You know you're a parent when ...
You take the piece of apple that your baby has been gnawing on for the last five minutes and eat it even though it is covered in his drool.
Photos
An artsy-fartsy black and white pic of the H-man.
This used to be our dining room, but it was invaded by a bunch of mats and baby furniture.
Boys Day
Here is a picture of the boys and the flag pole for Boys Day. May 5th is Children's day in Japan. It used to be Boys' day and Girls' Day used to be March 3rd but they combined the holidays some time back. Anyway in Japan you are supposed to fly a Carp wind sock for each family member. So there is the Daddy Carp (Black), Mommy Carp (red) and baby carp (blue). The kit that was given to us is meant to be attached to some metal fence but since we don't have a metal fence I spent a good part of the day looking for some way to plant the flag pole. Pain in my a**. But since someone took the time and trouble to get us the set and cart it all the way back from Japan it was the least I could do. Besides, once I got everything set up it was pretty neat to look at. H was facinated by the socks blowing in the wind.
Two pics
The other day we were wondering what our son would look like if he decided to become a Hasidic Jew. Now we know.
Here is H getting his first taste of rice cereal.Remembering two amazing people.
Today is the 4oth anniversary of MLK's assassination. There is no question that he was one of the great orators of American history. This morning on NPR I heard the story of the speech Robert F. Kennedy's gave that day in Indianapolis to a largely black audience. The police advised him against making the speech and even refused to give Kennedy a police escort. That he decided to go anyway and the speech he gave was amazing. I don't know how long it took him to prepare the speech but witnesses say that he didn't look down once while giving it.
I can only hope that H, who turns 5 months today, will grow up to be half as accomplished and eloquent as either one of these people.
I can only hope that H, who turns 5 months today, will grow up to be half as accomplished and eloquent as either one of these people.
For your consideration...
Apparently some people actually bookmarked this blog and check it occasionally for new content. Rather than type a lot, I'll depend on that whole "picture is worth a thousand words" cliche and just give you a picture of H sporting a new hat.
-tmo
If there was any doubt
This is proof beyond a doubt that H is my son. Just 4 months old and he's already trying to get at the booze. Almost brought a tear to my eye.LIke Father, Like Son
OK, it may not look like it here, but H's feet look a lot like mine. His toes are shaped a lot like mine. Of course, T says that his feet don't smell like mine, but it's only a matter of time.
Go see the Doctor
When you think about it, where is the last place you want to be when you, or your baby, are sick? In a room full of other sick people. But there we were, sitting in the ER surrounded by other sick children. The ones with the bandaged extremities didn't worry me, but the kids with the green snot oozing from their noses were particularly worrisome.
Being Sunday we really didn't have many other choices. Our baby had a cold and was wheezing and the nurse told us to go to the ER. Luckily we live in a city that has a Children's hospital that is not too far away. Because it's a children's hospital and because it is not really centrally located, the ER is not packed with people who don't have insurance and are using the ER as their primary medical caregiver. That's the good part. The bad part is that you have to look at sick children. It breaks your heart to see little babies in obvious distress and discomfort.
Lucky for us, H just has a cold and should be fine. Granted, spending three hours in the ER is not an ideal way to spend your Sunday, but thankfully it was just 3 hours and not overnight or worse. Plus I scored some free syringes.
Being Sunday we really didn't have many other choices. Our baby had a cold and was wheezing and the nurse told us to go to the ER. Luckily we live in a city that has a Children's hospital that is not too far away. Because it's a children's hospital and because it is not really centrally located, the ER is not packed with people who don't have insurance and are using the ER as their primary medical caregiver. That's the good part. The bad part is that you have to look at sick children. It breaks your heart to see little babies in obvious distress and discomfort.
Lucky for us, H just has a cold and should be fine. Granted, spending three hours in the ER is not an ideal way to spend your Sunday, but thankfully it was just 3 hours and not overnight or worse. Plus I scored some free syringes.
You know you're a parent when ...
A "fun" night out on Saturday is a room with 13 babies and thier parents.
Last night we had a class reunion for our parenting class. 13 of the 15 couples came out with their kids to a little show and tell. H was one of the oldest babies at 11 weeks and the youngest was only 4 weeks. The smallest baby was 5 lbs. 7 oz. and the biggest (also the youngest) was 9 lbs. 9 oz. All the babies were adorable and parents were in various states of sleep deprivation.
Wierd dream
I don't normally remember my dreams but this morning I had a very odd one.
I was driving around but couldn't remember where I lived. In the dream I was in college because I remember thinking to myself that it was Sunday so the housing office wouldn't be open to help me. And then I stumbled upon a friend and I remembered that I lived close to him. So I went up to him to ask him where I lived but he was a total stoner who was in no condition to help me. The funny thing is that in real life this guy was the farthest thing from a stoner. At the end of the dream I was walking around the neighborhood trying to find my house.
Any dream interpreters out there who knows what it means?
I was driving around but couldn't remember where I lived. In the dream I was in college because I remember thinking to myself that it was Sunday so the housing office wouldn't be open to help me. And then I stumbled upon a friend and I remembered that I lived close to him. So I went up to him to ask him where I lived but he was a total stoner who was in no condition to help me. The funny thing is that in real life this guy was the farthest thing from a stoner. At the end of the dream I was walking around the neighborhood trying to find my house.
Any dream interpreters out there who knows what it means?
Our first night out
T and I had our first night out alone since the baby arrived. For those of you counting, that's 10.5 weeks. Not so bad considering we bumped into some acquaintances who were out for only their second time since the birth of their child 9 months ago.
We attended Teatro Zinzanni (http://www.zinzanni.org/). For those of you in the area, it's a great night of dinner theater. Of the 3 or 4 shows I've attended, I think this was one of their better productions.
Surprisingly I was not a nervous wreck and managed to enjoy myself. I did check my cell phone a half a dozen times during the night just to make sure I didn't miss a call, but Q is an able babysitter so I was able to sit back and enjoy dinner and the show.
We attended Teatro Zinzanni (http://www.zinzanni.org/). For those of you in the area, it's a great night of dinner theater. Of the 3 or 4 shows I've attended, I think this was one of their better productions.
Surprisingly I was not a nervous wreck and managed to enjoy myself. I did check my cell phone a half a dozen times during the night just to make sure I didn't miss a call, but Q is an able babysitter so I was able to sit back and enjoy dinner and the show.
Don't do it!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080116/wr_nm/britain_facebook_dc_2
" LONDON (Reuters) - The makers of word game Scrabble have asked Facebook to remove its popular online version "Scrabulous," which they say infringes their copyright."
That would be a sad day.
" LONDON (Reuters) - The makers of word game Scrabble have asked Facebook to remove its popular online version "Scrabulous," which they say infringes their copyright."
That would be a sad day.
It was bound to happen
I finally had my first bogglific dream, or maybe it was scrabulous, whichever. It definitely means I've been playing too much. Both are addictive. luckily, unlike crack, they aren't illegal or expensive.
Things they don't tell you in parenting class
Disclaimer: This falls into the "Too Much Information" realm so stop reading here if you don't want to learn one of the dirty little secrets of parenting.
So T and I took a course on child birth preparation (which I highly recommend, by the way). It was a 6 week class and covered a lot about the whole child birth process. At the last class the instructor covered a lot of things about post partum that no one ever talks about. It was like learning the secret handshake that would admit us into the secret society of parents. I'll spare you the gory details, but let's just say that there are a lot of aspects of childbirth that you never see in the movies or on TV.
That last paragraph was just fluff. This is your last chance to turn back.
The other night when I was changing H's diapers I came to this realization: I probably touch H's testicles more than I touch my own and more that I ever imagined I would touch any other male's. Just like changing diapers, I never even thought about it; it just came naturally.
So T and I took a course on child birth preparation (which I highly recommend, by the way). It was a 6 week class and covered a lot about the whole child birth process. At the last class the instructor covered a lot of things about post partum that no one ever talks about. It was like learning the secret handshake that would admit us into the secret society of parents. I'll spare you the gory details, but let's just say that there are a lot of aspects of childbirth that you never see in the movies or on TV.
That last paragraph was just fluff. This is your last chance to turn back.
The other night when I was changing H's diapers I came to this realization: I probably touch H's testicles more than I touch my own and more that I ever imagined I would touch any other male's. Just like changing diapers, I never even thought about it; it just came naturally.
My son likes Bob Marley
The baby was fussing this morning and nothing I tried seemed to work. In an act of desperation I turned on the iPod and played a little Bob Marley. Out like a light. At least I know he has a sense for good music.
The projectile poo
Before you have a child you hear stories. They border on the realm of urban legend; stories people like to tell to scare parents to be. The stuff that bad family comedy movies are made of. There is no way your 9 lb. little bundle of joy is going to violently eject something the length of his body. It just doesn't seem possible.
Until it happens.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen. We have reached another milestone. And again, I was luckily not the one to learn the hard way so to speak. I won't get into details, but I'll just say it brightened up my morning.
Until it happens.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen. We have reached another milestone. And again, I was luckily not the one to learn the hard way so to speak. I won't get into details, but I'll just say it brightened up my morning.
Facebook is sucking my soul
I noticed that a friend had added a little boggle app to their page so I decided to give it a try. IT'S LIKE CRACK!!! At just three minutes a game you can just get a quick hit. But more often the case you play five or ten games. I can't stop. Help!!!
the littler things
It's funny. When I burp, I get scolded by T. When the baby burps, we both get excited and praise the baby. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get excited over someone's burping, but there I am saying "good job, buddy!"
I caught T singing Whitney Houston to H today. We might need to set some parameters on acceptable baby lullaby songs.
I caught T singing Whitney Houston to H today. We might need to set some parameters on acceptable baby lullaby songs.
Facebook has gotten hold of me
Two non-baby posts in a day.
A "friend" invited me to join facebook a few weeks back. They obviously didn't know about my compulsive behavior when it comes to things like this. I have spent an inordinate amount of time the past couple of days adding friends, poking friends, looking at apps etc. It reminds me back when I got Animal Crossing for the Game Cube. I spent all my waking hours playing with my guy. It's almost like I have two children now. Aaaaarggghhh. What have I done?!?!
A "friend" invited me to join facebook a few weeks back. They obviously didn't know about my compulsive behavior when it comes to things like this. I have spent an inordinate amount of time the past couple of days adding friends, poking friends, looking at apps etc. It reminds me back when I got Animal Crossing for the Game Cube. I spent all my waking hours playing with my guy. It's almost like I have two children now. Aaaaarggghhh. What have I done?!?!
RIP: Chip Reese
A rare non-baby related post. Chip Reese dead at 56. I never met the man. I did glance at him in Bobby's Room at the Bellagio once.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071205/ap_on_re_us/obit_reese
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071205/ap_on_re_us/obit_reese
My biggest fears
Often times I'll be sitting in the rocking chair trying to lull the baby to sleep. I can only remember the lyrics to a few lullabies so I start singing Queen, Led Zeplin, Steve Miller or whatever song I know the words to. I don't know that Bohemian Rhapsody has ever been included on a lullaby CD but it does seem to work. I don't do the head banging a la Wayne's World though.
As I sit there, did I mention that it usually is in the wee hours of the morning? looking at this beautiful child, I try to comprehend that this little guy is going to grow up to be a boy and then a man. And I try to think about what he'll be when he grows up.
Now, I know I can only do so much-- give him a strong foundation, try to teach him right from wrong, to respect others yada yada yada.. I know that ultimately I don't have a lot of control over what he'll become and what his aspirations will be.
HOWEVER, I have come up with a list of certain scenarios where I will not hesitate to disown him:
1. He becomes a conservative republican. Especially if he is anti-gay or anti-abortion.
2. He becomes a born again Christian. I think his mother and I did quite well giving birth to him the first time. If he feels he needs to be born again, well he can find new parents.
3. He becomes a corporate lawyer. Unless he donates lots of money/time to worthy charities.
4. He becomes the dictator of a country and oppresses the masses.
Besides that, I'll always love him unconditionally.
As I sit there, did I mention that it usually is in the wee hours of the morning? looking at this beautiful child, I try to comprehend that this little guy is going to grow up to be a boy and then a man. And I try to think about what he'll be when he grows up.
Now, I know I can only do so much-- give him a strong foundation, try to teach him right from wrong, to respect others yada yada yada.. I know that ultimately I don't have a lot of control over what he'll become and what his aspirations will be.
HOWEVER, I have come up with a list of certain scenarios where I will not hesitate to disown him:
1. He becomes a conservative republican. Especially if he is anti-gay or anti-abortion.
2. He becomes a born again Christian. I think his mother and I did quite well giving birth to him the first time. If he feels he needs to be born again, well he can find new parents.
3. He becomes a corporate lawyer. Unless he donates lots of money/time to worthy charities.
4. He becomes the dictator of a country and oppresses the masses.
Besides that, I'll always love him unconditionally.
Terrible (week) Twos
My friend sent me an email telling me to watch out. That the second week is worse than the first. It was like a self-fulfilling prophecy. H is all fussy but when we go to feed him he falls asleep. When we try to put him down he starts crying. This better be a passing phase or he's going to be grounded. I'm serious.
Oh, and he peed on mommy again.
Oh, and he peed on mommy again.
Things I've learned in 6 days
1. Make sure the penis isn't pointing up out of the top of the diaper. Luckily mommy learned the lesson, not daddy.
2. Make sure the diapers are snug against the legs. Again, mommy was the one who discovered this.
2. Make sure the diapers are snug against the legs. Again, mommy was the one who discovered this.
Day 6
I know every parent thinks their child is the most beautiful, but come on, this guy is pretty cute.
Things a Vietnamese mother can't eat for the first two weeks
(as gathered from my mother-in-law).
1. Nothing cold: ice water, ice cream, etc.
2. No salt-water fish. Fresh water fish are OK.
3. No rice noodles. But cooked rice is OK.
That's all I've been able to figure out so far. No doubt I'll learn more when I try to feed T something.
1. Nothing cold: ice water, ice cream, etc.
2. No salt-water fish. Fresh water fish are OK.
3. No rice noodles. But cooked rice is OK.
That's all I've been able to figure out so far. No doubt I'll learn more when I try to feed T something.
First Bath
Just gave H his first bath. It was a little comedy of errors, indeed. Baby's squeeky clean and fresh as a rose- until the next poopy diaper.
Hieu's story
T woke up Saturday morning feeling mild contractions. They were pretty mild so we went about our daily business. It wasn't until after dinner that the contractions began to get a little stronger and more consistent. By 9 or so the contractions were between 4-8 minutes apart but it wasn't until Sunday morning around 3 when T's contractions were about 4 minutes apart that we headed into the hospital. She was only dilated 2 cms so they sent us home. Thankfully they gave her a shot of morphine/vistaril and she was able to sleep until around 11:00. Determined not to go to the hospital only to be sent home again, T gutted it out through ever stronger contractions until she was brought to tears and her legs were giving way. We went back around 3:30 and the triage nurse said she was dilated to 4 so we were admitted. Epidural was in around 4:30. Once the epidural kicked in T, pretty much slept for the next 5 hours.
Dr. K was on call and had a patient who was pushing for 3 hours before needing a C-section so we were left to hang out and wait for the C-section to finish. Some time around 10:00 the nurse said we were 10 cms and started walking T through pushing. The baby's head was already visible when Dr. K came in and delivered H. According to our OB, T was only pushing for about 30 minutes.
Dr. K was on call and had a patient who was pushing for 3 hours before needing a C-section so we were left to hang out and wait for the C-section to finish. Some time around 10:00 the nurse said we were 10 cms and started walking T through pushing. The baby's head was already visible when Dr. K came in and delivered H. According to our OB, T was only pushing for about 30 minutes.
Things you never thought would happen until you become a daddy
I think I've washed my hands more times in the last three days than I used to in a week. I wash my hands after touching the faucet after washing my hands. Germs now lurk everywhere. I may seriously spray everyone who enters the house with a bleach/water solution so be fore warned.
Do you see the similarities?
I found this photo of me when I was born. If there was any question whether or not he is my son, I think we can safely squash them now.
The focus of this blog is no longer me
It's probably going to be a long time until you see another poker-related post here. I've got something more precious than the WSOP Main Event bracelet. Of course, the bracelet doesn't poop, burp, cry and scream, but it isn't halfway as cute.
Baby Hieu was born on Sunday, November 4. Mommy likes to say that like his father, he arrived a few minutes early than his appointed time (his due date was the 5th). I don't see anything wrong with that.
So this post will now be the official baby blog. Check back here for pictures and stories about the adventures of baby H.
Baby Hieu was born on Sunday, November 4. Mommy likes to say that like his father, he arrived a few minutes early than his appointed time (his due date was the 5th). I don't see anything wrong with that.
So this post will now be the official baby blog. Check back here for pictures and stories about the adventures of baby H.
What I "Do"
Just in case you were wondering what I do in the ceramics studio, here is one of my latest creations:
Harry Potter is evil
No, I'm not one of those Christian nutjobs who think that Harry Potter is the work of the devil. In fact, I loved the last book. It was a great way to finish the series. Non-stop action and everything wrapped up in the end. Maybe I could have done without the splenda chapter 36, but besides that I loved it.
Loved it so much in fact that I stayed up until 4:30 Sunday morning reading the book and subsequently suffered the next couple of days. And then my wife stayed up way too late last night finishing the book. She was so engrossed that she ignored hunger pains and skipped dinner, not able to put the book down.
And that is why the book is evil.
*** spoiler warning *** don't read past here if you haven't read the book.
OK. There's no way to ever prove this, but I guessed that Harry was a Horcrux before I read the book. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who did this, but I felt pretty proud of myself when I read it. And I was pretty sure that Snape was good and killed Dumbledore on his orders.
Loved it so much in fact that I stayed up until 4:30 Sunday morning reading the book and subsequently suffered the next couple of days. And then my wife stayed up way too late last night finishing the book. She was so engrossed that she ignored hunger pains and skipped dinner, not able to put the book down.
And that is why the book is evil.
*** spoiler warning *** don't read past here if you haven't read the book.
OK. There's no way to ever prove this, but I guessed that Harry was a Horcrux before I read the book. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who did this, but I felt pretty proud of myself when I read it. And I was pretty sure that Snape was good and killed Dumbledore on his orders.
Harry Potter
OK, I admit I'm a Harry Potter geek. I've read all the books multiple times. I'm not the "wait-in-line-for-hours/days-to-get-the-book-at-midnight" flavor of fan, but I do enjoy the series. So when I had a chance to see a special preview in IMAX 3-D I took it.
I love the books but when it comes to the movies, I kind of feel like the guy who is pot committed and can't get away. I mean, I've watched every movie so far so I can't stop even though each movie leaves me unsatisfied. I understand that they can't include everything in the book if they want to keep the movies under 3 hours (OoP is 2 and a half, but it goes by quick) but I feel the cuts/story line changes they made with were a little too hollywood and dumbed-down for my liking. It's almost better if you don't read the books so you don't know what you're missing.
But now that I'm 5/7 of the way committed I'll no doubt see the last two movies when they come out, but I won't feel good about it.
I love the books but when it comes to the movies, I kind of feel like the guy who is pot committed and can't get away. I mean, I've watched every movie so far so I can't stop even though each movie leaves me unsatisfied. I understand that they can't include everything in the book if they want to keep the movies under 3 hours (OoP is 2 and a half, but it goes by quick) but I feel the cuts/story line changes they made with were a little too hollywood and dumbed-down for my liking. It's almost better if you don't read the books so you don't know what you're missing.
But now that I'm 5/7 of the way committed I'll no doubt see the last two movies when they come out, but I won't feel good about it.
Back to School
I spent a few hours on Sunday afternoon registering for parenting classes. PARENTING CLASSES! If you asked me a year ago if I ever thought I'd be registering for "Conscious Fathering" I probably would have told you to go somewhere unpleasant. But there I was. I've basically booked up my whole October to learn every aspect of caring for the new edition. Worst of all, some of the classes were only available on Saturday morning, traditionally my day of worship at the casino. Not that I'm growing resentful of the coming baby, hell, I'm not the one who has to carry the extra weight and go through a hormonal roller coaster, but IF I was going to resentful, this might be the cause. In truth, if anything, signing up for all those classes just made everything a little more real.
Also, last night we did the belly-to-belly thing and I got to feel the little guy kick a little more. Maybe because we were watching "Kung Fu Hustle" this guy was kicking like nobody's business. Now I have to decide if I'll ruin this guy's life pressuring him to be a professional soccer player or martial arts master. Thankfully I have a few more months to contemplate this.
Also, last night we did the belly-to-belly thing and I got to feel the little guy kick a little more. Maybe because we were watching "Kung Fu Hustle" this guy was kicking like nobody's business. Now I have to decide if I'll ruin this guy's life pressuring him to be a professional soccer player or martial arts master. Thankfully I have a few more months to contemplate this.
There can be only one.
I remember when I thought "Highlander" was the best movie in the world. While I won't make that claim anymore, there is something about a movie about a whole bunch of guys running around trying to cut off each other's heads that appeals to a guy, and you could do a lot worse than a soundtrack featuring Queen.
In the movie the remaining immortals are drawn to New York for the be all, end all. While it isn't New York, there is a Statue of Liberty in Las Vegas and an estimated 4,000-5,000 people are gathering to try and chop off each other's heads (figuratively, although I'm sure there are those who contemplate being literal) at teh World Series of Poker Main Event. And, in the end, there can be only one (at least the public is always led to believe).
While part of me wishes I could be there, and perhaps might have been had my 99s not fell to 66s, this morning when I felt the baby kick you couldn't have paid me enough to be anywhere else. As we lay there belly to belly - something that is much easier now that we both have protruding ones- I felt a little bump that was my son. I think I'll go buy him some soccer shoes tomorrow.
In the movie the remaining immortals are drawn to New York for the be all, end all. While it isn't New York, there is a Statue of Liberty in Las Vegas and an estimated 4,000-5,000 people are gathering to try and chop off each other's heads (figuratively, although I'm sure there are those who contemplate being literal) at teh World Series of Poker Main Event. And, in the end, there can be only one (at least the public is always led to believe).
While part of me wishes I could be there, and perhaps might have been had my 99s not fell to 66s, this morning when I felt the baby kick you couldn't have paid me enough to be anywhere else. As we lay there belly to belly - something that is much easier now that we both have protruding ones- I felt a little bump that was my son. I think I'll go buy him some soccer shoes tomorrow.
The first day of the rest of your life
Today was the first Monday in a long time (save vacations) that I didn't have to get up for work. It was a beautiful morning. I did get up, a little earlier than usual actually, but I didn't have to, and that was glorious.
Last Friday was my last day of work. For the next four months I'm a free spirit. Sure, I have to work remotely, but that's only for 2 hours a day and can be done from Starbucks (which I'm doing right now). But besides that, I'm a bum.
Of course, come November it will all come to an end. My life will be plunged into a world of diapers, vomit, bodily excretions, screaming, crying, swaddling and sleep deprivation.
In short, I have four months of freedom before 18 years of servitude.
For those of you just tuning in, we are having a child. A boy. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this one. My wife, aka "the Boss," is hosting an organism that started as a single cell and is rapidly growing into millions, nay billions, trillions? A defenseless little being that will grow up -- at times too quickly and at others not fast enough -- and one day think he's invincible and then later realize how mortal he is.
I alternate between freaking out and disbelief. I mean, my body isn't coursing with hormones and I don't have a swollen belly (fat yes, but not swollen) to remind me constantly of the impending arrival so it's easy for me to forget (or deny) my impending fatherhood. But at night as we lie in bed and watch Season 2 of LOST, I am acutely aware of the presence of the third being in the bed; the 12 ounce gorilla in the room.
-tmo
Last Friday was my last day of work. For the next four months I'm a free spirit. Sure, I have to work remotely, but that's only for 2 hours a day and can be done from Starbucks (which I'm doing right now). But besides that, I'm a bum.
Of course, come November it will all come to an end. My life will be plunged into a world of diapers, vomit, bodily excretions, screaming, crying, swaddling and sleep deprivation.
In short, I have four months of freedom before 18 years of servitude.
For those of you just tuning in, we are having a child. A boy. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this one. My wife, aka "the Boss," is hosting an organism that started as a single cell and is rapidly growing into millions, nay billions, trillions? A defenseless little being that will grow up -- at times too quickly and at others not fast enough -- and one day think he's invincible and then later realize how mortal he is.
I alternate between freaking out and disbelief. I mean, my body isn't coursing with hormones and I don't have a swollen belly (fat yes, but not swollen) to remind me constantly of the impending arrival so it's easy for me to forget (or deny) my impending fatherhood. But at night as we lie in bed and watch Season 2 of LOST, I am acutely aware of the presence of the third being in the bed; the 12 ounce gorilla in the room.
-tmo
Chasing a dream
I don't have illusions that I'm going to win the main event of the World Series of Poker, but that doesn't mean I don't want to give it a shot. Unfortunately I don't have, nor do I ever foresee myself having, $10,000 that I am willing to plop down for my shot. So a while back I noticed that the Tulalip casino was hosting a $90 buy-in event on Saturdays where the top five finishers each week would advance to a tournament where the top prize is a $10,000 and $5,00o for travel and lodging. $90 I can do. So last weekend I made the trip up to Tulalip to play.
Now I haven't played in a live tournament since last July in Las Vegas, so I was mostly playing to get my fix; that itch that needs scratching. My goal going in was to play solid poker, not make any stupid mistakes and have fun. Five hours later things had changed.
Not having been to the tournament before, I headed out early to make sure I arrived with plenty of time. Nothing would have been worse than me having drove 45 minutes only to find out that the tournament had already filled. Once registered I decided to head to the coffee shop and have a nice, big breakfast before the tourney. Unfortunately the coffee shop, that according to the sign opens at 10:00AM, was closed at 10:10 and my only option was the Buffet.
Nature abhors a vacuum and I abhor buffets (except in Las Vegas).
When it comes to food, I am a quality over quantity kind of guy; I like my food made to order, not food that has been expecting and eagerly awaiting me (for the past hour). As I glanced around the Tulalip buffet, it appeared that many of my fellow patrons did not share my senitments, judging by the ample amounts of food they had ladled on their plates. To make things worse, they didn't even have an eggs station where I could order some eggs. The salad bar was woefully pathetic but suprisingly their pot stickers were digestible. Barely satiated, I returned to the poker room to begin play.
I can't remember the hands, but I know I never got aces, had Queens at least once and Kings once. I got lucky a couple of times and somehow found myself at the final table as one of the bigger stacks. When we got down to 7 (10 places paid), a chop was proposed that I agreed to. At this point, there was only one player who I was wary of. Luckily I had position on him and managed to bluff him off one hand that set me up to take it all. I sucked out while busting both the third and second place players. In the final hand, with about 500K of the 600K chips in play I raised on the button only to have my opponent go all in. Pot committed, I sheepishly turned over 7c9c to his AdAs. 6d-8-Qd flop, 5d on the turn and a black 2 on the river sealed the deal.
My first place finish is good for T5,000 in starting chips in the final tourney. Fingers crossed.
Now I haven't played in a live tournament since last July in Las Vegas, so I was mostly playing to get my fix; that itch that needs scratching. My goal going in was to play solid poker, not make any stupid mistakes and have fun. Five hours later things had changed.
Not having been to the tournament before, I headed out early to make sure I arrived with plenty of time. Nothing would have been worse than me having drove 45 minutes only to find out that the tournament had already filled. Once registered I decided to head to the coffee shop and have a nice, big breakfast before the tourney. Unfortunately the coffee shop, that according to the sign opens at 10:00AM, was closed at 10:10 and my only option was the Buffet.
Nature abhors a vacuum and I abhor buffets (except in Las Vegas).
When it comes to food, I am a quality over quantity kind of guy; I like my food made to order, not food that has been expecting and eagerly awaiting me (for the past hour). As I glanced around the Tulalip buffet, it appeared that many of my fellow patrons did not share my senitments, judging by the ample amounts of food they had ladled on their plates. To make things worse, they didn't even have an eggs station where I could order some eggs. The salad bar was woefully pathetic but suprisingly their pot stickers were digestible. Barely satiated, I returned to the poker room to begin play.
I can't remember the hands, but I know I never got aces, had Queens at least once and Kings once. I got lucky a couple of times and somehow found myself at the final table as one of the bigger stacks. When we got down to 7 (10 places paid), a chop was proposed that I agreed to. At this point, there was only one player who I was wary of. Luckily I had position on him and managed to bluff him off one hand that set me up to take it all. I sucked out while busting both the third and second place players. In the final hand, with about 500K of the 600K chips in play I raised on the button only to have my opponent go all in. Pot committed, I sheepishly turned over 7c9c to his AdAs. 6d-8-Qd flop, 5d on the turn and a black 2 on the river sealed the deal.
My first place finish is good for T5,000 in starting chips in the final tourney. Fingers crossed.
Jury Duty
Waiting....
The room is quite plain. It calls to mind a bus station waiting room; long rows of chairs are arranged through the room. Hundreds (277 at the start yesterday morning) fill the room. Some people read, others listen to music and others fidget with cell phones. Thankfully they have wi-fi here.
Waiting....
My friends laughed at me, but I was quite curious to take part in the jury process. AW said that only people too stupid to get out of jury duty serve, but i'd like to think that's not true. As I told him, I would hope that if I ever need to be judged by a jury of my peers, I want to believe that it's not just people who couldn't come up with an excuse. Not that I really want to get selected for a jury, but
Waiting....
Yesterday I lucked out. The coordinator said he had to many jurors and had the computer randomly select 50 people to be excused. Granted, my odds are pretty good, 1 in 5.5, but I still felt like I hit the jackpot.
Coming back this morning it's interesting to see how many people are sitting in the exact same seat they sat in yesterday. If I were some sort of sociologist, this would be a goldmine for material. As it is, I just get to listen to music and surf the web. I have been inspired to listen to "the Wall" I had forgotten what a good album this is. It definitely brings back memories.
The room is quite plain. It calls to mind a bus station waiting room; long rows of chairs are arranged through the room. Hundreds (277 at the start yesterday morning) fill the room. Some people read, others listen to music and others fidget with cell phones. Thankfully they have wi-fi here.
Waiting....
My friends laughed at me, but I was quite curious to take part in the jury process. AW said that only people too stupid to get out of jury duty serve, but i'd like to think that's not true. As I told him, I would hope that if I ever need to be judged by a jury of my peers, I want to believe that it's not just people who couldn't come up with an excuse. Not that I really want to get selected for a jury, but
Waiting....
Yesterday I lucked out. The coordinator said he had to many jurors and had the computer randomly select 50 people to be excused. Granted, my odds are pretty good, 1 in 5.5, but I still felt like I hit the jackpot.
Coming back this morning it's interesting to see how many people are sitting in the exact same seat they sat in yesterday. If I were some sort of sociologist, this would be a goldmine for material. As it is, I just get to listen to music and surf the web. I have been inspired to listen to "the Wall" I had forgotten what a good album this is. It definitely brings back memories.
Blue Wave
All I know is that if I worked in a restaurant I would be very afraid if I had to serve Karl Rove, because if he used THE MATH to calculate my tip, I'd probably get stiffed big time. I hope he never lives that one down.
There has to be a term..
I'll look it up later, but there has to be a term to describe the mad rush of a iPod neophyte who discovers iTunes and begins to grab every single CD they own to rip it and put it onto his/her iPod. It's like a whole new world revealed. I even went over to my dad's house to round up his CDs as well so I could put them onto this iPod. I mean, I have only 150/7,500. 7,500!!!! that's a lot of songs!!!
It's also heartening to see that the most downloaded podcast is "This American Life." It almost reaffirms my faith in America, almost.
Can't write more, I need to surf the podcasts and rate my music.
It's also heartening to see that the most downloaded podcast is "This American Life." It almost reaffirms my faith in America, almost.
Can't write more, I need to surf the podcasts and rate my music.
Double Header
Scrabble Games 100 & 101 last night
Game 100: Tmo: 417 - Mrs. Tmo: 346
Game 101: Tmo: 344 - Mrs. Tmo: 322
Game 100: Tmo: 417 - Mrs. Tmo: 346
Game 101: Tmo: 344 - Mrs. Tmo: 322
To the elected government officials of the United States...
Screw you all.
What Internet Gambling has to do with Homeland Security beats the hell out of me. Thank you for yet another questionable law that will stay on the books forever. The only people to really win out will be the lawyers who will litigate this one day. Of course no one will try to strike this one down for fear of offending their conservative constituents. Now I guess I'll just have to burn up lots of fossil fuel to drive to my closest Casino.
politics suck. People who slips non-related bills into other bills should be punished.
end rant.
What Internet Gambling has to do with Homeland Security beats the hell out of me. Thank you for yet another questionable law that will stay on the books forever. The only people to really win out will be the lawyers who will litigate this one day. Of course no one will try to strike this one down for fear of offending their conservative constituents. Now I guess I'll just have to burn up lots of fossil fuel to drive to my closest Casino.
politics suck. People who slips non-related bills into other bills should be punished.
end rant.
So I'm talking with Ted Forrest...
More on how these pictures came about later, but here are a couple of pictures from a night that included an open bar, the Voo Doo Lounge, Light, Doyle Brunson, Dutch Boyd, The marketing manager for Pokerblue.com, Pamela Anderson, Gavin Smith, and many more.
Me and Yosh Nakano
Me and Ted Forrest
Latest Scrabble Score:
Me: 339 Mrs: 315
Me and Yosh Nakano
Me and Ted ForrestLatest Scrabble Score:
Me: 339 Mrs: 315
Patriot Poker
so the other night I was playing a sit-n-go on Ultimate Bet. For those of you who haven't played on UB, you can select which country you "represent." Most tables are full of Americans, and an occasional Canadian. BO-RING. I like to mix things up a bit. Sometimes I like to represent the Isle of Mann, but lately I've been playing for the Holy See. That's right, I represent Vatican City. Why? Mostly for shits and giggles. And maybe for a little blasphemy thrown on top. Once in a while it's a conversation starter. People ask if I'm a priest. Do I know the Pope? etc. etc. I don't lie, I usually tell them that I'm not even Catholic.
The other night some guy starts harrassing me because I'm not representing the good ol' U.S. of A. I asked him if he was more of an American because he represents the US and he tells me that I'm less of an American because I'm not. wow. I was half tempted to change my country to Iraq but unfortunately I was knocked out. Next time.
The other night some guy starts harrassing me because I'm not representing the good ol' U.S. of A. I asked him if he was more of an American because he represents the US and he tells me that I'm less of an American because I'm not. wow. I was half tempted to change my country to Iraq but unfortunately I was knocked out. Next time.
I am a scrabble geek
SWMBO and I play a lot of scrabble. Since getting the Scrabble deluxe version last September, we've played 58 games, of which I've won 35, or 60%. I've never dipped below 60% actually. Why do I know this? Because I've kept a spreadsheet, of course. What kind of person, you may ask, keeps an excel spreadsheet of their scrabble wins and losses? me.
Tonight's match:
SWMBO: 273
Tank: 404
2 bingos for our hero.
Oh. And I won a 10-person sit-n-go at the same time. Woo hoo.
Tonight's match:
SWMBO: 273
Tank: 404
2 bingos for our hero.
Oh. And I won a 10-person sit-n-go at the same time. Woo hoo.
I've made it
One of the first poker bloggers I started reading was Linda G at Pokerworks.com. Not only does she post day in and out, she provides a unique perspective from the epicenter of the poker world.
So I went to Vegas. More on that later. For now i'll just say I finally got to spend a little time chatting with Linda and am now imortalized in the annals of Pokerworks:
http://table-tango.pokerworks.com/2006/02/20/690/#more-690
Oh, and I took 6th in a tourney over at Caesars.
So I went to Vegas. More on that later. For now i'll just say I finally got to spend a little time chatting with Linda and am now imortalized in the annals of Pokerworks:
http://table-tango.pokerworks.com/2006/02/20/690/#more-690
Oh, and I took 6th in a tourney over at Caesars.
So close
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a fairweather fan. But when your home team makes it to the Super Bowl, you have to watch. I didn't really watch much of the regular season since most of the time we didn't TV, so I was willing to believe the line on the game. Like my friends I watched the game with, I was just hoping for a good, close game. But that game just left a bitter taste in my mouth. You hate to blame the game on the officiating, but how can you deny that it might have made a difference in the outcome? The final score really doesn't do justice to the way the Seahawks dominated the first half. I just have to say, we're lucky we're not a lot of other cities because there would probably be riots tonight if we were.
Of course you can always say this when your team loses, but the Seahawks really have nothing to be ashamed of. Little consolation to the way they feel right now I know.
-tmo
Of course you can always say this when your team loses, but the Seahawks really have nothing to be ashamed of. Little consolation to the way they feel right now I know.
-tmo
Doctors and People who work in Las Vegas
What to these people have in common? I never know when to call them.
My friend is a doctor and my cousin works in a Casino in Las Vegas. With both of them, I never know when to call. With most people, I think calling between 9AM and, say, 9PM is acceptable. But doctors fresh out of medical school work crazy hours so I hesitate to call even at 1:00 in the afternoon afraid that she's just come off some hellish 24 hour shift and collapsed into bed right before being rudely awoken by me.
And my cousin works all different shifts so who knows when she's sleeping?
I supposed the same would hold true if I knew a firefighter or police officer.
-tmo
My friend is a doctor and my cousin works in a Casino in Las Vegas. With both of them, I never know when to call. With most people, I think calling between 9AM and, say, 9PM is acceptable. But doctors fresh out of medical school work crazy hours so I hesitate to call even at 1:00 in the afternoon afraid that she's just come off some hellish 24 hour shift and collapsed into bed right before being rudely awoken by me.
And my cousin works all different shifts so who knows when she's sleeping?
I supposed the same would hold true if I knew a firefighter or police officer.
-tmo
three-three
the last time I posted i was 32. Now I'm 33. Doesn't feel all that different. In fact, it doesn't feel different at all. Am I wiser? doubtful. Am I more mature? probably not. The only thing I can say now is that I'm a third of the way to 100. next stop I guess is halfway (unless you want to count 7/20 or 2/5). That is assuming, of course, that I'm going to make it to 100.
Since Monday was a holiday from work I decided to venture to a card room up north and play in a little daily tournament that they have. The structure is horrible, you start out with T4000 and the blinds begin at T100/200. By the time the second round comes around, the BB is 1/10 of your stack (assuming you haven't won anything). Ridiculous. You need to win your first hand or you're in trouble.
First hand of the toruney I get QQ and pop it up to T1000 and pick up about T500. The next hand I get 55 and pick up the pot after the flop comes 23J. I don't catch anything for a couple of rounds when I find KQd and raise it. By this time I had been blinded down so much that I should have pushed all in, instead like donkey I only doubled the BB and of course had the SB and BB come along for the ride. Flop comes A-K-rag and I know that one of them has an A and fold to the BB's bet on the turn. He folds to the SB's all in showing KJ. Had I pushed all in pre-flop there's no way the SB would have called with her A7o. After that I only had enough to cover my blinds and had to shove with crap at the same time that someone caught QQ. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
-tmo
Since Monday was a holiday from work I decided to venture to a card room up north and play in a little daily tournament that they have. The structure is horrible, you start out with T4000 and the blinds begin at T100/200. By the time the second round comes around, the BB is 1/10 of your stack (assuming you haven't won anything). Ridiculous. You need to win your first hand or you're in trouble.
First hand of the toruney I get QQ and pop it up to T1000 and pick up about T500. The next hand I get 55 and pick up the pot after the flop comes 23J. I don't catch anything for a couple of rounds when I find KQd and raise it. By this time I had been blinded down so much that I should have pushed all in, instead like donkey I only doubled the BB and of course had the SB and BB come along for the ride. Flop comes A-K-rag and I know that one of them has an A and fold to the BB's bet on the turn. He folds to the SB's all in showing KJ. Had I pushed all in pre-flop there's no way the SB would have called with her A7o. After that I only had enough to cover my blinds and had to shove with crap at the same time that someone caught QQ. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
-tmo
Don't get me wrong
I like NPR, listen to it every day. And today being MLK day here I've enjoyed listening to the recordings of Dr. King's speeches. The man was a great orator. At times as I'm listening I think "man, he's kind of rambling" but then all of a sudden he ties it all together and it hits you. It all makes sense.
His last speech ("I've been to the mountain top"), the one he made just days before he was killed, was really eerie. Maybe it's just coincidence, but his last paragraph almost sounds like a challenge to those who are plotting to kill him. If I knew there was a plot to kill me, I don't think I could stand in front of all those people and deliver such powerful words.
So I'm listening to this speech and when it's over NPR decides to play "In the name of love" by U2 as a musical interlude. huh? I like the song. But in that whole song there's one mention of MLK. Of all the songs they choose to play, that one? Kind of put a damper on the whole thing.
-tmo
His last speech ("I've been to the mountain top"), the one he made just days before he was killed, was really eerie. Maybe it's just coincidence, but his last paragraph almost sounds like a challenge to those who are plotting to kill him. If I knew there was a plot to kill me, I don't think I could stand in front of all those people and deliver such powerful words.
So I'm listening to this speech and when it's over NPR decides to play "In the name of love" by U2 as a musical interlude. huh? I like the song. But in that whole song there's one mention of MLK. Of all the songs they choose to play, that one? Kind of put a damper on the whole thing.
-tmo
No ark
Of course as soon as I posted about the rain it stopped. SWMBO was very excited at the prospect of a rain free day while I was hoping it would rain. I mean, we were less than a week away from breaking the record of continuous days of rain (33). Maybe it rained somewhere else in the city today so the streak is still on. I have to admit that it was pretty nice with the sun shining today, but still....
start building the ark
it's rained for 26 days straight here and there's no sign that it's going to let up. I don't really mind it but the missus is not digging it. If it's raining, that means the temperature is at least in the 30s. And you don't have to dig rain.
-tmo
-tmo
unsung
You'll never see my name in the credits, but in some small way I associated with the Iron Chef America. My friend J works at the Food Network as a researcher for the show and every so often he asks me to help with an obscure ingredient that one of the Iron Chefs requests.
Not that I'm even a big fan of ICA, it lacks that certain passion that the Japanese Iron Chef show had, but I like the challenge of trying to figure out what these foods are.
The first challenge is trying to figure out what they hell the IC is asking for. Apparently his English writing skills are pretty bad, because the ingredients are invariably misspelled.
One of the latest ingredients was called "shutou," (originally spelled "syutou" when given to my friend) which after some searching I discovered to be the "salted offal of bonito."
uh.
From dictionary.com:
"offal:
n : viscera and trimmings of a butchered animal often considered inedible by humans"
Often considered inedible. But apparently not always, because someone had the brilliant idea of salting it and eating it. Supposedly this is something that is often consumed with copious amounts of alcohol. I know I would need to be very, VERY drunk to even consider eating this. I would need to be so blitzed that when someone told me I was about to eat offal I would need to hear "Waffles" and my brain would need to be so far gone that I could not recognize salted fish guts sitting in front of me. And hopefully if I was drunk enough to eat this, I would have already passed out.
-tmo
Not that I'm even a big fan of ICA, it lacks that certain passion that the Japanese Iron Chef show had, but I like the challenge of trying to figure out what these foods are.
The first challenge is trying to figure out what they hell the IC is asking for. Apparently his English writing skills are pretty bad, because the ingredients are invariably misspelled.
One of the latest ingredients was called "shutou," (originally spelled "syutou" when given to my friend) which after some searching I discovered to be the "salted offal of bonito."
uh.
From dictionary.com:
"offal:
n : viscera and trimmings of a butchered animal often considered inedible by humans"
Often considered inedible. But apparently not always, because someone had the brilliant idea of salting it and eating it. Supposedly this is something that is often consumed with copious amounts of alcohol. I know I would need to be very, VERY drunk to even consider eating this. I would need to be so blitzed that when someone told me I was about to eat offal I would need to hear "Waffles" and my brain would need to be so far gone that I could not recognize salted fish guts sitting in front of me. And hopefully if I was drunk enough to eat this, I would have already passed out.
-tmo
it's funny....
I only read a few blogs regularly, and even then, I read a lot fewer since we got our house. So I was reading the Tao of poker and decided to randomly click on a few links and see what's out there in the world of poker blogs. The first one was a 404. The second one was a guy whose last post was July 2005 and the next was even earlier then that. The second blogger began with "it's been a while." It's kind of funny because I've been there too. Probably 80% of us bloggers start and then eventually give up. Just like keeping a journal. Which makes those who keep it up week after week really amazing.
-tmo
-tmo
My first dream and a good start
2006. Wow.
The first dream i remember having this year was of getting a speeding ticket. I hope that isn't an omen of the year to come.
Something I do hope is an omen of things to come is taking 4th in my first online sit-n-go tourney this year. Sure, it wasn't first, but in the money isn't bad.
Happy New Years to all.
-tmo
The first dream i remember having this year was of getting a speeding ticket. I hope that isn't an omen of the year to come.
Something I do hope is an omen of things to come is taking 4th in my first online sit-n-go tourney this year. Sure, it wasn't first, but in the money isn't bad.
Happy New Years to all.
-tmo
I'm a champion
OK, so I didn't place in the tourney at Rascal's, but I did come home to challenge T at scrabble (one thing that Paul Phillips and I have in common) and Q at Gin at the same time, emerging victorious at both. I've just learned Gin, but I'm enjoying it. Gin has a lot in common with poker; putting your opponent on a hand, strategizing and remembering what they've discarded are all things you must consider.
Like the big geek that I am, I've been tracking my record against T in Scrabble and tonight's 194 point margin of victory was my largest since I started keeping track. 2 bingos helped me break 400.
-tmo
Like the big geek that I am, I've been tracking my record against T in Scrabble and tonight's 194 point margin of victory was my largest since I started keeping track. 2 bingos helped me break 400.
-tmo
to the brick and mortar
I was just leaving Home Depot when my cousin K called me. He's in town for Thanksgiving and was heading down to a little card room to play in a $30 tourney with a buddy of his. After getting the green light from the Boss I headed South to Rascal's. The name should really be "Bandits" for taking a 20% cut (25+5), but no one seemed to mind, they were there to Gambool. In the first round I saw two baby flush draws call all in bets after the flop and knock out TPTK and two pair when they caught their flushes. Neither of them were drawing to the nuts mind you, nor did they have over cards.
Blinds double every 12 minutes so it was little more than a crapshoot. The only thing that didn't make a pure crapshoot was the fact that they gave you T4000. I don't think I exagerate when I say I didn't have a pocket pair for the whole tourney. After the fourth round I had won two small pots and K was still looking for his first win. After slowly bleeding away, I got moved to a table under the gun. With T3400 and the blinds at 800/1600 (meaning I would be left with T1000 after the blinds passed me), I shoved all in with KJo. Guy to my left calls, as does the BB. K on the flop and I'm ahead. Unfortunately I'm all in so I can't push out the BB who has AQo and catches an A on the river to send me home.
K, on the other hand, went on a little rush and caught some nice cards to make it to the final table and then go on to win the whole kit and kaboodle. Pretty exciting. K is mostly a limit cash game player but I think he's getting bitten by the no-limit bug. It would exciting to see him at a final table some time.
-tmo
Blinds double every 12 minutes so it was little more than a crapshoot. The only thing that didn't make a pure crapshoot was the fact that they gave you T4000. I don't think I exagerate when I say I didn't have a pocket pair for the whole tourney. After the fourth round I had won two small pots and K was still looking for his first win. After slowly bleeding away, I got moved to a table under the gun. With T3400 and the blinds at 800/1600 (meaning I would be left with T1000 after the blinds passed me), I shoved all in with KJo. Guy to my left calls, as does the BB. K on the flop and I'm ahead. Unfortunately I'm all in so I can't push out the BB who has AQo and catches an A on the river to send me home.
K, on the other hand, went on a little rush and caught some nice cards to make it to the final table and then go on to win the whole kit and kaboodle. Pretty exciting. K is mostly a limit cash game player but I think he's getting bitten by the no-limit bug. It would exciting to see him at a final table some time.
-tmo
driveway moments
I admit it, I listen to NPR. It's the source for most of my news since we don't have a TV and I get up too late to read the paper in the morning.
Every time they have a pledge drive they talk about "driveway moments," those stories so captivating that you sit in your car in the driveway unwilling or unable to turn off the radio until you hear the end of a story.
Yesterday I heard perhaps the most riveting story I've heard this year, and perhaps ever.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5014080
You just have to listen to it to understand. The really quick version is that this man goes in search of the truth, something that has plagues him for almost all his life, the feeling that something had happened to him. This isn't some alien abduction story, it is far worse. In fact, I think it would be less disturbing if aliens had perpetrated something on him, but instead it was another human. The truth is that when he was 12 years old, he had a "transorbital lobotomy" performed on him. I mean, I can't even begin to imagine what I would do if I learned something like that. It was amazing.
On a much, much ligher note. My friend Daniel was on the boob tube. There he was, "Mike Hanson," on CSI: NY. Daniel has been in LA, and before that NY, pursuing his dream to be an actor. It's great to see him doing what he wants to do. I'm hoping he hits it really big so i can be interviewed by E! or ET or anyone else and I can tell embarrassing stories about him.
-tmo
Every time they have a pledge drive they talk about "driveway moments," those stories so captivating that you sit in your car in the driveway unwilling or unable to turn off the radio until you hear the end of a story.
Yesterday I heard perhaps the most riveting story I've heard this year, and perhaps ever.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5014080
You just have to listen to it to understand. The really quick version is that this man goes in search of the truth, something that has plagues him for almost all his life, the feeling that something had happened to him. This isn't some alien abduction story, it is far worse. In fact, I think it would be less disturbing if aliens had perpetrated something on him, but instead it was another human. The truth is that when he was 12 years old, he had a "transorbital lobotomy" performed on him. I mean, I can't even begin to imagine what I would do if I learned something like that. It was amazing.
On a much, much ligher note. My friend Daniel was on the boob tube. There he was, "Mike Hanson," on CSI: NY. Daniel has been in LA, and before that NY, pursuing his dream to be an actor. It's great to see him doing what he wants to do. I'm hoping he hits it really big so i can be interviewed by E! or ET or anyone else and I can tell embarrassing stories about him.
-tmo
sticking it to the man
I had to perform the unpleasant job of paying a parking ticket today. So I parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Big Deal. The probability of a fire happening when I was parked there is tiny. And it's not like I was right in front of it, I was a good 5 feet away. AND it was on a corner so if a firetruck needed access, it could reach it. It wasn't even a particularly noteworthy apartment building either. I'm sure if it had burned down, some developer would have put in some much nicer (and probably much more expensive) units.
Before I wrote out my check I noticed that I could pay online. Saves me 36 cents AND I get airline miles. Not to mention, the city has to pay some credit card processing fee so they end up getting less. HAH!
I'm such a rebel.
BTW, my friend Daniel is going to be on CSI: NY this week. Not sure what his character is, but I know the episode involves poker so I'm there. Unfortunately we still don't have a TV so I'm going to have to crash my friend's house. I'm actually a little bitter that he didn't call me to come down and see the taping. I could have been a consultant or something. Apparently the show hired some pro poker player to consult on the show but I still think I could have added some imput. I could have told him how to handle a suckout or how to order cocktails (two things I do with frequency when at the Casino).
Speaking of poker. I just crashed and burned at a 30-person sit-n-go. I only have myself to blame really. Too much fancy play syndrome. oh well.
-tmo
Before I wrote out my check I noticed that I could pay online. Saves me 36 cents AND I get airline miles. Not to mention, the city has to pay some credit card processing fee so they end up getting less. HAH!
I'm such a rebel.
BTW, my friend Daniel is going to be on CSI: NY this week. Not sure what his character is, but I know the episode involves poker so I'm there. Unfortunately we still don't have a TV so I'm going to have to crash my friend's house. I'm actually a little bitter that he didn't call me to come down and see the taping. I could have been a consultant or something. Apparently the show hired some pro poker player to consult on the show but I still think I could have added some imput. I could have told him how to handle a suckout or how to order cocktails (two things I do with frequency when at the Casino).
Speaking of poker. I just crashed and burned at a 30-person sit-n-go. I only have myself to blame really. Too much fancy play syndrome. oh well.
-tmo
satisfaction
There are few things more satisfying than coming back from a huge chip deficit -inflicted, by the way, by a suck out- and winning a match heads up. Granted, this was only a $5 + .50 sit-n-go, but none the less, I felt good. Maybe not as good as winning the WSOP main event, but every great journey starts with a first step.
Even more satisfying, and restoring my faith in grand scheme of the universe, was the fact that in all the key hands heads up, I always went into it with the best of it.
-tmo
Even more satisfying, and restoring my faith in grand scheme of the universe, was the fact that in all the key hands heads up, I always went into it with the best of it.
-tmo
Rainy Days
100% chance of rain. It must be so easy to be a Weather forecaster in Seattle. Between November and February all you have to say is "100% chance of rainy today. Highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s. Mostly cloudy."
So I notice that Anderson Cooper is replacing Aaron Brown as CNN's Prime time newscaster. Sad day for those of us who remember Aaron from back in the days when he was a local newscaster. I guess standing out in hurricane winds wasn't for naught. I still would have liked to have seen Cooper been hit upside the head with a palm frond or something.
Not much poker lately (the last two days). Been busy firing a Soda kiln as part of this Soda fire class I'm taking at Pottery Northwest. It's a great place for anyone who wants to take classes. There is something very appealing to a pyromaniac about something that exceeds 2200 degrees F.
On Rain. I like it when I can sit inside and listen to it hit against the window. I don't like hiking in it. and I much prefer it over snow. My mantra is "you don't have to shovel rain."
-tmo
So I notice that Anderson Cooper is replacing Aaron Brown as CNN's Prime time newscaster. Sad day for those of us who remember Aaron from back in the days when he was a local newscaster. I guess standing out in hurricane winds wasn't for naught. I still would have liked to have seen Cooper been hit upside the head with a palm frond or something.
Not much poker lately (the last two days). Been busy firing a Soda kiln as part of this Soda fire class I'm taking at Pottery Northwest. It's a great place for anyone who wants to take classes. There is something very appealing to a pyromaniac about something that exceeds 2200 degrees F.
On Rain. I like it when I can sit inside and listen to it hit against the window. I don't like hiking in it. and I much prefer it over snow. My mantra is "you don't have to shovel rain."
-tmo
thoughts about newscasters
I was sitting there waiting for my bacon cheeseburger and watching Hurricane Wilma coverage. Two guys from CNN were out in the wind and rain trying to report. Dumbasses. What are they trying to prove? Do we really need to see them getting lashed by wind and rain to know that it's really blowing? Do we really need them to tell us that they are having trouble hearing the other report standing not more than a foot from them to understand that it is REALLY windy?
I'm just waiting for the day, waiting mind you, not hoping, that one of these reporters is going to wind up with a 2x4 imbedded in their skull, most likely on live TV, for these guys to realize what dumb sh*ts they are being.
I write this now so that when it does happen I can say, "didn't I tell you this was going to happen."
I'm just waiting for the day, waiting mind you, not hoping, that one of these reporters is going to wind up with a 2x4 imbedded in their skull, most likely on live TV, for these guys to realize what dumb sh*ts they are being.
I write this now so that when it does happen I can say, "didn't I tell you this was going to happen."
Extremely Old
I don't know if you eat at a lot of Chinese restaurants, but a lot of them will have a dish with an "XO" sauce. I think they got the term from Cognac, XO being the best grade. The irony is that "XO" means "extemely old" Good for cognac, but I don't think I want my food to have extremely old sauce. I guess it could be "hugs and kisses" sauce, but I don't want the cook being that friendly with my food either.
I'm in
I have registered to play in the
Online Poker Blogger Championship!
This event is powered by PokerStars.
Registration code: 9801028
Got to hand it to the guys at PokerStars. Pretty smart way to get some advertising.
Insomnia sucks
can't sleep, but I'm tired.
It's a viscous cycle. if i don't get to sleep soon i'll be tired all day tomorrow. Then I might take a nap, which will mean I don't sleep the next night.
SIGH.
It's a viscous cycle. if i don't get to sleep soon i'll be tired all day tomorrow. Then I might take a nap, which will mean I don't sleep the next night.
SIGH.
Kill your TV
We just passed the 3 week mark at our new house. That is also how long I've gone without watching TV. The sucker (32") was just too big to go anywhere in the house and I didn't bother to transfer the cable so it just sat in the dining room since moving in. We've been so busy with the move that for the most part I really don't miss it. SWMBO is amazed how long I've gone without watching poker. I used to average at least one show a night.
I must admit that I do miss HGTV and the Food Network a little bit, but besides the money we save by not paying for cable or netflix, the extra time that used to be sucked up by Poker Superstars is nice. I have no illusions that eventually succumb and get a tv, but for this short while, it's nice to be without a boob tube.
-tmo
I must admit that I do miss HGTV and the Food Network a little bit, but besides the money we save by not paying for cable or netflix, the extra time that used to be sucked up by Poker Superstars is nice. I have no illusions that eventually succumb and get a tv, but for this short while, it's nice to be without a boob tube.
-tmo
We interrupt our normal programming
Just finished the latest Harry Potter book. I can't wait until the next one. Not much poker since I was reading the book. Took 2nd in a sit-n-go Monday night after leading for most of the game when heads up the guy hit a 3-outer (AK vs KQ) on the river.
-tmo
-tmo
Signs that you're playing too much poker....
This morning in that semi-conscious state where you're not totally awake I had a dream.
I was in a tournament, maybe THE tournament. Anyway, for some reason I arrived late. I don't think it was the start of the tourney, maybe it was the second day or maybe we were returning from a break. Somehow I had been given a 10 minute penalty when I wasn't even at the table. I seem to remember that I was not the only person who was penalized. Upon finding out that I was being assessed a 10 minute penalty I sought out the TD for more information. I think I was arguing with her but clearly not getting anywhere. I'm still yelling at the TD when someone tells me that my time is up and I can go sit down.
I rush to my table to see Johnny Chan sitting immediately to my right.
I'm not quite sure how but the flop is already on the table with two 7's and I look at my hand and see pocket 7s. I think there's been action already when I stop and decide whether I'll slow-play but decide to shove all in because I rationalize that limping would be suspicious.
Now it gets really wierd because my sister is suddenly sitting to my immediate left. I think she call (but has me covered) as well as one other person, I can't remember if it's Johnny or someone else.
I think my sister calls off the rest of her money going to the river. But then the game must have changed because I don't have pocket 7s any more, in fact, I have four cards in my hand. I'm pretty sure the 7s are still on the board, but now I have a 7 and K to make Sevens full of Kings, which still take the pot.
I'd like to know what Freud would think of that one!
-tmo
I was in a tournament, maybe THE tournament. Anyway, for some reason I arrived late. I don't think it was the start of the tourney, maybe it was the second day or maybe we were returning from a break. Somehow I had been given a 10 minute penalty when I wasn't even at the table. I seem to remember that I was not the only person who was penalized. Upon finding out that I was being assessed a 10 minute penalty I sought out the TD for more information. I think I was arguing with her but clearly not getting anywhere. I'm still yelling at the TD when someone tells me that my time is up and I can go sit down.
I rush to my table to see Johnny Chan sitting immediately to my right.
I'm not quite sure how but the flop is already on the table with two 7's and I look at my hand and see pocket 7s. I think there's been action already when I stop and decide whether I'll slow-play but decide to shove all in because I rationalize that limping would be suspicious.
Now it gets really wierd because my sister is suddenly sitting to my immediate left. I think she call (but has me covered) as well as one other person, I can't remember if it's Johnny or someone else.
I think my sister calls off the rest of her money going to the river. But then the game must have changed because I don't have pocket 7s any more, in fact, I have four cards in my hand. I'm pretty sure the 7s are still on the board, but now I have a 7 and K to make Sevens full of Kings, which still take the pot.
I'd like to know what Freud would think of that one!
-tmo
WSOP Final Table
It's all come down to this. The final 9 players are seated at the final table of the main event. There's over $50 Million in chips on the table. The SHORT STACK begins with over $1 million. I can't even imagine saying "raise, one million."
For those of you who haven't discovered the Tao of Poker, well, I don't know where the hell you've been:
http://taopoker.blogspot.com/
Pauly has been a one-man army from event one providing great updates about the going ons in and around the poker room. His has been the first blog I'd check every morning.
-tmo
For those of you who haven't discovered the Tao of Poker, well, I don't know where the hell you've been:
http://taopoker.blogspot.com/
Pauly has been a one-man army from event one providing great updates about the going ons in and around the poker room. His has been the first blog I'd check every morning.
-tmo
I get what I pay for
Nursing my little bankroll, I've been playing the $5+.50 multi-table sit-n-gos on Ultimate Bet lately. I like their new MTTs but the following example is a hand that just makes me want to scream.
I was doing pretty well going into the final table when I tried a bluff on a guy who was going to call his top pair, top kicker even though I made a suspiciously small bet on the river when the third club fell. I'm not sure if it wasn't suspsiciously small enough, or maybe I was giving him too much credit for even seeing the possible flush on the board.
Anyway, I managed to fight my way back from the lowest stack to 5th and then 4th. I'm the small blind with blinds at 200/400. The little stack shoves all in from the button for T515. I'm tempted to call (which would leave me with about T1200) with two suited cards but look to my left and figure the BB, chip leader I might add, will call the extra T115 and decide to fold. BB folds!!! WTF!!??!!?? It costs him 115 to win 1115, almost 10 to 1 on his money. There is no hand that he is a 10 to 1 dog.
I had to bite my lip not to start lecturing him right then and there.
My KQs goes down in flames against a guy who called my pot-sized bet with A9o pref-flop, bets T400 on a 10-high rainbow flop and then calls my all-in.
SIGH. Should I expect anything else from guys who are playing $5 sit-n-gos?
-tmo
I was doing pretty well going into the final table when I tried a bluff on a guy who was going to call his top pair, top kicker even though I made a suspiciously small bet on the river when the third club fell. I'm not sure if it wasn't suspsiciously small enough, or maybe I was giving him too much credit for even seeing the possible flush on the board.
Anyway, I managed to fight my way back from the lowest stack to 5th and then 4th. I'm the small blind with blinds at 200/400. The little stack shoves all in from the button for T515. I'm tempted to call (which would leave me with about T1200) with two suited cards but look to my left and figure the BB, chip leader I might add, will call the extra T115 and decide to fold. BB folds!!! WTF!!??!!?? It costs him 115 to win 1115, almost 10 to 1 on his money. There is no hand that he is a 10 to 1 dog.
I had to bite my lip not to start lecturing him right then and there.
My KQs goes down in flames against a guy who called my pot-sized bet with A9o pref-flop, bets T400 on a 10-high rainbow flop and then calls my all-in.
SIGH. Should I expect anything else from guys who are playing $5 sit-n-gos?
-tmo
gutted
I watched the Cincinatti Kid over the weekend. It is a great movie, a must see for every poker player. What's great about it is that it doesn't have the hollywood ending. It's the real life ending: about a guy who thinks he has what it takes and takes on the best only to learn that one outters do happen. Part of me wishes someone would do a remake, but I know I would be disappointed, because in the modern version, the kid would beat the man and get the girl.
In the end the kid is gutted by the man. It's an apropo description that I'm surprised isn't still used these days. These days I think it would be fitting to say "I was gutted by (insert online poker website here)."
Yes, friends, once again my account is down to a mere pittance. I had a nice run on sit-n-gos but I lately I've been catching the wrong end of the coin flip too many times and people have gone runner-runner more than I care to remember. Not that I haven't done my share of suckouts, I've given almost as well as I've gotten, but in the end my bankroll is no more.
Probably for the best. We're getting ready to move into our house at the end of the month so I really do have other things to do with my time. Maybe a sabatical will be good for me.
I did place 17th out of 461 in a tourney. I was pretty happy with my play up until I made one stupid mistake that knocked me out. At least I cashed, although I probably could have folded my way to the final table.
off to bed and dreams of pocket rockets.
-t
In the end the kid is gutted by the man. It's an apropo description that I'm surprised isn't still used these days. These days I think it would be fitting to say "I was gutted by (insert online poker website here)."
Yes, friends, once again my account is down to a mere pittance. I had a nice run on sit-n-gos but I lately I've been catching the wrong end of the coin flip too many times and people have gone runner-runner more than I care to remember. Not that I haven't done my share of suckouts, I've given almost as well as I've gotten, but in the end my bankroll is no more.
Probably for the best. We're getting ready to move into our house at the end of the month so I really do have other things to do with my time. Maybe a sabatical will be good for me.
I did place 17th out of 461 in a tourney. I was pretty happy with my play up until I made one stupid mistake that knocked me out. At least I cashed, although I probably could have folded my way to the final table.
off to bed and dreams of pocket rockets.
-t
Winning is good
Jumped into a 10-person sit-n-go last night and managed to take first. Didn't have many hands to play for the first 3 rounds and finally picked up KK on the button. Cut-off raises enough that I have to go all in and three of us see the flop. A-Q-x on flop and I'm sure I'm screwed. In the end, middle position limp-caller turns up 77 and cut-off has 88. Um, ok. Down to 5, the cut-off knocks out two with AA and we're suddenly in the money. Going into heads up I'm a 2-1 dog but become chip leader when I raise pre-flop with AQ and check-raise all-in on a flop of Q-x-x. Unlucky for the chip leader he has Q4s and calls.
On a non-poker related note I've pulled my hamstring. felt a popping sensation as I was running after a soccer ball. According to the web it's a strain or possible tear. What did people do before WebMD? Thank goodness I'll never have to know.
-tank
On a non-poker related note I've pulled my hamstring. felt a popping sensation as I was running after a soccer ball. According to the web it's a strain or possible tear. What did people do before WebMD? Thank goodness I'll never have to know.
-tank
a great movie
Got two free tickets to see the opening night movie at the Seattly International Film Festival (SIFF), "Me, You and Everyone Else." It was a great movie. Probably never see it in wide distribution because it isn't Hollywood enough. It kind of reminded me of a foreign movie: it doesn't end in a simple ending with all the loose ends tied up. There's no big name actor and no gratuitous sex or violence. But if you get a chance to see this movie you won't be disappointed.
On the poker front, I've taken a hiatus. I've been busy with a little 30 year gamble called home ownership. You think poker is a game of imperfect information, try deciding what to bid on a house in a multiple-bid situation.
-tank
On the poker front, I've taken a hiatus. I've been busy with a little 30 year gamble called home ownership. You think poker is a game of imperfect information, try deciding what to bid on a house in a multiple-bid situation.
-tank
Wheeeeeee
When I was in Las Vegas for my "bachelor party" my friends drove me to Primm, Nevada to ride on what they claimed was one of the fastest roller coasters, the Desperado (http://www.vegas.com/attractions/outside_lasvegas/desperado.html?f=m0at&t=outvegas). It's probably best I didn't know what they had in mind because I might have been nervous about riding a "hypercoaster."
Why do I tell you this? Well, as I reflect back on the past two weeks of poker I'm reminded of that ride. As we left the starting area and made that initial climb up to the top of the first drop I was filled with both excitiment and forboding of what was to come. And while for a moment I was high above the Nevada desert, I knew that I would be plunging, nay hurtling (as I would learn later at close to 4Gs) back to earth.
So one night I kill the 3/6 kill game for 25 BBs in less than two hours only to give it all back the next night with people going all the way to river to catch their draws. I think I may have even had the urge to vomit like I did on the Desperado.
But just like the Desperado, after the ups and down I was right back where I started. So I guess it could have been worse, I could have hit the ground at 79 mph and been in a world of hurt.
-t
Why do I tell you this? Well, as I reflect back on the past two weeks of poker I'm reminded of that ride. As we left the starting area and made that initial climb up to the top of the first drop I was filled with both excitiment and forboding of what was to come. And while for a moment I was high above the Nevada desert, I knew that I would be plunging, nay hurtling (as I would learn later at close to 4Gs) back to earth.
So one night I kill the 3/6 kill game for 25 BBs in less than two hours only to give it all back the next night with people going all the way to river to catch their draws. I think I may have even had the urge to vomit like I did on the Desperado.
But just like the Desperado, after the ups and down I was right back where I started. So I guess it could have been worse, I could have hit the ground at 79 mph and been in a world of hurt.
-t
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