Is It Time For An Update Already

Well, three years have came and gone.  Has it been that long since I last posted?  Apparently it has!

At this point I have no intentions of posting on a regular basis.  If it were to happen, that would not be bad.  Maybe that would mean that I played some poker.

A few things have happened since my last post.  I have played in a WSOP side event (I didn't do great, but had loads of fun).  I started working again.  My time at home as a stay at home Dad did not last long enough.  Now I am as busy as I ever was, if not busier.  The good thing is that I am spending a lot more time with the family.

The last few years I have taken a trip out to Vegas during the WSOP.  It's addicting and fun.  There is so much poker going on at that time of the year.  I only got a few small cashes.  I was either not playing great or the other players were playing great.  Probably a combination of both.

Online, I am not able to play as much as I once did.  Last summer I played quite a bit and did very well.  I paid for a good portion of a Vegas trip with my poker winnings.  That was the first time in, well ever.

At this time, I am missing poker again.  I can only go so long without playing.  Really, I am missing live poker.  This time of year is really busy, but maybe after the first of the year, I can find some time to go play somewhere.  I heard there may be a local game starting up around here.  If that takes off, I could scratch my itch.

My bankroll right now is non-existent.  We have been trying to pay down debt, so I have not set anything to the side for a bankroll.  It's time to start one.  I have a few dollars in my wallet, that will have to get me started.  Then I should be able to add to it a little each month, until I can get started playing the games I need to be playing again.

At the very least, I need to save enough to be able to hit the road and play in a series that happens in one of the adjoining states.

I'll try to play a small game this week and post the results.

Back and Better Than Ever

My life has changed considerably since I last posted in March of the previous year. 

The most notable of those changes is that I have transitioned from my Human Resources Director position to Stay at Home Dad.  What a huge change in lifestyle.  In November of last year, my wife accepted a position in Northwest Kansas. 

We found and bought a house.  She moved up to start working once we were back from our Disney trip.  I stayed in my position and lived in South Central Kansas with plans to move up at the end of the year when the kids semester was over.

As it turned out, the person replacing me was not able to start until January so I stayed on for another 3 weeks to train the new Human Resources Director.

Time has flown by since then.  It feels like I was just working last week.  Now I stay home with my 3 year old daughter and greet the boys when they get out of school at 4:00.  They only have a 4 day school week so we have a weekday together as well. 

A lot went through my mind when deciding if this was the right direction for my life.  Leaving the working world can be a career buster if you stay out too long.  I was ready for a change in my career path anyway.  At some point I will either go back to school for a new career path or hopefully start something on my own.

I considered what people will think.  That has led to most of my decisions in life.  They were not all bad decisions, I just wasn't really happy.  I am 37 years old.  It is time to start living my own life.

Money wise, we are better off than we were before.  I thought that we could really stack in the money if I took another job up here.  That may still happen at some point, but for now I am enjoying my time with my daughter, and I'm not sure money can buy that.  

Since my transition, I have found out that my 3 year old daughter loves fishing more than I do.  She has already out fished me once.

I do chores around the house and transport kids to all their sporting event stuff.  We have to travel 20 minutes to practice and games.  I do a few things on the side to bring in some extra money, but try not to do too much as I am home to take care of my daughter.

Recently I picked up a landscaping and mowing job at a local business to have a little extra spending money.

I have started playing online poker again with limited success.  I was having good success until yesterday.  Every player ended up having pocket aces any time I got a decent hand.  Thankfully that streak broke this morning when I played.

I have been considering adding to the blog now that I am playing again and have more time to do so.  This seems to be the right time as I leave for Vegas tomorrow.  Every year I try to make it out to meet a friend from Ohio.  It has been a year and a half since our last Vegas adventure. 

Next week I should have some fun stories to share with you. 

BREAK

I wrote this quite a while back.  A lot has changed quite majorly since I wrote this and I will catch you up on that in a future post.

O.K. Maybe it's time to give a little update.  Reason for lapse in posting:  Rattlesnake bite to the groin!  No, not really.  I guess I just needed a break, had a lack of things to write about, got really busy with 3 kids, etc.

So what have I been doing?  I can tell you that poker has taken a back door.  I still play in a local game occasionally but took a break from it as well for most of the summer.

Recently, I have started concentrating on the game again and have found some success.  The first week of the year I won the local game.  From then until a few weeks ago I did not make the final 4 places.  The game has gotten bigger, the rules have changed a little, the players are getting better.  I have a lot of excuses.  The main thing was that I was not trying to improve.

A few weeks ago, I played online to get my groove back.  I read some card player magazine articles.  I focused on my play and the play of the others at the table.  Since I started doing that, I have finished 3rd and 2nd at the local game.  The payouts were a nice boost to my depleted bankroll.

My plans were to go to Las Vegas in October.  I had everything planned out and approved by the wife, then I changed gears.  Some friends offered to take us along on their Disney World trip in November.  Once I decided to do that I knew all of my discretionary money would be going towards that. 

The trip has been booked and mostly paid for.  Now it's time to start planning a trip to the desert.  I'm thinking January would be a good time to go.  I might have to go out sooner.  I'm craving a Vegas Vacation.

This summer has been really busy.  We moved to the country.  The boys and I have picked up several yards to mow in town.  It has rained every week.  The grass has needed mowed a minimum of once a week.  On top of the town yards, I have several acres to mow at home. 

Now that we are in the country, I have started a garden, hatched and started raising chickens and guineas, built coops and pens for both of them, and drive the kids back and forth to town for sports.  That takes up all of my time.  I'm ready for fall.

I decided to set up an account for Draft Kings.  I had heard very little about it out here.  I am excited for the first week of NFL now.  I have several teams drafted in several of the contests.  I might have gotten a little carried away this first week, but I think it may turn out to be profitable. 

I have done some dabbling on some of the other sports, and have finished o.k. in a couple of the contests.  I just don't pay attention to baseball, mma and golf as much as I do football.  I'm not an expert by any means, but it looks fun to try.

Going forward I am not going to be posting on a regular basis.  I will try to post a little more than twice a year.

Quick Trip Report

I'm back from Vegas. It was a quick trip and a lot of fun. I didn't play any poker, but I did stop by and look at a couple of poker rooms as we were checking out the strip. 

I went to Freemont street on Sunday night to get fried Oreos and check out the light show. As soon as the light show was over we walked to Mermaids for fried Oreos. No luck. They were cleaning up shop. 

One thing I noticed out there was a complete lack of tourists. It was almost like a ghost town compared to usual. It is usually slow this time of year but on Freemont street during the light show I counted 5 people out watching it not including us. 

I bid farewell to the Riviera. From now on if I go to Vegas I will be staying at a casino that offers poker. My next trip will probably be during the WSOP with the intentions of playing a lot of poker. 

Riviera Hotel and Casino to be Demolished?

 

Last week I saw that Riviera Hotel and Casino was being sold.  Today on vitalvegas.com I saw that Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is buying Riviera with plans of demolition.  Vitalvegas.com mentioned that the official announcement is still a few days off with an expected announcement at the sale on Feb. 17, 2015.

 

The Riviera Hotel and Casino has always been my favorite casino.  I have a lot of good stories that came from staying there.  I will miss this gem in the desert. 

 

With my upcoming trip and stay booked at the Riviera next Saturday and Sunday, I will be paying close attention to the news next week.   

 

 

2 Weeks and 2 Days

This month is going to fly by.  I tried to slow it down by booking a trip to Las Vegas the 21st - 23rd.  Usually it takes forever for a Vegas trip to get here.  Not this time.

I have poker on Monday nights.  Basketball is over, but my nights are now filled with preparations to buy a marina.  I have put together a business plan and my wife has helped tremendously by getting the cash flow projections together.  We have looked at personal finances, start up cost, calculated labor cost, and much much more.  We were able to get a lot of financial information from the original owners and they have been extreemly helpful in answering additional questions as they come up.

On Saturday they were on their way back to their Condo in Padre and sat in their car to keep cell phone reception just to answer questions for me as well as just talk about the business in general.

Tomorrow I meet with a SBA loan representative that also can write developement loans and authorize certain grants.  All of our hard work will be scrutinized tomorrow.  We have a bank that will carry the loan.  We just need the SBA to sign off on it.

I feel a lot better after looking deeply into the financials.  I knew there had to be a way to make money in the business and the financials show that I am right.  The owners confirmed that I was right and the owners accountant assured me I was right. 

If everything goes as planned I will be purchasing a marina by early March and transitioning to a business owner and operator immediately following.  I will be leaving a great job, so it has been a tough decision.  My dream is to wear shorts to work.  I may be doing a lot of that this summer.

I will still have some major work to do after tomorrow, and before we purchase the business.  I will be busy with my current job, preparing to leave.  I will be busy at night getting my ducks in a row at home. 

My wife is planning on staying behind for a while so we have a second source of income.  She can support us with her pay.  I will move up in a pop up camper and live behind the marina for the immediate future.  Campground showers and restrooms.  I'm planning on working 16 hour days, 7 days a week.  I know there will be some slow times I can take some breaks.  In the beginning the days will be a little shorter until we reach the busy season. 

I still plan on putting in my time to make this business venture successful.  I enjoy working hard.  With the business only being open 7 months a year, I plan on playing hard on my off time.  I may be able to find a job that I can work during my off time.

My life is crazy right now.  I have a whirlwind of emotions every day.  For the most part I am excited.  I feel alive.  I feel like all of the work experience I have gotten the last 13 years has been for this.  Marketing, Management, H.R., Payroll, Accounting, Purchasing, Bookkeeping.  All of this will contribute to the success of this business and make my transition a little easier. 

I have wondered why I have been tested so much the last 13 years.  This may be why.

Vegas in February - EllisMania 10

Last night we had our weekly game.  I was card dead the whole first half of the game.  I won 1 hand the first 2 hours.  Even the hands I folded I would not have caught anything on the flop had I felt like playing 8 3 offsuit.

After break I came back to 4 bb's.  I had just talked to one of the players outside before the break ended saying that I will come back to a mid pocket pair within the first 2 hands, go all in and get called and lose.  It always happens when I am low stacked. 

The first hand back was not quite a mid pocket pair.  It was 66.  I was early position and went all in.  One of the other players hem hawed around and said he was going with his gut and called.  Everybody else folded.  He turned over 10 3 hearts.  He hit a 3 on the flop and a 3 on the river to send me packing. 

After the hand he said he was sorry, he made a horrible play.  I told him it wasn't a horrible play.  It was the best call I could have asked for with him only having 1 over.  He went with his gut and it worked.  I told him not to worry about it.  I figured with my chips as amunition he would make it deep, just as I probably would have with his chips had I won.  He ended up cashing in 3rd place.

On a good note, I have booked another trip out to Las Vegas.  I will be bringing another newby out, so probably not a lot of poker this trip.  He plays a bit so we may be sitting at some tables over the weekend.  I booked it for Feb 21st - Feb 23rd.  We get there early Sat morning and leave Monday afternoon.  It will be a quick trip. 

I wanted to have something to look forward to after a busy start to the year.  We will be staying at the Riviera again.  I really like the size of the rooms.  Plus they let me use my comps for a room on the weekends.  Play a little too much on the slots there I do.  If only they had a poker room.

We've already booked tickets to EllisMania 10 Saturday night.  I am not sure exactly what it is, but the guy I'm bringing said he listens to Jason Ellis on XM radio.  They were having EllisMania 10 the same night we get to town.  This could not be coincidence.  I booked the tickets before I knew what it was about.  From what I have heard random people do challenges on the radio to have a chance to go to this and fight.  The last one had a musical chair fight, 4 man shock collar fight and some other crazy fights.  It sounds like they put on one heck of a show.  I'm excited to go see it and bring back some interesting stories to put on here.

Muck Em

After winning last week, I had a target on my back for the $20.00 bounty this week.  It was apparent at the start of play that I was going to have to have the best hand from start to finish every time.

I had pocket aces fairly early and had 2 callers all the way to rivertown.  I had 1 beat.  The other caught their flush on the river.  Painful. 

This week was not at all like last week.  I could not buy a hand.  Actually I got creative one time when I was about out of chips and called an all in from late position with 7 2 when nobody else called.  There were a lot of chips in the pot.  He had JQ.  I caught a 7 on the river to win.  It was pretty exciting.  It was apparent that I showed up last night to eat, drink and have fun.  With the cards I got I do not think things would have turned out any different if I had played seriously.

I did have fun.  The host always makes a meal for us.  This week it was a baked potato bar, with a snack tray and cakes.  It's a rough way to spend my Monday evenings.

My last hand of the night was 4 2 s.  I went all in and had 2 callers.  KQrag out the gate.  Big stack bets, other player goes all in.  Uh Oh!  Big stack folds.  Other player has a Q.  A 2 hit on the turn.  No love on the river.  I was third out of the game.  I had 1 BB left when I went all in.  I had just gotten out of the blinds with 8 3 and 9 2 with raisers and callers ahead of me.  I had 4 more hands to make a move.  When I looked down at the power hand 4 2 I knew it was time to put my chips in the middle. 

Not this time.

Poker and Basketball

This week I got back into the Monday night Muck Em.  The week before my daughter had been diagnosed with Influenza, I was exposed and I did not want to spread it to anybody else so I stayed home.

This week I came ready to play.  The cards were ready for me too.  I won the very first hand I have played this year with a pair of kings.  Nobody called my bet on the flop.  I caught several boats, sets, straights and all at the opportune times.  By the time we got to the final table I had a sizable chip lead.  The cards went dead.  Compared to what I had been getting.  I sat on my stack and watched as other players were taken out.

When we got down to 5 left I started looking for a spot to make a move.  I found a couple of spots and maintained my stack.  The blinds were starting to get to where I could not sit any longer.

When the bubble busted I was sitting with a slight lead.  From there one of the players continued on his run he was having since break.  He had been down to 1 bb at break and had went on a heck of a streak.  He took out the other 2 players and had me covered in chips. 

We played back and forth for nearly another 20 minutes.  I looked down at pocket 3's and thought I would do a semi-steal attempt.  He called.  The flop came out low.  He had called my raise so i figured he might have high cards.  I thought he had me covered so I announced all in.  He thought for a while and called.  It turned out I had a few more chips than he did.  I turned over my 3's and he showed 2 6 for a pair of 2's.  The board ran out not improving his hand and giving me the win. 

I collected my my hundo from finishing 3rd last year and collected more than that for my 1st place finish.  Nice start to the year.

We had our first basketball games on Saturday.  The boys played really well.  We lost 11 to 16 the first game and 12 to 32 the second game.  We fell apart at half time the 2nd game.  We were down 10 to 12 and looked like we had a chance.  Then I had a couple of kids start arguing and pushing each other on my team.  Another 2 kids forgot their positions and started running all over chasing the ball.  We are looking good.  We have 2 players that are scoring all of the points.  We need another player to step up and become a scoring threat as well. 

After practice this week I think we will have at least 3 kids scoring this Saturday.

Coaching Basketball

I'm back from a busy Christmas weekend.  We traveled to Grandma's in Colby, KS, then to Mom and Dad's on Christmas Day.  The next day we went to Kearney, NE to spend time at Holiday Inn with my wife's family for a couple of days.  We made it back home yesterday. 

I am more tired than before we left.  It's nice to be back in our own bed's. 

Basketball practice started last week.  I am coaching the 1st and 2nd grade team here.  The kids show a lot of promise this year.  We have a lot to learn and they are learning quickly.  When my boys first got into sports, I was asked to coach and reluctantly did it.  As my kids are getting older, I find myself volunteering when we sign them up.  I really love coaching.  I ask my kids every time if they want me to be their coach and so far they have said yes.  If they did not want me to be, I would step aside. 

Basketball is really fun to coach.  There is so much to the game and these boys are just learning.  Every basket made is like winning a championship.  Even in practice.  Last week we executed a play (passing to the post and shooting) and made a basket.  The kids were jumping up and down and high fiving.  If we take that kind of energy into a game, I will be one happy coach.

Last year was rough.  We didn't win a game.  We barely ever scored.  I learned a lot, the kids learned a lot.  This year I have a few players returning.  That will make a huge difference.  Last year was our first year in this league that allows 1st and 2nd graders to play.  We had all newbie's playing against kids that had played the year prior.  That may not help us win this year, but it will not hurt our chances. 

I have been working with the boys on a lot of things we didn't or couldn't last year because we had to learn the fundamentals.  We have a few kids that we work with on the side on the fundamentals, but we are able to focus a lot of our practice time on drills and play that will help us in the game.

Last Monday was the next to last game of the year for Monday Night Muck Em.  I got there late due to basketball practice.  I was the last one there and the first one out.  The players right behind me in points standing did not do well either.  The players ahead of me did o.k.  I still have a shot at 1st or 2nd in points for the year tonight depending on if they take a dive and I pull out a win.  I have 3rd locked in even if I am the first one out.  After tonight I will have 1 to 3 extra Benjamin's in my pocket.

Time For Change

This weekend I decided I was going to try to win my way into America's Card Room's 1 million dollar event.  First I had to take care of some things around the house, then I was going to win my way into the game, run hot, and take down the whole thing.

I ran into a problem.  The site froze as I started to play.  It stayed frozen all night into the next day.  I never did finish the tournaments I was in to win a seat.  I'm not sure if it is working yet today or if they refunded my entry fees.  All I know is that I am not $200,000.00 richer.  I guess I will have to way for the holiday millions lottery raffle to pay off.

Monday night I was able to make it to the game and even finished 2nd.  It's been a while since I had a high finish.  That should secure my 3rd place spot for the next 2 weeks.  It also put me in a spot I could contend for 1st if I could pull out a couple last of the year wins. 

I will be coaching my boys in basketball again this year.  We start practice next week and play until the end of January.  As if that will not keep me busy enough, I am also looking into buying a business.  I have been working with the economic development department for the state to get cash flow projections, a business plan put together and look at loan options.  On top of that I have been traveling back and forth across the state, and getting ready for Christmas.

I am looking into buying a marina.  I would be fulfilling a life long dream of mine in doing so.  I would be giving up a lot in doing so as well.  Things that I have become accustomed to, like time off, travel, family time.  The marina has a lot to offer and is set up truly turn key.  They have it running like a top now and making a good profit. 

It's amazing how all of the different jobs I have had will play a role in operating this business.  I have had experience in Marketing, bookkeeping, management, H.R., payroll, purchasing, customer service as well as restraint, housekeeping, maintenance etc.  It feels like I have been doing all of these things for a reason and this is supposed to be my reason.

There's still a lot of hard work to be able to pull this off and a short timeframe to do so.  I may not post a lot in the near future while I am trying to pull everything together.

Good News for Poker Players

Update From Poker Players Alliance

Weekly Update from Rich Muny, VP of Player Relations

 I have terrific news to share with you. Following a major fight on Capitol Hill, the last “must pass” bill moved forward without Sheldon Adelson’s online poker ban attached! Chances of Adelson succeeding in the lame duck had been estimated to be as high as 50/50 by former Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV), so it is clear the poker community won a major battle for our game this week.

I wish to thank you and everyone who stood strong and refused to allow Sheldon Adelson and his cronies to usurp our rights.

That being said, a victory lap is premature. After all, the lame duck session is not quite over. We all still need to remain vigilant while continuing to let our lawmakers know that we oppose this bill and that we are paying attention. And, as 2015 will see a tenacious fight at the state and federal levels for our game, the action we all take now will help lay the foundation for next year.




I was excited to see this news when I looked to see if there was an update on the poker players alliance homepage.  I still like to play online every once in a while.  My hopes of the good ole days of playing with people across the world have all but vanished.  There is still hope that some day there will be a poker boom again in the United States where I can play more than just a few tables at a time.  I don't need 3 screens now for the few games I can get going. 

There was no Monday Night Muck Em for me this week.  My kids had a Christmas program at school that night so I skipped the poker.  There were quite a few others that did as well, so I should still be ranked in the top 3 for the year.

I am considering playing a local game tonight that I rarely go to.  We are out of town a lot on the weekends or have something going on Friday nights.  I have no plans and I have not played at all this week.  It may be time for some pokerz.

Monday Night Muck Em

This last week I have spent time with family, giving online poker players a break.  Last night was our Monday night Muck Em game.  As the game started I played quite a few hands and tightened up as the blinds went up.  Partially because I stopped getting good looking cards.  They turned ugly.

Finally I got 2 face cards and ended up almost all in with them when the board hit middle of the road.  The other player called on the flop with 22.  The board double paired counterfeiting her pair and giving me a decent chip stack.  I took advantage of the blinds once, when they both commented how they got blind hands.  I was on the button so I raised and took advantage of their comments.

With 6 players left I was late position when I looked down at pocket Q's.  I raised the pot 3X to 6000 chips.  I got 2 reluctant callers, one of which was all in.  The first card out was an ace.  I was able to check it down with the other player who had pocket J's.  The all in player had AK.  Two weeks in a row I have been slobbered with high pocket pairs by an ace hitting first thing on the flop. 

Again I started to bounce back until I decided it was a good idea to call an all in with K7 for another half a blind when I was the big blind.  He had Q 10.  I caught my K on the river but it was the 4th diamond that fell and I did not have one.  He did.  The next hand I was all in, in the small blind with A9.  Only the button and big blind were in the hand.  The big blind was all in as well.  I had A9c.  The flop missed me but paired the BB's 6.

With 4 weeks left for points this year, I am still in 3rd.  I have a lot of players on my tail now as the three of us on top have not been finishing great.

I'm getting myself where I want to be towards the end of the game.  I just need to close out.  K's and Q's are killing me.

For the year I have been ahead money wise for a few months now in the Muck Em game.  Each time I place in the top, is profit.  It would be nice to have a few more scores before the end of the year to increase that profit.

Caution! Pair of Suited Aces



 

Last week we were having some internet connection issues while I was playing.  I raised on this current hand on the button only to see this flop.  A flush draw with a pair of suited aces.  That's gotta be a winner right?  Apparently the internet failed a couple hands before and A3 was the hand I had the previous hand.  When I looked at the hand history, I apparently raised with J4o. 

 

This weekend I traveled North to visit family and friends at Dad's 60th birthday party.  Mom and Dad had hired a band and turned their shop into party central.  It was a lot of fun.  I had a 2 day hangover.

 

Monday night we had our Muck Em game.  I was playing tight again, trying to get points.  At the final table I was sitting with a decent chip stack.  I could fold to the bubble easily.  I was in the big blind and a decent stack from the other side of the table raised.  I look down at pocket K's.  I push and get a reserved call.  I have him slightly covered.  He turns over AQ.  First card out is an ace.  Crapsickles.  With one blind left I made it 3 more orbits and got a little life back.  Unfortunately nobody else was going out. 

 

On the last hand I was sitting in late position and nobody had bet.  I go all in for 3 1/2 bb's with K9o.  The big blind insta called.  She had pocket 7's.  I hit a 9 out of the gate, but the turn brought a 7.  No points for me.  One player slightly under me and one person over me in points had good finishes.  I'm still sitting in 3rd in points for the year.  I will need points to hold on now.

 

Last night I played quite a few double or nothings and a couple of tournaments.  No luck.  Every time somebody pushed with an ace they caught it.  Every time I needed one it never came.  No fair.

 



Flopped Royal

 

This weekend I got my third Royal Flush.  It was in a double or nothing game and I did not win a lot with it, but I did win the game eventually.  I got my first ever royal in a tournament at the Riviera in Las Vegas.  We were on the bubble.  I had nut flush on the turn and called an all in bet.  He had hit his boat.  I thought I was crushed until someone out of the hand calls for my royal flush card and it hits on the river.  I ended up getting a 2nd place finish.  It was my 2nd tournament cash in Vegas and was awesome to say the least.  Had I been in the cash game I would have gotten 1000.00 for hitting a royal flush.  No matter what, it was special to me.

 

The second royal flush I had was on pokerstars.  I don't remember any specifics other than I hit one again.  

 

This hand did not help the rest of my day.  I ended up a loser for the day after playing a bunch of 1 and 2 dollar tournaments mixed with a couple 5.50 and 11.00 tournaments.  I only had 1 final table and finished 9th in the 2.20 nightly.  The 2.20 nightly seems to be my game lately.

 

Monday night I went into the game feeling a little more confident after playing so many hands over the weekend.  It was pretty slow going at the start.  I won one big hand with a 10 8 when 1 player went all in and 2 others called on my big blind.  With a 10 high flop I shoved the rest of my chips out and was called by pocket 7's.  The all in player had AQ and did not hit.  I held against the 7's and scooped a big pot.

 

From there I tried to get in a couple of pots but they were raised dramatically and I would have to fold and wait for my opening.  That opening never came.  With 5 left and 4 getting paid I had to make a move.  Finally I got an AK.  I went all in and was called.  I caught and doubled up keeping me alive a little longer.  It didn't take long to get down to 3 players.  With 3 players left, I got cards any time I needed them and came back from being down to 1 chip to being in contention to win. 

 

Chips moved around the table over and over again.  Nobody would go out.  Then it happened.  The low stack went all in and both of us called.  I lost the hand but so did the small stack.  I was crippled at that point.  I won the next 3 hands and was back to even.  The last hand I had K6 and moved all in again.  This time he had A5.  He won the hand with A high. 

 

With 6 weeks left in the points race I am still in third.  I made a move though as the 2 players below me and the 2 above me did not end up in the points.  There is still some room to win this thing with a little luck and some solid play.   

Midweek Play

 

We are in between sports and running around right now.  Last night I took advantage of it getting dark early.  Once I got supper fixed I dusted off the laptop.  Set me up a gaming station and fired up 6 games.  I had 3 1.00 games, a 2.00 game, and 2 5.00 games. 

 

In each of the games I started out on fire, building imaginary chip stacks.  I min cashed in the first 5.00 game for 9.00.  I then won an 11.00 ticket in one of the 1.00 games.  It automatically put me into the 11.00 nightly game that had been running for an hour and a half.  Not cool.  I was placed at a table with a bunch of chip stacks. 

 

I lost one of the 1.00 games a ways from the money and min cashed the other.  I was doing well and was still in the 2.20 nightly, the 5.50 nightly and the 11.00 nightly tournaments.  I broke the money bubble in good condition in the 2.20 game.  I was doing really well with 9 players until money in the 11.00 game.  I got pocket Kings and raised 3X bb.  Larger stack across the table goes all in.  I call.  He has K2d and hit 3 diamonds on the flop.  I tried to keep my composure but I'm sure that affected my play in the 5.50 nightly game on the way through the bubble.

 

I got through the bubble on the 5.50 game and ended up min cashing in it.  The last game going was my 2.20 nightly game.  It was a long battle and I made it all the way to 14th place before I busted out with KQ offsuit.  I was getting low on chips.  Caller had JJ.  I was sad to go as it was a really fun table.  I rarely get a really fun table on an online tournament.  Everybody was chatting and having a good time. 

 

So close to a final table.  I did have to play down to 12 for an 11.00 ticket.  It was a pretty good night until I decided to play cash games above my bankroll.  I got beat on a couple of hands that should have held.  I ended up down 5.00 for the night instead of up by 25.00.

Monday Night Muck Em

Sticking with the plan this week, I played a tight game waiting on hands.  My first hand came in the second level.  Blinds 50 100.  I was in early position and was dealt KK.  Play had been pretty loose by a couple of players at the table so I thought I could bump up the bet a little and still get called.  I made it 200 and had 3 callers.  The flop came out with 2 suited cards and 2 connected cards all low.  I bet out 500 and had 2 callers.  The turn brought a medium card that did not help a straight or flush draw.  I bet 600 and only had 1 caller.  The river dropped another card that could complete a straight.  I bet 800.  He hesitated for a while then folded.  The player that folded on the turn said he would have hit his straight.

From that point on I was pretty card dead.  I tried to get in a hand with K 10 suited.  The flop completely whiffed and I folded post flop.  I was dealt J6 of spades 3 times.  Spades were hitting so I called a non raised pot with it the last time.  The flop completely missed me again.

By the time I got to break I had only won the 1 hand.  After break I was ready to make my run.  Unfortunately I never got a hand.  We got to the final table and my chip stack kept dwindling.  With 7 of us left I was needing to make a move.  Still no cards.  Slowly 2 players went out.  I was on the bubble with a little over 2 bb's.  The ante's ate up 1 bb by the time the blinds came around to me again.  I was all in.  My BB J7 caught 2 more jacks and I doubled up. 

In the next round the bubble busted and I was in the money.  The blinds were getting ready to jump again and I had 2 hands left.  There were 2 other players in dire straights like I was.  I look down at KQ diamonds in the small blind.  It folded to me and I put all my chips out to make the call.  He turned over J2.  The flop had a 2 and 2 diamonds.  The turn and river brought nothing and I finished in 4th place for a little more than my money back plus some points for the end of the year prize.

With 7 weeks left I am still in 3rd place in points.  It will be very hard to overtake 2nd or 1st place.  There are a couple of people trying to sneak up and knock me off the top 3.  I need to keep playing solid poker and collecting points. 

Paying It Forward

Sometimes people amaze me.  A lot of times it is not the greatest of amazements.  For example, I see the driver of a car blowing through town at 50 mph in a 30 mph zone with children around - amazed.  Sometimes though, it is somebody showing an act of kindness, like a kid opening a door for a group of people entering or exiting a building. 

 

This weekend I was hit with a random act of kindness. 

 

Friday afternoon we were driving up to my parents house to go pheasant hunting the next day.  We had contemplated not going since we would be making the trip again in 2 weeks for Dad's birthday party and didn't know if we could afford 2 trips this month.  We have been getting hit with a lot of additional expenses lately.  It has us watching our budget closely right now.

 

We decided that we could do a few things to cut down on the cost of this trip.  On the way up we stopped at dollar general to get snacks and drinks instead of stopping at a convenience store.  We couldn't cut out everything!  That saved us a little bit.  We also drove our vehicle that gets the best gas mileage.  The tire pressure and air filter were checked before we hit the road.  We also drove a little under the speed limit in sections of the drive to increase mpg and checked gas buddy for the best gas prices along the way.  Needless to say we were trying to spend a little less money than usual on this trip.

 

We reached Great Bend around 8:00 and everybody was starting to get hungry.  We decided to hit the Burger King drive through. 

 

I ordered the kids each a dollar item and a value fries as well as my wife.  I ordered myself a dollar sandwich.  The total came to right around $10.00.  I was pleased.  We had just filled up the tank with gas, had drinks and snacks and now food for our 4 hour trip for less than 50.00.  I was hoping to make the whole trip for $100.00 or less. 

 

As we pull around the drive through, there is a pickup at the window and 3 employees in the window talking to him.  I hear him say "That guy behind me won't mind."  I didn't know what he was talking about, but figured if it was about waiting for my food, I really didn't mind.  He could talk for a bit.  It looked like he might have ordered something else because he paid again and then got a drink.  "No problem, " I thought.  Then he drove off.

 

The three employees were all still standing in the drive through window when I pulled up.  I thought about joking with them about giving me a free pie or something for taking so long, but didn't want to offend them, or have them take it the wrong way, so I decided not to say anything.  As I got close they handed my food out to me and said, "It's your lucky day.  That guy just paid for your food."  I was shocked, and if it had not been for the shock, I probably would have broken my budget for the trip and paid for the car behind me.

 

We graciously grabbed the food and headed on our way.  I know my sandwich tasted a whole lot better than I thought it was going to taste after spending another $10.00.  The act of kindness couldn't have hit at a better time for me.  I have been feeling down about how rotten my luck has been lately and wondering if or when it will get better.  Well it did.  Right then and there.

 

Thank you to everyone that goes out of there way to show an act of kindness, whether it be buying something for somebody you don't know without wanting any recognition for it, helping somebody carry groceries to their car, or an infinite number of other kindnesses.  You are truly paying it forward.

 

This specific act of kindness really touched me.  I can't wait until the next time I am in a drive through line and can make somebody else's day.

 

We made it to Mom and Dad's that night.  The next day the boys went hunting and the girls went shopping.  Well my wife and daughter went along with my Mother who did all the shopping.  My wife, staying true to the budget, didn't buy anything.

 

We walked 15 miles through fields the next 2 days - hunting.  Dad had all the fun, knocking down 3 birds.  I shot at 1 the same time he did.  Apparently that was one tough bird.  Even though he had taken 2 shotgun blasts at close range and hit the ground with a thud, he was able to get away.  Dad turned and shot another bird that jumped right afterwards that we did recover. 

 

We made the trip back home for less than $50.00, bringing us in under budget.  It will be a little tight the rest of the month, but I am glad we made the trip.  It was a lot of fun.  The weather was about perfect.  It looks like that may be our last decent weekend this fall, so I am glad we spent it outdoors.

 

 

 

Monday Night Muck Em - Opening Weekend of Pheasant Season

Last years hunt

It's easy.  I have been playing way to loose.  All I need to do is tighten up my play and win a Monday Night Muck Em.

This Monday the plan was made.  I was going to wait for hands and collect chips.  First hand.  Fold.  Second hand my plan fell apart.  I don't remember what I had but it wasn't exceptional.  I played the hand and bet a middle pair as I had suited cards and there were 2 of my suit on the flop.  The flush never came and I showed down a winner on the river with 3rd best pair to their low pair. 

From then on I tried to play against that player and they had trips or better every time we got to showdown, which was only twice as I couldn't get past the rest of the players to get a shot at them again.

I was the very first one out of the game.  I didn't think about it at the time, but when I got home my wife asked if I had won.  I looked at the clock and it was pretty close to the time I would have walked in had I been in the money.  Everybody was playing their A game this week. 

The last hand I was in the bb with 3 bb's left behind.  I had a 2h 4h.  Three callers, nobody raised.  The flop came out Ah Kc 8h.  I thought a 3 blind could chase the players in the hand off.  The way they had been playing I figured that none of them even had an ace, and if they did I had a heart draw. 

All three players called.  Wow!  I had misjudged badly.  Still I could quadruple up if a heart falls.  The turn was an A.  I figured that hurt me.  The river was a K no heart.  I tossed my cards in the muck.  The winner had 88 for a set on the flop and a boat on the river.  The other 2 players did not have an ace or a king.  Maybe I hadn't misjudged my play so poorly after all.  Had the board not paired and a heart fell - you know the story.  Next time.

This weekend I head north.  It's opening weekend of pheasant season.  This has always felt like a holiday to me.  I'm sure deer hunters feel the same way the first day they can get out deer hunting.  Opening weekend is a tradition for my family.  We used to get together as a family, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, grandpa.  Everybody brought friends and we would all have fun the night before the big day and get up before the sun to go hunting.

One year my head was hurting extremely bad in the morning.  I had a bird jump up right in front of me.  I pulled the shotgun to my shoulder, sighted the bird in and cringed, I couldn't shoot.  I looked at my buddy and he had his gun up to his shoulder and lowered it back down without taking a shot.  He looked at me, looking at him, and we both knew we had drank too much of the homemade peppermint schnapps the night before.  We started laughing and before long were laughing so hard we had tears rolling down our cheeks.

It's not so much about making memories for myself any longer.  I'm sure I will look back and realize hunting with my boys will be better than any experience I have had previous.  We don't have huge family gatherings like we used to have.  Now it's about getting my boys out there to experience the outdoors and build memories for them.  I cannot recreate the great times I had for them to experience, but hopefully they will develop their own fond memories of hunting with their Grandpa and their Dad. 

Staycation

 

On March 27th, I for some reason, felt the need to place a 1.00 bet that the San Francisco Giants would win the 2014 World Series. 

 

I remembered placing a bet on the world series but had forgotten who I had picked to win it all.  The other day I had an extra 20.00 in my account, so this weekend I did some digging to see what I won.  I don't feel quite so bad about the Royals not winning now.

 

Since we did not have plans this weekend I decided that I would watch football and play poker on Saturday.  I loaded 6 - 1 and 2 dollar tournaments and got to work.  I lost a couple fairly quick and decided to try to get into the Sunday 215.00 game through an 11.00 satellite. 

 

Over the course of the evening I ended up min cashing in a couple games, scoring an entry to the 215.00 game and coming close to a final table in another.  Without the 215.00 ticket I was a small loser on the day.

 

Sunday I loaded up the 215.00 game, the 11.00 Sunday game, a good 5.00 game and the 2.20 Sunday game.

 

One thing stuck out like a sore thumb yesterday.  Pocket Kings SUCK!  I lost with them 4 times in the Sunday 215.00 game.  The 4th time was for my tournament life, before the rebuy period even ended.  I would win a hand, get pocket kings, lose, win a hand, get pocket kings, lose.  I never could get any traction.

 

Later in the evening I lost the 11.00 game shortly before the money.  I didn't have much luck in the 2.20 game and even tried rebuying once in it before losing again.  In the 5.50 game I was having some success.  I was wading deep in the tournament and was starting to get excited about my chances, when I see pocket Kings.  I raised from early position and was not surprised when I saw a re-raise all in, by one of the big stacks.  That was his only move.  I called and saw that I was up against a Q 10 offsuit.  The flop fell nicely K J 5 giving him an open ended straight draw.  The turn was a blank and the river brought the 9.  I finished around 30th place for 32.00. 

 

At the very least, I had a fun 2 days of poker, football watching, jerky making and staycationing.  It's been a long time since I have stayed home for a full weekend.  I'll be looking forward to the next staycation.