this is supposed to be all poker--but hell-its my journal----



lol no problem---glad there was no rush here....

Should have at least thrown in a free bus ticket too.

I am still having more fun, but it seems I have forgotten how to win...This is almost as bad as the last bonus chase I posted---

pokerplex
384 hands at 1/2 limit <180> - 23PTBB/100
413 hands at 100 NL +143 17 PTBB/100
bonus +50
MTD +13

Jesus-I suck...........

It was a real nice weekend....

I played awhile on Friday night on a crypto and got crushed...I need the bonus to be only down $100, but luckily Ms. Alaska showed up with a couple of lobster tails. They were great, as I hadn't had lobster in ages...I played a little while after dinner, but just broke even...

It was a great Saturday morning...It was my birthday, and had a few Mimosas for breakfast, with a leftover lobster omelet...I played most all day Saturday afternoon and picked up a few bucks here and there, but nothing worth remarking about...I really felt I was playing well, as I was trying to be a little more creative. I was pretty much card dead, but I took many pots down by calling tight players in position, and re raising the usual continuation bet...Feels good to actually think and play poker, as opposed to the usual ABC stuff..I felt good doing it...
My friend brought over lamb shanks for me to cook for dinner, and if you guys haven't had 'em, you are really missing something...long cooked (takes about 3 hours) with meat falling off the bone, and a nice Shiraz to go with it...truly nothing better...

Lazed around after dinner, and was reading the SNG section here on BTP...It seems there are a few whiners that I hadn't read before LOL...I don't know why, but I was irritated reading all that BS, so I jumped into a few 50$ SNGs and came in 3rd in the first one, whiffed in the second, and and and

PokerStars Tournament #23557395, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $55.00/$5.00
9 players
Total Prize Pool: $495.00
Tournament started - 2006/04/23 - 01:31:28 (ET)

Dear bobby,

You finished the tournament in 1st place.
A $247.50 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

If I can win, anybody can...

It was a lazy Sunday---too much good food and wine lately, so I was happy to read most all day...took a short nap...

I played a short while on Sunday evening and finally finished one of my P Stars bonuses---they clear slowly, but they don't go anywhere, and great for the SNG's...It was worth 150$...

Thanks to all my bro's who wished me a happy birthday the last few days, I appreciate the IM's and E mails...

it's now Monday evening, and Bri told me a few hours ago that the VIPs were worth playing some SNGs at Martins, so you know where I will be...

GL all

Buy gold... and ship me 10%... Woot...

Ok, I am back in the mood to play a little poker!! I still have my moments when I am just not interested, but they don't happen too often lately...

Poker
I am trying to get back with the poker program, and have been a bit more successful. I have had a couple small wins recently, but more importantly, I am starting to enjoy playing again. I also have been spurred on by Bri, who while being a real pain in the ass at times has a great poker mind, and has offered (again) to review a few hands for me. He isn't shy about voicing an opinion, and I have no intention of sharing his comments to the general public at this time...NOT PRETTY! I have to admit, I look at some of the hand histories with him, and I have NO IDEA what I was thinking! I really want to work on my game, so I will be primarily playing 2 games at the most, but I may play a bit more with the recent Party bonus. I was adding up all my money at the various sites, and was more than a little bummed about the totals; the next day I remembered I had almost a grand at Doyles Room. Maybe a bit more attention to detail is in order?

Is everyone else a bit burnt-out on TV poker? It seems like there is at least one show on all the time, but I just can't seem to get interested at all. Either the shows are poorly produced, the annoncers suck, or maybe I'm just tired of it. I never watch TV to speak of, so maybe that's part of it too. Of course, Howard L. is a great "color" man and does a great job. Even the "Learn from the Pros" is a half way decent show, but putting up with Chris Rose for a nugget of poker info here and there seems hardly worthwhile.

I am running out of time to win a seat at the ME, but you never know! I read today that Pauly is going solo as a reporter this year, so his reports should be better than ever. Man, is he writing extra well these days... I was hoping to get there and buy him drinks, but oh well... I wish they had more satellites for the smaller events, as I think they would draw very well. It might even spread out the money a little, instead of having everything at the ME.

In other news----

I was heartbroken to see Barbaro break down awhile back...I hope he makes it. I couldn't help but think of the best race horse I ever saw in my life; if you like the ponies, and never saw Ruffian race, you missed a special treat. I guess I'm getting a little older, and have met a few racing fans who were unaware, but that filly NEVER lost a race until she broke down against Foolish Pleasure in a highly touted match race. She not only never lost, she was NEVER behind at ANY call!! It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about her.

In happier news, Al-Zarqawi was alive when they found him; one can only hope he was in immense pain as he lay dying...

Book review---

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Albom is an average writer, who excels in sentimental fluff...I appreciate any writer for what they do well, even if I don't read much of it. This book is no different except for having heaven in the title---which damn near guarantees a best-seller! The final analysis---every word was forgotten the minute I put the book back on the shelf.

Dinner---

Korean style short ribs tonight...looks like a great recipe!

Poker

Things have been running OK since I last updated... I have cleared the Party bonus and a couple crypto's as well. I did the re load at Stars too, but will probably wait until the double points kick in. I have been trying to concentrate more on each individual hand, and I can see the benefits already. Knowing that Bri will be looking at most all of the hands has definitely made a big difference, and I have been winning at a decent clip lately. The bottom line is, I have been winning a bit...I still can't get a seat at the ME, but I keep trying...I did finally have a decent cash for 150ish in a tourney at PStars.

The BJ bonuses are boring as paste, so I may try the slot bonus while I sleep next time around.

Books

I ordered and read Barry G's book---"Ace on the River", and I wish I had the money back. There is not one word in that book that is new or worthwhile. If you need to read this book to find out that sports betting, drugs, and drinking too much are unhealthy to the BR, you are probably beyond help anyway.

Food

I was in the mood for some Asian food, and decided to make my own homeade pot stickers. I even ground my own pork, but wow, what a pain in the ass! Over all flavors were fine, but I will buy the frozen items next time, or actually go out to a restaurant.

Poker

I really don't believe that beating yourself up over past mistakes...BUT, there have been so many!! Good gawd, am I playing poorly. I recently made the jump to 200NL, and have never played worse. The change in stakes have had little impact, my BR remains sound, but I have made some really bad decisions (calling station?) lately... So I vow---No more of that shit! It's hard enough to win without giving your money away!

I'm gonna go play some tournaments and get back in stroke.

I have followed the WSOP for many years, and of course it is now easier to follow than ever. If you aren't reading Pauly for his take on the poker scene, you are truly missing out. For the first time in ages, I actually feel like I should be there, and I have no idea why!

---The smaller buy in tournaments are a joke, as they make on-line structures look slow in comparison

---If I had to play 11 handed, I believe I would be on the next flight out of town

---I hate travelling

---I hate crowds

---I am increasingly agoraphobic

All that, plus I am playing poorly means it is ludicrous to even think about being in Las Vegas...Maybe next year...

On a happier and much funnier note, I ran across the most hilarious thing I have read in a long time. I read many, many blogs, but NONE have the humor and LOL value that this one does. Yes kids, it is none other than the one, the only---
http://www.philhellmuth.com/phil-hellmu ... -blog.html

Yes it's true---hellboy has a blog---it's really a journal of "name-dripping"... Jesus, this guy gives new definition to name-dropping, but he writes reasonably well, and even if he isn't trying to be funny, it's a hoot!! I hope to hell Paul P is aware of it...I think he would enoy it immensely.

News and Views

If anyone thinks this so called news is really "new", please take 30 minutes out of your day and read a little (reading sometimes means you may have to investigate, and possibly think) . This bullshit with regard to the NY Times vs the Bush admin is enough to make me puke. Suffice it to say that these big money transactions have been trackable for around 20 years. Anyone heard of "swift"?

The bottom line is this---The Bush admin needed some attention away from all their obvious failings, and the Times must have needed more subscribers. They both win by getting undeserved attention, and the American public loses once again.

Books

I have read a zillion of them---boring reviews to follow soon

Food

I was on this ridiculous diet for the last week or so---it was a silly soup and vegetable thing, but I thought it might help kick start some weight loss, as I have gained 20 pounds sittin' on my ass for the last 2 or 3 years. All in all, the diet was a joke, but it did make me realize how few fruits and vegetables I consume regularly, so it was worth it in that regard. I need to lose 30 pounds---maybe by the years end?