Pix from Whitney's Prom Night
Date: Sun, May 11, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
As promised... some of the pictures of my "baby girl" on her 9th grade prom night. Here's Whitney from the overlook at Fort Boreman Park in Parkersburg, WV:
Whitney and Matt at Lindsey's house:
Another shot of the couple at Fort Boreman Park:
And again...
The kids had a good time... more so over at Jo Jo's house party and bonfire than at the prom itself. The school year is nearly over, and next year they'll all be headed off to high school. Funny I still remember vividly changing diapers. Time marches on...
Regards,
cheer_dad
Observations from the Yanok's and then some...
Date: Sat, May 10, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
Good time was had by all at the Yanok's house last night. Thanks for your wonderful hospitality. There was a big crowd there for the tournament, and despite a late 9:00pm start time, we still ended up playing a second game, on into the wee hours. Unfortunately, Lady Luck continues to snub me at the tables. Being card dead for a very long time, I joked that the first hand I had that had a face card in it, I was playing it regardless of position or the bet. Time marched on... and I kept on mucking. Hand after hand of 5-2, 4-2, 3-5. I remarked that I was going to have to change my thinking and lower my standards. If a had a 7 or higher, I'd play. That didn't really work either. In the first game, Matt took me out when I (getting low on chips and the blinds getting nosebleedish) looked down at pocket 6's. Matt raised ahead of me to 50. I raised all in for like another 70 or so. He showed AQos. I'm thinking, "dodge 'em!" Unfortunately, we did dodge em' but the Ace high straight filled itself in on the river for him. Yup, Matt you called it. When I finally get a hand, someone else is gonna find a better one. Oh well. In the second game, beer, the lateness of the hour and my utter disdain for this friggin' game of poker, I shoved with pocket Jacks, despite She-Wolfe's advances on the pot. As I turned my cards I asked, do you have 'em. The answer was all too apparent. There be bullets here! Oh well the beer was cold, and the Wild Turkey was gobblin' in Matt's glass, just begging me to sip a bit and then a bit more. : )
It was good to get out for the night with good friends and good times! It should also be noted that Scott Miller, came out of retirement last night and returned to the poker fold. It was good to see him out and about... and draggin' the occasional pot as well.
Other points of interest and just things that caught my oddball attention:
- Brian Y puts together a great poker music mix!
- People who typically suck out on you, get sucked out on too, and complain more loudly! : )
- Sometimes you really should chase after that straight, and follow a flush draw off the edge of the abyss.
- Matt taught me that mixers are optional for Wild Turkey.
- Rhinestones are a nice touch to a thong.
- Also, when Brian begins to lose his voice, he sounds disturbingly like Napoleon Dynamite! (Do the chickens have sharp talons?)
- If you slur your speech when you're drinking, it's okay, I slur my hearing when I'm drinking.
- Big Red had never seen a black hockey player! (Come to think of it, neither had I.)
- If you can't laugh at yourself, others will do it for you.
- And last but not least... you really can bounce a quarter off of Jody's ass. Buns Of Steel Baby!
I'll see many of you tonight at the Eagles (for still more poker goodness,) after we get Whitney off to prom. And I'll try to post up some pix of her sometime later on the blog. Proposals and gawking by you pervs will not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly. Suffice it to say that despite my obvious bias... my daughter looks absolutely beautiful!
Hope to see you soon... and hope you choose me to give your money to, as Lady Luck for once actually gives me the reach around!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Somewhere along the line
Date: Fri, May 9, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
Somewhere along the line, I've performed a "core dump" of poker skill and ability. Certainly something happened, I just wish I could remember when it happened and how. Armed with such knowledge I'd quickly set about returning that which has been lost to the ole gray matter. Whenever it was the core dump had other sweeping effects as well. Along with it came, frustration and a complete lack of confidence. This is serious people. Are you hearin' me? I blew a chunk of the online bankroll yesterday and I'm left wondering what happened and reeling from the feeling. The best I could do while 2 tabling was to tread water on one table, while the other just sucked the life and cash out of me. By and large, I was slowly and painfully being blinded. Then, I'd get involved in a pot with Big Slick (several times) but never connect with it. Or I'd look down at the Hilton Sisters, but get bested by someone with a baby ace on the flop. It was a horrifying extended session to say the least. Top it all by the fact that I wasn't even enjoying it. It was just frustrating and I felt the quicksand just pulling me down. There's nothing can be done about it now, I'll just have to live with it and move on. Once your money hits the middle of the table... it's no longer yours. I have to live with it...but I don't have to like it.
Tonight is poker night at the Yanok's house. It sounds like it's going to be a big crowd. I'm looking forward to it. Hoping to redeem myself for a poor showing at the tables yesterday online. Of course just saying that could jinx me, so let's just say I'm going over to hang out with some of my favorite people and lay waste to a few bottles of beer. What could possibly go wrong. Tomorrow night while my daughter is at her 9th grade prom... a motley crew of us will be heading to the Eagles for the band, the slot machines, the booze and one another's company. Oh yeah, I'm supposed to bring along the poker chips as well. I know you're all detecting a general issue here now aren't you. Somewhere\sometime tomorrow I have to go get Big Red and my own mother a present for Mothers' Day. I didn't forget, but I do procrastinate something fierce! I was informed that this year, she wasn't buying for herself. The kids were old enough to see to it themselves (with my help.) In which, after reading between the lines, I came up with the following translation: Get off your sorry ass and go buy me something nice!!! Fear not dear... your man's on the job. Thank goodness for liberal return policies this time of year!
Hope all is well in your neck of the woods, wherever that may be... and none of you forget your MOMS either. You know you have one... and she already knows you for the lousy no good that you are, so this weekend prove her wrong for once, and do something nice.
Have a great weekend... and here's hoping that mine will not turn to the dark side. Oh and just in case...curse you Jack Daniels and all your filthy kith and kin.
Regards,
cheer_dad
A day turned around
Date: Tue, May 6, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
Today wasn't going so well. Not at all... don't know why. No good reason at all. But then I got home and things improved. Really, and again for no good reason at all. Step one was to say hello to Cole and ask how the day at school went, and check on the homework situation both of which were "okay." I left him to continue playing with his wrestlers here in the family room, while I headed down to run my 30 minutes on the treadmill. Finished, showered, checked the homework. We all grabbed something to eat...then had a few various chores to take care of. Cole really pitched in and helped out, then he asked if we could pass the baseball around a little. It was one of the most enjoyable times I've had with my son in a very long time. He did well, we worked on some fundamental form, speed and accuracy. We even finished it out with him practicing "pitching." There were a few "wild" ones in there, but there was power and some really great pitches that came out. But aside from all the mechanics of the thing... it was just great spending time with my son.
I later had to go pick Whitney up from a track meet, and let her drive us home. I think I've mentioned the "learner's permit" before (shudders to self.) Well it is a reality people, but fear not, the lil blonde girl's doing a great job. Again, something very mundane and insignificant on its face, but I think this was a very good day, after all. When I tucked 'em in, I told them it was good spending time with them, and that I love them very much!
Whole day turned around just like that. They make me want to be better than I am. It's all about them. Luv ya kids!
Regards,
cheer_dad
Yard work...and the friggin' rake
Date: Sun, May 4, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
Abstained from poker for the day, not necessarily completely by choice. : ) But still I did abstain. No today there were several hours of yard work. I've never gotten around to having the blades sharpened on the mower, so it wasn't a perfect cutting. Couple that with the fact that I let the grass go too long, well unfortunately... it was a long, drawn out process. Despite bagging the grass I still had to rake the grass up, since it was everywhere. I didn't get to play poker but there was still a friggin' rake! Now I'm aching. And whoppee I get to go in to work tomorrow.
All that mowing time gave me time to reflect and think. It's one of the few times I can do that. I rehashed some of the game from the day before. I recognized there were a few starting hands that I played that maybe I shouldn't have...but I still came back to the two hands I discussed in the last post. Those are the ones that did me in. The Kings versus the Aces hand, well I wasn't backing away from that one and we all know it, don't we. If I'd just bought back in and had the full $20 in front of me, I'd have shoved with the cowboys. And hey, you there in the back snickering, you would have too, so just pipe down!
The 9's on the other hand, okay that wasn't my bright and shining moment in the sun. I know better... I just thought there was a window there and I was wrong. I took my lumps... I'll think twice about these things in the future now won't I. But there is no magic formula to this great game we play. And each of us will from time to time make missteps along the way. Getting up and brushing ourselves off is what we do. An opportunity to hit the felt running will be presenting itself real soon, I'm sure. Why, I believe I've already committed to playing at the Yanok's next Friday as it is. : )
Baseball game tomorrow night down at Tri-C and Whitney has a track meet too. I'll squeeze in a little time for my nervous break down. Oh and something else I just remembered. Dad called about mom's laptop. Turns out that the laptop has been around longer than 1-year, which is the term of the service contract, but... he picked up a Consumer's Report and found out that when a credit card is used to purchase a computer and a lot of other electronics and appliances, the manufacturer's warranty is DOUBLED! That's right people it appears still to be covered! In fact the other laptop of Whitney's may also be covered under warranty. Time will tell, should know something next week. I'll share it with the the faithful blog readers out there. Stay tuned.
Calling it a night soon...
Regards,
cheer_dad
Sometimes they have your number
Date: Sat, May 3, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
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
What a frustrating day...again!
Date: Thu, May 1, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
Lost weekend...lost time
Date: Mon, Apr 28, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
I was a casualty in the latest battle of the war against Jack Daniel's. But my friends didn't leave me behind. I guess the no man left behind motto holds true. It was Saturday night... at the Eagles. Prior to getting there, Big Red and I and the Brothers headed to Don Emilo's restaurant. Unfortunately, only Teresa had food along with her alcohol. That fact becomes important later. Anyway, Chris and I put down a pitcher of beer, while the girls opted for some Italian Margaritas, on the shhtrong side! We left there and headed up to enjoy the band and continue the evening of debauchery. Our favorite bartender "hooked" us up immediately with her special Jack and Diet mixture. I'm not sure there's much in the way of ice...or any cola at all thinning down the alcohol. "SMOOTH!" The night continued on that way.
Eventually, a poker game started up. I remember that part. I remember buying in for $20. Beyond that are merely factoids and blurbs of consciousness. In short, I lost time. I'm told I rebought into the game. I'm told that my eyes appeared glassy, and focus was a thing of the past. I checked the wallet the next day, and discovered that I was really only down $8 for the night. I guess the rebuy worked out to some degree. Frankly, I couldn't tell you a hand I played. All I really know is that I awoke on my couch the next morning. Tired, still vaguely drunk, but remarkably without a headache of any sort. Maybe if I'd eaten (remember I said that was important) there would be a bit of recall to be had. But hey, that's what friends are for. They served as my memory for the night. They following afternoon, we all headed over to the Wolfe's for a cookout. He grinned when he tried to offer me a beer, "a little of the hair of the dog that bit ya!" I had suspicions that I'd gone over the edge of drunkenness, Frank served to confirm that. He reminded me that there had been a porcelain visit in the late night. I was informed of the drunk talk I had with him on the way home, by the way he drove me. I'm not sure about all that but hey, he got me home, so I can't be complaining. I also found out that I had a bit of a partner in drunken crime... Laura! Atta Girl!!!
Anyway, it sounds like I must have had a great time. The parts I remember, were a lot of fun and I hope to do 'em again. I hope to remember more of them next time. But hey, it's not often that I tie one on that tight. I got to blow off some steam. Thanks all for putting up with me. I'll return the favor some day.
So, in this weekend's battle, Jack Daniels won out. I was beaten. But I'll redouble my efforts for next time. And yes there will be a next time. I will be avenged!
But if I'm planning to play cards... I'll stick to beer, and only a very few of them.
AC Audio\Video WINS
Date: Sat, Apr 26, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
The first baseball game of the year for AC Audio\Video gets recorded in the WIN column! The boys played GREAT baseball today. We scored 7 runs in the first inning, and held them to NONE. Vienna #1 returned the favor in inning 2 though, BUT we gave up only one run to them. The 3rd inning we caught fire again and chalked up another 7 runs. Vienna needed to score 4 runs to keep from being mercied! They gave us run for it, but when the dust settled, they loaded the bases but only got 2 across home plate. Despite the win... we decided to play on for another inning, just for the practice and to change things up a little. We were still doing great and we even got to put in some of the lesser experienced of our pitching staff. They were all doing great. We ended up scoring another 5 runs before we headed off the field. Great job boys, fantastic victory!
Not to blow the horn too loudly for my own son, but Cole stole home plate TWICE! He was really proud of that, and so was I... and YES, I told him so!
In that respect baseball is a lot like poker. It's A LOT more fun...when you're winnin'!
Whew... had to get the poker reference in there.
Regards,
cheer_dad
Tri C Opening Day
Date: Sat, Apr 26, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
It's Opening Day for Tri-C Baseball folks!
Cole and I just got back from our pictures session. But we have to be back down in less then an hour to get ready for our first baseball game of the season. We will be playing Vienna Team 1. I think if we can keep the boys focused we will do fine, and hopefully win our first outing for the year. The big thing is to get the pitchers just tossing across the plate in this league. More often than not, the batter is scared out of his wits and doesn't want to get hit by the ball. I can't tell you how many times I've watched in our scrimmage games so many batters stepping out of the batter's box as soon as the pitcher releases the baseball. This kid pitch thing will take some getting used to. So the trick to taking advantage of it is to pitch 'em right down the middle and if a couple of 'em hit it we just have to let the fielders take 'em down. By and large the strikeouts will be because the pitcher clinches up and doesn't swing. Cole I don't think will have that much trouble. He's been swinging...he just has to connect. When he does it'll be in the grass, if he can just drive it instead of launching.
Whitney also had tryouts for Southern Belles for the past two days. She's not overly confident that she'll make it. There are only like 4-5 spots available. All other past members are returning. They've ALL worked really hard, and I'm proud of Whitney for guttin' it out. Despite popping her hip out of place yesterday...she continued on. She was able to do that by popping it back into place herself! She's a friggin' animal. She's into that whole "pain is just weakness leaving the body" thing! Like I said...friggin' animal!
Anyway, not much time left now, maybe I'll have a chance to give another update, who knows. Later this evening a bunch of the NDPT crew and etc... will be heading to the Eagles to see the band Slammed 6, (Nikki's family's band.) We're also getting together to celebrate Laura's birthday. Happy B-day Pookie!!!
I might even bring along a deck of cards. See you all soon.
Regards.
cheer_dad
Treasury and Federal Reserve officials have been warned!
Date: Tue, Apr 22, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
I stumbled across this remarkable article over at TheHill.com, which told a story I had not yet heard from the front lines of the fight against the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.) According to the author, Susan Crabtree (as of 04/22/08 03:45 PM EST,)
"A bipartisan group of House Financial Services Committee members have warned U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve officials not to waste any more time trying to implement a ban on online gambling."
Yes, I recognize that is a direct quote (hopefully cited sufficiently)but what an opening line for an article! I don't want to have to quote the whole article, but it's really tough because it's just chock full of facts that I'd like to re-iterate. But suffice it to say that Representatives Barney Frank, Luis Gutierrez, Ron Paul, and Pete King sent a letter putting the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve on notice NOT to proceed with developing regulations which would be used to enforce the provisions of the much debated UIGEA. They didn't pull punches with the letter sent Tuesday and the recipients were Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke!
I acknowledge the fight that Rep. Barney Frank has put up in his efforts against the UIGEA, but this move seems quite bold. I think it demonstrates his commitment to the effort and I for one applaud him for it! I'm currently trolling around looking for the letter that was sent in its entirety. As soon as I find it...I'm posting it or at least the link. Basically what I gather from the article is that the lawmakers involved believe there are much more pressing issues with which to deal than waste time and effort on establishing policy for enforcement of the UIGEA, which Frank and his colleagues plan to actively oppose.
Sorry blog dwellers, I'm struggling for words to write here, without plagiarizing the whole article. Just go read all about it RIGHT NOW! Right HERE! Hopefully you'll be as excited about it as I am.
I'll stop rambling and head out looking for the elusive letter now!
***REVISION***
Ha, armed with an internet connection and the forces of Google on my side I found the smoking gun (errr letter) that was sent to Bernanke and Paulson... Here you go: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/press042108.shtml
Make sure to read BOTH of the letters that were sent out, which are for the most part identical except for the following passage in the letter sent to Chairman Bernanke:
"We realize this is not a task you requested. We also appreciate the candor with which your representative answered our questions. In fact, her honest answers and the testimony of the other witnesses confirmed our view that this is an impossible task."
This is the good stuff folks... : )
Regards,
cheer_dad
fd's Flickr Toys
Date: Mon, Apr 21, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
I struggled today with trying to come up with something to blog about. Nothing poker related came to mind, nothing insightful or earth shattering. And not that this post is going to live up to any of those things, but I started drifting. I got a little click happy and ended up out on Flickr where I found a link to the following site:
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/
There I found some of the coolest photo manipulation tools ever! Maybe lots of you know all about it and didn't need me to be telling you about anything on the internet. If so, sorry... but get over it. I thought it was great. The image above was created from a single photo that was lurking in "My Pictures" folder of the spaceship looking thing at the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. There's your loose gambling/poker/vegas tie in to keep the blog on topic. : ) Anyway, the photo above was "Hockneyized" as they called it. There were a number of other useful/creative tools on the website for creating cool photo calendars, id badges, stamps, billboards and even jigsaw puzzles. Go out and take a peak at all the site has to offer.
Remarkably I found this on a Monday, a day which up til now I've had very little use for! : P
Regards,
cheer_dad
Last night at the Wolfe's
Date: Sun, Apr 20, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
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
Brandi... and the weekend
Date: Sat, Apr 19, 2008 Internet Live Tournament
Sadly according to this article over at Wicked Chops Poker, it has been confirmed that Brandi Hawbaker is dead at the age of 26. Apparently I've been very behind in my reading, as it appears that this occurred on Sunday. Still what a waste... so very disturbing. Rest in peace Brandi.
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