let's take it down a notch

I know it's going to be a "different" day when I get to work and immediately grab the headphones, and fire up media player (not for a movie to play in the background) but add to the playlist... "Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon." It's gonna be a mellow day. If only I could find a copy of an OLD album I used to have, Sammy Nestico's "Dark Orchid." It's like a qualude for the soul, delivered via the ears... Whoa, where's my shades! Maybe something profound later, but for now, just chillin'.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Games people play...

So, I've resisted playing cards now for a few days. Punishing myself for donk play. I'm referring to my play the night of the Eagle's gathering with more than a few of you! How frackin' stupid was I pushing when I did. Hell, I was drunk and just out for the action. See the flop, drag a pot mentality. Losers remorse! No real damage to my finances. My pride and ego are a different story, and those are things which the game of poker is NEVER supposed to be about. When they do join in...there will be less money in your roll, and honestly once pride and ego sit down at the table with you, the two bastards are hard to get rid of! Take this for example: My buddy Frank described a hand over at River's Edge Poker, that was a part of the "Eagle" evening too. He was in the hand with... let's call him "Jack." Jack is uber wild and aggressive, with purpose. When the hand Frank describes occurred however it was early, BUT the outcome of this hand was merely a springboard for the rest of "Jack's" evening. Jack called the preflop raise with a 3-7os... After the flop he was on a gutshot straight draw...a 6 away from his made hand, although in truth one of the 6's was going to make a flush possible. So, theoretically he's got 3 outs in the deck, to call the bets post flop. No good reason on Earth to call the belly buster. One reason...to pray you'll hit it, to squash an opponent, to get in his head, and destroy his confidence. It's an in-your-frackin'-face play. It lacks finesse. It lacks subtlety. It lacks class in a way. It's a legitimate playing style, but I tend NOT to like it. It is a style which is employed most often by "Jack's" crew. If you win a hand against them when they're playing this way against you, you'll likely increase your bankroll, BUT still be left with the impression of "shit, they'll play anything, so I need to be careful." If you lose, you're devastated, and simply want revenge. Frank, made the smartest play, and called it a night. While Jack grinned and put in a few verbal jabs...what he should have realized was that some of the wind just got sucked out of his victory sails. Frank was leaving the table. Another person... ME... reacted differently, in my drunken state. I made a brief attempt at the same stupidity, and got it thrown in my face. Had I sucked out against Robert in either hand, that I outlined earlier, I can't help but think that Jack would have later pulled me aside and patted me on the back and said..."see that's how you gotta play, and make those gambles at those big pots." As it was though...I lost, and like Frank made my move for the door as well. Later when we got to the house, I did rejoin the game briefly, but the liquor finally caught up to me, and I made a retreat. I vaguely remember hugging the porcelain for a few minutes, to "clear the gut." But that's not important... funny, but not important. It would have been pointless for me to play well that night, after how I'd first started off. My image was damaged right from the start. Jack lucked out, early on, and it fed him well later, when everyone assumed he was still playing like a fool. He wound up with rockets once...and spanked his callers with them, because they made him for nothing. The strategy works, in this instance BUT what is important is that Jack had to hit the initial suck out play, for it to work. Had he busted for the first $20, he would have re-bought, and re-bought again, without hesitation. Frank, you and I can afford to do it, but our willingness to do it is something entirely different. Intelligence tends to get the better of us. The idea of throwing good money after bad is (to me) a losing proposition. Being drunked up...wasn't going to help, and it's a wonder I was able to get away from the game at all.

I say all that to say this. Frank I get it, you're taking a break from poker. And yes, I hate this frackin' game too! I understand...and have been there too. Suckouts are going to happen, but why do they always happen to us. But it's not just individual card games...it's all one long game. Take your break, but not for too long. We'll keep a seat open for you. When we're finally able to turn the tables on Jack, let's just make sure it's for one helluva BIG POT! Smile real pretty, think KARMA.

I started writing this post...intending to head in a very different direction. I wanted to avoid playing online for one : ) , but I was actually going to cover my attempts at downloading, installing, playing Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. I successfully downloaded, and installed but never got to play. It seems I've developed video card envy. Well it just kinda happened. It seems in order to play this beloved game, I need to drop in the neighborhood of $300 for either an Nvidia Geforce 7800 or ATI Radeon X1800, video card. Information I could have used BEFORE downloading, both the game, Daemon Tools to mount the image, and surfing the crack channels for a while, and then installing. Here's a thought, maybe the game makers could have alerted a little earlier in the installation to my weak ass system. Of course, I guess I shouldn't complain, since I didn't lose anything other than my time, in the endeavor. So, as you can see, I suck at THIS game too. And honestly with the $300+ price tag for the card, and 50-60-ish for the game, legitimately, maybe I should stick to poker. It might actually be cheaper! : )

BUT, there's still hope for us all. The RED SNAPPERS have decided they want to get together to play something other than poker. Board games, like Scattergories, Dirty Minds, Cranium, hell maybe even charades. Maybe we can be just as terrible in these games. I might even play, on the inebriated side at these games too, but one things for sure, NONE of these will be effecting, or negatively impacting my bankroll! GAME ON!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Eagles Night

I'm not sure how it happens but...maybe you can spot the telltale signs for me. How do I go from this mild-mannered easy going human being:















To something very different not long after:


I'll give you a clue... it probably has something to do with the concoction I'm preparing to suck down in the first image. Lotsa beer followed by stiff drinks of Jack Daniel's and more beer and well, the Mr. Hyde you see before you makes an appearance. He's a happy guy, not trouble but I'll tell you one thing. He can't play cards for shit!!! Robert I vaguely remember trying to bluff you off of a pot after a flop, when I hit second pair, even after you'd already raised big preflop. The King on the Flop should have warned me off, but not this guy... Your AK was obviously good here! Note to self... Pick one cards or booze. Oh hell who am I kiddin', I was havin' a blast. And I'll likely do it all again sometime real soon! And how was it that every time Matt appeared to be bluffing like there was no tomorrow, is precisely the time when he'd come up with Pocket Aces, or at least nail back end straight with a 7-3os. Sheesh!

As for the others who showed up for Big Red and Angie's birthday celebration at the Eagles, we don't have much in the way of pictorial evidence. But what we have...is absolutely irrefutable. Yeah we were all more than a little intoxicated!

And how 'bout this cleavagey bunch:

Or maybe this follow up:

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so I'll dispense with my usual lengthy commentary, and just leave it at 'Nuff Said!!! Thanks to everyone who came out for a night of drunken abandon. It was a great time.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Wheeling again...

I guess I never got back around to posting anything about Friday evening's antics in Wheeling by "da boys." But we did head north, and the cards were in the air. We made good time on the trip up, despite the traffic. The bad part was that it took us nearly 3 hours to actually get seated at a poker table! The place was packed. There were over 100 names on the list for 1-2 NLHE. I put my name in for 1-2 and on the 2-4 Limit. I got seated first at the 2-4 table...and stayed there for the duration. Of course while we waited we tried to play the doggies. It didn't work out for any of us really. Seemed like every dog we picked ended up going wide in a turn, or getting bumped. Oh well... Cooler in JR's truck had plenty of beer in it, and I had brought the Jack Daniels along. When we did get to the tables, Frank and I ended up at the same table, side by side. We started having a good time, just joking around with each other and the dealers and other players. The more we did...the better the cards seemed to come. I had a great run...and was having a great time. I hit several flushes and straights, and flopped boat once as well, oh wait sorry Frank that was against you. : ) I made around $120 for my time at the tables. Not bad for under 4 hours at the tables. It was around 9:00 when we got to the tables, and we started to head for home around 1:00am. All in all a good time was had by all.



I do have to tell a bit of a story on this guy...
I wish I had a better picture of this guy, who I nicknamed "pimp-daddy." He made the trip worth it to me. It seems like there's always one punk-ass-fool in the room. And brother it was him! His matching hat and shirt, were black and "shiny" silver. So shiny that every time Frank tried to take his picture with his phone, he was just a big blur in the middle of the image. Cheesy little goatie, lots of jewelry. The gold rope necklace with the medallion really set off the ensemble. I got a lot of laughs over him. When we sat down at the table next to him, he caught my eye right away. He had a big chip stack, but as Frank and I observed throughout the evening it continued to dwindle. He was always trying to get people to join his table, and was always talking loudly early on. He finally lost it all, and I'm sure that table was sad to see their lil cash cow go away.

On the way home we stopped at Denny's for a late night breakfast. That was a great choice, nothing like a little grease to polish off the evening of drinking and gambling. I wandered in the house after 4:00am, and headed to bed. Thanks to all who went along JR, Chris, Steve, and Frank. We'll do it again sometime soon. We've got to agree in advance at least once to head further north to Chester next time, and check out that other room.

I've written enough for one evening, but I promise tomorrow to cover the antics from last night. Birthday gathering for Big Red and Angie at the Eagles and the BPD band JINX was playing there as well. More good times, but that's for the next post.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Here we go again...

Once more into the abyss. Imagine that, it's Friday, we're guys, there's a poker room in Wheeling. You do the friggin' math. There's a support group for this sickness I just know it. It's JR's fault, in truth, and Frank too! Don't know how or why, but it is. Live with it! That's right JR, Frank, Steve, Chris, and yes me too, are all headed to Wheeling tonight, to see if we can't donate some time and money to the greater poker good. I STILL hate this friggin' game. But then again, what else am I gonna do. Right? I'm off at 3:30, gotta rush home, quick change, take some meds, say hey to the kids, get MOM out the door. Haul ass over to Chris', pick up a bottle of Jack, drive to JR's pile in with the rest of the degenerate gamblers...and head off to swim with the fishes, and the occasional shark. One of these days, we'll make Chester, I swear. Really! I Promise! Please?! Oh enough already. I'm already getting psyched up. I've also already filled out my racing form, for the doggies too. Yup, all 17 races! I've got right at 30 minutes to go, and yet another road trip from hell will be under way.

Lady Luck beckons me once again to dive deep into the abyss. CANNONBALL!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Interesting...and we'll have to check it out

I found the following blog post in my Google Reader meanderings:
http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/archives/005933.php
It was "flipchips" write up of "Thanksgiving in Vegas part 1." What interested me was his discussion of Planet Hollywood, and the fact that Michael "the grinder" Mizrachi shows up and plays the $60 Tourney every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening. That's pretty cool, and I may have to show up there one evening while in Las Vegas in the not too distant future. According to the ole iGoogle countdown it will be exactly 57 Days, 9 Hours, 16 Minutes from ...wait for it...wait for it...NOW!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Endless

It's the day that time forgot! It's been a ghost town in here today at work, and it's been a veritable wasteland in the proxy permitted forums and blogs today. C'mon guys, there's folks out here who really depend on your posts. Some of us a little TOO much! Won't be long now though. It's nearly quitting time for me, and I'm ready to go. I think I actually reached the end of the internet today. It was kind of a let down.

We're going to see a movie tonight... The Mist. I'll let you know how it is. You just never know with a movie made from a Stephen King book. It could go either way. So long as they don't screw up The Dark Tower series, if it ever gets made.

Later tonight, we will probably end up at the Wolfe's to play a few hands. Funny everyone else is obsessed about the game now, when my interest due to a rough patch has waned a bit. BUT, I'll snap out of it I'm sure. Just one more hand...one more hand!

7 more minutes to freedom!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Burning the late evening oil

Can't call it "midnight," but a few of us are back in here at work for some server maintenance. Actually related to the SAN, but our servers which attach, need detached as it were. So, here we are. I had the easy ones to deal with, so I'm in a holding pattern awaiting additional work from the rest of the team, and then the boys with the "SAN Plan" can do there thing. In the immortal words of Lawrence Welk, "a take it away a boys..." Gee, I uh guess I really am OLD!

Expecting to be in here no more than a couple of hours, but I've heard those famous last words before. Cross your fingers, and hope for the best.

In other news Cole had his Science Fair today. His project as some of you know (since you were test subjects) was to see if people could distinguish between Pepsi, Coke, and RC. MOST of you could not. He said he did well, and actually enjoyed it. He got Honorable Mention for his efforts. Seeing as there is such a focus on the "scientific method" we specifically chose something that required Cole to study, and observe some thing as it occurred. And then, record and analyze the data. This method always worked well for Whitney through grade school. No offense to one of the other projects, and it's been done over and over again...but what the hell does building a model of a volcano show or for that matter teach? That kid got 2nd place??? I got no beef with the other kid who took down first place for comparing baseball bats, wood vs aluminum. Sounds like a decent project, actual observation and data to be had there. You can't go wrong with America's past time either, and who am I to argue with a hyperactive child with a couple of baseball bats anyway. Nice job kid! Regardless, I think Cole did a good job, and might have learned a little something along the way. He was actually more interested in knowing how I put his data into a little chart. I'll have to get around to teaching my 9-yr old about Excel now. Geek! Or at least a child process.

So much for wasting time and the waiting game. You may hear more from me later, when boredom gets a tighter hold on me.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Still sick, Bodog, and Gus for good measure

Will this cold EVER go away? I've been hacking and snotting now for a couple of weeks. Meds just aren't cutting through it completely. I'm much better...it's moved (for the most part) out of my lungs and chest, but this upper respiratory thing is a real problem. I feel like I'm always snorting something just to draw fresh breath.

We're zeroing in on Turkey Day! Let the overeating and bloated slumber begin! I know we're heading to mom and dad's, and eventually we'll end up at Kathy's as well. You can't just eat one turkey after all! : )

Just got a Sametime from JR, saying that he's going to Wheeling again tonight with Mr. Yanok! He's running the kids up north to see family, and wanted to throw in a night of poker to boot! JR, of course being the degenerate gambler is headed off for another whirlwind poker-palooza. No, I'm not jealous... (friggin' no good son of...) Okay, just a little! Hope they both enjoy the trip, and tear up the tables! Remember boys, some people will chase a flush off a friggin' cliff!!! So, make sure there's something in the water below them...like a BOAT! Don't know when I'll get a chance to go up again. Don't know when I'l get a chance to go and actually come back with more money than I left with. Wouldn't THAT be nice.

In other news, playing briefly last night on Bodog got me back up to $181.06! Accidentally called a small stacks all-in, with the touchpad on my laptop. He got another caller as well. It was a good thing for me the original raiser was short stacked, because before it was all said and done I got it all-in with the other guy and came out on top. The original raiser got to take his smaller win though, since he made QUAD JACKS! I flopped a set of 8's, but he had already flopped a set of Jacks. The other guy in the hand, was on the flush draw, which he hit, BUT I as well, made a boat with the very same card! I love it when a plan comes together! Kind glad I called by accident now...especially since it brought me out of a hole on that table. The other table was doing fine as well. It felt good to breach the 180 mark again. Now, I'm setting sites on the magical $200. That's always been a problematic peak to climb. Don't know why, just is...just need to play good, solid poker, and never look back. Then let you next goals be only in increments of $100 marks! Just a little bit at a time. Enjoy the ride.

I read over at http://www.pokerlistings.com/gus-hansens-crazy-streak-up-17-million-20468 that Gus Hansen is back to his winning ways, to the tune of 1.75 Million. According to the write up a lot of it was at the expense of Patrik Antonius. Sorry Big Red, he's gonna need a shoulder to cry on. I'm sure you'll be there for him. But this article got me to thinking that maybe I should start watching a little more of the online play that goes on amongst the pros, and the fish on which they prey. It all might give me some new insight, of course it might also make me a little sick to watch those kinds of dollars being shoved from stack to stack. OH look there goes my house...oh and the truck, and my future pension. This is a reason I'll never make it to the upper echelons of poker. My feet are much to planted on this Earth! Anyway, congratulations, GO GUS!!! I've always liked his WILD style of play, since seeing him for the first time on the WPT. Don't think I could emulate it, by any means. Like to...can't!

Regards,

cheer_dad

The Hand

Last night a small group of us got together to play a cash game. We all had a good time, and I was actually NOT card dead! But man I was taking some major bad beats. This one, everyone though had to agree, was the hand to remember. In other words, it was Blog-Worthy. Robert and I were in the hand, I was the BB, Robert was dealing. We got it ALL-IN just after the flop. See the picture to see how the rest went down. See how things changed dramatically, as the rest of the cards came out. Then, see below to see the odds courtesy of CardPlayer.com's Hold 'em Odds Calculator.




















Ouch...very ouch! But wow NICE HAND!







Regards,

cheer_dad

I dunno...

Beats me how it happened, but while killing time last night waiting for my daughter and her friend to finish up at the Skating Rink, I fired up a couple of freerolls at PokerStars, that I'd remembered signing up for a couple of days ago. I'd stumbled upon them while looking for a strategy article the other day. Some tie in to Daniel Negraneau, or something. Play with him in the Bahamas, or Paradise, or some such idiocy. I had to leave and despite having a respectable stack in the one, when I returned I was down to pocket change, and got it all in for one last hand, but lost to a worse hand, which drew out on me. Oh well. But I'd kinda forgotten about the other tourney that I just left for it's own dismal failure after that. This morning when I log on to check my email though, I've got a congratulatory email from PokerStars for finishing in the money...Now brace yourself for the amount... $1.00! Which brings my PokerStars account up to a grand total of, now let me figure it, carry the 4, times the square root of an imaginary number and that gives us, well huh friggin' $1.00!!! But hey, isn't this exactly how Chris Ferguson started out his low stakes odyssey a while back, in an effort to go from nothing to $10,000? Just watch and learn ye nay-sayers! Scoff if you will. With these 100 pennies I shall build a bankroll over which you'll all drool! What...it could happen! Then, while updating all my poker clients today, I accidentally seated myself over at Poker Rewards in a .10/.20 NLHE game. And before I could stop it, I was posted and dealt! Friggin' shortcuts anyway. Long story short thought, before the blinds circled back around to me again, I ended up with an extra $1.44 for my short lived efforts. Beware the Q-10os, for once it paid. So, I logged out, and called the unintentioned move a WIN! Well that's enough patting myself on the back for these paltry sums. See you next time.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Under the Weather

I'm only just now, beginning to come out from under the weather, or the sickness (funk) that I've been dealing with. Wow, what a cold, or flu, or fargin' something I've had. Ever since Sunday, I've been sick. The group of us still went to Wheeling, but it was a chore. As bad as I looked that day, as Frank pointed out, on his blog, I would have taken that day, over a couple of the others I had since then. I haven't been this sick in a while. I've been suckin' down Mucinex, anti-biotics, Hall's, Zyrtec-D, Tylenol, etc... You name it, I've ingested it. While in Wheeling I hit the Jack Daniel's pretty hard to sooth the throat, as well as try to numb myself up pretty good. I guess the good news is, that I seem only to go through one of these uber-colds once per season, so maybe I'm done now, for this Winter. KNOCK-ON-WOOD!

I would have blogged more, except for the fact that during a drug-induced attempt to logon to my laptop, I locked my PointSec password. Farkin' security! This also cut into my poker play to a degree, until I downloaded Bodog onto Cole's laptop. : ) All in all poker was kept to a minimum, which was a good thing, and let me rest up and begin to get well. I'm not over this cold, but I don't think it's localized to my lungs anymore, and confined to the upper respiratory system now. I swear I think part of my brain came out, in a Kleenex yesterday.

I did get to read a lot of my latest CardPlayer Magazine, with Annette_15 on the cover, following her WSOPE victory, and EPT final table appearance (2nd place.) What a girl! The article they had on her, really caused me to raise an eyebrow though! She was quoted as saying she wasn't overly impressed by the play of any of the pros, against whom she played. She also very pointedly mentioned NOT being at all impressed by Ted Forrest! She was very critical of his play in fact. She detailed bluffing a lot of folks, and particularly Ted on a hand in which she had a 6-2d. This was in "near bubble time" of the tournament. She bet with no pair, no draw, he raised her to 140,000, with like 300,000 let behind it. And she shoved All-In with her nothing, and he dropped it. The little girl's got BALLS! Her approach is very Balls to the Wall throughout her stay in any given tournament. I would like to see a complete rundown of her entire tournament play. The boring hands, the bluffs, the blind steals, the donk moves, the whole enchilada. I'd like to put myself in to the mindset. I'm really beginning to believe that this is how a lot of people really do play, and that my good cards, slow, methodical approach is from a dying breed of player. The books all lie, and the pros who right them don't even come close to playing by the methodology that they outline within their own books. Hypocrisy! The Emperor has no clothes!

Also, worthy of mention is the fact that this issue of CardPlayer magazine, mentioned West "by God" Virgina! In a "very" short article, they mention the opening of 2 new poker rooms, here in the Mountain State, taking us for the time being to a total of 57 tables, rising from 0 the day before Wheeling and Chester, opened their doors! Yes, I know, we still need to get up to Chester. I need my collector chips...and wanna watch horsies run! If there's one named for anything related to poker in a race, I know I'll bet it, just as I will if there's one out there named, "Sniffin' Glue!"

I did make it back to work today, oh joy...and brought the laptop in, and PC Support guru and poker bud Eric S, got my PointSec dillemna taken care of, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Too bad about the sacrificial chicken it took to seal the deal! But you know how technology goes!

No home game's scheduled that I know of this weekend. But don't forget that at the IBEW on Saturday at 6:00pm, there is a Benefit/Fundraiser Hold 'em game for the PHS Girls B-Ball team. Shout-Out to Ms. Miller!!! I know some of the NDPT crew will be joining you, and in fact Big Red mentioned that perhaps the two of us will throw our $50 each into the mix as well, for some card playing, and general entertainment purposes, oh yeah and to support the youth. (Remember it's for the CHILDREN!)

That's enough of a catch-up uber-post to tide over even the most hard-core blog readers among you.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Back a bit

Back to $176.19 on Bodog, after playing today. Was getting brutalized for a very long time, and feeling a little lousy over it too. But I flopped a straight when I was the BB, and unraised with a 10-Jos. I did make $$$ once with AKs, which surprised me. So, I didn't quite make it back to where I was yesterday before losing the $15...but it's a start. Right...? Okay, humor me! I also had a realization of sorts today. I played just over 300 hands in a couple hours, while two-tabling. To get in 300 hands at Wheeling Island, I would have needed 10 hours of continuous play, averaging 30 hands per hour, which at time would have been speedy in there. And like in Wheeling I was "incredibly" card dead, but then hit a few good ones, at the right time. My win % was not very high at all, and was actually below, what should happen randomly. Yes, I was below even 10%. I was at 8%, and actually made money, go figure. So, to put in perspective, a cold card session of a few hours shouldn't bother me so much. It just sucks to sit there and watch complete douchebags rake in the cash. Especially the complete cocky ASSES that seemed to occupy Wheeling tables in force on Sunday. I guess what I'm saying (aside from throwing obscenities at donks) is that the bad times live haven't been quite as bad as it seems, when you get right down to it. I fell into the trap of equating ring games and my tournament play of late. They are NOT the same things at all, and you should know that! Now, I have realized that I need to incorporate a couple of things into my game, which seem in line with even what is out on the PerformPoker.com site. Despite the fact that they are online methods, being described, the logic needs to be incorporated as well. Now, had I played COMPLETELY by the numbers as outlined there, while in Wheeling, I would have come back with less money than I started. Probably in about as bad of shape as I was. Few mistakes, other than a few frustration moves. Also, it might not have been a bad move against that frackin' "pretty boy" to push All-In when he raised on my BB, once or twice. Problem was, he was calling everything, and suckin' out on people more than pro at the Chicken Ranch. So, it might have been a futile attempt, so the best strategy was to wait for the big hand, which I wandered into with those pocket J's the one time against him, and I got everything I had left into the pot, and got him to call with a weaker hand. So, the system worked, my failing bankroll would not support it. I think I wanna focus for a while on the online game for a while, multi-tabling, putting the "system" to a bit of a test. Reclaiming some of my former online bucks, and some of the offline ones too. Give the ole ego a boost, HOPEFULLY! I'll keep you posted. Rare are the big wins, it comes slowly.

In other news...I'm feeling a little better, and may actually make it back to work tomorrow (Thursday) keep your fingers crossed.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Oh well...

I've resisted playing any cards at all for the past couple days, after getting back from Wheeling. Figured it for a losing lengthy session, and I didn't want to add to it. But this evening, beginning to feel a little less under the weather, I fire up Bodog to play. I bring up two $10 tables, yes .05/.10 NLHE. Unfortunately AK gets spanked hard, when my opponent flops a flush, and I'm looking at TPTK, and he's been a raising ass for quite a while. The other table, I push for the first time with pockets Q's, and the "jap" next to me pushes all in for like $3, so I'm calling. He has A-10, douchebag, of course hits (NO NOT THE ACE) 4 cards to the straight. Yeah, this is fun, I remember why I love playin' poker! So, down like $15 for the night, and now the Bodog account is now at $168-ish. Hey, it's still up. And maybe pushing with the AK, in the face of the flush, was the bad move. BUT, I swear I'm just getting so tired of getting pushed around and/or fucked over. But pushing at the wrong time, will get you that way too. I logged off, and decided to blog instead. Oh well, tomorrow's another day.

Regards,

cheer_dad

New Frontier Casino Imploded

I've been a bit under the weather and haven't blogged much lately, particularly to document our last trip to Wheeling, which didn't net me and Big Red any money, but others did well, and we enjoyed the time together with good friends, and the good times. But I'll leave that post for another day. But I did want to cover another sad topic. The New Frontier Hotel and Casino was imploded earlier this morning in Las Vegas. This is where Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut. And served as a destination for Teresa and I, and most of her family for a number of trips to the bright lights of Las Vegas. Visit the link to watch her last moments:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/ynews?ch=4226713&cl=4987643&lang=en

Regards,

cheer_dad

Paulson chips "story"

The inmates are running the asylum, and they are all liberals!!!
Check out this article, which has polluted the news wires, regarding the "lead-content" of Paulson poker chips, arguably one of the most popular chips out there...

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/investigators/story.aspx?content_id=4505adee-6851-4a27-a3e6-dd77500045b9

This is sensationalistic journalism. Environmentalism gone horribly awry. The even bring up the fact that people take home poker chips from casinos and that kids will get them and put them in their mouths. The could get sick from the lead. How 'bout the fact that any kid young enough to still be putting things in their mouth, prolly shouldn't be given access to chip in the first place for fear of the OBVIOUS choking hazard. For cyring out loud, where do they get these hacks!

I'll quit now!

Regards,

cheer_dad

MTR Gaming article

Article found on The Intelligencer. Wheeling News-Register...
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/501943.html
Discusses losses by MTR Gaming, the parent company of the Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino in Chester, WV. However, it should be noted losses can be attributed to expansion. Also, it is mentioned that a bright spot for the company is the addition of the poker tables at the Chester location. And the company is already considering adding additional tables to their already 37 table room! Very cool. But nothing the rest of us didn't already realize would happen.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Wheeling Feeling, revisited!

I awake to the sounds of construction. The incessant "beep-beep" from a mini dozer backing up, syncopating the low drone of its motor. The sharp clang of metal on metal as a sledge drives something or other home. The raking sound of a shovel being dragged over gravel. Hearing is the first of my senses to come alive. The second is unfortunately that of touch. I feel a throb of pain in my head from very little sleep, and the previous nights drinking, but this can't hold a candle to the feel of the seat belt latch which has dug its way into my side. I roll over onto my back, cold, thirsty, and let my eyes open for the first time in a couple of hours. I find a frosted windshield obscures the view. Raising up a bit I can now see the workers making all the racket...outside of the Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center. The parking lot, on the back/side of the complex, is sparsely dotted with cars and trucks. There's no life in any of them. This particular pickup truck, holds two. One is I, in the front seat now struggling to put on shoes, and digging for my jacket, "frack, it's cold!" The other still lies motionless in the back seat still buried under both pillow and blanket. That's JR, or at least I think it still is. I mumble something and get out of the truck and make the short walk across the lot to re-enter the building. I know there's a bathroom around here somewhere. And coffee, yeah, coffee'd be nice. "Ugh, my head!"

Let's flashback to the evening before... (insert visions of swirly lines here)

As was noted on the River's Edge Poker Club site, we met Tuesday night at BW's for Chris' 35 birthday. Several of us, I think like 15, for dinner and drinks. Great time had by all. Big Red wants to spin! Slot time at the Eagle's. JR and I go on ahead to the Eagle's while Big Red takes the kids home. We play for a while and JR continues to badger my wife, about how close Wheeling really is, and we could be there in no time. He'd started earlier at BW's and it had just continued. Somehow, someway, he runs her out of arguments. "What're you going to do, have to call off in the morning, from work," she asks? Was that a hint of acceptance in her tone?! "Well yeah, I will," is my answer. She leaves the slot machine room, and returns in just a few minutes, with another drink for herself, and shoves a wad of 20's in my hands. "Here, be careful, and call me sometime." I'm speechless, I think JR is a little too. But, we hurry out (after I kiss her goodbye and tell her she's the best) fearful that she might come to her senses and change her mind. She didn't...and away the two of us went. In the neighborhood of 11:30-12:00, we arrive at the poker room at Wheeling Island. We get immediate seating this time, unlike the time before. Well, DUH...it is the middle of the week, this time! $200 hundred in chips each from the Cashier's Cage and away we go. I'm seeing a few hands, in the first couple of hours, some ups and downs, nothing big. I continue to get blinded off and then start to find myself coming up short on the flop and turn, and I'm blowing away $$$ on some decent hands, when they fail to connect. I take a hit, and finally find myself dwindled down to around $40. This was NOT the fargin' game plan here people. I came all this way to lose...again... Grrr! I continue to play, still just barely hanging on, and go up only slightly. Fuckit, I get involved in another hand, and flop top pair, bet out...and get raised. Shit, you're beat here cheer_dad, you know it, and you should fold, but what the heck are you going to do with this paltry sum that you have left. Sure you've got enough to call him down, and can in fact reraise all in, for like an additional $25. Screw it, if need be there's an ATM out there somewhere, and yes Big Red'll be pissed but we'll deal with that later, if necessary! I'm all in, with top pair. He insta-calls, with top 2 pair!!! Yeah I knew it was coming, and I start collecting my things. Then, the turn, offers straight and flush possibilities. Can you say STRAIGHT, boys and girls!!! Yes, I sucked out. Yes, I know it sucks. Yes, it ain't right, but man I'm due for one, and just like this, in the nick of time. And NO, I don't feel bad enough about it to give my opponent a dime of it back either. I'm back into contention in this thing. A few hands later, and I find myself up like $40 over my original buy in! Talk about dodging a bullet! In this case a bullet is what hit me filling in my straight. We continue on playing into the wee hours of the morning. I'm still up over my initial buy-in like $50-ish, when we call it a night. It's 5:30am. Sleep, comes quickly, despite the cold.
(insert visions of swirly lines here) Flashback complete...

Now, it's around 8:00am. The world continued on. I find the bathroom, and later coffee (why must it scald my tongue for Starbucks to consider it good coffee? Oh and JR calls to find out where I am. He's up too, we meet up at the poker room, and he lets me know he has Tylenol in the truck, guessing that my head is throbbing. A couple of those, nursing the coffee, I buy-in for $200 again, pleasant lady at the Cash Cage, wishes me luck. This table, for the morning session is WILD! Wow, maybe we should cover Texas Hold 'em Basics for some of these people. "...now the first 3 community cards are what's known as 'the flop'." Where did they dig these people up. And not only are they stupid...they don't know it, and some of them are lecturing others at the table who keep sucking out on others. The drunk guy on the end of the table next to JR is smack talkin' the guy sitting across from me, who I'll refer to as BMF, short for Big Mutha...F (well you get the idea.) He's taunting this mountain with arms. BMF, came to play. The cards didn't friggin' matter, not because he was skilled or anything, but apparently no one ever taught him about the virtues of folding a hand. Earlier, before the smack talk had begun, BMF got into it with an older guy, who looked a little like Sklansky to me, so mentally I gave him this nickname. He destroyed BMF on a hand, when they got into it heads up/show down/all-in with BMF quickly turning up (proudly) his straight. Sklansky, quietly puts up his BOAT. The betting and raising had been furious in that round and the pot was the proof. If memory serves correctly, a mound of well over $300 chips went from the #6 seat to the #7 seat. Oof...I need checks over here!!! BMF, opts not to wait on a chip runner and heads after another $200. He continues his donking ways, and hits some big pots, and judging from my angle it looks like he's got some of what he lost back, and is on his way back. Now, BMF, just calm down, and ride this out. But he keeps on going. He busts a couple of different guys out, who keep coming back for more. But then BMF just keeps donkin' it off to someone else. 2 particular someone else's in fact. Unfortunately, it ain't JR or me! I can't catch now to save my life. Nothin' and marginal hands are getting dropped easily when preflop raises have left the friendly stage, and are now on average 30-50 PRE-flop, in a $1/$2 NLHE game. But let's talk of some of the others at the table. The dealer's were okay, and they also agree that the California missed blind system that Wheeling opted to use, SUCKS!!! The Rain Man lady to my right who babbled on endlessly, and hacked/coughed and blew her nose, constantly, really caught JR's eye. "DEF-IN-ITELY Hold 'em, TEXAS, Hold 'em, definitely, but this is Wheeling not friggin' K-Mart." JR asked later what was wrong with her, and said he figured I was wishing I had my IPOD! Ya think!!! I think she really just caught his eye, wearing the hot blue-flannel. And the way it flitted around as she walked out of the poker room, to go smoke, was just breath-taking. Were those coke bottles, or eyeglasses? OY!!! The black lady next to her, like me was playing hooky! She left the table at one point to make a series of calls to cancel the days appointments. I was afraid to ask what kind. I guess she "could" have had clients of some sort. When she returned she continued to take every one's chips. I was keeping mine out of the middle. I could see the rush in progress. I had sense enough to stay out of the way. She was cleaning up, and must have just "felt" lucky, since she was winning with crap like 7-3c!!! Calling down 20-30 preflop bets, with crap like that. She hit the flush and tore the autistic bitch apart with it. Checks please, definitely more checks. But c'mon how confident can you feel about your 7-high flush!!! But hey, it was working for her, and that's all that matters. I just continued to bleed of my blinds and an occasional call, but the cards just weren't there, especially with the stuff that was coming out. I cashed out still up for the trip, but I was really glad to see it hit 11:30am, and that we'd agreed to leave at that time.

All in all, it was another great trip to Wheeling. I'd like to be coming out a little higher on the food chain though, in this game. So far, I just haven't hit my groove. JR and I both agree it'll be better for us when Cross Lanes opens their poker room. A little closer to home. Not as long a drive. I'm sure late night trips will be in order. Hope that sums it up for you. I'm still working on catching up on my sleep. I haven't pulled an all-nighter like this in a little while, and the older I get, the longer it seems to take for me to recover. Man I am OLD!

Anyway, don't forget kiddies, tomorrow is NDPT #11, and I have a whopping 33 people signed up to play. WOW! Bring it! 'specially the Red Snappers! Then late Saturday a contingent of us are heading BACK TO WHEELING, for an overnighter, again. If you tag along, I'll be sure to point out BMF and Rain Man. I'd stay away from both of them for different reasons. There, how's that for a trip post. As for how JR did...ask JR. That's his story...although I'm pretty sure he's up, and ready to head back this weekend. Let's do this THANG!

Regards,

cheer_dad

'bout time

Finally, my hometown newspaper (rag) decides to begin reporting on something important to me, and a lot of the other people in this area! Kudos to Frank from River's Edge Poker Club, on first locating the article. I'm pretty sure they only reported it because it ended up on the newswire, not out of actually following a story, and reporting something actually of interest. Glad they got around to noticing that poker came to the Mountain State! Well whadyagonnado!

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/oniWire/oniWireDetails.asp?articleID=31215&state=WVA&category=News

Regards,

cheer_dad

A slight growing trend

I'm happy to report a continual, albeit ever so slight growing trend in my Bodog account. Thanks to some "playa" named "CDawg" I was able to boost my account up to $184.56 last night. It could have been a bit more, had I hit the leave table button right then, but I thought with action like this, I could make more. But the cards dried up and rather than blinding it all away, I left, and went back to watching CSI: Miami instead. I guess I should explain. It was really only one hand that moved me up. (Remember here folks that we're talking about .5/.10 NLHE here, so a +$8.xx profit session is a good thing, especially when it happens in undr 15 minutes.) Like my 2nd or 3rd hand, I look down at AQos, from late position, and pop it up to like 6X the BB. I get two callers, one of which is CDawg. Flop is A-5-7 rainbow. I bet out half pot, this time CDawg doubles it. I call, other guy folds. The turn is another A. CDawg bets the pot! Now, I'm figuring I've met a Cooler here, something like pocket 5's, or an AK, came to mind. But I figure what the hell, and I push all-in. Here's the thing, I look at what's left of CDawg's stack, and it's at $3.23. Less than 1/2 what he just bet. Almost immediately he FOLDS! WHAT!???! The pot drags my way, and my initial buy-in of $10, is now at $19.22! I mark him, make notes, and watch him for a little while longer. Salivating, wishing for more, but the opportunity just did not arise. I blinded off for a few rounds, and with nothing coming on the other table, I decide to cash 'em out. CDawg you're my new best friend. Almost as popular as "Kima, the cash-cow."

Looks like a group of us are going to be heading to BW3's tonight for MrHarryB's (Chris) 35th birthday. The kids will be in tow, so it should be a reserved gathering, aw heck who am I kidding. Like any of us behave any more in front of them. It's like a gathering on the playground for us all.

NDPT #11, is going to be a big affair. Thus far, there are 30 players signed up. I've closed Registration, BUT I'm not sure whether or not Matt and/or Jody were planning to play. If so, this would be a maximum capacity tournament. I might still need to move the recliner to the garage!

I did my walk at lunch yesterday, and then ran/walked on the ole treadmill when I got home for another 30 minutes, so it's back to the old grind. I've got to do something to shed some pounds. It makes me wince a little when I realize how much excess I'm carrying around everyday, as compared to what I weighed when I was in marathon form. The scales actually stared back at me then and said 148 lbs. Let's just say...I think I'm bordering the 70 lbs of excess tonnage. I think an airline would charge me extra to have luggage that heavy. Hey JR, I know what tattoo I should get now. I'll just have 'em stamp "Samsonite" across my gut...or maybe "Wide Load" on my ass. I know, I know to all of you this seems self destructive, but this is my method of disgusting myself to better health. You have to realize that when I was a true runner, I was NOT a health nut, not at all. I ran all the time, so I could do what I wanted! I averaged 30-35 miles a week, and frankly the more than occasional Big Mac, didn't really have much of an effect! But, it just takes some time. I should really start lifting on off days as well. Muscle expends more energy at rest, than fat does, on any day of the week. I just need the time, to get it done, and a new weight bench. Of course, I need a lot of things...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Time change

I don't like the time change. In fact, I rather loathe it. Regardless of whether I'm falling back, springing forward...it just wreaks frackin' havoc on my body. I'm tired beyond understanding right now, and it would only be just minutes after when I would have been outa here, had there been no time change. Already though, I'm looking out the window behind me, and I can tell it just wants to turn into a nightscape, before my very eyes. Maybe it's just gloomy, but either way, all I can think I'd like to do is curling up into bed. Like I said loathe!

Thanks to the Wolfe's for hosting another fine evening of poker. No I didn't win. No I haven't seen a frackin' final table, in who knows how long, unless of course it's at the Yanok's, or I'm watching one on TV. I did gravitate to the cash tables though and made back my tournament buy-in, plus an extra $5 spot. So, I lost nothing, and gained a lot of good times. The Red Snappers with a little help from Frank killed the bottle of Jack Daniel's. I think we may have even been close to seeing table dancing that night too, courtesy of the ladies! I remember a lot of laughter, and a very enjoyable time. Thanks again Frank and Julie!

Looks like my game on Friday is going to be packed! I just got 3 more sign ups, putting me at 28 (or 29) if I choose to go ahead and count Matt J. Jody can't make it since she is headed out early the next AM on a shopping trip. At any rate, there will be cards in the air...and hopefully lots of chips in my pile! Beware, a new strategy may just unfurl itself to everyone. : )

Also, either late Saturday night, or early Sunday morning, a contingent of us are heading to Wheeling Island, for the poker room, slots, dogs, and mass quantities of alcohol. We're looking forward to it. I for one want to redeem myself, from the previous trip. I'm sure JR wants to do the same from his last 2 trips. By the way he made the trip again, this past Friday, and made it back just in time the next evening for the Wolfe's tournament. He and Mike R, ended up chopping the tourney! Go friggin' figure. Good Job JR, and oh yeah you too Mike, from the sound of things, before we got started on Saturday, you really needed to put one up in the WIN column. Just to feel a little better about things. Glad it worked out for you. I'm still waiting for mine. : )

It's going to be a busy season folks for the NDPT, the Murray household, and just life in general. Everyone get plenty of rest, and stick with your buddy, remember to always travel in pairs. I dunno why, just do it. I gotta run...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Less than 2 hours away

Poker night at the Wolfe's is less than 2 hours away people. And in the words of SpongeBob SquarePants... "I'm ready!" I was up late last night, waiting for Big Red to return from the Eagles after her SPA party, here at the house. She came home a winner, cashing out for $200 on the dreaded machines. She does well on them usually, me...not so much. I think they can smell the fear! I got up a little late this morning, and immediately headed down to do my 30 minutes on the ole treadmill. Then, it's been a friggin' Laundry-Palooza around here. Sheesh who's wearing all this shit! But it's nearly done now. I got the kids fed, kitchen cleaned up, I have to drop off Whitney at Jordan's for the night. Cole of course in tow. Teresa will be coming back (late I'm sure) from a day at the mall with her mother. Yes, the dreaded Monster-In-Law, guilted her into a day of shopping, since they don't spend enough time together. Guess she never did the math on... time spent with her, is time away from me. Aw...who am I kidding I got a lot done today. Albeit, Martha Stewart-ish...and if I can just get these frackin' panty hose to stop riding up. And hold the jokes about me making someone a good little wife one of these days.

Anyway, game plan for tonight...there is no game plan, other than me consuming mass quantities of cold and wet drinks, containing a lot of barley and hops. There could be the occasional Jello Shot and/or shot of Crown. (Big Red you better remember to pick it up!) The Jackson's will be absent from tonight's game. I'm wondering what affect that will have (if any) on how I or anyone else for that matter plays. I'm sure JR, will notice fewer suckouts! Maybe I could invite "Call-Station-Carl" over for S and G's! Where the frack is my boy KIMA?! Wait that's frack or some derivative of it now twice in this post. You could probably guess I've been watching the Battlestar Galactica series. I had not been watching it since it first aired back in the first season. So, I rented Season 1 from Blockbuster and have been watching it in its entirety. Anyway that explains the frackin' frack of it!

I read today that "annette_15" had made the final table at the the EPT Dublin. Is there no stopping this "little-girl?" Best of luck to you. It just dawned on me, she's just a bit over 4 years older than my daughter! Who among you can picture my lil blonde girl at the tables? Although she did used to make the most of the trash talk when she played my freerolls for me on UB! Depressed smart-ass punks to no end to hear they were getting beat by a little girl. HEEHEE!

Well, it's time to wrap it up, and herd the kids together, and get Whit to where she's heading for the evening. See you all very soon. See a very few of you at the final table, and then you can all watch me take down the top spot tonight. How's that for the power of positive thinking!?!

Regards,

cheer_dad

For cryin' out loud, cheer_dad FOCUS!

Welcome to my blog post of the day, fueled and inspired by The Pretenders...a singles triad, Tracks 7, 8, and 9, specifically "Message of Love," "Back on the Chain Gang," and "Middle of the Road." It's been in like forever since I've listened to this album. I've been blowing the dust off of a lot of my old stuff, and just quit before you start asking about my fargin' 8-track player. I've got your "olden days" right here, biyatch! Hey, this stuff is older than the stuff they're typically playing on 96.9 FM around here, the station which my daughter typically refers to as that "oldies station," when she rides in the truck with me. You can always walk little girl... Of course it makes me grin to watch/hear my son going through the house humming/singing "...mommy's alright...daddy's alright, they just seem a little weird..." courtesy of the Guitar Hero II game he got for his birthday, and of course to one of the best bands of all time Cheap Trick. Can I get a Hell Yeah! Okay, you there in the back, pipe down! Reminds me Frank, wasn't Cansas's fave song "Cherry Pie"!!! Many a day of misspent youth gone by. Ah memories. Some damn sure BETTER left unsaid.

So, we're into November now. You can feel a sense of urgency and tension beginning to mount, at least in the Murray house you can. Just going over things briefly with Big Red, and it looks like our weekends are nearly ALL spoken for from here on out through the remainder of the year. Starting with poker at the Wolfe's on the 3rd, for an inaugural River's Edge Poker Club event. I'm leaning toward the 9th as NDPT #11, and I'll have to send out the notice soon! The 10th, is Cole's football banquet. Which is during the Veteran's Day weekend. Hey, weren't we planning a lost weekend to Wheeling again! Dance competition season gets crankin' for Whitney on the 17th, in AKRON, OH, of all places. Who knew!?! The following week is the Thanksgiving holiday/Black Friday/Big Red's -n- Angie's early b-day celebration at the Eagles. Yeah, I didn't know anything about it either, just found out a few minutes ago. That's right people, hang on tight this Merry-Go-Round's a spinnin' real good. Oh, and what's that about 11/29, being the birthday Big Red will be hangin' on to for dear life, for year's to come. The backend of her 30's? Then of course December is competition central for dance and cheer. A Credit Union dinner, Whitney's 15th b-day! (ugh, I'm old.) Christmas of course, and New Year's too, and not-to-mention the fact that I'll have to squeeze in NDPT #12, and then the End of the Year Blowout $50 PokerPalooza, prolly for December 29th (Saturday?) Then Vegas is around the corner in January the hallmark of which will be the JR/yours truly birthday bash. Round it all out with Valentine's day on Feb 14th, and OH, you get the idea, it's going to be a long season!!! I'm sure my liver will be crying "Uncle" very soon.

Anyway, that about catches you all up with what I've got in store for the foreseeable future. Oh and back to that last paragraph, in which I mentioned Christmas. Big Red, do you think you could limit your "wish list" to items I can easily locate on Amazon. You know how much I really hate the mall during the holidays. I remember only 1 truly good holiday season, up there. Der Doghaus was still located up there, and had just started serving beer. I've never seen so many drunk husbands in all my life! If they'd had a full bar, the bottle of Crown would've gone dry, and I know for sure I'd have got a lump of coal, and a few lumps on top of my head too. But really that was the happiest shopping trip I've ever had. Okay, my gift wrapping skills left a little to be desired after that, but let's try and focus on the positive here people, work with me.

Anyway fellow NDPT'ers if not before, I'll see you Saturday. Bring your A-game! No, of course not for me, but for someone else who is still recognized as someone who knows how to play the damn game! : )

Regards,

cheer_dad

P.S. After review...maybe this rambling post laid it on a bit thick! NAH!!!!!!!!!!!