Happy New Year My Peeps

There's just so much to celebrate kids!!! So y'all join in and do the Happy Dance with me!!! (Yes, you too!)

The end of the another year is upon us, and there are a lot of fond memories to look back on (many of them involving poker exploits of some sort or another.) And tonight we usher in a brand-spankin' new year that's just chock full of potential and the unknown. These are indeed strange and wonderful times in which we live!

I hope each of you has BIG PLANS for the New Year's Eve and that you've designated your DD for the coming libations. We have ours picked (thank goodness it ain't me) and if that were to fall through, hey the Eagles is less than a mile from home, I can always stumble that far... : )

Other reasons which are cause for celebration are a total (after this post goes up) of 288 posts to this blog for the year, 2008. Maybe nobody reads this tripe, but I enjoy writing it and Blogger just keeps letting me go on and on. I've made a lot of great online and offline friends as a result of the blog and that's more than I ever expected from it. And the N Debt Poker Tour (NDPT) just keeps feeding the poker addiction, too.

I've got the love and support of my family, happiness, and more material goodies than I can shake a stick at. Life is good, people! And if that's not enough need I remind you of the post which preceded this one? Uhmmm hello, Las Vegas... me... February 15th through the 18th. And oh oh oh... hotel reservations at Paris Hotel and Casino! Uhhh, "oui oui oui" or "WEE WEE WEE," take your pick; either exclamation sums it up just right!

Yeah, your ole pal cheer_dad's having himself one fantastic year. I'm glad you could be a part of it. But as I've heard said before, wait til next year, "you ain't seen nothin' yet!"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Ricin...and Roger Bergendorff

I really thought this case would just fade away into the nothingness of the Internet, but it keeps popping back up. Recall back in February that the poison "ricin" was found in a Las Vegas motel, 2 weeks after a man was hospitalized with difficulty breathing. That man later lapsed into a coma, and was identified as Roger Bergendorff. The toxic biological agent ricin was only discovered later when a relative of Bergendorff went to the motel to retrieve the man's belongings which had been left behind. It was at that time that he discovered the vials which contained ricin. The authorities were notified and the room was also found to contain additional vials, castor beans (necessary in ricin production) firearms, and obscure manuals like the "Anarchist's Cookbook." All the comforts of home.

I mentioned in yesterday's blogging that Bergendorff had awakened from his coma, not long ago, and was presently being charged with possession of the substance among other charges. Today Mr. Bergendorff was in court and denies that he was involved in any "poisoning plot" according to this article: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/17/ricin.arrest.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories on the CNN website. Of course, seeing as said crime carries a hefty penalty (30 years in federal prison and a $750,000 fine) I can see not really wanting to be associated with any such matter.

Bergendorff's attorney Paul Riddle asserted to the federal court judge that his client's, "...poor health is not a result of exposure to ricin..." Instead he submitted that his client "fell ill with pneumonia and kidney failure, resulting from a mental and emotional downturn after his older brother died in January."

Ah... well since you put it like that. The deadly poison played absolutely no role in Mr. Bergendorff's health issues. Sheesh, how could we have ever thought otherwise. Hmmm...

Do they think we're ALL this stupid? Or are we really just this stupid?

Regards,

cheer_dad

Remember the RICIN incident in Las Vegas?

The following article from CNN details follow up from the incident where "ricin" was discovered in a Las Vegas hotel room, back in February:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/16/ricin.arrest/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Suffice it to say that the man, Roger Bergendorff who was first hospitalized when he experienced trouble breathing back on February 14th, and was the victim of ricin poinsoning, awoke from his coma on March 14th. Today, he was arrested for among other charges the possession of the deadly biological toxin, ricin.

Check out the article for additional information, but my only question is what was Mr. Bergendorff planning to do with the ricin in the first place. I would think (or at least hope) that poisoning himself was not the intended usage. Then again what do I know.

Only truth is stranger than fiction.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Ricin in Vegas update

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/29/ricin.hotel/index.html

This story is getting a lot of press and a lot of hallway chat here at the office. According to this latest report from CNN a man who previously stayed in the hotel room where the Ricin was found has been in the hospital in critical condition now since February 14th! The small container of ricin was discovered by "a friend or relative" of the victim who went to the hotel to retrieve his belongings. I'm still a little confused about how "foul play" is not a suspicion, but hopefully as the story continues we'll learn more.

One comment that I'll have to make here, it seems everytime something threatening like this happens that everyone spends their time pointing away from the terror angle, instead of just covering the story. The authorities always have to make the first statement to say that this is not a terrorism incident. The FBI is currently treating it as only a criminal investigation.

Either way there's still a friggin' wacko out there who had the stuff in the first place.

I do sincerely hope that the guy in the hospital, suffering from exposure makes a full recovery.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Ricin found in Vegas hotel...

After reading this article: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/29/ricin.hotel/index.html?eref=rss_topstories all I can say is "Party Foul!" According to the authorities an unspecified quantity of "ricin" was found in a hotel room in Las Vegas. Ricin is a deadly toxin. As little as 500 micrograms -- an amount the size of the head of a pin -- can kill an adult. Symptoms of ricin poisoning include anything from difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea and sweating to severe vomiting and dehydration. At present it is not being treated as a terrorist incident, but where do these sick bastards come from?

Regards,

cheer_dad

Additional recap, my planning, and LOST

After 1/2 stacking myself because of the AQ and KQ hands; I end up in the big blind with K10os. No raise to speak of, flop comes Kd-9d-4c. I bet 2/3 pot, get raised all-in, and even the other player insta calls. Turn is another diamond...once again that squishy feeling. BUT, here's the proverbial kick in the crotch. I was behind from the get go...not even a Big Blind special for your ole pal cheer_dad. I flop top pair, with mediocre kicker, while the guy who popped it hit his set of 9's, and the other guy, who held the mighty Ace of diamonds and some other rag diamond. So, really I never stood a chance. Horrific session...and oh by the way did I mention that since it was so late when I was playing, and mass beer quantities had me JONESIN' for poker that I had to take one of the few games available to me on PokerRewards, which wasn't the lowly .10/.20 NLHE game but (gasp) the .25/.50 NLHE game. Now it all makes sense to you doesn't it. Lady Luck apparantly read my plans and disparaging remarks about her in yesterday's first post, and replied with "...oh no he di'in't...here's a lil variance love byatch! How you like me now!"

Oh yeah maybe here I should offer up that in my poker imagination that Lady Luck is actually two women. "Good Lady Luck" is Maria Bello from The Cooler (http://imdb.com/title/tt0318374/) dice tattoo and all. While "Bad Lady Luck" is this nameless black/latino little vixen with dominatrix tendencies. (The cat-o-nine-tails hurts so good though!)

Wow, now when I get off on a tangent...

ANYWAY, the whole Vegas trip in July is not necessarily a dead issue, just because of one crappy run at online poker. And I'm not blaming luck in reality, when I know I played it horribly there at last. The AQ and KQ hands hurt but didn't kill me, in fact I had the sense to table one of them when it became apparant that my opponent hit his flush. He called $3 preflop raise by me with J8 sooted, and got where he needed to be. I knew it, er felt it, and got out, while the other two idiot callers did not, which is why I got to see it ALL play out. Okay, back on track again... Big Red even mentioned going to Vegas to see the WSOP again! She really enjoyed that trip last time! And she had logged on yesterday and checked on flight costs! And she started telling everyone all about it at dinner last night. Interest was sparked!!! She says she'll have the money, from an extra Christmas Club account she set up! : ) Me...of course I'm on my own! Well there's always the plasma thing or I could just be a drug mule! Is it tough swallowing that balloon full of cash crop? Digressing again huh...

Well that's enough my minions, I've babbled on enough, and to be honest, I stayed up way too late, in my stupor and got precious little sleep. I really gotta work on that sleeping with my eyes open trick for the occaissional at work nap time. : ) Kidding boss, kidding!

OH and the big news of the day...or night...LOST is on TONIGHT!!! 8 new episodes of cliffhanger goodness tide the masses over! For all the lowdown and discussion that's fit to print and/or blog head over to: http://losteastereggs.blogspot.com/
Big Red and I are both stoked about watching LOST tonight. The kids have strict orders to pipe down, and ALL phones will be ignored for the duration of tonight's show. And we have caller ID if anyone gets any bright ideas!

Well this post is now... a wrap! I've covered enough ground here for a few days worth of posting.

Regards,

cheer_dad

The plot thickens...

Okay, to many of you I know the number crunching from the last post was laughable. I mean really here's some schmo lamenting about trying to raise $1,000 in the span of like 155 days to run his fool ass off to Vegas again to "watch" the start of the WSOP 2008 Main Event. The poor schmuck (sp) is so pathetic that he's questioning whether or not he could raise that kinda money...and even chops it down to daily and weekly poker winnings required to get the job done. Yeah, it was pretty sad. And yeah I'm a pathetic loser. But unfortunately for all you nay-sayers out there, now I'm dangerous. I'm a loser with a hair-brained idea! Building on the insanity of yesterday's post...and fueled by morbid curiosity, I logged onto PokerRewards last night, and fired up 2 (count 'em two) .10/.20 NLHE tables (maximum buy-in a whopping $20 each.) Considering what I still have online you'll recognize that was a sizeable chunk of it. Incidentally, I had to scratch my head a little when I saw the cute little balance. It was a tad bigger than I'd remembered, then it dawned on... while I was in Vegas, running bad live, and in a drunken stupor I fired up the laptop late one night and played a $10 SNG and finished in 3rd place, in addition to garnering a few bucks at a simultaneous ring game that I was playing. I know...what was I thinkin'. And Frank where the hell were you and why didn't you stop me! Anyway...back on track... I didn't start out so well on the 1st table (which is why I fired up the second game) when I flopped an open ended straight draw and pushed everyone out of the pot but the one guy who had a gutshot straight draw. Neither of us made it, in fact we each had at least one of the others outs! However, I was going for the King high straight and numb-nuts was going for the Ace high straight, and his hole ace (or ACE-HOLE as I called him) and his high card ace was enough to take down the pot, dropping me 6 bucks on the first hand I played. Oh well, pipe dream cheer_dad, you didn't have a prayer. Then, we change focus to the other table... I'm seeing patterns in betting emerge, stupidity and thinly veiled steals of pots actually working for a couple of guys at the table. They were running the joint. A couple of Pushy-McPushPants types. cheer_dad decides to test the waters, and repush with nothing. It works once...then I try again, and get snagged this time, but not for too much, but I end up having to show some trash that I was trying it with, and took a few heckling remarks. Now, the time is right. I wait a few hands and try pushing again, this time cards with teeth. I get reraised, I push all-in over that, and well whatdya know this time, I wasn't foolin' guys. I felt one guy, who instantly rebuys...and he begins this I got balls routine of shoving all in on nearly every hand, particularly when I'm in the blinds and he's to my right! I slink back into the felt for what seemed like an eternity. The table actually starts to break up, as others are getting frustrated. I finally pick a hand (junk) and raise, and he reraises me...I fold, and whine a little. A few hands later, he pops it again on my big blind. I pause ad nauseum...and then just re-pop him. He shoves right back, all-in. I insta call with my pocket Queens, which hold against his A3os. The software censored him... He rebought and then others began to enjoy the circle jerk that ensued. I waited and caught just a couple more pots, and then cashed out up $18.40 for my short time at the table. I know, that sounds small, but again...this is .10/.20 people. Cut me some friggin' slack. Anyway, that puts me up just under 3 days!!!

3 days? Huh cheer_dad... well I continued to crunch those numbers folks...and even worked up a spreadsheet to support the insanity, but if I can pop my meager little bankroll the $6 1/2-ish per day for the next 154 days, I could theoretically hit the $grand$ by the time the Main Event starts! Hmmm, maybe I should mention this to Big Red...nah, it'll wait! : )

To further fuel this "episode" I logged on to USAirways today, and well whatdya know flights that would put me in Vegas for the opening ceremony of the WSOP Main Event are (gasp) a mere $232!!! I know...some of you can hear the gears in my twisted little mind turning right now. I know one good run was a fluke, and it'll come crashin' down, but now it's a challenge. It's like Lady Luck just byatch slapped me and threw down the gauntlet. It's on... and cheer_dad's doin' this thang!

And if I fail miserably in the attempt, well you can all just say you were there to see the meltdown, and that it all makes sense why "...he careened his Dodge pickup off the cliff..." when someone shoves a mike in your face. You were there at the beginning of the end.

How's that for a caffeine buzzed post!?!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Jet lag... and future planning

Yesterday it was all I could do to keep the eyelids propped open, despite the fact that I went to bed very early the night before. Then, last night I went to bed early (for me) and thought I would get a good night's rest, but around 2:00am I gave up and went downstairs to "rest" and leave Teresa alone. I was doing nothing but tossing and turning. So, suffice it to say I'm still jet-laggy after the Vegas trip. Eventually it'll pass...but oh joy, I have another trip (driving this time) to contend with starting Sunday. I'm in training for two weeks in Shepherdstown, WV. Leadership Potential Seminar is the title of the class...that'll be enough chuckling there in the back!!! Yes, I mean you! I'm curious about the course, but I'll reserve judgement (at least give it a day or so to form an opinion.) : )

I was able to get back on the ole treadmill last night, for a 30 minute run/walk. Prior to the Vegas trip, I had been pretty dedicated to getting in 30 minutes of run/walk at least 5 days per week. Of course, Vegas is different. Much libation and one day merging into the next isn't exactly the time to be testing your physical limitations. Anyway, I rushed home, got it done, showered and then headed off to Whitney's basketball game.

Already I'm hearing the rumblings of a return trip to Las Vegas. June/July was brought up by JR and Vince (and me) in hopes of checking out the pros in action during the World Series of Poker. The standard October trip that we always seem to do, is on the table. Then, I've also heard interest from Frank (and me) about attending the Winter Blogger's gathering in Las Vegas. Any of these trips would be GREAT! I wish I had the ability and money to be there all the time. So, if that's ever going to happen I'm going to have to improve my poker game, and have the beginning roll to sustain my play. I would that I could sit in comfort and without fear at the table. Not reckless, but not in fear of loss, as if the loss were not a make or break thing. To treat the game as a long session. Make the best decisions in each and every situation, and finally see substantial profit from the thing. What exactly is "substantial?" I'll let you know when I see it!

I have an idea of what I would have to do in order to make the Summertime WSOP excursion a reality. I would have to realize around a $1,000 profit in the small online bankroll. No, not get it to a total of $1,000, but increase it by that much. I could then "maybe" justify a trip. What would it take to make that happen? Probably more than I'll be able to accomplish anyway, as part of this pipe dream.

Here's the math of the thing... There are 155 full days left until Day One (the first of four) of the WSOP Main Event. $1,000 divided by 155 days equals $6.46 profit per day... Hmmm... I was attempting to discourage myself by doing this simple equation, but now, I'm not so sure! We're talking just over $45 per week sustained for 22 weeks. That doesn't sound so "un-doable" now. What have I done... The caveat is the startup weeks. My online roll is paltry, just a few hundred at this point, after withdrawals, and some obvious stupidity, involving blackjack among other things. : ) I'll have to look this evening and do a complete online inventory of what dollars and cents I have out there, but this could be my new project. I'll get back to you on this one... Hmmm, can I count "live" play winnings toward this as well? Of course that would first depend on me actually friggin' "winning" in live play in the first place. Again...you there in the back...pipe down, and stop laughing at me.

Continuing to ponder...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Terry Caudill, New Binion's Front Man

Say hello to the new owner of Binion's! Check out the article from the Las Vegas Review - Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/business/14309607.html



The Nevada Commission approved Mr. Terry Caudill to run the downtown casino, and thus paved the way for him to take control as early as February. Recall that the property is currently owned and operated by the MTR Gaming Group, headquarted in Chester, WV.



According to the article, he has many plans and upgrades for the property in mind. Time will tell, but I wish him luck in the endeavour, as it would be a shame for the historic Binion's to disappear from the Las Vegas landscape!



You'll probably catch a few glimpses of Binion's on the right hand side of the blog slideshow, since this was one of our many destinations on our Vegas trip.



Frank and I both commented that we wouldn't mind at all staying downtown on a future trip to Las Vegas. Downtown and The Fremont Street Experience offered a party atmosphere and cheaper prices. : ) We liked the smaller, homier feel to the casinos of Fremont Street. From the sound of the article this is exactly what Mr. Caudill has in mind, and wants to build upon to save the struggling casino. For what it's worth...we'll be back!



Regards,



cheer_dad

Monte Carlo is on fire

Just back from Vegas late last night...on little sleep I took the kids to school, then came back and crashed hard. Got up later, and unpacked and began the daunting laundry tasks. Then, it was time to go pick Cole from school, but just before that Teresa yells for me to come look at the TV. I head upstairs and see the images of the Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas in flames. Check out the story over at CNN.com:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/25/vegas.fire/index.html?eref=rss_topstories.

I'll gladly accept my paltry losses in Vegas if Lady Luck opted to be with those who were guests at the Monte Carlo and everyone got out safely. Hopefully, there will be no fatalities or serious injuries.

I'm going to try to upload the pictures from Vegas, in somewhat of a slide show montage via Picassa, with a yet untried Blogger plug-in. We'll see how that goes very soon.

Time to go hang out with my son!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Sitting at the airport

Well folks it's about time to wrap up this Las Vegas trip. I'm sitting here at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas and honestly I feel tired. It's been a long week. Big Red played today at Blackjack and Let It Ride and climbed a little out of the hole for us. No we still didn't finish up but it was a great time.

This time at Frank's urging we headed downtown to "old" Vegas. I was pleasantly surprised. The casinos were older, but nearly all of them had been updated and looked just as good as the others. Granted there was no Wynn or Bellagio down there to rival the strip but compared to Imperial Palace and Harrah's type properties, which is more "my" class they were just fine. Table games were alot cheaper. We even found a $3 table at the Golden Gate, and it wasn't a free-for-all, either. We signed up for lots of player's cards for the innocuous crap that they were handing out. Well undoubtedly receive lots of mailers as a result. It was funny on the 22nd to stick a card in a slot machine and have it tell me Happy Birthday Brian!!! I did note already receiving a number of emails from the casinos wishing me well on my big day, although none included any money savings.

Talked over lunch today with Frank and told him it just wasn't one of those "lucky" feeling trips to Vegas. So rather than throwing additional money out I opted to wander around sight see and drink mass quantities. Don't anyone go reading anything into it. Nothin's wrong, I'm not depressed, just goin' with the gut from time to time.

Frank says the only was he won this trip was losing. From 8 to 11am each morning when he played and got Aces and/or Kings cracked he of course lost, BUT made the bonus dollars from the casino at $100 and $50 respectively. He generally hit both, so those were winning sessions.

He also talked to the Imperial Palace Poker Room Manager and told him that he and I were bloggers from WV, and he comped him on the spot for some buffet tickets, which wasn't what Frank was looking for, he was just making small talk. He also mentioned that he had friends who used to work here in Vegas who went back "home" to WV to manage the poker room and blackjack pit area at none other than Chester, WV's Mountaineer Casino. Small world, isn't it.

Of all the casinos we visited, I'd have to say that drink service was best at the Palazzo. When you're sitting at a bank of penny slots, drinking double fisted already and the waitress hands you another and asks if you want another on her next trip, she's either made you for a serious alcoholic, or maybe we were just situated near the waitress/bar station.

We picked up several new $1 chips to add to the collection. Also stopped by the Gambler's General Store again on this trip and got some cool little trinkets, including some cut cut cards.

We've got about an hour before takeoff, and we're hoping that it'll be less than full and allow for some stretching out room. I'll sort through some of the pictures later and start getting them uploaded, and shared out to the blog.

Hope all is well back home and we'll see you all soon!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Happy Birthday To Me...

Yeah it's quite a crew isn't it... Happy Birthday to me!!! It's the BIG 40! Funny doesn't feel much different. It hasn't been the winningest time in Vegas, but hey as always we came to pay the light bill. Bring nothing you plan to take home. Live in fear and arrogance, or is that in fear in ignorance. Hmmm, I know I get that one mixed up A LOT!!!

Hope all is well back home. I've heard it's cold and we're not sorry to be missing out on it. Just remember "cuddle for warmth."

We're headed back out today, to go casino hopping. I want to check out the Palazzo...and continue grabbing up some chips for the collection. Seems to be the only way I can accumulate 'em anyway. : )

Time to go...yes another late start. Actually considering the hours we're keeping, it's kinda early to us.

Regards,

cheer_dad

ouch

After one helluva day in downtown Vegas we made it back to the Imperial Palace. At first I play a cheapie Let It Ride table. I quickly drop $80... I hit nothin'. Absolutely nothin'. Decide to hit the Poker Room. I sit at the $2/$4 Limit table for a while waiting for the list to go down. Finally the NLHE table opens. I sit...and once again look like the fuckin' tight bastard that I am. Play it straight...no bullshit...no nuthin'...the only hand I see is with a 67s when I flop the open ended straight flush draw. I missed...and show to the guy who continues to bet. I continue patience play... From the BB I look down at Q6 of hearts. No preflop raise. Flop comes 669...Lookin' good cheer_dad. I check, knowing the guy on the other end has been betting all night with nothing. I call. The turn is a Q... For those of you not payin' attention, yeah...I've got the BOAT. I check.. He bets out for $10. I make it $30 to go he calls. Regardless of the river we all know I'm going all in. Like a good little poker player. The river brings an ace, I shove. Insta call from the "guy" that was there from the start. He shows his...pocket ACES! I slink away from the room, feeling rather squishy in some very awkward areas. Ouch! Okay, friggin' ouch...no...FUCKIN' ouch! $120 down on that hand. Ouch! I find the cooler.

Oh well...that's poker. Ah bullshit...still sucks.

ANyway, very good day downtown today. We all made money on free sign up money today. Many drinks, many comps, and lotsa fun... Thank you Vince for driving us around. You rule. All of us are more than willing to stay downtown on the next trip after what we've seen there. Very nice and much cheaper. Go figure.

It's late, I'm tired...I'm drunk...time to call it a night.

Regards,

cheer_dad

time to go

Well we're getting ready to head out into the Vegas world again. I think today's the time for a traditional Denny's breakfast. A little lard is good for the soul, or something like that. After that we're heading downtown to old Las Vegas. As many times as I've been out here, I just never went dowtown. Have to visit Binions and do the Freemont Street experience. I'll try to get video and pictures to share.

Wish I could say we'd continued our winning ways yesterday, but Blackjack even live is still EVIL! I watched Frank split Aces, then again, and then again, and then the casino saying that was a max split...and then his next card was another Ace. He didn't even break even on that one.

Big Red says it's time to go NOW...so I gotta run.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Greetings from Vegas

The adventure continues... we were checked in before 10:30pm PST last night, flying in on a Saturday night is different. Our plane was just over 1/2 full, so there was room to move and breath. Oddly enough, we were chastised when we boarded because they insisted that we should have checked in 15 minutes prior. They were actually calling for the Wolfe's and Murray's over the airport intercom. Hey we were just next door at the bar. Anyway, no one was left behind.

The shuttle from the airport to the Imperial Palace was quick and painless. After checking in and stowing luggage, we grabbed a quick bite and then headed for the casino floor. Frank and I headed for the Poker Room while the Snappers headed for table games over at O'Sheas for some reason.

The Imperial was VERY busy last night. VERY!!! It took a while to get a seat at a table, and when that happened it was a $2/$4 Limit table. I heard later that it took nearly 2 hours for the guy that signed up at the same time as I did to get seated at a $1/$2 NLHE table. Like I said it was busy. Frank just reminded me that the poker room actually RAN OUT of $1 chips and was actually putting the orange-ish $4 chips in common play. Folks were showing up with those exclusively in their racks, when first getting seated. The dealers and poker room manager all said that THIS had never happened. One dealer who was just starting his shift, asked "What the hell are all the $4 chips doing on the friggin' table?!" Yeah I think he actually said friggin'.

I was pleased to find that the IP had gone hi-tech. For those of us who have played at Wheeling Island, you'll feel right at home. The electronic tables, with the auto shufflers, and dealers LED display, and card swiper are all identical. I talked to some of the dealers last night about them, and they said they really like them, and are a vast improvement over the old ones. Everything is tied in to the computer system and they have a flat panel display to let you know where you are on the waiting list, and what games are currently being spread. They've also expanded the bad beat and high hand bonuses. Between 8 and 11 AM each day, if you get Aces cracked you'll get the $100 bad beat money, or $50 for Kings. There are progressive payouts for high hands as well, such as quads, straight flushes and royals. The highest one currently on the board is the Club Royal Flush, which when I last saw it last night in the WEE HOURS was at $2,987. Frank, got up this morning before the rest of us, since he wussed out early : ) and headed for bed. He got his Aces cracked and took down the $100. That'll work.

Last night, I played $2/$4 and drank, alot, and decided the drunk was more important than the poker and decided the cards were just something to do. From 11:00pm to around 5:00am I was in the poker room. I was up for a while, a modest 40-50 bucks but I was tippin' and drinkin' and havin' a great time. There was a preponderance of eye candy to behold. How do they get such little tiny Asian girls, with big boobs. Must be in the water... Anyway around 4:00am Big Red stopped by to tell me she was still on the casino floor, playing and was UP, but didn't wanna jinx it by counting yet, she said not to leave without her, and she flitted off again. Shortly after that I got my Kings cracked (sadly no bonus) by a guy with a pair of Jacks. Then I proceeded to have Big Slick busted twice, once by a J-3os, ick... I would win with crap like Q2s, and lose with the biguns. I missed hitting open enders about 7 times in under an hour, and watched the stack begin to dwindle. So around 5:00am I decided to cash out down $68. Not bitter, just getting bored. I found Big Red at the 3-card-poker table, still continuing her winnin' ways. I sat down and played too. Had a few Jack and Cokes each and just enjoyed the table and some really great dealers. I sat with $100, cashed out for $200, even after dropping some RED tips to the dealers, who continued to hand me 6 to 1 straights! Around 6:45am we decided a few hours in bed would be a good idea.

Oh, and Big Red finally decided to let me in on her winning streak. Between Let It Ride, BlackJack, Crazy 4 Poker, and 3 Card poker all night, she was up a whopping $500! Hell yeah!!! Lady Luck is a fickle little bitch though so she's not gonna do anything stupid and blow it all. Yeah we'll see.

Won't be long til we head down to NYNY. Yeah I know, we're behind schedule, so bite me, I'm on Vegas time baby! We're just about ready to go though, so I'll wrap up now. I've gotta call a few of you, to put you at ease. We did make it, we're not in jail, and so far will not need a shot of penicillin to take care of any anomalies.

Stay tuned.

Regards,

cheer_dad

tick...tock...

It won't be long now. We are now SUB-FIVE HOURS from taxiing down the runway headed for Las Vegas!!! Just killing time, waiting for the Wolfe's to get here, and then it's off to the airport. Palms are sweaty, heart is racing, generally jittery. I'm ready. We're all ready! This is going to be a great trip, I can "feel" it. If I can get the Red Snappers in that "I can 'feel' it" zone of thinking, you just know it's gonna happen. How many of you have been busted out of an NDPT tournament by one of them when they called you on a friggin' FEELING! I rest my case.

Can't wait to visit the new Palazzo Casino, which I mis-understood/reported earlier in the blog. This is the latest/greatest addition to the strip. Another one of the uber decadent destinations that you just have to see. Today is the last day of their Grand Opening Event. So, I'm sure we're going to miss some of the beautiful people, but you never know who might be out and about.

Big Red's been scurrying around here, with more cleaning power than Mr. Clean! But I had sense enough to stay out of her way. I stuck to laundry...I was lucky that she didn't have me washing the curtains. But this is her vacation prep. It's all part of the system. We'll get her good and liquored up soon!

Like I said before, keep an eye on the blogs, I'll try to keep it up to date with commentary, pictures and video.

...tick tock...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Video clip from 1st tourney of the year

In my efforts to prepare for the Vegas trip I've been cleaning up the pictures on the camera (translate deleting the 433 pix that my daughter took of herself) and freeing up space on Big Red's Flip Video recorder. It was on the recorder that I found this "crowd shot" video from our first Tournament of the new year that was held at the Wolfe's. Enjoy:

Oh and did I mention that it's almost time for VEGAS BABY!!!

It won't be long now! Watch the blogs, we'll be posting commentary and all the incriminating pictures.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Proposed Vegas Itinerary...

Itinerary for Viva Las Vegas 2008
a.k.a…Birthday Debauchery Vegas Style!
Includes “affordable” tournament listings

January 19th Saturday

3:00pm Get in, sit down, shut up…this vehicle’s heading for the airport in Columbus, OH! The Wolfes and Murrays pile in with a few of our worldly possessions, and every last dime we’ve got to start the 1st journey to Las Vegas by the crew for 2008.

5:00pm Arrival CMH airport. NDPT 1st Wave arrives Las Vegas Airport, baggage claim and then shuttle to the strip

5:45pm Shuttle ride over, baggage checked, shoes retied, KY jelly squishing in my nether regions following airport security anal probe. I rejoin Frank and the Snappers and head immediately to the closest bar. Pound drinks to sufficiently numb for the 4 hour jaunt across the country.

7:05pm Stagger to gate to board plane.

7:06pm Big Red now more than a bit tipsy begins to "worry" about flying on the same plane again. She-Wolfe assists by distracting her whilst I slip her a Mickey!

7:10pm Plane begins its assent, Teresa slides into her comma, Frank settles in for a power nap, Brian begins sawing logs (loudly), Julie screams for the frackin' drink cart!

8:40pm (now on VEGAS time) Plane touches down at McCarran International Airport. Instantly wide-eyed we begin the long sprint to baggage claim, pausing only long enough to dial JJ's number back home so he can hear the beautiful Vegas medley of slot machines. He mutters something in Kowean, and slams the phone down. We claim our bags and then barter for shuttle service to the strip. Consider posing as the "Smith" party when we see a "not-too-bright" limo driver holding his sign upside down at the bottom of the escalator.

9:30pm Packed like sardines into the shiny metal box which they call a shuttle, we head for the bright lights of the strip.

11:00pm Arrival and check in process at the Imperial Palace. Big Red's already cramming her second $20 into a Wheel-of-Fortune machine. Julie's already making small talk with the Let It Ride dealer. Frank and Brian already drinking double fisted are talking amongst themselves at the Geisha Bar. Phrases such as "...I guess the bloggers were right..." and "...ya think those're real..." dominate the conversation.

11:30pm Bags stowed successfully in room, we return to the casino floor.

11:31pm Firmly entrenched at a low limit hold 'em table for the remainder of the night, the beer flows like rain, chips somehow climb to the ceiling.

January 20th, Sunday

3:00am We consider the possibility of the need to eat, when we hear a voice from a walkie-talkie proclaim, "...SNAPPERS DOWN!"

?:??am Recalling the lesson learned from JR's example we call it a night...or morning, and stumble off to bed.

8:00am (EST) Back east Vince and Theresa (sadly minus JR) are taxiing down the runway following their arrival at CMH. Vince informs flight attendant he has no need of her $5.00 bag of honey roasted nuts!!!

8:01am Theresa pretends not to know him, and wishes flight was over!

10:00am (PST) plane touches down in Burbank, CA, and this second wave of gambling warriors, get their rental vehicle and embark on their drive to Vegas.

?:??am Meanwhile back at the Imperial, Wave One stirs from their drunken slumber, does a quick 3 S's and heads for the strip.

11:00am The Snappers have their first Hurricane of the morning, and smuggle them into Denny's for a grease laden brunch. Bally’s $80/15, Harrah’s $60/15, Mandalay $50/10, Sahara $42/14, TI $65/15

NOON Imperial Palace $60/15, Luxor $35/10, Rio $60/20, Strat $60/15

12:30pm Harrah’s $60/15

1:00pm Excalibur $35/10, Riviera $47/7

1:30pm Head off toward NYNY, looking for the crazy, little Asian Sensation Frank! Brian finds his favorite “gay-ass-unicorn” machine. Paris $65/15

1:35pm Snappers are in line at Coyote Ugly, offering to dance on top of the bar, for the extra shot! Frank gets lotsa good footage of the scene, for the blogs.

2:00pm PlanetH $60/17, Trop $60/20

3:00pm Caesars $65/15

3:30pm Harrah’s $60/15

4:00pm Monte Carlo $60/11, Strat $60/15

5:00pm Wave #2 gamblers take Las Vegas by storm, well okay they begin their check in at the front desk anyway. Call JR to tell him what he’s missing. Caesars $65/15

6:00pm Flamingo $60/15, Monte Carlo $60/11

7:00pm Wave’s 1 and 2 finally hook up, somehow, still in NYNY, at same blackjack table… PlanetH $60/17, Sahara $42/14, TI $65/15, Trop $60/20

7:30pm Paris $65/15

8:00pm Leaving NYNY, Frank bumps into a stranger…and an empty money clip that looks “oddly familiar” falls to the floor, as the startled stranger makes a break for the door. Harrah’s $60/15, Imperial Palace $80/15, Riviera $47/7, Strat $60/15, Venetian $125/20

8:30pm Luxor $35/10

10:00pm By now, far beyond drunk and disorderly…we decide to give Pai Gow a try! TI $65/15

10:05pm That’s enough of that shit!

MIDNIGHT Strat $60/15

January 21st, Monday

?:??am Stumble off to bed

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1:00pm Head to downtown Vegas

2:00pm Binions $70/20

3:00pm+ Enjoy Freemont Experience…visit Golden Nugget and Lady Luck etc… do the Japanese tourist thing. Visit Gambler’s General Store. Try not to go broke.

8:00pm Binions $70/20

8:01pm Frank tries to explain the dead button rule, from Wheeling Island, to the locals. Security is summoned!

10:00pm Return to the strip, find comfortable chair at a lowly $2/$4 Limit table and commence heavy drinking. If luck running terribly bad, opt for the Deal or No Deal Penny Slots near the entrance.

11:00pm Sahara $42/14

11:30pm Beer Pong Anyone!!!

January 22nd, Tuesday

Midnight Happy 40th Birthday Brian!!!

10:00am Visit and perhaps play at the newly opened/renovated Venetian Poker room “Palazzo”

1:00pm Head down toward Mandalay Bay and Luxor areas, gotta see ‘em all. Excalibur $35/10

4:00pm Luxor $50/11

4:05pm Someone needs to begin taking pictures and videos, since Brian will likely begin losing “time” at this point.

5:00pm Julie does her pickle trick in Jimmy Buffet’s again, someone at the bar sends offers to buy her a drink.

8:30pm Evening at the Improv, Stop in a Toby Keith’s bar…

11:00pm Spearmint Rhino, yeah right. I’m tellin’ you folks it’ll never happen.

January 23, Wednesday

10:00am Go to Stratosphere

10:01am Get player’s card this time!

NOON Call for tomorrow’s departure shuttle and time. Strat $60/15

1:00pm Snappers feel the need to ride the Stratosphere elevator…’cause they like it on TOP!

4:00pm Strat $60/15

7:00pm Strike up conversation with Mexican’s handing out fliers on the strip. Scream INS when the crowd draws in.

10:00pm Legend’s show at the IP?

January 24, Thursday

?:?? Sleep wherever, whenever…

9:00am Count $$$, see if enough remains to get home

11:00am Check out

11:01am Drink, Play, Spin…etc… await shuttle

?:??pm WeeWeeWee, all the way home!

Are we there yet..are we there yet...are we there yet!!!?

Regards,

cheer_dad

DUDE...it's gettin' close!!!

I don't know if I've mentioned it lately (oh ya know darn well ya have) but it's almost time for VEGAS baby!!! Let me fire up the ole iGoogle countdown gadget and...

Hehe that'll put a smile on your face. Well at least on mine anyway. : ) I'm excited! So, is Big Red, she just doesn't know it yet. She's lucky to have me to prod her along.


I'm putting the finishing touches on our itinerary for the trip, which honestly has little bearing on what will actually happen, but it's always good for a few laughs, and maybe it'll give us a few ideas too. I do try to make it useful and include the times for a large number of daily tournaments that are taking place. I'll try to get it uploaded to the blog tomorrow, I promise. Stay tuned.


Still no absolute definitive answer on whether JR will be coming along for the trip though. "Uncle June" it won't be the same without you, but if you opt out of the trip, I do understand. And let me clear it up for all of you, it's got nothing to do with the lady in his life! Nikki's great and we all really like her. So put that idea out of your mind. Still buddy I gotta say it... hangin' drywall, playin' cards for 5 days straight. One more time, hangin' drywall...playin' cards. Yeah, hmmmm, that's a toughie! Seriously though, I get it and I admire the work ethic and the thinking ahead. Still, it's Vegas... and our BIRTHDAYS!!! : ) Okay, beating a dead horse.

"I kidding, I kidding why you not know joke!?!"


I've been grinding it out in a much different and less enjoyable way lately. I find myself not at the poker table but in CLASS. Argh! Earned Value Management, Project Management. It gives you that feeling in the pit of your stomach like watching your opponent hit his One-Outer on the friggin' river. Yeah, it's exactly like that. I hear long dormant brain cells screaming out in anguish, "DUDE, wtf, you're almost 40 what the hell are you trying to learn? For all you know these could be your twilight years." Hmmm, trying to be funny, and present myself with a cold hard reality. : ( Ouch, but it's okay, the dementia will soon take care of it for me.) Now where was I...


I've got to head out now to pick up my daughter from basketball, and taxi her to her next appointment. Big Red can she start drivin' YET!!!


Regards,


cheer_dad


P.S. pssssst JR ya hear that? it's VEGAS callin'!!!

MTR closes another sale in Vegas

According to the Associated Press, in a story picked up by the Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5452536.html. MTR Gaming has closed the sale of yet another of their Las Vegas properties.

This time the Chester, WV based company has sold the property "...owned by its Speakeasy Casino in North Las Vegas for about $11 million..." to Ganaste LLC . Oddly enough the gambling operations have been sold separately to Lucky Lady D LLC for nearly $7 million, while Speakeasy Gaming Inc, will continue to operate the gaming operations onsite under the terms of a short term lease. Of course all of this is contingent upon approval by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

As has been reported previously MTR, is selling off it's other properties in order to focus on newer, growing markets, particularly on its touted "flagship property" in Chester, WV Mountaineer Racetrack & Gaming Resort.

Regards,

cheer_dad