Last year - I decided I want an ivory chip. Wayne Thompson promptly refered me to John Benedict.

As a new club member, I WAS AMAZED when "that guy from FL." offered to send me a chip "for my approval" in the $50 range. After all - WHO SENDS ANYONE ANYTHING these days without MONEY????? Frankly - I WAS SHOCKED.

I received the chip - along with several pages (4 to be exact) with scans beautiful ivory chips... Some were for sale - some were not... and the prices fell between $35 ? and close to a $1000.

Eventually I emailed him wanting a little assortment... something old, something blue, mumerals, letters and NONE with GLUE .

I can't remember but I sure bet John does - but I opened with a statement similar to this:
I have to pass on the $600 lizard, but I'd like the following chips (and I listed the ones I wanted)

John responded promptly - ever so tactfully AND graciously something close to this:
Yes, the XXXXXX_ tiger (what do you call him John?) DOES have a bit of a lizard face..."

Horrified I emailed Wayne saying:
Ohmigod!! I just called John Benedict's rare expensive tiger ivory a LIZARD"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

I tell this story for other new chippers... BEING STUPID WON'T KILL YOU (you just wish it would - and the "mentors" in this hobby are wonderful.

JB teases me a little (like everyone does) from time to time about this - discretely of couse . I may have even told him (or was it Wayne) that in AZ... we knock things that look like that off walls with BROOMS!!