My weekend and WSOP updates too

Check out the Live Blogging/Reporting being done by the fine folks over at PokerNews, http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/, powered of course by some of the best the blogosphere has to offer! Although I HATE them all because they are there and I am not I have to give 'em ALL props for doing a great job already and we're only into Day #2! So, Event #1 enters day #2 today with a familiar face at the top of the chip heap, namely Eli Elezra. Recall that this is $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em. Of the 352 players who started only 70 remain. But scanning down through the list of those who are still "in it to win it" this thing is far from over. Check out the listing of the remaining 13 tables for yourself: http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2008-world-series-of-poker/event-1-10000-plhe-world-championship/id47523.htm#no47523. There's a Who's Who of the top pro's which remain. So, this is still anybody's game. I'm sure Eli has some sort of side action prop bet on it!

Also, Event #2 has gotten under way as well, this is $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em, which will boast a lot more players. According to Shamus' blog the official board shows 3,449 so far, but only time will tell (very likely the total won't be known until tomorrow.) I'll keep watching as I'm sure the rest of you will be too.

In other matters... I'd planned to post up a synopsis post of the Season Finale of LOST, since Big Red and I finally got around to watching on the ole DVR last night after Cole's baseball game. But as I was pondering all that was ponderable about the episode I was also browsing through my Google Reader. And after reading Julius Goat's Blog entry on the subject, frankly I can't hold a candle to what he pulled out of his brain and got down on paper (errr, virtually speaking.) Go there now and check it out, http://jgoat.blogspot.com/2008/05/lost-021-locke-box.html! If you haven't yet watched it I won't give anything away, but I thought my wife's jaw was going to fall off when she saw who was in the casket. This show's got more twists than a Chubby Checker concert.

Lastly, a shout out to JR. The NDPT crew (and then some) will be gathering over at JR's again tonight to do battle on the felt. This will mark the 7th official game of this year's series. We told you gang, there'd be more poker opportunities than you could shake a stick at, by rotating the hosting responsibility. Keep in mind that there have been a number of other games which have cropped up as well. I won't even get into all of the tournaments and cash games that Shuman and even the Yanok's have played host to as well. And YES, Big Red and I have been at a lot of those too! Okay, we've got issues. Just deal with it... or better yet just deal!

Also, don't forget that Teresa and Laura are the ones who are organizing the bus trip to Atlantic City for the weekend of July 18th. Seats are $100 each... don't delay get yours soon!!! Once the gambling deviants among us start signing up, the seats won't last long.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Harvey Korman, you will be missed

My day just got a little sad as I read the news that funny man Harvey Korman died last night at the age of 81. http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/29/korman.obit.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview Harvey Korman... well he made me laugh. I can still remember watching the Carol Burnett Show as a child and as I sit here writing this I can recall many of the skits that had me rolling with laughter. Harvey was the "straight-man" in much of his comedic career, but his delivery and expressions were just fuel to a fire for others to feed off of in each routine. The two recurring skits which I recall most vividly are as many others mention as well the "Gone With the Wind" AND "As the Stomach Turns" sketches. I think what made him funniest was that he laughed at himself, as did the entire Carol Burnett ensemble cast. They routinely played off of one another at times seemingly trying to get the other actor to "lose it" and crack up while on camera. It made the scenes just that much funnier, watching Harvey bite his lip in an effort to contain his laughter.


As the article states, Korman began his career on the The Danny Kaye Show in 1964, and then joined Carol Burnett in 1967, and remained there for the next 10 years. He appeared in a number of movies, including Blazing Saddles. Additionally, he and fellow comedian Tim Conway continued their dynamic duo touring the country with their live show, "Tim Conway and Harvey Korman: Together Again." As I recall it wasn't all that long ago that the two were appearing in Las Vegas.
I think Mel Brooks summed it up best, "A world without Harvey Korman -- it's a more serious world..."

I for one will miss him, but he will always be remembered fondly. Thanks for all the laughs, rest in peace Harvey.


Regards,

cheer_dad

LOST season finale and the coming of the WSOP!!!

Lost Season 4 is about to come to a close people. I hate to see it end since I've enjoyed it so much BUT the extra time saved theorizing and reading the message boards about Lost can be utilized instead to focus all my energies on reading the blogs and message boards about the World Series of Poker WSOP 2008!!! It's like getting off one roller coaster and getting on another. Unfortunately, I may have to watch the episode later on DVR, since a bunch of us are very likely to be at the Eagles tonight, if not dinner before that. Tonight's drawing night, and another opportunity for "my peeps" and I to throw back a few cold ones... and then a few more.
Anyway, back to Lost... ABC's website provides this as the summary for the finale:
There's No Place Like Home, Thu May 29 9/8c The face-off between the survivors and the freighter people continues, and the Oceanic Six find themselves closer to rescue, on the two-hour Season Finale!
Sounds bland to those of you who haven't been watching, to whom I openly scoff in your general direction, "HAH!" If however you're ready to admit the error of your ways, please navigate your happy ass over to http://losteastereggs.blogspot.com/ for some Lost-Goodness! Their screencaps and commentary are THE BEST! (See Big Red I do too have a life outside of poker!!!)
Speaking of poker : ) JR's plays host to this weekend's game, May 31st at 7:00pm. The poker room will be packed again for the tournament and the cash game to follow. I can't wait to see JR face off against "All-In" Allman in his brand-spankin'-new" Cleveland Browns ballcap! Steve's all about the DOG POUND!!! Errr wait, no maybe they aren't his favorite. Maybe he's really a COWBOYS man!!! (I just know I'm gonna pay for this one, but that's for taking me out of the last tournament with your friggin' Jacks.)

Also, don't forget people the WSOP begins tomorrow!!! Event #1 $10,000 Pot Limit Hold 'em starts us off at High Noon tomorrow. I'll be following the blogs for all the latest and greatest, and post up links and snippets of the goings on throughout the series, especially for those of you who find yourself trapped behind the company firewall. I urge you all to visit ALL of these blogs regularly though, throughout the series:

http://genebromberg.com/

http://hardboiledpoker.blogspot.com/

http://pokergrump.blogspot.com/

http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/

http://taopoker.blogspot.com/

http://www.upforanything.net/poker/

http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/

To name just a few : ) They on a daily basis feed an already overly encouraged addiction. Thanks guys! And I just found Up For Anything's post http://www.upforanything.net/poker/2008-wsop-poker-blogs-and-news.html which highlights all the above blogs as well as some others I didn't have (but am quickly adding to my Google Reader.) I'm in for the long haul here people. Work productivity will heretofore be non-existent.

That'll do for today.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Kenny Chesney concert weekend.

Like I said more than a couple days ago, the weekend was sizing itself up to be very busy, and a whole lotta fun. It did not disappoint! The collection of misfits pictured there to the left crammed themselves into a few vehicles and departed Parkersburg, West by-god Virginia and headed for Cleveland, Ohio for a stadium concert. The billing included Kenny Chesney (who my wife will eventually leave me for) Leanne Rhimes, Sammy Hagar, Gary Allan, and Keith Urban. The concert and the company were phenomenal! Take a look at some of the additional debauchery which took place.





Keith Urban pictured here on the bigscreen put on a great show, and my wife has added him to the list of replacements should the Mrs. Chesney thing not work out for her...





A crew indeed! At this point in the concert, clothing had not yet become optional.





Kenny lights up the night. I cease to exist to Big Red! : )




Who am I kidding, here's the happy couple, looking a little bleary eyed but having a ball with several thousand of our closest friends.

We spent the night at a hotel before crawling out of bed the next morning and heading home. It should also be noted that Frank and Chris both came along, but neither attended the concert itself and opted to hang in the parking lot tailgating their asses off for the duration. Chris recalls from the count of beer can tabs that he downed 29 beers, not counting the ones we had on the restaurant and various other libations throughout the day. I must say that when the concert let out and we headed back to the vehicle we found hot dogs and bratwurst waiting on the grill. Nothing has ever tasted so good.

I can definitely say we'll do this again, this was a great time. I'll add also that it blew the trip to Pittsburgh for last year's concert all to hell! Cleveland was easier to get in and out of. No 3-hour sit in traffic this time around. Hope everyone else had as good a time as we did. See you all back at work real soon.




When asked if he was having a good time, JR responded as such... oh and who knew he was SUCH a Cleveland Browns Fan!




Big Red and Nikki help exemplify the catch-phrase for the night, abbreviated as L.L...

I'll leave it at that!

Regards,

cheer_dad

A long weekend approaches

Last night was Whitney's school variety show (which was quite good!) Tonight Cole has baseball vs one the Vienna teams down at the Tri-C Fields. Tomorrow night baseball again vs one of the Belpre Teams, this one being held AT Belpre's fields. I don't particularly like playing there, but I'll get over it. Tonight, after the game, I'll be heading to the Eagles for Drawing Night. I think I'll be joined by JR and Chris. I may also have the mother-in-law, wife, and some visiting members of the family, in from Baltimore. Nothing like a little alcohol and slot machines to bring a clan together. : ) I'll be taking a few hours off from work tomorrow to get the lawn tended to before the weekend gets here. Why, you ask? A group of us... primarily NDPT'ers are heading to Cleveland, OH first thing Saturday morning. Big Red has got a group all fired up to head off to another Kenny Chesney stadium concert. Yeah, just us and several thousand total strangers. Drinkin', singin', partyin', just your basic redneck free-for-all. I'll do my best to make you all proud. I think I may even have a shot at winning the battle against the accursed Jack Daniels this time. I'm planning a sneak attack... and I've enlisted a few allies to help fight the good fight. Incidentally, we WILL be staying the night... at a hotel in walking (stumbling) distance of the stadium. For those among you who might question the drunk driving aspect of the adventure. I can't say anything as for my chances of avoiding public intoxication. Probably aren't good for all involved. So, as you can see folks, I've got a busy time coming my way. If my words appear to be a little slurred for the next several days in the blog, you'll understand. I'm thankful that Monday is Memorial Day, and that I have the following day off from work as well. I have a feeling I'm going to be needing the rest.

Don't forget folks... the WSOP 2008 begins in 8 DAYS. Are ya ready for some Pokah?!?!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Eenie, Meenie, Miney... MUTT

So, this guy had a choice to make... and in all choices you need options from which to pick. You weigh and compare and most generally a side-by-side comparison will usually suffice and give you a general idea of which way you're ultimately going to go.










So, the above Mr. Jeff "Mutt" Lange lines up his options, side-by-side and does his little compare and contrast bit. The whole "this is this... and that is that routine," and throwing away a 14-year marriage to the little lady on the left (Shania Twain for the thicker amongst you,) opts for the "other woman" on the right, who has now been identified as Marie-Anne Thiébaud by the online story here:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20201677,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines

Go ahead and check out the article I'll wait...

Anyway...

The whole side-by-side comparison usually works for me, I get it. However, Mr. Mutt... not so much. So, I'll lend him a hand. Mutt, you chose proverbial Door #2 over the following:




Hmmm... so the eyesight has faded over the years.


















Okay... DUDE, you had to have this shot tucked away somewhere in a photo album. Scroll back up to the compare and contrast photo and then back down again.











YUM... and uhhhh, wait was I saying something. I forget.














Yes, I'm aware there's no poker content here... but there's gotta be some lesson to take away about pot odds or +EV or something. Or maybe something about "Dogs Playing Poker" since the idiot's name in the this little story is (after all) MUTT!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Another life tilt moment

Some things just tend to put me over the edge (Life Tilt) if you will. I came across the following article out on CNN:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/20/news/blind_money.ap/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories

Read first... develop your own opinion and hope for your sake that you share mine, because otherwise I might be calling you some very unsavory things. Are you done yet? Okay, I'll wait? Good... Now, do you find this a well written article about a hot topic about a legitimate problem facing America that must be stamped out immediately regardless of the cost? If so, perhaps you should leave now, and I'll merely thank you for stopping by. Have a nice day.

Okay, now that those Whack-Jobs are gone... are you friggin' kidding me!!!

A Federal appeals court rules that the Treasury Department is violating the law by keeping all money the same size and feel, because it discriminates against blind people. Can any of the rest of you hear the sound of the founding fathers rolling over in their graves, trying to claw their way to the surface to lay hands on the attorney's who brought this atrocity before the courts. Okay, look I get it. Blind people can't see money... It's always been that way, but to make statement that it is a violation of law is absurd an in my mind offensive. I get that the Constitution and the Bill of Rightsis are living, breathing documents but the courts have twisted and mangled a lot of the original intents over the years and most often at the hands of unscrupulous hacks to whom the world somehow handed over a law degree. To those of you who think the value of the US dollar is down, lookout now your government will be spending precious tax dollars to develop money for the blind. I don't mean to trounce anyone's civil liberties and all, but at some point in time and in life, common sense has to take over, the inmates stop running the asylum and the liberals shut the hell up and take a seat!

I'd have to think that Dennis Miller would be "gettin' off on a rant here," and perhaps Earl Pitts (American) would dust off a "you know what makes me sick..." tirade. Then again, maybe it's just me, and I should just shut up and fade back into my blog obscurity.

Nope, I can't do it. Next this same legal team will undoubtedly be launching an attack on the television manufacturers and programming, since the blind cannot take part in the joys of the "boob tube" either. How could we have all been so insensitive, so uncaring. I for one am ashamed of myself and my sight.

I just know that this is somehow going to affect poker in the long run. : ) (There, happy I tied it back in to the blog's overall theme?) The poker chip must change, the deck of cards... and shucks even the visual tells that I give off at the table are criminal offenses when weighed in the same manner. (I started to say viewed in the same light,) but figured my analogy would be suspect as well.)

But I've beaten this dead horse long enough. But to honor the great legal minds behind this idiocy, I offer up a top ten list for your amusement:

Top Ten Lawyer Jokes:

1. What do you call 5,000 dead lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? ~A good start!
2. What's the difference between a lawyer and a catfish? ~One is a slimy, bottom dwelling, scum sucker. The other is a fish.
3. What is a criminal lawyer? ~Redundant.
4. How many personal injury attorneys does it take to change a light bulb? ~Three--one to turn the bulb, one to shake him off the ladder, and the third to sue the ladder company.
5. Did you hear about the lawyer hurt in an accident? ~An ambulance stopped suddenly.
6. Do you know how to save a drowning lawyer? ~Take your foot off his head.
7. How can you tell if a lawyer is well hung? ~You can't get a finger between the rope and his neck!
8. How can you tell when a lawyer is lying? ~His lips are moving.
9. What do you have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand? ~Not enough sand.
10. Why won't sharks attack lawyers? ~Professional courtesy.

And with that I bid you farewell.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Uber posting time my minions

It's been many moons since my last post, but to be absent from the blog is to be present in the depths of the workforce! TGIF has never sounded so good to me. I've had enough. I spent the vast majority of my waking hours at work dealing with a server security initiative that was dropped in our lap. First, let me get some acronyms out of the way for you. (Oh yeah, you know the gub-ment just luvs it some abbreviations.)

CIS = The Center for Internet Security

NIST = National Institute of Standards and Technology

The agency which I find myself employed with has mandated (or has had it mandated upon them) compliance with security configurations as outlined by CIS and NIST. The lines between those two "initial-sporting" agencies is blurry to say the least. Let's just say that standards and best practices for securing computers/servers/ and the applications and data which reside on them is admittedly of absolute importance. I take it serious. Very Serious! This week I've proven my obsessive nature, and dug into the utter bowels of the method behind the madness. Yes, my inner-geek has been fully embraced and given the reach around to boot!

What CIS and NIST establishes are the benchmark solutions for locking the computer world down. They formalize standards and best-practices, and analyze the hell out of the pros and cons for each configuration setting. This all sounds really great doesn't it. I'm with you, I'm all about tightening the screws down, and locking her down... but here's where things get messy. CIS and NIST think tanks have a degree of common sense, and readily assert that some of their settings have NEGATIVE IMPACT on some applications and technologies. So, they point out degrees of security and what trade offs must be faced. Unfortunately, in the "real-world"... managerial types don't tend to read the FUCKING FINE PRINT!!! Instead they treat these benchmarks as absolutes, and demand total compliance and adherence to standards they have no hope of understanding! And thus pass off to the underlings in the trenches (that'd be your lowly civil servant "cheer_dad") and say get it done... and not only get it done, do it faster than the speed of light AND then prove that you did it in a simple report, and while you're at it report on that in the form of a monthly compliancy check. Are any of you still with me so far? Well thanks, but I fear for your mental well-being.

Anyway, so someone other than the administrators gets to make the decisions about what will be done, and the tools to be used for verification and the report that they'll get in the end. As luck would have it, we've been directed to use the CIS-CAT or the Configuration Assessment Tool. OOOOh AAAAh!!! Before demanding its usage... no one in the agency really bothered to take it out for a test drive. NOW, I applaud the tool in some areas, but like a lot of things in life it still needs some work. But time is not a luxury that I really have, since despite the problems being encountered, the demands and the deadlines have NOT SHIFTED in the least.

So, I've had to educate myself quickly (down and dirty) on a compliance tool I just had thrown at me, on a project I just inherited, which is looking at new standards that are frankly a moving target. They are ever-morphing to make things more and more secure. The powers that be in the organization, simply want the check marks in place right next to the dotted i's and crossed t's. I know, I know... cheer_dad quitcherbitchin'!!! I'd say it's enough to drive me to drinking, but that's a habit that well we've established I'd long/long ago acquired and refined to the level of High Art!

I've gotten pretty good at setting up the tool and making it run in ways that many others have not. And I've put it through paces that I don't think anyone else bothered with. I've been in contact with one of the Developers of the tool and she's been great, and very receptive to feedback and suggestions and to her I am VERY GRATEFUL! Thanks Nancy! But even she recognizes where some improvements can be made. My management or the BIG GUY beating the drum at the front of this little slave ship... doesn't need to or want to hear much of it though. I'm still hearing a lot of this work harder, better, longer, faster, and be perfectly accurate.

Lucky for me I'm beginning to see at least some light at the end of the tunnel on this and along the way have picked up some valuable allies in my plight. Eventually I do believe this will get better. Eventually I think I can help to make it work better. I also think I'll have a decided impact on how secure things can be, and more to the management point... documentable. I'm learning more lately that it's more about the process than the result, at least in this stage of the game that we're in.

Anyway, I've bored you, thanks for listening, but feel free to pat me on the back and buy me a drink at the bar to congratulate my efforts. Remember, I'm with the government and I'm here to help you! (You are all so in trouble!)

While I've been away from the blogosphere though, the world has continued to spin on its axis. I've tried to play some cards online to keep my sanity at night, before heading back to work. But that hasn't been all that pretty. JR and I have been trading bad beat stories each morning when we first get to work. We've both had Kings and Aces stories to swap. JR really got to feel the warm and squishy feeling when he got it all in with pocket rockets, only to meet up against someone else's pocket rockets, and then watch as 4 cards line up all pretty like on the board of the same suit... as his opponents ACE and not his. Checks on table friggin' ONE!!! Ouch buddy, I've had that happen to me. I'd tell you I feel your pain, but frankly I don't feel like feeling that sick right now. I can do without the feeling of having my nuts yanked off! : ) I've dropped $$$ considerably, but ehhh, I've been here before. Feel the grind of the tilt-o-whirl!

In other corners of the web, there have been some really cool things that have happened that only this evening have I been able to catch up with. So, here goes:

Hillary Clinton took the state of West Virginia in the primary election. (cheer_dad shudders!) I wish I could tell you I was excited about someone running for the top office... but I'm not. I've got something not to like about all the contenders. But frankly... Hillary Clinton just friggin' scares me. People that power hungry need it, want it, and will do anything to get and keep it! In the words of Forrest Gump, "that's all I've got to say about that."

Still close to home, MTR Gaming Group (headquartered in Chester, WV) has appointed a new CFO and Executive Vice President, David R. Hughes. He's no stranger to MTR, having worked with them since 2003, in other capacities, but in total brings 24 years of experience in the gaming industry to the proverbial table. He replaces Edson R. (Ted) Arneault who recently announced that he was stepping down. Read all about it here.

According to this article from the AP Wire that I just found, Charles Barkley could be facing charges on failing to pay back $400,000 in casino markers to the Wynn Casino. Hmmm. IDIOT! Jock/celebrity that didn't do much for me before, and now does even less. If you can't pay, don't play. When you can pay, and don't... shame on you!

This article from Pokerlistings.com let me know that GSN is opting NOT to renew "High Stakes Poker." Thank goodness they'll be able to get back to showing those reruns of Family Feud! Oh wait, I forgot one thing... friggin' 'tards!

Pennsylvania is conducting hearings on House Bill 2121 which would allow Pennsylvania to enter the "casino table gaming" market. Recall it's been only a few months that the state of WV opened table games at existing racetracks... 2 of which are VERY near to PA, and causing residents to make a run for the border. Read all about it here.

Well, it's time to wrap up. I hope this makes up for my absence. Hope you all understand. I'll see many of you tomorrow night at JR's for our latest in the NDPT series. Not just cash folks there's points for this one too! : ) I for one could use a little (or a lot) of both!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Thank you sir... may I have another!

The following hand is indicative of how things have gone lately for me, online and offline for that matter. I had played online, two-tabling for about an hour and a half. I was wrapping it up so I could go pick up my son from school. Honestly, this was the last hand of the day for me, and I was barely treading water. But I was thinking how thankful I was to get out with my unlucky ass still in tact. Then, I look down at pocket Kings. But here's the total depiction of the hand that went down.

Bodog Hand Details
Hand Number 1227106773
Start Date 2008-05-12 14:30:52
End Date 2008-05-12 14:31:49
Game Type Hold'Em Structure NL $0.10/$0.25
Play Mode Real
Table Name Thoroughblades

mgmaddict $41.14

Mr 1337z0r $44.55
audibrent $13.25

Oswegonia $32.32
BigFlop12 $23.60
bidmerun $8.30
ksolo80 $23.75
DBWON $25.00
cheer_dad $30.10

Hand Actions
mgmaddict Ante/Small blind $ 0.10
audibrent Big blind/Bring in $ 0.25
Oswegonia Raise $ 0.85
BigFlop12 Fold
bidmerun Fold
ksolo80 Call $ 0.85
cheer_dad Raise $ 3.50
mgmaddict Fold
audibrent Call $ 3.25
Oswegonia Fold
ksolo80 Call $ 2.65
Betting round completed
Active pot = $11.45

***FLOP***
4s 9h Js

audibrent All-in $ 9.75
ksolo80 Call $ 9.75
cheer_dad All-in $ 26.60
ksolo80 All-in $ 10.50
cheer_dad Return uncalled portion of bet $ 6.35
Betting round completed
Main pot = $40.70 Side pot = $21.00

***Turn***
4c

***River***
4h

Rake amount:$ 1.50

ksolo80: (Jh Jc) Full House J J J 4 4
cheer_dad: (KhKc)Full House 4 4 4 K K
audibrent: (Kd 10c) Three of a Kind 4 4 4 K J

ksolo80: $ 60.20

Thank you sir... may I have another! I hate this friggin' game!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Pix from Whitney's Prom Night

As promised... some of the pictures of my "baby girl" on her 9th grade prom night. Here's Whitney from the overlook at Fort Boreman Park in Parkersburg, WV:


Whitney and Matt at Lindsey's house:


Another shot of the couple at Fort Boreman Park:


And again...


The kids had a good time... more so over at Jo Jo's house party and bonfire than at the prom itself. The school year is nearly over, and next year they'll all be headed off to high school. Funny I still remember vividly changing diapers. Time marches on...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Observations from the Yanok's and then some...

Good time was had by all at the Yanok's house last night. Thanks for your wonderful hospitality. There was a big crowd there for the tournament, and despite a late 9:00pm start time, we still ended up playing a second game, on into the wee hours. Unfortunately, Lady Luck continues to snub me at the tables. Being card dead for a very long time, I joked that the first hand I had that had a face card in it, I was playing it regardless of position or the bet. Time marched on... and I kept on mucking. Hand after hand of 5-2, 4-2, 3-5. I remarked that I was going to have to change my thinking and lower my standards. If a had a 7 or higher, I'd play. That didn't really work either. In the first game, Matt took me out when I (getting low on chips and the blinds getting nosebleedish) looked down at pocket 6's. Matt raised ahead of me to 50. I raised all in for like another 70 or so. He showed AQos. I'm thinking, "dodge 'em!" Unfortunately, we did dodge em' but the Ace high straight filled itself in on the river for him. Yup, Matt you called it. When I finally get a hand, someone else is gonna find a better one. Oh well. In the second game, beer, the lateness of the hour and my utter disdain for this friggin' game of poker, I shoved with pocket Jacks, despite She-Wolfe's advances on the pot. As I turned my cards I asked, do you have 'em. The answer was all too apparent. There be bullets here! Oh well the beer was cold, and the Wild Turkey was gobblin' in Matt's glass, just begging me to sip a bit and then a bit more. : )

It was good to get out for the night with good friends and good times! It should also be noted that Scott Miller, came out of retirement last night and returned to the poker fold. It was good to see him out and about... and draggin' the occasional pot as well.

Other points of interest and just things that caught my oddball attention:

1. Brian Y puts together a great poker music mix!
2. People who typically suck out on you, get sucked out on too, and complain more loudly! : )
3. Sometimes you really should chase after that straight, and follow a flush draw off the edge of the abyss.
4. Matt taught me that mixers are optional for Wild Turkey.
5. Rhinestones are a nice touch to a thong.
6. Also, when Brian begins to lose his voice, he sounds disturbingly like Napoleon Dynamite! (Do the chickens have sharp talons?)
7. If you slur your speech when you're drinking, it's okay, I slur my hearing when I'm drinking.
8. Big Red had never seen a black hockey player! (Come to think of it, neither had I.)
9. If you can't laugh at yourself, others will do it for you.
10. And last but not least... you really can bounce a quarter off of Jody's ass. Buns Of Steel Baby!
    

I'll see many of you tonight at the Eagles (for still more poker goodness,) after we get Whitney off to prom. And I'll try to post up some pix of her sometime later on the blog. Proposals and gawking by you pervs will not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly. Suffice it to say that despite my obvious bias... my daughter looks absolutely beautiful!

Hope to see you soon... and hope you choose me to give your money to, as Lady Luck for once actually gives me the reach around!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Somewhere along the line

Somewhere along the line, I've performed a "core dump" of poker skill and ability. Certainly something happened, I just wish I could remember when it happened and how. Armed with such knowledge I'd quickly set about returning that which has been lost to the ole gray matter. Whenever it was the core dump had other sweeping effects as well. Along with it came, frustration and a complete lack of confidence. This is serious people. Are you hearin' me? I blew a chunk of the online bankroll yesterday and I'm left wondering what happened and reeling from the feeling. The best I could do while 2 tabling was to tread water on one table, while the other just sucked the life and cash out of me. By and large, I was slowly and painfully being blinded. Then, I'd get involved in a pot with Big Slick (several times) but never connect with it. Or I'd look down at the Hilton Sisters, but get bested by someone with a baby ace on the flop. It was a horrifying extended session to say the least. Top it all by the fact that I wasn't even enjoying it. It was just frustrating and I felt the quicksand just pulling me down. There's nothing can be done about it now, I'll just have to live with it and move on. Once your money hits the middle of the table... it's no longer yours. I have to live with it...but I don't have to like it.

Tonight is poker night at the Yanok's house. It sounds like it's going to be a big crowd. I'm looking forward to it. Hoping to redeem myself for a poor showing at the tables yesterday online. Of course just saying that could jinx me, so let's just say I'm going over to hang out with some of my favorite people and lay waste to a few bottles of beer. What could possibly go wrong. Tomorrow night while my daughter is at her 9th grade prom... a motley crew of us will be heading to the Eagles for the band, the slot machines, the booze and one another's company. Oh yeah, I'm supposed to bring along the poker chips as well. I know you're all detecting a general issue here now aren't you. Somewhere\sometime tomorrow I have to go get Big Red and my own mother a present for Mothers' Day. I didn't forget, but I do procrastinate something fierce! I was informed that this year, she wasn't buying for herself. The kids were old enough to see to it themselves (with my help.) In which, after reading between the lines, I came up with the following translation: Get off your sorry ass and go buy me something nice!!! Fear not dear... your man's on the job. Thank goodness for liberal return policies this time of year!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods, wherever that may be... and none of you forget your MOMS either. You know you have one... and she already knows you for the lousy no good that you are, so this weekend prove her wrong for once, and do something nice.

Have a great weekend... and here's hoping that mine will not turn to the dark side. Oh and just in case...curse you Jack Daniels and all your filthy kith and kin.

Regards,

cheer_dad

A day turned around

Today wasn't going so well. Not at all... don't know why. No good reason at all. But then I got home and things improved. Really, and again for no good reason at all. Step one was to say hello to Cole and ask how the day at school went, and check on the homework situation both of which were "okay." I left him to continue playing with his wrestlers here in the family room, while I headed down to run my 30 minutes on the treadmill. Finished, showered, checked the homework. We all grabbed something to eat...then had a few various chores to take care of. Cole really pitched in and helped out, then he asked if we could pass the baseball around a little. It was one of the most enjoyable times I've had with my son in a very long time. He did well, we worked on some fundamental form, speed and accuracy. We even finished it out with him practicing "pitching." There were a few "wild" ones in there, but there was power and some really great pitches that came out. But aside from all the mechanics of the thing... it was just great spending time with my son.

I later had to go pick Whitney up from a track meet, and let her drive us home. I think I've mentioned the "learner's permit" before (shudders to self.) Well it is a reality people, but fear not, the lil blonde girl's doing a great job. Again, something very mundane and insignificant on its face, but I think this was a very good day, after all. When I tucked 'em in, I told them it was good spending time with them, and that I love them very much!

Whole day turned around just like that. They make me want to be better than I am. It's all about them. Luv ya kids!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Yard work...and the friggin' rake

Abstained from poker for the day, not necessarily completely by choice. : ) But still I did abstain. No today there were several hours of yard work. I've never gotten around to having the blades sharpened on the mower, so it wasn't a perfect cutting. Couple that with the fact that I let the grass go too long, well unfortunately... it was a long, drawn out process. Despite bagging the grass I still had to rake the grass up, since it was everywhere. I didn't get to play poker but there was still a friggin' rake! Now I'm aching. And whoppee I get to go in to work tomorrow.

All that mowing time gave me time to reflect and think. It's one of the few times I can do that. I rehashed some of the game from the day before. I recognized there were a few starting hands that I played that maybe I shouldn't have...but I still came back to the two hands I discussed in the last post. Those are the ones that did me in. The Kings versus the Aces hand, well I wasn't backing away from that one and we all know it, don't we. If I'd just bought back in and had the full $20 in front of me, I'd have shoved with the cowboys. And hey, you there in the back snickering, you would have too, so just pipe down!

The 9's on the other hand, okay that wasn't my bright and shining moment in the sun. I know better... I just thought there was a window there and I was wrong. I took my lumps... I'll think twice about these things in the future now won't I. But there is no magic formula to this great game we play. And each of us will from time to time make missteps along the way. Getting up and brushing ourselves off is what we do. An opportunity to hit the felt running will be presenting itself real soon, I'm sure. Why, I believe I've already committed to playing at the Yanok's next Friday as it is. : )

Baseball game tomorrow night down at Tri-C and Whitney has a track meet too. I'll squeeze in a little time for my nervous break down. Oh and something else I just remembered. Dad called about mom's laptop. Turns out that the laptop has been around longer than 1-year, which is the term of the service contract, but... he picked up a Consumer's Report and found out that when a credit card is used to purchase a computer and a lot of other electronics and appliances, the manufacturer's warranty is DOUBLED! That's right people it appears still to be covered! In fact the other laptop of Whitney's may also be covered under warranty. Time will tell, should know something next week. I'll share it with the the faithful blog readers out there. Stay tuned.

Calling it a night soon...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Sometimes they have your number

We just got back from the Wolfe's. Another of those PartyLite (candle) parties for the ladies while the guys headed downstairs to play some cards. It would have been cheaper for me to have stayed upstairs and just ordered stuff from the catalog. I bought in for $20 initially... and played it for a while, up and down staying even, doing nothing stupid. Played straight, but we were pretty short handed so the starting hand requirements were way low. I was able to get away from some hands that would have broke me, and I was getting good reads. Then I'm the BB and get raised. I look down at pocket 9's. I reshove, making the guy for a big ace or possibly a low pair. Unfortunately he insta calls and turns over his pocket Jacks. Ooops, checks... table 1. I rebuy for another $20 with the intent of taking it back, I was still pretty confident in my reads, despite that fiasco.

I started stealing more often and the table was loosening up. Anyway, here's the hand that ended my night. I'm the big blind (.50) and I look down at pocket Kings. The same guy as before raises it up to $3.00 preflop. I pretend to tank for a bit, and shove $6.00 over the top. He shoves all in. I insta call regardless, since I know he's got me covered. As I shove, I look up and ask him, "do you have 'em." He flips them over and shows me. As I turn over my Kings, he said, "man I figured that's what you had to have. Unfortunately, I didn't hit my two outer on him and it went down the way it should, with him winning. I shook his hand, and told him that I knew when enough was enough. Especially since that was the limit I'd set for myself. It stings a little...BUT, when they've got your number there's not a damn thing you can do about it. The funny thing in that hand was the fact that three others that folded chuckled when we showed our pairs, and they each reached for the much and turned over their folded pairs as well, EACH!!! 5 pairs of cards. You know my old adage that if you have a pair you have to ask yourself who the other guy at the table is that has one. In this case, there were A LOT of them! Oh well nothing to do but bitch about it here in the ole blog. thanks for feeling my pain. FRACK!

Have a good night all!

Regards,

cheer_dad

What a frustrating day...again!

It's been one of those days, one of those weeks. Just more steps back than forward it seems. I spent a lot of time this week troubleshooting the problems of others as well as my own. Both, were equally frustrating and pointless. I'd like to elaborate more on the problems of others, but I'm sure some trade secret or other would be broken as a result, so let's just suffice it say that a programmer's website just isn't performing as he'd like it to. While I can't fully account for why, I can't fully discount to anybody's satisfaction that it is not the fault of the infrastructure. Here's a clue for all you quick thinkers... our group takes care of the infrastructure. It may very well just be some data transfer issues, but I can't prove it since that's not my area of access or influence. Still I've got to act as the intermediary. Yeah, the picture sums up how I feel about it all.

Anyway... aside from the problems of others, I've been dealing with some computer problems of my own too. Of course my troubleshooting efforts brought me some problems of my own. While tweaking and re-tweaking... some of the settings caused me a few problems. Unfortunately, they appeared much larger than they really were. There was information that I didn't have though. A number of the websites that I routinely access I just couldn't get to anymore. Wacky error messages, timeouts, etc... So, I delve back in to the whole mess to undo what I thought I'd done. I learn much later that, network issues were to blame, and so I was barking up the wrong tree. I couldn't fix it...but didn't know it and ended up making an even bigger mess of things. Several hours later, cups of coffee, and a migraine I end up having to undo all of my fixing. Anyway, it's over now well at least I hope so.

Sorry that was all purposely vague wasn't it.

One ray of brightness, I ended up making back some of the bankroll last night online, over at PokerRewards. Enough so I can say I'm back to square one anyway. Now just turn the corner and turn the profits out and it'll be all downhill from there. Yeah right who am I kidding. Just keep on keepin' on. Play your best, study, learn, play some more, and don't let it get in your head, and the rest will take care of itself.

Cole's got a baseball game tonight, and I'm sure there's homework to contend with before we leave. I just want him to have a good time tonight. I don't want to be hounding him about what to do and how to do it. Tonight I just want him to play the game. Treat it like a game and have no greater expectation than that. I want for him, for something to just go right that he can smile about and be proud. And I want to see the expression of joy on his face as a result. We could all use a little more joy in our lives, and I guess I don't do everything that I can to help him live that way. I'm a little slow on that... and sometimes I'm hard on him, and Whitney for that matter. I'm going to try and remedy it on both counts.

Regards,

cheer_dad