Bought

First I would like to thank Mr. Smartass for his comment on which MP3 player to buy, it was soooo helpful.

Seriously, thanks for the advice to everyone who commented. I decided to go with the Sansa View because Best Buy did not have the Zen and I was using a gift card so going to another store was not an option. Besides, I got a 16GB View for the same price as an 8GB Zen.

Once I got it home, the fun began. I had to go to the Sansa web-site to find the manual so I could figure out how to turn it on. I guess math is not the only thing I find challenging. As soon as I was done feeling like an idiot, I started downloading music. This is where the real problem started. I signed up with Rhapsody because I get a month free from Best Buy. Every time I start to transfer music, the site freezes after a few songs. I have to close the site, then reopen it to continue the transfer and then it just freezes again after a few songs. It has taken way longer than it should to get my music downloaded. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm wondering if it is the web-site, my laptop, or the MP3 player? It's just a really big pain in the ass so if anyone has any insight on this problem I would really appreciate it.

So, I have a new addiction. My little MP3 player has been glued to my ear for 24 hours now. It's so nice to listen to music and know I'm going to like each and every song that comes through the headphones. No more scanning radio channels looking for a good song. I have just under 200 songs downloaded already and I'm open to suggestions for more. What's on your MP3 player? Tell me in the comments.

MP3 Help

I need advice about which non-Apple MP3 player to buy. I am stuck between the SanSa View and the Creative Zen, 8GB versions. Which of the two is better, or am I missing something else? Please do not suggest an iPod as I will not consider it. Thanks in advance.

Poker Hates Me: Trip Report Part One

Although we arrived in Vegas late Wednesday afternoon, I decided to take it easy and just hang out at the condo that night. I was going to be in Vegas for a week so there would be plenty of time to play poker. I also had decided to heed Otis's advice and play poker during the day, leaving night time to socialize with the bloggers. It was great advice and made perfect sense, unfortunately poker seemed to be pissed off at me and I didn't post a win at any point during the week.

I headed to the MGM at 1pm on Thursday afternoon looking forward to check raising some douchebags in the 2-4 limit game. There was immediate seating and I sat down in the 8 seat with my rack of chips. I was ahead briefly but I couldn't catch any cards and, had I played my junk like everyone else at the table, I would have lost even more. Nothing was hitting. It was a shame too because this British couple showed up and started some serious donking around. They were the only British people not in town for the Hatton fight and were supposed to be on a plane back to England. It turned out there was a 6 hour delay so they decided to take a taxi back to the MGM for a bit more poker. They weren't trying to make a profit and probably went through 4 or 5 buy-ins. The wife was splitting her winnings with the dealers and they definitely made out better than she did. There were so many chips on the table and I couldn't get any of them. Finally it was time to leave and meet up with the parents for dinner. When I left the table, I was down $47.

On Friday I got to the MGM to find that there was only an interest list for 2-4. However, they were seating a 3-6 table and I decided to give it a shot. I was up and down most of the day and we didn't have a full table until almost 5pm. At one point we were playing 4-handed which I actually found to be kind of fun. I also discovered that I was sitting next to a local who knew all about the bloggers. He was actually preparing to meet some of them that evening and I offered to introduce him. Cactus Jack also gave me a few pointers on my play that I will hopefully remember in the future. By the end of the session I was up $50 but still down $3 for the trip. It was the best day I would have as far as poker play for the rest of my stay.

Saturday was the big tournament and I don't really count the entry fee as part of my poker bankroll. It's money saved for this specific purpose and if I happen to win some money, great and if I don't, I don't mind. I got down to the final 3 tables and was very short stacked. I finally found a hand when Rooster raised ahead of me. I knew it was my best chance and I knew he was going to call so I went all-in. My AK did not stand up against his monster 6 10 and I was out somewhere between 25 and 30. Of course Rooster took my chips and went on to win the whole damn thing so at least it wasn't a total loss. If I'm going to lose I want it to be to the person who eventually wins.

Sunday, I played no poker. I was too tired and there was lots of football on (I don't really like football but bloggers were there so I went to hang out).

On Monday I sat down at 3-6 again. It did not go well. I was never ahead of my buy-in and I just couldn't get any cards to help me out. It really, really sucked! After I went broke I had some time to kill before meeting the parents for dinner so I went looking for a lucky penny slot machine. Within minutes I had run my $20 up to $130. Thanks for the tips Grubby!

Tuesday came about and I was determine to take my slot winnings and win big. I left the table with $15. These 3 guys from Boston sat down about halfway through the session and actually knew what they were doing. Apparently they play at Foxwoods all the time. There was a lot of pre-flop raising and they were able to take down a lot of pots. Again, I couldn't get anything though I did have a couple of good plays and, after a few hours, I left with my head down and a tear in my eye (not really but it sounds more pitiful).

So, all in all the poker part of my Vegas trip sucked. I think it was a combination of bad cards and that fact that the MGM refurbished all their poker tables with this ugly brown felt. I think brown is an unlucky color for me, yeah it was the MGM's fault.

Links

I just went through my blog links on the left and deleted a few. I am going to go through them one more time and delete any that haven't posted in the past 6 months. After that I will be adding some blogs to the list. If you want to be added please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail.

Also, thanks for the "hugs", it meant a lot.

I Need A Hug

I've been in a funk all day. Most of it was migraine induced but the math final I took while the migraine was raging didn't help, then my final didn't get submitted due to some sort of computer glitch so I have to take it again tomorrow. I also think some of the funk is the post-Vegas blues. Bloggers are affectionate people, they like to hug, and I don't get enough of that in my life. On days like today I just want to curl up in bed with someone's arms around me until the pain goes away. Is that really too much to ask?

Home

I am finally home from Vegas and I have appeared to have grown a new appendage. My cat, Punkin, has not left my side since I walked into the house. When we walked in the door she started crying to let us know that she was happy to have us back and to tell us that we can never leave her again. She hasn't let me leave her sight and has even escorted me to the bathroom. While it is nice to be missed, I'm seriously considering drugging her food so I can have a few minutes of peace.

I suppose I should write up some sort of trip report. I have a great title, I just need to get a few things done here at home before I can write up my thoughts about the trip. A huge thank you to Falstaff for planning a great event and to the Venetian for putting up with us.

Contemplation

I've had a great time with the bloggers these last few days. Spending time with people who don't expect me to be anything other than what I am has been very peaceful. Since I haven't had to pretend to be someone else my head has been clear and I've had time to think about the state of my social life. While I'm okay with my life in San Jose, I'm certainly not content and definitely not as happy as I would like to be. What I need is someone who can give me their undivided attention without smothering me. Someone who "gets" me completely and can be there in the dark times as well as the light times. Unfortunately, romantic relationships scare me. I like unrequited romance but, if the object of my affection starts to return the feelings, if I start getting what I want, I have a panic attack and run in the opposite direction. Of course if I can find someone who "gets" me, maybe they can keep me from running.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts floating through my head that I felt like sharing. I want to thank everyone who mentioned to me over the last few days that they still read my blog. I was starting to think I had lost all my readers, and I certainly wouldn't blame you, so it was nice to know that I am missed when I don't write.

Arrived

We landed in Vegas around 4:30pm, a little later than scheduled but it was an uneventful flight so I'm okay with the late landing. The condo however, is fucking awesome, as always. The best part though is the location of my room. Normally the smaller room is in the front and you can hear everyone coming back to their rooms at night but this section of the building is all enclosed, like a hotel and my room is in the back. I also have a great view of the huge pool area and my own bathroom so I'm happy.

Tomorrow I'm hitting the strip and probably a poker room by the name of the MGM. I need to get in some practice before the big tournament on Saturday then I'll head over to the IP and see if I can get my drink on. Until then, safe flights to you all!

Almost

It's almost time for Vegas and I can't wait to get there. I miss all the bloggers and haven't played much poker in months. I should be landing in Vegas around 4pm on Wednesday and have until the following Wednesday to have as much fun as humanly possible.

This is also a birthday celebration for my dad, he turned the big 55 yesterday. He is now old enough to qualify for those active senior citizen apartment complexes. If you meet him this week make sure you say happy birthday and feel free to buy him a bourbon or take him to a strip club, he would be very appreciative. As for my step-mother, you have my permission to mess with her if you wish, she gets confused easily.

My cell phone number is on the massive spreadsheet so feel free to give me a call or send me a text if you want to get together in Vegas or just want to make sure I am still alive.

See you all soon!