Since I have missed so many opportunities to post on Tango (weeks at a time go by without my insanity gracing these pages) there are a few back issues that need mentioning.
Death. Hateful as it is, it always manages to find a way to invade our lives.
Penny Sliman, a long, long time, friend and fellow dealer starting as far back as some of the tournaments I used to travel to Las Vegas to deal between 1987 and 1989 and then on to the opening of the Mirage and Bellagio, lost her husband Joe about 6 weeks ago. Joe had been ill and made a zillion or so trips to emergency and various doctors and clinics around the US before he ran into the grim reaper while in a Las Vegas hospital. I followed both Joe and Penny on Facebook and knew Joe simply because of my relationship with Penny. Joe was always friendly and upbeat when I saw him and his posts on FB were a treat to read. And he was only early 50s when he left his wife and three dogs for the last time. I feel horrible for Penny and her furry kids.
Carmen Bates — long time friend starting back with the Mirage days when she first gave the high limit kids a taste of her finesse and ability to deal with all the stress as she transitioned from dealer to a brush. She is now a high brush at Bellagio and should have an award for always being on top of her game as she handles all the games that include poker and the mind, of all the insaniacs she deals with. Her husband Gary passed recently. I know Carmen and I don’t stay in touch very often but our friendship can be compared to one that has an open door…we take right back up where we left off. I wasn’t aware that Gary had been in failing health this past year. Carmen and I have exchanged texts and a few emails but she didn’t mention Gary’s health and I would attribute that to her need to keep certain subjects off the board. I was shocked when I got a text from her that he had passed but even the message in the text took the harshness out of his passing. Danielle and Jackie (the two daughters) are grown girls and in Las Vegas with Mom. Sad for all of them.
On another note, my buddette Sylvia Hart has given notice at Bellagio. This is her last week. I’m so happy for her escape. She’s off to do other things with her life and start a new chapter. The worst part of it for me is that she’ll be leaving Las Vegas…instead of coming out to spend the weekend with me now and then I’ll have to text, call, or Skype with her. I miss her already.
This sunrise reminds me of better days:
On the weather front, we had massive rain today, a million volts of lightning, a cacophony of thunder, and my poor dog went absolutely ballistico. Poo!
On the fun side, I watched Ted Forrest and Phil Hellmuth on the final table live (15 minute delay) on the WSOP.com for the bracelet in the 7-card razz event where Ted won his 7th bracelet. Ted then either ‘rejoined’ Facebook or started a new account but when friended, he responded. I sent him a ‘congratulations’ text.
Back a few years ago I sent out queries to a number of people asking if they’d seen Ted anywhere because for a long time nothing hit the media about him. I have known him since early Mirage days when he played $15-$30 stud and 8/B stud. He’s one of my favorites in the game – and away from the table – and especially after reading Michael Craig’s article on him at Card Player (no, I don’t have the link right now…sorry). How could you not love Ted’s crazy spirit and desire to just ‘go-out-and-do-it’ if the mood strikes him. He was also playing Andy Beal at Wynn the day I was invited to be a sweater at the table. Ted was and has always been friendly to me, he was that day too.
Out for the night…let’s see if I can make it tomorrow to keep up the posting string.