Parkersburg South vs McKinley Tech

Date: Fri, Aug 29, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Tonight the Parkersburg South Patriots played host to McKinley Tech from DC and there was much cause for celebration and laughter. That's my baby with the big smile on her face having a great time during the game. : )












McKinley in white, South in Blue are shown here in play action.






Here's another picture of yet another kickoff by the Patriots. Let's just say we had to do that a lot!!!









Mad Max ran the length of the field more times tonight than I think he cares to remember, as each time a TD hit the scoreboard he got to do his thing and run the flag. When the dust settled and the final gun went off, the scoreboard read Patriots 49 McKinley 0... Lots of points on the board, and what a great start to the season. Keep up the intensity boys, work and play hard.

Congratulations! We'll see you next week at Warren High School.
GO SOUTH!!!

Regards,

cheer_dad

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NDPT...n debt poker tour - 2008-08-28

Date: Thu, Aug 28, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

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It doesn't get easier

Date: Thu, Aug 28, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

I ran across the following post http://jacksrok.blogspot.com/2008/08/first-day-of-schoolsniff-sniff.html on a blog that I frequent in which blogger "jjok" laments the fact that his daughters headed off for their first day of kindergarten and that they were growing up, it was all making him a little sad... and that sooner than he wanted he knew they'd be talking about "bras and boys." I remember the same feelings when my kids left for school as well. Seems like yesterday.

Unfortunately, "jjok" I wish I had better news for you, but this is what those little pony-tailed girls will end up doing to you someday:






They grow up...

This one headed off to her first day of high school on Tuesday. Eventually I know it'll be college, and then worse she'll be bringing some "guy" home to meet the folks. (shudder)











I'd like to pretend that it won't be so bad with my son, who is younger, but in the end I know it'll be just as bad. It's just right now it seems like there's a lot more time to deal with the eventuality of it all. We've still got more days of elementary school and little league, thank goodness, but even those are numbered. Either way, try as we might to stop it, our kids are going to grow up on us. All we can do is do our best by them, equip them as best we can and give them love.


The time escapes me... but it was never mine to keep.

Regards,

cheer_dad

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Zihuatanejo

Date: Wed, Aug 27, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Sorry there's just been that little rant boiling up inside me, now for a while. I just think there ought to be something else to shoot for. There was a a song by The Godfathers called "Birth, School, Work, Death" that I liked back in my post modern/alternative rock phase in college, (circa 1988,) that summed it all up a little like this:

Yeah I been high and I been low
And I don't know where to go
I'm living on the never never never
This time it's gonna be forever
I'll live and die don't ask me why
I wanna go to paradise
And I don't need your sympathy
There's nothing in this world for me
Birth, school, work, death
Birth, school, work, death

No, don't start emailing, calling and linking me to a damn suicide hotline, I'm a little more level-headed than that (most days.)


I guess this notion that I had about reading that Jimmy Buffett book "A Salty Piece of Land" and getting my "island chill" on, is having a bit of an effect. It's conjured up a lot of pleasing/relaxing imagery in contrast to the daily grind. I keep dreaming about the final scene from Shawshank Redemption in which Red finds his old friend Andy on a beach, Zihuatanejo on the coast of Mexico. The place looks peaceful. The kinda place where your hair will bleach white from the sun, and you'll turn the color of a Chicken McNugget. To quote another song, this time Big Red's leading man Kenny Chesney, "the sun and the sand and a drink in my hand, with no bottom..."

Is it too late to take up sailing... and switch to island time? In a bit of a mood...

Regards,

cheer_dad

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Oh yeah... it's a lot like that.

Date: Mon, Aug 25, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

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Adding Insult to Injury

Date: Sun, Aug 24, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

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Getting back in the swing

Date: Sat, Aug 23, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

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

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To all you nay-sayers...

Date: Thu, Aug 21, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Well you thought the day would never come. Two outa Three ain't bad huh!?! Well what's been nearly a year in the making is finally going to happen. "What's up, cheer_dad," you ask, "what's the earth shattering news?" Well according to this article http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x1846891047/W-Va-racetrack-given-OK-to-offer-poker/index.html?printview=true Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center will FINALLY be opening its doors to offer poker to the masses! That's right people the third West Virginia casino will finally be offering something other than slots and dogs. This comes nearly ONE YEAR after the initiative was passed by Kanawha County to allow the casino to open poker and table games at the existing casino. Wheeling Island and the Mountaineer jumped on that bandwagon long ago and has thrived at least as far as my personal observations and the various articles have thus far suggested. I wish Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center good luck, and yes eventually I'll be down to give it a go, but I'm still a little irritated that it took so long to make it happen. The people of Kanawha County were none to happy either, and even the Governor weighed in on it you'll recall from a previous post I threw out here on the blog. But anyway, today's the day following 2 days of successful "charity" poker tournaments to get the ball rolling, the Lottery Commission gave their blessing and a quiet sigh of relief which says, "sheesh, it's about friggin' time Tri-State!!!" Anyway, read the article, and make plans to visit this new poker room when you can. My buddy Frank, was headed down to indulge in the madness of the first day/night, this evening. I haven't talked to him since I left for vacation so I'm not sure how all that's panning out.

I'm back in town now, having just arrived home after that long drive back from Myrtle Beach, SC. It's good to be home, but as usual there's already a lot to get done after a vacation. So rather than sitting here pecking away at the keyboard, I better get to it.

See some of you later this evening at the Eagles drawing, and others I'm sure over the weekend. It's good to be home.

Regards,

cheer_dad

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Extremely tired among other things.

Date: Tue, Aug 19, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

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Pack the House

Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Last word from Mr. Yanok sounds like the basement is going to be full, when it comes time for the cards to get in the air. Tonight at 7:30 we'll converge at the Yanok home for the August qualifier tournament. Maybe I'll actually get around to doing well in one of these. This one would be a good one to take down too, since the numbers, the $$$, and the points will all be high. But let's not get ahead of ourselves huh...

The work day was short, as promised but I actually had to put in some actual work before calling it a day at noon. This Configuration Management thing will most certainly be the death of me. But on a positive note... we leave for vacation on Sunday for Myrtle Beach, again! Unfortunately, Whitney won't be coming along with us this time, as her cheerleading duties and schedule have re-prioritized her life. She's okay with it all though. I haven't heard any complaints anyway. What with all that teenage angst, she's probably looking forward to the time away from the 'rents! For any of you little twits out there who are thinkin' about stopping by to hang with my little girl while I'm out of town, just wipe it from your little brain! She'll be heavily guarded.

Gotta run, now and take Whit and Jordan to the Homecoming festivities. Then, poker Yanok style awaits!

Regards,

cheer_dad

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Screamin' Eagle

Date: Thu, Aug 14, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Nothing but a 5 hour work day to contend with tomorrow, and I use the word "work" lightly. The week has been an absolute grind, and I don't mean in a good way, like on the felt. But working for my Uncle Sam. It's like this "Unc" you've had more than your fair share of me this week. I'm heading out for some R 'n R tonight. You think it'd be a bad thing if I planned ahead for a DD to get me to work in the morning? One plus side to it, you don't have a hangover... of course on the downside, you can't walk a straight line. Then again, how often does that friggin' task come up in the workplace. Okay, okay, I'm only kidding. I'm going to down a few tonight, but I'm not planning on it getting out of hand. To those of you who will be there tonight at the Eagles, you can however expect to see one of those minor skirmishes with the accursed Jack Daniels. Incidentally, I thought the "screamin' eagle" above was apropos! Cut me some slack here people, I've been writing myself silly at work about things I couldn't give a damn about... the cliches are all I got left. The cheer_dad is tapped out. (WTF, did I just refer to myself in the third person?)

So, tonight as I go "out on the town" to "tie one on" forgive me if I say something goofy like "smoke 'em if ya got 'em" or "do you need a nipple for that beer?" Just be sure that you "respect me in the morning" and tell me I "look like hell" or "like somethin' the cat dragged in," but somebody for damn sure better be offerin' me a little of "the hair of the dog that bit me!" It's gonna be one of those nights folks!

Regards,

cheer_dad

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Do the Humpty Hump...

Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

Hope you've all had a Happy Hump Day. Congrats we've nearly survived yet another day working for the man! Tomorrow night is Eagles drawing night, followed by an oh so short day at work on Friday. We're getting early dismissal due to Parkersburg Homecoming, which basically overtakes the streets, parking lots, etc... all around our building. There's just not enough to go around, and all the concession carnies start setting up on Thursday night/Friday morning in the street right behind the building, so it gets crowded quick. Aww... how terrible that they just have to send us home so early. I might just drink lunch.

Later that evening we'll converge on the home of the Yanoks for their monthly tournament extravaganza. My daughter will have some various Homecoming duties to attend to throughout the weekend as part of the South Cheerleaders. I think there's a Dilly Dunker in her future. Also this weekend (Sunday) we're leaving for Myrtle Beach, again! I joked today at lunch with Big Red and both of the Brotherses, when Laura was going over her packing list. I let her go for a while before breaking in to say simply... flip flops, trunks, beer... packing's done! Looking forward to feeling the sand beneath my feet one more time this summer, and just soaking up mass quantities of sun and alcohol.

I played a few of those uber cheapie SNG's on Bodog again last night. I fired up 3 tables, and ended up grinding out a 2nd place and two 1st place finishes. Pfffft, this game's friggin' easy. : ) These games are teaching me patience, the power of position, and to not get excited one way or the other. If you win... no big payoff, but if you lose, ehh it's just a little pocket change. Still it's MY Pocket Change though!

Hope all is well with the lot of you, and remember after Hump Day, it's all downhill to the weekend. Now if we can all just avoid ramming into some obstacle on the way down.

Regards,

cheer_dad

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NDPT Points Update

Date: Mon, Aug 11, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

I'm a little bit behind, but JR did send me the NDPT Points update to get posted to the website. The link on the website is now pointing to the new and improved points spreadsheet. But in case that's just all too difficult for you to find, try this... http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=ptNl6_cpXDHlDaBaHIU7NVA&hl=en. You will note that somehow despite a horrid finish I've remained on top of the heap, albeit by only the slimmest of margins against Steve "All-In" Allman. Here's where that maximum of 10 games thing starts to kick in. Actually only 3 of us can be considered "DIE HARD PLAYERS" thus far on the year, seeing as we haven't missed a game. That'd be Big Red, Allman, and I. Yeah, we don't have a problem... we can quit anytime we want. We just don't WANT TO!!! However, Steve has the opportunity to be the only one this NDPT 2008 season to get PERFECT ATTENDANCE! Since Big Red and I will be missing the next game NDPT #12 which JR has arranged to have held at the Eagles. We will be baking ourselves on the beach, instead. : ) I know, it's a tough trade-off! So, Steve ole buddy what do ya think, can you make every single game until the end of the year. Duh, there's a no-brainer...

A number of us will be playing this Friday at the Yanok's. Then, hopefully we'll be heading out the next day, beachward bound. I really need a top finish there, to get myself in a position for the end of the year tournament. So, if we could keep the suckouts to minimum, and my case of 2nd best out of it, that'd be great.

Anyway, good luck to you all in that and in Sunday's tournament at the Eagles. Do your best to make this one, and show your support. If all goes well, we hope to continue playing there on a recurring basis.

Regards,

cheer_dad

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Bodog Beginner Tournaments

Date: Sun, Aug 10, 2008 Internet Live Tournament

In other news from last night, I decided to logon to Bodog when I finally got home last night with Cole. Big Red headed to the Eagles to meet up with some of her girlfriends, while I opted to stay home, as I was in a bit more mellow mood than that. I joined a couple of the Beginner Tourneys (SNG's) again. I realized last night that these play at higher levels than I'd realized before. I noted the presence of some $8 beginner tables last night, but like I promised myself I was sticking to the lower ones until I reach a pre-determined bankroll level on that site. I won one of the SNG's and took 2nd in the other. I did lose in another one but I got my money in good and lost to a suckout. That happens, but these SNG's when played in multiples have a nice way of levelling out your losses. In fact, I moved up another $10 last night. So that helped to reduce my overall $$$ loss from the night, including JR's house.

I still agree with every move I made in last nights NDPT gathering. I lost but I guess I lost the right way! : ) Hey, I can't complain, how often do you get to look down and see quads. I was on one heckuva card roll there for a while, just too bad it had to end abruptly.

See you all on the felt again, soon. By-the-way Big Red and I will NOT be at NDPT #12 held at the Eagles as we will be leaving for the beach, along with the Brothers clan. Yes, this is beach trip number two for us for this season. I could get used to this. I hate to miss the game and I'm excited to see how it all works out for us, since we hope to add this venue to the available poker frenzy here in our little town. If all goes well, this game will likely be available on a monthly basis... So, don't forget to get out there and support this game with your attendance. Also coming up this Friday is the Yanok Qualifier for August. Actually we WILL be able to make this one, so we'll see you all real soon.

Regards,

cheer_dad

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