Hodge Podge

An update on playing on shift. I waltzed into work on Monday – got the ‘do you want to work?’ thing, said ‘no’, and left without even looking at the room. Tuesday night, different story. I searched for the E/O-Play List and found it on Kamell’s desk as he was looking through memos on the computer. He wouldn’t release The List – instead, he took a red ink pen and wrote a big ‘no players’ and ran a squiggly red line, below it, down the length of the column. I did a double take. “No players? Don’t we have enough dealers coming in?”

He showed me the memo and then explained: Someone – in corporate that obviously doesn’t know a lot about poker – started thinking that if we play on shift and we are getting paid the hourly wage (somewhere around six bucks and change) that we would be considered prop players. And there is a corporate rule that no one can play in the casino eight hours before our shift.

It’s so ludicrous that one would wonder what that person that questioned the two items above, could possibly have to do with their time. First, we aren’t even close to being prop players, they get paid much more per hour to play and some of them get a % of rake back. (That ain’t never gonna happen for a poker dealer and the prop player doesn’t have to get up and go deal when they are STUCK). Secondly, the eight hour rule is a good rule – it keeps people from drinking for hours after shift, playing slots/poker etc., and then going back to work after they’ve had no sleep, drunk/hung over, and STUCK…their customer service and attitude would suck. But we aren’t playing before shift, we are playing on shift. The bad news is that now we have dealers just sitting dead spreads, until we can E/O, and our games suffer for it. Dealers really help fill up the empty spaces at tables. If we don’t take up the slack, sometimes there is no game for the tourista that comes to town and wants to play.

I’m sure it will all be resolved. It just might take some time to get through the red tape. If it isn’t and as long as it stands – I’ll be in The Box. I won’t even have to consider whether I should deal or play. See how simple life is at times.

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I recently mentioned playing cards with Craig Cunningham – a blogger – and new found poker buddy. He has the greatest articles up on his blog about poker and relationships. I think they are a must read. And if you check out his posts – you’ll find the post where he mentions that he ‘particularly’ liked beating me in the hand we went to war in. All I can say is – I slowed him down to calling – you’re a little sissy, Craig. Just kidding! Can’t wait to play cards with you again, and great writing. Keep up the good work.

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The Silver Steed still resides in surgery. I’m thoroughly pissed at Gaudin Ford Body Shop. I left my baby with them, early Tuesday AM, last week. I specifically asked if I needed to leave the remote and the key. “The boys in the body shop are pretty hard on remotes. They throw the keys around. You might want to just leave the key.” I did.

Along about Thursday afternoon, I got a call stating that I needed to bring in the remote. I did. I couldn’t speak with my ‘body shop rep’ as he was out somewhere. I called on Friday, got his voice mail, he didn’t return my call. I called back on Monday. Managed to get him on the line after several attempts and when I queried the ‘remote phone call’, he told me they couldn’t do anything to my truck without it. I had a semi-spastic attack on the phone. I told him I couldn’t believe that they had my truck for three working days and did nothing…he told me they were about on schedule…I argued and had a fit.

What good does it do? I’m not going to go drive it out of their shop with the door and roof sanded – that would be another delay and mean taking it someplace else and waiting on them. Kee-rist! I won’t be returning to Gaudin Ford for any future business. This is the second truck I’ve purchased from them and I’ve learned my lesson – I had another problem with them and customer service.

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All you poker bloggers need to hustle up and sign up for the Summer Classic.

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Iggy – love that guy – has set up another blogger satellite tourney for a seat in one of the events at the WSOP. I can’t play as I’m scheduled to work on Monday night. Umnhhh…check out the word ‘scheduled’. Maybe – just maybe….

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And I’m still looking for writers for PokerWorks main page. Anyone?

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The end:

Castaways - the end