It's Been A Long Time...

12/28/09

It's Been A Long Time...

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to...

Props to Rakim, for these lyrics to one of my old time
fave's - "I Know You Got Soul"...



Anyway - it's been a while, since I wrote in this thing.
I thought I may have died inside for a minute. I guess you
just can't dwell on the negative things that happen in your
life, but hope that these road bumps help you develop and
evolve positively. I guess some things can be a blessing.
Sometimes you have to step back, to move forward.

I can be grateful for all the support I have from family and
friends, even though most of them are quite a few hundred
miles away. But hey, by Southwest Air - I'm only an hour an
change back to the Bay...

Making a few final tables the past couple of months always
helps out the ego though, hehe...

Just need to get that elusive First Place again...

I Still Got It...

10/27/09

I Still Got It...

Nice to know that you can still play poker, or get lucky
for that matter.

I played in the 10 pm Caesar's NLHE tourney last Saturday.
It was a four table tourney with abount 37 players. Too
quick of a format for me, but it worked out OK.

It's part of the game. I had pocket pairs twice against
an over pocket pair (against the same player at that) and
hit my needed set on the flop. If you know me, it wasn't
like I was hoping to get lucky. I actually misread the
player for overcards instead, and was willing to take a
race. But hey, you got to have some luck involved at times.
Plus I was only all in once for my tournament life during
the tournament.

I eventually chopped the pot and settled for third place.
Then chopped half of that with my buddy who busted out
earlier in the game.

Agression baby - and lady luck - lol...

I still got it though...hehe...

The Storm Rolls In...

10/20/09

The Storm Rolls In...

It's dry in Vegas, but I feel like it's raining inside.

What did I do? What didn't I do? Those are questions,
I may have to answer for myself.

This cold is not helping.

Back to the Yay...

9/25/09

Back to the Yay...

I guess it could mean a lot of things...

Winning a poker tourney last Sunday, with my buddy Ed
coming in 2nd place as well.

Seeing my boo this weekend - couple of more hours to go.
Back on a jet plane.

Niners 2 and 0, atop the NFC West.

Chau and Dave, tying the knot tomorrow. With an overnight
stay at the Fairmont, downtown San Jo'.

Seeing my family and friends again.

Maybe it's just being back in the Bay - even though it's only
for a couple of days.

Getting to wear a jacket outside - it's the small things in
life, hehe.

Back to the Yay...

Cool Runnings...

8/9/09

Cool Runnings...

No, not the movie. The title of this blog could be the
fact the I solved my AC issue with Taylor. I took
advantage of the CARS rebate system and got a new car.
Wish it was some type of German feat of automotive
engineering, but I went with something that I needed as
opposed to wanted, if you know what I mean.

So after 5 hours of haggling and paperwork, I am the
proud owner of the 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport Sedan.



Whoohoo!!!! Truly back in the Rat Race...hehe.

Well, to get that trade in rebate of $4,500.00, you
have to get a new car with an average fuel savings of
10 miles per gallon. Both cars were right at that
threshold.

Believe you me, I found it hard to part with Taylor.
We've been through alot. I wanted to keep her, but
after a talking about what she needed done with a
couple of mechanics - the list sounded to be endless.
I wouldn't be able to sell Taylor for the rebate amount,
nor would I know what how much money it would take for
her to get back in tip top condition. Vegas sucks
on cars...

I'll find her again...

Ahh, I know what AC feels like again - with the fun
of a Japanese "Gabrielle" (my old school Jetta, I sold
last year). I haven't found a name for the new ride
yet, hmmmm...

As for poker - had a couple of good sessions the past
month - doubling up my buyins, albeit I only played twice
since my last blog. Cash games have have been good to
me. I should stick to cash these days - the poker gods
have not given me the green light to win a tournament
the last few times. After I do good in cash, there is
some small tourny waiting for signups and for me to
dump my money in the pot.

The usual, I get in some type of race ahead preflop,
only to see the river give me a loss and poker gods
jovial in my personal pain (kinda' alliterative)...

I have to make it a point these days to keep up on
my journal - the AC should help.

Anyway, I have been missing Sugar as usual - I can't
wait for her to get to Vegas. It will give us better
balance in our lives. I also have to get back home
to see Deb and Dave's newborn daughter Delaney and
the rest of the my peeps.

The Heat Turns On In Vegas...

7/8/09

The Heat Turns On In Vegas...

This is probably the most busiest times and hottest times in this
city. We averaging about a cool 105 F degrees. And now my AC
starts to act up again.

Sugar's been a big help trying to take my car to the shop to
get it fixed. I say trying, because everytime it starts to
act up - it works normally when she pulls up to the shop.
Jeez...what would I do without my two fave women, Sugar and
Taylor (the Jeep Cherokee), lol...I might go insane...

It was great seeing her the past couple of weekends. She came
in the weekend before 4th of July for an interview and came back
for the holiday weekend. My parents, Mikey, Lisa, Auntie Baby,
Uncle Noyle, Uncle Gerry and Auntie Mryna came down last weekend
as well.

Funny to kinda see the reactions we got when our group sat down
and ate at my fave' soul food spot. Maybe that's just from my
perspective. I don't mean to offend anyones, ya' know.

Also hung out with Tony and Chris a couple weeks back. Bar hoppin
and poker - the life of a tourist for me in my adopted city.

I haven't played as avidly as I've wanted to for the past couple
of months. I guess me being back in the rat race has to do
something with that. I haven't even stepped into the Rio to
check out any of the WSOP events.

I must be in one of those wacky non playing moods again.
Or it could be fatigue...

I'll be back in the game soon...

My Assistant Left...

5/21/09

My Assistant Left...

It's been about 10 days since my Booboo left to go back
to the Bay. She was here for about 10 days as well.
Not seeing her day to day, is one of the hardest things
I have to deal with in life.

I think I take her and what we have for granted at times,
I really need to improve on that. I really wish she
could get laid off from work. That's funny to say in
these economic times. But hey, I'd be happy living in
a studio apartment in Chatsworth, than be miserable in
a fat mansion, wasting my days away playin' online
poker. 2 different extremes, huh? Well, we will find
that balance.

As for poker, I played in the Wynn 7 pm poker tourny
last Saturday. I thought it was a pretty good format.
The buyin is for $160.00 and you start with $10,000 in
chips. Blind levels change every half hour.

To make a long story short, the critical hand I had
was when I had pocket Kings midway through the tourny.
I was in midposition where I raised the bet to $2,000,
where the big blind was for $600, with a $75 ante.
2 other players folded behind me and the small blind
player said raise to $2,000 as well. He didn't realize
that I already raised. So the dealer made him make a
min raise of another $2,000.00. I didn't think he
had Aces, because he probably would have paid better
attention to my action and also would have 3 bet me.
3 other players folded behind him and it was up to
me to call, raise or fold. With about $7,000 in chips
behind, I decided to raise all in (if I just called I
would be pretty pot committed on the flop anyway).
He thought aloud for a minute and he said that I
probably have him beat with a pair of Queens or
higher and he said, "I'll just gamble, I'm all in
too". He then flipped up pocket Tens and I flipped
up my pocket Kings. The flop and turn were dealt
out blanks for the both of us, I just had to fade
a Ten on the river. But of course a Diamond Ten
had to hit on the river for him to get a Set to
beat me. Hey, I wanted him to do what I wanted him
to do - just that damn river card, hehe.

Anyway, I only had about 3 bets left at that point.
I didn't last too much longer, when my last all in
failed to double me up.

Taylor, my Jeep's been acting up as well. Had to
put in a new A/C compressor/condenser within the
last couple of weeks, among other maintenance items.
I did put some new shoes on her this week. Check 'em
out - she's my urban jungle transport...





Mount Charleston here I come!!!