Trying to be FIT...

Well, the vaporizer has curbed my desire for smoking, a good percentage. I have fallen off the wagon from time to time, as a lot of folks I know still smoke. It's Vegas. But that's no excuse. I can only blame myself. Anyway, getting out to run more the past month has definitely made me feel alot better physically. I feel that I have more energy and also feel more mentally alert. My love handles are reducing, lol... I'm such a bitch haha. I have also started going to this crossfit gym called Revolution Fitness. I purchased a month membership on Groupon for $40.00. It's a great deal, unlimited for a month for just 2 twampies. The trainers and other clients there seem pretty enthusiastic, the gym is pretty large and their schedule is pretty encompassing. What's not to like. I actually enjoy working out again. I'm not trying to get washboard abs, but trying to reduce the laundromat to about one or two machines.

Geek Stuff...

This HTC One Phone is pretty sick...nuff said...

Vapin' Like a Mofo'...

Vapin' Like a Mofo'... It's been a minute since I wrote in this thing, it's one of the things I loved to do, was write. As the band Digable Planets said, "I'm chill like that", or something similar to that rather... I've pretty much quit the tobacco for the last week and half. I don't seem to miss it. I started "vapin" about 10 days ago. I am not sure why I did not start using a vaporizing "pen" before. I think my addiction to cigarettes stemmed from just getting used to lighting up and that feeling of smoke inhalation into my body. I know it's bad, but you would have to talk to a smoker to help you comprehend the feeling of how somebody would want to continually suck in what is carbon monoxide into their lungs daily. It's great! Haha...anyway, the vapin' pen fills that need, without the harm of tobacco smoke, tar and other dangerous substances that mixed in with the inhalation of a lit cigarette. Well, that's what I choose to believe, lol... You make the judgement call, "smoke" or "water vapor", which is more dangerous? I'll take the lesser of two evils. The best thing about it, is that I wake up without the feeling of that tightness in my lungs. The body feels better. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but it's working. My desire to run has come back. Takin' baby steps though, but I'll get there. Plus the temps in Begas are getting a little cooler in the mornings.

The whip...

The not so new whip...Yuki, she's a 2011 Mitsubishi Ralliart, aka the everyday Evo...at Red Rock Canyon, Begas NV...

Shakin The Rust Off...

Shakin The Rust Off... I haven't played cash in months. Actually haven't played poker consistently for quite a long time. I have hit up small tourneys from time to time, but hitting the money board in tourneys has eluded me on the turn of the river card. I haven't been winning those coin flips. I can't answer why I kind of stopped playing cash. The grind of sitting at a no limit table I guess got to me. I was content on playing a tournament and limiting my loss to what the buy in was. I know that in the longer run, cash play would seem to be a more profitable situation. You pick your spots, push the money in when you're a major favorite, lay down your cards when you know you're beat, gauge who's playing weak and pounce. Do this without putting all your chips on line, also without worrying that you will be out of the tourney all in. So, I just happened to have the urge to play some lowball no limit at Green Valley Ranch before heading home last night. Ended up a little over half up on the equity of my buy in after about an hour n half of play. I was getting tired, so I decided to cash out when was up. It's only Lebron shoe money. Up is up, I didn't want to chase the dragon, when I'm not mentally on top of it. It felt good the to shake the rust off though...

Meltdown...

Meltdown... I really have to control my emotions inside and discipline myself... Chopped a tourney today, but dumped the money on a cash game... Jeez, I kill myself sometimes, well at least I'm still positive for the week, albeit for a small win... God...

Back from the Bay...

Back from the Bay... Rolling back to Vegas is a bit hard. You miss family, friends and familiar places. The GF and Paki had enjoyed the short road trip as well. Good times and eats had by all...now back to the Sin City where the heat is on...

Ballin' and Shot Callin'...

Ballin' and Shot Callin'...

11/16/10

Sunday was great the parlay hit, albeit a 2 teamer. But, I'm
3 for 3 on the 2 team picks, I got to stick to those. At
least I'm up for the Football Season. Slow and low, at ease
the tempo. Plus final tabling a poker tourney at Caesars
was pretty saucy. I'm still keeping up my 23% cash ratio
on the poker tourneys, lol...Just need to hit the big first
again, hehe...I should heed my word and just play the $1K'ers
at the Bell each Saturday, if the cash ratio holds out, I
should be retired by now, damn...

Sign Of The Times...

Sign Of The Times...

9/30/10

It really sucks to see how impersonal business decisions at
the corporate level affects people close to you. I guess it's
a numbers game, as are most things in life. Life is a race of
checks and balances. Percentages and edges. Operating cost
ratio's and overhead.

I guess you shouldn't get complacent with your station in life
and always strive for something higher. Don't be dependent on
what others can do for you, be dependent on your self. Always
have a back up plan or have "outs" as we poker grinders say.

It's the American way - we're predators, we go where the most
food is...simple. The hustle, master it...The third re-raise is
most likely pocket Aces or Kings, fold if you don't got em'...

Going Back to LV...

9/20/10

Going Back to LV...

Man, these quick trips to Cali, are too short. Was back in SD
over the weekend for Deb and Dave's 5th Wedding Anniversary.
Flew out Friday night after work and drove back in with the
new toy.

It's crazy how time flies. It seemed like last week, we were
partying tourists in LV for the bachelor party, kickin' it
in Manila before they had their 2 beautiful daughters and fast
forward to receding hairlines, lol...

Anyway, it's been a minute since I wrote in my blog. Hmmmm,
dunno' why it's been that long. I have to make it a point again
to write more. It's good therapy, hehe...

See ya on the felt or the track (the new toy is kinda' Fast and
Furious)...

Game Is On...

4/17/10

Game Is On...

3 final tables within 8 days, I'm not running bad on
the green felt (Well, today was 2 spots away from the
final table - 12th out of 75, and busting out with
pocket Kings against Ace/Nine OS - luckily my buddy
Ed split 50% equity for the tourney and he busted out
in 7th with pocket Queens against Ace/Jack Suited.

So we got our money back. I'm ok with that, ya know.
As in life, breaking even (especially these days) on
the felt landscape of poker can be just as fine.

We just need to squeeze out a little bit of luck or
a dose of not being "outlucked", when the best hand
goes in. I complained just a little bit, but hey I've
put bad beats on other folks in the past.

I just know that my game is on, hehe...

Furious, But Not That Fast...

3/4/10

Furious, But Not That Fast...

I'm taking the plunge...

After all these months of trying to find Taylor's
long lost twin (my old Jeep Cherokee) - I am going
to start modding up the SX4 Sport.

Just purchased some H&R lowering springs, to get
installed next week. Probably pick up a drop in
K&N Air filter, to start off...

Need some juice on the streets of Vegas, hehe...

Why did I get rid of Taylor, gosh...

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!!!

Exhausted...

4/26/09

Exhausted...

With the property management issues, work, interviewing
for a new position at work, commuting, etc - where is the
time to play poker lately? Well, it's only been about
a week, since I last played. Now, I got to deal with
an issue about my Jeep, all stemming from a simple oil
change that took place on Friday - hopefully I can get
that issue resolved Monday (one of the techs must have
broke off my oil pressure sender while changing the
oil filter that day; printed up some forum threads to
verify the issue and of course, the broken part itself
is very obvious if you take a look just above the filter).

Anyway, it's just been one of those weeks...

Looking forward toward the end of the week, when my
booboo flies in and when some of the Yay Area homies
come in for the Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight. Vegas will
be a Pinoy and Limey haven. Lumpia and Sheperd's Pie,
on plates across Sin City.

Nice, I'm gettin' hungry...Can I get that with waffles?