NFL Picks Contest- Picks Due Tomorrow.

Just a friendly reminder that your pick for the NFL Picks Contest is due by 6 pm (CST) Saturday evening. I have most of them, but if you haven't sent yours yet, it's time to get with it!

Please e-mail me at nfl.picks@ymail com or leave a comment here with your pick.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 8 Results and Standings

Here are the Week 8 results and standings in the NFL Picks Contest. OneAndDone stays on top, with two-time defending champion Memphis MOJO moving into second place. mrben, our friend from across the pond, is a close third.

angerisagift- Houston (W 30-16) = 24 pts.
MOJO- Kansas City (W 34-7) = 37 pts.
Vegas Vic- Dallas (L 17-20) = (3 pts.)
Captain Crunch- New England (W 51-23) = 38 pts.
OneAndDone- New England (W 51-23) = 38 pts.
mrben09- Kansas City (W 34-7) = 37 pts.

ggrouchie- Dallas (L 17-20) = (3 pts.)
Coach- Dallas (L 17-20) = (3 pts.)
TeamMiRketti-  Green Bay (L 23-44) = (19 pts.)
lightning36- Miami (W 27-13) = 24 pts.
Neophyte- 0 pts.

Music City Momma- New England (W 51-23) = 38 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- Kansas City (W 34-7) = 37 pts.
Grange95-  Cleveland (W 23-13) = 20 pts.
M Prosk- Cleveland (W 23-13) = 20 pts.
cokeboy99- New England (W 51-23) = 38 pts.

Here are the current standings;

OneAndDone- 27+17+17+34+41+5+31+38 = 210 pts.
MOJO-  27+17+17+29+16 +24+32+37 = 199 pts.
mrben09- 27+17+17+29+16+24+31+37 = 198 pts.
lightning36- 27+17+17+29+16+24+31+24 = 185 pts.
Captain Crunch- 27+17+17+29+16+5+35+38 = 184 pts.
ggrouchie- 27+17+17+34+41+13+20-(3) = 166 pts.

TwoMinuteWarning- (3)+17+37+29+16-(7)+35+37 = 161 pts.
cokeboy99- 27-(8)+21+34+16+13+20+38 = 161 pts.
Music City Momma- 13+17+21+29+16-(7)+32+38 = 159 pts.
Coach- 27+17+21+29+20+24+20-(3) = 155 pts.
angerisagift- (16)+41+37-(27)+18+41+31+24 = 149 pts.

Vegas Vic- 27+17+21+29+16+5+32-(3) = 144 pts
Grange95- (3)+17+21+29+16+24+11+20 = 135 pts.
M Prosk- (3)+ 0+ 0+34+41+13+11+20 = 116 pts.
Neophyte- 27+17-(19)+0+41+24+21+0 = 111 pts.
TeamMiRketti- 27+17+17-(3)+16+24+0-(19) = 79 pts.

Thanks for playing.

Week 9 picks are due by Saturday at 6pm (CDT). Only Sunday and Monday games are eligible.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 8 Picks

I'm sorry this is so late getting published, but a few players aren't making the Saturday at 6pm deadline. I'm usually out doing something Saturday evening and doing the church thing on Sunday, so I don't get a chance to post until Sunday evening unless I get all the picks by the deadline.

Here are the picks for this week's NFL Picks Contest. Once again, the picks are all over the board.

lightning36- Miami
TwoMinuteWarning- Kansas City
Grange95- Cleveland
cokeboy99- New England
Music City Momma- New England

Coach- Dallas
MOJO- Kansas City
Vegas Vic- Dallas
Captain Crunch- New England
grrouchie- Dallas

One&Done- New England
MProsk- Cleveland
angerisagift- Houston
Neophyte-
mrben09-  Kansas City

Please let me know if I missed your pick before the first games kickoff Sunday.

Good luck!!!

NFL Picks Contest-Picks Due Tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder that your pick for the NFL Picks Contest is due by 6 pm (CST) Saturday evening. I have most of them, but if you haven't sent yours yet, it's time to get with it!

Please e-mail me at nfl.picks@ymail com or leave a comment here with your pick.

Good luck!

Casino/Halloween Party

Ms. Duck and I occasionally provide casino games for local parties, both private and corporate functions. The fraternity and sorority parties are our favorites.

Last Friday we had a gig at the local convention center. Our client was a state-wide insurance service company, so I felt like it would be a rather tame party. Having been around insurance folks for the past 30 years (thru Ms. Duck's former job), I learned that as a group, they are not exactly party animals.

As it turned out, this was a combination casino and Halloween party, so many of the guests came in costume, which was a lot of fun. Add a little alcohol and a good time was has by all!

Here are a few pictures of the festivities :)

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Men in Black Commandeered our Blackjack Table

Darth Vader and Crew was there. (He has a GREAT poker face!)

J-Dawg and myself running the craps table.

And this was BEFORE the drinkin' started!

Sonny Boy paying off bets at the roulette table.

Aliens relaxing before the MIB's captured them.

Fun night!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 7 Results and Standings

Here are the Week 7 results and standings in the NFL Picks Contest. OneAndDone takes a slight lead, but two-time defending champion Memphis MOJO is coiled and ready to strike.

angerisagift- Green Bay (W 38-17) = 31 pts.
MOJO- Baltimore (W 29-7) = 32 pts.
Vegas Vic- Baltimore (W 29-7) = 32 pts.
Captain Crunch- Denver (W 42-17) = 35 pts.
OneAndDone- Green Bay (W 38-17) = 31 pts.
mrben09- Green Bay (W 38-17) = 31 pts.

ggrouchie- Dallas (W 31-21) = 20 pts.
Coach- Dallas (W 31-21) = 20 pts.
TeamMiRketti-  0 pts.
lightning36- Green Bay (W 38-17) = 31 pts.
Neophyte- Arizona (W 24-13) = 21 pts.

Music City Momma- Baltimore (W 38-17) = 31 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- Denver (W 42-17) = 35 pts.
Grange95-  Buffalo (W 17-16) = 11 pts.
M Prosk- Buffalo (W 17-16) = 11 pts.
cokeboy99- Dallas (W 31-21) = 20 pts.

Here are the current standings;

OneAndDone- 27+17+17+34+41+5+31 = 172 pts.
ggrouchie- 27+17+17+34+41+13+20 = 169 pts.
MOJO-  27+17+17+29+16 +24+32 = 162 pts.
lightning36- 27+17+17+29+16+24+31 = 161 pts.
mrben09- 27+17+17+29+16+24+31 = 161 pts.
Coach- 27+17+21+29+20+24+20= 158 pts..

Vegas Vic- 27+17+21+29+16+5+32 = 147 pts
Captain Crunch- 27+17+17+29+16+5+35 = 146 pts.
angerisagift- (16)+41+37-(27)+18+41+31 = 125 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- (3)+17+37+29+16-(7)+35 = 124 pts.
cokeboy99- 27-(8)+21+34+16+13+20 = 123 pts.

Music City Momma- 13+17+21+29+16-(7)+32 = 121 pts.
Grange95- (3)+17+21+29+16+24+11 = 115 pts.
Neophyte- 27+17-(19)+0+41+24+21 = 111 pts.
TeamMiRketti- 27+17+17-(3)+16+24+0 = 98 pts.
M Prosk- (3)+ 0+ 0+34+41+13+11 = 96 pts.


Thanks for playing.

Week 7 picks are due by Saturday at 6pm (CDT). Only Sunday and Monday games are eligible.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 7 Picks

Here are the picks for this week's NFL Picks Contest. The picks are all over the board.

lightning36- Green Bay
TwoMinuteWarning- Denver
Grange95- Buffalo
cokeboy99- Dallas
Music City Momma- Baltimore

Coach- Dallas
MOJO- Baltimore
Vegas Vic- Baltimore
Captain Crunch- Denver
grrouchie-Dallas

One&Done- Green Bay
MProsk- Buffalo
angerisagift- Green Bay
Neophyte- Arizona
mrben09-  Green Bay

Please let me know if I missed your pick before the first games kickoff Sunday.

Good luck!!!

NFL Picks Contest- Picks Due Tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder that your pick for the NFL Picks Contest is due by 6 pm (CST) Saturday evening. I have most of them, but if you haven't sent yours yet, it's time to get with it!

Please e-mail me at nfl.picks@ymail com or leave a comment here with your pick.

Good luck!

Slot Machine Tech?

One of the items Ms. Duck and I sell in our sideline business are slot machines. The problem with that is the public considers you an instant expert on slot machine repair. Adding to that is the fact that no one repairs these machines in our area, so I get a fair amount of calls, mostly from folks who have purchased their machine from someone else. Many have bought them in Vegas while on vacation.

I received one such call from a local last week. Although I had not sold him his "Haywire" slot, a friend had told him that I worked on slot machines. The problem was that his machine had stopped taking quarters and seemed to be "locked up."

We've sold slots for a number of years and I have picked up a few tidbits on how to get a machine up and running, if it's a relatively easy fix. When I arrived at the gentleman's home and powered up the slot, it showed a "Code 12," which indicated a low battery on the mother board.

Ahh, something I could actually fix!

I pulled the board and brought it home to replace the battery. While working on it, I took a few pictures and thought you might like to see what the "brains" of a one-armed bandit looks like.

Replacement Battery

 

"Haywire" Mother Board

After I soldered the new battery onto the board, I took it back to the client's home, plugged it in, and fired it up. 

Wah-La! Another satisfied customer!

Over the years of selling, repairing, and playing slots, I've learned not to play them in casinos. There's a reason there are so many on a casino floor. It's a huge money-maker for the properties.

So now you know, if you're going to make any money at slots, buy and sell them. Putting money in them is an act of futility :)

NFL Picks Contest- Week 6 Results and Standings

Here are the Week 6 results and standings in the NFL Picks Contest. grrouchie takes the lead, but quite of few are within range.

The Cincinnati tie with Carolina counts as 1/2 a win and is good for 5 points.

angerisagift- Baltimore (W 48-17) = 41 pts.
MOJO- Denver (W 31-17) = 24 pts.
Vegas Vic- Cincinnati (T 37-37) = 5 pts.
Captain Crunch- Cincinnati (T 37-37) = 5 pts.
OneAndDone- Cincinnati (T 37-37) = 5 pts.
mrben09- Denver (W 31-17) = 24 pts.

ggrouchie- San Diego (W 31-28) = 13 pts.
Coach- Denver (W 31-17) = 24 pts.
TeamMiRketti- Denver (W 31-17) = 24 pts.
lightning36- Denver (W 31-17) = 24 pts.
Neophyte- Denver (W 31-17) = 24 pts.
Music City Momma- Seattle (L 23-30) = (7 pts.)

TwoMinuteWarning- Seattle (L 23-30) = (7 pts.)
Grange95-  Denver (W 31-17) = 24 pts.
Fullhouse538-
M Prosk- San Diego (W 31-28) = 13 pts.
cokeboy99- San Diego (W 31-28) = 13 pts.

Here are the current standings;

ggrouchie- 27+17+17+34+41+13 = 149 pts.
OneAndDone- 27+17+17+34+41+5 = 141 pts.
Coach- 27+17+21+29+20+24 = 138 pts..
MOJO-  27+17+17+29+16 +24= 130 pts.
lightning36- 27+17+17+29+16+24 = 130 pts.
mrben09- 27+17+17+29+16+24 = 130 pts.

Vegas Vic- 27+17+21+29+16+5 = 115 pts
Captain Crunch- 27+17+17+29+16+5 = 111 pts.
Grange95- (3)+17+21+29+16+24 = 104 pts.
cokeboy99- 27-(8)+21+34+16+13 = 103 pts.
TeamMiRketti- 27+17+17-(3)+16+24 = 98 pts.
angerisagift- (16)+41+37-(27)+18+41 = 94 pts.

Neophyte- 27+17-(19)+0+41+24 = 90 pts.
Music City Momma- 13+17+21+29+16-(7) = 89 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- (3)+17+37+29+16-(7) = 89 pts.
M Prosk- (3)+ 0+ 0+34+41+13 = 85 pts.
Fullhouse538- (13)+17+17-(3)+0+0 = 18 pts.

Thanks for playing.

Week 7 picks are due by Saturday at 6pm (CDT). Only Sunday and Monday games are eligible.

Good luck!

NFL Picks Contest- Week 6 Picks

Here are the picks for this week's NFL Picks Contest. The Broncos are the favorite pick this week.

lightning36- Denver
TwoMinuteWarning- Seattle
Grange95- Denver
Full House538-
cokeboy99- San Diego

Music City Momma- Seattle
Coach- Denver
MOJO-  Denver
Vegas Vic- Cincinnati
Captain Crunch- Cincinnati
grrouchie-San Diego

One&Done- Cincinnati
MProsk-San Diego
angerisagift- Baltimore
Neophyte-Denver
mrben09-  Denver

Please let me know if I missed your pick before the first games kickoff Sunday.

Good luck!!!

NFL Picks Contest-Picks Due Tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder that your pick for the NFL Picks Contest is due by 6 pm (CST) Saturday evening. I have most of them, but if you haven't sent yours yet, it's time to get with it!

Please e-mail me at nfl.picks@ymail com or leave a comment here with your pick.

Good luck!

Cancer Sucks

Received a little gift in the mail today from my buddy angerisagift. He asked that I give this to Mom.

I will sir. And thank you :)

Cancer does indeed "suck."

NFL Picks Contest- Week 5 Results and Standings

Here are the Week 5 results and standings in the NFL Picks Contest. OneAndDone and ggrouchie put a little daylight between themselves and the pack.

angerisagift- Pittsburgh (W 17-9) = 18 pts.
MOJO- New Orleans (W 37-31) = 16 pts.
Vegas Vic- New Orleans (W 37-31) = 16 pts.
Captain Crunch- Philadelphia (W 34-28) = 16 pts.
OneAndDone- San Diego (W 31-0) = 41 pts.
mrben09- New Orleans (W 37-31) = 16 pts.

ggrouchie- San Diego (W 31-0) = 41 pts.
Coach- Seattle (W 27-17) = 20 pts.
TeamMiRketti- Philadelphia (W 34-28) = 16 pts.
lightning36- New Orleans (W 37-31) = 16 pts.
Neophyte- San Diego (W 31-0) = 41 pts.
Music City Momma- New Orleans (W 37-31) = 16 pts.

TwoMinuteWarning- Philadelphia (W 34-28) = 16 pts.
Grange95-  New Orleans (W 37-31) = 16 pts.
Fullhouse538-
M Prosk- San Diego (W 31-0) = 41 pts.
cokeboy99- New Orleans (W 37-31) = 16 pts.

Here are the current standings;

OneAndDone- 27+17+17+34+41 = 136 pts.
ggrouchie- 27+17+17+34+41 = 136 pts.
Coach- 27+17+21+29+20 = 114 pts.
Vegas Vic- 27+17+21+29+16 = 110 pts.
MOJO-  27+17+17+29+16 = 106 pts.
Captain Crunch- 27+17+17+29+16 = 106 pts.

lightning36- 27+17+17+29+16 = 106 pts.
mrben09- 27+17+17+29+16 = 106 pts.
Music City Momma- 13+17+21+29+16 = 96 pts.
TwoMinuteWarning- (3)+17+37+29+16 = 96 pts.
cokeboy99- 27-(8)+21+34+16 = 90 pts.
Grange95- (3)+17+21+29+16 = 80 pts.

TeamMiRketti- 27+17+17-(3)+16 = 74 pts.
M Prosk- (3)+ 0+ 0+34+41 = 72 pts.
Neophyte- 27+17-(19)+0+41 = 66 pts.
angerisagift- (16)+41+37-(27)+18 = 53 pts.
Fullhouse538- (13)+17+17-(3)+0 = 18 pts.


Thanks for playing.

Week 6 picks are due by Saturday at 6pm (CDT). Only Sunday and Monday games are eligible.

Good luck!

This 'n That

Ms. Duck and I took a weekend road trip to the fair city of Tyler, Texas, about a 2 1/2 hour drive east of Waco. Our purpose was to attend a concert by Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Ray is originally from Oklahoma, but he got to Texas as quick as he could. I would describe his music as a folksy country blues. I doubt he's written anything you've heard, with the possible exception of "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother," which was recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker in the 70s and covered recently by Cracker.

The concert was in a converted movie theater called "Liberty Hall." Liberty was renovated a year ago and sports an art deco motif. The sound is great and makes for a nice venue. Our seats were on the sixth row (pictured below), so we had a great view.

Ray played quite a few of my favorites, including "Mississippi Flush," a song about having your royal lose to the hand in the title. He didn't play "Dust of the Chase," which is another gambling themed ditty that I like.

I think the crowd favorite was titled, "Screw You, We're from Texas," written to a few Nashville record executives that had come to see Ray play down in Port Aransas. Ray explained that all they wanted to hear were covers of the current country top 40 hits.

Ray replied that he didn't know any of those songs. "We write our own song in Texas," he said. And so the song was written during a break between sets, in effect telling Nashville to stick it where the sun don't shine. It also pretty much ended his Nashville ambitions. I'm guessing the song wouldn't be as well received in say, New York :)

Sunday morning we were up early and drove north about 35 miles to attend the church of a preacher friend. After the service, he and his wife treated us to lunch at their home. We had a fun visit before hopping in the car for our three hour trip home.

Just a great weekend!

                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------

I haven't updated on Mom in a while, so I'll take that opportunity now. She continues to recover from both the disease and the treatment. Chemo and radiation is a tough combination and she's definitely struggling. She had a catscan this morning and will meet with her oncologist next week for the results.

I try to be as positive as possible, regardless of the situation, but I've got to admit that Mom's situation doesn't look good. Please keep those prayers and positive vibes coming her way.

Thanks.

NFL Picks Contest- Week 5 Picks

I'm posting this week's picks earlt because I'm going to be out of pocket for the weekend. Ms. Duck and I are traveling to see Ray Wylie Hubbard in concert tonight. Should be a good time!

I've heard from everyone except ggrouchie, lightning, neo, and Fullhouse. I'll add their picks when I get back tomorrow night.

Here are the picks for this week's NFL Picks Contest. The Saints seem to be the favorite pick this week.

lightning36-New Orleans
TwoMinuteWarning- Philadelphia
Grange95- New Orleans
Full House538-
cokeboy99- New Orleans

Music City Momma- New Orleans
Coach- Seattle
MOJO-  New Orleans
Vegas Vic- New Orleans
Captain Crunch- Philadelphia
grrouchie- San Diego

One&Done- San Diego
MProsk- San Diego
angerisagift- Pittsburgh
Neophyte-San Diego
mrben09-  New Orleans

Please let me know if I missed your pick before the first games kickoff Sunday.

Good luck!!!

NFL Picks Contest-Picks Due Tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder that your pick for the NFL Picks Contest is due by 6 pm (CST) Saturday evening. I have most of them, but if you haven't sent yours yet, it's time to get with it!

Please e-mail me at nfl.picks@ymail com or leave a comment here with your pick.

Good luck!