Monday, September 29, 2008

Riders On The Storm...

9/29/08

Riders On The Storm...

Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Into this house were born
Into this world were thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out on loan
Riders on the storm

There's a killer on the road
His brain is squirmin' like a toad
Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If ya give this man a ride
Sweet memory will die
Killer on the road, yeah


by The Doors...

Don't know why I quoted the lyrics from the Doors, maybe I was
channeling Jim Morrison on my drive to and back to New Mexico,
getting there last Thursday and arriving back in Vegas, last
Sunday. I think the song was inspired by an incident Jim
Morrison experienced when he was living in New Mexico as a
kid. I think he witnessed a car accident driving with his
parents outside of Albuquerque, NM. Anyway, let me digress...

Like I said before I drove to Albuquerque last week to meet
up with my GF. She flew into New Mexico for an job interview
she had with a company known for their "Angels". She still
lives in San Jose, but purchased a home in Albie earlier
this year.

Flights were kind of expensive short notice, so
I thought to myself, why not try driving out there. It would
give me a chance to see a part of America that I have not
driven through before. I also thought it would be a good
way to clear up things and analyze my "career as a poker
player" in my head. You can accomplish a lot of "soul
searching "when confined to your own thoughts". I make it
sound more serious than that it should be. It really isn't
that complicated. It gave me a chance to look at certain
hands that I have played on a "step by step" basis.
I won't reveal any new strategies or plays that I thought
over during the drive (for fear of it being used against
me, lol)...

I can say what of my shortcomings are at times, is playing
too cautious, when warranted aggressiveness will be the
key in winning pots. I guess the line from the movie
Rounders rings true, "You can't lose what you don't put
in the middle, but you can't win much either". I know
it's a process, but I feel that some of the people from
back home feel that I should be winning all kinds of
money out here or something. I've always been a winner
at the game, so I feel why should I change my style.
I've been winning essentially since I've been in
Vegas, but not to the effect where "retirement" will
come soon, hehe. There have been ups and downs, but
in Vegas and in Life I've never been "felted" (meaning
that you've lost all your chips, so you're down to the
"felt") - but have "felted" other players, hehe...
As I say, it's a process and should always utilize my
most prized skill "patience"...

Anyways, let me get back to the roadtrip. The drive
to Albuquerque is more or less 8 hours from Vegas.
I got a PT Cruiser from Thrifty Car Rentals near
McCarran International Airport in the city. I really
hate certain rental car agents. The rate for the
car was pretty cheap, just under a hundred bucks
from Thursday to Monday morning. The rental agent
asked me if I wanted to get the "extra insurance",
which would have added $22.00 more bucks a day to the
rental car. He tried to put the scare in me by saying
that if I didn't opt for the extra insurance that "I
would totally be responsible for any damages to the
rental vehicle". I told him that I used to work for
an auto insurance company and that my own auto insurance
would (AIG now, shit maybe not with all the stuff they
been thru the last couple of weeks, hehe..) provide
coverage for the rental vehicle as an additionally
insured automobile. He still says that I should take
the extra insurance, due to the fact that I worked
for an auto insurance company. Jeez, I said no
already! Plus my credit card would also provide
rental insurance coverage as well. Give me my keys
already! I agreed for the fuel charge though, at
$3.45 per gallon, as I knew that I was going use all
of the gas. All in all about at buck fifty for the
rental, not bad for all the saved up mileage/wear/tear
I would save Ms. Taylor (my Jeep Cherokee, if you have
been reading my earlier posts).

The drive all the way to Albuquerque was all good,
knowing at the end of the rainbow I would find my pot
of gold, meaning that I would be able to spend some
time with my GF. I haven't seen her for a couple of
weeks, since the time I was out there during Labor
Day week (like I have a real job). I didn't want to
make any unneeded stops, as I was going to drive back
Sunday, where I could make stops on a whim, as I didn't
need to return the car until Monday morning.

I left about 1000 am that day and made it to Albie, at
about 730 pm (Mountain time, I lost an hour due to the
time change). Kinda' weird not having to talk to anyone
in person for about 8 hours - but like I said, I wanted
to have some time to think to myself. My biggest worry
driving, would be getting stuck on the road where there
were no cell sites to get a signal for my phone (then I
would be totally cut off from the world). I think I'm
going to get a handheld CB radio, so when Armageddon comes,
I will be able to get helicoptered out of Hell.

I got to her house and we sat down for dinner. Thin Crust
Pepperoni Pizza, the bestest sometimes. She also baked
some Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookies. I've never had
them before - they were real good. We basically chilled
that night at home as she had a morning interview the next
day.

Friday and Saturday was mostly shopping for the house and
more chilling at the home, which is good. Nothing like
relaxing at home, with the next greatest invention in
the world, RedBox DVD's - a buck a night, you can't beat
it. Yes, I actually enjoyed watching Made of Honor and
Sex in the City - do they make Manolo's for men?
Gay, huh?

Sunday, I took her to the airport for her early flight.
That sucked and I still had a long drive back to Vegas.

I made it to Hoover Dam in about 7 hours. That was pretty
good time, since I had taken three "number 2" breaks and
a half hour lunch/rest break, just past Flagstaff AZ.
I decided to be a tourist and snap a few photos at the
dam. I've never been there before, even though it's
only about 40 minutes from the Strip. I'll have to go
back again with the GF or friends when they come into
town. I'm curious to check out the museum and see where
you can go to do some jet skiing...

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After staying there for about 15 minutes, I decided to
head back into the city.

Dropped off the rental at Thrifty's and headed back
home with a ride from a buddy of mine. It feels good
and bad to be back in Sin City.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Trail Rated...

9/22/08

Trail Rated…

I am here at 4 Wheel Parts, in Henderson NV. I had the
Cherokee lifted 2 inches, side steps installed and a tow
hitch receiver put in the rear. I think the only other
things I would do to it would get black rims, slightly
bigger tires and a safari rack. I’m on the way to completing
the adventure vehicle. It’s a far cry from the suv of my
dreams, the MBZ G500 or a Land Rover Discovery 110 (the
four door, you probably seen them on TV on a safari show,
like Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom or something). Trust
me, I love the Jeep, I’ve only owned Jeeps or VW’s all my
life. I guess I like certain niche cars, not the typical
drivers that my fellow Pinoy brethren would be caught rollin’
in. Plus, I would get definitely mad if someone nicked the
G500 in a grocery parking lot. Anyway, the proposed 911
Carrera in the garage of my future would probably be jealous
of another Germanic piece of engineering parked beside her.
I also get pretty upset when purchasing an “asset” such as a
vehicle, wherein the next year it depreciates a good 20% (it’s
like if I purchased a car for $50,000.00, took out $10,000.00
in cash the next year, poured gasoline on it and lit it on
fire – that is so gross to me – I’d rather pop it in a mutual
fund and watch it grow, yeah right – see the stock market lately?).

If I miss the aroma, I can get new smell car “deodorant” at Kragen
anyway, lol.

I guess I got used to not making any car payments, with the
last of it when I paid off my Wrangler, about 4 years ago. I
got the vehicle out the door in 1999, for about $20,000.00.
It was the Sport Model, with the options I wanted at the time,
full doors, 4.0 inline six engine, auto tranny and A/C.

The Black Beauty, Tyra.

It was a pretty good price for the Jeep, my desire for it was
fueled even more during a great run at Blackjack in September
of that year. I put down $3,000.00, which put my balance of
the loan at $17,000.00. After 5 years and approximately
$25,000.00 in total payments, the Wrangler was mine. I
additionally paid $8,000.00 on top of the loan balance of
$17,000.00, due to the high interest rate of my loan (my credit
at the time was not stellar – but is pretty nice now, my FICO
is higher than my SAT English score back in the day, so I’m
pretty proud). I then sold the Wrangler in 2007 for approximately
$8,000.00, which was actual good market value for the Jeep in
its condition and age. So that’s a negative “investment” of
$20,000.00 in 8 years (not counting miscellaneous wear/tear
and repair costs). But you shouldn’t think of it as an
investment anyway, I bought the car due to certain emotional
reasons – meaning that it was the car I always “wanted” and
not what I actually “needed”. Sounds like a line from "Next
Door Millionaire" (good book, y'all need to read it. I miss
her though, but she was not that practical. Top down driving
is great, but shouting at your passengers while driving was
getting old. The backseat is not great for your passengers on
long trips. I don’t think anyone in the back liked it there,
especially with the top down, as it can be compared to walking
through a wind tunnel at Lockheed. I don’t want to make
anybody feel that I am putting down their desire of purchasing
a new car. I don’t think I would be able to do it again, unless
it was to lease one as a business expense or if I am at a point
in my life where I had “Fuck You Money” (where it would make no
difference in the cost of the vehicle to me – ie, “Fuck You, I’m
Rich Bee-Yotch!" - "Now pick up my Bentley Turbo R from Valet!").

I also miss my venerable Veedub Gabrielle (German, white and a
big “trunk”). She was my 1990 VW Jetta GLI 2.0 16v, that I sold
a few weeks ago. The poor man’s M3, hehe… She was so fun to
drive on twisty roads, especially gunning it down highway 17.
She was high maintenance at times, but when you treated her
right – she could outrun Vette’s and Mustangs on the way to
getting corn dogs at the Boardwalk. The beauty of front wheel
drive and a muscular 145 HP running through it (it’s a light
car you know, it’s not weighed down by useless things like
airbags and such, hehe). Pretty solid runner for a car 18
years old, she had low miles at 105K – still looked fresh,
but like I said she needed to be babied. So, I came to my
financial senses (I didn’t really need her or really drive
her these days – I didn’t bring her to Vegas), as opposed to
my emotional senses, and put her up for sale. Luckily, I
found a buyer who did not haggle on my last advertised price.
I actually sold the car about a “G” above Kelley Bluebook – not
bad, but I’m sad with the separation. I will probably not
find another one like her, in the same condition, ever.

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I’m old school VW at heart.

Anyway, I’m fine with the Cherokee, Ms. Taylor – even though
she drinks a bit much, she’s still Trail Rated…

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Friday, September 12, 2008

Ace Queen, No Good...

9/10/08

Ace Queen, No Good…

Today I went to play my favorite NLHE tourney at Caesars.
Only 36 people signed up for today, but it is hump day, not
a busy day in Vegas. It was good enough. I eventually
busted out 11th out of the 36 players.

I think I have to listen to my gut instinct more when playing.
I got lucky with 2 hands and of course lost the other, which led
to me exit out of the tournament. My first lucky hand consisted
of my having Ace/Queen OS on the dealer button. I raised it to
$250.00, which was 2.5 blinds at the time. I got calls from
the small blind, big blind and a mid position player. The flop
was dealt Queen, Two and Four, all OS. The small blind checked,
the big blind bet out $400.00, the midposition player folded,
and I then reraised him the $1,200.00 (I had a pretty healthy
chip stack of $7,000 behind). The small blind player folded,
the big blind player called and the midposition player folded.
There was now about $3,400.00 in the pot. The turn was dealt
another Queen, now I had 3 Queens with Ace kicker. The big
blind player bet out $1,200.00 (he had about $2,000.00 left
behind). I was kind of perplexed in trying to guess what he
held in the hole, I just knew that he was pot committed. I
paused to think, “does he have a full house now, like Fours over
Queens, or Twos over Queens?”…Hmmm…I decided to put him all in
for the rest of his chips. I tabled my hand for 3 Queens, and
the big blind flipped over Pocket Aces. Wow, he didn’t reraise
me preflop with that hand. If he reraised me big, I probably
would have folded my hand before the flop. It was his own fault
for trying to slow play Aces. You either win a small pot or lose
a big pot with Pocket Aces. Anyway the river bricked out and I
won the pot with my 3 Queens. Ace Queen Good!!!

My second lucky hand consisted of my hand on the dealer button
with Pocket Sevens. The under the gun player raised it 2 times
to $2,400.00. Everybody folded to me. The UTG player’s raise
indicated a pretty strong hand, a hand that wanted action. I
was hoping for Ace/King, or something like that. I had about
$13,000.00 in chips, it was pretty much now or never (blinds
were going up and we still had about 19 players left, with the
last 4 into the money – still a long trek). I decided to go
all in and asked the UTG player if he had a pair of Aces. He
gladly obliged and called my all in with what else, Pocked Aces.
But the poker gods wanted me to play longer and hit me a third
Seven on the River. Poker is brutal, but I’ll take that river,
hehe.

We were then down to the last 11 players. I had about $22,000.00
in chips with blinds at $600/1200, not necessarily short stacked,
but not a chip leader. The UTG player raised it double to $2,400.00.
Everyone folded and I peeled up Ace/Queen of Spades in the small
blind. I decided to call as did the big blind. The flop was
dealt Queen of Clubs, Two/Four of Hearts. I wondered am I good
here? He might have raised with Aces or Kings. Maybe not Aces,
as I have the Ace of Spades. I bet $7,000.00 into a pot of $7,200.00,
I had about $12,000.00 left behind. The big blind player folded
and the UTG player paused. I thought he may have a big hand now.
But I have top pair with top kicker! He then went all in over the
top of my bet and had me covered by about $6,000.00. I hate these
decisions, I even said out loud a few times that I felt that I was
behind in the hand. He made a very strong bet. I called his all
in and he peeled up Pocket Queens for a set. I’m pretty dead in
the water, I need runner runner Aces, that’s it – no chance for
straights or flushes with this board. No luckfest this time and
he took me out.

I’ve told myself not to play Ace/Queen out of position with a raise
in front of you. I should have folded preflop. But the hand looks
so pretty, suited too…Ace Queen, no good, she hurts me too much, hehe….

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Mid Life Crisis...

9/5/08

Mid Life Crisis…

Yeah right, I guess in my thirties, I have reached
Mid Life. I need to quit smoking, maybe I can increase
my life expectancy a few years to a decade, but who wants
to live till their past 80? I say that now, but you know,
70 to 80 years is a long time. I mean, do I have to budget
for my life expectancy or what? I know it’s kind of a
weird stance to take in thinking about how much money you
need to live, but these days, it’s kind of warranted.
There’s always the Philippines to go back to, with their
desirable exchange rate and all. With all the travelling
I have done going back to the homeland, these past years,
I don’t think I could hack it for the long run. There are
just some things you get used to when growing up in the
States. Like, a stable government, 7-11’s just down the
street, driving on roads without potholes, getting a chance
to vote, hot water on demand, the list is endless. I just
wish that the Philippines stayed a territory of USA, where
they would enjoy the same status at an actual state of the
union. But after World War II, that didn’t happen and the
PI digressed (where in turn, Japan, the country the States
dumped 2 atomic bombs on, has developed into a world
economic leader – weird to me).

Anyway, I flew back in the Bay Area this last Sunday to meet
up with family for Lola Floria’s one year death anniversary
(my grandmother on my mother’s side) and to hang out for
my birthday. I feel bad that I did not get to meet up with
some of my friends for my birthday, but I didn’t plan to do
anything big for it. I guess after a certain age, I don’t
feel like partying like I was 21 again. The body can’t take
it anymore. Like Sgt. Murtaugh (Danny Glover in Lethal
Weapon movies) says, “I’m too old for this shit”. Well, not
really hehe. I just wanted to spend a low key week in town.

I celebrated my birthday with my GF last Thursday. We spent
a relaxing hour at Watercourse Way in Palo Alto. We should
have stayed longer. If you haven’t gone there, I recommend
it for you to go. They have several rooms to choose and
couples specials (massage and tub combo’s). After Palo Alto,
we headed up to SF to eat at Fog City Diner for dinner.
If you know me, I can do fine dining, but I really like the
simple fare. Well, Fog City Diner is not your typical diner
though. You could say it’s the “Cadillac” or “MBZ’y” of
diners. It’s located off the Embarcadero and Battery streets
in the City. Here’s is a rundown of what we ordered…Started
off with these buttery Cheese Biscuits, if you like the ones
at Red Lobster, you’ll definitely want these, they are 10
times better. They just kind of melted in your mouth.
Next up was Ahi Tuna Tartar Bruschetta, doused in olive oil
(you can imagine the taste). For the main entrée, was their
Signature Burger, I think it might have been made with ground
prime rib. Had the burger topped off with blue cheese, arugula,
grilled onions and applewood bacon. Truffle cut fries topped
with melted asiago was on the side. Another good choice.
For dessert were 2 Ghiradelli Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.
A great tasting version of the Reese’s OG snack, I love.

Oh yeah, got my first LV from the GF too, I guess I have
joined the club...

Snuggling sessions occurred later of course, can't seem
to do without them. Gay, huh? Hehe...

Anyway, just seemed like I wanted to chill for the rest of
the weekend. Went to a cousin's birthday bbq that Saturday,
grubbed and swam. Then went to Mom's and Dad's with the
GF, to babysit Mom for a bit, as Dad wanted to go party
with some of his old coworkers in the City.

I guess Garcia's never retire from the scene.

It was fine, as I wanted to spend time with the Moms
(as you may know she is post kidney transplant surgery for
the last 6 months and she is doing pretty good). Plus my
GF wanted to see the stray kittens that come over to
my parents home, from the next door neighbors. The
next door neighbor died some time ago and her children
did not take her cats. 2 litters have been borne since
then. So there's about 8 kittens with a couple of
mommies and the dad. My GF had a good time feeding
and hanging out with the cat family. She has a good
heart, well I think she is part cat too...hehe...

My brother and his wife came over, so me and the GF hit
Valley Fair to check out some stuff before Macy's closed.

"These boots are made for walkin', that's just what
they'll do..." (sorry inside joke)...

Sunday was chill too, met up with a couple of buddies
for the old skool meet ups for breakfast. Went to
see Lola Floria and Lolo Pedring at the cemetery one
more time before leaving to Vegas. Kicked it at home
with the GF, before her dropping me off at the airport.
I really hate goodbyes...

I will need to see more of the peeps next time I visit,
which will probably be soon...but it can be hard with
everyone's busy schedule.

Mid Life Crisis is in the mind, I don't really have it.
Just need to maximize the oppurtunity I planned out for
when I left the 9 to 5.

See y'all on the green felt...