I realize I haven't posted in over a week but I promise to remedy that very soon. As a matter of fact, my schedule opens up a bit after Tuesday night. I have a paper to turn in, a 5 minute presentation to give and then I will be finished with my summer class. I still have one on Saturday morning but it's more of a pain in the ass to get up that early than to actually work on homework. In other words, I could pass it with my eyes closed (and they usually are).
As for poker, I have been playing (I can't seem to stop for too long) but I have shortened the length of my limit sessions. I was finding that sitting longer wasn't really increasing my bankroll and, most of the time, I was giving a lot of my winnings back. Basically, I am learning "when to walk away". My SNG game still sucks. I had two bubble finishes and a last place finish over the weekend. I was doing well at SNG's before Vegas but I seem to have lost something since I returned and I still haven't figured out what. I've also played a few tourney's but I have no major cashes to report. Mostly I am just working on building the bankroll.
Speaking of which, I now have money at Party. A couple of weeks ago they gave me some "we miss you" bonus money and I haven't lost it all yet. I actually had it up to almost $50 at one point but I forgot to walk away while I was up. Anyway, I'm building it up again so we'll see how long it lasts. I also still have money at Stars and UB so those are the places you will likely find me playing if you ever go looking. (April98 is my name on all three.)
That's it for now and until next time...........(did you really think I suddenly figured out how to end a post?)
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Thursday, July 21, 2005
If It Weren't For Luck
I just finished 19th in the $2000 guaranteed, $10 buy-in tournament on Ultimate Bet.
Basically I was bored with limit play over on Poker Stars, they didn't have any interesting tournaments starting up, and I am on a break from SNG's so I headed over to UB to see how quick I could lose the last $14 I had left in my account. It was nearing the start time for the $2000 guarantee and, even though it was more than I usually buy-in for, I said "fuck-it" and signed up. There ended up being 241 entries and the top 30 payed. Oh, and it was a turbo tournament. Nothing says "take my money quickly" like the all-in crapfest that is a turbo tourney.
My first table was fairly tight-passive. I won a few small pots and managed to get just above the average when I got moved to table that was a little more interesting. Unfortunately my cards sucked. Finally I got a pair of 8's and made a good sized raise. The guy across the table from me called and I got annoyed. On an earlier hand he got me to lay down AQ by going all in after a flop that I had missed completely. I felt he was on a steal but I wasn't ready to find out. Anyway, back to the pair of eights. The flop came something like 2 4 5 and I knew that I liked it. The other guy was first to act and pulled his all-in trick again. All my B.S. alarms started going off and I called. He had AQ and didn't improve. He was out but turned out to be a good sport and complemented me on the call.
At this point, I was sure I had enough to make the money, even with the fast rising blinds but I hate just sneaking in like that. Fortunately, the cards made the decision for me as I didn't get anything worth playing. I was moved again and this time, with 2 of the 3 chip leaders at my table, I decided to wait for a premium hand. I made it to the break with 11 to go before the money but, since I was on the button I could afford to wait at least an orbit before I had to start worrying. The action finally got back around to me and it looked like I was going to bubble. That's when the luck really kicked in.
I was in the SB when I was dealt the evil AK. Since I couldn't even complete the BB, I once again said fuck-it and went all-in. A full boat and a couple hands later, I found myself in the money. Now it was time to get serious. All-in or fold were my only options if I wanted to compete with the big stacks. That's when I got a pair of 7's in mid to early position. I put all my chips on the line and had 2 callers. Flop comes and there, staring back at me, is a third 7. I'm feeling good but one of the other guys has Q's and I think there was a flush draw. The next two cards came quick but I remember the flash of the 4th 7 on the river. The four of a kind gave me about 15,000 in chips and I was confident I could get to the next payout level.
Sure enough, a few hands later we were down to two tables. Again, I was going to wait for a decent hand and push. That's when it happened. I looked at the screen and saw two beautiful Aces. One red, one black. I bet out 5k and it was folded to the guy across from me. He went all-in and, without hesitation, I called. He had 8's and I was feeling good. I could actually see the final table on the horizon but luck always finds a way to turn and bite me in the ass and this hand was no exception.
The flop was harmless but the turn brought the ugliest 8 I've ever seen. I received no help on the river and I was out in 19th with a profit of $7. For a moment I was in shock (because we all know that aces always win) but I remembered that I had entered the tournament with no real expectations so I had absolutely nothing to complain about. If I repeat that to myself a couple more times, maybe I'll actually start to believe it.
Basically I was bored with limit play over on Poker Stars, they didn't have any interesting tournaments starting up, and I am on a break from SNG's so I headed over to UB to see how quick I could lose the last $14 I had left in my account. It was nearing the start time for the $2000 guarantee and, even though it was more than I usually buy-in for, I said "fuck-it" and signed up. There ended up being 241 entries and the top 30 payed. Oh, and it was a turbo tournament. Nothing says "take my money quickly" like the all-in crapfest that is a turbo tourney.
My first table was fairly tight-passive. I won a few small pots and managed to get just above the average when I got moved to table that was a little more interesting. Unfortunately my cards sucked. Finally I got a pair of 8's and made a good sized raise. The guy across the table from me called and I got annoyed. On an earlier hand he got me to lay down AQ by going all in after a flop that I had missed completely. I felt he was on a steal but I wasn't ready to find out. Anyway, back to the pair of eights. The flop came something like 2 4 5 and I knew that I liked it. The other guy was first to act and pulled his all-in trick again. All my B.S. alarms started going off and I called. He had AQ and didn't improve. He was out but turned out to be a good sport and complemented me on the call.
At this point, I was sure I had enough to make the money, even with the fast rising blinds but I hate just sneaking in like that. Fortunately, the cards made the decision for me as I didn't get anything worth playing. I was moved again and this time, with 2 of the 3 chip leaders at my table, I decided to wait for a premium hand. I made it to the break with 11 to go before the money but, since I was on the button I could afford to wait at least an orbit before I had to start worrying. The action finally got back around to me and it looked like I was going to bubble. That's when the luck really kicked in.
I was in the SB when I was dealt the evil AK. Since I couldn't even complete the BB, I once again said fuck-it and went all-in. A full boat and a couple hands later, I found myself in the money. Now it was time to get serious. All-in or fold were my only options if I wanted to compete with the big stacks. That's when I got a pair of 7's in mid to early position. I put all my chips on the line and had 2 callers. Flop comes and there, staring back at me, is a third 7. I'm feeling good but one of the other guys has Q's and I think there was a flush draw. The next two cards came quick but I remember the flash of the 4th 7 on the river. The four of a kind gave me about 15,000 in chips and I was confident I could get to the next payout level.
Sure enough, a few hands later we were down to two tables. Again, I was going to wait for a decent hand and push. That's when it happened. I looked at the screen and saw two beautiful Aces. One red, one black. I bet out 5k and it was folded to the guy across from me. He went all-in and, without hesitation, I called. He had 8's and I was feeling good. I could actually see the final table on the horizon but luck always finds a way to turn and bite me in the ass and this hand was no exception.
The flop was harmless but the turn brought the ugliest 8 I've ever seen. I received no help on the river and I was out in 19th with a profit of $7. For a moment I was in shock (because we all know that aces always win) but I remembered that I had entered the tournament with no real expectations so I had absolutely nothing to complain about. If I repeat that to myself a couple more times, maybe I'll actually start to believe it.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Bad Timing
I can't believe my computer decided to shut off three minutes before the start of the Charlie tournament. I was ready to kick ass and, instead, ended up going out early because my brain decided to go on vacation. Having to re-boot the computer twice just threw off my focus. I would look at my hand and have no idea how to play it. It was like I had just sat down at the table for the first time ever without any clue of how to play. Oh well, it was for a good cause and I was able to railbird Joanne and Shelly after I got knocked out. Of course I also had the "celebrity table" open the whole time. That lucky Shelly actually got to play there for awhile! Maudie ended up taking Shelly out with what I would call the play of the tournament but I'll let them tell that tale.
Right before my computer shut off, Jason was talking about hockey and I was in the middle of my reply when the damn thing rebelled. I am excited that hockey will be back. I'm not mad at anyone anymore and I just hope the NHL can recover after a year of no play. The only bad part is that I can't afford to keep my season tickets. It's just not possible. I have switched to what is called Shark-Pak which is a 10-game package with some of the benefits of season tickets including priority for playoff tickets. As my dad reminded me, all the games will be on TV and I should have no problem getting tickets for any other game I may want to go to. It still kind of sucks though.
Actually what really sucks is that I have to go back to work tomorrow. I've been enjoying my time off even if it was for surgery recovery. I like my job but I am sick of one of my co-workers and I am not looking forward to seeing her again. The only thing making it better is that I have a job waiting for me with a very new business that my dad is involved in. Once they get the necessary capital and can start paying people I will be leaving the hospital and working from home (or Vegas, or anywhere I can hook up my computer). I can't say much more right now, but wish them luck as I think it will be a very profitable venture.
That's it for today. Thanks to everyone who planned the Charlie tourny and to those who donated. 144 people at $20 each equals a nice gift for the charity. May the poker gods shine down on you all!
Right before my computer shut off, Jason was talking about hockey and I was in the middle of my reply when the damn thing rebelled. I am excited that hockey will be back. I'm not mad at anyone anymore and I just hope the NHL can recover after a year of no play. The only bad part is that I can't afford to keep my season tickets. It's just not possible. I have switched to what is called Shark-Pak which is a 10-game package with some of the benefits of season tickets including priority for playoff tickets. As my dad reminded me, all the games will be on TV and I should have no problem getting tickets for any other game I may want to go to. It still kind of sucks though.
Actually what really sucks is that I have to go back to work tomorrow. I've been enjoying my time off even if it was for surgery recovery. I like my job but I am sick of one of my co-workers and I am not looking forward to seeing her again. The only thing making it better is that I have a job waiting for me with a very new business that my dad is involved in. Once they get the necessary capital and can start paying people I will be leaving the hospital and working from home (or Vegas, or anywhere I can hook up my computer). I can't say much more right now, but wish them luck as I think it will be a very profitable venture.
That's it for today. Thanks to everyone who planned the Charlie tourny and to those who donated. 144 people at $20 each equals a nice gift for the charity. May the poker gods shine down on you all!
Friday, July 15, 2005
"The Mouth" Is Out And I Am Sad
If you were waiting for the broadcast on ESPN in October, I'm not sorry for ruining it for you. It's the fucking WSOP main event and no real poker fan or player is going to wait to see the edited version on TV, besides, how can you not be reloading Pauly's site every five minutes for updates.
So, I will admit, I have been rooting for Mike Matusow for most of the tournament and that is after seeing his behavior on TV last year and without knowing the details of his arrest shortly thereafter. I've been reading on blogs all week about how he shouldn't win and how it would be bad for poker and all I have to say is that is a lot of bullshit. Who cares if a few more jackasses start mouthing off at the tables, most of them will still be making donkey moves and will eventually be giving away all their chips to the better, quieter players at the table. The difference between these loud mouths and Mike, is that Mike actually knows how to play the game. The last hand was played perfectly and Mike should have won. He got unlucky but he kept his cool when he had every right to go off on a meltdown. He was very calm on the Cardplayer audio broadcast almost immediately after and said he would be sleeping well tonight because he played his best game ever this past week. Doesn't sound like words that someone who is "bad for poker" would say, at least not to me.
Does he rub people the wrong way? Sure, but he's not the only one, he just happens to get the most press. Speaking of which, if he's so "bad for poker", why was he at the featured table so much and why did he seem to be the most quoted player on every update web-site? Because we need a villain, someone to dislike and I'm sure there will be a few morons who will try to emulate Mike's style but I doubt that behavior will be tolerated to the extent that Mike's is. I think the nickname gets you a bit more leeway.
Personally, I'm sorry he's gone because I like me a good villain and Mike "The Mouth" Matusow plays a great one.
So, I will admit, I have been rooting for Mike Matusow for most of the tournament and that is after seeing his behavior on TV last year and without knowing the details of his arrest shortly thereafter. I've been reading on blogs all week about how he shouldn't win and how it would be bad for poker and all I have to say is that is a lot of bullshit. Who cares if a few more jackasses start mouthing off at the tables, most of them will still be making donkey moves and will eventually be giving away all their chips to the better, quieter players at the table. The difference between these loud mouths and Mike, is that Mike actually knows how to play the game. The last hand was played perfectly and Mike should have won. He got unlucky but he kept his cool when he had every right to go off on a meltdown. He was very calm on the Cardplayer audio broadcast almost immediately after and said he would be sleeping well tonight because he played his best game ever this past week. Doesn't sound like words that someone who is "bad for poker" would say, at least not to me.
Does he rub people the wrong way? Sure, but he's not the only one, he just happens to get the most press. Speaking of which, if he's so "bad for poker", why was he at the featured table so much and why did he seem to be the most quoted player on every update web-site? Because we need a villain, someone to dislike and I'm sure there will be a few morons who will try to emulate Mike's style but I doubt that behavior will be tolerated to the extent that Mike's is. I think the nickname gets you a bit more leeway.
Personally, I'm sorry he's gone because I like me a good villain and Mike "The Mouth" Matusow plays a great one.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
I'm Such An Idiot!
I knew I was going to forget that Full Tilt is having a live poker tournament on Fox Sports tonight. Luckily Phil is still in but I still feel like an idiot for forgetting. I have no doubt that Fox will re-run it to death but I wanted to see it from beginning to end while it was LIVE. I guess all I missed was one player being knocked out. If you're not watching, turn the channel now!
Also, if you haven't signed up for the charity tournament yet, what are you waiting for? Yes, I realize I haven't signed up yet but I have a good excuse. I need to win about $10 and I will have enough in my account to play and continue building the bankroll. I should be able to accomplish that tonight so expect to see my name on the list very soon.
Necessary Information:
July 17th 3 p.m. PST
Buy-in of $20, all goes to charity
PokerStars
Look under private tab for WPBT "Charlie" Tournament
Also, if you haven't signed up for the charity tournament yet, what are you waiting for? Yes, I realize I haven't signed up yet but I have a good excuse. I need to win about $10 and I will have enough in my account to play and continue building the bankroll. I should be able to accomplish that tonight so expect to see my name on the list very soon.
Necessary Information:
July 17th 3 p.m. PST
Buy-in of $20, all goes to charity
PokerStars
Look under private tab for WPBT "Charlie" Tournament
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
WPBT Tournament For Charlie
Join the WPBT for a tournament in honor of Charlie. All proceeds will go to a charity chosen by Charlie's family.
Necessary Information:
July 17th 3 p.m. PST
Buy-in of $20, all goes to charity
PokerStars
Look under private tab for WPBT "Charlie" Tournament
Necessary Information:
July 17th 3 p.m. PST
Buy-in of $20, all goes to charity
PokerStars
Look under private tab for WPBT "Charlie" Tournament
Monday, July 11, 2005
Some Shameless Promotion
ESPN Original Entertainment’s 2004 World Series of Poker Now Available on DVDNEW YORK (June 28, 2005) — The poker phenomenon is still raging and so is its highest stakes game, No-Limit Texas Hold’Em. To the delight of poker fans nationwide, ESPN Original Entertainment and DVD Marketing Inc. have compiled the complete 2004 World Series of Poker’s Main Event, a six-day shoot-out between the crème de la crème of the poker world and wildcard amateurs to capture the multi-million dollar cash prize, onto an ultimate must-have three-disc DVD set.The DVD set, packed with bonus features and more than 11 hours of poker action, will be available for online purchase as of today at www.espnshop.com and www.championshipdvd.com with a suggested retail price of $19.95. Availability in retail outlets will follow.
“Our fans will really enjoy the 2004 WSOP DVD collection because we’ve loaded it with four hours of bonus content,” said Victoria Stevens, vice president, ESPN. “It’s great for people who enjoy poker and dream of someday making it to the final table at the game’s biggest stage.”
A record-breaking 2,576 players, more than triple the number from last year, came to Las Vegas for the 2004 World Series of Poker. Once again, it was a virtual unknown in the poker world that would beat the poker masters and garner the top prize. Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, a patent attorney from Connecticut, parlayed a $160 online entry fee into $5 million in winnings and the coveted WSOP title.
This DVD set contains ESPN Original Entertainment’s final 10 programs from the telecast of the 2004 World Series of Poker, which earned a 1.7 rating for more than 1.5 million viewing households. Hosted by ESPN commentators and poker aficionados, Lon McEachern and Norman Chad, the DVD is presented in fullscreen (1.33:1) digital video without commercial interruption, and includes revealing interviews of star players, basic rules of No-Limit Texas Hold’Em and four hours of bonus features. Chapter points set at the key rounds allow the viewer to jump directly to the action putting them in control of every frame of video as ESPN captures the emotion, strategy and luck in route to crowning the champion of the World Series of Poker.
The unprecedented four hours of bonus features include:
* Top-10 moments from the 2004 tournament
* A Greg Raymer commentary
* A Greg Raymer All Access
* Greg Raymer’s Bio
* A Stu Unger feature
* Beyond the Felt: Poker Talk segment
* Coverage of the $1,000 Buy-In No-Limit Texas Hold’Em
* Coverage of the $2,000 Buy-In Pot Limit Omaha
* Tournament of Champions feature
* Coverage of the Kansas City Lowball event, exclusive only to the DVD
Friday, July 08, 2005
I'm Alive!
I'm finally home and my dad just walked through the door with my pain meds, fresh from the pharmacy. I have four small incisions on my abdomen and a swollen hand from where the IV was inserted.
My twin was nice enough to call me yesterday and let me know that Wil had been knocked out of the WSOP. That was sucky news but it was nice of April to call and fill me in.
Thanks for all the get well messages. I'll try to return to my regularly erratic posting schedule as soon as I feel up to it.
My twin was nice enough to call me yesterday and let me know that Wil had been knocked out of the WSOP. That was sucky news but it was nice of April to call and fill me in.
Thanks for all the get well messages. I'll try to return to my regularly erratic posting schedule as soon as I feel up to it.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
The Big Day
In a few hours I will be "under the knife" and though I don't feel nervous, I haven't slept well all week which is a sure sign that I am, in fact, nervous. I spoke with my anesthesiologist earlier and he has promised me some good drugs before I go into the operating room, especially since I tend to start shaking uncontrollably when I'm about to do something scary. This was so much easier when I had my appendix taken out. That was emergency surgery so there was no time to think about it. This gall bladder thing I've known about since just after Vegas and I knew surgery was the only option so I've thought of nothing else for about three weeks now. Finally planning it gave me something to focus on but hasn't relieved the fear. The funny thing is that it's not really the surgery that scares me, it's the fact that people I work with will be seeing me at my worst, not to mention the fact that some will see a little more of me than my self-conscious self would prefer. What do I care, I'll be unconscious....Yeah, that's comforting.
Anyway, thanks to everyone for the well wishes. My surgery starts at 8:30 a.m. PST so feel free to send some good vibes in my direction if you get a chance. I'll be staying in a private room (working there does have some advantages) and I am sneaking in my cell phone so if anyone still has my number and wants to call me with some WSOP news or to make sure I'm still alive, please feel free. I figure I'll be semi-conscious around noon and probably driving the nurses nuts by 2 p.m. Otherwise I'll make a quick post when I get home on Friday so you'll all know I made it.
Don't forget, the main event starts tomorrow so make sure you check the sites on the right for the best updates on the internet. Good luck to all the competitors, especially Wil and Phil.
Anyway, thanks to everyone for the well wishes. My surgery starts at 8:30 a.m. PST so feel free to send some good vibes in my direction if you get a chance. I'll be staying in a private room (working there does have some advantages) and I am sneaking in my cell phone so if anyone still has my number and wants to call me with some WSOP news or to make sure I'm still alive, please feel free. I figure I'll be semi-conscious around noon and probably driving the nurses nuts by 2 p.m. Otherwise I'll make a quick post when I get home on Friday so you'll all know I made it.
Don't forget, the main event starts tomorrow so make sure you check the sites on the right for the best updates on the internet. Good luck to all the competitors, especially Wil and Phil.
Monday, July 04, 2005
I'd Rather Be On Vacation
My nice four day weekend is slowly coming to an end. My poker game has been okay but I still haven't recovered all of my "lost" bankroll. I do feel that I am getting better as a player though. I can identify the donkey's at the table rather quickly and just sit back and wait for a hand to take the chips they seem so eager to give away. On one hand I flopped the nut flush and a couple of players called my raises all the way down to the river giving me a nice little payoff of $11. For a twenty-five cent table an eleven dollar pot is huge.
So this week I work exactly two days and then I am off until July 18th. I wish I was flying to Vegas for the WSOP main event but this isn't vacation time I am taking. As my regular readers know, I have had some health problems recently. In trying to find out what is causing these problems we came across another problem. It seems I have several rather large gallstones in my gallbladder and this probably explains the chest pain I had that first night in Vegas. It also explains other problems I have been having but hadn't gotten around to getting checked out because the passing out thing seemed a little more important at the time. Well, the passing out thing has been put on the backburner and on Thursday of this week I will be having surgery to remove my gallbladder. It's an easy surgery that my surgeon has performed over 6000 times but he likes to be cautious and is having me stay overnight in the hospital. It sucks but it's probably the right thing when my other "stuff" is taken into consideration.
I'll be having the surgery done at the hospital that I work at. Luckily I get a huge discount by having it done there plus I'll probably get a private room for the night. The downside is that I will have no computer access for 24 hours. This really isn't a big deal as I have gone without computer access before but the part that is killing me is that I won't be getting any updates from the WSOP and Thursday happens to be the day that Wil starts playing. Knowing my luck, it's probably the day Phil starts as well. Maybe I can convince the insurance company that I would get better faster if I spent my recovery time in Vegas. Don't laugh, it could work (in an alternate universe maybe)!
So this week I work exactly two days and then I am off until July 18th. I wish I was flying to Vegas for the WSOP main event but this isn't vacation time I am taking. As my regular readers know, I have had some health problems recently. In trying to find out what is causing these problems we came across another problem. It seems I have several rather large gallstones in my gallbladder and this probably explains the chest pain I had that first night in Vegas. It also explains other problems I have been having but hadn't gotten around to getting checked out because the passing out thing seemed a little more important at the time. Well, the passing out thing has been put on the backburner and on Thursday of this week I will be having surgery to remove my gallbladder. It's an easy surgery that my surgeon has performed over 6000 times but he likes to be cautious and is having me stay overnight in the hospital. It sucks but it's probably the right thing when my other "stuff" is taken into consideration.
I'll be having the surgery done at the hospital that I work at. Luckily I get a huge discount by having it done there plus I'll probably get a private room for the night. The downside is that I will have no computer access for 24 hours. This really isn't a big deal as I have gone without computer access before but the part that is killing me is that I won't be getting any updates from the WSOP and Thursday happens to be the day that Wil starts playing. Knowing my luck, it's probably the day Phil starts as well. Maybe I can convince the insurance company that I would get better faster if I spent my recovery time in Vegas. Don't laugh, it could work (in an alternate universe maybe)!
Friday, July 01, 2005
I Want To Be Like Doyle
Un-fucking-believable! 72-year-old Doyle Brunson won his tenth WSOP bracelet at 4 a.m. this morning. Again, un-fucking-believable! From the first moment that ESPN introduced me to Doyle on one of their poker broadcasts I have had a tremendous amount of respect for the man. He is the epitome of what a professional poker player should be. I've never seen him go off on a Hellmuthian rant or give his buddies high-fives when he sucked out on the river. He just sits quietly at the table and gives each and every player his respect while slowly building up his stack of chips. He moves in for the kill but it seems to hurt less coming from a poker legend of such skill, almost like he's doing the other players a favor by knocking them out of the tournament. I stayed up until the finish and I can't wait to see this event on ESPN later this year. I bow down to you Mr. Brunson as you represent everything I hope I can be.
Now go read Pauly's write-up of the event over at Las VegasVegas.
Now go read Pauly's write-up of the event over at Las VegasVegas.
Friday, June 24, 2005
A Little Bit Of This
For some reason I feel like writing but I don't have any particular topic in mind so I'll just do a little free-form and see what happens.
I guess the first thing on my mind is Jason. I only had a couple of conversations with him in Vegas but that was a couple more than I had with most people who attended the gathering for whatever that's worth. Jason seems like a great guy so I know Charlie had to be very special to be considered "best friend". Jason, I am truly sorry for your loss. I've lost a couple people who meant a lot to me so I have some idea what you're going through. All I can offer is this, take things one moment at a time and allow yourself to grieve.
Moving on to the next thought......
I really wish I was going to the NASCAR race at Infineon Raceway this Sunday. I attended once a few years ago, when is was Searspoint Speedway, and had a blast. Even though it's only a couple of hours away, I took a bus. We got a free T-shirt and lunch with the deal plus they let the buses leave the parking lot before the general public so there was no traffic after the race. It's the only race I have ever been to and, even though it was hot and I got a bad sunburn, I had a great time. I took the older of my 3 step-brothers and he had a fun time also. He is an Earnhardt fan (Sr. was still alive) and I was a Jeff Gordon fan at the time so we always have a fun little rivalry. I prefer Tony Stewart now (we have the same temper) but I still cheer for Gordon from time-to-time. Anyway, I just can't afford to go right now which means I'll have to settle for watching it on the big screen TV in the comfort of my Dad's house.
Next subject.....
After Vegas I decided to make a deposit at Poker Stars. I was doing well in the SNG's and had visions of growing a huge bankroll. About I week later I was almost broke so I have been slowly trying to build it back up to where I started by playing low-limit ring games. I forgot how boring limit can be but I think it's the best way to get my bankroll back in shape. I've been playing the $1 MTT's every once in a while to break up the monotony but have yet to cash in any of them.
How about this....
I am nearing the end of one of the best bottles of wine I have ever had (probably why I am so chatty). I'm not an expert by any means but I know what I like and this Charbono from Summers Vinyard's is awesome. I bought it last year while my mom was visiting from Maine. We spent a few day's in Napa/Sonoma and I read something about the vineyard so we went to check it out. It was small, quiet, and the woman working in the tasting room was friendly. We tried a few and I left with a bottle of the Charbono. I spent a little more than I usually do but it was well worth it. Now that it's gone I'll need to plan another trip to the area, otherwise I have to pay to have it shipped to me, and I would rather use this as an excuse to spend a couple days wine tasting.
And lastly....
I've been thinking about what place I have in the poker blogging community. I have decided that I wish to be known as the red-headed step-child of the community (technically I have red hair and I have step-parents but, I digress). Whenever I am involved with some type of "community" whether it's church, hockey, or poker, I never quite feel like I totally belong. So, in an effort to find my "place", I have decided to embrace this aspect of my personality. No longer will I feel left out of anything for any reason other than I am the red-headed step-child of the group. Damn, I think the wine has gotten to me.
Time to open another bottle!
I guess the first thing on my mind is Jason. I only had a couple of conversations with him in Vegas but that was a couple more than I had with most people who attended the gathering for whatever that's worth. Jason seems like a great guy so I know Charlie had to be very special to be considered "best friend". Jason, I am truly sorry for your loss. I've lost a couple people who meant a lot to me so I have some idea what you're going through. All I can offer is this, take things one moment at a time and allow yourself to grieve.
Moving on to the next thought......
I really wish I was going to the NASCAR race at Infineon Raceway this Sunday. I attended once a few years ago, when is was Searspoint Speedway, and had a blast. Even though it's only a couple of hours away, I took a bus. We got a free T-shirt and lunch with the deal plus they let the buses leave the parking lot before the general public so there was no traffic after the race. It's the only race I have ever been to and, even though it was hot and I got a bad sunburn, I had a great time. I took the older of my 3 step-brothers and he had a fun time also. He is an Earnhardt fan (Sr. was still alive) and I was a Jeff Gordon fan at the time so we always have a fun little rivalry. I prefer Tony Stewart now (we have the same temper) but I still cheer for Gordon from time-to-time. Anyway, I just can't afford to go right now which means I'll have to settle for watching it on the big screen TV in the comfort of my Dad's house.
Next subject.....
After Vegas I decided to make a deposit at Poker Stars. I was doing well in the SNG's and had visions of growing a huge bankroll. About I week later I was almost broke so I have been slowly trying to build it back up to where I started by playing low-limit ring games. I forgot how boring limit can be but I think it's the best way to get my bankroll back in shape. I've been playing the $1 MTT's every once in a while to break up the monotony but have yet to cash in any of them.
How about this....
I am nearing the end of one of the best bottles of wine I have ever had (probably why I am so chatty). I'm not an expert by any means but I know what I like and this Charbono from Summers Vinyard's is awesome. I bought it last year while my mom was visiting from Maine. We spent a few day's in Napa/Sonoma and I read something about the vineyard so we went to check it out. It was small, quiet, and the woman working in the tasting room was friendly. We tried a few and I left with a bottle of the Charbono. I spent a little more than I usually do but it was well worth it. Now that it's gone I'll need to plan another trip to the area, otherwise I have to pay to have it shipped to me, and I would rather use this as an excuse to spend a couple days wine tasting.
And lastly....
I've been thinking about what place I have in the poker blogging community. I have decided that I wish to be known as the red-headed step-child of the community (technically I have red hair and I have step-parents but, I digress). Whenever I am involved with some type of "community" whether it's church, hockey, or poker, I never quite feel like I totally belong. So, in an effort to find my "place", I have decided to embrace this aspect of my personality. No longer will I feel left out of anything for any reason other than I am the red-headed step-child of the group. Damn, I think the wine has gotten to me.
Time to open another bottle!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
This One Is For Charlie
I've been trying for the past few days to write something that eloquently covers the emotions I have been feeling since I first heard about Charlie and his phone call from my new favorite poker player, Marcel Luske. Finding the right words has been difficult and reading the ongoing story has only added to that difficulty. I just want everyone involved with Charlie to know that my prayers continue to be with you.
Since I still can't find the words to express myself properly I leave you with the following links (especially for those who may not know what has been going on):
Pauly's story as picked up by Fox Sports - A Guy Named Charlie
The latest update from Jason, best friend to Charlie.
My deepest sympathies go out to Charlie's family and friends. Although I never got the chance to meet Charlie, I don't think I will ever forget the affect he had on a community of poker bloggers and some professional poker players at the WSOP.
Since I still can't find the words to express myself properly I leave you with the following links (especially for those who may not know what has been going on):
Pauly's story as picked up by Fox Sports - A Guy Named Charlie
The latest update from Jason, best friend to Charlie.
My deepest sympathies go out to Charlie's family and friends. Although I never got the chance to meet Charlie, I don't think I will ever forget the affect he had on a community of poker bloggers and some professional poker players at the WSOP.
Monday, June 20, 2005
The Best Damn WSOP Coverage EVER!
If you're not reading Pauly's WSOP updates then something is seriously wrong with you. He's busting his ass and getting very little sleep to bring this to the masses so the least you could do is show a little support. Here is the link to his site as well as a few other important places for WSOP news.
World Series of Poker Live Blog - A.K.A. Pauly's site
World Series of Poker Photo Gallery - FlipChip's photo's
World Series of Poker News - PokerProf's site
World Series of Poker Tournament Results - Poker Player Newspaper
World Series of Poker Podcast - Lord Admiral Radio
Phil Gordon WSOP Podcast
Now click some links and read!
World Series of Poker Live Blog - A.K.A. Pauly's site
World Series of Poker Photo Gallery - FlipChip's photo's
World Series of Poker News - PokerProf's site
World Series of Poker Tournament Results - Poker Player Newspaper
World Series of Poker Podcast - Lord Admiral Radio
Phil Gordon WSOP Podcast
Now click some links and read!
Sunday, June 19, 2005
I Wish I'd Been There
I got up Saturday after 40 minutes of sleep and crawled to the shower. I felt like I was dead and I was waiting for rigor to set in. How was I going to make it through the "big day"?
We picked up Shelly and headed towards the Aladdin. We were running a few minutes late so Maura dropped us off and went to park the car. Unfortunately we had to walk through the mall before we found the casino and it took a few more minutes to find the poker room. We checked in and got our table assignments. I was at Table 9, Seat 8 which should have been lucky (my on-line poker name is April98) but I felt so bad I didn't care. I had only met two people at my table which, under normal circumstances, would have caused me to be more social but I didn't have the energy to utter more than "hi" or "nice hand".
Seat 1 - CJ
Seat 2 - Mrs. Head
Seat 3 - Poker Nerd, later -EV
Seat 4 - Maudie
Seat 5 - Reader Matt
Seat 6 - ?????
Seat 7 - Shane
Seat 8 - Me
Seat 9 - Steve
Seat 10 - Whiskeytown
I don't remember much about my play. At one point I got Shane to lay down a hand where he might have been ahead. I had Q's and an Ace came on the flop. I think he had an Ace but I wanted that pot and managed to bet enough to get him out of the hand. That was the only significant hand I won and all it did was keep me alive through the break. I finally got knocked out by -EV in 38th place. I gave him my bounty (a shot glass from San Jose) and tried to decide what I wanted to do next. Maura was at the spa and wouldn't be done for awhile so I just hung around to cheer Shelly on. I also tried my best to talk with people but I was only at about 10% functional capacity and couldn't come up with any interesting conversation. This became the theme of the day for me.
After Bill won the tournament, people started to head in different directions. Some went to start the after party early and others went to eat elsewhere. Maura and I decided to find food but we weren't really interested in Mexican. We left the Aladdin and ended up eating at the Harley Davidson cafe. The food perked me up a bit but I knew it wasn't going to last long. By the time we arrived at the after party I had started to hit the wall.
The party was in full swing with bloggers at all levels of intoxication. I ordered a regular Margarita and tried to get into the spirit of the party. Unfortunately I was done. I know I talked to a few people. I remember talking with Iggy for a few minutes. He was trying to get someone to carry him around in a backpack but no one was really interested. I told him I didn't think it was a good idea to have an inebriated blogger stumbling around with him on their back but that didn't stop him from asking. I also remember Poker Prof doing his Marcel Luske impression. I think I laughed but I honestly don't remember. Other then that I don't remember much else. Maura finally came back from the M & M store and I took the opportunity to sneak out of the party realizing I had missed the chance to make some great connections.
In retrospect, I probably should have skipped the tournament and caught up on some sleep but I thought I could fake my way through the day. I spend way too much time wondering what other people think about me, though not nearly as much as when I was in high school, and I spent the rest of my trip wishing things had gone differently. At times it's been hard reading the other trip reports, realizing what I missed out on, and questioning whether it would have been different had people actually gotten to meet the real me instead of the shell of my former self that was available that day. I'm trying not to dwell on it, as it will just drive me crazy, but even now I still find myself thinking about it.
I do want everyone to know that despite what happened I did have a good time (it's hard to have a bad time in Vegas) but on Saturday I had nothing to offer and for that I am sorry.
Oh, one last thing, I want BG and HumanHead to know I still owe you guys a shot. I'm sorry it didn't happen this time around but if you catch me at the next one and I'll definitely pay up.
We picked up Shelly and headed towards the Aladdin. We were running a few minutes late so Maura dropped us off and went to park the car. Unfortunately we had to walk through the mall before we found the casino and it took a few more minutes to find the poker room. We checked in and got our table assignments. I was at Table 9, Seat 8 which should have been lucky (my on-line poker name is April98) but I felt so bad I didn't care. I had only met two people at my table which, under normal circumstances, would have caused me to be more social but I didn't have the energy to utter more than "hi" or "nice hand".
Seat 1 - CJ
Seat 2 - Mrs. Head
Seat 3 - Poker Nerd, later -EV
Seat 4 - Maudie
Seat 5 - Reader Matt
Seat 6 - ?????
Seat 7 - Shane
Seat 8 - Me
Seat 9 - Steve
Seat 10 - Whiskeytown
I don't remember much about my play. At one point I got Shane to lay down a hand where he might have been ahead. I had Q's and an Ace came on the flop. I think he had an Ace but I wanted that pot and managed to bet enough to get him out of the hand. That was the only significant hand I won and all it did was keep me alive through the break. I finally got knocked out by -EV in 38th place. I gave him my bounty (a shot glass from San Jose) and tried to decide what I wanted to do next. Maura was at the spa and wouldn't be done for awhile so I just hung around to cheer Shelly on. I also tried my best to talk with people but I was only at about 10% functional capacity and couldn't come up with any interesting conversation. This became the theme of the day for me.
After Bill won the tournament, people started to head in different directions. Some went to start the after party early and others went to eat elsewhere. Maura and I decided to find food but we weren't really interested in Mexican. We left the Aladdin and ended up eating at the Harley Davidson cafe. The food perked me up a bit but I knew it wasn't going to last long. By the time we arrived at the after party I had started to hit the wall.
The party was in full swing with bloggers at all levels of intoxication. I ordered a regular Margarita and tried to get into the spirit of the party. Unfortunately I was done. I know I talked to a few people. I remember talking with Iggy for a few minutes. He was trying to get someone to carry him around in a backpack but no one was really interested. I told him I didn't think it was a good idea to have an inebriated blogger stumbling around with him on their back but that didn't stop him from asking. I also remember Poker Prof doing his Marcel Luske impression. I think I laughed but I honestly don't remember. Other then that I don't remember much else. Maura finally came back from the M & M store and I took the opportunity to sneak out of the party realizing I had missed the chance to make some great connections.
In retrospect, I probably should have skipped the tournament and caught up on some sleep but I thought I could fake my way through the day. I spend way too much time wondering what other people think about me, though not nearly as much as when I was in high school, and I spent the rest of my trip wishing things had gone differently. At times it's been hard reading the other trip reports, realizing what I missed out on, and questioning whether it would have been different had people actually gotten to meet the real me instead of the shell of my former self that was available that day. I'm trying not to dwell on it, as it will just drive me crazy, but even now I still find myself thinking about it.
I do want everyone to know that despite what happened I did have a good time (it's hard to have a bad time in Vegas) but on Saturday I had nothing to offer and for that I am sorry.
Oh, one last thing, I want BG and HumanHead to know I still owe you guys a shot. I'm sorry it didn't happen this time around but if you catch me at the next one and I'll definitely pay up.
Friday, June 17, 2005
It Was The Best Of Times And Then It All Went To Hell
When we last left the trip reports Maura and I were at the WSOP and had just met our first bloggers. This chapter picks up a few minutes later after we start heading away from the convention center and on to other things.
We were still with Jason and my twin as we passed the Sao Paulo cafe, home to the worst-buffet ever as I understand it, and spotted more bloggers so we took a detour into the restaurant. I recognized Maudie right away but the other bloggers sitting in the booth were a mystery although one looked slightly familiar. It was then that he introduced himself as Iggy. Even though I couldn't shake the feeling that I had seen this face before, I started to buy what he was selling, hook, line, and sinker. It was about this time that I noticed the amused expressions on the faces around me and the imposter let me off the hook by flashing his press pass. And just like that, I had met the hardest working blogger at the WSOP and he introduced me to his brother Derek. After a few more minutes of chatting, everyone decided to split up. Some wanted to head back to the WSOP to cheer Otis on while others were heading back downtown for some much needed nap time. Maura and I decided to hit the strip.
I don't remember the exact order of everything but I think we parked at Excalibur and ate at their buffet. Then we headed over to the MGM where we hit Television City and watched the pilot for a new comedy that will be on CBS next season. After filling out a survey we were given a bunch of coupons that would turn out to be very handy on Sunday. During this time Shelly had called to let me know she had arrived and we arranged to meet up in time to "storm the castle" together.
It was just about 10pm when Maura and I found the Excalibur poker room. I looked around for a familiar looking face but didn't see any. Either I called Shelly or she called me and it turned out she was there also so I started looking around and found her standing under the poker room sign wearing her Phylers jersey. It was then that I spotted Hank, I had met him at some point, and I introduced Shelly. Hank was nice enough to point out the infamous Iggy who was sitting on his booster seat with a look of Guinness-fueled determination on his face. As the fish at that table soon learned, don't underestimate the power of a dwarf drinking Guinness.
Shortly thereafter, Shelly talked me in to getting on the waiting list so I could play live poker for the first time. We managed to get seated at different tables so I had to figure out what I was doing on my own. I was in the one seat right next to the dealer and I searched the faces for some sign of a blogger. It wasn't until a few hands in that Helixx introduced himself. Poor guy was sitting in between the two worst players at the table but I think he still managed to leave with more chips than he sat down with. I was hoping to be as lucky. I don't remember any specific hands except that the first hand I played was AJ and the last hand I played was AJ. I won them both. Several bloggers also came over to introduce themselves but I was having a hard time concentrating on the game and chatting so I don't really remember much else. I did manage to leave the table with $24.50 more than I sat down with, not bad for my first time.
Finally it came time to go get some sleep. Maura and I figured we could get about 5 hours in and I knew I could function well on that amount. After dropping Shelly off at her hotel we headed off to sleep. At least that was the idea but for me it didn't happen.
I don't know what it is about blogger tournaments and my health but it seems I am always in some sort of distress when tourny time rolls around. What I would have given to have had a migraine. They hurt but I am used to them and can even get some sleep in while I suffer. Unfortunately what happened that night was much, much worse. I started having chest pain and not just some mild discomfort but some serious high level pain. My left arm also started to go numb, as did my right but to a lesser degree, and at one point I was about to wake Maura up and call an ambulance.
This is the point where some of you are going to question my sanity for not going to a hospital and you have every right to do so. Maura actually has a right to kick my ass because she knows all the details of my health issues and she wouldn't have hesitated to call for help had I asked her to. All I can say in my defense is that I am a fucking idiot. I work in a hospital and tell people all the time that it was good for them to come to the ER and have their chest pain checked out. Better to go to the hospital and have a doctor tell you nothing is wrong then to sit at home and die of a heart attack. Of course I didn't follow my own advice and spent a good four and a half hours suffering for it. I was awake when the sun came up and when I did finally fall asleep it wasn't deep and it only lasted about 40 minutes. The alarm went off and it was time to get ready for the tournament. Let me repeat, I am a fucking idiot.
Up next:
I played, I partied, yet I wasn't really there or how I didn't connect with any bloggers because I'm a fucking idiot.
We were still with Jason and my twin as we passed the Sao Paulo cafe, home to the worst-buffet ever as I understand it, and spotted more bloggers so we took a detour into the restaurant. I recognized Maudie right away but the other bloggers sitting in the booth were a mystery although one looked slightly familiar. It was then that he introduced himself as Iggy. Even though I couldn't shake the feeling that I had seen this face before, I started to buy what he was selling, hook, line, and sinker. It was about this time that I noticed the amused expressions on the faces around me and the imposter let me off the hook by flashing his press pass. And just like that, I had met the hardest working blogger at the WSOP and he introduced me to his brother Derek. After a few more minutes of chatting, everyone decided to split up. Some wanted to head back to the WSOP to cheer Otis on while others were heading back downtown for some much needed nap time. Maura and I decided to hit the strip.
I don't remember the exact order of everything but I think we parked at Excalibur and ate at their buffet. Then we headed over to the MGM where we hit Television City and watched the pilot for a new comedy that will be on CBS next season. After filling out a survey we were given a bunch of coupons that would turn out to be very handy on Sunday. During this time Shelly had called to let me know she had arrived and we arranged to meet up in time to "storm the castle" together.
It was just about 10pm when Maura and I found the Excalibur poker room. I looked around for a familiar looking face but didn't see any. Either I called Shelly or she called me and it turned out she was there also so I started looking around and found her standing under the poker room sign wearing her Phylers jersey. It was then that I spotted Hank, I had met him at some point, and I introduced Shelly. Hank was nice enough to point out the infamous Iggy who was sitting on his booster seat with a look of Guinness-fueled determination on his face. As the fish at that table soon learned, don't underestimate the power of a dwarf drinking Guinness.
Shortly thereafter, Shelly talked me in to getting on the waiting list so I could play live poker for the first time. We managed to get seated at different tables so I had to figure out what I was doing on my own. I was in the one seat right next to the dealer and I searched the faces for some sign of a blogger. It wasn't until a few hands in that Helixx introduced himself. Poor guy was sitting in between the two worst players at the table but I think he still managed to leave with more chips than he sat down with. I was hoping to be as lucky. I don't remember any specific hands except that the first hand I played was AJ and the last hand I played was AJ. I won them both. Several bloggers also came over to introduce themselves but I was having a hard time concentrating on the game and chatting so I don't really remember much else. I did manage to leave the table with $24.50 more than I sat down with, not bad for my first time.
Finally it came time to go get some sleep. Maura and I figured we could get about 5 hours in and I knew I could function well on that amount. After dropping Shelly off at her hotel we headed off to sleep. At least that was the idea but for me it didn't happen.
I don't know what it is about blogger tournaments and my health but it seems I am always in some sort of distress when tourny time rolls around. What I would have given to have had a migraine. They hurt but I am used to them and can even get some sleep in while I suffer. Unfortunately what happened that night was much, much worse. I started having chest pain and not just some mild discomfort but some serious high level pain. My left arm also started to go numb, as did my right but to a lesser degree, and at one point I was about to wake Maura up and call an ambulance.
This is the point where some of you are going to question my sanity for not going to a hospital and you have every right to do so. Maura actually has a right to kick my ass because she knows all the details of my health issues and she wouldn't have hesitated to call for help had I asked her to. All I can say in my defense is that I am a fucking idiot. I work in a hospital and tell people all the time that it was good for them to come to the ER and have their chest pain checked out. Better to go to the hospital and have a doctor tell you nothing is wrong then to sit at home and die of a heart attack. Of course I didn't follow my own advice and spent a good four and a half hours suffering for it. I was awake when the sun came up and when I did finally fall asleep it wasn't deep and it only lasted about 40 minutes. The alarm went off and it was time to get ready for the tournament. Let me repeat, I am a fucking idiot.
Up next:
I played, I partied, yet I wasn't really there or how I didn't connect with any bloggers because I'm a fucking idiot.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Almost Free
Just a quick note to let you all know that I will be getting back to the trip reports soon. I have finals this week plus some doctor stuff I wanted to get out of the way but I see freedom on the horizon, at least from the school part. Of course I only get a week before summer session starts but I'm not complaining as the end gets closer with each passing month.
As for the health stuff, we may never figure it all out. I had a test for one thing and something unexpected was found. It's not life threatening but it puts the other stuff on the backburner for a bit. The good news is that it may explain the bad night I had in Vegas (I tried to keep it on the down-low but anyone who tried to communicate with me on Saturday may have noticed something was up). I'll explain more fully in the next trip report. Until then.......(again, nothing witty to offer).
As for the health stuff, we may never figure it all out. I had a test for one thing and something unexpected was found. It's not life threatening but it puts the other stuff on the backburner for a bit. The good news is that it may explain the bad night I had in Vegas (I tried to keep it on the down-low but anyone who tried to communicate with me on Saturday may have noticed something was up). I'll explain more fully in the next trip report. Until then.......(again, nothing witty to offer).
Sunday, June 12, 2005
This Is The Walk That Never Ends
Upon arriving at the Rio, Maura and I immediately looked for signs directing us to the WSOP. Although Otis was the only blogger left at this point I wanted to check everything out and see how he was fairing. We found the first sign and headed in the direction of the arrow.
An hour later I thought I saw the end of the trail. Crap, it was only the gift shop! We continued to walk and spied Phil Gordon walking towards us. As he passed by, Maura kicked me to make sure I saw him (okay, she didn't actually kick me but she probably wanted to because we were still walking). As our hike continued I started noticing more and more familiar looking faces. We must be getting close. I saw Greg Raymer and David Williams just before we hit the end of the trail. At last, we had made it to the WSOP!
We went in the first set of doors and I stopped dead in my tracks. Before me was a very large room filled with poker tables and a sea of people. It was like stepping into a dream and a nightmare all at the same time. We saw table 194 and Maura suggested we continue to walk down the hall and try another door since we were looking for table 16.
As we walked I got this feeling that there could be bloggers anywhere so I slowed down and started to look for the few faces I knew. All of a sudden I saw Felicia and Al. My first reaction was to continue walking and pretend I didn't see them. No one knew what I looked like so they wouldn't even know I had chickened out. My curiosity got the better of me and I gathered up my courage. I stopped and said something like "Hey, you guys look familiar". Yeah, I'm a dork. At that moment all conversation ceased and I thought maybe I had a booger hanging out of my nose or something. I immediately introduced myself and Felicia took it upon herself to introduce me to the rest of the group. Besides Al, I met Eva, BG, Joe Speaker, Jason, Bobby Bracelet and, of course, April. (sorry if I missed anyone)
Finally the twins were together, was Vegas ready for us? Better yet, was I ready for Vegas!
An hour later I thought I saw the end of the trail. Crap, it was only the gift shop! We continued to walk and spied Phil Gordon walking towards us. As he passed by, Maura kicked me to make sure I saw him (okay, she didn't actually kick me but she probably wanted to because we were still walking). As our hike continued I started noticing more and more familiar looking faces. We must be getting close. I saw Greg Raymer and David Williams just before we hit the end of the trail. At last, we had made it to the WSOP!
We went in the first set of doors and I stopped dead in my tracks. Before me was a very large room filled with poker tables and a sea of people. It was like stepping into a dream and a nightmare all at the same time. We saw table 194 and Maura suggested we continue to walk down the hall and try another door since we were looking for table 16.
As we walked I got this feeling that there could be bloggers anywhere so I slowed down and started to look for the few faces I knew. All of a sudden I saw Felicia and Al. My first reaction was to continue walking and pretend I didn't see them. No one knew what I looked like so they wouldn't even know I had chickened out. My curiosity got the better of me and I gathered up my courage. I stopped and said something like "Hey, you guys look familiar". Yeah, I'm a dork. At that moment all conversation ceased and I thought maybe I had a booger hanging out of my nose or something. I immediately introduced myself and Felicia took it upon herself to introduce me to the rest of the group. Besides Al, I met Eva, BG, Joe Speaker, Jason, Bobby Bracelet and, of course, April. (sorry if I missed anyone)
Finally the twins were together, was Vegas ready for us? Better yet, was I ready for Vegas!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Are We There Yet?
Friday had finally arrived, my bags were packed, and I was counting down the minutes until I got on a plane bound for Vegas. All that was left was picking up Maura and checking in at the airport. If only air travel were so easy!
We arrived at the airport with about an hour before our flight was to leave and went to the self-check desk to hand over our bags. As our boarding passes were printing out I did a double-take. "Boarding time, 12:45pm".
WTF! We were supposed to be leaving at noon so why the hell were we boarding 45 minutes late? We didn't get an answer until we boarded the plane. San Jose airport is building a new runway and evidently they have been delaying flights on a regular basis to piss off tourists flying to Vegas. We didn't get in the air until the moment we were supposed to be arriving in Vegas. I really hoped this wasn't an omen of things to come.
We finally arrive in Vegas and head toward the baggage claim. My suitcase was one of the first off so I went ahead to find Enterprise rent-a-car while Maura continued to wait for her bag. Finding Enterprise was not an easy task as they were hidden behind a stairway or something but I eventually found them. There was no line so I walked up to the clerk and gave him my copy of the reservation along with our big money saving coupon. It was at this point that the sales pitch for an upgrade began. I let him ramble until Maura arrived and we agreed to upgrade for the promise of better air conditioning (it was only $2 more a day). We took the shuttle to the car lot, got our car, and were on the road to downtown before we had a chance to think. This was when we learned the first of many lessons of the weekend. NEVER follow the directions of the guy at Enterprise car rental. He sent us down Tropicana which had a ton of construction and took forever.
Things were looking up once we found the freeway. There was some traffic but not like we're used to in San Jose. We did take a different exit then recommended and drove through a rather scary at night part of the downtown area but soon found our hotel. Lesson number two, when Pauly says slip a twenty to the person at check-in DO IT. I still wonder if we would have gotten a non-smoking room, like I had requested, on the first night instead of the third. Basically the room sucked but we weren't planning to spend that much time there anyway.
It was at this time that I pulled out my cell phone and called up my twin. When she answered I greeted her with this line: "I'd like to speak with the president of the Wil Wheaton/Phil Gordon fan club, please." She laughed and said "I think I know who this is". We made arrangements to meet up at the Rio and Maura and I were off once again.
Coming up:
Meeting my first bloggers.
Storming the castle.
The worst night of my life followed by the WPBT tournament and after party.
Recovery Sunday.
What happens when you don't respect the hammer.
One last poker session followed by the flight home.
We arrived at the airport with about an hour before our flight was to leave and went to the self-check desk to hand over our bags. As our boarding passes were printing out I did a double-take. "Boarding time, 12:45pm".
WTF! We were supposed to be leaving at noon so why the hell were we boarding 45 minutes late? We didn't get an answer until we boarded the plane. San Jose airport is building a new runway and evidently they have been delaying flights on a regular basis to piss off tourists flying to Vegas. We didn't get in the air until the moment we were supposed to be arriving in Vegas. I really hoped this wasn't an omen of things to come.
We finally arrive in Vegas and head toward the baggage claim. My suitcase was one of the first off so I went ahead to find Enterprise rent-a-car while Maura continued to wait for her bag. Finding Enterprise was not an easy task as they were hidden behind a stairway or something but I eventually found them. There was no line so I walked up to the clerk and gave him my copy of the reservation along with our big money saving coupon. It was at this point that the sales pitch for an upgrade began. I let him ramble until Maura arrived and we agreed to upgrade for the promise of better air conditioning (it was only $2 more a day). We took the shuttle to the car lot, got our car, and were on the road to downtown before we had a chance to think. This was when we learned the first of many lessons of the weekend. NEVER follow the directions of the guy at Enterprise car rental. He sent us down Tropicana which had a ton of construction and took forever.
Things were looking up once we found the freeway. There was some traffic but not like we're used to in San Jose. We did take a different exit then recommended and drove through a rather scary at night part of the downtown area but soon found our hotel. Lesson number two, when Pauly says slip a twenty to the person at check-in DO IT. I still wonder if we would have gotten a non-smoking room, like I had requested, on the first night instead of the third. Basically the room sucked but we weren't planning to spend that much time there anyway.
It was at this time that I pulled out my cell phone and called up my twin. When she answered I greeted her with this line: "I'd like to speak with the president of the Wil Wheaton/Phil Gordon fan club, please." She laughed and said "I think I know who this is". We made arrangements to meet up at the Rio and Maura and I were off once again.
Coming up:
Meeting my first bloggers.
Storming the castle.
The worst night of my life followed by the WPBT tournament and after party.
Recovery Sunday.
What happens when you don't respect the hammer.
One last poker session followed by the flight home.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
I Almost Forgot!
The WPT tournament on Travel Channel tonight is the Bay 101 Shooting Star event that I was lucky enough to attend last March. Keep an eye on the crowd in the shots from the first couple of days and you just might see me. I was spotted on the news coverage of two different stations so it is possible I could be on the WPT broadcast. Even if you don't see me, it is going to be a great episode.
Here are the links to my reports from the tourny back in March for those who haven't read it or want a refresher:
Round 1, Day 1
Round 1, Day 2
Last day before final table
Random Sunday
Here are the links to my reports from the tourny back in March for those who haven't read it or want a refresher:
Round 1, Day 1
Round 1, Day 2
Last day before final table
Random Sunday
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