As astute readers have already realized, last week’s column was a combination of three pieces I had put together in the past couple of months and that explained its confusing and debatable message. Not to worry; like many others I am over political topics for the time being so on to more edifying topics.
Unless you fall into the stay-at-home category, you are aware the streets in King City are getting a lot of attention right now, and have been for some time. One of those streets is Division, which has seen a full stripping of old asphalt and the laying down of new; a major project done in relatively short time with minimal intrusion into daily life for those who live on the street and in the adjacent blocks. I know of two events that took place on the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds, the Halloween night Trunk-or-Treat and Election Day polling, which went off without an abundance of detours or other hassles.
I don’t know what the next street on the Fix-it List is, but I know which ones, as a bike rider, I would like to see rehabilitated; the first is San Lorenzo Street, both North and South sections. I would plead self interest if I also noted that the street I live on, Seventh, whose three blocks run from Bassett Street to Division, is a bumpy ride no matter if riding on two wheels or four; but I am sure others around the city also have a street in mind they would be more than happy to see all nice and black and brightly striped and, best of all, smooth.
As time passes and money becomes more available, I am sure we will all have our wishes come true; patience is the key here.
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I grew up in a house where there was always a deck of playing cards, often two or three, tucked away in the drawers in one of three rooms. My parents did occasionally play cards, not the uppity games like Bridge, Gin Rummy, Canasta or Pinochle, but Spades and Hearts and later in life they played UNO with its special deck. I learned the poker games, Stud and Five and Seven-Card Draw and variations, and Pedro, and Solitaire. I played the game by the hour on some days, a tedious process with 52 cards must occasionally be scooped up and moved to another pile … those who know the game know the moves. I am still a fan, even knowing that the chances of completing four piles using all 52 cards in chronological order and alternating black and red were slim, but now I play the digital evolution of the game, with my own alterations to the rules.
When playing Las Vegas rules, the House sells you a deck of cards at $1 per card and pays $5 for every card placed on one of four piles, starting with Aces. As with most gambling games, the advantage is with the House, and Solitaire is no exception. When laying out a hand, there are 28 cards used, one face up alone and then one face up on piles of 2 through 7 face down cards leaving 24 cards to be drawn from the deck. Choosing three cards per draw on my machine lets me draw three times from the deck, so if I accumulate 11 cards or more combined on the four piles by the time my three draws are up, I make $2; anything less and I lose money. If one is lucky enough to get all 52 cards on the four piles, it pays $260; but most often getting 11 or more cards to pay $5 doesn’t happen, given the stringent rules of Solitaire, so the House has the advantage.
But not with me; I alter the rules. Choosing game option Cumulative shows the money I owe the House or is owed by the House every game played. What I do is play until I can no longer get below $500 owed the House; I keep track of games played on paper with the old four vertical lines crossed by one corner-to-corner line equaling five. The goal is nothing more than to see how many games can be played before reaching the limit. This adds a bit more interest to the dull one game at a time scenario I grew up playing. Also, though I am sure Las Vegas would not approve, I changed some of the rules to make the playing field a bit more level. If you are a Solitaire player, shoot me an email and I’ll explain the rule changes and you may find the game a bit more interesting.
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Something I have known was coming for years has finally happened, and I am as bummed about it as I knew years ago I would be. My receding upper jawbone has finally set one of my primary teeth free, so until that can be dealt with, a very costly venture, I assure you, I will appear as one of the hillbilly stereotypes of low budget comedies, to wit, a Snaggle Tooth. I had hoped the tooth would last until after two public event appearances, the Christmas Parade and the “Nutcracker Ballet,” but alas infection set in and out it came and now I must decide on whether to go ahead with those commitments or not.
Yes, yes, I know far worse physical conditions exist and come with discomfort, I have a few myself, but a missing front tooth, while not painful, is a blow to vanity. I have an aversion to looking like someone usually comically associated with those who have little education or sense, but in this case I have little choice in the matter so will either shun public life or I’ll see ya around town as usual. Not really sure which path I’ll take on this one.
