nTwas a judge and his teammates preparing the hall.
\nWhen we rose from our beds and appeared Saturday,
\nOur tables were numbered we shouted \u201chooray\u201d.
\nAbe’s foresight and efforts had saved us some time
\nAnd we kept to the schedule with no need to whine.<\/p>\n
\nExplain the new morph rule but don’t mess with layers!<\/p>\n
\nTake waivers and product, now dash away all!<\/p>\n
\nFor eating and resting a happy judge makes.<\/p>\n
\nBut our leads cheered us onward \u201cJust two rounds to go!\u201d
\nIt was then I remembered to practice my smiles,
\nTell jokes and make bad puns, sort slips into piles.
\nHave fun, hold a contest, give high fives and more,
\nKeep spirits aloft as we circle the floor.<\/p>\n
\nOut the door with instructions our team leads were sending.
\nAs we readied our backpacks they gave us the news:
\n\u201cWe’ll see you tomorrow, wear comfortable shoes!\u201d<\/p>\n