I have ARRIVED!

You know your blog has REALLY ARRIVED when your employer's internet proxy coughs up one of these babies!!!  This may be one of the proudest moments of my "Adult/Mature" life!  : )

But thanks to friends in low places (thanks Uncle June & Del) I was not only alerted to the issue, but was also able to rectify the problem.  So now my blogladytes... feel free to return to your basking in the glow of cheer_dad's wanton disregard for moral turpitude and shit SHOOT!   Actually, I'm a little confused I haven't ranted profanic at all recently, not so much as a "dubya-tee-efff"...!?!  Haven't used the word boobies, in like forever!  (Oh damn it... I mean dadgummit.)  BUT, you know this high moral fiber that's holding this great country together is important to me, so I'll do my part to get back on the ole straight-and-narrow.  (Maybe it was the spammer who was posting the links to the Asian porn sites on my old blog posts until I went all moderator-ish on his ass, I mean heiney...  Okay, okay, I'll stop now.  Interestingly though, the filters didn't get hung up on "Gambling!"  I can't tell you the number of the poker blogs that I read regularly who've been banned as Gambling sites and get a similarly phrased denial message... Not that you can place a single wager on a one of them, but just key words of "poker" or "vegas" and it's like "THE MAN" puts up a "Road Closed" sign on the information super-D-duper highway.  Or as Shamus might say, these here intertubes!  There oughta be a law agin it!

Looking forward to the long-weekend, although we have no plans to do anything or go anywhere.  It'll just be nice to get away from the job for a while and cuddle for warmth with the wife.  Hmmm, maybe even a little online poker debauchery is in order too.  : P

Time to run kiddies... just a little under 2 hours and you can call me outa here!

Regards,

cheer_dad

I'm just so excited!

The day of days is here once again (sniff, sniff) and I haven't been able to prepare myself for the coming information overload that the fine folks over at Pokernews.com will soon be providing via their Live Reporting. I'm of course speaking of the beginning of the 40th Annual World Series of Poker. I think I feel tears welling up as I type this post out. One of these days, I'll just be there to watch the spectacle for myself... but until then these great writers/bloggers will allow me to truly live vicariously. I thank you all for the thrills of last years coverage... and for all the joy you will bring whilst you cover the WSOP 2009!!! You guys and gals certainly ROCK!

The long weekend was mis-spent on honey-do projects and cookouts and such, instead of knuckling down for the coming poker onslaught. But never one to shirk from a fight... I'll do my best. I may be black and blue but I ain't gonna quit! Good luck to all of you who will be partaking in one of the many (57) events. May your dreams become reality. And don't forget your lowly ole buddy cheer_dad was sending you positive vibes and chanting incantations throughout your ordeals. : )

Are you all as excited about this as I am? Hello, is this thing on? Does anyone even read this thing anymore? Read or not... I'll be updating as often as I think I can, without rilling up the Bureau Overlords!

Happy WSOP'ing!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Kick me!

Well now. A momentary lapse in the action allows for the now only occasional post to ye olde blog! The new work life, provides no dull moments in need of filling with my snappy wit and outtakes on life. Sure does make the day go by though. Just a couple of hours left in the day, and a 3-day weekend is mine. Last night, Team Eagles (baseball) put one in the WIN column. The stars of the game, were new found team phenom Reece, who got us started on the mound. Batters beware, he's bringing laser accuracy. He was followed by the machine that is Bryce, who didn't give up a single run in those last 3 innings! Might have only given up a single hit. There was one other hit, but that resulted in a snag by our next star on the eve, Drew who snagged the ground ball heater and fired it to first base for the out. We hit the ball a little better on the night, and the boys played with discipline and zip last night. Cole performed well from the catcher's spot in the last 3 innings, and was once again "The Wall!" It's like watching the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object when Bryce and Cole are in sync. In time I think they could do some damage. I want to continue to foster the good interaction between them. Tonight, I head back to the ball park to umpire a game, if there's no rain that is. My back hasn't recovered yet from the last stint. It's a coaches life.

I wish there were good poker news to relay of the cheer_dad's exploits, but there is NONE. I tried some cards last night for about an hour, hour and a half-ish. I found myself with some friggin' MONSTER hands. And hand by hand, got 'em rammed straight up a rather uncomfortable orifice. Ouchie! I opted to dispense with slow-play, and no fuckin' around! I got a hand, I played it. From last position I look down at AA. Demz da rockets boys!!! I make it $1.60 preflop to go... which is like 7.5X the BB hoping to take it down right there, since damn near everyone was calling. And still I wind up with 2 callers. The flop is uncoordinated, and missing paint, and I ram it all, as if to say screw this, lemme have it. Unfortunately I'd been slow played, by the guy to my right... who'd hit his Set of fours. It was over then, and Bodog punctuated the point by giving him QUADS on the river. Rebuy on Table MISERY!!! A few hands later... I call a raise preflop with pocket 7's. I flop my set, and again, no tricks boys and girls, just ram it in, get it done. Single caller of the all-in, flips up the rockets this time, and Rivers a FOUR FRIGGIN'FRUSH. Hell it was even CRUBS!!! I do manage to double up on another table, when a suited AK actually makes the NUT flush for the win. Yes, I need the dead on nuts to win a pot tonight. A few minutes later... I look down at KK, and again I'm not gonna be weak, due to a bad run, so I'm shoving big preflop again like 7-8X the BB. Still two callers! I flop a set of Kings. And can't get rid of anyone. Four cards to a flush, friggin' CRUBS again!!! AND here I am whistlin' in the dark like a scared little boy. Villain rams it ALL, which is no sizeable (yeah this is the table I'd just connected with AK on! I drop this time, and lick my wounds. Other caller was already all-in with the call, so I got to see the nut crub frush displayed in all its glory! I finally logoff. Having gone el busto on one $25 buyin table twice, remarkably the other table grinds, pulled it out of the toilet so bad for me. So, instead of down $50, I walked away minus $16. Don't I just run GGGGGOOOOOOODDDDD at da pokers!!! The Bodog Doom Switch is stuck. Cheer_dad's got a "kick me" sign on his back.

I wasn't going to, but feeling like a real loser on Bodog. I think I'm finally gonna pull the plug on the account. Cash out, head somewhere else, maybe the change will do me good. Maybe I suck, maybe I don't. I'm gonna take some of what's left and buy PokerTracker and maybe it'll help me find the leaks in my game. But what if I don't uncover any, it's just all been a string of horrific luck. Running bad for so long is taking a toll, and creating self doubt, and questioning self worth.

To make matters worse, I play tonight at Yanok's after umpiring. 2nd game only, Big Red will be there for both. Then, tomorrow Rummer has invited us to a card game we've never attended. May the pots be fat and the players be donks. I could use to put one in the WIN column like the boys did last night.

Regards,

cheer_dad

P.S. It just dawned on me why I've been running so poorly as I prepared to post this latest entry to the blog. My last post which has been sitting out here since my last mobile phone post about Uncle June becoming el presidente... was Post #666. Doh! Why doesn't somebody tell me these things!

Rode the 600

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"

Charge for the guns!" he said:

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

~excerpt from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade

(most enjoyed as delivered by Alfalfa in Little Rascals, episode Two Too Young.)

Another milestone of sorts here at the old NDPT Blog. This is the 600th post! I don't know if it even comes across your radar of observation, or if it's an event of note at all. Still, it's a pretty big deal to me! Thanks for continuing to visit me here, and I hope (at least on occasion) I write something worth reading. Regardless though, the thing does me good.

Today's a busy day, Whitney has to cheer at two basketball games today, at both high schools. Cole has bowling in a few minutes, followed immediately by Rec League basketball. Then, Big Red and I will be cramming clothes and cash into a suitcase in preparation for tomorrow morning's flight. Ring...ring... It's VEGAS calling! We've got a lot of things to get done before we leave, but we'll be there soon.

That's all for now... there's just no more time. The day begins...

Regards,

cheer_dad

P.S. Just as I'm wrapping up my post... the door bell rings with a delivery for Whitney. A dozen red roses for my baby-girl from the boy child who fancies himself to be her boyfriend. Okay Jordan I'll cut you some slack, you're a good guy and you seem to treat my daughter very well. Thank you for that... but let's keep it that way, shall we? : ) Nevertheless, kudos on the flowers. And Happy Valentine's Day all!

Thanks to the bloggers...

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

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

Regards,

cheer_dad

PokerStars Blogger PLO8 rambling

While there's a lull in the PokerStars Blogger Tournament (PLO8) I thought I'd throw in a quick post. Of the 396 who signed up, there are 239 of us left, at the 1 hour break. I'm currently in 22nd place, but know full well that this thing is far from over. Seems that so many players are forgetting the low end hands, and fail to capitalize on them.

I wanted to mention that I've tried to do some housekeeping on the listing of Blogs that I read regularly, over there on the right-hand side of the page. Mainly added some that I should have added a long time ago! But the time never presented itself. Then you start "hanging" with the bloggers and begin to feel like you should be doing a better job of things. If you don't see your blog listed and think it should be... drop me a line and say so.

***Wow, I should have raised there, although I made enough on that hand to put me in 12th place! Flopped a set of 7's, and got lucky when the board paired and gave me a boat, 7's full of Kings. Guess I need to up the aggression a bit. : ) ***

Well before I donk off this session, I'm going to stop typing now!

EDIT: Now just over 2-hours in, and the field is down to 112, with the top 72 getting their seats to the Blogger Final, Top 45 for some additional PokerStars goodies. I am currently in 27th place... we shall see...

EDIT part deux: cheer_dad crashes and burns! Greed apparently go the better of me last night, hoping to climb higher and into one of the extra special packages. With a mere 76 players left (4 away from a ticket to the final) I put my foot down when the guy 3 seats to my left decided to buy the pot. He had been muscling the pot for a while and the tactic was becoming obvious. I called his preflop raise easily when I looked down at AdAsQh2d. I liked the hand up and down in PL08. The flop came J-10-3 or something like that, and he bet out, but not big. I called and the turn was another low card. Now, I'm trying to piece this all back together in my head since it was so late, but here was what I think happened. The aggressor bets out pot, which is now steep, I look to see what I have behind, and opt to shove with still my pair of Aces, with great draws to the nut high and nut low, and if I'm not crazy I think I might have had the nut diamond draw as well. He called with a smaller pair than my Aces. But the river filled in a straight for him when he hit a black 9. This unfortunate incident sent me to the rail just prior to 1:00am EST, licking my wounds... and without a seat in the final. I was too tired to do a screenshot, I was too tired to post, so I just went to bed and attempted to console my ego and cry my silent tears... : ) I'll paraphrase Worm this time: "...how come all your moves are so noble (when speaking to Mike) and I'm always the worthless piece of shit?!" Maybe not entirely accurate but that was the gist of it.

Regards,

cheer_dad

F-I-V-E H-U-N-D-R-E-D-T-H P-O-S-T!!!

Well kids with this post, I hit a bit of a milestone here at the NDPT Blog. This is the 500th post that has been recorded here for posterity for all the world to read and hopefully at least once or twice actually enjoy. Way back at the end of March of 2006 I first launched this blog and managed to muster up about 83 posts that year. The following year however I really put a lot more effort into the thing and today I'm very nearly posting every day. During the WSOP and other times too, I post even more frequently than that. My subject matter hasn't always been poker-centric, I'm sure you've noticed but it's been more about my life in general; which just happens to include a lot of poker. = )

I've made a lot of friends, and probably a few enemies as a result of this blog (and my mouth in general) but all-in-all I TRULY enjoy writing this blog. I've long joked that it's my therapy, that it helps me in a way that has nothing to do with whether or not anyone is actually reading it. But my site stats do show that there are at least a few of you out there that have taken a liking to the place and you keep coming back. I certainly appreciate it! I hope that you've enjoyed reading about my antics and those of my fellow N Debtors. They are ALL a great bunch of people, who I welcome into my home quite often. And among them are some VERY TOUGH players. The skill level since 2004 when a few of us started getting together to play dealer's choice games for nickles and dimes, has improved by leaps and bounds. Our poker education has continued... and our friendships have grown. I read back through some of the posts out here from time to time and recall a lot of great events that I've spent together with all of you. I want to thank you all for sharing your time (and money) with me, but seriously I've forged many great/lifelong friendships as a result of the group that we play with.

In closing, I want to thank you all... friends, family that I play with, and even to those who have just wandered through and ended up at this particular point of the blogosphere. Whatever "event" has caused our paths to have crossed and am indeed thankful of it. It's been a great 500 blog posts... I hope you all come back and check out the next 500 and beyond, as well.

Regards,

cheer_dad

NDPT #11, Blogger spam issue update, Wheeling and cheerleading too

Here's the latest announcement for the next NDPT Poker Tournament from Jr:

Tourney # 11 is scheduled for August 9 (Saturday) at 7:00. R.S.V.P. Now!!!
It will be interesting to see where the points fall after this tourney. Remember, only the top 10 finishes are counted.
20 - person cap
$25 Total
$20 1,000 chips
$5 All-in (Bounty) chip

Hope to see you all there!
Thanks,
Jr.

P.S. - Second tourney tentatively scheduled for the weekend of August 23rd. Will be either Saturday (at my house) or Sunday afternoon (at the Eagles). There will be no cap if we have it at the Eagles.

Interesting P.S. there too! The Eagles has as of late "inquired" as to our interest in bringing our little poker game "back" to the club. I remember a time when we weren't so welcome. What a difference a new set of officers and a little over a year makes... But that's ancient history now. I'll be happy to return, we'll just see how it all plays out.

In other news I'll make mention of a couple of posts that came from Blogger. I recently made note of the fact that a couple of my favorite bloggers AlCantHang and DrPauly had been identified by Blogger as spammers and their respective blogs were interfered with. That injustice has been recognized and corrected according to the following posts which appeared in the Blogger Buzz...

"Spam Fridays
August 1, 2008 — While we wish that every post on this blog could be about cool features or other Blogger news, sometimes we have to step in and admit a mistake.
We've noticed that a number of users have had their blogs mistakenly marked as spam, and wanted to sound off real quick to let you know that, despite it being Friday afternoon, we are working hard to sort this out. So to those folks who have received an email saying that your blog has been classified as spam and can't post right now, we offer our sincere apologies for the trouble.
We hope to have this resolved shortly, and appreciate your patience as we work through the kinks.
— Brett "

"You Are Not Spam
August 2, 2008 — You knew that already, and now we do too. We have now restored all accounts that were mistakenly marked as spam yesterday. (See: Spam Fridays)
We want to offer our sincerest apologies to affected bloggers and their readers. We’ve tracked down the problem to a bug in our data processing code that locked blogs even when our algorithms concluded they were not spam. We are adding additional monitoring and process checks to ensure that bugs of this magnitude are caught before they can affect your data.
At Blogger, we strongly believe that you own and should control your posts and other data. We understand that you trust us to store and serve your blog, and incidents like this one are a betrayal of that trust. In the spirit of ensuring that you always have access to your data, we have been working on importing and exporting tools to make it easier to back up your posts. If you'd like a sneak peek at the Import / Export tool, you can try it out on Blogger in Draft.
Our restoration today was of all blogs that were mistakenly marked as spam due to Friday's bug. Because spam fighting inherently runs the risk of false positives, your blog may have been mis-classified as spam for other reasons. If you are still unable to post to your blog today you can request a review by clicking Request Unlock Review on your Dashboard.
— Siobhan"

That's good news and I'm glad it's been worked out.

Also, something I meant to mention in my last post related to the impromptu trip to Wheeling on Saturday. Chris finally realized that when I referred to one of my favorite people who worked the Wheeling Island Poker Room, that it was Diane "the dealer" and NOT Diane "the room supervisor." There's no comparison. Diane the dealer is great, and always has a smile on her face and can dish it out as easy as take it. She's great to have at a table! I only wished I'd been able to play at her table longer. Incidentally, she's sporting a new hairstyle. Regarding the other Diane... well let's just leave it at that, mmmkay?

My "little girl" just left for cheer leading tryouts. She's nervous, worried, wants it to be over, and all that; but she's worked really hard for this and that's all she can do. She's just gotta get out there and do it, and leave it all out there on the floor! Good luck baby girl!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

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

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

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

http://genebromberg.com/

http://hardboiledpoker.blogspot.com/

http://pokergrump.blogspot.com/

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

http://taopoker.blogspot.com/

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

http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/

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

That'll do for today.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Analytics, Work, Vegas, Cowboys

In my efforts to provide for a method of subscription to this blog, I monkeyed with my blog template and inadvertently deleted the code necessary for Google Analytics to do its job of tracking visitors. Not that I have a large readership but seeing the number drop to a big fat ZERO on my reports page was a little disconcerting. Hurt my feelings a little too. I'll live. Anyway that should be fixed now, so click away and tell all your friends.

I've also started trying to post about current poker, casino, and gaming issues in hopes of expanding my writing, having interesting topics to write about, and ultimately increase the blog's readership. Look, it's likely I'll never find myself seated at a table in Main Event of the World Series of Poker, but I honestly wouldn't mind writing and blogging about it for any of the numerous poker related outlets. I recognize that a job's a job, and what sounds like a great gig now, might not be all that it's cracked up to be, but then again my current day job's no day at the park. I know it sounds all glamour filled but editing and writing DOS (Descriptions of Services) for our various external customers for next year's FY'09, in addition to caring for and supporting those same customers, every day, come hell or high water! After a while the mind goes numb. The few remaining brain cells cry out in protest!

I'm also going to start posting some book and movie reviews. Forgive me if all of these are not necessarily poker and gaming related. I'll be picky, and give you my honest take on it. Maybe I'll even put on the thinking cap and start writing short stories again. Who knows, maybe a story will strike me on the upcoming Las Vegas trip, which would be worthy of "Truckin'." Dare to dream now.

Speaking of Las Vegas, the ole countdown timer on my iGoogle page shows me that there's a mere:

left until my flight lifts off from Columbus to take me to the bright lights in the middle of the friggin' desert.

In closing I wanted to thank the Yanok's and the Wolfe's for some fine poker goodness over the weekend. Good times, good friends!

Oh and Big Red reminds that I'm not to mention the Dallas Cowboys and their playoff hopes being shattered yesterday by the New York Giants with a gut wrenching loss 21-17. Oops. : )

Regards,

cheer_dad

A catch up post

Once again, I'm behind in my blogging, so I'll once again call upon the work of others. First, over to Lou Kreiger's Blog http://loukrieger.blogspot.com/2007/12/annette-obrestad-wins-tournament.html where he covers Annette Obrestad's winning of the Tournament Performance of the Year Award from the European Poker Awards, in Paris. At only 19, the little lady is tearing up the poker world. I wish her continued success!

There has been extensive coverage of the gathering of poker bloggers in Las Vegas (WPBT, World Poker Bloggers Tour) for their "Holiday Classic at the Venetian. I'll refer you to the following blog post http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/archives/006018.php for pictorial and written coverage of the event, in which 120+ bloggers came together for the 4th Annual Poker Bloggers Holiday Event. I recognize a number of them by name, and some by photo. One day, maybe I'll be able to join their ranks at one of these gatherings.

I also wanted to take the opportunity to thank the Yanok's once again for their hospitality on Friday night for their tournament(s) as always it was a great night. I made one donk move...which cost me a money spot in the tournament. That's what you get when you fail to pay attention. I had the stack to sustain me to a 1st or 2nd finish, but blew it on my mistake. Rather than dwell on it, I'll learn from it, and not make the same error in the future. I guess in the interest of moving things along I'm inclined often times to "rush" to act in a hand. Unfortunately, this has led me to act too soon, and in this case I gave away my stack. Ouch!

Also, thanks to JR for hosting his tournament on Saturday. Thank goodness I was able to make a 3rd place showing in game 1, and Big Red the same in game 2. There was a lot of good times to be had. A lot of drinking and utter mayhem ensued throughout the night. Jr's got the pictures to prove it too! AND, Nikki it was nice to meet you. Hope despite all of our antics and poker playing, that you had a good time. Once you get drawn in to all of our insanity, it'll be a long road back.

NDPT #12 is coming up on December 15th at 6:00pm. This will be the last "regular (points)" game of the year. Only the Year-Ender remains, which I'm still sorting out a date for. We'll discuss and finalize this Saturday. I will have to make sure not to conflict with the Yanok's year ender on the 21st. AND, I have to attend it, since I'm currently the chip leader, for this event! This game will present a strange situation in that, everyone starting will start out with different chip stacks. I think I'll have in the neighborhood of $385, while some will have around $30. Strategy here is going to be VERY IMPORTANT. I'll need to think this through. I'll also need to fully acknowledge the other big chip stacks, and avoid a devastating hand, which could mean the end of my tournament life.

I attended my daughter's basketball game last night, at Edison...and I was not real happy about it. Once again, I watched as my daughter, Heather, and even Laura, got to ride the bench throughout the game until the last 29 seconds at which time the schmuck of a coach finally decided to put 'em in. By this time the game was a lost cause. Frankly, the game was going the direction of Hamilton, since the end of the 1st half. There was at one point an 18 point deficit, that the girls just never recovered from. The coach could very easily have begun putting in the other girls. I think one major flaw in what he is doing involves playing on his starters, and he's absolutely wearing them out. They are beginning to lose steam, and the score begins to show it as we go along. I noticed this week and last that the opposing team's coach was keeping the team fresh, by substituting often. Our coach could learn a thing or two. Whitney and Heather complained, and the coach noted my presence waiting in the wings, and knew I was pissed. Me going up to him, would have been a BIG MISTAKE. Frankly, he didn't want to hear all of the words that I had in mind.

Wish there were more substance to my comments today. A quick re-read makes it all look like a lot of pointless drivel. But there were a number of things I wanted to cover, but just don't think I covered it all very well. I'll make a better effort of it next time.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Weekend Agenda

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