Saturday, January 31, 2009

Bowling continues... continued!

So, after my last post Cole and I headed back to the lanes. Day 1 of the City Tournament was for Team competition. Cole was grouped with three girls in the Prep Division. Lemme say that again... a different way. My son, got three girls. : P !!! Lucky guy... chip of the ole block, I tell ya! Okay, I'll quit now, before the wife punches me. Not fun to wake up in pool of own blood! Anyway back to bowling. Cole's average as I pointed out in my last post, has moved upward throughout his first year of bowling. He's now at a 72 average which he crushed today during regular league play, but during the tournament he just left that number in the DUST! Game #1 108, Game #2 123, and Game #3 135!!! Way-to-go COLE!!! With those numbers and the scores the girls were putting up on the boards their team took 1st Place "handicapped" score trophies. Yes, the score, not the kids dammit! Also, today since we weren't there last week because we pre-bowled he also got a surprise for his own. Another trophy for the 2nd place in the previous tournament (couple weeks ago) for the State Singles Tournament, once again Prep Division! The boy's ALL-ABOUT the BLING! He'll get his chance for more bowling glory tomorrow at 10am, when the Doubles and Singles leg of the event kicks off. I have to head in to work in the morning for some server patching duties (and a treadmill run) but hopefully I'll get it all done in record time and be able to make it over to cheer him on.

The rest of the day, we've been here at the house, and working on his Social Studies Project on Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. "Can you hear me now?" Okay, it's not that funny. We've got it all together, just need to add some polishing to the speech and it's all done.

In other news... JR headed to Cross Lanes for some pokery goodness, while I (ever the dedicated father) stayed home. Okay, JR's got outs... no kids, and his fiance was working anyway. Still though, I can hate him. Doesn't mean I don't wish him luck at the tables! Give 'em hell Uncle June! I'll just have to cry myself to sleep instead.

Oh well, it won't be long until Las Vegas... plane leaves: 14 Days, 18 Hours, 11 Minutes!!! My bankroll grows restless. Patience my precious, patience...

Oh and thanks to BWoP, for yet another tip on the Venetian DeepStack Tournament which will be going on during our stay! We'll definitely have to check it out. Also, hope to hook up and finally meet, and maybe you'll even drop a pointer or two to keep me from looking like the fish that I surely am! : P

Regards,

cheer_dad

Bowling continues

No basketball today for the little dude, but instead there's the City Bowling Tournament this afternoon. Cole already did his league bowling this morning. With an ever-increasing average of 72, he bowled 3 games for a 95, 105, and 124! He's on fire today. Hopefully the trend continues on through the tournament. He's all about the trophy bling! : )

We watched a couple of movies last night, here at the house. Grudge 3 was first of the double feature. Actually a pretty good movie, and had the added bonus of making Big Red scream several times, much to the enjoyment of Whit and I. I think we jumped more because of her than the movie. But we all liked it. Then, we followed that up with Liam Neeson in Taken, which was EXCELLENT. I see what they meant by great action. As he said in the trailer previews, "specific set of skills" INDEED! I recommend them both to you all. I'm still not clear on why the film industry opts to release a film overseas long before they release it in the U.S. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. It appears that the movie was released elsewhere in the world months ago.

I wish there were poker for me to be reporting to you kiddies, but it just hasn't been in the cards for me lately. But... now it's time to head back to the bowling alley.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Friday, January 30, 2009

That's a wrap

Well folk and folkette I'm really grasping at straws today. I've been about a half-a-cup of coffee away from falling dead away asleep today here at my desk. Not that it'd get much in the way of notice here at the cube-farm were it not for the damned snoring. So, I'm finally getting encouraged that the day is nearly over, with the ole clock on the wall showing less than a 1/2 hour to go. oddly enough I'm starting to come alive now. (Go figure.)

I believe the missus and I are going to spend a quiet evening at home with the kidlets. Unwind from the week... rest the liver! : ) I mean get it ready for Sunday's Superbowl abusing! I think Frank may be heading to Cross Lanes to play cards and watch the dogs run, either tonight or tomorrow. Sure I'd like to go, but I think I wouldn't play optimally right now. We are currently 15 days 22 hours and 30 minutes-ish away from our Vegas Vacation. And I'm afraid that in the back of my mind I would be worried about putting money in the pot, for fear that I'd lose it and not have it available for spending and merry-making in Las Vegas. So, I figure rather than insert the extra level of stress, that it's just better for me to skip the trip South, and save the bankroll for later. Certainly, I can wait right? To pass the time, I need to put together my itinerary, which is just my lame attempt at humor and a way to list out all of the available activities that our little group will have at its disposal. I might even opt to play in a tournament this time. I will definitely return to the Imperial Palace, which feels like home, for some strange reasons. But I really want to try my hand at playing the Venetian Poker Room. I've been reading a lot of the goings-on there and it sounds like a fun, possibly profitable destination point. I'm definitely going to try and checking out several more of the card rooms on this trip.

The clock on the wall, is nearing the magic hour, so have a good weekend all... I'm looking forward to the down time.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Happy Harry Hard On

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows
~Concrete Blonde

A friend of mine dropped off a movie that I haven't seen in quite a while, Pump Up The Volume, starring Christian Slater. Since then, I've been listening, pseudo watching it. I have a habit of tuning out the work world by putting on the headphones and listening to a movie. Sometimes I opt for music, but just having the sound in my ears to drown out everything else is very nice.

Any in the movie Slater plays Happy Harry Hard On, a pirate radio personality that gathers a cult like following. He's a teen who shines a light on the hypocrisy of his school, and really gave some insight into feelings of depression, angst, and isolation that I think we've all faced and felt at some point or another.

Aside from the fact that the movie's got Slater as its star, and a kick-ass soundtrack, there are some great quotes as well that make it one of my favorite movies. Here are some of my fave quotes:

  1. Talk hard, I like that. It's like a dirty thought in a nice clean mind.
  2. All the great themes have been used up and turned into theme parks.
  3. I'm dedicating this unusual song to an unusual person who makes me feel kind of... unusual.

Don't even make me start on the co-star Samantha Mathis... :P

But on to other things...

The kiddies once again had the day off today from school due to the inclement weather. Now the question becomes, well, we've had every other day off this week, should they bother to come back for a single day on Friday? Awww, who knows, and who cares. They are getting a little stir crazy after being home for so long.

I hope you all got a chance to check out LOST last night! Once again, another fantastic episode. The writers are really pulling out all the stops for this season. Make sure you head on over to http://darkufo.blogspot.com/ check out all the latest in discussion on the LOST phenomenon!

Tonight is an Eagles night, although last night was sorta one too. So sue me. Sadly I didn't get in any drunken poker, in fact I haven't played any since the NDPT tourney last Friday. I'm having withdrawal here people.

This'll have to do for a post, I've rambled enough.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Being dad, winter storm, and WSOP 2009

As I was preparing to leave the comfort of home this morning for work my son blinked himself awake when I was passing his bedroom door. He grinned a sleepy grin and in hushed speech asked if I was going to work, and then if there was school today. I let him know that he could sleep in again today, and that school had been canceled. I brushed his hair back from his face and kissed his cheek and told him he could go back to sleep. He closed his eyes and grinned once again. As I walked away I heard him mutter "have a good day dad," as he was already drifting off to sleep. In spite of my shortcomings and my flaws, this little guy loves me and really is concerned that I have a good day at work. This is a moment in time I treasure. Ohh-dark-thirty doesn't seem so dismal anymore.

The Winter Storm Warning might have been premature as of midnight last night, but it appears that at least this morning it is all a reality. Sometime overnight, a couple of inches of snow fell, and this morning it was still coming down. The real treat is that it's supposed to continue and sometime this afternoon turn to ice. Gentlemen start your engines and brace for impact!

The 40th Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) schedule has at long last been announced. I've got my calendar marked. Noooo, I won't be there to play/donate my money... the bonds of the wage slave are much too tight. I entertain my fantasies quietly of someday playing in an event or so, but for now I'll have to leave that to those with "more. Some with more skill and bankroll, some with more skill, and finally some with just more bankroll. Three very distinct groups there. Like many of you I'll be counting down the days to the big event, and for the duration May 26-July 15, I'll be wearing out the refresh button on my browser to get the latest Live Update Blogging from over at PokerNews.com. Of course then the pause until the November Nine reconvene for the Final Table of the Main Event on November 7th through the 10th. The powers that be have opted to stick with the delayed format. I'm still torn on the issue of the delay. I understand both the pros and cons of the thing but for now the jury in my head is still out on the thing. If you forced us to vote now... we'd be hung! The purist in me thinks it should be true to the game and continue on without the pause in the action. But the realist, opportunist, enterprising profiteer $ee$ value. I think more hype, pomp and circumstance, etc... could have been included last year and put the production over the top, but I'm not the one running the show. Regardless of how they do it... I'll be watching.

I'm still a bit envious of bloggers and reporters chosen by the various poker media to cover the World Series of Poker. Honestly, I think I'd actually have more interest in participating in the WSOP in that capacity than playing in it. Yeah, I'm probably a bit delusional in thinking that I've got the crazy, mad journalistic chops to pull it off, but I do know that I'd put my very heart and soul into it if the opportunity were to present itself. Ahhh, dare to dream cheer_dad...

Be safe out there gang, lock in the four-wheel-drive, and remember the ABS brakes need not be pumped!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Saturday, January 24, 2009

NDPT #1 2009

The first tournament of the year for the N Debt Poker Tour is now over! Nice turnout and a lot of fun was had by all. Prolly some more than others! Anyway 23 players in all showed up to play, and when the dust settled and the smoke cleared Matt Hensley stood a top the mountain of chips to claim the victory. Congratulations! JR (the birthday boy) cashed out in 2nd to continue his winning ways on the birthday tournament (cheer_dad did not fare so well.) TJ came in 3rd, while Mike Westbrook grinded out a very respectable 4th place finish. Dennis rounded out the winners in 5th. All of these fine players have assured themselves a place in the year-end tournament, with their win. I will work on putting together the points totals on a new and improved spreadsheet that I'll reference here on the blog and website. I hope everyone had a great time. With one tournament in thus far, the year-end pot that will be battled for is already at $110.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Friday, January 23, 2009

NDPT 2009 begins tonight

The new NDPT poker tournament year will officially get under way tonight at the house when the 25 signed up miscreants and malcontents show up and we get the cards in the air! Uncle June has predicted victory for us, in the form of him in 1st place and me in 2nd, as it was last year. And I think the year before (at least for him.) This has been a trend for him/us since we started celebrating our birthdays at the first NDPT gathering of the year. Today is his birthday, yesterday was mine, and we got in some serious celebrating last night. We even had a shot called a "Chocolate Cake" that was VERY tasty! I'm gonna have to find out how to make it. After drinks and appetizers at the Outback we headed to the Eagles for the weekly drawing, which none of us won. That's okay, though I'm saving up my luck for tonight. : P

Today has been long and I'm sorta dragging, but there's no time to let up now. There's a lot to get done! I leave work at 3:00pm. Pick up my daughter at the high school at 3:20pm and take her to the house. I'll have a few spare moments to maybe set up the tables for tonight in the basement, and count out some of the chips. Leave to pick my son up by 4:30 from basketball practice, and take him to the bowling alley, so he can pre-bowl tonight, in advance of Saturday morning, since he just learned that he's in a basketball tourney all this weekend. He must finish 3 games by 5:30, since another league starts. Then I get him home, and changed and packed up because he also plays the first basketball tourney game tonight at 9:00pm! Thank goodness, the mom of one of his friends is taking him, since we already had the card game scheduled. So she will be stopping by later to pick him up.

Then, if that weren't enough, Whit has a basketball game to cheer at tonight at 5:15pm, then immediately following that one of her girlfriends is having her Sweet 16 party, so Whit is driving a friend and herself to the party. Who knows when she'll return! I'm kidding, she's a responsible young lady, when she wants to be.

Somewhere in the midst of all this turmoil and rushing around, I've got to get ready for the tourney and all you happy people. So, if I'm running a little behind cut me some slack. Regardless, there will be a card game running at the house TONIGHT!

Oh and another thing... drunken online poker is somehow profitable to me. I three tabled latenight again on Bodog and moved up another $35 at the .10/.25 NLHE level. Was 500 hands too many? : )

Regards,

cheer_dad

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Lost Season 5


"Bad Robot" indeed! The 2-hour season opener of LOST last night was great. I'd almost say it was worth the wait...but there was just so much cool stuff that happened that I'd be lying if I said it. I'm not going to spoil any of it here, if you've watched the opener already, GREAT but I know a lot of you haven't yet, and it's sitting there on you DVR's. So I'm not ruining it for anyone. If however you want some fantastic, in-depth analysis of what went on in the LOST opener to Season 5, point your browsers to http://darkufo.blogspot.com/2009/01/things-i-noticed-because-you-left-and.html. DarkUFO seriously must have been up ALL NIGHT cranking out that uber-post. He summed it up way better than I could ever hope to.

I will say that the writers/producers said "character development be damned," and jumped right in! This LOST had so much action and offered up so many answers to mysteries that I was worn out after it was over, and my dreams throughout the night were a series of failed attempts at sorting it all out. Sadly now, the waiting starts all over again for the next episode. Stay tuned.

In other news... today is my 41st birthday, and like I figured it feels just like any other day, well you know provided that the day has brought me that much closer to the end!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Leaky boat

Misery loves company; some company you love giving misery; and some company loves your misery. Throw in tilt to one or all of those circumstances and well, you've got yourself a friggin' party! Unfortunately, I was the one tilting. It's strange I tend to recognize my own tilt (not that I always respect the fact and do the right thing, but I do tend to recognize it.) We had some people over on Sunday to watch the football games and play some cards. We opted for a cash game, as we didn't have many players at the moment and there were others supposed to be showing up later. No one else showed. Unfortunate, as we could have used some fresh blood in the game. I ended up dropping a quick $20, and then another, and finally another, although I think I got some of that last one back, but at that point it was moot. The pivotal hand of the night for me was likely one against JR. I even saw it coming. I could only put him on 3 hands, and two of them had me beat, from the start. I called his raise (as did Big Red) preflop, when I looked down at pocket 10's. The flop came out 10-J-Q. JR fired again, Big Red had that look of calling, so I called it too, with my bottom set. Note that I would rarely refer to a set as anything like "bottom." This had that feeling. Hair on the back of the neck, cheer_dad's about to take a screwin' kind of feeling. The turn brought an innocuous 4. The betting and calling continued. The river brought that 4 a brother. Now, not only am I looking at a set but now it's gone and turned itself into a boat and a nice looking one, I might add. But boats come in all shapes and sizes, and some barely even keep out the water. Mine was of the leaky variety as it turned out. I ended up reraising JR for my all-in to get called. Together we turned over our hands, tentatively on both counts. Seems neither of us was brimming with confidence. Of course the board could have supported quads, but neither of us had that. The question then was who had a better boat. I had my 10's full of 4's and he had his J's full of 4's. We both had reason to be concerned. There are however those hands that you know you should, but just can't drag yourself away from. When the evidence is staring you in the face and still you look down at the 4th nuts hand and just can't bring yourself to lay it down, cause it's just too damn pretty. That was it for me. There were other hands, and more money and losing that I did but I'd already seen monster hands, that didn't hook up at all. But those hands no one was getting to see, and I was meekly folding them. But I can't tell you how many times I saw AQ in suited and unsuited varieties get busted, by lesser hands. The same went for AK and some other various pocket pairs. It was just one of those days.

The bad beat came later though when the argument with Big Red ensued. Remember back to when I said I recognized tilt in myself but didn't always do the right thing? This was one of those times. I was an ass. And she let me know it with both barrels. Harsh, but true and deserved. I've since apologized and hopefully move forward from here. I never claimed perfection, I'm far from it. I indeed have my moments, and this was just one of them. Trust me there will be more. At any rate it's water under a long, dark, scary bridge and I'd like to leave it there to flow on down the river. Don't bring it up, don't remind me of it, I've had better days.

On the lighter side, we will be playing NDPT #1 on January 23rd, and I hope to see you all there and ready to play. Especially since I've got to win back some of the $60 I lost. : )

Anyway, today the kiddies are back to school and have basketball and cheering to fill up the night as well. Tomorrow I head back to the workplace. I'll have a new boss by then. Maybe you've heard of him... Barack Obama? I think today he was having himself a pretty big day.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Friday, January 16, 2009

I need a NAP!


Oh yes... there will be one of these for me in the very near future. Cheer_dad is in dire need of a nap! Much to the degeneration of my liver, we were at the Eagles for "drawing night" again on Thursday. Big Red and I were joined by Laura, Nikki, and JR. Big Red and I were there longer than the rest (yeah, I know your shocked aren't you.) As usual, she was tearing up the friggin' slot machines. I think she pocketed in the neighborhood of $500 this time. She's the only person on the planet I think that has a +EV on those damn things! No matter though, it'll just be more cash for Vegas baby! All I won was a monkey (ape anyway.) I bought a $1 chance on a stuffed animal (big) and ended up winning the thing. It's holding a valentine heart, with "Wild Thang" on it. Just what I needed to make my life complete.

Finally got the wife to cash out her winnings and we headed home. I as usual fired up a Bodog table (or three) and put in about 150 hands before calling it a night. I made over $29 and this win actually helped the bankroll cross another hundred level, this time over $500. I think I finally decided to log off when I took a guy's whole stack with a 63os, when I flopped two pair. I only played it because I was a blind.

I need to point out that the Eagle's Poker Tournament will be held on February 8, 2009, not on the 1st, since that's the day of the Super Bowl, DUH!!! It didn't even cross our minds, when talking about it. The NDPT #1 game is still slated for January 23rd.

Tonight, after my nap of course, and as a "warm-up" for tomorrow night's WWE SmackDown Live in Charleston, WV; I get to take Cole and his cousin to a local wrestling show, AWA. I've been before and it's just a lot of laughs just people watching. Besides it'll be time spent with the boy.

Mere minutes away from quitting time, and although I'm ready to leave, I am NOT looking forward to walking outside. It was -3 F this morning and it didn't get much warmer either today. But I know it's a lot colder out there for some of you, so I won't complain too much. Bundle up and stay warm everybody!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Ricardo Montalban, rest in peace





Ricardo Montalban, whether you remember him as he was many, many years ago, as shown here on the cover of Life Magazine...








Or if instead you remember him being welcomed into your home as the host of Fantasy Island...










Or if among your memories you find Khan lingering...

Regardless of how you remember him know that he was a class act, and he will be missed.

Rest in Peace Ricardo Montalban. Additional coverage and tribute to his life can be found here, http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20252685,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines .

Regards,

cheer_dad

IDK...

My quote of the day, that I sent out to my team was "We struggle with the complexities and avoid the simplicities." ~Norman Vincent Peale

The past few days have found me dealing with the simplicities that I'd much too long been avoiding. Actually accomplishing some much needed nitty gritty type work, that had me pouring over immense spreadsheets and filling in a lot of blanks and clearing out even more clutter. Doing all that, left me in a less than chatty mood, and therefore posts to the NDPT blog didn't flow out the fingers. But I'm rewarding myself now with this post. This one's for me, not you...

Over the past few days, everyone but me in the house has been sick either with a nasty little stomach bug that had you coming and going if you get my drift OR tonsillitis. The lil blonde girl had 'em both! She just went back to school today. She's gonna have to hunker down to get caught up... and even worse, she has several end of term tests to take on Thursday and Friday, despite the fact that she missed two days of school from the illness and one from a snow day. Ignore the 2-hour delay today as well. Two more days in this week and it's another weekend. And this one is extra nice for me, since Monday is a holiday and my AWS day moves to Tuesday. Friggin' Four Day Weekend! Of course Saturday is mapped out. Cole has bowling in the morning, basketball in the afternoon, and then he, Big Red, and I are all headed to Charleston to see... (brace yourself) WWE SmackDown LIVE!!! Okay, stop yer chucklin' ya knuckle heads. The boy is ate up with this stuff. I'm not sure a day goes by that some derivative of the WWE doesn't find itself on the family room tv screen. The "action figures" duking it out in the imagination of a little boy on his little plastic ring on the floor notwithstanding... The trip to WWE SmackDown Live was one of Cole's belated Christmas presents. He's so excited to be going. Honestly, it's all a lot of fun. So many people are so hyped up for it that if you did nothing more than people watch you'd be well entertained. So, say what you will about it, all I know is I'm going to be having a great day with my son. Okay, the wife will be there too. : ) Now if I could just figure out how to get Big Red to let me head a few more minutes South to the casino... and the poker room at Tri State Racetrack and Casino in Cross Lanes. Hmmm, maybe one of my buddies could pick me up after Smackdown Live is over. : ) Okay, who am I kidding...

LOST comes back on January 21st!!! I can't wait. I'll be glued to the tv, so don't bother calling. The day after that, I'll be turning 41 years old. Yeah, that's kinda anti-climatic isn't it. The day after that, the 23rd is Uncle June's birthday AND the first poker tournament of 2009 for the NDPT collective. If you're not on the list, get there people. The festivities begin at 7:00pm at my house.

Beyond that, there's a lot of basketball, cheerleading, bowling, gymnastics, school, and work to keep us occupied. Then, the next poker event will be February 8th (Sunday) at the Eagles to kick off the 2009 season. This time, the Eagles Trustees have decided they want a big event. They want to help this thing grow, and they've got an eye on JR as a go-to-guy that gets things done for the organization. So much so, they are advertising this one in the paper. Man, I may actually have to help out a little more and stay sober while playing too! I'm hoping we have a great turnout for this and future poker tournaments up there.

Time for me to head out of here, hope all is well with each of you.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Monday, January 12, 2009

Ugh

This day is a wash! 2-hour delay for the kiddies headed to school, so I waited with them to take them to school, since my wife was sick. I got another hour or so of sleep, which was nice. BUT, when my daughter got up, she was sick too. There's been a nasty stomach bug going around. So, I was waiting around for the boy only. Still, I got him ready and to school at the appointed hour. Then headed to work. At 1:30 the wife called to tell me that my daughter was sicker, not just the stomach bug but also she may have strep throat. Fever, swollen tonsils, sore throat, ahh the wonders of parenthood. So, now I'll be leaving work again to get her to the doctor. Late to work, early to leave... that does have a certain ring to it, but not under these circumstances.

Now, let's see which illness I end up with in the coming days!!! Maybe I should pick up a hazmat suit on the way home.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Long day

Congratulations to last night's winners at the Yanok's game, Matt in game #1 and Big Red in game #2. I still a wooser!!! I had a great time and it was good to get together with ALL of you and lose money. : ) After returning I was of course still a bit buzzed and was still itching for some poker satisfaction like always. So, I logged on to Bodog...again. 3 tabled for a while, and honestly I don't remember how long. : P Anyway, I made note in my poker log of the fact that I added another $40 to the online roll. Go figure!

Had to get up today and take Cole to bowling. Normal league play was a little tedious for him, but I do want to mention that one of the other boys on his team had an ALL-TIME high score today. His average is around 90, I believe, BUT today he was on FIRE! Griffin bowled a 232!!! It was unbelievable. Everybody came over to watch. What a day for a 10 year old kid! Cole decided that he wanted to play in the tournament at 1:00pm. So we ended up back at the lanes. He did much better on that round. Cole has a 70 average, but in game one he rolled a 113! His handicapped score for the day was 640! Way to go, we'll find out next week how he stacked up against everyone else. I think he did very well, and I was proud of him.

Then, it was off to play two basketball games. They won the first and lost the second only by a couple shots. So it was a very good game and a lot of fun to watch. My boy is handling the ball MUCH better than he was only a couple of weeks ago. He is becoming aggressive and really fights for the ball. Particularly he is running and dribbling 100% better than before. Good job, way to hustle boy! I've had a really good day with him today... he's a great kid!

It's been a busy day... and now I'm going to vegetate on the couch, and count the cracks in my eyelids.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Friday, January 09, 2009

I'm still havin' fun!

Tonight is poker with the Yanoks! Game time is 7:30pm. I'll see many of you there tonight. Somewhere between now and then I could use a nap, but I don't see much chance of that happening. It's my short day... and then I pick Whitney up from school. She has to cheer at the basketball game tonight, but her bf is going to be there and they are going out on a date afterward. Cole will of course go with us, to play with the other kids. Other than me winning both games tonight, it sounds like everything's all mapped out huh!

Good luck to the Wolfe clan who are opting for a trip to Cross Lanes instead. She-Wolfe is going to match wits with many of the fairer sex tonight in the Ladies Tournament that they host in The Big Easy Poker Room. Wolfie plans to continue his winning ways at the cash tables. Bring some back!

My Bodog play has been fun lately. Yeah, it's more fun when you're winning. Whoever said that first is friggin' genius. At my micro levels and for my micro skills I'm happy. I'm actually beginning to get some breathing room to play, and I'm not as likely to get all worried if I have a bad night at the virtual felt. Some might encourage me to move up to the next level, but I don't think I have the bankroll for it yet. By the logic I'm subscribing to I don't think I'm truly supposed to be playing at the .10/.25 NL tables, BUT honestly I just couldn't bring myself to play lower. Call it a weakness, I don't care. Heck some of you call it a weakness that I'm not playing higher than I am. But I've really tried to stay true to my gameplan here. I actually want to be adequately bankrolled online. I am right now $53 bucks away from having 20 buy-ins for the .10/.25 level. I'm willing to camp myself out at this level for a while. I still err on the side of caution, since I'm not just playing one table. Each table is of course independent. But tilt is tilt, and a bad run of cards is a bad run of cards, no matter how much I try to flatten it out over the landscape of multiple tables simultaneously. In my mind when I hit $500 I will be legitimately at 20 buy ins for the level I'm playing at. I cannot then legitimately make a move higher to the .25/.50 (max $50) until I have $1,000 squirrelled away in the Bodog account. I'm counting this money as separate from the few hundred that's holed up in my sock drawer. I'm going to try to stick to my guns on one other point and not be tempted to pull any money out from Bodog until after I've crossed the GRAND threshold. My typical play time allows me to login and play for around an hour or more on occasion. I 3-4 table it from the get go and try to put in a minimum of 200 hands, whether I'm running good or bad. I have played on for around 400 hands, but at that point at least for me, it's time for a break. It'll also keep me outa hock with the lovely Big Red! : )

Consider this, I know my wins are minuscule, but not measured against the risk undertaken. Most generally (knock on wood) I win in these sessions. Not necessarily on every table. But the session as a whole levels it out nicely. I could play live, but in that case I'd only be able to play one table at a time. Very likely getting in only around 30 hands per hour. Arguably I'm maximizing, by seeing the the hands online that would be equivalent to like 6 or 7 hours of live play. Albeit at lower stakes. But the experience is priceless too me. Not only do I just enjoy the game, but I see things now. I remember things about people I play. I make moves that I didn't used to in my poker infancy. (I'm merely a toddler now.) I'm getting better. I'm accustomed to seeing the bad beats and suckouts and they don't bother me so much anymore. They happen and it's a good thing, cause they sometimes happen to my benefit! But either way, I grow accustomed to seeing it happen, and very few things surprise me anymore. I don't get blindsided very often at all. I might let you shove me off a hand every once and a while, more so than another fish might, BUT just plan on keeping my chips warm for me pal... I'll be back this session or the next to collect 'em from you. Hopefully the notes I've taken on you, will allow me to collect mine and have them bring some of yours with 'em.

Still the single most important thing about playing poker now... is that I'm still having fun doing it. I wonder over the course of a few years, will I find myself playing ever higher, or will I be contented to play in the catacombs of the micro limits forever!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

LOST, Season 5 returns soon!



It must be mentioned the return of LOST Season 5 will soon be upon us. Mark your calendars now for January 21st!!! And don't forget to punch in the numbers...
4 8 15 16 23 42

Regards,

cheer_dad

NDPT #1 January 23, 2009

I have scheduled NDPT Tournament #1 for January 23, 2009 all you folk and folkette! I've dropped the bounty from this year's format. In it's place, is an optional $5 per tournament which will be used to create a year-end tournament pot. Only those who pay the $5 up front AND cash on that given night, will be eligible to play in the year-end tournament. Your chip stack for this final game will be in proportion to the amount of your winnings throughout the year when you paid the $5. This is an idea borrowed (shamelessly stolen from the Yanok's game) which I and others really like. Nay-sayers can opt out, or kiss my ass whichever they prefer. So for some the price of poker will remain the same. For others I guess they're getting a $5 rebate. I don't know that I explained it very well, but it'll make sense after the first couple of tournaments for the year. I guess I get around to too many other poker games out and about and have become accustomed to the myriad ways that people host their games. Having played host now for a few years, I most generally keep my mouth shut about things when I play elsewhere. There are times when the host will look to me for a ruling or at least an informed opinion, and I can tell you more often than not my reply is... "It's your house, your word is law!" I've found this to be the best approach, never to contradict. Go with the ebb and flow of the game. Ultimately encourage hosts to read up on the subject. Over the years, I've taken the most of my cues for running a poker tournament at my house from HomePokerTourney.com. I used to be active in the forums and had several "friends" but work and other things took priority and so I've become more of a lurker. BUT, routinely come tournament time at cheer_dad's house behind the Tournament Clock window on the laptop, I've already fired up the browser and have the HPT site up and running, always at the ready with Robert's Rules of Poker, Payout percentages, and many of the other finer points of tournament play. There's a wealth of information there and I encourage you to check it out and use it for yourself.

Now, a detour from the tournament discussion. I played a little (okay Big Red would say a lot or even too much) online night before last, on Bodog. I was 4 tabling it in the kiddie pool section... okay it was .10/.25 Full Ring NLHE, max buy-in per table $25. I had been up earlier in the session, but dammit I'd planned on playing some cards and rarely will I quit before logging at least 200 hands or so. I ended up finally cashing out at around 350+ hands for the evening. For all my hard work, I was up only a couple of bucks and I was exhausted! This had to have been one of the most frustrating and trying sessions I've ever had at the tables. There were 3-4 players at the tables that I was seeing throughout the 4 tables I was playing. They were the loose-aggressors. They were having their way at the table. Obscure stuff too. Early position raises, with garbage despite the fact the 4-5 players were seeing the flop. I was watching preflop legitimate bets being thwarted by reraise All-Ins all over the place. Yeah, SB .10, BB .25, under-the-gun makes it .85 to go, and then WHAM some one in mid-position shoves for $25 or much more. Not just a one time thing but often. So, that was something to watch for. Then, I can't tell you how often I had pocket Aces!!! The odds of looking down at Rockets are like what, 220:1. I played around 350 hands and I know I saw 'em at least 7 times among the 4 tables! The kicker is... on 2 of those I was the BB, AND it folded back around to me, when every other hand normally had 4-5 players to a flop. Or my minimum raise got too much respect. I started having to play in a much more deceptive manner. I lost a big chunk at one table when I flopped a K, when I was holding AKos. I failed to keep the pot smallish, with just a pair. And I was at the mercy of the guy in front of me, who I couldn't really decide if the ever escalating bets were merely continuation or if he really had the goods. I've noticed lately a greater online move by players to go for the All-In jugular much too often, but more often than not they got the goods to go with it. SO, I was erring on the side of caution. Maybe that night, I was the fish... maybe. I didn't lose money, but for the level of effort it sure felt like it. I guess it could have been worse (a lot worse) but I had then sense to finally call it a night and hope for a better session the next time. There are things that I would like to try, should I run into those same players ravaging the tables again, which given their assessment of me on the night, could become profitable to me should they fail to re-evaluate my play, and stick to their guns. So, this one session was merely part of the "metagame" you know that one long poker game that we play throughout the course of our lives. Where not just the cards and chips in front of you are at issue, but the thing you did that one time, two or three sessions back against that same guy, or some other guy, that comes to mind. ALL of this ultimately influences the next move and then the next and so on.

I'm making my head hurt... but in a good way. Again, ya buncha degenerates NDPT #1 for this year is January 23, 2009 7:00pm at my house. The Yanok game precedes me on January 9th. Yeah, you'll all see me there too. Gotta build the bankroll for Vegas Baby!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Monday, January 05, 2009

Thanks to the bloggers...

I'm more than a little relieved that the New Year reflections and prophetizing have just about come to an end in the forums and blogs. I'm just as guilty of posting up some such drivel about looking back and being thankful for what I have and anticipating good things in the coming year. But it seems that's what everyone's been doing. On this topic, less is more! Don't get me wrong... I haven't dropped any of the blogs that I routinely read as a result of some agonizing touchy feely post about the past and future in line with the new year. But I'm glad to see that we've all gotten hold of ourselves and are now beginning to get back to the business of blogging. Some of the blogs I read I find well written, polished, and thought provoking. Others are just glimpses into the daily trials and tribulations of the "every man/woman." In those which I enjoy most it feels like a piece of you is woven into the words you write and share with the online world. I appreciate you all and would encourage you to "write on!" Every once in a great while, I'll comment on a post. Sometimes it's just to say "thanks," or "great post." There are times I could write more and would like to but I'm merely interested in letting you know that what you decided to share out in the dark vacuum of the intertubes has not gone unnoticed.

In closing, to all you bloggers (many of the best are listed in the right-hand column of my own blog) thanks for taking the time to put your fingers to the keyboard, and then pushing the "Publish" button.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Friday, January 02, 2009

Got any bright ideas?


I'm in need of suggestions, plans, hair-brained schemes, or just some basic ideas about what to do in Las Vegas in 43-ish days from now. I mean I don't need the suggestions of "go see the Fountains at Bellagio," the "Mirage Volcano," or the "Fremont Street Experience." I've been to Sin City a time or two, and know my way around fairly well. Don't bother suggesting a lapdance at the Spearmint Rhino, although I do like the twisted direction you're heading. : ) Just remember Big Red's coming along for the trip and for that matter my old man's heart might not be able to take the shock. I may shout the "Yay Boobies" battle cry from time-to-time but for the most part, I'm pretty laid back. Play some cards, drink more than my fair share, but I tend to behave myself. Big Red would kill me if I didn't anyway, as my fellow NDPT'ers will certainly vouch. Actually, I just want some suggestions from all of you about where to play poker on this trip. As I pointed out we are staying at Paris Hotel and Casino, but they've not so long ago closed up the poker room. Go figure. The Bellagio, MGM and Caesar's Palace are some obvious choices but I am after all the tourist. Many of you may be more than happy to see me show up, and maybe those would be the places to be, but my thought would be that there are certainly softer games. I am on vacation... why show up to beat my head against a wall. I oughta have some fun too. Ahhh, who am I kidding, I have no expectation of really makin' money, I'm the uber-fish who is likely there to do little more than help pay the light bill. Of course in the poker room, I guess I'm helping to pay your light bill and not the casino. Fear not casino(s) you'll get your fair share of me, as I gotta hit the BlackJack and Let It Ride tables among others as the day wears on and my alcohol consumption goes up.
But seriously now... I've been reading through the reviews over at allvegaspoker.com and I'm just trying to make some good decisions. If you've got an opinion to offer up, drop me a line either here or email me at cheer_dad"at"hotmail"dot"com.
Hope your New Year is off to a great start.
Regards,
cheer_dad