I can't quite put my finger on it...

The family and I are back from our nation's capital after a fun weekend of doing the tourist thing. We visited the White House at 8:00pm on Friday, for a quick tour. It was great to actually visit... but honestly they really need to spice things up a little on that tour. Not that I expected to see the Prez wander out into the hall in his boxers or something, but I'm just saying... Following the tour we headed down to the Lincoln Memorial, to take in the view of the Reflection Pool, then walked along to see the Korean and Viet Nam War Memorials, which are on either side of the pool. I absolutely love the Korean Memorial. If you've never visited it, I highly recommend it. It is beautiful, eerie, and makes me feel humble and proud all at the same time, every time I visit it. Also, take it all in at night...

The following day we went on a whirlwind tour of a couple of the Smithsonian Museums, the National History and Air and Space Museums. We spent hours in each, and even took in an IMAX movie, which was spectacular. The kids clearly favored Day 2 of the trip. Of course, Cole would have been content to have rode around on the Metro all day and night. I'll remember that on future vacations! CHEAP! I did manage to snap several pictures though, including the one of Cole hamming it up with the Washington Monument.

We got back late and collapsed into bed early Sunday morning. We slept in a little, before heading to the football field at Warren, OH. Our boys played great and won their game 18-6. Cole played on the line offense and defense for the whole first half, and most of the 3rd quarter, when they started subbing in our other players. He did great and I was proud of him... We always check out the new "colors" on his helmet after every practice and game. There was lots and lots of new blue after this one. Those big boys hit big too!

Today, I spent mowing the lawn and catching up on the vacation laundry, ugh... Okay it was a day off from work, spent working nonetheless. Hope all is well with each of you.

Regards,

cheer_dad

DC tomorrow

We leave in the morning for DC, for our tour of the White House followed by some sightseeing. I'm really looking forward to it... and I'm anxious for my kids to experience all the great sites that we'll see.

And hey, a day off work for me and the wife, and a day off school for the kidlets sounds like a pretty good time too. So, I'm sure it'll be a blast.

Hope is well with each of you. Good night all, and have a great weekend.

Regards,

cheer_dad

A trip to the White House

This is going to be a pretty cool week! Well at the least the end of it will be anyway... The whole cheer_dad clan is going to DC on Friday. Thanks to the quick thinking of "Uncle June" and a special invitation a group of us is making the trip to our nation's capital Friday morning. We have been included in a private tour of the White House. Maybe that's not such a big deal to some of you, but hey it makes me feel pretty special, so let me have my little moment, okay?

We've decided to make a weekend mini vacation out of it. We are getting a hotel, and taking the kids along, despite the fact that they will have just started school on Wednesday. I figure anything that requires a background investigation by the U.S. Secret Service to attend should probably be considered worthy of missing a day of public education. Am I right?

Of course we'll do additional sightseeing while we are there, but despite the fact that some of us have been to DC a number of times before, we've never been to a White House tour. I think years ago, this was a much more common thing to go on this tour, but now it requires some preplanning and special permission. If I'm wrong, let me keep my delusion.

So, other stops on the sightseeing tour I want to make sure to hit for the sake of my kids are the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and possibly a stop at some of the Museums of the Smithsonian. Of course the Viet Nam and Korean War Memorials are also close by. Lots to do, lots to see, and just a lot to experience. We're all really looking forward to it. I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures taken that I'll post up here to the blog. Even Cole says he wants to take a lot of pictures. He's excited about the trip. He said he was going to take pictures in the White House, but I had to tell him that that is not permitted. His words, "well that's stupid! Who does the President think he is?" My answer was "... well it's just the rules son, and the President didn't make 'em, but he IS after all the President, so he probably could have anyway..."

But enough about that for now, I'm sure I'll post up a full trip report later on. For now, I've got to head off to training. I'm once again in class, the Bureau seems to want to make me into some kinda leader. Go ahead all of you, laugh it up, get it out of your systems now... Glad I could add a little humor to your lives.

Have a great day!

Regards,

cheer_dad

crash and burn

Just not my night. Or my weekend. Hell, maybe it's just not my game. But hey, I did have a good time hangin' out with a lot of great people last night and tonight playing poker so I guess that's something positive. Still a -EV proposition though. So, once again cheer_dad is a woozer. Come now, my peeps, kick me when I'm down.

How else will u get to pick me up and brush me off to go back at it again.

Thanks to the Stanwick's tonight for hosting, I DID have a great time. Big Red once again kinda carried us through game 1. Game 2 not so much...

Regards,

cheer_dad

FIDDY!

A great big bunch of you's showed up to play poker last night at the Eagles. And we set a new attendance record of 50 players! Can you say FIDDY! Additional chips are being ordered by the Aerie as a result. I thank you for your support of the Eagles, Uncle June, the NDPT, me, all things "pokery" in nature!

The top spot was chopped last night by Mr.'s Pugh and Wolfe, congratulations you guys! Nice payday! I was chipping up nicely early on, picking only a few careful spots to play, as the first table was pretty loose, and there were a couple of guys who'd never met a poker hand they didn't like. My demise came when I moved to a new table. 3 hands sealed the fate. I got involved in a hand with Frank. He called $100 from first position, I was after him and looked down at pocket 8's. I bumped it to $300. Only he called... the flop came K-Q-X, and he checked to me. I bet out, and then came the check raise-all-in. I conceded, and mucked. (And no Frank, contrary to what you might have thought, this was NOT one of my little position plays.) Still I had some chips to play with. A couple hands later, I look down at A9 of crubs, and opt to see the flop with another guy. I flop an Ace, but I'm cautious about my kicker. The other guy bets out the minimum, I call. In fact it went that way on every street... Unfortunately, the other guy who hadn't raised preflop, was sitting on a pair of Queens, and had also flopped a beautiful set. Now I was on life support... When the big blind finally got to me I just went all in dark. Same guy called me... with his AKos. I turn over the mystery 7-5os. He hit two pair, and I made my walk of shame. Of course I later saw that he busted out before the final table.

I opted to leave not long after that... Big Red stuck around for some cash game antics. I hear that the pots, and the buyins were juicy. In the span of like 5 minutes while I was still there I say a $100 buyin and a $200 buyin. Both had just busted and were coming back in for revenge. That's a dangerous time for all at the table but also one which can be extremely profitable. Hope everyone had a great time at both the tourney and the subsequent cash games.

Thank you all again for making it a great night, and we look forward to seeing you all again really soon!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Survive...the cheer_dad story

In the movie they one day make about my life... Jim Morrison's ominously haunting voice will most assuredly belt out "No One Here Gets Out Alive" on the Soundtrack. This week though, being nearly over, I may actually have a shot at it in the short term. Survival, congratulations kid ya made it! The workday is nearly over for the day. Only Friday remains, and hey due to this weekend's Parkersburg Homecoming celebration, the Bureau will dismiss employees early. No, most certainly not out of the kindness of their hearts. The city just needs all the parking that we government workers occupy. So, I only gotta survive for 5 hours tomorrow, then I'm home free! Of course I have to wonder what an Eagles drawing night just might do to my withered battle-worn body tonight. Hey, lighten up folks, I'm taking the boy child to football practice and doing all the Super Dad things first. As always, family first. But after that, Miller Time is an option!

Tomorrow night we have the Eagles Poker Tournament as well, starting at 7:00pm on the dot---ish. 25 dolla, make u holla... Last time we had 47 people. We'd love to break the record, and pack the joint, so please by all means come one, come all. Registration begins at 6:00. If you're new to the club... just ask for JR (a.k.a. Uncle June, or el presidente) or me, cheer_dad. You really don't wanna know my "a.k.a's" then all the mystery and flare would disappear. The blog would dry up, poker would die, dogs would sleep with cats, anarchy would ensue... and then I ask you what would become of the movie of my life. Stay tuned for the future, I'm planning some really cool moments in my future to help pick up the pace in the plot thus far, which admittedly has been a little ho-hum.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Sigh

Aw, so sad that as the World Series of Poker ends (or at least goes on the 4-month hiatus) visitors to the blog start dropping off. "Sigh..." I'll miss you all. To those of you who continue to wander through my musings thanks for stopping by and sharing time with me.

In my real world (at work) things seem to have settled down a bit, but I remain guardedly optimistic. I don't need someone dropping he proverbial garbage can on my head.

I'm still busy with Cole's football practice. We are still practicing 5 nights per week through this week. Next week (on Wednesday) the kids all head back to school so then, the boys will get some relief, with only 3 nights a week. But something else will no doubt fill the void.

Whitney is looking for a part-time job. She hopes becoming a wage slave will fill the hours spent last year cheering. Yes, kids the lil blond girl is NOT cheering this year. It's a long story and I won't dignify the coaches with a long drawn out explanation. You know whatcha did... and you know it was wrong... and my daughter stepped up and told you both to "get bent... I'll go my own way!" I'm proud of her. I'm proud of the effort she put into it all, over the years, but I guess the real lesson she's learned from me is that she doesn't have to take a lot of shit from anyone. Some... yes of course, life sometimes serves it up, but there is a limit to what any one of us should endure. Knowing that limit, and reacting appropriately when it is crossed defines one's character. And right now, my daughter stands tall and proud. I'm very proud of her, and the young woman she has become. Anyway, my apologies for the extended recap... wish her luck in finding a good job to earn a few bucks.

Don't forget POKER this Friday at the Eagles Aerie 2307, starting at 7:00pm. Registration begins at 6:00pm. $25 gets you in on the action. Cash games to certainly follow... Hope to see you all there.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Like I said... fish

We went to Yanok's last night. Big Red and I chopped 1st and 2nd in game one! I sucked out somethin' awful on people. I played a huge number of hands and had a ball and drank copious amounts. Good times, good friends... I tripled up on a hand with a J5os, when I got a little cocky with it, when I hit a Jack for 2nd pair. I bet out, got raised and I and another called. My 3rd Jack hit the turn and the rest was history!

Today, we had the Grid-O-Rama! Here's my animal of a tackle!!!














Great job today Cole, and wow was it hot!

Regards,

cheer_dad

I'm a fish!

I remember all the fun at the poker tables. I remember the suckouts, the badbeats, drinking too much, day after hangovers, going all in with rags, calling with crappy hands and winning, playing damn near every hand, dragging much more than the occasional pot, getting it in bad, and witnessing river miracles. I was a fish, and wow was it a lot of fun. It wasn't something to dwell on and think about! Hell, I wasn't trying to make money at it (and did a little) it was a social activity with my friends over 5 years ago, when the NDPT started throwing nickels and dimes around on a table. The cards were usually getting in the way of our mass quantities of beer and chicken wings... and NOT the other way around. It was a great time! And your humble blogger, cheer_dad needs him some joy in his life and deserves a little WTF time!!! : ) So boys... and girls come ready tonight to the Yanok's to set your hook deep into my friggin' gills. I'm itching to play some cards and drink some (lotsa) beer and nibble at the pot like there's power bait dangled out there in front of me. Tonight, I'm your huckleberry biyatch...

I'm a fish... indeed!

Regards,

cheer_dad

P.S. Thank goodness, they're setting up cornhole in the back yard. Clearly, I'll be out back... but I'll keep the beer nice and cold! : )

Eagles Poker, Friday August 21, 7pm

Mark your calendars now for Friday, August 21st, 7:00pm for the next Texas Hold'em Tournament at the Eagles Aerie 2307. If you haven't attended one of these, please plan to do so. We always have a great time. Registration begins at 6:00pm, gametime 7:00pm. $25 buy-in ($20 - tourney/$5 - all-in chip.) There were a whopping 47 players that showed up to play last time. Eric F, found himself on a roll and took it down once again. Congratulations to him.

The Aerie will be buying additional poker chips so that the 50 person limit will be lifted, and the game will be able to grow. Thank you all for your continued support, and all the great times that we have together!

I also will give reminder/mention of the Yanok's Poker night, which is this Friday night, August 14th. This is always a great night. Hope to see you all there.

I want to apologize for not keeping the dust off of the blog... work has twisted and turned me in a number of ways lately, and add to that Cole's football season, and the "every weekday night" practice schedule. I'm getting off work, driving home, changing getting pads/jersey/equipment ready, and grabbing the boy and heading to the field. We're getting home around 8:30, and maybe having dinner by 9:00. Life's a bit of a blur.

Speaking of football... Cole's team last night was subdivided for some impromptu scrimmaging. Half the team (9 and 10 year olds) moved over to go head-to-head with the 11 and 12 year olds team. While the others remained to play against the 8 and under team. Guess which way Cole went?!? Let's just say that the guy he ended up clashing with for the rest of the evening only out-weighed him by 30-40 pounds. When he would come over to the sideline for a water break, I asked him how he was doing. Between gulps he said "okay... but I'd be doing better, if he'd stop the holding!" Where the hell's an official when you need one, right?

Hope all is well with each of you...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Monday lies in wait

Unfortunately Monday will surely get here. It will greet me, as unpleasant as ever along with the ringing of tomorrow morning's alarm clock. And despite all the woe and despair that I'm sure will accompany it, I'll still roll my carcass out of bed and go off to meet her once again.

There's a job to do, and it puts food on the table. So, Monday... bring it! I'm your huckleberry.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Pig Roast today!

I'm getting ready to leave for the Eagles Pig Roast at 4:00pm! This is open to the public folks... $10 gets you in for all the BBQ and beer you can handle. I mentioned this to several of you, hope to see you there. My favorite reply/quote was, "hmmm, I bet I could eat my weight in pig!" Not sure I'd wanna see that, but you just know I'd be watching!

Tomorrow, Big Red tells me is "lounge in the pool" day. We're having friends over (thank goodness I mowed today) to swim and drink a few/many beers. Ending the day of course by watching TrueBlood tomorrow night on HBO. If you haven't checked it out, do yourself the favor and do it now. Is deliciously sinful a descriptive enough phrase for you? Or perhaps one of my all-time favorite phrases will suit you better: "YEAH BOOBIES!" : ) Apologies to my readers of the female persuasion... but in my defense they are one of the coolest parts of a body, I mean c'mon ya gotta admit! Even when they're covered by pesky clothing...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Behold the WALL!

Tremble if you must... but fear would be a good emotion to have. I give you the WALL! The Bullets had their picture day this morning and I took the opportunity to snap this one with the phone to share. Cole is doing great and just tearing up the world.

Regards,

cheer_dad

P.S. Big Red says she loves the jerseys 'cause they remind her of her beloved COWBOYS! : P

PokerStars credit returned

Awhile back I made a deposit to PokerStars. ACH transfer direct from my account, no fuss no muss... and I started playing. About a month went by, and actually while I was on vacation I got an email stating that the transaction had never gone through and the "payment processor" had dropped the ball and never taken the money out of my account, so PokerStars was deducting from my account. Lucky for me, I still had a positive balance! : ) But... the real problem was that the transaction HAD taken place and the money was no longer in my bank account or now my PokerStars account. I say all that to say this... after extensive effort and time, I was finally able to provide the "proof" to PokerStars and their payment processor and they put the money back into my account. Whew! Well they coulda at least gave me a lil sumpin' sumpin' for my pain and suffering! Hey, I'm not cheap, but I can be bought. Okay, maybe I'm cheap too! I've got about 20-ish days left on my trial of PokerTracker 3 to work with and hope in that amount of time I can "win" enough cash to pay for the software. I'm sold on it either way. The value of the statistics is undeniable. There's money to be made at the tables just playing position let alone having a firm grasp of the game. I can't argue it. I've even had some rough, suck-out city sessions since I started playing and I've still been on a slow, steady bankroll rise. So, the trial version definitely got me hooked. Of course my problem now is that there aren't enough hours in the day for work, sleep, Cole's football, Whitney's gymnastics and cheerleading clinics, and my nervous breakdowns to allow for sufficient pokery goodness. Hmmmm, maybe that sleep thing is optional?!?

Also, some of you may be wondering about the cryptic messages of late out here on the ole blog. I hope you've deciphered them and are putting into practice my advice. I think it's wrong, and despicable. But, I refuse to be the blunt object with which they will beat my friends over the head.

Regards,

cheer_dad

For my geeky co-workers...

01010011 01110100 01101111 01110000 00100000 01110101 01110011 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01010011 01100001 01101101 01100101 01010100 01101001 01101101 01100101 00100001 00100001 00100001

Regards,

cheer_dad