Can I Still Call Her My Baby Girl?

If my daughter Whitney continues to grow up and become an exquisite young woman, can I still call her my baby girl? Regardless of whether I should... I will and you all know it! Not that I'm biased, but isn't she lovely? She is shown here preparing to head off to Parkersburg South Prom 2009, with the "boy-child" oh okay, he's boyfriend Jordan. Alright I'll cut him some slack too. He is quite the gentleman and a very nice young man. He didn't show up at the door to find me cleaning a gun or anything.


Here's another shot of Whitney along with one of her friends Lexi, also a very lovely young lady! They are shown here overlooking the Ohio River from Fort Boreman Park here in Parkersburg, WV. The building shown to the right (just above the stone wall) is the building in which I spend my workweek.

Finally, of all the pictures from the "pre-prom" posing, this one, I think is my favorite. Unrehearsed, without the pose, laughter, emotion captured. They're having a good time, and that's what it's all about, isn't it? There's not enough joy in the world, today... but I think my baby girl found it here in this moment of time.

I thought maybe some of you might relate. I thought I'd just take the time to show off my daughter, and share... a father's pride!


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