Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Ed, you didn't finish that line about learning to play poker is part of every young man's education.  The next part is that, education usually comes at a high price.

As for you Steve, if you are going to play poker with Jack and Holt, I have no sympathy for you.   But, at least you learned.

I don't know if you would remember Ed, but down here in Texas, poker takes a back seat to Dominoes.   While learning the game, I had some really crazy experiences.   

Happy belated Birthday to my old buddy Dave Gaston!!!!

Jack Habich

Poker enriched my college experience.

Like tennis though, you have to keep at it or you lose your rythm.  I'm out of rythm and for the first couple of outings, I would have to find some chumps or risk financial setbacks.

Now Liar's Poker is a game I can jump right into on a moment's notice.  I've never lost my touch for that one.

Ed Stanfield

Rod,

First of all, you are dead on about the expensive part. Learning a new skill usually comes at a cost and poker is no exception..

Dominoes must either be a recent event or a regional craze as I don't remember it at all..Poker on the other hand began for me at age 10 or so..

Steve Jetton

lair's poker!  Now that brings a smile to my face.  One summer I worked at Eureka Williams, night shift, and those guys gambled obsessively.  Lair's poker was a staple. 

I also worked at my uncles grocery store, Jetton's Market on Evans St.  Before going in to Eureka I would rifle through the cash register and find ringer dollar bills - 7 aces, 6 dueces, etc.  It was fun to spring those on the guys but over the long run I don't think it really gave me much of an advantage.   First time you'd catch 'em by surprise but eventually everbody knew they were out there.  Plus they'd eventually circulate into somebody else's hands. 

Don't think I've played lair's poker since then.  I'll look for some good dollar bills and be ready next time I see Jack.

Two of the mainstays on that shift were BHS from earlier classes, Frank McCurdy and a guy named Swartzentruber or something like that.  I can picture him but can't recall his name for sure.

Well, I'm off to the old BJHS on Washington St.  My  VITA gig (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), has a site there this year.  The old place looks a bit dowdy but on other hand it still feels like an industrial strength chunk of concrete and brick.  If I ever get a chance, I'll try and roam around the building & maybe take my camera.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Steve, it is Mike Swartzentruber.  He was once married to Sandy Huff, but they divorce, and I'm uncertain where he is now.  He was once a mechanic for Bert Jackson VW in Bloomington through DO in high school. He and Sandy were once our neighbors.

Jack Habich

Steve,

Just because you chumped me in Aikin's geometry class doesn't mean I have "Fool" written on my forehead.

Liar's poker should be played with fresh bills, and if not available, we either trade bills or lay them in the middle, shuffle and pick.  At best, you'd have only a 50% chance of being a ringer.

I used to go to Bears games with kind of a rough and rowdy crowd.....because we got in for free.  Afterwards, we would hightail it to Shenanigans on Division, off Rush.  There, we would each chip in a ten or twenty, and have Stu, the manager, give us fresh singles.  Usually 5-8 of us before other joined, we would pass around the singles to be picked until everyone had their alloted amount.  With the number of people, you could win or lose very quickly.  Patrons ususally joined in, and on at least two occasions, police on duty, once their shift ended, would go home to  change clothes and join us.  They didn't want to do anything illegal.

I remember Swartzentruber, and also had a brief experience at Eureka Williams.  I drilled two holes into metal plates all day long.  Fun, but still not the thrill of playing liars poker.

Milan Jackson

During golf season, I see Frank McCurdy almost daily. But Frank stands on the wrong side of the ball.

Jack Habich

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Jack and guys:

I feel bad for the nurses assigned to them already!

Linda Bristow Elias

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Steve --  How interesting that you would inject some bills that you knew about.  I used to play liar's poker from time to time with some guys from Boston and Detroit.  That would just never happen with them, and if they thought you were trying that, the game would very rapidly become unfriendly. 

Jack -- I saw where Arnold and Stallone are making another movie together.  Most likely, they both went back into the gym to get in shape.  Due to their past roid use, the injuries popped up.

Jack Habich

Rod, I wouldn't be surprised if the other guys at Eureka were doing the same as Steve.  Lot's of people, including myself, have done that.  Trouble is, in a real game, as you pointed out, that would never work. It's reserved for chumps.

I wouldn't even think of trying that with the Bears/Shenanigans crew I mentioned. 

Milan Jackson

Happy Birthday Jan Hitzner Fries !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve Jetton

Rod & Jack,

what can I say.  We play the game in the big time venue, it's maruis of queensbury rules.  Come down here to corn country, it's Aiken's geometry class all over again, chump rules.

By the way, I might be wrong about it being Swartzentruber at Eureka Williams, I think it might have been the guy on the left in Jack's picture. 

Jack Habich

Steve...I sense you might have had a margarita (if so, I wish I was in corn country to play some games of chance with you...just to get a taste of some of your State Farm retirement).

But my point.  I think you meant to say "When you play the game in the big time  venue,............".????

Steve Jetton

Jack, it was wine, not margaritas.  Same effect, though.  

I  was trying to say "marquess of queensberry" rules of fairplay.  I think  the origin of the term applies to boxing.  Anyhow, down here we're looser with the rules.  Where you play, I imagine there are "enforcers" who would quickly straighten out some rube trying to bring in ringer dollar bills.

I'm sure you'd feel guilty if you took a piece of my meager SF retirement.  So if we ever get a chance to face off in a game of chance, I'll be drinking coke.

Jack Habich

“Enforcers”?  You’re pretty astute when the wine is corked.

Two of the guys carried guns……one an off duty cop, the other Russ, a Teamsters’ BA, and “enforcer”.

Only clean bills and rules of fair play here.

Jack Habich

Gerald (Jerry) Plummer

Having been down in Scottsdale, AZ our corporate headquarters this past week, I've been reading to catch up.  Rod, I'm with you, Dominoes is also the game in the Bay Area and has been our familly game for years.  So, we have a common thread.  It's amazing how much alike are Texas and San Francisco. 

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Jerry, how about this idea.  Steve, Jack, Ed, and anyone else who wants, could read up on Dominoes between now and our 50th. reunion.  Then at the reunion, you and I could be partners and take on all challengers.

I still get the Pantagraph here in Tx. and I was sorry to see that the Mother of Larry Chase passed away.  I lived close to Larry, and although he was sort of an introvert, when I did go to Larry's house, I remember his mother was a really nice lady.

Gerald (Jerry) Plummer

Rod, it's a deal.  Dominoes has been a generational game in our family but I must warn you,  I've been told the SF version of the game as played at the Transportation Club is unique and requires serious consumption of single malt scotch. (Oban is my preference) 

Ed Stanfield

No bourbon or Hennessy, no deal....

Poker!

Harriett (Holly) Rust (Wood)

So, when you are talking dominoes are you playing 42 or Moon?   Both are favorites in our family.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Holly, we play Dominoes also, but never heard of 42 or Moon? Could you possibly explain how that's played? I do know there are several ways to play and we've played a few variations! I'm always interested in learning another way to play!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Holly and Helen:

We play dominoes in our family too!  I'll have to go on-line and look up how to play your games!

We're also big on Backgammon, Pente, Chess, and Basada!

Love to ya both,

Linda

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Jerry, it would appear that we may have several takers,  I'm not sure about Moon, but 42 is pretty popular here also.  Moon could be a name for the same game in different locations.  Chess is great, but sometimes takes sooo long to play with lots of  heavy thought.

Ed, Hennessy, Jack, Crown, Wild Turkey, Miller LIte, Pearl, Bull Frog, whatever warms your Heart.  Even if you're sucking Ensure through a straw.  Bring your money and take a seat.