Lost weekend...lost time

I was a casualty in the latest battle of the war against Jack Daniel's. But my friends didn't leave me behind. I guess the no man left behind motto holds true. It was Saturday night... at the Eagles. Prior to getting there, Big Red and I and the Brothers headed to Don Emilo's restaurant. Unfortunately, only Teresa had food along with her alcohol. That fact becomes important later. Anyway, Chris and I put down a pitcher of beer, while the girls opted for some Italian Margaritas, on the shhtrong side! We left there and headed up to enjoy the band and continue the evening of debauchery. Our favorite bartender "hooked" us up immediately with her special Jack and Diet mixture. I'm not sure there's much in the way of ice...or any cola at all thinning down the alcohol. "SMOOTH!" The night continued on that way.

Eventually, a poker game started up. I remember that part. I remember buying in for $20. Beyond that are merely factoids and blurbs of consciousness. In short, I lost time. I'm told I rebought into the game. I'm told that my eyes appeared glassy, and focus was a thing of the past. I checked the wallet the next day, and discovered that I was really only down $8 for the night. I guess the rebuy worked out to some degree. Frankly, I couldn't tell you a hand I played. All I really know is that I awoke on my couch the next morning. Tired, still vaguely drunk, but remarkably without a headache of any sort. Maybe if I'd eaten (remember I said that was important) there would be a bit of recall to be had. But hey, that's what friends are for. They served as my memory for the night. They following afternoon, we all headed over to the Wolfe's for a cookout. He grinned when he tried to offer me a beer, "a little of the hair of the dog that bit ya!" I had suspicions that I'd gone over the edge of drunkenness, Frank served to confirm that. He reminded me that there had been a porcelain visit in the late night. I was informed of the drunk talk I had with him on the way home, by the way he drove me. I'm not sure about all that but hey, he got me home, so I can't be complaining. I also found out that I had a bit of a partner in drunken crime... Laura! Atta Girl!!!

Anyway, it sounds like I must have had a great time. The parts I remember, were a lot of fun and I hope to do 'em again. I hope to remember more of them next time. But hey, it's not often that I tie one on that tight. I got to blow off some steam. Thanks all for putting up with me. I'll return the favor some day.

So, in this weekend's battle, Jack Daniels won out. I was beaten. But I'll redouble my efforts for next time. And yes there will be a next time. I will be avenged!

But if I'm planning to play cards... I'll stick to beer, and only a very few of them.

AC Audio\Video WINS

The first baseball game of the year for AC Audio\Video gets recorded in the WIN column! The boys played GREAT baseball today. We scored 7 runs in the first inning, and held them to NONE. Vienna #1 returned the favor in inning 2 though, BUT we gave up only one run to them. The 3rd inning we caught fire again and chalked up another 7 runs. Vienna needed to score 4 runs to keep from being mercied! They gave us run for it, but when the dust settled, they loaded the bases but only got 2 across home plate. Despite the win... we decided to play on for another inning, just for the practice and to change things up a little. We were still doing great and we even got to put in some of the lesser experienced of our pitching staff. They were all doing great. We ended up scoring another 5 runs before we headed off the field. Great job boys, fantastic victory!

Not to blow the horn too loudly for my own son, but Cole stole home plate TWICE! He was really proud of that, and so was I... and YES, I told him so!

In that respect baseball is a lot like poker. It's A LOT more fun...when you're winnin'!

Whew... had to get the poker reference in there.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Tri C Opening Day

It's Opening Day for Tri-C Baseball folks!

Cole and I just got back from our pictures session. But we have to be back down in less then an hour to get ready for our first baseball game of the season. We will be playing Vienna Team 1. I think if we can keep the boys focused we will do fine, and hopefully win our first outing for the year. The big thing is to get the pitchers just tossing across the plate in this league. More often than not, the batter is scared out of his wits and doesn't want to get hit by the ball. I can't tell you how many times I've watched in our scrimmage games so many batters stepping out of the batter's box as soon as the pitcher releases the baseball. This kid pitch thing will take some getting used to. So the trick to taking advantage of it is to pitch 'em right down the middle and if a couple of 'em hit it we just have to let the fielders take 'em down. By and large the strikeouts will be because the pitcher clinches up and doesn't swing. Cole I don't think will have that much trouble. He's been swinging...he just has to connect. When he does it'll be in the grass, if he can just drive it instead of launching.

Whitney also had tryouts for Southern Belles for the past two days. She's not overly confident that she'll make it. There are only like 4-5 spots available. All other past members are returning. They've ALL worked really hard, and I'm proud of Whitney for guttin' it out. Despite popping her hip out of place yesterday...she continued on. She was able to do that by popping it back into place herself! She's a friggin' animal. She's into that whole "pain is just weakness leaving the body" thing! Like I said...friggin' animal!

Anyway, not much time left now, maybe I'll have a chance to give another update, who knows. Later this evening a bunch of the NDPT crew and etc... will be heading to the Eagles to see the band Slammed 6, (Nikki's family's band.) We're also getting together to celebrate Laura's birthday. Happy B-day Pookie!!!

I might even bring along a deck of cards. See you all soon.

Regards.

cheer_dad

Treasury and Federal Reserve officials have been warned!

I stumbled across this remarkable article over at TheHill.com, which told a story I had not yet heard from the front lines of the fight against the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.) According to the author, Susan Crabtree (as of 04/22/08 03:45 PM EST,)

"A bipartisan group of House Financial Services Committee members have warned U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve officials not to waste any more time trying to implement a ban on online gambling."

Yes, I recognize that is a direct quote (hopefully cited sufficiently)but what an opening line for an article! I don't want to have to quote the whole article, but it's really tough because it's just chock full of facts that I'd like to re-iterate. But suffice it to say that Representatives Barney Frank, Luis Gutierrez, Ron Paul, and Pete King sent a letter putting the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve on notice NOT to proceed with developing regulations which would be used to enforce the provisions of the much debated UIGEA. They didn't pull punches with the letter sent Tuesday and the recipients were Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke!

I acknowledge the fight that Rep. Barney Frank has put up in his efforts against the UIGEA, but this move seems quite bold. I think it demonstrates his commitment to the effort and I for one applaud him for it! I'm currently trolling around looking for the letter that was sent in its entirety. As soon as I find it...I'm posting it or at least the link. Basically what I gather from the article is that the lawmakers involved believe there are much more pressing issues with which to deal than waste time and effort on establishing policy for enforcement of the UIGEA, which Frank and his colleagues plan to actively oppose.

Sorry blog dwellers, I'm struggling for words to write here, without plagiarizing the whole article. Just go read all about it RIGHT NOW! Right HERE! Hopefully you'll be as excited about it as I am.

I'll stop rambling and head out looking for the elusive letter now!

***REVISION***
Ha, armed with an internet connection and the forces of Google on my side I found the smoking gun (errr letter) that was sent to Bernanke and Paulson... Here you go: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/press042108.shtml

Make sure to read BOTH of the letters that were sent out, which are for the most part identical except for the following passage in the letter sent to Chairman Bernanke:

"We realize this is not a task you requested. We also appreciate the candor with which your representative answered our questions. In fact, her honest answers and the testimony of the other witnesses confirmed our view that this is an impossible task."

This is the good stuff folks... : )

Regards,

cheer_dad

fd's Flickr Toys

I struggled today with trying to come up with something to blog about. Nothing poker related came to mind, nothing insightful or earth shattering. And not that this post is going to live up to any of those things, but I started drifting. I got a little click happy and ended up out on Flickr where I found a link to the following site:

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/

There I found some of the coolest photo manipulation tools ever! Maybe lots of you know all about it and didn't need me to be telling you about anything on the internet. If so, sorry... but get over it. I thought it was great. The image above was created from a single photo that was lurking in "My Pictures" folder of the spaceship looking thing at the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. There's your loose gambling/poker/vegas tie in to keep the blog on topic. : ) Anyway, the photo above was "Hockneyized" as they called it. There were a number of other useful/creative tools on the website for creating cool photo calendars, id badges, stamps, billboards and even jigsaw puzzles. Go out and take a peak at all the site has to offer.

Remarkably I found this on a Monday, a day which up til now I've had very little use for! : P

Regards,

cheer_dad

Last night at the Wolfe's

Thanks to Frank and Julie for taking on the hosting gig for this month's tournament. It was great to see you all, and hope everyone had a nice time. My tournament life was short lived when I hit a rough patch. The first hand I shoved a chunk of my stack pre-flop with pocket 7's and ran into Frank's rockets. Oops! Then, in an effort to re accumulate some semblance of a stack I had to make some moves that weren't characteristic of my typical game. I even shoved all in with my least favorite hand, in the effort, the ole J-K off! Unfortunately I didn't scare anybody all that much, and picked up two callers. I was in trouble... when I saw Del turn over A-Jos, yeah I'm dominated here. I've only got 3 real outs. So, let's just say I didn't get there. : )

I lost a little more in the cash game too, although I'm not really sure on what. I think it was to the guy who looked a lot like the lead singer of Rascal Flats. (Sorry, I've forgotten your name.) But lucky for me the lovely and talented Big Red had my back for the night. She took down the top spot on the night! She and Vince battled out heads up briefly then finally chopped it, but Teresa will get the top billing for the night in the points race. So, once again, she has to bail me out of my losing ways! : ) Congratulations baby!

I'm pretty sure, Vince took over the points lead last night. I "think" I'm still in 2nd place, but a few others are beginning to get too close for comfort. I guess I better start bringing the A-game. Might help if I wasn't suckin' down more than my fair share of the keg last night, I suppose. But then again... I do love beer.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Brandi... and the weekend

Sadly according to this article over at Wicked Chops Poker, it has been confirmed that Brandi Hawbaker is dead at the age of 26. Apparently I've been very behind in my reading, as it appears that this occurred on Sunday. Still what a waste... so very disturbing. Rest in peace Brandi.

Last night a bunch of us went out to the K of C reverse drawing. Of course none of us won at that. It was Big Red and I, along with the Brothers-es-es, JR and Nikki, Mike and Lisa, Rick and Sheila were there, and a bunch of Teresa's family and their friends. Much good food, much good libations!

Following that the obligatory trip to the Eagle's took place. I think we nearly closed down the joint. Remarkably no hangover... maybe the whole Jack Daniel's thing is true.

Tonight the NDPT crew will be converging on the Wolfe's for our April tournament. Hopefully my consistent performance thus far for the year will continue. : )

On the Bodog front... yeah I'm an idiot as usual. I gotta stop late night logons after a night of drinking. I back, sub $200 ou there, BUT in my defense... I lost the vast majority of it on one hand. I lost with a full house Jacks over 7's, when it met up with Jacks of 9's. Ouch... frack... etc... yeah you get the gist! But, I've played it out before, I'll do it again. No biggie. I guess I don't take it or myself too seriously. When I eventually grow the online roll back up to $1,000 I'll feel a little different about it I'm sure. That's prolly good in some ways, prolly bad in some other ways.

We're getting ready to head out to baseball practice which we can only stay until around 6:00, in order to make it to the Wolfe's. Hope to see you all soon!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Brandi Hawbaker found dead, at 26

After a long day, which still isn't over I sat down to catch up on some of the days news from the blogs. The first article to greet me was the sad news that Brandi Hawbaker had been found dead in Playa Del Rey, California. Read the original article here:

http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/11758/cult-poker-personality-brandi-hawbaker-found-dead

According to the article her death was an apparent suicide. How very sad for such a lovely young woman.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Ricin...and Roger Bergendorff

I really thought this case would just fade away into the nothingness of the Internet, but it keeps popping back up. Recall back in February that the poison "ricin" was found in a Las Vegas motel, 2 weeks after a man was hospitalized with difficulty breathing. That man later lapsed into a coma, and was identified as Roger Bergendorff. The toxic biological agent ricin was only discovered later when a relative of Bergendorff went to the motel to retrieve the man's belongings which had been left behind. It was at that time that he discovered the vials which contained ricin. The authorities were notified and the room was also found to contain additional vials, castor beans (necessary in ricin production) firearms, and obscure manuals like the "Anarchist's Cookbook." All the comforts of home.

I mentioned in yesterday's blogging that Bergendorff had awakened from his coma, not long ago, and was presently being charged with possession of the substance among other charges. Today Mr. Bergendorff was in court and denies that he was involved in any "poisoning plot" according to this article: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/17/ricin.arrest.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories on the CNN website. Of course, seeing as said crime carries a hefty penalty (30 years in federal prison and a $750,000 fine) I can see not really wanting to be associated with any such matter.

Bergendorff's attorney Paul Riddle asserted to the federal court judge that his client's, "...poor health is not a result of exposure to ricin..." Instead he submitted that his client "fell ill with pneumonia and kidney failure, resulting from a mental and emotional downturn after his older brother died in January."

Ah... well since you put it like that. The deadly poison played absolutely no role in Mr. Bergendorff's health issues. Sheesh, how could we have ever thought otherwise. Hmmm...

Do they think we're ALL this stupid? Or are we really just this stupid?

Regards,

cheer_dad

What glass ceiling?!

The poker gods have smiled on me tonight on Bodog, allowing me to redeem last night's poor performance AND more importantly break through the $200 ceiling, that seems to have plagued all previous ventures on the virtual felt. Account now sits at $205.45...! Thanks to a VERY nice little run of cards. There was one point near the end of tonight's session when I had pocket Aces on BOTH tables! And actually won on them both. A decent pot on one, and an All-In and a call on the other. Poor guys Queens never knew what hit 'em. Okay, I'll stop my gloating and simply relish the moment.

Remarkably my play was no different tonight. Much the same, and my stats are actually very much the same between the nights and frankly for my overall playing style. We'll see what the next session brings.

Calling it a night...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Remember the RICIN incident in Las Vegas?

The following article from CNN details follow up from the incident where "ricin" was discovered in a Las Vegas hotel room, back in February:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/16/ricin.arrest/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Suffice it to say that the man, Roger Bergendorff who was first hospitalized when he experienced trouble breathing back on February 14th, and was the victim of ricin poinsoning, awoke from his coma on March 14th. Today, he was arrested for among other charges the possession of the deadly biological toxin, ricin.

Check out the article for additional information, but my only question is what was Mr. Bergendorff planning to do with the ricin in the first place. I would think (or at least hope) that poisoning himself was not the intended usage. Then again what do I know.

Only truth is stranger than fiction.

Regards,

cheer_dad

You can't make this stuff up

There are times playing online that you just "feel" it's the wrong table, the wrong time, and that something bad is going to happen. We should each pay more heed to those feelings. They're not quantifiable, but when you have that wary, uneasy feeling you ought to listen to what your gut is telling you and move on. I say this all now, because (of course) I did not pay attention when that still small voice was speaking. Okay, it's not as bad as all that, but I do tend to make me some mountains out of life's little mole hills from time-to-time. Let me set the stage...

After a full/busy day at work I head home and immediately start on mowing the lawn. The neighborhood is thick with the sounds of push mowers and weed eaters. Oh, it did take me a bit of time to get started mowing because I had to wage a wasp killing campaign before I could reach the mower in the storage building. But flash forward to a lawn well done, weed whacking, and grass clippings gathered and street swept. I head inside to clean up, then grab a bite to eat. Following this, I help Cole out with his homework, try to decide if the teen Whitney even has any school books this year, "AIM," and phone(s) house and cell, interrupt the conversation and I trail off into wasted attempt.

Finally, things are relatively in order and I finally sit down to enjoy some down time. After checking email and reading a couple blogs I fire up Bodog. Several tables available so I belly up to two of them and am confident that at long last tonight, playing at my micro limits I'll finally take this account through the glass ceiling and go above the $200 mark. I've made mention a long time ago, that I've got some sort of mental block when it comes to that figure. I can't account for it, it's just there. Anyway, those of you who know me, know that online I play very micro limits. Call it stupid, call it mind numbing, whatever you want. But it just became so difficult to move money around online that they seem to be worth more in cyberspace, at least to me. Couple that with my unfortunately reading Chris Ferguson's account of how he turned $0 into $10,000 online and well you have the recipe for what has become my online poker playing experience. I revisited the Bodog account a while back and found it below the $100 mark, this of course after having cashed out a paltry sum somewhere in between the Neteller and UIGEA debacles... I'd play only every once in a while, two tabling at NLHE, max buy-in $10 (blinds .05/.10.) Go ahead... call me some names, I'll wait. Okay, do you feel better now? Good, I'm here for ya.

So, I've got my two tables setup on screen just the way I like 'em. Table action seems kinda fast. Oh look 8 players see the flop, and 7 to the turn over on this other table. Hmmm. Oh there's an all-in... and oh there's another... Here's where that uneasy feeling comes in. But I'm above it, I'm up to the challenge. Before one full cycle of the table I look down at AKos from late position, and pop it to a whopping .45 pre-flop. It goes back to the BB, who without pause, pops it an additional $8.00-ish all-in. You know the old 18X preflop reraise. Many folks wouldn't have flinched here and would have mashed the call button. But I'm just getting started here. I don't have a feel yet, or a read, and I'm just too Zen for all this. (Translation, at times I'm just a pussy.) So, I fold this drawing hands. Then I proceed to watch a succession of blackjack double down hands. 9-2os, 6-4os, 8-3os, etc... You know the ones. I go through that rocky phase of noticing that the hand I have at the first table is actually the nuts hand on the second table, and vice versa. All the while that little voice in the back of my head is growing ever louder. (Pipe down you!) Then, frustration sets in. From late position I look down at a J-10os, and I "just" call. The flop comes J-2-J, and I'm in position! Then again... bent over is a position. The SB bets pot. I double it. He obliges with an all-in and our hero calls. Then, before I even see his cards, realize I've succumb to all the emotion that's been building since I got home. I get the warm squishy feeling as he sticks his A-Js to some of my more tender orifices. More checks on table #1 please! The guy's decent enough about it, and tosses me an "ouch" in the chat window, to help sooth the sting. It doesn't... Anyway that's how most of the session went. And as my laptop battery is about to give up the ghost, I'm prepared to take my losses like a man. But I'm down like $13 here people. I was only shooting to make $6 tonight, to put me over the $200 mark, now I'm in worse shape. As the blinds come back around, I close down table one, and am left waiting for the round to end on table two. I look down at 9-10s. The BB annoyingly makes it .20 to go pre flop after I call the .10. I hate-hate-hate min-raisers! The flop comes 7-8-K rainbow. I'm open ended here, the BB bets out .30. Sure why not...and the turn is a blank (a two I think.) BB, again with the .30 bet. Sure, why not... The river brings one of my 8 outs, the Jack. This time the BB goes for broke and bets .60 this time. I pause briefly and then mash the Pot button. Here's where my tension headache and my temper flares! Simultaneously, three things happen on my laptop. The BB, reraises all-in, my "low battery" alert starts to flash like the world's coming to an end, and my fracking touchpad goes haywire. OMG... nothing's working here, I've got the nuts here folks and I can't get my pointer over the Call or the All-In buttons long enough to click. My wife stares from across the room as I gnash my teeth and spew obscenities!

FINALLY, I'm able to get the mouse coaxed over (pixel by pixel) to the all-in button and get the damn thing clicked! The BB insta calls. He proudly displays his hole cards "KK." Which for those of you keeping score at home, gave him a set on the flop. My Jack high straight sends him to the rail. And after all that stress on a single hand, I close out the game myself. (Incidentally now my fucking touchpad is working just fine!!!) So for the night I'm down only $7-ish. I regained some ground from the previous trip jacks fiasco. But who knows what the rest of the week will bring? Will I ever break through the $200 mark? Do any of you even care? Am I a complete NOOB for donking around at these micro stakes? Do you secretly laugh at me?

But on the bright side, I must make at least some of you feel better about yourselves and your superior poker playing abilities! And if that's the case, well then I'm glad that I can help make a difference in the lives of others. Stay tuned for the next riveting episode of "A Fool and His Money" and see how we are parted.

Regards,

cheer_dad

My wallet shudders

While Cole and I were trying to stay warm last night down at Tri-C Baseball fields, my wife and daughter were out shopping on a whole other scale. The subject of a new car has been breached in the "casa de cheer_dad" and it's been brought up in casual conversation. Now that Whitney is of driving age (she has her permit now) she's eventually going to have to take the driving portion of the test. None of us were particularly looking forward to her taking the test in either my Dodge 1500 pickup extended cab, or Big Red's Durango for that matter. Frankly the friggin' Hemi is just not something that I think she'd find conducive to the stress of the test, and don't even think about the parallel parking portion of the test. And I'm not real interested in having her drive either of our current tanks out and about in the teenage world. Let's not even get into my blood pressure here folks. Suffice it to say we're wanting to go smaller, yet comfortable. Miles to the Gallon of gas is also a HIGH priority here people. My meager poker earnings just aren't covering the cost that OPEC keeps shoving down our throats. ANYWAY I've gone around the block with my story. So my wife and daughter go to "look" at cars last night. When I return home, nearly frostbitten, and aching from a baseball to each shin, and one to the ribs... out comes the new car brochure for the Toyota Camry. Suddenly I'm gettin' chatted up, something fierce. I know where this is all headed. I know yet another major purchase is looming on the horizon for me. So, I humor her and let her talk, not letting on that I've already spotted the pricing sheet that's already been worked up with her "Jane Hancock" clearly visible at the bottom. Folks what we have here is a done deal. It's all over but cheer_dad's crying. There's a Toyota Camry in my future. This has been further confirmed as of today, when I went down to visit my lovely wife at work (Credit Union) downstairs in my building and find her pouring over the paperwork, finalizing loan forms, a fax coversheet all but sealing my fate.

Okay, I'll quit my whining about it now. Much of this has been in jest after all anyway. I don't particularly like the Durango. My truck on the other hand is like my mostest favoritest vehicle ever! Although I offered to part with her... I wasn't looking forward to having to give her up. Luckily (I think) a compromise has been reached! Whew! And honestly this is a good looking car, that I think we can all be happy with. Now I know some of you way in the back are wondering in your male chauvinistic way about how I could let a "woman" go pick out and buy a new vehicle without having me around. Those of you who would even think it have never really gotten to know my beloved Big Red! Salesmen beware... you've bitten off more than you can chew. Go huddle at your friggin' sales tower and beg for the help of the Sales Manager. She'll take him on too. I wasn't present for the purchase of my last 3 vehicles. Once I showed up just to sign a paper and then left the showroom. The last time I did get to opt for the color that I wanted... and signed the papers and once again left the showroom floor. Trust me, I know my place. I bow to her supremacy in these matters. I just hope the poor salesman eventually recovers. So anyway, I'm sure by the weekend we will have completed the deal.

Like I said it looks to be a beautiful car. I'm sure my wife and daughter will enjoy driving it. I'll never even get close to the steering wheel. : ) Of course I haven't even factored in the exponential increase that I'll be seeing soon in my insurance premiums, thanks to having a new young driver in the family. Ain't parenthood grand.

Guess I better get back to the poker tables and improve my game by at least 10 fold or I'll never be able to afford it.

You there in the back!!! Stop laughing at my misery!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

ePassporte goes the way of Neteller...

I received the following message from the folks at Walker Poker, which further confirms what has been reported elsewhere that ePassporte is bidding farewell to the U.S. market:

Walker Poker team would like to update you that due to the recent notification by Epassporte, players will not be able to deposit and withdraw via Epassporte until further notice.
Walker Poker team, as always, support ALL our players from around the world, and is working on providing the best methods for handling you money.
Walker Poker players can use all our other available processing methods, including Credit Cards and EwalletXpress, which support U.S. players as well.
Walker Poker team would like to recommend all our U.S players to open an account with EwalletXpress, which is very similar to Epassporte but much easier to fund and handle your money. In order to have an account with EwalletXpress, simply click here or visit http://www.ewalletxpress.com
Walker Poker team is giving all new EwalletXress users a special bonus of 10% instant on your deposit! Simply make a deposit and email us at cashier@walkerpoker.com and we will give you this amazing bonus within up to 24 hours!
As always, Walker Poker team is at your service 24/7 via our live support
See you at the tables!
Walker Poker Team

Hate to see it happen. I don't like the idea that businesses are being muscled out of the US market, which seems to me is what is happening here. No charges were brought against the company, just the threat of pricey legal wrangling is enough. Of course now we just all sit back and wait for the next funding method to appear. It's all sort of like watching a giant game of "Whack-A-Mole" being played out on a global scale... and unfortunately it's the tax payer's money that's being used to keep putting tokens into the slot for the government's next turn at bashing another payment processor in the head.

Regards,

cheer_dad

H.R.5767 introduced

I'm headed out the door but I wanted to share some poker related information.
First, a link: http://www.safeandsecureig.org/media/frank-paulrelease.pdf
Basically, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) have submitted H.R. 5767 in an attempt to block finalization of the regulations for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006! Read for yourself, I'm crossing my fingers...

I've got to leave for baseball practice with my son, so for true analysis head over to see what "Shamus" has to say on the matter at http://hardboiledpoker.blogspot.com/.

Gotta go.

Regards,

cheer_dad

An evening's ramble, with sincere finish

I ask you... is this a news article. Penned by the fine folks at the Associated Press, does this qualify? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5681350.html

Yes, I'm interested... just because it's related to the parent companies of one of the only (current) 2 full fledged casino/racetracks in the state of West By God Virginia. But I mean I've got Google Alerts watching for little tidbits like this. It hardly qualifies as a news article though. Hell, it looks like a mini quote from a prospectus sent out to MTR Gaming investors. I guess I just don't get what is truly newsworthy.

And a shout out to the ass hat who caught his two outer against me earlier. Glad to see that someone else took your/my chips from you shortly after you temporarily felted me. Then, I read your profile on the site, and found that Gus Hansen was your fave player ever, and you hadn't even hit the age of 25 yet. Bad news for ya dude... the whole frackin' table wrote down your name. I swear, and if they didn't I'm telling everyone I know... and staking them. But... as usual I digress.

The bright side to the story, I throw some cash out to the evil realm of blackjack (online) and for once, double up, win back what I lost to the aforementioned ass hat, and then I was able to continue playing comfortably for the remainder of the "late-night."

And now wonder of wonders... I'm on an upswing, of course fueled, by the evil minions of the accursed Jack Daniels.

Okay cheer_dad quitcherbitchin!

Despite all my whining and my woe-is-me talk today, I need to pause and be thankful. Others have had it worse than me today... and I've got no reason to complain further. Some very sad news came today to some very special and dear friends of mine. I'm very sorry. And at the risk of sounding quite sappy, I love you both very much. Whatever, whenever... we're here for you. Hope to see you very soon!

Regards,

cheer_dad

WTF kinda week

Somebody 'splain it all to me. Really! I mean there is the brink of insanity and then, there is, the ABYSS!

The workplace has just given me SOOO many WTF moments this week. Conflict among the team, personal attacks, some downright hateful things said to people face to face. I just don't get it. Being nice I recognize can be a chore, but how about some common friggin' courteousy, and if that's too much how 'bout just not being mean. Is that too much to ask... in the WORKPLACE.

At some point I'm sure one or more people looked down at their WWJD bracelets and decided the answer was... " Oh yeah, it's go time! Yer goin' down!" I really wish I could go into more detail about it all, but somehow, somewhere I'm sure it wouldn't be ethical. Besides it's not nice to talk about STUPID people.

All I know is that I would love to be at the poker table with a few of these guys right now. Soon whatever chips they had would be in front of me. I believe they would reach new heights of "tilt." Oh while I'm on the subject of poker I'll mention the two games I know about that are coming up in the very near future. TONIGHT, is cash game night at the Shumans. And next Saturday April 19th, is the next NDPT tournament being hosted by the Wolfe's. Yes there will be howling at the moon. I may even redeclare my war on the accursed Jack Daniels.

It's been the kind of week I'd just like to take off for Wheeling or better yet Vegas right now. Just cram a wad of cash in my pocket and away I'd go. Probably just as well though, I'd likely bleed off my stack, to some ass hat.

Well be kind to one another this weekend and beyond.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Leaving work early today

As the title says, I'm leaving work early today. YEAH!!! Unfortunately, I've doing so only to get home and mow the lawn. I can't wait until my normal quitting time and then do it, because Cole has baseball tonight, and tomorrow, and besides all that, it's supposed to start raining tomorrow. If I have any hope of taming the jungle that my lawn has already become, it's gotta be dealt with now! I guess I'll substitute a lawn mowing cardio workout for my treadmill run.

I haven't felt much in the writing mood for the past few days, and it's probably shown hasn't it... Work has had me busy, and pondering a great many problems. By the time I get a few free cpu cycles in my day, writing down my thoughts and observations has been the last thing on my mind. But then I remember; I don't write, you don't read. Blog no workie. But I'm warning you all baseball season for the kids takes up a lot of time for them and me too. And despite the fact that I'm not coaching this year, I might as well have taken on that job too. So, far I've been on the field with them every practice. Warming them up, working on drills, and fundamentals. Whether I've been in the mood or not! But remember, it is for the children. Sounds like a "liberal" battle-cry doesn't it.

But I need to tie up a few loose ends before heading out, so this'll have to tide you over kids. Gotta run...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Ted Arneault stepping down as MTR Gaming's front man

According to a variety of sources Ted Arneault will at the end of the year step down as chairman and chief executive officer of MTR Gaming. Recall I've written before of MTR Gaming, as they are the company which operates the Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack to my north in Chester, WV. Despite the good fortune which allowed the Chester based casino to open first a poker room and then later full casino gaming, and what would appear to be record crowds the greater corporation conglomerate has continued to see declining profits. In fact when a company reports in its 2007 annual report that it lost $11.4 million, well that tends to suggest a losing session. At least that's what I'd tend to call it. Heck, I lose $11.40 in an online session and I feel like a failure, but I digress.

Read the rest of the coverage here:

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=44461

It must be pointed out that MTR has "unloaded" a number of its other properties already in an attempt to focus on more of its closer-to-home properties, right here in the hills of West By God Virginia. I hope the move leads to greater stability for both MTR and the region's gambling as a whole. We'll just have to stay tuned.

Ted Arneault has held the CEO spot of MTG Gaming now for 13 years. Oddly enough that was always a lucky number for me. MTR and Mr. Arneault seem to be a bit tight lipped on additional details of his departure from the company. Regardless though, in the interest of good karma, I wish the man well... it's a tough market for the unemployed. : )

Sorry this is about as serious as I get on the journalistic front gang. If you came here looking for cutting edge reporting, boy is your search engine outa whack!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Night at the Eagles and more weekend

Last night was a fun night of merrymaking at the Eagles along with the Brothers. As usual the alcohol was flowing. The band JINX'D put on a great show. They really packed in the crowd and filled the dance floor. Great performance guys.

This morning Cole and I finally got around to watching WrestleMania 24. Yes, the boy is absolutely ate up with the WWE! He sat and played with his action figures in his new Steel Cage Ring. : ) I suppose there are worse things he could be doing. Now we're getting ready to head out the door and go to the mall to see Superhero Movie.

I wanted to mention that I did play in the PokerSpace Walker Poker freeroll today and donked off my early chip stack. Basically two hands did me in AKs, vs QQ. I just didn't hit. Then later AQos, and although the flop gave me straight and flush draws neither materialized. against my opponent who paired his Jack. Oh well, I knew I'd never be able to stay and finish it. My fascination with tournament play has begun to wither. Although they are fun from time to time.

Well the time is here... we gotta go.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Lack of inspiration, but still blogging...

I've been waiting for inspiration to strike now for a couple of days, since my last blog post. Waiting for my writing muse to slip me the tongue or for something to fall out of the sky and give me something blog worthy. Well guess what the muse has left me hanging and apparently apples ain't in season either. So brace yourself my minions, for another rambling twist of the mind of cheer_dad. Here we go.

I won't try to cover the status/progress of the UIGEA hearings, since Shamus over at Hard Boiled Poker just flat gets it RIGHT!!! Thanks for the phenomenal coverage and commentary. If that's still not enough head on over to Lou Krieger's blog for additional ongoing discussion.

I could talk about work a bit and recap the week for you but I'd like really to hang on to the few dedicated readers that I have. Let's just sum it up this way. There have been lots of donks to deal with and I haven't had the good fortune to find them at a poker table. Let me put these words together without spaces and have you decide if it's one word or two... "governmentinaction" It's been my experience here at the "DEBT" this week that the three word variety has begat the two word variety. But in the minds of some movement is progress. Frackin' 'tards. But I digress.

One bright spot in the week will be tonight at the Yanok's game. They're running their April qualifier tonight. I'm already assured a spot in the year end game having scored a small set of points in one game, but I gotta tell you thus far over there I haven't done well this year. My "luck" or at least my good fortune has been in the NDPT games. I've final tabled a lot. I would have to say that I'm doing better than break even, although an exact figure eludes me. For some reason I've become more interested in the ring game action, as opposed to tournaments. Not that I'm playing more of that variety... just preferring it in my mind. There have been times where I thought about logging on and playing at home in the evening when I've had free time and decided to spend my time in some other way, instead. I didn't decide to take a break, but I just kinda did it. Or didn't as the case may be.

Baseball practice will begin to occupy greater amounts of my waking hours, and then after Opening Day on April 26th, well I just won't have any free time at all. But it's for the children. And although I'm not coaching this year, I've already been drafted to help (wink wink) the official coaches. There really is not end to this thing is there.

And Cole and I watched the WWE on Monday night and saw THE NATURE BOY RIC FLAIR give his farewell speech to the world of pro-wrestling. I remember seeing him YEARS ago when I was a younger than Cole! Then they announced that he was retiring after 36 Years!!! Like it or hate it as for the wrestling, but to do something for that many years and to that degree, you gotta give the guy some credit. The send off was very respectful and he was clearly very emotional over the whole thing. And yes I know it's entertainment... not REAL. But there's enough reality out there to deal with. And hey the boy likes watching it, so I guess that'll have to be reason enough. Besides the divas ain't so hard to look at! Anyway RIC, thanks for the memories!

So I'll see some of you tonight at the Yanok's, and hopefully take your money. But I'll try to entertain as I do it, to help soften the blow.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Snoring and sleep deprivation

I may have to get some help. My snoring has gotten worse, and it persists. While I acknowledge that it's affecting my wife's ability to sleep, I don't think that she fully believes me when I say that it's having an affect on me as well. My snoring is NOT an indication of sound, restful sleep. On the contrary, it's the body trying desperately to keep oxygen coming into the body, so I don't die. If the opposite were true then I'd be quite alert throughout the day, and fell well-rested. As it is however, I feel exhausted, lethargic, and I'm playing the role of a grump to a T! When I got home from work yesterday, I immediately grabbed a pillow and laid on the floor in front of the tv and caught up on my sleep. I had to get up though, not long after that and head to baseball with Cole. It was cold, windy, I pulled a muscle in my arm, and well the whole experience just sucked last night. We returned home late, and took care of a few odds and ends and I finally got to bed at an "early for me" 10:30pm. I vaguely remember being yelled at more than a couple of times last night by my wife to roll over, or stop snoring, or some expletive or other.

I struggled out of bed at 5:45am this morning. I felt so tired that I shook a bit. I think I even cat-napped through my shower. I was at work by 6:30 still wishing for death, as it might be a soothing/calming rest. Not too long ago, Laura came to my desk to ask a question, but first had to ask me if I was awake. Much like the picture above... I was out. Coffee right in front of me. Dual monitors of my computer staring mindlessly at the spectacle. How pathetic. Was I snoring? Had I just drifted off? I don't have clue.

Here are the things that I know. I'm overweight, not enormously so, but more than enough. I had (in the past) surgery for polyps in my nasal cavity. I know that I have a deviated septum, which was diagnosed once upon a time before my 17th birthday. It's as obvious as the over sized nose on my face too. All I have to do is look in the mirror and one nostril is clearly smaller than the other. I'm busy, and I don't tend to leave things at work, I bring problems home with me. I dream about them as well. I don't feel relaxed very often. I'm sure among all these "symptoms" I've established myself as the ideal candidate for a sleep disorder of sorts. Maybe I should bite the bullet and just go to the doctor about it. Maybe I can get some help/relief. Maybe my wife can too.

I know I'm rambling on here a bit, but I'm still feeling groggy here people. Cut me just a bit of slack, okay?

Regards,

cheer_dad