Saturday morning found me struggling out of bed with very little sleep. Worked my full shift on Friday and I’d been invited to dance with the Bloggers at Sam’s Town at a 10:00 a.m. breakfast and meet and greet. The dance? A NLH poker tournament at 1:00 p.m.

The breakfast was great, literally, a wide assortment of fresh, sliced fruit, bagels, flavored cream cheese toppings, coffee, juice…heaven! The people were even better. I was hugged, ego coated in a whipped sugary topping, greeted by some as if I were ‘the one’, and made to feel right at home in the midst of a lot of people I’d never met before.

Joseph AKA PokerProf was wonderful. He’s a gem that needs no polish or brilliant lights to bring out the best of him. Joe Senior “Flipchipro” – you’re great too. BTW – both Joes, I can’t find an email address for you…help!

A few people came to say hello to us “bloggers” and then were off to the tournament at Bellagio. Marcel Luske, Kirill Gerasimov, Evelyn Ng, and Ron Rose.

Ron Rose arrived about the same time I did. He brought each of us bloggers one of his books. I still find myself laughing over the following incident. Felicia Lee made a comment that went something like this, with the queries by Ron. She didn’t like his book – why? – because of some of the players that were in it – like who? – John Bonetti.

Ron opened the book to a certain page, ripped the page out, went to another page and ripped it out. He then folded the pages in half and then ripped them in half and pushed her the book with something like, “I aim to please.”

I’m still laughing over it. It was funny as hell then and maybe more so now. He did it so smoothly and with a straight face. It looked like he’d rehearsed it but I think it was all spur of the moment. Ron’s book is “Poker Aces” and you can find out more about him here.

A most amazing event. Charlie Shoten gave us a speech on his new book and his new look on life and learning to live with himself. That’s not exactly the way he phrased it but that was what he meant. What actually happened is I watched Charlie step out of himself and look at what’s inside Charlie. Fascinating.

Tom McEvoy – for the first time in somewhere around 17 years of off and on dealing to Tom, I witnessed a real person with a sense of humor. Tom spoke to our group also. Entertaining. He does teach by the way, if you’re interested in learning from him. I don’t have his contact info though.

Jeff from Check and Raise Poker was at our meeting with freebies and answered any questions posed about playing online poker.

Dick Gatewood, the card room manager at Sam’s Town was a wonderful host and I spent a few minutes with him before we tripped down stairs to draw for our seats in the tournament.

Beat up and Busted by the boys on Table 5. We drew for the Button, I got the Ace of Spades. I yelled, “Woo hoo! May the best woman win!”

The 7s snorted that “she” would. “She” was his wife and she was at the next table. A woman did win but it wasn’t his wife. Felicia Lee took home the prize and honor of first place.

I sat next to Brad “Otis” Willis. Great company, nice presence, and someone I’d love to spend more time visiting with…he was the one that sent me the invite to the dance.

The first hand dealt, I looked down to K-Q off suit. The player in the 4s raised it. Everyone pitched. The 4s turned over 7-2 off AKA The Hammer! *screamers, cheers, hoots*

I picked up zip, zero, zilch for cards. I called a small raise twice and pitched on the flop when I faced a bet. We were in the 3rd level of blinds when I picked up 6-6, UTG, and went all in. Got two calls – the first one from the guy that said his wife would win the tournament, he held A-Q off suit – the second one from the Button that held K-K. My timing was about damn perfect. A lonely little Ace hit the Flop and I was out…hell, I couldn’t beat K-K either. Glenn – 1s, laid down A-K suited in that hand.

I said my goodbyes. I was too tired to be alive and wanted to get out of there before my face slid off onto the floor. The Bloggers had the weekend scheduled and I, unfortunately, only had a short time period to spend with them. Hopefully there will be another time soon when I won’t be married to the ‘time’ clock of life and work. It was a very memorable experience.

Pauly did ask me about my tattoos…probably disappointed when I told him my son did them and I waited until I was old enough to know I wanted them before I got them. Your a Kool Kat Pauly…come back soon.