Twelve tons of River Rock landed curb side at my place around 1 p.m. Only problem is that it was supposed to be here between 9 and 11 a.m. – there were people here to transport it to the backyard – now it’s just me and it’s R-A-I-N-I-N-G!!! Oh well! Hope everyone that lives on my street is paying attention and manages to steer around it for a day or so.

The Terminal Backyard Project continues!!! I’m still shooting for it to be completely finished by the end of summer – not that it won’t be WAY COOL and wonderful before then – and that is if it doesn’t rain all summer. So while it’s raining, I’m having coffee, and it’s Poker Time.

I dealt two games – $4-8 and $8-16 Holdem – took a break and had the opportunity to visit with Greg (poker dealing student/friend) and Nicholas in the 3s. They were both in playing and I rousted them out of their games, introduced them to each other, and we chatted during most of my break.

When I went back to the line-up, Pete (supervisor) told me I would be out at 9 p.m. Yup, I had signed the E/O. I had all these Super Whoopee Thoughts running through my head about all the things I would accomplish when I arrived home early. I moved through the next down and turned around to see the dealer I had been pushing was still in the line-up and no one was tapping him out. *Earth approaching at 100 MPH* I checked with Pete and sure enough, one of the dirt dog dealers that was coming in at 9 p.m. was a ‘no call/no show’. *Splat – collision with Earth*

I pushed the next game, easy dealing $4-8 Holdem and they wanted to chatterbug about the high limit and the stars…and we did. My next game was $200-400 half Deuce Triple Draw/half 7 Stud 8 or Better. It was three handed. There had been some kind of dealer/player argument going on when I got there and Carmen was there but thankfully, things were pretty calm during my down. It was Jimmy G. – 1s, O’Neil – 2s, Lenny – 7s.

At one point, a youngster walked up and stood about two feet from the table, just off of Lenny’s right shoulder. I waited while I shuffled and dealt the hand…he stood there. I asked, “Are you interested in a seat?”

“No! I just want to watch.”

I replied, “Don’t watch too long. There are other games in the room you can watch.”

Before you start thinking I’m rude, most high limit players – and even a few low limit players – do not want someone standing over their back while they are playing. I don’t even wait for the player to tell me to ask them to move off, I just do it on ‘auto pilot’ if they look like they’re going to homestead a spot.

After he moved off, Lenny said, “You are the only dealer that does what they are supposed to d0.”

I thanked him. It’s nice to receive a compliment – even if it is my job.

*****

Kim – AKA The Dragon Lady – has been in playing lately. Other posts about her here and she’s in the People in Poker pages of the site. I believe a $40-80 Stud game had been in progress and it broke down. Immediately a $20-40 Stud game cranked off in its place. That was my next game.

A few regulars but mostly new faces. Kim was stalking the table looking for the chance to play over. The 1s was walking when I sat down but the departing dealer told me specifically that the 1s had requested ‘no play overs’.

One hand – I wanted to laugh my ass off but I kept a straight face – four way action between the 3s (Asian – infrequent player), 5s (stranger), 6s (regular), and 7s (regular – David S.).

Fourth Street gave the 3s K-6 showing, the 5 and 6s had middle cards showing, David showed K-5 and bet $20 before I called the high hand. The 3s put out $40. I pushed back the extra $20 and told him he was high and starting the action.

He started barking at me, “I raise!” as he pushed out the $20.

I said, “You are high. You start the action,” as I pushed the $20 back to him.

He went almost into screechville, “I check, he bet!” as he pointed at David…guess he forgot about the 5 and 6s…and he pushed the $20 out again.

I pushed it back. “He acted out of turn, you’re high.”

He was livid. “I check. He Bet! I raise.” He pushed the $20 out.

I pushed it back. “You did not check. He acted out of turn, if there’s no raise, his call stays in the pot.”

The 5 and 6s sat there like bumps on a log. David never said a word – he really wasn’t taking a shot, he just acted out of turn. The 8s jumped in – directly to the 3s, “You did not check.” *mental thank you*

The 3s knew he had no win and he kept looking off over his shoulder, back to me, and spitting out ‘fuck’ but it was so guttural unless you watched his mouth, you would never know what he was saying.

I slammed out, “Don’t swear at me!”

The 5 and 6s finally folded, David won the hand on 6th Street, the 3s kept mumbling. I wanted to laugh but I didn’t. I said, “If you’re having a problem, I’ll call the Floorman for you. Otherwise drop it!”

Drop it he did. The game went on.

The 4s walked. Within two hands, Kim had the Brush over there counting him down and putting a ‘play over’ box on his chips. Three players told the Brush that the 4s would be right back, the Brush just ignored them and put the box over the chips. Kim jumped into the seat and exclaimed, “Deal me in!”

I did. The 4s returned, standing behind her as she was digging for bills to put on the table. Everyone chimed, “He’s back!” motioning to him as he waited for her to get up. She jumped up without looking at the hole cards.

I told her I needed $3 for the ante. She stared at me like I had an eye in the middle of my forehead – she’s like that.

I said, “You told me to deal you in, I did, I need $3 for your ante.”

She retorted, “I didn’t play the hand.”

The 8s exclaimed, “You told her to deal you in.”

She stared at him like ‘I want to shoot your eyes out’ – she’s like that.

She stood there and he continued, “I can’t believe your acting like this over $3. You told her to deal you in.” *hey…double thank you*

She dug in her pocket and pulled out a $10 bill, threw it on the table, I made chip change and put $3 in the pot. Away she went like her tail was on fire.

*****

It was 11:30 p.m. and I was out of the line-up. I touched bases with Pete and the ‘play over’ incident. We used to have a rule at the Mirage that worked quite well – unless the player went specifically to the Floor Person and told them they were going to eat and someone could play over – no one could play over until the missing player had an ‘absent button’.

Pete said we didn’t have that now. May be we should!!!!! I told him I’d had this same problem with the same Brush before. He said he’d speak to the Brush…who knows if it will do any good.

*****

I clocked out, got clear down stairs to the employee section before I remembered my buddies, Greg and Nicholas were still jamming in the games and we had talked about a drink after work. I dragged myself back up into the casino (not because I was tired – I just hate hanging out there when I’m off the clock) and rounded them up. We went to the Keno Lounge and put a few $$ in the Keno machines while we waited for cocktails. Drinks around – a toast – fun conversation, I ordered another one, they cashed and went back to their games. I think Greg may have won a $ or $$, Nicholas must’ve broke about even, I was winning $5 when I hit the cash out button, almost done with the second wine and Nicholas appeared to check on me. We gabbed for at least another hour…I suppose I did most of the gabbing because…I WAS DRINKING!

They are both great company and good friends. Damn! I meet the coolest people through this site and at the tables. See you there!