Here's my weekend schedule:
Friday night: Big Red and I will be headed over to Shuman's for return of his "Friday Night Cash Game." We'll probably show up over there at least for a little while. We'll have to leave before the hour gets too "WEE" since the rest of the weekend is chocked full of activity all centered around BASEBALL!!!
Saturday: Depart house with the whole family, and Stephanie and Jeffrey in tow at 9:00am SHARP, headed for Athens Ohio.
Specific Destination is outlined here, http://athenssandlot.com/ under the Tournaments section. Yes, it's All-Star Tournament Time people! The boys are scheduled for games at 11:00, 1:00, and 5:00. If all goes well, they'll move on to Day 2 on Sunday, and who knows what that will bring. Believe it or not, I'm really looking forward to all of this. The team looks very good. There's a lot of talented ballplayers on this team. This is Cole's first year in All-Stars, so I'm sure there's a lot for him yet to learn. BUT, even now, I've seen marked improvement in him. When he's focused and on top of things, he's tough out there. If the coaches can convince him of his size and bulk with a bat in his hand, he's going to really crush the ball for them. I'm happy NOT to be coaching. I'm learning a lot just watching these two who are so much better at it. They have experience in this game. I do not. I was a musician...not a jock. Although I should get off my backside and get back in to running again. The belt line is getting more snug than I'd like. I don't like the guy who keeps looking back at me from the other side of the mirror. Not only is he old and gray...but chubby too!
Sunday: I'm sure the boys will be back for Day 2, since there's no questioning their talent. They could go ALL THE WAY! Keep your fingers crossed for them.
Monday: Thank goodness it's my AWS day, and work will not be there to tear me down. : )
As for the rest of next week, I work Tuesday, Wednesday, and part of Thursday. Only part of Thursday because I'll be getting ready to drive to Columbus Airport...destination SIN CITY BABY!!! Viva Las Vegas Time, a.k.a. Rednecks in Paradise! I am so charged up for this I can't stand it. The only downside to the trip is that while Big Red and I are gone, Cole has another baseball tournament in Vienna, WV, that we're going to have to miss. He won't, we're going to have "grandmas and friends" take him. The friends Stephanie and Jeff have a boy on the team as well, so they don't mind. Besides we told them we would take care of Jeff, during one of the weekend tourneys when they are both tied up. So life has a way of working out. Which is good, because I really didn't want this weighing on my mind. Teresa and I really need this Vegas trip. Just to spend some time together, and enjoy one another's company. Also, we need some down time from the daily grind that work has been lately.
A post I came across on http://www.upforanything.net/poker/ by Otis titled Face in the Crowd, really got me to thinking about down time. He was remarking that he felt a little lost...and just basically not himself. I think I'm there right now too. But reading someone else's comments on it has really fired me up, and got the mind working again. The cobwebs are clearing a bit. Maybe he struck a chord with me...maybe misery just loves company. Either way, I feel a little better. So much so, that I posted a comment back to his post. Hopefully he reads these, and finds a pearl of wisdom in there somewhere.
I've been considering submitting my writing sample to another blog site to take over a Poker Blog that they have, but I don't know if I can commit the kind of time and effort that it deserves. I don't know that I'm in a position to be any source of interest on the topic either. I'll continue to debate the issue in my own mind, unless some sign points in one direction or the other.
Have a great weekend all!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Ace on the River, quick analysis
Barry Greenstein's 
What strikes me as most interesting about this book is that it differs greatly from many of the other books that I've read regarding and related to poker. This was not an instructional book, with in depth odds discussion. It wasn't a book about the mechanical nature of a game, or a "how to." Instead Greenstein lays out his own poker history. In the beginning due to his intellect and education he was a mathametician of the game. Structured and calculating of the game. As he progressed the calculating and analytical mind was brought to bear on the opposing player at the table. No longer were the cards the only consideration...and never the money, but the man and the circumstances currently present on the table. Greenstein discusses his move upward in the poker world, from humble beginnings, moving up slowly as his skill improved with time, and dropping back at times as well, when he learned his game was not ready for another level. He like others, busted out at times. He tried never to go into debt to anyone, thinking that the circumstance was not something he was willing to be a part of. How in the long run it would affect his play and his overall character. He exudes confidence in his style. When I first saw Barry Greenstein play on the World Poker Tour, I thought he was arrogant, and geeky. The geeky part may have been right, seeing as he was formally educated as a mathametician. But my assessment of his arrogance was unfounded. His book, and writing style on the whole, is in a way humble. He was not prideful, not pushy, just matter of fact. His discussion almost clinical, but nevertheless engaging.
Ace on the River
Last Knight Publishing Company
(June 30, 2005)
328 pages
What strikes me as most interesting about this book is that it differs greatly from many of the other books that I've read regarding and related to poker. This was not an instructional book, with in depth odds discussion. It wasn't a book about the mechanical nature of a game, or a "how to." Instead Greenstein lays out his own poker history. In the beginning due to his intellect and education he was a mathametician of the game. Structured and calculating of the game. As he progressed the calculating and analytical mind was brought to bear on the opposing player at the table. No longer were the cards the only consideration...and never the money, but the man and the circumstances currently present on the table. Greenstein discusses his move upward in the poker world, from humble beginnings, moving up slowly as his skill improved with time, and dropping back at times as well, when he learned his game was not ready for another level. He like others, busted out at times. He tried never to go into debt to anyone, thinking that the circumstance was not something he was willing to be a part of. How in the long run it would affect his play and his overall character. He exudes confidence in his style. When I first saw Barry Greenstein play on the World Poker Tour, I thought he was arrogant, and geeky. The geeky part may have been right, seeing as he was formally educated as a mathametician. But my assessment of his arrogance was unfounded. His book, and writing style on the whole, is in a way humble. He was not prideful, not pushy, just matter of fact. His discussion almost clinical, but nevertheless engaging.
The most instructional or educational portion of Ace on the River is the individual hand discussion, calling upon a number of the hands that have been played out in his career at the tables. It wasn't always the monster hands that were impressive, but how he analyzed the competition, how he put them on a hand. Each turn of the card opened up possibilities, and was cause for him to evaluate and re-evaluate his opponent and all of his possible holdings. The logic was impressive, the thought process genius. The greatest thing that I take from this book is a desire to strive to that level of logic...and of intuition. From his book I want to be better, to develop the best game that I can, and then move beyond even that.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Is it over yet? Vegas awaits!
Monday was just more than I could withstand at work. I don't like Mondays. I never have. I used to be off every Monday, and then I moved up the foodchain, and became a Team Lead, and it was decided that "leads" can't work 4 x 10's. Instead only the 5-4-9 thing is available. So I can work like 45hrs week 1 and then 35hrs week 2. That does get me a 3-day weekend every other week. But I'm spoiled, and it used to get me out of Monday's altogether. But that's the price. Anyway, let's get back on track. I didn't go to work on Tuesday...(cough, cough) and that helped shorten the work week. A bunch of us opted on Monday night to go to Texas Roadhouse. Every Monday (we learned) they have $1 Margs and draft beer, all night! I may never miss a Monday there again! After we finished up there, we all headed back over to our house and threw together a card game. Matt, Jody, Frank, Julie, Mike, Sally, Scott, Teresa, and I played in this cash game. $10 buy in... for $10 in chips. Blinds .25 and .25... Big Red and I both had to rebuy early on for another $10. But before the night was over, and after the dust settled, we both cashed out for over $80 each. Not bad for an unplanned pickup game. Big Red in particular is on a ROLL people, stay out of her way! Since the first game of this month over at the Wolfe's (where she won) and then at the Yanok's (where I won both tourney's of the night, and then at our monthly tourney Teresa won the tourney, and I did VERY well in the cash game) and then Monday's pick up game, between the 2 of us, we've made a profit of in the neighborhood of $800+. And we've actually been able to squirrel some of it away, in the secondary account. That'll help finance the Vegas trip which comes up now in just a few short days!!! 
I can almost hear the incessant bells and whistles from the slots, the clang of quarters hitting the tray, the sound of chips being raked my direction at the poker tables, and the taste of a good stiff comped drink. (Shudder...excuse me I think I need a moment.)
AHHH! Sorry, I went to my happy place there for a bit.
I can almost hear the incessant bells and whistles from the slots, the clang of quarters hitting the tray, the sound of chips being raked my direction at the poker tables, and the taste of a good stiff comped drink. (Shudder...excuse me I think I need a moment.)AHHH! Sorry, I went to my happy place there for a bit.
Shuman announced his cash game for this Friday, but I don't know yet if we'll be able to attend. This whole week is a whirlwind, which culminates in Cole's All Star (baseball) tournament in Athens, OH on Saturday and Sunday. I really don't know what to expect. I hope the boys do well. I hope Cole in particular gives it his all, and doesn't let his mind wander off. I want him to do well. I think that's what he actually wants this time too. All stars is a completely different animal compared to regular season ball, as odd as that seems. Wish us luck throughout the summer.
I'm up a few bucks on the Carbon Poker site, just playing at the .10/.25 NLHE tables. It's good practice, and the game has been enjoyable. If I can just stay on top of the cash on this promo. Of course I've go to accumlate 50,000 points to collect my $200 in bonus. 3 points are awarded per raked hand at the site, at least at the stakes I play.
The day drags onward...my eyes grow heavy. Good luck to each of you in your quest to stay awake.
Quote of the day: Overconfidence can lead to carelessness in decision-making. The poker gods can provide a run of bad cards that will make anyone look foolish.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Monday, June 18, 2007
Weekend tournament reflections
First off I want to say congratulations to my lovely wife, Teresa, for chalking up a win in Saturday's NDPT Event #6. Teresa bested the crowd of 25 that gathered at our house. She has definitely become a force with which to be reckoned. She went heads-up against Mike Westbrook, and according to Chris there was a lot of back and forth, of the chip stack, until Big Red took it down. She has been on a streak here lately...and they best thing for her to do is to continue to ride it out. The best advice to offer up to the rest of us...when a train is coming down the track...get out of the way! : )
I once again, busted out early. I think I was like the 5th player out...and frankly did it to myself, which has been a recurring theme for me this year, at least at MY HOUSE. Newcomer to the NDPT crew Scott Eddy made the right move by calling me preflop. He and I were in the blinds, and everyone folded to me, on the SB. I thanked the table...and said can I steal it? He said maybe...so rather than calling for another $50, I make it another $200 to go with my wired Jacks. Then, I realize he hasn't looked at his cards yet. He looks and makes the call. I determine my next move before the cards even come out, thinking that I can take it down, if an Ace doesn't hit. The board comes out K-Q-3-ish I think. I push my last $575 into the middle, which is greeted by an immediate call. I've put him on an Ace-moderate to garbage kicker. When no Ace popped up, I thought perhaps I was golden. I didn't make him for Big Slick or Little Slick for that matter. Unfortunately, it was worse still...when he turned over his SET of Queens, I was dead. Runner, Runner was my only hope, and that wasn't in the cards...I might not have called a preflop raise with Jacks. He might have dusted me right there. But it worked out well for him. I would likely have pushed preflop, to take it down right there, and not risk the suckout, by anyone who might have caught a card. Anyway, he took it down. Congratulations.
Teresa made a comment that I'm pushing too hard. In the movie Lucky You, they might have called me a "Blaster." This comment came while she and I were watching the next evening a replay of the 2006 WSOP. She watched a player bet $100,000 after the flop when the board showed KKJ, and he was sitting on AJ. Jamie Gold made a read here, and pushed over the top...BIG, and got the guy to fold. Teresa said that she thought the Bet, post flop was excessive. The Big Blind was $20,000, and I don't know what the ante was at that stage. Sorry! But I wouldn't consider a 5X bet, all that excessive. She told me that was my problem. I was pushing too hard, and needed to just play "right" and that my recent ways were actually the cause of my low placings in the NDPT tournaments. At first it irritated me...and I mouthed off, but the longer I thought about it, she may actually have a point. My old "money-winning" style was playing uber-tight, and aggressive. What I should really be doing is either tightening way down, and limping with marginal hands. Make the willing calls, but slow down a bit. Also, stop convincing myself that sub $500 is still a very playable/survivable chip stack to have. I've done it before. Granted it sucks...but I have a reputation for being able to comeback from horrific chips. I apologized later to her, for mouthing off, about how I play. Regardless of whether I go back to my roots of tight aggressive play, is yet to be seen. Then again, lately the sneak attack hands are the ones pulling down the monster pots for me. Also, if I can make the final table...I'm able to switch gears very effectively, and it takes a few hands for the rest of the table to catch on. To do that though, I need to make the final table!
The tournament play was lacking but the Cash Game, was VERY profitable to me. I bought in for $10, and cashed out for $135!!! SWEET, a much different play style really did pay off. I would have made more had I called a hand when I was on the open ended Straight/Flush, possible Royal draw. But in the face of a $22 bet, and call, I knew one or both of them already had the boat! My miracle card would have fell. That would have been in the neighborhood of a $60 pot. But, you can't have it ALL!
I read this morning that Eli Elezra won his FIRST WSOP braclet. Way to go Eli!!! I really enjoy watching him play on High Stakes Poker. We'll have to wait and see what else the series offers up!
It is just a few short days to Las Vegas, for the NDPT crew! I'm excited, ready to go, and next Thursday evening can't get here EARLY enough!
Hope the week treats you well.
Regards,
cheer_dad
I once again, busted out early. I think I was like the 5th player out...and frankly did it to myself, which has been a recurring theme for me this year, at least at MY HOUSE. Newcomer to the NDPT crew Scott Eddy made the right move by calling me preflop. He and I were in the blinds, and everyone folded to me, on the SB. I thanked the table...and said can I steal it? He said maybe...so rather than calling for another $50, I make it another $200 to go with my wired Jacks. Then, I realize he hasn't looked at his cards yet. He looks and makes the call. I determine my next move before the cards even come out, thinking that I can take it down, if an Ace doesn't hit. The board comes out K-Q-3-ish I think. I push my last $575 into the middle, which is greeted by an immediate call. I've put him on an Ace-moderate to garbage kicker. When no Ace popped up, I thought perhaps I was golden. I didn't make him for Big Slick or Little Slick for that matter. Unfortunately, it was worse still...when he turned over his SET of Queens, I was dead. Runner, Runner was my only hope, and that wasn't in the cards...I might not have called a preflop raise with Jacks. He might have dusted me right there. But it worked out well for him. I would likely have pushed preflop, to take it down right there, and not risk the suckout, by anyone who might have caught a card. Anyway, he took it down. Congratulations.
Teresa made a comment that I'm pushing too hard. In the movie Lucky You, they might have called me a "Blaster." This comment came while she and I were watching the next evening a replay of the 2006 WSOP. She watched a player bet $100,000 after the flop when the board showed KKJ, and he was sitting on AJ. Jamie Gold made a read here, and pushed over the top...BIG, and got the guy to fold. Teresa said that she thought the Bet, post flop was excessive. The Big Blind was $20,000, and I don't know what the ante was at that stage. Sorry! But I wouldn't consider a 5X bet, all that excessive. She told me that was my problem. I was pushing too hard, and needed to just play "right" and that my recent ways were actually the cause of my low placings in the NDPT tournaments. At first it irritated me...and I mouthed off, but the longer I thought about it, she may actually have a point. My old "money-winning" style was playing uber-tight, and aggressive. What I should really be doing is either tightening way down, and limping with marginal hands. Make the willing calls, but slow down a bit. Also, stop convincing myself that sub $500 is still a very playable/survivable chip stack to have. I've done it before. Granted it sucks...but I have a reputation for being able to comeback from horrific chips. I apologized later to her, for mouthing off, about how I play. Regardless of whether I go back to my roots of tight aggressive play, is yet to be seen. Then again, lately the sneak attack hands are the ones pulling down the monster pots for me. Also, if I can make the final table...I'm able to switch gears very effectively, and it takes a few hands for the rest of the table to catch on. To do that though, I need to make the final table!
The tournament play was lacking but the Cash Game, was VERY profitable to me. I bought in for $10, and cashed out for $135!!! SWEET, a much different play style really did pay off. I would have made more had I called a hand when I was on the open ended Straight/Flush, possible Royal draw. But in the face of a $22 bet, and call, I knew one or both of them already had the boat! My miracle card would have fell. That would have been in the neighborhood of a $60 pot. But, you can't have it ALL!
I read this morning that Eli Elezra won his FIRST WSOP braclet. Way to go Eli!!! I really enjoy watching him play on High Stakes Poker. We'll have to wait and see what else the series offers up!
It is just a few short days to Las Vegas, for the NDPT crew! I'm excited, ready to go, and next Thursday evening can't get here EARLY enough!
Hope the week treats you well.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Saturday, June 16, 2007
On your mark, get set...
I've got a BUSY DAY on tap for today!
I did manage to sleep in until 8:00AM, which I really needed, but the rest of this day is going to be an absolute blur, people. I have to have Whitney at Godbey Field at 9:45 for pictures. Then leave there and head to Mineral Wells for her softball game at 11:00. Around NOON, Teresa will get there with Cole to take over, and allow me to drive (with Cole) for his All-Stars practice at 1:00 way down at Tri-C fields. Then, Whitney has to leave the ballfields (game over or not) by around 1:15, so she can get to Dance Clinic and tryouts with the Ohio Valley All-Stars. Yes, you'll recall that name as O-V-A, from her previous lifetime of cheerleader and dancer. This go around she just wants to try the dance thing...sans cheerleading. Either way, I'm okay with it!
Cole and I will likely finish up All Stars practice at around 3:00. Then, I'll head home, get him fed...and cleaned up (self as well.) I'll have to make sure everything is ready here at the house, get ice (and beer) and get ready for tonight's NDPT Event #6, and the 25 players that will be converging on the house tonight! I'm hopeful, no confident... :) that tonight's MY NIGHT! Okay, as long as I'm not first out, and am having a Good Time.
Thought for the day is "Missed Opportunities Are Worse Than Making Mistakes." That was the title of a post from the Probloggers Blog that I have on my iGoogle page. It has a double meaning at least for me. They were referring to making money on their blogs, and marketing themselves. Which I wouldn't mind doing either, but to me it has a greater meaning in my Poker playing. We are all going to make mistakes at the tables, but the even bigger problem is not capitalizing on the opportunities in front of us. Making the next bet, betting higher, stealing the pots, observing reactions, surviving the round...all these things affect your bankroll and you would be advised to seize every opportunity like a ravenous dog. So, tonight NDPT'ers if I snarl at you and growl a little...you'll understand.
See you tonight!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Friday, June 15, 2007
Angst for the rest of us
I've had this window up since yesterday, and intended to write something profound in it for that long...or longer, to ultimately post up to the ole blog; but there's just been a big nothing there all day long. Nada! I'd like to tell you that had changed, but it would be a lie. And poker players never do that. EVER! Okay, well this time it's true, nothing earth shattering has entered my pea-sized brain worth writing about, so as usual you're stuck with the same old fluff.
I just read a heart-felt, gut wrenching, angst-laden post by Pauly from over at the Tao of Poker (http://taopoker.blogspot.com/) Wow...are you feelin' a little bitter there little camper? I could picture was Denis Leary making this speech/rant, and getting a standing ovation at the end of a comedy concert. He made that teenage angst for the tweeners AND thweeners a friggin' trademark. Pauly nearly took it to a new level. When he wandered through the ruination of downtown Las Vegas, I swear he was channeling Alec Baldwin's character from The Cooler. I'm surprised he didn't make an anti-Steve-Wynn comment to go along with the extensive, thesaurus exhaustive post. As long, and drawn out, and painful as it all was, I urge you to read along, and drink it in. All in all I loved it! Check it out for yourself like I said at http://taopoker.blogspot.com/ topic "WSOP Day 14: Lost Paradise." Atta boy Pauly!!! I can feel the itch from here! And that itch comes from a good many of the things you mentioned in this blog post! Some you can obtain an ointment for or something out of a syringe...others...not so much!
JR brought me a DVD of all of the pictures and videos that he took at the Kenny Chesney concert. My favorite, aside from those depicting a sleeping Frank (leader of the Wolfe Pack,) is this little beauty! Blurred and hopelessly jagged, and nothing to do with the concert, except for the fact that it's the Pittsburgh skyline, more closely resembling what the majority of the crowd in our section of the stadium was actually seeing during this concert. This picture has become my desktop wallpaper for the time being, and for the foreseeable future until something better comes along. Between the tailgating the cooler of beer, margaritas, and "Black Haus" we drank on the way up. : ) It's a wonder any of us have a liver left! If ever any of us is an organ donor...refuse that one folks, really! It can only lead you awry...or toward the RYE anyway!
Whit had softball last night, I spent most of the night throwing my arm out playing catch with Cole, and then later with some of the other kids running around. The twins really are adorable. Cole has baseball tonight...last regular season game. WAHOO! Tomorrow, Whit has pix at 10:00, game at 11:00 at a DIFFERENT FIELD, Cole has All-Stars practice at 1:00. Whitney has Dance Try Outs for Ohio Valley All-Stars from 2:00-4:00...and then we round it ALL off with NDPT Tournament #6. Yeah...POKER...I know. I'm really Jonesin'! I know all that sounds hectic...and it is, but it's only going to get WORSE, throughout the summer, what with the All Star schedule that Cole's going to have. But hey, what else is life for anyway!
I'll be the blur on the way to and from the ball fields.
Regards,
cheer_dad
I just read a heart-felt, gut wrenching, angst-laden post by Pauly from over at the Tao of Poker (http://taopoker.blogspot.com/) Wow...are you feelin' a little bitter there little camper? I could picture was Denis Leary making this speech/rant, and getting a standing ovation at the end of a comedy concert. He made that teenage angst for the tweeners AND thweeners a friggin' trademark. Pauly nearly took it to a new level. When he wandered through the ruination of downtown Las Vegas, I swear he was channeling Alec Baldwin's character from The Cooler. I'm surprised he didn't make an anti-Steve-Wynn comment to go along with the extensive, thesaurus exhaustive post. As long, and drawn out, and painful as it all was, I urge you to read along, and drink it in. All in all I loved it! Check it out for yourself like I said at http://taopoker.blogspot.com/ topic "WSOP Day 14: Lost Paradise." Atta boy Pauly!!! I can feel the itch from here! And that itch comes from a good many of the things you mentioned in this blog post! Some you can obtain an ointment for or something out of a syringe...others...not so much!
JR brought me a DVD of all of the pictures and videos that he took at the Kenny Chesney concert. My favorite, aside from those depicting a sleeping Frank (leader of the Wolfe Pack,) is this little beauty! Blurred and hopelessly jagged, and nothing to do with the concert, except for the fact that it's the Pittsburgh skyline, more closely resembling what the majority of the crowd in our section of the stadium was actually seeing during this concert. This picture has become my desktop wallpaper for the time being, and for the foreseeable future until something better comes along. Between the tailgating the cooler of beer, margaritas, and "Black Haus" we drank on the way up. : ) It's a wonder any of us have a liver left! If ever any of us is an organ donor...refuse that one folks, really! It can only lead you awry...or toward the RYE anyway!Whit had softball last night, I spent most of the night throwing my arm out playing catch with Cole, and then later with some of the other kids running around. The twins really are adorable. Cole has baseball tonight...last regular season game. WAHOO! Tomorrow, Whit has pix at 10:00, game at 11:00 at a DIFFERENT FIELD, Cole has All-Stars practice at 1:00. Whitney has Dance Try Outs for Ohio Valley All-Stars from 2:00-4:00...and then we round it ALL off with NDPT Tournament #6. Yeah...POKER...I know. I'm really Jonesin'! I know all that sounds hectic...and it is, but it's only going to get WORSE, throughout the summer, what with the All Star schedule that Cole's going to have. But hey, what else is life for anyway!
I'll be the blur on the way to and from the ball fields.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
3 Topics Foremost in my Mind
There are three topics which are foremost in my mind. And not in chronological order here they are:
- Did you SEE the Sopranos Series Finale???! I was glued to the TV to witness the end of a series which I've looked forward to for more Sunday nights than I can even remember. I love mob movies, stories, books, you name it. Last night though, sort of shattered that for me. I watched every second, felt the tension mount through the hour. I saw Meadow and AJ start to get their acts together, sorta. I saw Tony visit Uncle Junior, and affirm to himself that he was gone. His mind was gone. The mafia and all memory of it was gone. Tony in a way made peace with it all. I watched Phil Leotardo get whacked...and go out with a bang, and worse still a ROLL! EWWW, squish! Then as it all built to climax. The diner interior, Meadow parking the car...the uneasy hurried glances of the guy at the counter, the pounding beat of Journey's " Don't Stop Believin'" the door to the diner opens as Meadow enters and then...FADE TO BLACK {extended pause} roll credits...end an era. The series sleeps with the fishes. Ouch...my mouth dropped open, Big Red was convinced the cable went out or that I'd accidently hit the remote, but then when the credits started to roll, her eyes got as wide as mine! Wow, what a build up...what a let down. I mean I understand it, leaving it to the imagination, but so many things were left unsaid and undone. I knew they couldn't tie it all up, but sorry Mr. Chase this was bad form. The fans were owed a bit more than this. This is the sentiment of the majority of that fan base. Of course in you mind I'm sure it was a tremendous success because it got us all talking. But for ill or naught...it's over. Bada Bing!
- Phil Hellmuth made history in the Poker World. He broke the threeway tie between he, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Chan, when he won his 11th Bracelet at the World Series of Poker. The event was the $1,500 NLHE tournament. 2,500+ players did battle, and Phil came out with win. Just over like $650,000, which is nothing to sneeze at, but the honor and glory of the bracelet must have been sweet. BUT, all that's now in my mind...you'll never get the Poker Brat to SHUT UP now...EVER!!! But hey, you gotta hand it to him. He's the man. The win is his. Kudos Phil, kudos. Gotta give it to ya...well done! Additional info from the blogosphere regarding this: The Poker Brat (Phil Hellmuth) made poker history as became the first player to win 11 bracelets, which surpasses Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan both at 10 each. Phil also set the record for total number of cashes at the WSOP at 59, which I'm sure he'll keep adding to over the next six weeks. He's also made 38 final tables at the WSOP, which is just one shy of TJ Cloutier's record. Information obtained from the Tao of Poker Blog: http://taopoker.blogspot.com/ Congrats Phil!
- Finally, Ohio County in West Virginia voted 2 to 1 to permit Wheeling Island Gaming Center to add TABLE GAMES at their dog track and slots-o-rama!!! While similar measures were defeated in Charles Town, Wheeling okay'd it! Two other counties are also set to vote on the issue for other race track and gaming centers. Wheeling says it will be up and ready to roll by Labor Day this year...that's just 83 short days away! Poker room will be up and running by then and the claims are that by October all the other casino acoutrements will be in place for an honest to goodness casino. Unreal! Now, when will I have the stones to hit the tables myself?!? I'll keep information about this posted here as it becomes available. For more information see this article: Table Games Are Coming To Ohio CountyWheeling Island Ready To Begin Construction On Poker Rooms
FINAL RESULTS:
YES - 7,568 (66%)
NO - 3,956 (34%)
100% Precincts reporting
36% Voter turnout
Voters in Ohio County, W.Va. have approved a proposal to add table games at a racetrack.
With all precincts reporting, a referendum to allow Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center to expand its gambling offerings won 66 percent to 34 percent.
Hit hard by the decline of steel and other heavy industry in recent years, Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center has pitched the vote on table games as a chance for an economic boost, with promises of hundreds of new jobs and millions in new construction.
Bob Marshall, the track's general manager, said the track will begin hiring immediately, and could begin construction plans as soon as Monday.
Current track employees celebrated at the gaming center's showroom after the votes were tallied Saturday night.
"I'm excited and thrilled and I'm honored that the people of Ohio County have stood up for us," said Lee Ames, who works at one of the restaurants at the casino.
"I mean it sincerely when I tell you it is a thrill to be a part of this and most of all it is a thrill to be an Ohio County resident and know that we stood up and did the right thing."
Members of the First Baptist Church in Wheeling had opposed the expansion of gaming.
"We are concerned about what it's going to do to the life of our community and the negative impact it will have on families: increased divorce, child abuse and domestic violence," said Pastor Darrin Wright.
Local state lawmakers took the lead on the legislative intiative to bring the issue of expanded gaming to a public vote.
"I think the real winner today was the people," said State Senator Andy McKenzie (R-Ohio County).
"No one can walk away and say their voice was not heard."
And that's the way it is boys and girls...that's where my mind is.
Regards.
cheer_dad
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Good weekend...
It's been a good weekend. On Friday we got some MUCH NEEDED RAIN, here in the Mid-Ohio-Valley. Although now my grass will grow! This did impact Whitney's softball game...and it had to be rescheduled for Sunday, which is today. But since the evening was freed up, Big Red and I were able to head over to the Yanok's for the card game! I took first in BOTH tournaments! A total cash out for the night of $280. And I took the lead in the year end game, which means I'll have the biggest chip stack. SWEET!!! I would have blogged about it but we left the next morning for Pittsburgh and the concert! 7 of us piled into the Durango and headed off. Lots of beer, lots of music, lots of fun! I'll try to get the pictures from JR to post to the blog and the website so that you can all see the place. Heinz Field is really nice.
Nice place to visit...I wouldn't want to live there though. Too congested for my taste.
I'm trying to knock out the last 20-ish raked hands on Poker Rewards, so I can get my $100 bonus, SOON! But I don't feel so bad now since I did well at Yanok's. Maybe it's a trend, that'll move forward into Saturday's tournament here at the house. We'll see!
Enough for now, maybe later.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Friday, June 08, 2007
Fish n Chips
aahEEt...let's get this thing started.I looked around for a Google Image before getting started on this post. Nothing in particular, just something to explain...say sorry for...or otherwise make up for failing to post more regularly. But then I thought I'd just get started instead. I was procrastinating my procrastination for Pete's sake. I mean how sad is that. Talk about indecisive. Get on with it already.
I logged some more raked hands at Poker Rewards last night. I'm still hovering just over the $20 mark. How messed up is that, but don't let me get started again. I need 62 more raked hands (.25 rake or better, so the pot must go above $4.00 at least) to claim the elusive $100 bonus. That will put me back at the pre, I got humped by the neighbor's cat level, when my 15 minute round cost me $100 with a case of the second best. I struggled for a while after that with what to fix in my game. I'm coming to the realization that it wasn't broken. You can't fix it if it ain't broke. Really. You can't, so stop trying.
I logged some more raked hands at Poker Rewards last night. I'm still hovering just over the $20 mark. How messed up is that, but don't let me get started again. I need 62 more raked hands (.25 rake or better, so the pot must go above $4.00 at least) to claim the elusive $100 bonus. That will put me back at the pre, I got humped by the neighbor's cat level, when my 15 minute round cost me $100 with a case of the second best. I struggled for a while after that with what to fix in my game. I'm coming to the realization that it wasn't broken. You can't fix it if it ain't broke. Really. You can't, so stop trying.
So with $20 left in my account I've been forced to turn back into the rock that I once was. Hell, even worse. But last night's session taught a little bit of something. Rock gardens eventually crack, and start playin' the game. Not that being a rock isn't playing but it's not profitable to bonus chasing when everyone at the table is a rock! It doesn't work that way. But there's a balance that must be struck. You need a wildcard at the table. Someone who's taking it up a notch...but not too much, else he pushes everyone out and there's nothing but Blind Ambition going on. Eventually someone cracks and calls, but always it seems at the wrong time. The pushy little donkey will inevitably come up with a hand at about the moment. Then he becomes empowered and emboldened with a bigger roll. Unfortunately, this forces you into an even tighter level of play. Tight can be safe while you're not losing money, but you ain't makin' any either. You force yourself into waiting for monster cards. Two things happen when you get 'em. You push or you play passive. Tight agressive suggests push. But don't forget donk meister, and all the other rocks in the garden that have made you for a rock too, but everyone's lookin' for a reason to call. Really they want to believe that you're still being a rock...that you're playing it straight up, but it's gonna bug 'em though, because they expect the push move from the donkey at the table, but they can't help but think you're making a move on 'em and they're going to want to make sure. You can't bet too high or too low here and every guy at the table's going to have a different threshold of belief. Someone's going to call. You can't please them all. If they don't you're only going to get the blinds. That ain't enough. When you hit big slick it will HAVE TO HIT the flop for it to be profitable. If it doesn't and you bet out 1/2 pot and they smooth call, you're screwed. You can't bet the turn too, and by the River he's going to be wise to you, and bet the pot to which you can't call, with your high card.
I guess all I'm trying to say is that it sucks to play from deep in the hole. You don't have the cash to make the moves that are required. You're really stuck just playing passive, meek and mild. When you're playing deep with the fish, and get burned, you can't drop back down anywhere to build back up. So you do what you have to, to survive. It bites. But fish and chips...they can be good eatin'!
Sorry reader, I've rambled off on a tangent again. I know I had a point when I started all this, but I lost it. The work day has a way of inserting itself, and derailing the train of thought.
Hope all continues to go well at the Series. Vegas still beckons. 20 days from now, I'll be there. I need my confidence fully in tact by then. One goal...one objective. Play well, the money is how we keep score.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Whacked
Ever start to feel like you're at the table with these guys? Not that they're good at the game, skill wise, but wise guys with an edge. Maybe I really am in the midst of a horrific trend, maybe the deck really has gone cold, maybe I just suck at this game, I love so much. Maybe this is addiction! Maybe I should stop saying maybe! I know quitcherbitchin! I've just never had such a run in which doing the right thing goes so far awry. Making the smart choices, making the right moves, call/fold/raise at the right time, and then have it turn out all upside down by the river. Hey I know "that's poker," but it's the surrounding trends which perplex. The one guy at the table who fires every time, at the right time...the only guy who shouldn't have even been in the hand since before the flop comes out big on top. Every time, all the time. Watching your monster hands, even when you DON'T bother to raise them preflop, pull down ONLY the blinds. Everyone, and I mean everyone folding to you. I don't think the online cardrooms are rigged, and I don't think they have a magic SMITE button. But I'm not entirely convinced that the algorithms in place aren't being rooted out by the script kiddies and cheats. Maybe all of this is just sour grapes! All I know is what used to be a small profit playing style, has turned way south. I'm watching not the tight aggressors profit, but the donk-packs cleaning up and laughing all the way to the bank. I know..."in the longrun!" Well how long's this marathon o' cards gonna go? The frustrating thing is that money is difficult to get online anymore. So you hate to drop any change anywhere. I had $400 easily movable dollars online. Now I'm left with $220 unless I can figure out how to squeeze out another 120 hands on 20 BUCKS. This will at least bring me back to $320-ish. All told online I'm at over $1,000 but I've been up further than that, but dropped some uber levels for my puny little bankroll. I guess I'm just reeling from the feeling here folks. When it gets like this folks it's not much fun. It's no fun at all. But I'm not going to walk on the $100 bonus. I'm at least going to play through to claim that small pittance. So hang on to it boys...I'll be coming for it. Then I'll hit the cashout to EcoCard button, and move it to some other site, for some other bonus chase. Enough about the poker already!!!All Stars practice tonight at 5:30...please let the boy not be tired and cranky! And Whit has a softball game. So it'll be a busy night for your truly and family! The weekend will be just as bad too. Card game at the Yanok's on Friday. Concert in Pittsburgh on Saturday. All Stars on Sunday. Thank goodness Monday will be my AWS day, but oh hey, I've got a baseball game that night!!! It never ends.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
$15 up short lived
Just a note, outdrawn tonight on PokerRewards, when douchebag decides to bully. I call w/two pair. Best Hand...and get outdrawn by runner runner, for his straight. So I lost my $20 buy in, plus whatever I lost at the other friggin' table. I may never make my 1,000 hands. Think I'll switch to passive mode, in an effort to get there, and slow the loss of blood from my bankroll. Yeah, I hate the game again. I think I really am the sucker at the table.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Regards,
cheer_dad
Baby Steps Back
Okay, they're baby steps, but I'll take 'em. After running horrific over the weekend, or just on Saturday afternoon, when I lost the cataclysmic $100 that I previously ranted about; I logged on briefly last night to Poker Rewards for a few hands of Hold 'Em. I really just logged on to figure out how to get in a few more "raked" hands toward the 1,000 goal, so I can claim my bonus. Well I did get 12 hands closer to that mark, and made just over $14 sitting at a WILD .10/.20 NLHE table. These pots averaged bigger than the ones you see at the next level. I made most of it NOT on big hands, but the sneaky ones, instead, where I was holding unsuited connectors like 6-7, and hitting the flop for 2 pair. Only minimal upfront cost to call and easy to pitch in the muck if it didn't hit, or didn't hit strongly enough. When the 10 man table dropped to 5, I made my exit and counted my chips. What this helps out on is that now I can play 2 of these little fish tables at the same time now, and zero in on my 1,000 hands. I believe that I am in the neighborhood of 150 hands shy of that mark. I'm just not going to push it, and hopefully I can find another of those wicked wild tables, and just friggin' get there. This is grinding out of another sort, I suppose. If I can just play break even till then I'll be happy, REALLY! That would put me at about $145 then. Which kinda sucks since my initial deposit was $200 and I've basically forfeited the bonus and lost money. But on the flip side...I could have been playing straight up, with no bonus coming, and just been out the cash altogether. This option is less palatable still. I will likely play the site at LOW LEVEL/LOW RISK tables, for a while longer, to see if I can re-crack the $200 mark. Log myself enough hands to get me back into the weekend freerolls. I really would love to cash at some level in one of these, if scheduling permits, and the poker gods smile, and avoid the SMITE button.
Enough for now...
Regards,
cheer_dad
Monday, June 04, 2007
It wouldn't be so bad...but
Like the title says, " It wouldn't be so bad...but the players who've been beating me online have been donks. Really, I'm not just being bitter here, just calling it like I see it. I've been a punching bag to these unprepared young punks, who then get a confidence booster by sucking out and think that's the way to roll. I swear there are days I wish I could hunt them down. I know, I'm tilting a bit. It's hard to run this bad and not feel a little down trodden. There's just no place to find comfort. I found a little at the Wolfe's game I guess. I got knocked out of the tourney, but have only myself to blame. I sucked out once against Matt, w/ my least favorite hand, which I NEVER EVER play (KJos) and turned it into a straight against his AQs. Then later I donk it off against Jim with an AJos against his AQs. Big Red on the other hand played a fine game and took down her first 1st Place Finish! You Go GIRL! Congratulations...now where's my cut! I did manage to bounce back ever so slightly in the cash game afterwards. Being restricted to a $10 initial buy in w/.25 blinds NL is a little crazy, but we all still do it. I would prefer to at least start with $20-$25. But whatever, I made money at it, cashing out for $54, at the end of the night, still playing on the initial $10. Profit for the night...$24, since I have to count the tourney and the cash game. That does little to bounce me back from the $100 shellacking took online. It would be so bad but that's a chunk of available online money for Pete's sake. It's hard to get it out there anymore! As JJ has advised me...I need to go back to the fundamentals for a while, and play for the sheer enjoyment of the thing, and stop the chasing which I know I'm doing.
I spent Sunday afternoon at the ball fields for Cole's All Stars practice. I'm very proud of him...of the way he's stepped up already. How much better he looks when playing with people that are so good. He's hustling, he's getting it done. He's not perfect and he's not the best kid out there, but he's learning so much and really putting forth the effort. If only we'd been able to get that level out of him on the One Community Team! But, I think these coaches will bring out the monster in him, that I know is there, and he hasn't even dreamed of. Yes, you can tell I really am proud!
Today has however been a wasted day, at least for me. Mondays just are NOT my friend! Why did I have to lose my AWS day Monday, every week, and now instead only getting it every other. I have read that the 2007 WSOP has awarded it first bracelet to Steve Billirakis who picked up $536,287 in prize money when he won the first event, $5000 Mixed Hold'em. He also became the youngest player to win an event, having celebrated his 21st birthday just 10 days ago! According to Prof's Vegas Poker Blog , "he defeated a premium field of 451 players including many of poker's superstars. Norm Chad asked him to clarify his statement that he would go back to school when he was done with poker, mainly when would that be? He replied, "When I have more bracelets than Phil Hellmuth."" Is he entering into the thing with Fear and Ignorance, or Fear and Arrogance. Either way, my congratulations to the lad!
Well it's time to get back to it.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Saturday, June 02, 2007
F-Bomb
This is how I get fucked bonus chasing...even when I don't do anything wrong. I sat down to relax just for a few hands, and on hand number two I get pocket rockets. I reraise to $11 preflop (at a .25/.50 NLHE table) to a guy who made it $3 to go in the first place. I learn later when I get BEAT that he was holding 6-7s...how do you combat this?
Welcome to Long Winding Road
>Disconnect all ins are not allowed in this game!
Any disconnects will be treated as a fold by the player.
>Game # 1,421,148,033 starting.
> Dealing Hole Cards(As Ah )
> gnapsack, you have 10 seconds to respond
> gnapsack, you have 5 seconds to respond
> chip_tastic shows Two Pair, Aces over Queens(As Ah Qh Qd 7h )
> odds77 shows a Full House, Sevens full of Queens(7h 7d 7c Qh Qd )
> odds77 wins $97.25 with a Full House, Sevens full of Queens
Maybe it'll get better luck tonight at Frank and Julie's house, but I wouldn't count on it. I was so close to claiming my bonus and being above $200 that I started with, now the best I can do if I can even fuckin' hang on is $185. But hell there's plenty of time for cocksuckers like odds77 to bust me again, and leave with me with nothing before I put in the next 181 hands.
AND NOW, after this OTHER hand...I'll be lucky to GET to the bonus $'s at all, I mean REALLY...
Some days I really hate this fuckin' game!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Welcome to Long Winding Road
>Disconnect all ins are not allowed in this game!
Any disconnects will be treated as a fold by the player.
>Game # 1,421,148,033 starting.
> Dealing Hole Cards(As Ah )
> gnapsack, you have 10 seconds to respond
> gnapsack, you have 5 seconds to respond
> chip_tastic shows Two Pair, Aces over Queens(As Ah Qh Qd 7h )
> odds77 shows a Full House, Sevens full of Queens(7h 7d 7c Qh Qd )
> odds77 wins $97.25 with a Full House, Sevens full of Queens
Maybe it'll get better luck tonight at Frank and Julie's house, but I wouldn't count on it. I was so close to claiming my bonus and being above $200 that I started with, now the best I can do if I can even fuckin' hang on is $185. But hell there's plenty of time for cocksuckers like odds77 to bust me again, and leave with me with nothing before I put in the next 181 hands.
AND NOW, after this OTHER hand...I'll be lucky to GET to the bonus $'s at all, I mean REALLY...
Some days I really hate this fuckin' game!
Regards,
cheer_dad
...Epilogue...
I dropped the $50 rebuy at this table too. I'm the small blind, and since it's unraised I call the .25...and hit two pair on the flop w/8-4os. I bet out, and get called, of course. I push all in and I make my boat by the river, only to be beat by a better boat, by the guy who had ALSO HIT TWO PAIR (ACES and Eights) on the fuckin' flop! I now have $35.64 in my Poker Rewards account. Yes, in 26 raked hands...I lost $100!
I just may not recover, from this year of bad poker.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Good holiday weekend
I've thoroughly enjoyed this holiday weekend. Really. Friday night we had my daughter's softball game...which although a blow out courtesy of the other team, it was pretty enjoyable. My son and I took the opportunity to pass baseball outside the fence, and the boy was actually beaning it at me for once. Particularly early on, he was wicked accurate too. As he got tired, I could see the shift. This imaginary line needs to be noted from now on during games. Later that night Big Red and I headed out to Frank and Julie's new house for a card game. Frank opted to run the tournament(s) in the style of the Imperial Palace, since we'll be going there in about a month. I had told everyone that Las Vegas tournaments for the most part are fast paced, and involve a great deal of the luck factor at the paltry levels. Starting with $1,300 in tournament chips, the blinds immediately start out at $25/$50 and move up every 15 minutes. You've gotta hit your dinger early and keep on hitting away at it. I finished 3rd and doubled my $10 buy in. Big Red took down 2nd and Jim B took down the top spot. That was actually the second tournament of the night, Big Red and I had missed the first due to softball. We played another after that and then started up a cash game. All told for the evening I think I made like $10-$15, and drank a lot of Miller Lite. The most memorable event for me was the shocked expression of the guy at the end of the table (whose name escapes me...and probably just as well I don't mention it here) when after my big bet on the flop, the turn and the river, and him calling along for the ride...and I turn over my pair of ducks, and he quickly turned over his King...something...telling me he had three of a kind Kings, to which I grinned and had him check the board again, for the other 2 lying there, and using the two Kings on the board that it gave me the boat. That was a big pot! It carried me on to 3rd place when I went card dead. The look though was worth much more than the pot was. Matt Damon couldn't have done it any better. And he was way up on a roll at that point, because he had been the top place finisher in the first tournament that they played. He just missed it. Rather he was just blinded to it. I don't even think he had a very strong kicker, if his Kings were to have faced someone else with just a King. Sorry to say it folks, but those are the moments that I live for. I know...that's mean!
Saturday evening we headed over to Matt and Jody's for a cookout and to watch some of the UFC fight on Pay-Per-View. We didn't actually stay for the Liddell/Jackson fight, because it was late, and I had developed another one of my killer headaches. Nothing was touching it at all. I just wanted someone to drive a spike into my temple to relieve the pressure. I didn't even join in the poker game that came together, since I just couldn't focus. We did play several games of volleyball and injured several adults. It does suck to get old. The bones and muscles just don't do what they used to. I also got involved with Tennis/Bowling/Baseball games on the Wii, that they had set up in the basement. The kids absolutely LOVED IT! I did too, it was a blast. I think I may have thrown my arm out pitching! I slept in the next day, the headache was still there, and actually didn't go away until later in the afternoon on the drive back from my parent's house. We'd gone over there to have lunch with the folks. The kids had a good time, at least Cole anyway. He got to shoot hi BB gun, and play with his little compound bow. Just ran around and got to be a boy! Upon our arrival at the house...Big Red and Whit headed to the store...and came back with a Wii of their own! We also called some friends, and had people over that night for another round of cards, this time just a cash game. Buy in for $10, initially, later on if you busted $20 was okay too. Good crowd. I made some monster plays, with AND without cards. Sorry JJ. but I just didn't think you were all that fond of your cards. When you offered to pay me a buck instead of the 10 I had bet to see my cards, if you folded, I knew I had you. You really did make me for the set, didn't you!?! I showed, that I didn't and you would have had me. Sorry dude, but you and Matt are the only 2 people there that I can even hope to run a bluff on. Not that you both aren't good players, but it's because you are that you pause in the face of a big bet, because you're actually paying attention. Some of the others, wouldn't have even considered that they were up against anything more than a pair of something. At one point thanks to Cowboys, which held up against a few callers, I scored a BIG POT. I think at one point I had just under $40 in front of me, still working with the initial $10 I'd bough in for. But one big call against JJ didn't materialize for me, and I gave away a chunk of it. I was open ended and with the bet he made I knew he didn't like his cards that much...I think he had top pair, which wasn't that high and his kicker was weak. I had an open ended straight draw and called the seven bucks after the flop. The cards after that just weren't all that great, and I had to go into hiding. I cashed out up, with $16-$17-ish but that was a far cry from where I'd been. Matt cashed out for $65 I think, BUT he was in for around $50, suffering some monster beats early on. I really don't like starting out with $10 at these cash games. Either way though I'm playing cards.
Today, we're heading over to Big Red's aunt's house for a cookout and some more volleyball. Ouch, this is gonna hurt! Poker tonight is highly unlikely...but maybe I'll take chips just in case! : )
I'm off tomorrow, and hopefully I get a little online play in to inch closer to that Poker Rewards bonus. I want to put that thing to bed, so I can actually say I finished up with more than I started out with. I'm down $70 from where I bought in, due to some tough beats. Since then, I've just been treading water. I did loosen up my play a great deal, since I was really cheating myself out of pots, and was relying on the Big Hands to hold up over time, but the money available to me on that site just wasn't there to allow me to sit back and wait for Monsters and the little pots they were tending to afford me. When I got action from others when I had 'em I was getting crushed by garbage...and for a while it was affecting the game. Instead lately I've been relying on post flop play, and my ability to walk away from bad hands. Some of these yo yo's just don't know when to walk. I'd like to profit (by play) back to at least where I started, and just count the $100 in bonus dollars as gravy, but then again, money is money. And coupled with the $50 Visa card I got from PokerSavvy, when I finally finish both promos, I'll be up from my initial buy in. I should be able to coast through another 300 hands to get there. Then the decision is where do I go then? Play for bonus but don't play just for the bonus.
Anyway how's that for an uber post...I gotta go.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Saturday evening we headed over to Matt and Jody's for a cookout and to watch some of the UFC fight on Pay-Per-View. We didn't actually stay for the Liddell/Jackson fight, because it was late, and I had developed another one of my killer headaches. Nothing was touching it at all. I just wanted someone to drive a spike into my temple to relieve the pressure. I didn't even join in the poker game that came together, since I just couldn't focus. We did play several games of volleyball and injured several adults. It does suck to get old. The bones and muscles just don't do what they used to. I also got involved with Tennis/Bowling/Baseball games on the Wii, that they had set up in the basement. The kids absolutely LOVED IT! I did too, it was a blast. I think I may have thrown my arm out pitching! I slept in the next day, the headache was still there, and actually didn't go away until later in the afternoon on the drive back from my parent's house. We'd gone over there to have lunch with the folks. The kids had a good time, at least Cole anyway. He got to shoot hi BB gun, and play with his little compound bow. Just ran around and got to be a boy! Upon our arrival at the house...Big Red and Whit headed to the store...and came back with a Wii of their own! We also called some friends, and had people over that night for another round of cards, this time just a cash game. Buy in for $10, initially, later on if you busted $20 was okay too. Good crowd. I made some monster plays, with AND without cards. Sorry JJ. but I just didn't think you were all that fond of your cards. When you offered to pay me a buck instead of the 10 I had bet to see my cards, if you folded, I knew I had you. You really did make me for the set, didn't you!?! I showed, that I didn't and you would have had me. Sorry dude, but you and Matt are the only 2 people there that I can even hope to run a bluff on. Not that you both aren't good players, but it's because you are that you pause in the face of a big bet, because you're actually paying attention. Some of the others, wouldn't have even considered that they were up against anything more than a pair of something. At one point thanks to Cowboys, which held up against a few callers, I scored a BIG POT. I think at one point I had just under $40 in front of me, still working with the initial $10 I'd bough in for. But one big call against JJ didn't materialize for me, and I gave away a chunk of it. I was open ended and with the bet he made I knew he didn't like his cards that much...I think he had top pair, which wasn't that high and his kicker was weak. I had an open ended straight draw and called the seven bucks after the flop. The cards after that just weren't all that great, and I had to go into hiding. I cashed out up, with $16-$17-ish but that was a far cry from where I'd been. Matt cashed out for $65 I think, BUT he was in for around $50, suffering some monster beats early on. I really don't like starting out with $10 at these cash games. Either way though I'm playing cards.
Today, we're heading over to Big Red's aunt's house for a cookout and some more volleyball. Ouch, this is gonna hurt! Poker tonight is highly unlikely...but maybe I'll take chips just in case! : )
I'm off tomorrow, and hopefully I get a little online play in to inch closer to that Poker Rewards bonus. I want to put that thing to bed, so I can actually say I finished up with more than I started out with. I'm down $70 from where I bought in, due to some tough beats. Since then, I've just been treading water. I did loosen up my play a great deal, since I was really cheating myself out of pots, and was relying on the Big Hands to hold up over time, but the money available to me on that site just wasn't there to allow me to sit back and wait for Monsters and the little pots they were tending to afford me. When I got action from others when I had 'em I was getting crushed by garbage...and for a while it was affecting the game. Instead lately I've been relying on post flop play, and my ability to walk away from bad hands. Some of these yo yo's just don't know when to walk. I'd like to profit (by play) back to at least where I started, and just count the $100 in bonus dollars as gravy, but then again, money is money. And coupled with the $50 Visa card I got from PokerSavvy, when I finally finish both promos, I'll be up from my initial buy in. I should be able to coast through another 300 hands to get there. Then the decision is where do I go then? Play for bonus but don't play just for the bonus.
Anyway how's that for an uber post...I gotta go.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Time wasting and other anomolies
Today started off strangely. It's funny how an odd tangent of conversation sends the day careening of into the unknown. I was posting to the team that I think we have a server time synchronization problem. This sent us spiralling off at first, to where I later answered an email with a statement about wormholes. I later continued the comments in the face of other responses with a dissertation on them as one of the team put it. Lucky for me, someone else on the internet was available for plagiarism. See these links: Enough about them...then and actually at the same time I gave the movie "Lucky You" a watch. Movie that includes poker, main character a poker player, still with a decent story line. I think I understand the downside of compulsive gambling now.. Sheesh! I'll end up watching it again when I can give it full attention. I'm only half absorbing a movie while I'm in here, it's honestly just background noise to me. It helps me to shut out the world around. It's especially good when I'm working on spreadsheets. Don't know why, helps me keep focus. Anyway the movie is good, and I highly recommend it to you all. I won't discuss it further than that, so as not to give it away and ruin your viewing pleasure.
I spent/wasted A LOT of time today, unfortunately reading up on LOST! The season finale was last night, and the writers DELIVERED. Great show guys, you knocked that one outa the PARK! Rather than me re-analyzing it all for you, let me just point you in the right direction. I love this site, and the screencaps are GREAT!
I know it'll all come to an end one day, but the story is the thing. These guys are telling it well!
I know that will make very little sense but to anyone who hasn't watched the episode, but that scene I suspect will set off a series of events which we have not yet seen. But there was plenty there last night to fill in the 2-hours that it took. Ya gotta love this show. Okay I won't ruin it anymore. But man I wish you people would get as obsessed about this show as I am!We have baseball tonight, then one more day of work, before my 4-day weekend. WAHOO! We're going to take the kids to see Pirates of the Caribbean, which I want to see too. We're supposed to go over to Casa de Wolfe on Friday, and then to the Jackson's on Saturday. Beyond that, who knows. Frank and Julie are hosting a card night in their new home. Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing it again, and just the simple getting together of friends!
Also, this week, since I've neglected the ole blog, I need to include the announcement of the arrival of Eric and Sabrina's new bundle of joy Kolsen! 6 lbs 8 oz, 19 1/2 inches long. Take a look at that handsome guy. Congratulations! Big Red and I will check in on you when you get settled back in at home. Too much OT, and baseball coaching this week to even break away to come see you at the hospital. If they'd only stay this way forever huh... well except for the dirty diapers and total lack of sleep for the parents!Well I should get back to it, or at least pretend. Have a good one.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Tourney #5 down the drain...
There's card dead and then there's CARD DEAD. I've got to admit I'm getting a little disheartened by this year in poker, at least my personal results. No, I'm not upset with the way I've been playing...just the way it's been working out lately. I've gotten in there with the best of it more than a few times this year, and wound up on the short end. My image is still intact. I'm still viewed as ultra-tight...and aggressive, but just not bringing it home to the bank(roll.) But whadyagonnado? FAGETABOUTIT! Last night was tourney #5 for the NDPT. And I finished in a dismal 22nd place. OY! Went out on A-K sooted! Jim's pocket 10's held up...and he took my last 500 in chips. I played 3 hands all night in the tourney. A-Qos, and had to fold 'em. Did pull off a successful bluff w/ 9-3os, which was the only hand I won...and then the AK thing. Did okay in the cash game, sat w/20 cashed for $30, so it wasn't a total loss. But tourneys just haven't been my friends lately. Matt J did VERY well in the cash game. He had to leave rather abruptly, but cashed out for over $130 last night, when most folks were only buying in for $10 and $20 each... So there were obviously some unhappy campers! Nice play! Andy came out on top of the heap last night, and took home a nice $251 for his efforts. Way to go! Newcomer to the group Jamie took the 2nd spot...Ms. Julie did the Wolfe-Pack proud (despite Frank's going out first in the tourney.) Then Jody and Ron rounded out those who took home a few extra bucks for the weekend's "work."
Today, I played in "The Big One" on Poker Rewards...and got knocked out when I called an obvious bluff by the big stack, in the final stages of the tournament. He did have K-J, but I did have an ACE. And I did catch an ACE but he caught the 10 and the Queen to send me friggin' packin'. Some days, I do hate this game. But, oh well! Tomorrow's another day.
I currently have in the neighborhood of 650 points on Poker Rewards, even playing at the lowly level's of .10/.20 NL. But when I hit the 1,000 point level, I get my $100 deposit bonus. Actually I'm really liking this site. I mean if I can put in 100 raked hands each week at the low limits, I can automatically enter The Big One. And there have only been like 40-50 people in these! Eventually I have to hit for something right? It's a freeroll and they pay the top 10, and there's a $600 prize pool on the line. Hey that ain't nothing to sneeze at...and the odds are there. If I can just make it once. Heck that'd even change the year around for me! But DARE to DREAM.
Enough with the small talk. Have a nice night!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Today, I played in "The Big One" on Poker Rewards...and got knocked out when I called an obvious bluff by the big stack, in the final stages of the tournament. He did have K-J, but I did have an ACE. And I did catch an ACE but he caught the 10 and the Queen to send me friggin' packin'. Some days, I do hate this game. But, oh well! Tomorrow's another day.
I currently have in the neighborhood of 650 points on Poker Rewards, even playing at the lowly level's of .10/.20 NL. But when I hit the 1,000 point level, I get my $100 deposit bonus. Actually I'm really liking this site. I mean if I can put in 100 raked hands each week at the low limits, I can automatically enter The Big One. And there have only been like 40-50 people in these! Eventually I have to hit for something right? It's a freeroll and they pay the top 10, and there's a $600 prize pool on the line. Hey that ain't nothing to sneeze at...and the odds are there. If I can just make it once. Heck that'd even change the year around for me! But DARE to DREAM.
Enough with the small talk. Have a nice night!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Friday, May 18, 2007
7 Things You Didn't Know About Me...
Well, I didn't get "tagged" with this Blog Topic, like so many of the Bloggers that I read on a daily basis, courtesy of Google Reader, but I've really enjoyed the topic. Each of the bloggers left a piece of themselves in those posts. Some all too willing to share, while others seemed overtly dismayed at having to write about themselves at all, preferring to wall themselves behind whatever their personal topic du jour might be, rather than having the blog be about them, by them... No matter, there was a lot of great writing out their gang...I call you gang, although none of you have even heard of me or my little fledgling blog. Maybe one day that'll change. But in response to the topic "7 Things You Didn't Know About Me..." I'll pretend I was tagged, and away we go:
1. I talk to myself...and I talk A LOT! I converse with myself, do you understand that the voices in my head will never hold a candle to what I'm saying to myself? Despite what people think, I reason through every day responses for eternities in my head. I try not to say random things, most things that I say, I have thoroughly thought out and weighed all the pros and cons before I even open my mouth. It may not seem that way to you, but it's true. My logic and reasoning may be off, from what you may think the reality to be, but make no mistake, I did think it through. I probably had a little inner argument with myself before I started in on you. So I'm already geared up for battle.
2. I'm not a confident person, and I like to avoid a lot of social interaction, which flies in the face of my hosting poker tournaments and games at the house all of the time doesn't it. In some ways I'm backward, and feel awkward around others. I don't think others are pushy, it's just that they have confidence which I do not possess. I frequently second guess myself. Alcohol takes some of this edge off, so for this reason, I do enjoy a few drinks. This relaxes me and allows me to move more methodically at the poker table. My moves are deliberate. I push...when I get involved in a hand...and push hard. I will seldom involve myself in a hand that I'm not ready to go clear to the mat with. Perhaps I'm tight to a fault? What is it that they call 'em "ROCKS." I'm realizing a new stage in my game...I don't have to put on the mask of uber-tight aggressive. That's what I'm known for. And if I've entered then everyone knows I've got something worth being in the hand with. I'm realizing now that I need to use it as an advantage. Not necessarily though for more bluffing, since I think it is a MUCH OVER USED skill among most players. Bluffing should have style and finesse, and I see that lacking all too often in the bluffs I watch go down. Many people think their bluffs are successful, just because I've folded. What they forget is many times, I just don't have the hand to capitalize on what I've already figured out. One day though I will and I'll key in on that same tell that you thought you didn't have, or maybe even thought you had suppressed.
3. I'm out of shape now...but 8 years ago I ran a marathon, in Columbus, OH. Again, I was absolutely obsessed by running. I ran all the time. 30-35 miles a week just to be doing it. I ran with a group for a while, but began to enjoy my solo runs even more. They were all about "me time." I did a lot of my best deep thinking and introspection during long runs. When the becomes fatigued and borders on exhaustion the mind wanders, and thoughts rise to the surface that you have thought in years. You dwell on the past, think about the future, and ponder the present all at the same time. I really miss my running days, and need to start over ALL over again. You did it once, don't know why you quit, but it was a big part of you that you should really get back.
4. At the ripe old age of 39 I STILL can't grow a mustache to save my life. There I've said it...I guess I'm just a little girlie man.
5. I'm not real big on surprises. I like things to move very fluidly, without interruption, otherwise I feel a bit out of control of things. I can really only recall one surprise that I actually enjoyed/appreciated. That was my 30th birthday surprise party that Big Red put together. Between the shots of all of birthday presents : ) and going out on the dance floor in my new silk heart decorated boxers, well let's just say it was a night to remember. I only wish I could!
6. In the back of my mind there is still an odd fear that any day now, someone will point out that I'm a complete fraud...at everything. Like I'm some poser, that made it all up. I'm talking not just about in my job, but just in my life in general. You know that the me I say I am...isn't really the truth at all. AND no, I'm not some schmo in a witness relocation program, and I didn't lie on a resume or anything, but it's just one of those rather un-natural (or at least weird) fears.
7. I taught myself to juggle one afternoon with three children's building blocks, when my now 14-year old daughter was a toddler. I put her down for her nap, and was left to my own devices one afternoon, and finding nothing on TV, I obsessively figured out the juggling concept and then taught myself to do it. I remember when she woke up that she thought it was pretty cool. You know what, so did I! So, much so that I taught someone else how I did it...a few weeks later at work. I won't name names, but yeah...you know who you are.
Well there you have it...the me that is me...
Regards,
cheer_dad
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Dreams
I'm exhausted this morning.
I dreamed a great deal last night. None of it was pleasant. I recall very vivid, grisly elements to my dreams, but a lot of disjointed items were there and make it difficult to understand. The few elements that I remember without question are that I dreamed an alternate plot line/ending to the movie Rounders. I know...there's your inevitable poker tie-in for this blog entry. It was a very twisted, dark storyline. All the elements of a Law and Order Special Victim's Unit episode. People died, horribly, and other crimes were there too. Things I'd rather not get back into. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that we watched another version of Law and Order last night, with Rob Scheider in it. One copied theme that crossed over was that Rob was portraying a serial killer, and two of his victim's were sealed up in a wall, or a fake wall. A large inset in the wall, had two different falls walls built, one in front of the other. A dead body sealed in each. The police got in the wall by drilling a large hole through the drywall, like a doorknob hole, then with a SawZall, sawed a crude door cutout, then pulled it out with the drilled hole. Twice of course for each wall. This element passed into my dream. I was in a horrible part of the dream, coming to what I thought was a realization, at each turn, but just as I hit that crucial point, I would pause, and look to the ceiling at the point of the directly int he corner behind me, and I would notice that it looked like paper, and not drywall. I would pull out a knife, from my back pocket and reach up and cut a hole in the ceiling, and climb through the opening. Climbing through would lead me into a new reality much larger the the one before. I must have done this 4-5 times. I lost count. Just when I thought it was larger than I could handle...I cut through one last time, and the world opened up on top of an enormous cathedral, much like the one from The Hunchback from Notre Dame. It makes no sense to me, but it is what happened. I wish I could make sense of the thing. I'm a little concerned about what this world will open up into in tonight's dream. I know this makes little sense. Okay none. But as the day wears on, I recall less and less about the details of the dream. Maybe that's a good thing.
In other brief news...I'm hovering on PokerRewards, at $125, which yes puts me down. I have finished the 500 points for the Savvy $50 bonus. I'm over halfway to the $100 PokerRewards bonus. Which would put me up for the site. That'd be nice. It would be even nicer to be running up with the friggin' bonuses for a change. I also signed up on Sportsbook.com (poker) last night, using a bonus code they sent me in the mail. The bonus auto deposited $25, which I started playing straight away. I was dealt AK early on, with $20 at the table. I get reraised, while in late position. I reraise, and the chickie goes over the top of me, for a few dollars more, and I call her. She's dominated with KQ! But I'll give you one guess about what hit on the RIVER! She dropped me over $4 right off the bat. She proceeded to give MY MONEY away to the rest of the table. Luckily for me another guy at the table pushed excessively with pocket 10's. And I was just getting irritated, and hit AK...again...and this time, it held up and paid off. Hitting two pair this time. I made back what I'd lost to the brainless ChiChi...and like a buck or so more. I cashed out...and now I'm at $26-something on the site. I'll just have to play on my belly, for a while and make this site a place to play. No stupid mistakes. Get your money in with the best of it...protect it when you don't, and hope that it holds.
Well gotta go.
Regards,
cheer_dad
I dreamed a great deal last night. None of it was pleasant. I recall very vivid, grisly elements to my dreams, but a lot of disjointed items were there and make it difficult to understand. The few elements that I remember without question are that I dreamed an alternate plot line/ending to the movie Rounders. I know...there's your inevitable poker tie-in for this blog entry. It was a very twisted, dark storyline. All the elements of a Law and Order Special Victim's Unit episode. People died, horribly, and other crimes were there too. Things I'd rather not get back into. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that we watched another version of Law and Order last night, with Rob Scheider in it. One copied theme that crossed over was that Rob was portraying a serial killer, and two of his victim's were sealed up in a wall, or a fake wall. A large inset in the wall, had two different falls walls built, one in front of the other. A dead body sealed in each. The police got in the wall by drilling a large hole through the drywall, like a doorknob hole, then with a SawZall, sawed a crude door cutout, then pulled it out with the drilled hole. Twice of course for each wall. This element passed into my dream. I was in a horrible part of the dream, coming to what I thought was a realization, at each turn, but just as I hit that crucial point, I would pause, and look to the ceiling at the point of the directly int he corner behind me, and I would notice that it looked like paper, and not drywall. I would pull out a knife, from my back pocket and reach up and cut a hole in the ceiling, and climb through the opening. Climbing through would lead me into a new reality much larger the the one before. I must have done this 4-5 times. I lost count. Just when I thought it was larger than I could handle...I cut through one last time, and the world opened up on top of an enormous cathedral, much like the one from The Hunchback from Notre Dame. It makes no sense to me, but it is what happened. I wish I could make sense of the thing. I'm a little concerned about what this world will open up into in tonight's dream. I know this makes little sense. Okay none. But as the day wears on, I recall less and less about the details of the dream. Maybe that's a good thing.
In other brief news...I'm hovering on PokerRewards, at $125, which yes puts me down. I have finished the 500 points for the Savvy $50 bonus. I'm over halfway to the $100 PokerRewards bonus. Which would put me up for the site. That'd be nice. It would be even nicer to be running up with the friggin' bonuses for a change. I also signed up on Sportsbook.com (poker) last night, using a bonus code they sent me in the mail. The bonus auto deposited $25, which I started playing straight away. I was dealt AK early on, with $20 at the table. I get reraised, while in late position. I reraise, and the chickie goes over the top of me, for a few dollars more, and I call her. She's dominated with KQ! But I'll give you one guess about what hit on the RIVER! She dropped me over $4 right off the bat. She proceeded to give MY MONEY away to the rest of the table. Luckily for me another guy at the table pushed excessively with pocket 10's. And I was just getting irritated, and hit AK...again...and this time, it held up and paid off. Hitting two pair this time. I made back what I'd lost to the brainless ChiChi...and like a buck or so more. I cashed out...and now I'm at $26-something on the site. I'll just have to play on my belly, for a while and make this site a place to play. No stupid mistakes. Get your money in with the best of it...protect it when you don't, and hope that it holds.
Well gotta go.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Poker Addendum!
Okay, this hand helped to brighten the Poker Day:
** Game ID 1377152226 starting - 2007-05-10 19:51:11** Aethelbeorn [Hold 'em] (0.100.20 No Limit - Cash Game) Real Money
- reggaeman01 sitting in seat 1 with $28.52- menkesz sitting in seat 2 with $9.25- Carra_23 sitting in seat 3 with $20.25- Benzini sitting in seat 4 with $19.26- Captainperv sitting in seat 5 with $31.51- chip_tastic sitting in seat 6 with $23.50 [Dealer]- hottast sitting in seat 7 with $8.18 [Sitting out]- scootyroo sitting in seat 8 with $18.45- pain1234 sitting in seat 9 with $37.67- Knaffert sitting in seat 10 with $4.48
scootyroo posted the small blind - $0.10pain1234 posted the big blind - $0.20
** Dealing card to chip_tastic: Ace of Spades, Ace of HeartsKnaffert foldedreggaeman01 raised - $0.40menkesz foldedCarra_23 foldedBenzini foldedCaptainperv foldedchip_tastic raised - $1.80scootyroo foldedpain1234 foldedreggaeman01 called - $1.80
** Dealing the flop: 3 of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Jack of Clubsreggaeman01 checkedchip_tastic bet - $3.90reggaeman01 called - $3.90
** Dealing the turn: 2 of Spadesreggaeman01 bet - $5.85chip_tastic went all-in - $17.80reggaeman01 called - $17.80
** Dealing the river: 5 of Heartschip_tastic shows: Ace of Spades, Ace of Heartsreggaeman01 mucks: chip_tastic wins $47.00 from the main pot
End of game 1377152226
Okay, enough about me...I just had to share! I'm logging off now.
Regards,
cheer_dad
** Game ID 1377152226 starting - 2007-05-10 19:51:11** Aethelbeorn [Hold 'em] (0.100.20 No Limit - Cash Game) Real Money
- reggaeman01 sitting in seat 1 with $28.52- menkesz sitting in seat 2 with $9.25- Carra_23 sitting in seat 3 with $20.25- Benzini sitting in seat 4 with $19.26- Captainperv sitting in seat 5 with $31.51- chip_tastic sitting in seat 6 with $23.50 [Dealer]- hottast sitting in seat 7 with $8.18 [Sitting out]- scootyroo sitting in seat 8 with $18.45- pain1234 sitting in seat 9 with $37.67- Knaffert sitting in seat 10 with $4.48
scootyroo posted the small blind - $0.10pain1234 posted the big blind - $0.20
** Dealing card to chip_tastic: Ace of Spades, Ace of HeartsKnaffert foldedreggaeman01 raised - $0.40menkesz foldedCarra_23 foldedBenzini foldedCaptainperv foldedchip_tastic raised - $1.80scootyroo foldedpain1234 foldedreggaeman01 called - $1.80
** Dealing the flop: 3 of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Jack of Clubsreggaeman01 checkedchip_tastic bet - $3.90reggaeman01 called - $3.90
** Dealing the turn: 2 of Spadesreggaeman01 bet - $5.85chip_tastic went all-in - $17.80reggaeman01 called - $17.80
** Dealing the river: 5 of Heartschip_tastic shows: Ace of Spades, Ace of Heartsreggaeman01 mucks: chip_tastic wins $47.00 from the main pot
End of game 1377152226
Okay, enough about me...I just had to share! I'm logging off now.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Lost is getting GOOD!
Okay, so tell me who's as ate up with this show as much as I am?!? And if you have to ask...then you won't understand. But to give you the benefit of the doubt...it's LOST! Last season, albeit still good to me, was just a bit of a lull in the action, more character development which is necessary too. But WOW the producers are cranking it UP this season. Big Red and I have been along for the ride for the whole season and we really look forward to Wednesday nights @ 10:00. If you aren't watching...what are you waiting for. Well then again, don't start in right now. Go to Blockbuster and get caught up on the previous episodes first...quickly. Stop reading this fool blog, and go NOW! I'm not going to post any spoilers here, since many of the poker gang are fans of the series as well, and there's some of you that haven't watched any of the season and prefer to wait for the DVD's to come out. To you I say you...stink...as in...P-UGH!!! : ) Sorry dude, couldn't resist. To get caught up on the show head to the forums, you'll be glad you did. Particularly look for the "pix" of Jacob. That was GREAT! But enough about that...
Poker has not been overly kind over the past few days/weeks. I know...I know I won the tourney here at the house last week, but I subsequently BLEW it online, getting it in there with the best of it, and ending up on the short end. Cracked Kings and Cracked Aces cost me $40 in one day. I was admittedly reeling from the feeling. Then I went absolutely friggin' CARD DEAD. Hey, gang it happens. If you think it's a myth, trust me...I'll be there laughing and pointing at each of you when it happens to you. Seeing that look of agonizing disbelief and grief on your faces will be all the payback that I'll need! Misery loves company, but I've had to remain largely silent about the ordeal! Most of you the NDPT'ers are not online players, and the pain is foreign to you. All joking aside, I wouldn't wish it on any of you. Well maybe some of you...and not for long...well at least not TOO LONG anyway. I know I'm all heart. Really though gang...I'm kidding, no...really! : )
Big Red had tennis tonight, so I opted for 3...$5 SNG's. I finished 4th (no money) in the last one to finish. BUT the other 2 I finished in 2nd place in each of them. So, I made like $13.50. Hey when you're down over $80...anything on the positive side of the line, will friggin' do. And now as I pour my heart out here in ye ole blog...I'm playing two .10/.20 NL tables. Playing absolutely nothing but premium hands, and I mean it. The poker gods thumbed their noses at me giving me pocket aces, with which I raised preflop, got a raise and an additional caller/huckleberry. Screw this suckout crap...no calling here boys and girls, I shoved 'em all in. Hey they don't call, but this pot puts me up $5 for the table. Nothing fancy about the game, tonight, strictly by the book. I'm trying to log my 65 hands so I can collect my Poker Rewards points from the fine folks at PokerSavvy...and request either Visa Gift Cards or more Copags. I'm thinking this time it'll have to be the cash, which will prop me back up to being just shy of the original PokerRewards buy-in. I'm hoping that my new found force of will...will be enough to get me back in the saddle. Well that coupled with my wicked awesome skills, DUH!
Uhmmm, what else...? Work's been a real bitch lately. Worked over last night on patches, and troubleshooting. I'm tired, the week has taken it's toll on me. Too many meetings and fact gathering mission to count. I'll be glad to put an end to this one. Tomorrow I have a baseball game, and I think it'll go well if the boys show up to play. Bring the A-GAME! After that...hey it's poker night at the Yanok's. Good friends, good cards, good times! Is there anything else?
Enough with the rambling...back to battle.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Monday, May 07, 2007
First things first, but not in order of importance, just trying to catch up on a long hiatus from posting to the old blog. Let's go clear back to Friday May 4th, as a good starting point. The boys of One Community FCU baseball had their 3rd game of the season. What a NAIL BITER!!! Early on, it wasn't looking good, I'll be honest with you folks. But somehow they kicked the tires and lit the fires late in the final innings of the game, and got things going. In a come from behind victory, in that final inning we went to work, and closed a 4-run-deficit. I don't know how it all happened, but they got fired up and the bats started rattling! To top it off, Drew caught a fly ball late in the game, so the whole team was treated to ice-cream afterwards, as promised. Big Red and I were both hoarse after that game.
Then, we went home, and I quickly cleaned up, and had friends over for an impromptu tournament. 14 people came for the game. Big Red finished in 3rd place and got paid! She made our buy-ins back. Julie took the 2nd spot...and yours truly finished in the top spot. For a $10 buy-in I cashed for $70. Great!
Then the next day...we had the Rowdy Frynds concert! 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Hank Williams Jr. WOW, what a show! Hank shocked me...I had heard he put on a show, when he was sober : ), but I had no idea. The man is a true entertainer. And is also quite talented. Not only acoustic and electric guitars, but the piano, and fiddle as well. It also looked like he had lost A LOT of weight too. Anyway I really enjoyed the whole concert. Big Red and Frank and Julie did as well. I think my ears are still ringing, but then again, they've been doing that for a while now.
On to Sunday...laundrylaundrylaundry... : )
I thought I'd log some "raked hands" on Poker Rewards. I took some brutal beats, and got VERY FRUSTRATED, and just friggin' beaten down. I dropped in the neighborhood of $80, screwing the win over from two days previous. WTF!!! I got busted on pocket Kings, by a guy who hit a set of 10's. Then later at another table with pocket Aces getting it all-in preflop, against a guy who kept reraising me. I had him dead to rights, with his pocket Kings. The board paired 9's...and then rivered him one of his two outs. Yep, you could just see it coming, another friggin' King. So those two hands, effectively stole $40 from the stack. Another $10 in BlackJack, before I had the sense to walk away. Then bumped up from .10/.20 NL to .25/.50 NL in hopes of hitting a big score to get back in the swing of things. But a wave of cold cards, was the only thing I was seeing. And OBVIOUSLY, waiting for the BIG HANDS was just getting me screwed anyway. So, anyway, I'm back in the hole again, and I was so happy the last game at the house, and this just beat me down again. It is incredibly frustrating and demoralizing to be running this cold.
Now on to other things. I have a problem...or better stated...we're having a problem, and it's all my fault. And I'm going to have to take whatever steps are necessary to fix the problem. And I do mean whatever it takes, I'll have to do. I won't state it further here, but I haven't given it the attention it deserves. I'm not even sure I know what needs to be done at all, but if I value it at all...and I do...I've got to really work at it. Not all things broken can be fixed, but none without trying. Remember that, I live it. Time to stop writing and start doing!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Then, we went home, and I quickly cleaned up, and had friends over for an impromptu tournament. 14 people came for the game. Big Red finished in 3rd place and got paid! She made our buy-ins back. Julie took the 2nd spot...and yours truly finished in the top spot. For a $10 buy-in I cashed for $70. Great!
Then the next day...we had the Rowdy Frynds concert! 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Hank Williams Jr. WOW, what a show! Hank shocked me...I had heard he put on a show, when he was sober : ), but I had no idea. The man is a true entertainer. And is also quite talented. Not only acoustic and electric guitars, but the piano, and fiddle as well. It also looked like he had lost A LOT of weight too. Anyway I really enjoyed the whole concert. Big Red and Frank and Julie did as well. I think my ears are still ringing, but then again, they've been doing that for a while now.
On to Sunday...laundrylaundrylaundry... : )
I thought I'd log some "raked hands" on Poker Rewards. I took some brutal beats, and got VERY FRUSTRATED, and just friggin' beaten down. I dropped in the neighborhood of $80, screwing the win over from two days previous. WTF!!! I got busted on pocket Kings, by a guy who hit a set of 10's. Then later at another table with pocket Aces getting it all-in preflop, against a guy who kept reraising me. I had him dead to rights, with his pocket Kings. The board paired 9's...and then rivered him one of his two outs. Yep, you could just see it coming, another friggin' King. So those two hands, effectively stole $40 from the stack. Another $10 in BlackJack, before I had the sense to walk away. Then bumped up from .10/.20 NL to .25/.50 NL in hopes of hitting a big score to get back in the swing of things. But a wave of cold cards, was the only thing I was seeing. And OBVIOUSLY, waiting for the BIG HANDS was just getting me screwed anyway. So, anyway, I'm back in the hole again, and I was so happy the last game at the house, and this just beat me down again. It is incredibly frustrating and demoralizing to be running this cold.Now on to other things. I have a problem...or better stated...we're having a problem, and it's all my fault. And I'm going to have to take whatever steps are necessary to fix the problem. And I do mean whatever it takes, I'll have to do. I won't state it further here, but I haven't given it the attention it deserves. I'm not even sure I know what needs to be done at all, but if I value it at all...and I do...I've got to really work at it. Not all things broken can be fixed, but none without trying. Remember that, I live it. Time to stop writing and start doing!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Weekend and beyond report...
The pot was very fat, on almost every hand. I'm speaking of Saturday's game at Shuman's house. 2 very full tables for the night, in his Cash Game/Baby Shower for Eric and Bre... Thanks for hosting a great night for everyone, and the food was great. Everyone who played had to bring, in addition to their money, and pack of diapers, to help out with the "coming soon" little bundle of JOY! The game and the players were wild as always. There were some mighty swings for us all, I think. It just depended more on when you "got out" as to what it looked like to you. For me...I bought in once for $20...and cashed out for $86. Not a bad payday for a few hours of good fun...and good beer. :) Big Red, got pounded on an early hand and was forced to buy back in for a total of $30...and climbed back out, and only ended up down $5. Not bad. We left at Midnight, to get home, since I had to work the following day. The Wolfe's as well took off then. I think Julie had to carry them through the night, after Frank dropped a few buy ins at the other table. I've since then read that Shuman cashed out up $200, despite the fact that he bought in for $80. The tide must have really turned for him in that game. Congrats...and thanks for a good game of cards.
Earlier in the day, The One Community FCU baseball team played its first game of the season...and chalked one up in the WIN column. The boys were great, and gave it all they had. I'm very proud of them. We have another game tonight in Belpre, and hopefully the trend continues. The bad part has been then my son has NOT been playing at all, because he injured his ankle. He was out of commission for a few days. He only yesterday returned to school. Came home a little sore for a day on his foot. But he's getting better. He will not be playing tonight unfortunately. So again...I go coach a game without my own son there to enjoy the time with.
The rest of the weekend was busy as well. I worked Sunday morning, into the afternoon. Then, we went with a BIG CROWD to "Fusion Japanese Restaurant" that evening, to celebrate Laura's birthday. Good time...and I was a chicken catchin' fool. : ) We left there and went just a few blocks away to Sally and Scott's house. Played some penny ante poker with a "Steelers" deck. Thanks for the hospitality!
Thankfully, I was off on Monday, but had to get up early and take my son to school. I had to then go home and mow the jungle that posed for a lawn around my house. Catch up on the laundry...but I did make time for playing some cards on my "newly" created Poker Rewards account, funded from the money that I moved over to EcoCard. I played two NL tables .10/.20 blinds. I cashed out up just over $30 for my time and trouble. I had been up to over $47 at one point, but got drawn out on by an idiot. why tripped his Queens on the River, holding AQos, to my Pocket Rockets. I marked him for continued play...not gunning for him, just recognizing someone against whom money can be made. Way to many hands played by him to see a long term profit. I'll get it back. Another player, busted my Kings for a sizable pot, which stung a bit, but 2 hands later, I took down a pot that put me back up where I'd been previously. I think his name was Russev. He should be shot, but I'd like his money first, which he seemed willing to throw around freely. I also logged 150 raked hands, even at that low level of no limit hold 'em. I need 500 to clear the PokerSavvy bonus of 400 points, which will buy me either some new Copaqs or get me a couple of $25 Visa pre-paid cards. Either way, I'll take it. To get my $100 bonus from Poker Rewards however, I'll need to log 1,000 raked hands. But there doesn't appear to be a hard and fast time limit. We shall see...but remember DON'T chase...just play the game.
I've killed enough time out here. Back to it...
Regards,
cheer_dad
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