Facebook is evil

Facebook... is evil! Something that could so quickly begin to occupy my time, and have me turn all obsessive compulsive can be nothing other than evil... Wow, I've reconnected with people that I haven't seen or heard from in the last couple of decades. I had resisted diving in to Facebook and MySpace and all their ilk thinking it was "just for the kids" and that it would interest me. I mean honestly I've got this here blog as a presence on the intertubes. What more could I want. I was wrong! There's a big shocker huh? Anyway, I'm on Facebook now, posting up pics and commenting around on the pages of friends new and old. I'm sure the newness will die down at some point, but right now it's a lot of fun. I'll hold off on the MySpace thing. There just aren't enough hours in the day for me to build a whole new existence. Find me on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=639437439&ref=name.

NDPT Poker tournament starts tonight at the Wolfe's at 7:00pm. Prolly 20-30 folks will be there... hope you're one of them! Gotta get going, if I'm going to get my errands done before it's time to go.

Regards,

cheer_dad

I'm still havin' fun!

Tonight is poker with the Yanoks! Game time is 7:30pm. I'll see many of you there tonight. Somewhere between now and then I could use a nap, but I don't see much chance of that happening. It's my short day... and then I pick Whitney up from school. She has to cheer at the basketball game tonight, but her bf is going to be there and they are going out on a date afterward. Cole will of course go with us, to play with the other kids. Other than me winning both games tonight, it sounds like everything's all mapped out huh!

Good luck to the Wolfe clan who are opting for a trip to Cross Lanes instead. She-Wolfe is going to match wits with many of the fairer sex tonight in the Ladies Tournament that they host in The Big Easy Poker Room. Wolfie plans to continue his winning ways at the cash tables. Bring some back!

My Bodog play has been fun lately. Yeah, it's more fun when you're winning. Whoever said that first is friggin' genius. At my micro levels and for my micro skills I'm happy. I'm actually beginning to get some breathing room to play, and I'm not as likely to get all worried if I have a bad night at the virtual felt. Some might encourage me to move up to the next level, but I don't think I have the bankroll for it yet. By the logic I'm subscribing to I don't think I'm truly supposed to be playing at the .10/.25 NL tables, BUT honestly I just couldn't bring myself to play lower. Call it a weakness, I don't care. Heck some of you call it a weakness that I'm not playing higher than I am. But I've really tried to stay true to my gameplan here. I actually want to be adequately bankrolled online. I am right now $53 bucks away from having 20 buy-ins for the .10/.25 level. I'm willing to camp myself out at this level for a while. I still err on the side of caution, since I'm not just playing one table. Each table is of course independent. But tilt is tilt, and a bad run of cards is a bad run of cards, no matter how much I try to flatten it out over the landscape of multiple tables simultaneously. In my mind when I hit $500 I will be legitimately at 20 buy ins for the level I'm playing at. I cannot then legitimately make a move higher to the .25/.50 (max $50) until I have $1,000 squirrelled away in the Bodog account. I'm counting this money as separate from the few hundred that's holed up in my sock drawer. I'm going to try to stick to my guns on one other point and not be tempted to pull any money out from Bodog until after I've crossed the GRAND threshold. My typical play time allows me to login and play for around an hour or more on occasion. I 3-4 table it from the get go and try to put in a minimum of 200 hands, whether I'm running good or bad. I have played on for around 400 hands, but at that point at least for me, it's time for a break. It'll also keep me outa hock with the lovely Big Red! : )

Consider this, I know my wins are minuscule, but not measured against the risk undertaken. Most generally (knock on wood) I win in these sessions. Not necessarily on every table. But the session as a whole levels it out nicely. I could play live, but in that case I'd only be able to play one table at a time. Very likely getting in only around 30 hands per hour. Arguably I'm maximizing, by seeing the the hands online that would be equivalent to like 6 or 7 hours of live play. Albeit at lower stakes. But the experience is priceless too me. Not only do I just enjoy the game, but I see things now. I remember things about people I play. I make moves that I didn't used to in my poker infancy. (I'm merely a toddler now.) I'm getting better. I'm accustomed to seeing the bad beats and suckouts and they don't bother me so much anymore. They happen and it's a good thing, cause they sometimes happen to my benefit! But either way, I grow accustomed to seeing it happen, and very few things surprise me anymore. I don't get blindsided very often at all. I might let you shove me off a hand every once and a while, more so than another fish might, BUT just plan on keeping my chips warm for me pal... I'll be back this session or the next to collect 'em from you. Hopefully the notes I've taken on you, will allow me to collect mine and have them bring some of yours with 'em.

Still the single most important thing about playing poker now... is that I'm still having fun doing it. I wonder over the course of a few years, will I find myself playing ever higher, or will I be contented to play in the catacombs of the micro limits forever!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Lesson learned, until next time

First let me say thanks to the Wolfe's for their hospitality once again in hosting NDPT #15. I'd like to say I did well, but it wouldn't be true. I found myself card dead for quite a while, and really only got involved in maybe 2 hands at the first table of the night. Somehow as the blinds escalated into the stratosphere I made it down to the last 2 tables of the night. I didn't make it long though. From late position, with no one overly interested in the pot I saw what looked like a good time to shove and try to steal the $300 in the pot from the blinds. As I was shoving 'em out, watching Drew out of the corner of my eye, counting it out and licking his lips, well I just knew it wasn't good. Yeah, he called my idiocy with my Jack-4s with his wired COWBOYS, and sent me packing! Big Red survived to the final table and cashed out in 5th place, getting "her" money back. I sat down at the cash table and made mine back, plus a little more. I bought in with $20 and cashed out for like $74... so I was up for the night $29. Big Red did well in the cash game too, and made a few bucks too! I'll have to catch up with Frank tomorrow to see how the rest of the tourney played out. I remember a few items, but I just wasn't paying that much attention to the goings on.

Unfortunately, I wasn't done playing poker when we got home, and I opted to grab for the laptop in the middle of the night and log on to Bodog to play some more cards. Here's where the lesson should begin... I was doing well at my 2 -- $25 tables but really just treading water. And then, I looked down at two beautiful ladies... and I swear one of them winked at me. Maybe it was the alcohol... who knows. Regardless, it's my friggin' story, and the biyatch winked a'right?!? So, I raise and get a single caller preflop, high card of Jack out on the flop and my opponent rams a pot size bet. I rush to shove my whole stack to defend the honor of my ladies... and find that this is where I am... in need of a lot of help. Sadly, it never arrived. I think I'll stop playing the ladies. Hard lesson learned, dropping like $27 right then and there on that table. I logged off and dreamed of my next bad beat. I still hate this friggin' game!

That's all for now... have a good week folks, and I'll see you next Sunday at NDPT #16 at the Eagles!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Tonight we run with the Wol[f]e's

NDPT #15 is tonight at 7:00 courtesy of the Wolfe's. As always I'm sure there will be more alcohol, donk-moves, and someone or other gettin' nekkid; so be prepared! Steve A still rests at the top of the heap in the points race, while I think I've faded somewhere into obscurity. So, maybe all I can really do is just be a relative pain in your ass. Whatever, I'm here for ya buddy.

JR, (a.k.a. Uncle June to my kids) and his better half Nikki are away at Bridge Day and will not be there tonight. You can read all about the event held at the New River Gorge in West by god Virginia here... JR sent me a couple of pictures to share.





In other news... my daughter Whitney (you remember the lil blond girl) went on her first "car date" last night. The boy lived to tell the tale too! The event brought to mind a few things:

• I'm old.
• WTF!!!
• I need a bigger gun.
• Eventually she's going to leave me.
• I miss her already...
  

My advice to those of you with daughters, lock 'em up now. The only guys they're ever gonna meet are a lot like we were back then!

Hope all is well with each of you and I'll see many of you tonight. You'll know it's me... 'cause I'll be stacking ALL of your chips! Ship it!

Regards,

cheer_dad

1st Annual Wiener Dog Nationals

I received a flier in the mail not too long ago on the subject but the following article http://www.wtov9.com/news/17705985/detail.html just brought it back to mind. I'm writing about the 1st Annual Wiener Dog Nationals to be held on Sunday, October 19, 2008. Owners of dachshunds from all over will be bringing the short-legged racers to the Wheeling Island Racetrack to run where the longer-legged greyhound counterparts run daily. I think it sounds like a very cool idea, and should be a lot of fun, or least good for a few laughs. Check out the article for additional details and also click on the video link to see "Coco" being put through paces in order to prepare for the competition. I would really like to go check this out, but I'm afraid I would need a big win the night before at the Wolfe's house where NDPT #15 will be held on October 18th. Plus, I'd need a travelling companion which is going to be hard to come by now that Tri-State has opened their poker room and table games. It's a simply matter of geography people. They'll be hard to convince, I'm afraid. Among my arguments, only one stands clear... "guys there'll be beer and friggin' wiener dogs running around the track!" If that doesn't get the job done, I'll likely have to question my own mortality. My faith in the human existence will have reached rock bottom. Okay... maybe it's not as bad as all that! But c'mon Wiener Dogs!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Getting back in the swing

Since returning from the beach it's been rough to get back in the swing of things. It's kinda like detox, and needing a vacation from the vacation. On Thursday I had to pick Whitney up from cheerleading, right when we got home, and then turn around and head up to Parkersburg South High School for her Orientation. Yes, my baby girl is now in high school, stop reminding me. I'm still struggling to understand how there's going to be enough room for all these kids at South, in spite of all of the renovations and additions to the school over the past couple of years. Of course, I'm not sold on the whole "middle school" concept either. But we'll just have to wait and see. I wish the kids and the administration the best of luck!

Later that evening Big Red and I headed for the Eagles and met up with JR and Nikki and Frank also showed up after a while. I drank a few, and then a few more. We both had a little slot machine time and came out on the plus side, including our bar tab!

The next day, Big Red had to head back to work... haha! : ) I slept in a bit, but then got started on the pile of laundry. Later in the day I took Whit to practice between other chores. The evening was a quiet one and the whole family spent it together in front of the tv, reading, and listening to Cole play with his wrestling action figures. No they are NOT dolls!

Today, was South's Meet The Team festivities at Erikson All-Sports Facility. Long drawn out process, that should really be condensed. But I did get to see my daughter perform and so that was a good thing.

Since getting back today I've been wading through the blogs. Wow, I had a lot of catching up to do, since there were nearly 400 "unread" items to check out. It felt nice to get back in to the frame of mind of reading through these postings again, and sharing out some items and skimming others.

I did talk to Frank today, who didn't in fact head to Tri-State "Casino" on Thursday, but settled instead on Friday. He and Vince and Theresa all headed down to see all the goings on. Frank let me know that he made like $350 and that the place was full of fishies! He's trying to talk the wife into letting him go back tomorrow (Sunday) for another go at 'em. He did tell me that the management of the room left a bit to be desired, and wasn't up-to-par. He was upset by the chaos, particularly since they've had so long to prepare and could have easily taken some pointers from Wheeling and Mountaineer to the North, but it appears that would have been too much to ask. I'll wait for Frank's trip report on his blog to see what other goings on he encountered. Eventually I'll make the trip myself and offer up my impressions as well.

Time to get back to the pile of laundry folks...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Sometimes they have your number

We just got back from the Wolfe's. Another of those PartyLite (candle) parties for the ladies while the guys headed downstairs to play some cards. It would have been cheaper for me to have stayed upstairs and just ordered stuff from the catalog. I bought in for $20 initially... and played it for a while, up and down staying even, doing nothing stupid. Played straight, but we were pretty short handed so the starting hand requirements were way low. I was able to get away from some hands that would have broke me, and I was getting good reads. Then I'm the BB and get raised. I look down at pocket 9's. I reshove, making the guy for a big ace or possibly a low pair. Unfortunately he insta calls and turns over his pocket Jacks. Ooops, checks... table 1. I rebuy for another $20 with the intent of taking it back, I was still pretty confident in my reads, despite that fiasco.

I started stealing more often and the table was loosening up. Anyway, here's the hand that ended my night. I'm the big blind (.50) and I look down at pocket Kings. The same guy as before raises it up to $3.00 preflop. I pretend to tank for a bit, and shove $6.00 over the top. He shoves all in. I insta call regardless, since I know he's got me covered. As I shove, I look up and ask him, "do you have 'em." He flips them over and shows me. As I turn over my Kings, he said, "man I figured that's what you had to have. Unfortunately, I didn't hit my two outer on him and it went down the way it should, with him winning. I shook his hand, and told him that I knew when enough was enough. Especially since that was the limit I'd set for myself. It stings a little...BUT, when they've got your number there's not a damn thing you can do about it. The funny thing in that hand was the fact that three others that folded chuckled when we showed our pairs, and they each reached for the much and turned over their folded pairs as well, EACH!!! 5 pairs of cards. You know my old adage that if you have a pair you have to ask yourself who the other guy at the table is that has one. In this case, there were A LOT of them! Oh well nothing to do but bitch about it here in the ole blog. thanks for feeling my pain. FRACK!

Have a good night all!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Last night at the Wolfe's

Thanks to Frank and Julie for taking on the hosting gig for this month's tournament. It was great to see you all, and hope everyone had a nice time. My tournament life was short lived when I hit a rough patch. The first hand I shoved a chunk of my stack pre-flop with pocket 7's and ran into Frank's rockets. Oops! Then, in an effort to re accumulate some semblance of a stack I had to make some moves that weren't characteristic of my typical game. I even shoved all in with my least favorite hand, in the effort, the ole J-K off! Unfortunately I didn't scare anybody all that much, and picked up two callers. I was in trouble... when I saw Del turn over A-Jos, yeah I'm dominated here. I've only got 3 real outs. So, let's just say I didn't get there. : )

I lost a little more in the cash game too, although I'm not really sure on what. I think it was to the guy who looked a lot like the lead singer of Rascal Flats. (Sorry, I've forgotten your name.) But lucky for me the lovely and talented Big Red had my back for the night. She took down the top spot on the night! She and Vince battled out heads up briefly then finally chopped it, but Teresa will get the top billing for the night in the points race. So, once again, she has to bail me out of my losing ways! : ) Congratulations baby!

I'm pretty sure, Vince took over the points lead last night. I "think" I'm still in 2nd place, but a few others are beginning to get too close for comfort. I guess I better start bringing the A-game. Might help if I wasn't suckin' down more than my fair share of the keg last night, I suppose. But then again... I do love beer.

Regards,

cheer_dad

WTF kinda week

Somebody 'splain it all to me. Really! I mean there is the brink of insanity and then, there is, the ABYSS!

The workplace has just given me SOOO many WTF moments this week. Conflict among the team, personal attacks, some downright hateful things said to people face to face. I just don't get it. Being nice I recognize can be a chore, but how about some common friggin' courteousy, and if that's too much how 'bout just not being mean. Is that too much to ask... in the WORKPLACE.

At some point I'm sure one or more people looked down at their WWJD bracelets and decided the answer was... " Oh yeah, it's go time! Yer goin' down!" I really wish I could go into more detail about it all, but somehow, somewhere I'm sure it wouldn't be ethical. Besides it's not nice to talk about STUPID people.

All I know is that I would love to be at the poker table with a few of these guys right now. Soon whatever chips they had would be in front of me. I believe they would reach new heights of "tilt." Oh while I'm on the subject of poker I'll mention the two games I know about that are coming up in the very near future. TONIGHT, is cash game night at the Shumans. And next Saturday April 19th, is the next NDPT tournament being hosted by the Wolfe's. Yes there will be howling at the moon. I may even redeclare my war on the accursed Jack Daniels.

It's been the kind of week I'd just like to take off for Wheeling or better yet Vegas right now. Just cram a wad of cash in my pocket and away I'd go. Probably just as well though, I'd likely bleed off my stack, to some ass hat.

Well be kind to one another this weekend and beyond.

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

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

Tournament weekend whirlwind

I wasted a great deal of the day. Sleeping in, then trying to tackle an issue with this laptop I'm typing on now. This evening I get another clue... when my daughter tells me her iTouch isn't connecting to the internet either. Which for the first time makes me think there might be a problem elsewhere, other than my wireless card. Hummmmm, maybe the frackin' ROUTER!!! Power off and on and POOF, all is well with the wireless world again. As much a part of my life and work is technology, sometimes I just hate it!

The weekend, as the title of this post implies has been a real whirlwind. Friday, I had time to get home from work, do a quick 30 minute run on the treadmill...shower, eat, and then it was off to Yanok's for their first tournament of the year. Actually we usually play two games, and in this case the second game was the monthly qualifier. I did well "early on" in the first game, and headed into the final table. Thinking things were going my way. There in was my demise. I bubbled! FRACK! Strange hands and oddities, through the night. I pushed with AKos, from late position, and ran into Shelley's pocket rockets...but I bounced back from that one. When we got down to the last four players (three getting paid) I had to drop a hand when the board rivered four cards to a straight, and all I had was top pair, and I got pushed. Some questioned why I folded, that I had the right "odds" to call, but when I KNOW I'm dead...I know it. I was. I mucked it. Then, there was the hand where I was the small blind and still stacking chips from the previous hand, and I hadn't even got or seen my cards and it was folded around to me, I reached down for my cards, which weren't there. Turns out that everyone had tossed their cards to the center, where I had never retrieved my cards in the first place. I didn't argue, and the big blind Robert offered to hand my $25 back to me...but I technically had failed to protect my hand. No sense whining or bitchin'. Moved on. Then, I saw the Big Blind fold to the Small Blind when the blinds were at $50/$100, by mucking, when no one else was in the hand. That's a good return on your money if you ask me. Finally, my last hand. I'm in the BB, look down at 10-8os...wahoo... but I get one caller the small blind. I flop top pair, SB bets out minimum, I raise all in, get insta called, Shelly gives me the sheepish grin and turns over her pocket kings. Cheer_dad's run comes to an end. She went on to win it. Congrats Shell!

Tourney #2 was a write off for me, I went nowhere fast, and my horrific play was punctuated by my "failed" attempt to bluff Jerry off his hand on the river. Of course, his friggin' BOAT 10's full of 3's was plenty to call my idiot ass. Oops! On a positive note. The lovely Big Red took down the TOP SPOT in the 2nd tournament thereby turning our losing night into a winning one. And don't forget this tourney got here qualified for the year end tourney. All the rest is GRAVY! Go Big Red!!!

Next day had the whole family hoppin'. Whitney and Cole both had basketball games at conflicting times. So we divided to conquer. Then, later Cole had hockey from 4:30-5:15, and Teresa and Whit had several errands to take care of. Cole and the rest of the kids had a ball playing, as usual. I'm glad to see them out there and active. I'm hopeful that the lessons of sports and fitness eventually take root, and never allows either of them to become the over-weight sloth I've become. Okay, that's harsh. Anyway, we finish hockey and rush back to the house, pick up Whit and Teresa and head over to the Wolfe's. Tournament #1 for the NDPT, River's Edge, and SmartAss Poker combines crews. (We really need a new nickname, since we consolidated.) I had a lackluster start, and miraculously made it to the final table, with a tiny stack. I began to loosen up as I saw everyone else ratcheting down TIGHT! I began to rebuild the stack. I got sucked out on once, which hurt, but soon after got it all in again, but found myself behind and returned the suckout favor! : ) Give some, get some. In the end I found myself at the final table with only two others! I was still the short stack, but hey I was getting paid back and then some for the night of fun. I finished third...and shortly thereafter JR and Jamie opted to chop the 1st and 2nd place. Jamie had a slight lead and therefore got the 1st place finish points in the first qualifying tournament of the night.

We all headed home, I stayed up for a while and sat at a cash game on Poker Rewards for about an hour. I was doing very well, until I was faced with holding AQspades, and the flop came 8s 9c Js... I had raised it to $4.25 preflop by the way. My lonely caller to the right, shoved... I'm looking at straight draw, nut flush draw and big overs. Yeah I make the call, he shows two pair Jacks and Nines. The river brings me SPADE!!! Unfortunately the NINE of SPADES. You do the math, I'll sulk about my lost $28. Another "frack-worthy" moment!

Time to call it a night, hope all is well with each of you.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Mission Accomplished

I got it done. The cheer_dad household once again has a functional oven! A trip to Allied Appliance, $58 for an ignitor, and a lot of crawling around on the floor, shoving my head into the bowels of my oven, and swearing only a few times, and it's all working again. I was more than a little anxious when I first fired it up, ready to run for the door. Then, after that I tackled the job of putting together my son's heavy bag. It has a fixed stand, that had to be filled with water...a lot of water. I really don't want to have to move this sucker around much. Oh wait, didn't I set it up where all you NDPT'ers will soon be gathering...in my basement?!

Speaking of that, don't forget folks this Saturday, December 29th, at 6:00pm, is the End of the Year Tournament for the NDPT. Julie Wolfe as you will recall earned her entry into this event by finishing on the top of the pack in the Point Race. Go She-Wolfe! The rest of us will be pony-ing up the $50 buy-in. I should have in the neighborhood of 26 players. A few of you were tentative. I understand with the time of year. I'll see you all real soon.

Tomorrow will be a special day in West Virginia. In Chester, WV at the Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack, the FIRST EVER poker tournament will be held. Registration starts at 9:15 tomorrow morning. Limited to 300 players, with a $100 total buy-in which includes 20 to the house and 5 to the dealers. I had planned to cover the event with my fellow blogger Frank, from River's Edge, but the holidays in general have stretched the ole wallet pretty thin. And with the Vegas Trip being only 23 days (and some change) away it's hard for me to justify "blowing" another $100. Yes, I know I 'could' win. But I only show up planning that I'm not coming back with it. It happens, and it has been rather par for the course for me lately anyway. Why throw caution to the wind... I don't want to be playing so down on my belly as that. It makes for poor play, that others are able to sense and exploit. There'll be another game, another day.

Also, wanted to give a big thank you to the Brothers household for their hospitality, and lots of alcohol and food on Christmas Eve. We had a great time, and wanted to thank you for all the hard work that you put into the night, and for welcoming us, as always into your home. And that Wild Turkey American Honey is REALLY good SHHHHHHHTUFF!

See everyone real soon...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Sometimes sh!t don't taste so good...

I guess one of the bad things about a blog is that you tend to write something once and rarely (if ever) look back. A comment or response to something you write however forces you to look back, particularly when the commenter lets you know that you were wrong and in this case...offended. "Jack" responded to one of my posts from a few days ago, and cause me to do just that. Frank and I had been exchanging posts, recapping how he had played a particular hand while we were at the Eagles the weekend before last. Without going in-depth on it, again, suffice it to say Frank and Matt J (a.k.a. "Jack") were involved in a hand, and Frank lost. His post was framed by this, and he mentioned needing a break from playing cards, because he couldn't take the suckouts, bad beats, or whatever you want to call it. It was more a straw that broke the camels back than anything else. I tried to give my impression of what happened that night, in a follow up post, trying to pick Frank up a bit. What I appear to have done instead was put my foot in my mouth in the process. This is the point at which I actually went back and read what I'd written. Everything I had to say up to a point I can agree with, it's when I headed down an alley of thought that I got outa line. When I stated: "It lacks finesse. It lacks subtlety. It lacks class in a way. It's a legitimate playing style, but I tend NOT to like it." I went overboard, and honestly that would have pissed me off too! So Matt, I'm sorry about that. It wasn't an intentional thing! Keep in mind while writing this post, I was working on the remainder of the whiskey from the weekend, and guess I got a little lippy. But that's not a good excuse. In fact here, there isn't one, and all I can really say is, I'm sorry.

When I said the style lacked class, what I meant to do was echo a sentiment I heard on the AnteUp Podcast recently, but OBVIOUSLY I didn't do a very good job of it, and I ended up looking like a dick! What the two hosts expressed was that at a live table they tended to "like" or "gravitate" toward and emulate a tight/aggressive class of play. Whereas more and more what they are seeing at the tables is a very loose/aggressive class of player emerging as a controller of the table. While they applauded their ability, they still tended to "like" the guys who are playing tight/aggressive. For example they tended to gravitate toward Daniel Negraneau and Phil Ivey instead of Mike Matasow or even Phil Laak. The styles or classes of play are different here, and on the program the hosts made the comment that they couldn't fault the play of Mike and Phil Laak, but that it was more foreign to them than that of Daniel and Phil Ivey. They tended to like those players who played like them. What they went on to say...and what I failed to continue to elaborate on... was that there was a flaw in preferring one player over the other. The guys that they actually had more to learn from were the ones who did not share their own style of play. They would actually be doing themselves a favor if they paid more attention to the play style of those dissimilar to themselves. At first glance loose/aggressive class players look like "wild animals" to those of us who unfortunately learned to play the game as the TV players and books were telling us to, tight/aggressive. It sticks us hard when we see an inferior starting hand beat strong starting hands. We tend to blame poor play on others, but fail to turn our judgement back on ourselves, and realize we should let 'em go when they fail to improve. That's where we get outplayed. These aren't suckouts or bad beats, there our own damn fault. Unfortunately no one likes to admit their own flaws.

Matt, you're a friend, and I'd like it to stay that way. You're welcome to play at the house anytime. In fact, I had you and the wife signed up already for December 15th. I'd like to have you there...I mean how else am I ever going to get any better?

I've long said that you were a MUCH better player than me. You have a greater fundamental understanding of the game than I do, and it comes from experience, and particularly experience with playing at stakes much higher than I've been able to get comfortable with. Even the game at Bob's made me sweat a little. The size of the bankrolls (not the buy-in) was the thing. My disposable poker income (as dictated by my wife) was nowhere near as high as the majority of the guys at the table. This gave them (and you) a decided edge over me, which I realized. I haven't played in many games in which I really "felt" like the sucker. I did there...and recognized it in less than the "first half hour at the table." I played scared and made stupid mistakes. The only way that my game will EVER progress though is to play with people who are better than I am. It'll force me to get better (or go broke.) BUT, I need a bigger roll to feel confident in doing it. Playing scared, I might as well just hand it over right now. I also need to gravitate away from the super tight/passive style that I've come to use at the table. My hand selection is absolutely killing me. And my willingness to take calculated chances has a VERY long way to go. As for your comment that you want to give the impression that you'll play any two cards, well that obviously works! I find you damn near impossible to put on a hand! When I think I'm being pushed around, you show me the aces, when I make you for aces you show the 7-3os.

What has caused me the greatest trouble is the fact that the online money I have has always been small, and so I learned to play at micro-limits. That's done me a great disservice! It taught me to think in terms of bets as being units, instead of their actual value. $2.00 is still just $2.00, but playing at a .05/.10 NLHE table, that's a huge friggin' bet. Losing it online, when all I used to have was $50 was a big deal to me. I need to remember to change gears a bit when I move up in limits though, and remember that sometimes, any hand is worth a few dollars.

At any rate, I hope you actually see this post, and recognize that it's intended as a sincere apology. I don't like to make anyone mad, or step on toes, but I guess I did both. If you don't return to see it, I'll probably call and ask you to take a look. If it's any consolation, since I read your reply, I've been kicking myself in the ass for coming across the way I did. And if that's not enough, I'll mention that I just got back from the dentist, where I took a good drillin', so c'mon haven't I been punished sufficiently?

This is one of those cases where yesterday's word of the day is applicable to the blog owner... DONKTARD!

Regards,

cheer_dad

P.S. After writing this, I happened across the following post over at the Full Tilt Poker Blog by Michael Craig, and he puts a very fine point on what I was trying to say... http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/poker-blog/2007/12/293_part_ii_shut_yer_yap.php

Some stuff and a word of the day

I'm glad to see that my buddy Frank has been following the "state" of poker in the "state" of West Virginia so well. I haven't been in much of a blogging mood lately, much less in an investigative reporter mood. Although I do and accomplish nothing, I seem to have very little energy or oomph lately. To say that I have a waning interest in life, would seem to put it a little harshly! Eh...but if the shoe fits, put the other one on. Anyway, I am still a bit surprised that Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center has not even applied for a gaming license to permit table games at the facility. Poor choice if you ask me. They could use the ramped up revenue to help or completely finance their "pie-in-the-sky" expansion plans. Meanwhile Wheeling and Chester will move forward with their table games plans, and possible expansion. Sooner or later surrounding states will jump on the bandwagon in some way to stave their residents from crossing the border to the Mountain State, to slough off their hard earned dollars. Instead keeping it for themselves to fill the governmental coffers. How is it that something that appears so sensible, from a business perspective, could elude the powers that be of the Tri-State facility?

In other news, it seems that JR got the last laugh on the Murray's and the Wolfe's on Saturday night. During the WVU game/cluster-frack Frank texted JR to see how the date was going, and throughout the evening we were entertained with replies, stating that the date ended early during dinner, and he opted to head instead for the $1/$2 NLHE table in Wheeling. Laughter (and a little jealously ensued!) Turns out, that the date continued, and he parted ways with said maiden in the neighborhood of 1:30 in the AM. So, he didn't get any poker in after all, or at least any that involved a deck of cards! : ) Sorry, lady...don't know you yet, so I can continue to talk trash!

It is bitter cold and windy outside. The morning's walk from the truck to the building was enough to bring tears to the eyes and left you gasping for breath. BRRR! I hate the cold, hate the Winter, hate having those clearly defined 4 seasons. I'd be much happier with, oh say ONE!!! I wonder if I can retire to someplace tropical, or very warm?

Oh and finally, my word for the day is DONKTARD! After reading it on the AnteUp Blog, I got a good chuckle and found that it is VERY fitting of a number of the players I've encountered recently at Wheeling Island's poker room. You should be able to mop up with them, but as is pointed out at AnteUp, too many of them at a table can be a VERY dangerous thing. You can't bluff a donktard. You need powerful, if not nuts hands to take it down, but the suckouts can be severe.

There's a lot of poker coming up in the the next few weeks, the Yanok's, JR's, Mine, and a couple of year-end games yet to be scheduled. Then maybe a short, well-deserved break before a big contingency of us head of to the land of lights in the desert (Las Vegas.) ETA is 47 Days, 3 Hours, 10 Minutes, according to the iGoogle gadget I've got in place. Rest up...save your pennies gang, it's going to be one heckuva ride! See you all soon.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Another baby step online, and WVU sucks!

After WVU's dismal failure during last nights game, the family and I returned from the Wolfe's. I won't even go into detail about the game it irritated me so much. I logged on briefly to Poker Rewards to play just a few hands. A few is all that I did. But for a good reason! After about a 1/2 round of play, I look down at rockets! The table has moved slow thus far, so I opted just to make it 2X the BB. I get only 1 caller. The flop is 2-2-5. I bet the pot. Lone caller just calls. The turn is an 8. I bet 1/2 pot. Lone caller again, just calls. Now before you go, yeah those'll get you every time, you shoulda dropped the bullets, let me tell you the river card. Another ACE!!! Only one hand in the deck can kill me now. Normally I would accept your pity, but not this time. I bet pot again, for all my marbles. He CALLS! I show...and he MUCKS!!! I make $18.xx in less than 10 minutes of play. Big Red says it's time for bed...sounds like a good idea, I'll quit while I'm ahead. Have $133.xx on that site now.

Only other thing I'm interested in, is finding out what brought JR's date to an end last night. BUT on the positive side, it sounded like he was having a great run at the $1/$2 NLHE table! Apparently everyone but of course him, was interested in the WVU vs Pitt game. Gotta run.

Regards,

cheer_dad

Endless

It's the day that time forgot! It's been a ghost town in here today at work, and it's been a veritable wasteland in the proxy permitted forums and blogs today. C'mon guys, there's folks out here who really depend on your posts. Some of us a little TOO much! Won't be long now though. It's nearly quitting time for me, and I'm ready to go. I think I actually reached the end of the internet today. It was kind of a let down.

We're going to see a movie tonight... The Mist. I'll let you know how it is. You just never know with a movie made from a Stephen King book. It could go either way. So long as they don't screw up The Dark Tower series, if it ever gets made.

Later tonight, we will probably end up at the Wolfe's to play a few hands. Funny everyone else is obsessed about the game now, when my interest due to a rough patch has waned a bit. BUT, I'll snap out of it I'm sure. Just one more hand...one more hand!

7 more minutes to freedom!

Regards,

cheer_dad

Time change

I don't like the time change. In fact, I rather loathe it. Regardless of whether I'm falling back, springing forward...it just wreaks frackin' havoc on my body. I'm tired beyond understanding right now, and it would only be just minutes after when I would have been outa here, had there been no time change. Already though, I'm looking out the window behind me, and I can tell it just wants to turn into a nightscape, before my very eyes. Maybe it's just gloomy, but either way, all I can think I'd like to do is curling up into bed. Like I said loathe!

Thanks to the Wolfe's for hosting another fine evening of poker. No I didn't win. No I haven't seen a frackin' final table, in who knows how long, unless of course it's at the Yanok's, or I'm watching one on TV. I did gravitate to the cash tables though and made back my tournament buy-in, plus an extra $5 spot. So, I lost nothing, and gained a lot of good times. The Red Snappers with a little help from Frank killed the bottle of Jack Daniel's. I think we may have even been close to seeing table dancing that night too, courtesy of the ladies! I remember a lot of laughter, and a very enjoyable time. Thanks again Frank and Julie!

Looks like my game on Friday is going to be packed! I just got 3 more sign ups, putting me at 28 (or 29) if I choose to go ahead and count Matt J. Jody can't make it since she is headed out early the next AM on a shopping trip. At any rate, there will be cards in the air...and hopefully lots of chips in my pile! Beware, a new strategy may just unfurl itself to everyone. : )

Also, either late Saturday night, or early Sunday morning, a contingent of us are heading to Wheeling Island, for the poker room, slots, dogs, and mass quantities of alcohol. We're looking forward to it. I for one want to redeem myself, from the previous trip. I'm sure JR wants to do the same from his last 2 trips. By the way he made the trip again, this past Friday, and made it back just in time the next evening for the Wolfe's tournament. He and Mike R, ended up chopping the tourney! Go friggin' figure. Good Job JR, and oh yeah you too Mike, from the sound of things, before we got started on Saturday, you really needed to put one up in the WIN column. Just to feel a little better about things. Glad it worked out for you. I'm still waiting for mine. : )

It's going to be a busy season folks for the NDPT, the Murray household, and just life in general. Everyone get plenty of rest, and stick with your buddy, remember to always travel in pairs. I dunno why, just do it. I gotta run...

Regards,

cheer_dad

Less than 2 hours away

Poker night at the Wolfe's is less than 2 hours away people. And in the words of SpongeBob SquarePants... "I'm ready!" I was up late last night, waiting for Big Red to return from the Eagles after her SPA party, here at the house. She came home a winner, cashing out for $200 on the dreaded machines. She does well on them usually, me...not so much. I think they can smell the fear! I got up a little late this morning, and immediately headed down to do my 30 minutes on the ole treadmill. Then, it's been a friggin' Laundry-Palooza around here. Sheesh who's wearing all this shit! But it's nearly done now. I got the kids fed, kitchen cleaned up, I have to drop off Whitney at Jordan's for the night. Cole of course in tow. Teresa will be coming back (late I'm sure) from a day at the mall with her mother. Yes, the dreaded Monster-In-Law, guilted her into a day of shopping, since they don't spend enough time together. Guess she never did the math on... time spent with her, is time away from me. Aw...who am I kidding I got a lot done today. Albeit, Martha Stewart-ish...and if I can just get these frackin' panty hose to stop riding up. And hold the jokes about me making someone a good little wife one of these days.

Anyway, game plan for tonight...there is no game plan, other than me consuming mass quantities of cold and wet drinks, containing a lot of barley and hops. There could be the occasional Jello Shot and/or shot of Crown. (Big Red you better remember to pick it up!) The Jackson's will be absent from tonight's game. I'm wondering what affect that will have (if any) on how I or anyone else for that matter plays. I'm sure JR, will notice fewer suckouts! Maybe I could invite "Call-Station-Carl" over for S and G's! Where the frack is my boy KIMA?! Wait that's frack or some derivative of it now twice in this post. You could probably guess I've been watching the Battlestar Galactica series. I had not been watching it since it first aired back in the first season. So, I rented Season 1 from Blockbuster and have been watching it in its entirety. Anyway that explains the frackin' frack of it!

I read today that "annette_15" had made the final table at the the EPT Dublin. Is there no stopping this "little-girl?" Best of luck to you. It just dawned on me, she's just a bit over 4 years older than my daughter! Who among you can picture my lil blonde girl at the tables? Although she did used to make the most of the trash talk when she played my freerolls for me on UB! Depressed smart-ass punks to no end to hear they were getting beat by a little girl. HEEHEE!

Well, it's time to wrap it up, and herd the kids together, and get Whit to where she's heading for the evening. See you all very soon. See a very few of you at the final table, and then you can all watch me take down the top spot tonight. How's that for the power of positive thinking!?!

Regards,

cheer_dad