Hi I am a 58 year old (young) Advocate, SC, AJ, hence this prolix profile. We get paid by time spent and old habits die hard. Cattle game and feed farmer (devoted) father of 3 (bad one) and besotted bow and rifle hunter (dedicated - ethical). My fondness for chess far exceeds my ability to play it well at all. Since joining this club I learnt how below average I actually am. In truth I am hopeless. I suck. But I am always keen to give every game an honest good go and will accept any challenge. A good hiding induces respect. I play for fun and relaxation but I do sulk for a day or so after a stupid move. My stats are deservedly terrible. I am over hasty and most of my losses are due to impatience. I make at least one stupid error per game (you can always bank on that) and as soon as I get over that habit, and patiently stick to a more defensive game and reduce the crazy number of games I play - my ratings should decrease less rapidly. I used to dislike taking skulls. Its like kissing your sister but no more after those whose skulls I spared, delighted in taking mine. I dislike playing to the death, if I cannot win, but force myself to do so as of late, as it makes perfect sense and stalemate is sweet; but will only do so if I think I can possibly achieve stalemate. Otherwise if I am way down you deserve your win and I chuck in the f...it bucket and move on. But if you as much as hint that I should resign I will not. Resigning is actually liberating. Try it. A player on this site once resigned after he was no less than 3 Qs up on me! Sheepishly told me afterwards he thought I was 3 Qs up on him... Strange game this chess... If I am playing slower than usual it is because you are playing a good game. I would not know how to use a computer to help me, even if I had one. I am also unable to tell if you are using one. But hey - if that floats your boat. Should you slow down to maximum time just because I am up, I am sure to return the compliment. Regards Leon