From Patsy & Garland
Several people have shown interest in Texas 42, a domino game. Garland and I would like to inform others about this Texas tradition and teach it to anyone who is interested in learning it this game.
THE GAME OF TEXAS 42 DOMINOES
Texas 42, sometimes called “The National Game of Texas,” is a trick- taking domino game with an interesting history and mystique. The most widely accepted story of its origin is that it was invented in 1887 in Trappe Springs (now Garner), Texas by 12-year-old William Thomas and 14 year-old Walter Earl. These two Southern Baptist boys were caught playing Whist, a card game, and were punished for it by their parents. Southern Baptists regarded playing cards as “The Devil’s Picture Book” and did not allow card games but had no such restrictions on domino games. ( I can vouch for this fact as I was raised in a Southern Baptist family. At our summer church camp, dominoes were okay, but cards were outlawed; also forbidden were radios, “mixed” swimming, shorts, and, of course, dancing.)
Many of the small towns of Texas had their domino parlors down through the years. They were usually long narrow buildings with poor lighting and lots of spittoons. You played on square tables with little boards around the edges to keep the dominoes from falling off the table during a vigorous shuffle or “shake” of the dominoes. The score was kept with chalk by writing on the table top, and chalk dust kept the dominoes sliding smoothly.
Texas 42, sometimes called “The National Game of Texas,” is a trick- taking domino game with an interesting history and mystique. The most widely accepted story of its origin is that it was invented in 1887 in Trappe Springs (now Garner), Texas by 12-year-old William Thomas and 14 year-old Walter Earl. These two Southern Baptist boys were caught playing Whist, a card game, and were punished for it by their parents. Southern Baptists regarded playing cards as “The Devil’s Picture Book” and did not allow card games but had no such restrictions on domino games. ( I can vouch for this fact as I was raised in a Southern Baptist family. At our summer church camp, dominoes were okay, but cards were outlawed; also forbidden were radios, “mixed” swimming, shorts, and, of course, dancing.)
Many of the small towns of Texas had their domino parlors down through the years. They were usually long narrow buildings with poor lighting and lots of spittoons. You played on square tables with little boards around the edges to keep the dominoes from falling off the table during a vigorous shuffle or “shake” of the dominoes. The score was kept with chalk by writing on the table top, and chalk dust kept the dominoes sliding smoothly.
Texas 42 was also played in general stores, on people’s front porches, and at family gatherings such as reunions. Garland has some nostalgic stories about playing 42 in Fredericksburg with his family, and it was also a staple game at their hunting camp. Today, Texas 42 continues to be very popular in much of the state. There is even a State Championship tournament held in Hallettsville in March. It is played in other states and countries as well.
Texas 42 is played by four people, in teams of two each. There is a variation of Texas 42 called “Moon” which is usually played by three but can be played by four. We know several people here at Sandpipers who play Texas 42 - John (#5), John and Joan (#338), and Patsy and Garland (#108). Garland and Patsy would like to introduce this Texas tradition to other Sandpiper game players, so if you want to learn this fun game, note the invitation below:
“TEXAS 42" HAPPY HOUR!
DATE: TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
TIME: 4:00 P.M.
PLACE: COMMUNITY ROOM
ACTIVITY: LEARNING “TEXAS 42" AND” MOON”
SNACKS AND DRINKS WILL BE SERVED!
Texas 42 is played by four people, in teams of two each. There is a variation of Texas 42 called “Moon” which is usually played by three but can be played by four. We know several people here at Sandpipers who play Texas 42 - John (#5), John and Joan (#338), and Patsy and Garland (#108). Garland and Patsy would like to introduce this Texas tradition to other Sandpiper game players, so if you want to learn this fun game, note the invitation below:
“TEXAS 42" HAPPY HOUR!
DATE: TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
TIME: 4:00 P.M.
PLACE: COMMUNITY ROOM
ACTIVITY: LEARNING “TEXAS 42" AND” MOON”
SNACKS AND DRINKS WILL BE SERVED!
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Looks like we may have dodged this bullet!
Latest Hurricane update, 04:00 PM CDT Wednesday September 10, 2008
Current Status:
At 4PM CDT, Hurricane Ike will be near 24.4N/86.2W, or about 550 miles southeast of Galveston, TX. Maximum sustained winds are up to 100 mph. Movement is to the west-northwest at 8-10 mph. Satellite imagery indicates that Ike continues to become better organized. We have no doubts that Ike is on its way to becoming a major hurricane within the next 24 hours.
At 4PM CDT, Hurricane Ike will be near 24.4N/86.2W, or about 550 miles southeast of Galveston, TX. Maximum sustained winds are up to 100 mph. Movement is to the west-northwest at 8-10 mph. Satellite imagery indicates that Ike continues to become better organized. We have no doubts that Ike is on its way to becoming a major hurricane within the next 24 hours.
Changes From our Previous Forecast:
We have adjusted our track about 40 miles up the Texas coast to just east of Matagorda Bay on this advisory. This will result in a significant impact on the Houston/Galveston area Friday night and Saturday.
Our Forecast:
Ike took a jog northward earlier today as it was getting better organized. That, combined with the slower forward speed has increased the risk that Ike will track north of our previous forecast and make final landfall east of Matagorda Bay early Saturday morning. The consensus models have all shifted east of Matagorda Bay as of 2PM CDT. Therefore, we have adjusted our track to be in line with latest guidance. Landfall is forecast to be about 30 miles southwest of Freeport, TX in the early morning hours of Saturday. However, with tropical storm force winds forecast to extend out from the center nearly 200 miles, tropical storm conditions may reach the Texas coast before noon on Friday.
Ike's appearance on satellite is that of a very well-organized hurricane. We think that Ike will become a major Category 3 hurricane within the next 12-24 hours. Conditions beyond 48 hours will continue to be favorable for strengthening, and Ike is forecast to be an upper-end Category 3 hurricane or even a Category 4 hurricane by Friday as it approaches the mid Texas coast with winds of 125-135 mph and gusts over 150 mph.
Ike is becoming a very large hurricane. Hurricane force winds now extend out to 80 miles northeast of the center. Such a large hurricane could produce a considerable storm surge on the Texas coast when it makes landfall. This could produce a storm surge of from 11-14 feet near where Ike's center crosses the coast and up the coast for 50-80 miles. Though the surge at Galveston Island may be in the 11-13 foot range, a direct hit just west of Freeport could result in a storm surge into northern and western Galveston Bay of 20-25 feet.
Other Possibilities:
There is a very good chance that we will need to adjust Ike's final landfall point even farther up the Texas coast on future advisories. We won't really know the precise point of landfall until sometime on Friday when Ike begins making the northwesterly turn.
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