Alright kids, get a grip on this, think about it, and lest you think too long, jump on the bandwagon, and play – play – play. Because I am a depositing player at CD Poker, I’m registered in a July 10th event for a free roll into the big event at the WSOP. It doesn’t take a lot of cash or time to get there. Because I’m a Blogger, I’m registered in the PokerStars Blogger Tournament (WBOCCP), all you have to have is a blog, etc., etc., etc. Check out all the details on the site – and you don’t have much time to register but you too can play for a seat in the WSOP and other prizes. Because I’ve deposited and played at TitanPoker, I am eligible to play in a free roll tournament for the WSOP Big Event – free roll takes place on June 25th. Sweet! There are all kinds of promos and super deals at PokerWorks. If you’re missing them, you are sleeping through the biggest poker opportunities in history!
While poker is afoot, and lying is legal, and stealing is one of the options, take a look at this beauty. She was waiting for me when I got out of work on Monday night. God, thank you for sharing this with me. Ladies and Gentlemen…may I present *drum roll* Sister Moon!
And on the poker front, I managed to force myself to deal on Monday. Forcing is a key word here. The first part of the shift found me dealing one table, sitting a dreaded dead spread, and taking a break. Then it was two balls the rest of the night until I escaped at 1:00 a.m. KEE-RIST! I HATE TWO BALLS! I would rather deal four and five balls than two balls. The whole night seems wasted on breaks, not to mention sitting dead and taking a break. I didn’t sign the E/O list until late – after the line was drawn and somewhere around 10 p.m. I almost talked myself into opting out to play after the dead spread and break but managed to keep that screaming voice inside my head in check, and stayed in the line-up.
There was really nothing uproariously noisy or wonderful or bad about the shift. I just drifted through it and headed out the door when it was over. The best part of it was Sister Moon. And the fact that I knew I could have a glass of wine, kick back, and relax. I did.
Tuesday night, there was no way I could contain myself and sit through another night of breaks and dead spreads. Yes…Bellagio is slow. But look at it this way; if we are slow, the rest of the town is dying right now. Some of the rooms have no poker games, others have games that won’t hold up through the night, and that makes me happy to be where I am as long as I have to have a job to survive the daily nut.
I signed the E/O play and jumped right into a $4-8 H game. I landed in the 1s and everyone at the table was Y-O-U-N-G except for the 7-9-10s. I asked the dealer for the 2-3-8-9 if it opened. The 4s looked like he was 18 if he was a day. He immediately quipped, “She wants to get down there with guys that are her age and get away from us young guys.”
I immediately responded, “I think I’m way too young for you, Honey.”
He put a lid on it. A few minutes later I jabbed him with, “You are probably 18 and not even old enough to be in here anyway.”
He replied. “I wear this little scruffy beard to make it look like I’m older.”
I laughed, “It must work in all the casinos.”
They were all fun but deadly quiet. Poker was afoot and there was work to be done. I got the seat change about a half hour later. As my usual play develops, I sit for a week before I can even get involved in the action. The first pot I won happened about two hours into play – I picked up K-Q Off, and called a raise, along with seven other players. The flop was K-10-K. I fired at it. I got three callers, including the original raiser. The Turn brought a small blank, I fired again and I got raised by the original raiser. I called with, “Nice hand!”
I was trying to give him credit for A-K or 10-10. But lo and behold, a K popped off on the River. I checked. He bet. I raised. He called. I have no idea what he had. I’m trying to guess that he had Q-Q or J-J. I can’t even give him A-A. It’s so hard to put people on hands in this game most of the time. I drifted through another long dry spell but managed to come out of the game with a nice win. I finally just cashed out and waited around until I could clock out and leave for the night.
Before I clocked out for the night, I got an incredible amount of visiting in with people that are special to me. One is Chris Fargis. He was getting ready to start a $600-1,200 M game with Todd Brunson and a few others. Yikes! Chris! Take extra care my friend. He knows what he’s doing and he’s holding his own space, thoughts, and bankroll at a manageable level in our conversations. Love that kid! We offered to buy each other meal if it was ever needed. *LMAO*
I visited with Dana, one of our dealers and one of the sweetest people I know on Earth – he’s male and has history with Doyle Brunson and Chip Reese. That makes him a good person because he never flaunts anything other than smiles and good will.
And I had the opportunity to visit with Kamell Abdnour – a rare opportunity considering he’s the swing, relief shift supervisor at Bellagio and came over from the Mirage with all of the rest of us. Kamell used to come into town and play $5-10 Stud at Bellagio, he was a long time friend of Eric Drache (Mirage’s Poker Room Manager for a number of years). Kamell came on board as a supervisor at the Mirage so long ago, I almost can’t remember when. Kamell is leaving us soon. He will retire at the end of June and go home to help his parents in their Golden*?* Years ( “?” depicts the question of how golden are they when you need help to get around, your body is breaking down, and you are no longer able to care for yourself – chalk it up as a “Linda” thing). He has shown me a way of thinking that makes me appreciate life more from a different angle. Not only do I admire him for taking the time to take care of his aging parents, I will definitely miss Kamell.*sniff*
The wind has been an ever terminal, ugly little bitch – AGAIN – this last week. It blows all the dirt and sand in the desert/from the construction sites up my nose and into my eyes. I’m sick of it! I need a road trip.
Project CityCenter is slamming 24/7. This is what I saw when I left late night:
I got the greatest email from Mark – well of course I love it when people think I’m great for just being a real person:
*Begin email*
Linda, hello… It’s your friend Mark and I haven’t gone south. I promise.
I hate giving an RSVP before hand because 1) I don’t want to commit and then don’t show. 2) I’m honestly scared of all committments(lol) 3) I try to stay on some sort of ‘schedule’ but my living habits are just absurd… I never know if I’m gonna be coming – or going.
I wanted to take the time to thank you. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for writing your blog and inspiring me to do what I’m doing for a living…. I can truly and honestly say that if it weren’t for your writings I doubt I’d be living in Las Vegas. Outside of your blog, as a person and friend you’ve been nothing but 110%. From the card parties, to listening to a bad beat story, teaching me how to deal when I thought I was going to need work… just everything. It’s all so much appretiated and I don’t want for a second for you to feel as though I don’t acknowledge it… I do! You’ve been an inspiration to me… and one of the most loyal friends I’ve ever had… EVER.
Thank you.
Lotta love,
Mark
ps: thank you so much for getting me the interview on pokerworks:) you’re so damn cool:)
*End email*
And on the subject of Mark, we were chatting on the AIM when he said he couldn’t believe I had archives back as far as I do. Believe it or not, I have hand written diary notes from the Montana Days – just haven’t gotten around to translating them into ‘geek speak’. But I will – if I live long enough.
And on the picture contest – the where is this taken thingy – give Paboo a ton of credit for ingenuity:
*Begin email*
The subject of the email was “I didn’t look up – I looked down”
Linda,
Only took 10 minutes for me to investigate and decipher.
I’ve attached a close up and brighter picture of the cameo on the ceiling… obvious b/c of the lights, right. Looking at the reflection I can make out the distinct pattern of the carpet on the floor.
I remember seeing a bizarre website a year a so ago on one of my poker sites. Some guys acutally goes around and take pictures of all the carpets in US. WTF is wrong with this person.
So… searched the site for the post and found the website:
http://www.dieiscast.com/gallerycarpet1.html
And bingo… Open the big picture of the Tropicana, and there ya go.
Hey… I did win a prize… the boob prize for being such a dork, right.
Paboo
*End email*
That’s it in a wrap. When you’re down and blue, don’t know what to do, can’t play poker worth a crap, and the weight of the world is in your lap…go look at Sister Moon. She’s a beaut!