Bah.
Thought I'd play Dr. Pauly's annual Turkey Cup, and actually started off building a nice stack, until I misplayed TPTK against a -1000% ROI player who limped called AA against my preflop raise. When the Q hit the turn on an all raggy board, I really felt my TPTK was good. Put him on no better than AK, and called his turn shove.
Of course, I should have probably known better, when he min-raised my c-bet on the 8-high flop...
Still, limp calling AA preflop with three players to act is pretty dangerous poker.
Still had about 800 chippies left, and shoved AQo (yes, again) PF. I raised preflop, then a 3 bet and a call after me, so I shoved. It was my AQ v. AK v. AK. Hated my chances, but at least AK only had two kings left in the deck. Felt much much better with the Q high flop (though I was going to have to fade runner runner spades). Turn was pretty. River? Bah, a two-out K. If that flop had held, I've have recovered to a top 15 stack.
As it was, I was one of the first dozen or so out.
Bah. I fuckin' hate tryptophan tournies.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Click Your Heels Three Times
and say "I want to go home...I want to go home...I want to go home..."
The Good Doctor Mondo came home this week, on Monday, five months to the day when she first went into the hospital. Life is good. Allow me to rephrase. Life is fanfuckingtastic. We have so very much to be thankful for this year, her very survival being first and foremost, as well as all the support we've received from our friends -- local, virtual, bandmates, family, colleagues, and otherwise. Cliches often become cliches because at their very core, they are usually essentially true...you truly never know what you have until you almost lose it.
That's not to say that there are not significant changes in our lives, even today. The Good Doctor Mondo is home, yet she will remain bed/wheelchair/walker-bound for a long time to come, in a way we can't really measure yet. Our home looks like some combination of a medical lab/dairy. You know those huge metal canisters that hold hundreds of gallons of milk? Well, we've now got four of those in our living room/den (now known as the master bedroom), except their full of liquid oxygen. Those, plus five portable oxygen cylinders. Plus two portable oxygen devices that resemble jet packs. Plus miles of tubing. Plus large, prominent, bold red type signs outside our house warning against open flames/smoking.
Anyway, that's our lives now. A schedule of medications, trans-trach cleanings, anti bloodclot injections, it goes on and on.
Yet we're thankful beyond belief, for this Thanksgiving, we do indeed have one another. And if you just hang on tight enough, you never have to let go.
So to you and yours, spare a thought this Thanksgiving for those in your own families who may be struggling with their issues, great and small. Because you never know what you have until you almost lose it.
The Good Doctor Mondo came home this week, on Monday, five months to the day when she first went into the hospital. Life is good. Allow me to rephrase. Life is fanfuckingtastic. We have so very much to be thankful for this year, her very survival being first and foremost, as well as all the support we've received from our friends -- local, virtual, bandmates, family, colleagues, and otherwise. Cliches often become cliches because at their very core, they are usually essentially true...you truly never know what you have until you almost lose it.
That's not to say that there are not significant changes in our lives, even today. The Good Doctor Mondo is home, yet she will remain bed/wheelchair/walker-bound for a long time to come, in a way we can't really measure yet. Our home looks like some combination of a medical lab/dairy. You know those huge metal canisters that hold hundreds of gallons of milk? Well, we've now got four of those in our living room/den (now known as the master bedroom), except their full of liquid oxygen. Those, plus five portable oxygen cylinders. Plus two portable oxygen devices that resemble jet packs. Plus miles of tubing. Plus large, prominent, bold red type signs outside our house warning against open flames/smoking.
Anyway, that's our lives now. A schedule of medications, trans-trach cleanings, anti bloodclot injections, it goes on and on.
Yet we're thankful beyond belief, for this Thanksgiving, we do indeed have one another. And if you just hang on tight enough, you never have to let go.
So to you and yours, spare a thought this Thanksgiving for those in your own families who may be struggling with their issues, great and small. Because you never know what you have until you almost lose it.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sick Flop
Cliffnotes - 66 > AA > AA> QQ, and brought a howitzer, where a .38 cal would have done the trick.
PokerStars Game #35242067774: Tournament #211784419, $3.00+$0.30 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2009/11/11 22:10:28 MT [2009/11/12 0:10:28 ET]
Table '211784419 15' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: rafaberlin (1450 in chips)
Seat 2: mike_031000 (725 in chips)
Seat 3: tevoyarupiar (6100 in chips)
Seat 4: grant (1490 in chips)
Seat 5: heffs976 (7165 in chips)
Seat 6: Mondogarage (5593 in chips)
Seat 7: lupri30 (3000 in chips)
Seat 8: BecomTheBull (13265 in chips)
Seat 9: The Rogue (5790 in chips)
tevoyarupiar: posts small blind 50
grant: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [4s 2s]
heffs976: folds
Mondogarage: folds
lupri30: folds
BecomTheBull: raises 250 to 350
The Rogue: raises 550 to 900
rafaberlin: calls 900
mike_031000: calls 725 and is all-in
tevoyarupiar: folds
grant: calls 800
BecomTheBull: raises 12365 to 13265 and is all-in
The Rogue: calls 4890 and is all-in
rafaberlin: calls 550 and is all-in
grant: calls 590 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (7475) returned to BecomTheBull
*** FLOP *** [6c 6d Tc]
*** TURN *** [6c 6d Tc] [Kc]
*** RIVER *** [6c 6d Tc Kc] [7s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BecomTheBull: shows [Qs Qh] (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
The Rogue: shows [As Ad] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
The Rogue collected 8600 from side pot-3
grant: shows [9d Qd] (a pair of Sixes) (oh, and wtf is this guy calling 4-bets here with, so LOL, but irrelevant)
The Rogue collected 120 from side pot-2
rafaberlin: shows [Ac Ah] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
The Rogue collected 1450 from side pot-1
rafaberlin collected 1450 from side pot-1
mike_031000: shows [6h 6s] (four of a kind, Sixes)
mike_031000 collected 3675 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 15295 Main pot 3675. Side pot-1 2900. Side pot-2 120. Side pot-3 8600. | Rake 0
Board [6c 6d Tc Kc 7s]
Seat 1: rafaberlin showed [Ac Ah] and won (1450) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
Seat 2: mike_031000 (button) showed [6h 6s] and won (3675) with four of a kind, Sixes
Seat 3: tevoyarupiar (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: grant (big blind) showed [9d Qd] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 5: heffs976 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Mondogarage folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: lupri30 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: BecomTheBull showed [Qs Qh] and lost with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 9: The Rogue showed [As Ad] and won (10170) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
PokerStars Game #35242067774: Tournament #211784419, $3.00+$0.30 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2009/11/11 22:10:28 MT [2009/11/12 0:10:28 ET]
Table '211784419 15' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: rafaberlin (1450 in chips)
Seat 2: mike_031000 (725 in chips)
Seat 3: tevoyarupiar (6100 in chips)
Seat 4: grant (1490 in chips)
Seat 5: heffs976 (7165 in chips)
Seat 6: Mondogarage (5593 in chips)
Seat 7: lupri30 (3000 in chips)
Seat 8: BecomTheBull (13265 in chips)
Seat 9: The Rogue (5790 in chips)
tevoyarupiar: posts small blind 50
grant: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [4s 2s]
heffs976: folds
Mondogarage: folds
lupri30: folds
BecomTheBull: raises 250 to 350
The Rogue: raises 550 to 900
rafaberlin: calls 900
mike_031000: calls 725 and is all-in
tevoyarupiar: folds
grant: calls 800
BecomTheBull: raises 12365 to 13265 and is all-in
The Rogue: calls 4890 and is all-in
rafaberlin: calls 550 and is all-in
grant: calls 590 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (7475) returned to BecomTheBull
*** FLOP *** [6c 6d Tc]
*** TURN *** [6c 6d Tc] [Kc]
*** RIVER *** [6c 6d Tc Kc] [7s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BecomTheBull: shows [Qs Qh] (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
The Rogue: shows [As Ad] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
The Rogue collected 8600 from side pot-3
grant: shows [9d Qd] (a pair of Sixes) (oh, and wtf is this guy calling 4-bets here with, so LOL, but irrelevant)
The Rogue collected 120 from side pot-2
rafaberlin: shows [Ac Ah] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
The Rogue collected 1450 from side pot-1
rafaberlin collected 1450 from side pot-1
mike_031000: shows [6h 6s] (four of a kind, Sixes)
mike_031000 collected 3675 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 15295 Main pot 3675. Side pot-1 2900. Side pot-2 120. Side pot-3 8600. | Rake 0
Board [6c 6d Tc Kc 7s]
Seat 1: rafaberlin showed [Ac Ah] and won (1450) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
Seat 2: mike_031000 (button) showed [6h 6s] and won (3675) with four of a kind, Sixes
Seat 3: tevoyarupiar (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: grant (big blind) showed [9d Qd] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 5: heffs976 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Mondogarage folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: lupri30 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: BecomTheBull showed [Qs Qh] and lost with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 9: The Rogue showed [As Ad] and won (10170) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Where We Learn About Software Updates the Fun Way, and Pending Arrivals
I guess sometime in the maybe-recent past, Full Tilt Poker implemented a chopping feature? Duh. I would have never guessed, as I hadn't made a final table on that site in about a year. I honestly had no idea whatsoever that FTP had implemented this feature in their software.
It's actually a pretty neat feature, as it allows chops based on ICM, or chips, or a custom amount, and players have to click whether or not to accept.
Anyway, I got to see it in action first hand, when my opponent and I did a straight 50/50 chops once head up in last night's $5 Limit O8 tourney. Sweet. At one point with four left, I had about 75% of the chips in play, but finally managed to start running badly, and my HU opponent ended up knocking out the two short stacks. I still started HU play with a 2.5:1 chip lead, but with blinds at 6,000/12,000, I only had to lose one pot for us to have virtually identical chipstacks, so the split down the middle was appropriate, especially in a four card game where a single river can turn a scoop into a "ZOMG how did I lose that hand?!?!?".
At least now, I have enough of a Full Tilt teeny tiny roll to not have to avoid logging on there (especially as Bodog's "random" number generator continues to treat me as if I were on my way to a leper colony. And the overall roll (split amongst three sites) is as healthy as its been all year...no real complaints.
Well, except for losing to the river three outer on the final table bubble of Stars' $3.30 triple shootout...everyone else was waiting for our table to finish, and HU took about 20 hands...had him right in my sights to have 95% of the chips, and someone flicked the doomswitch. Ah well.
Tonight is the Good Doctor Mondo's birthday. We had a small informal party for her at the hospital last weekend, but tonight it will just be the two of us, and some takeout Bonefish Grill...possibly while watching some of ESPN's final table coverage, who knows?
The one thing we do know is her hospitalization is coming closer to a close, and we couldn't be happier, though I'm really quite nervous about it. You see, the return home may not ultimately be because she's ready...but because her rehab hospital insurance benefit runs out 11 days from now. Fucking insurance companies. She's had some relatively minor issues (at least in light of everything else that has gone on) slow down her rehab and therapy over the last week, and I'm really concerned that when she's forced home, she would not have been able to have met the goals set out for her in rehab.
Nevertheless, we celebrate those things that we can, and today, my darling turns 40. There were times this year when I wasn't certain I'd ever be able to say this, but I can say to her now, "Happy Birthday Jenn, I love you."
It's actually a pretty neat feature, as it allows chops based on ICM, or chips, or a custom amount, and players have to click whether or not to accept.
Anyway, I got to see it in action first hand, when my opponent and I did a straight 50/50 chops once head up in last night's $5 Limit O8 tourney. Sweet. At one point with four left, I had about 75% of the chips in play, but finally managed to start running badly, and my HU opponent ended up knocking out the two short stacks. I still started HU play with a 2.5:1 chip lead, but with blinds at 6,000/12,000, I only had to lose one pot for us to have virtually identical chipstacks, so the split down the middle was appropriate, especially in a four card game where a single river can turn a scoop into a "ZOMG how did I lose that hand?!?!?".
At least now, I have enough of a Full Tilt teeny tiny roll to not have to avoid logging on there (especially as Bodog's "random" number generator continues to treat me as if I were on my way to a leper colony. And the overall roll (split amongst three sites) is as healthy as its been all year...no real complaints.
Well, except for losing to the river three outer on the final table bubble of Stars' $3.30 triple shootout...everyone else was waiting for our table to finish, and HU took about 20 hands...had him right in my sights to have 95% of the chips, and someone flicked the doomswitch. Ah well.
Tonight is the Good Doctor Mondo's birthday. We had a small informal party for her at the hospital last weekend, but tonight it will just be the two of us, and some takeout Bonefish Grill...possibly while watching some of ESPN's final table coverage, who knows?
The one thing we do know is her hospitalization is coming closer to a close, and we couldn't be happier, though I'm really quite nervous about it. You see, the return home may not ultimately be because she's ready...but because her rehab hospital insurance benefit runs out 11 days from now. Fucking insurance companies. She's had some relatively minor issues (at least in light of everything else that has gone on) slow down her rehab and therapy over the last week, and I'm really concerned that when she's forced home, she would not have been able to have met the goals set out for her in rehab.
Nevertheless, we celebrate those things that we can, and today, my darling turns 40. There were times this year when I wasn't certain I'd ever be able to say this, but I can say to her now, "Happy Birthday Jenn, I love you."
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Like Crack On A Chipstack
Given recent developments in my family situation and schedule...well, playing MTTs like I've always enjoyed just doesn't seem to fit any more. These days, it's work all day, go to the Good Doctor Mondo's rehabilitation hospital fifty miles away for a few hours, and then finally get home around 9pm or so at night. This is my daily life, at present, and everything else has to work around that schedule.
But there's got to be something more than that, right? How to squeeze in a bit of poker, at least in the couple hours at home between dragging my hang-dog ass in the door, and merciful sleep? How to feed that jones and yet still be able to maintain responsibilities? How to stand being in that outsized house by myself at night, restless at bitter at one's lot in life, and find a way to squeeze in the one solitary activity that pushes all that sad bastard crap aside for a while?
Well, I found the answer over at PokerStars. 180 man, $3.30r turbo SNGs. That's right, rebuy SNGs. Woohoo, with lots of value. Damn, the whole things are over in just over two hours. Of course, variance is high. I manage to play one, sometimes two a night (if they register fast enough), and still get decent sleep. So far, they're not half terrible bankroll builders, as long as you have the discipline to rebuy upfront and not chase a mincash by rebuying 3-4 times afterwards. Of course, always, always take the addon.
Now, this is an entirely different form of poker for me, in some respects, because most players are already into shove-or-fold mode within an hour of the tournament. I've missed out a couple of good late position shove opportunities, probably because of not being particularly well-versed in ICM. But I've managed to cash often enough to make a tiny bit of scratch, and a couple final table appearances haven't hurt.
Typically, I'm in these for only $9 (once in a while I'll do a second rebuy to top off just before the end of the rebuy period, if I'm low enough). And either way, it feels like getting a lot of poker for the money because even when I don't cash, I'm going out anywhere from, say, 25th to 40th place, and outlasting enough of the field for it to truly be bedtime at the end.
Played one of these last night, and finished 3rd, for a nice chunk of change. Sadly, went out when AT couldn't fade A9, when winning that hand would have given me and the chipleader equal stacks, and leaving villian with about one BB. Even going out 2nd would have been worth another one-fiddy. Hope to actually take one of these down, it's been a while since I've been able to get heads-up in a relatively decent sized field.
At least it's helping me overcome the life-tilt that has been Bodog's 11:30pm EST $2k guarantee turbo. Won some nice stakes in that tourney over time, but I swear I've been knocked out early the last ten or so times I've played this thing. In fact, my Bodog $Ts are completely gone, so I'm spending a lot less time on that site. Their RNG hates me these days with a passion in a way I'm not sure even Fraud Tilt Poker's ever had for me.
May you find the felt to your liking.
But there's got to be something more than that, right? How to squeeze in a bit of poker, at least in the couple hours at home between dragging my hang-dog ass in the door, and merciful sleep? How to feed that jones and yet still be able to maintain responsibilities? How to stand being in that outsized house by myself at night, restless at bitter at one's lot in life, and find a way to squeeze in the one solitary activity that pushes all that sad bastard crap aside for a while?
Well, I found the answer over at PokerStars. 180 man, $3.30r turbo SNGs. That's right, rebuy SNGs. Woohoo, with lots of value. Damn, the whole things are over in just over two hours. Of course, variance is high. I manage to play one, sometimes two a night (if they register fast enough), and still get decent sleep. So far, they're not half terrible bankroll builders, as long as you have the discipline to rebuy upfront and not chase a mincash by rebuying 3-4 times afterwards. Of course, always, always take the addon.
Now, this is an entirely different form of poker for me, in some respects, because most players are already into shove-or-fold mode within an hour of the tournament. I've missed out a couple of good late position shove opportunities, probably because of not being particularly well-versed in ICM. But I've managed to cash often enough to make a tiny bit of scratch, and a couple final table appearances haven't hurt.
Typically, I'm in these for only $9 (once in a while I'll do a second rebuy to top off just before the end of the rebuy period, if I'm low enough). And either way, it feels like getting a lot of poker for the money because even when I don't cash, I'm going out anywhere from, say, 25th to 40th place, and outlasting enough of the field for it to truly be bedtime at the end.
Played one of these last night, and finished 3rd, for a nice chunk of change. Sadly, went out when AT couldn't fade A9, when winning that hand would have given me and the chipleader equal stacks, and leaving villian with about one BB. Even going out 2nd would have been worth another one-fiddy. Hope to actually take one of these down, it's been a while since I've been able to get heads-up in a relatively decent sized field.
At least it's helping me overcome the life-tilt that has been Bodog's 11:30pm EST $2k guarantee turbo. Won some nice stakes in that tourney over time, but I swear I've been knocked out early the last ten or so times I've played this thing. In fact, my Bodog $Ts are completely gone, so I'm spending a lot less time on that site. Their RNG hates me these days with a passion in a way I'm not sure even Fraud Tilt Poker's ever had for me.
May you find the felt to your liking.
Friday, October 30, 2009
When Being A Calling Station Pays
PokerStars Game #34633944073: Tournament #206545239, $3.00+$0.30 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level XX (700/1400) - 2009/10/28 20:49:20 MT [2009/10/28 22:49:20 ET]
Table '206545239 8' 4-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: nerv1 (26823 in chips)
Seat 2: Mondogarage (83670 in chips)
Seat 3: Thxalot (102091 in chips)
Seat 4: ironrat317 (34156 in chips)
nerv1: posts the ante 175
Mondogarage: posts the ante 175
Thxalot: posts the ante 175
ironrat317: posts the ante 175
Mondogarage: posts small blind 700
Thxalot: posts big blind 1400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [Ac Qc]
ironrat317: folds
nerv1: folds
Mondogarage: raises 2800 to 4200
Thxalot: raises 7000 to 11200
Mondogarage: calls 7000
*** FLOP *** [2c Kh Kc]
Mondogarage: checks
Thxalot: bets 8800 (could be a value bet with a K, or protecting less than nut flush draw? pocket pair?)
Mondogarage: calls 8800 (why not, I do have nut flush draw)
*** TURN *** [2c Kh Kc] [3h]
Mondogarage: bets 8400 (okay, time to protect my flush draw now)
Thxalot: raises 8400 to 16800 (okay, he's gotta have a K, right?)
Mondogarage: calls 8400
*** RIVER *** [2c Kh Kc 3h] [9c] (not the nuts, but a lowercase yahtzee?)
Mondogarage: bets 7000 (trying to induce a raise here)
Thxalot: raises 53200 to 60200 (hmm...tell me he didn't play 99, plz)
Mondogarage: calls 39695 and is all-in (in for a penny, in for a pound)
Uncalled bet (13505) returned to Thxalot
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Thxalot: shows [6c 4d] (a pair of Kings) (holy CRAPTASTIC stone cold bluff)
Mondogarage: shows [Ac Qc] (a flush, Ace high) (thank you, come again!)
Mondogarage collected 167690 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 167690 | Rake 0
Board [2c Kh Kc 3h 9c]
Seat 1: nerv1 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Mondogarage (small blind) showed [Ac Qc] and won (167690) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 3: Thxalot (big blind) showed [6c 4d] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 4: ironrat317 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
That hand ended up setting me up for a really deep run in what was, I think, a 1000 player tournament. What even made this better was that at one point, a short bit before the money bubble, I was in the BB holding 52o, with less than one BB behind, when UTG raised and everyone else folded. I thought, fuck it, I got nothing left, and I'd be headsup either totally crushed, or with two live cards. So I called, and he flipped up something like AT or AJ. Flop comes A34 rainbow, and BOOM! I survived. And then thrived, big time.
Weird spot...with five tables (20 players) left, four of the top six stacks were all at the same table. All the chips. I came into that table 3rd in chips.
It was a real chance to make hay, and the tourney winner really would have been expected to come from us four.
Of course, I went out 15th, when small blind caught his OESD on the turn. (I was holding TPTK, and he waited to raise me all in until the river. Meh. Still, given the comeback, I could go away sorta happy.
Table '206545239 8' 4-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: nerv1 (26823 in chips)
Seat 2: Mondogarage (83670 in chips)
Seat 3: Thxalot (102091 in chips)
Seat 4: ironrat317 (34156 in chips)
nerv1: posts the ante 175
Mondogarage: posts the ante 175
Thxalot: posts the ante 175
ironrat317: posts the ante 175
Mondogarage: posts small blind 700
Thxalot: posts big blind 1400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [Ac Qc]
ironrat317: folds
nerv1: folds
Mondogarage: raises 2800 to 4200
Thxalot: raises 7000 to 11200
Mondogarage: calls 7000
*** FLOP *** [2c Kh Kc]
Mondogarage: checks
Thxalot: bets 8800 (could be a value bet with a K, or protecting less than nut flush draw? pocket pair?)
Mondogarage: calls 8800 (why not, I do have nut flush draw)
*** TURN *** [2c Kh Kc] [3h]
Mondogarage: bets 8400 (okay, time to protect my flush draw now)
Thxalot: raises 8400 to 16800 (okay, he's gotta have a K, right?)
Mondogarage: calls 8400
*** RIVER *** [2c Kh Kc 3h] [9c] (not the nuts, but a lowercase yahtzee?)
Mondogarage: bets 7000 (trying to induce a raise here)
Thxalot: raises 53200 to 60200 (hmm...tell me he didn't play 99, plz)
Mondogarage: calls 39695 and is all-in (in for a penny, in for a pound)
Uncalled bet (13505) returned to Thxalot
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Thxalot: shows [6c 4d] (a pair of Kings) (holy CRAPTASTIC stone cold bluff)
Mondogarage: shows [Ac Qc] (a flush, Ace high) (thank you, come again!)
Mondogarage collected 167690 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 167690 | Rake 0
Board [2c Kh Kc 3h 9c]
Seat 1: nerv1 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Mondogarage (small blind) showed [Ac Qc] and won (167690) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 3: Thxalot (big blind) showed [6c 4d] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 4: ironrat317 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
That hand ended up setting me up for a really deep run in what was, I think, a 1000 player tournament. What even made this better was that at one point, a short bit before the money bubble, I was in the BB holding 52o, with less than one BB behind, when UTG raised and everyone else folded. I thought, fuck it, I got nothing left, and I'd be headsup either totally crushed, or with two live cards. So I called, and he flipped up something like AT or AJ. Flop comes A34 rainbow, and BOOM! I survived. And then thrived, big time.
Weird spot...with five tables (20 players) left, four of the top six stacks were all at the same table. All the chips. I came into that table 3rd in chips.
It was a real chance to make hay, and the tourney winner really would have been expected to come from us four.
Of course, I went out 15th, when small blind caught his OESD on the turn. (I was holding TPTK, and he waited to raise me all in until the river. Meh. Still, given the comeback, I could go away sorta happy.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
"On the Road Again"
...I just can't wait to get on the road again...
Wow. I was just getting ready to write about how it sometimes feels as if the healing process never, ever, ever gets there...when I get a phone call from the Good Doctor Mondo, telling me that tomorrow, we once again move her. This time, from a long term acute care hospital, to a rehabilitation hospital in northern Colorado.
This is simply wonderful news!
When I was touring the various rehab hospitals last week, one of the main points I took from them was that the average length of stay is along the lines of 14-21 days or so. Undoubtedly, this is in large part due to the thieves who run our insurance companies (don't worry, theirs is coming soon...). But the upshot of that is that there is now a high likelihood of the Good Doctor Mondo coming home in time for Thanksgiving.
Believe me, we will be giving thanks this year. For many many things. But perhaps simply for the very instance of the occasion most of all.
As for last night's pokering...that's a subject better left unsaid. Gawd I can be a donk sometimes, and my inability to fold TT on an 8-high board cost me a top 20 stack in the Bodog $50+5 10k guarantee after 2/3 of the field were gone...oh yeah, let's keep that unsaid.
Wow. I was just getting ready to write about how it sometimes feels as if the healing process never, ever, ever gets there...when I get a phone call from the Good Doctor Mondo, telling me that tomorrow, we once again move her. This time, from a long term acute care hospital, to a rehabilitation hospital in northern Colorado.
This is simply wonderful news!
When I was touring the various rehab hospitals last week, one of the main points I took from them was that the average length of stay is along the lines of 14-21 days or so. Undoubtedly, this is in large part due to the thieves who run our insurance companies (don't worry, theirs is coming soon...). But the upshot of that is that there is now a high likelihood of the Good Doctor Mondo coming home in time for Thanksgiving.
Believe me, we will be giving thanks this year. For many many things. But perhaps simply for the very instance of the occasion most of all.
As for last night's pokering...that's a subject better left unsaid. Gawd I can be a donk sometimes, and my inability to fold TT on an 8-high board cost me a top 20 stack in the Bodog $50+5 10k guarantee after 2/3 of the field were gone...oh yeah, let's keep that unsaid.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
"Satellite Of Love"
Continuing the short-run of song titled posts...ah, who am I kidding, that could end as soon as I reach the end of my short leashed creativity tether.
But have I mentioned how much I love Bodog's $Ts satellites? Because I do. I do, I tells ya. Yes, yes, they can get quite frustrating at times, when you run 3-4 of them, which typically pay only one or two spots, and you finish 3rd or 4th in all of them. But when you win a couple...wow, certainly makes up for it.
Had a nice run the other day, winning three in a row. Two were $16 buyins, the other a $7r, but the end result of the three was a net gain of around $430T. Sweet. Maybe, just maybe, one of these days I'll take the plunge into the $100k (with juicy overlay) that these satellites feed in to. I think I'd first like to reach a point where the buyin is no more than 10% of my Bodog roll. And no, we're not there yet. Perhaps 2/3 of the way there, but not there just yet.
In the meantime, I'll keep taking a few shots at their $30-50 buyins, but my last two attempts at the $30 3k guarantee have gone down in flames to early donktardo play by villians that have gotten horribly rewarded on the river, such as calling into my PF, flop, and turn all-in bets (with me holding JJ) on boards with nothing but rainbow number cards with KQo, only to hit the Q on the river. Pretty gross, but when you're buying in with $Ts, the loss is easier to chalk up to the value of getting great notes on a fish. Well, sometimes.
On a similar note, I followed my own head, as well as the advice of a couple quality bloggers (as well as Tycou, whose blog I can't find), and cashed out my Sunday Million ticket for the $Ts. Now that I've exhausted the $T216 from that win, I can report that the overall results were...well, let's just say Waffles-like. That is to say, pretty much break even. I'll take it, I suppose...over a series of SNGs, and a decent cash in a $3r 180-man, the tournament bucks became right around the same amount in cold. hard. cash.
So overall, poker's actually been pretty good to me these days. Except on Full Tilt, of course, where I don't think I've cashed since...oh...2002, it feels like.
Taking a hospital night off, and rehearsal's bumped to Thursday. Aaaaand, one of my two blog sponsors re-upped for another 90 days (thus dropping a few $$$ into my FTP account), so I should actually be able to play the Skillz game tonight. Of course, it's on Full Trashmondo Poker, so my money is dead before I even register for it. Tonight it's PL Omatard Hi, which makes the previous sentence triply true. So join in for shenanigans, won't ya?
But have I mentioned how much I love Bodog's $Ts satellites? Because I do. I do, I tells ya. Yes, yes, they can get quite frustrating at times, when you run 3-4 of them, which typically pay only one or two spots, and you finish 3rd or 4th in all of them. But when you win a couple...wow, certainly makes up for it.
Had a nice run the other day, winning three in a row. Two were $16 buyins, the other a $7r, but the end result of the three was a net gain of around $430T. Sweet. Maybe, just maybe, one of these days I'll take the plunge into the $100k (with juicy overlay) that these satellites feed in to. I think I'd first like to reach a point where the buyin is no more than 10% of my Bodog roll. And no, we're not there yet. Perhaps 2/3 of the way there, but not there just yet.
In the meantime, I'll keep taking a few shots at their $30-50 buyins, but my last two attempts at the $30 3k guarantee have gone down in flames to early donktardo play by villians that have gotten horribly rewarded on the river, such as calling into my PF, flop, and turn all-in bets (with me holding JJ) on boards with nothing but rainbow number cards with KQo, only to hit the Q on the river. Pretty gross, but when you're buying in with $Ts, the loss is easier to chalk up to the value of getting great notes on a fish. Well, sometimes.
On a similar note, I followed my own head, as well as the advice of a couple quality bloggers (as well as Tycou, whose blog I can't find), and cashed out my Sunday Million ticket for the $Ts. Now that I've exhausted the $T216 from that win, I can report that the overall results were...well, let's just say Waffles-like. That is to say, pretty much break even. I'll take it, I suppose...over a series of SNGs, and a decent cash in a $3r 180-man, the tournament bucks became right around the same amount in cold. hard. cash.
So overall, poker's actually been pretty good to me these days. Except on Full Tilt, of course, where I don't think I've cashed since...oh...2002, it feels like.
Taking a hospital night off, and rehearsal's bumped to Thursday. Aaaaand, one of my two blog sponsors re-upped for another 90 days (thus dropping a few $$$ into my FTP account), so I should actually be able to play the Skillz game tonight. Of course, it's on Full Trashmondo Poker, so my money is dead before I even register for it. Tonight it's PL Omatard Hi, which makes the previous sentence triply true. So join in for shenanigans, won't ya?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
"Walk, Don't Run"
I can't think of anything more emblematic of what has to be the best day in my life in a really, really, really long time.
You see, the Good Doctor Mondo took her first steps today, since falling ill. Ten of them, in fact. In groups of two or three, and most certainly not unaided. But she took steps. She walked!!
So yeah, I need some Ventures today. It's a great great day indeed. We're holding out hope for her to be home by Thanksgiving, we'll see!
Oh, and thanks to Waffles for linking that wonderful post by Kid Dynamite regarding new FCC disclosure...umm..."guidelines" regarding blogger endorsements. Not that anyone's ever actually asked me to endorse anything. But here, I'll endorse the FCC for their FCCing rules. Why? Because I think they're going to lead to much quality blogging and snark about the FCCing rules. Hell yeah.
You see, the Good Doctor Mondo took her first steps today, since falling ill. Ten of them, in fact. In groups of two or three, and most certainly not unaided. But she took steps. She walked!!
So yeah, I need some Ventures today. It's a great great day indeed. We're holding out hope for her to be home by Thanksgiving, we'll see!
Oh, and thanks to Waffles for linking that wonderful post by Kid Dynamite regarding new FCC disclosure...umm..."guidelines" regarding blogger endorsements. Not that anyone's ever actually asked me to endorse anything. But here, I'll endorse the FCC for their FCCing rules. Why? Because I think they're going to lead to much quality blogging and snark about the FCCing rules. Hell yeah.
Friday, October 09, 2009
CD Review - The Len Price 3 - Pictures
So Hybrid Magazine's put up another one of my CD Reviews, and I thought I'd share it with you guys here. Frankly, the review probably undersells the CD, which is bloody brilliant. Of course, the full length CD doesn't hit the streets until January 10th, but whatev.
The Len Price 3
Pictures
Wicked Cool Records
The Len Price 3 – “Pictures”
England’s Medway Delta region has long contributed a steady stream of excellent, yet under-appreciated, garage rock and power pop bands, going back at least as far as Billy Childish’s earliest works, through to the present day. A good number of these acts over the years, from Thee Milkshakes, through The Prisoners, to The Bresslaws, often go unnoticed beyond the area’s working class pubs or the occasional hard core garage rock aficionados. With the release of The Len Price 3’s latest full-length, “Pictures”, there is now yet another opportunity for the broader audience to move beyond the past and revel in the underground legend that is the Medway sound.
In line with their previous work, The Len Price 3 (in which there is no one in the band named Len Price, naturally), the band once again paints a masterful canvas using a palette of colors appropriated from freakbeat, mod, and traditional power pop song structures, and borrows somewhat liberally from the same type of working class lyrical ideas typical of Ray Davies. The sound is big and jagged, with boomy toms, crackly snares, alternately jangly or fuzzy Rickenbacker guitars, effective harmonies, and enough ferocity behind the pop façade to hint at the frustration of one’s station, while never forgetting that rock and roll is still about fun.
The thirteen tracks that comprise “Pictures”’ clock in at barely more than 30 minutes, and most individual tracks are here and gone in under two and a half minutes. Within this idiom there is really no need for anything more. Get in, get out, quit fuckin’ about. The album’s opening eponymous track punches brightly with a meld of Mick Jones-spittled verses and a chorus that is very reminiscent of early Who, circa “Circles”, and provides a worth launching pad for the record. Additional highlights include “Keep Your Eyes On Me”, “Mr. Grey”, “Jack in the Green”, and the Daviesesque “If You Live Round Here”, the latter replete with cautions against pretentiousness and warnings to know your role:
“Pictures” is one of the more enjoyably buoyant and fresh-sounding pop albums to come out during this year. While much of the credit certainly goes to the boys in the band, a nod is due in the direction of Graham Day, one of the most enduring purveyors of the Medway sound from his founding of The Prisoners through today, and one of the producers of “Pictures”. In fact, much of the record bears his unmistakable hand. Other tracks on the album hearken back to the poppier side of bands such as The Easybeats or The Small Faces, particularly “Jack in the Green” and closer “The Great Omani”. As a whole, the record is a triumph.
As with many of their Medway contemporaries, The Len Price 3 do not seem to be interested in expanding the boundaries of popular music, or breaking any new ground. Rather, the band seems to be intent on simply making the most riveting and entertaining music they possibly can while remaining true to the very essence of their creation. To that end, “Pictures” meets the demands of that mission in spades. Perhaps this will be the record to break through to the masses that have heretofore missed out on one of the most vital subsets of rock and roll.
The Len Price 3
Pictures
Wicked Cool Records
The Len Price 3 – “Pictures”
England’s Medway Delta region has long contributed a steady stream of excellent, yet under-appreciated, garage rock and power pop bands, going back at least as far as Billy Childish’s earliest works, through to the present day. A good number of these acts over the years, from Thee Milkshakes, through The Prisoners, to The Bresslaws, often go unnoticed beyond the area’s working class pubs or the occasional hard core garage rock aficionados. With the release of The Len Price 3’s latest full-length, “Pictures”, there is now yet another opportunity for the broader audience to move beyond the past and revel in the underground legend that is the Medway sound.
In line with their previous work, The Len Price 3 (in which there is no one in the band named Len Price, naturally), the band once again paints a masterful canvas using a palette of colors appropriated from freakbeat, mod, and traditional power pop song structures, and borrows somewhat liberally from the same type of working class lyrical ideas typical of Ray Davies. The sound is big and jagged, with boomy toms, crackly snares, alternately jangly or fuzzy Rickenbacker guitars, effective harmonies, and enough ferocity behind the pop façade to hint at the frustration of one’s station, while never forgetting that rock and roll is still about fun.
The thirteen tracks that comprise “Pictures”’ clock in at barely more than 30 minutes, and most individual tracks are here and gone in under two and a half minutes. Within this idiom there is really no need for anything more. Get in, get out, quit fuckin’ about. The album’s opening eponymous track punches brightly with a meld of Mick Jones-spittled verses and a chorus that is very reminiscent of early Who, circa “Circles”, and provides a worth launching pad for the record. Additional highlights include “Keep Your Eyes On Me”, “Mr. Grey”, “Jack in the Green”, and the Daviesesque “If You Live Round Here”, the latter replete with cautions against pretentiousness and warnings to know your role:
You think you’re better than the population
Don’t get ideas so above your station
You’re gonna have to lump it, baby if you live round here
You say you’ve had an education
Round here, boy, that’s an affectation
You’re gonna have to lump it, baby if you live round here
“Pictures” is one of the more enjoyably buoyant and fresh-sounding pop albums to come out during this year. While much of the credit certainly goes to the boys in the band, a nod is due in the direction of Graham Day, one of the most enduring purveyors of the Medway sound from his founding of The Prisoners through today, and one of the producers of “Pictures”. In fact, much of the record bears his unmistakable hand. Other tracks on the album hearken back to the poppier side of bands such as The Easybeats or The Small Faces, particularly “Jack in the Green” and closer “The Great Omani”. As a whole, the record is a triumph.
As with many of their Medway contemporaries, The Len Price 3 do not seem to be interested in expanding the boundaries of popular music, or breaking any new ground. Rather, the band seems to be intent on simply making the most riveting and entertaining music they possibly can while remaining true to the very essence of their creation. To that end, “Pictures” meets the demands of that mission in spades. Perhaps this will be the record to break through to the masses that have heretofore missed out on one of the most vital subsets of rock and roll.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Something New Every Day
$3.30r Satellite to the Sunday Million
$3.30r Satellite to the Sunday Million
$3.30r Satellite to teh Sunday Mirrion!!!
Of course, here's the fun part. I can't play this weekend, I've got Rockies playoff tickets (well, depending on what happens in Games 2 and 3, and the weather, of course)
I want to play in this so bad. But a Sunday Mirrion buy in also represents 40% of my current Stars roll, which would be entirely irresponsible.
So I guess I'm looking for advice. Do I just take the $Ts? Or do I try to sell one time pieces of myself and play the Mirrion the first Sunday after the Rox are out of the playoffs, in order to reduce the massive variance? (Of course, I'm lifetime -8% ROI on Stars, but a positive ROI on Bodog, I do believe.) Looking for some advice and guidance here.
I think the worst possible choice would be to just suck it up and play the Mirrion on my micro roll. But winning these crapshoot Satellites is unlikely to happen again anytime soon.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
$3.30r Satellite to the Sunday Million
$3.30r Satellite to teh Sunday Mirrion!!!
Of course, here's the fun part. I can't play this weekend, I've got Rockies playoff tickets (well, depending on what happens in Games 2 and 3, and the weather, of course)
I want to play in this so bad. But a Sunday Mirrion buy in also represents 40% of my current Stars roll, which would be entirely irresponsible.
So I guess I'm looking for advice. Do I just take the $Ts? Or do I try to sell one time pieces of myself and play the Mirrion the first Sunday after the Rox are out of the playoffs, in order to reduce the massive variance? (Of course, I'm lifetime -8% ROI on Stars, but a positive ROI on Bodog, I do believe.) Looking for some advice and guidance here.
I think the worst possible choice would be to just suck it up and play the Mirrion on my micro roll. But winning these crapshoot Satellites is unlikely to happen again anytime soon.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Tick Tock, Tick Tock - It's PLAYOFF TIME!!!
ZOMG, only 2.5 hours before the Colorado Rockies open up the 2009 National League Division Series against the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Man, the excitement here at work is palpable, and yeah, I'm wearing a purple and black checked oxford to work. Gots ta support my boys. That said, I'm feeling rather skeptical about our chances this year. In the end, everything's going to come down to a couple of factors. First, how well can the Rockies' starting pitching keep Rollins & Victorino off the basepaths. After all, both Rockies catchers pretty much suck this year at throwing out runners.
Second, which Phillies' starting pitchers will show up? The Cliff Lee who handcuffed the Rox during one of his first National League starts? Or the very ordinary Cliff Lee from the past month? The Cole Hamels who shut down the world last post-season, or the current seemingly very ordinary Hamels?
A lot of writers talk about how the Rockies are much better against righties than they are against lefties, and this would be true. That said, the Rockies are a .500 club against left-handed starting pitching, so no, they are not ZOMG horrible in this department. The key will be whether or not Atkins and Barmes can avoid the punchouts and get on base. They've both had rough seasons at the plate (even though Barmes does have a couple dozen dingers), and the Phillies bullpen is fairly weak. So going deep into ABs will be critical.
I'll post more later on this....
The Good Doctor Mondo continues to improve. I haven't written much lately on this, because...well, I just don't blog much these days. Two weeks ago, we moved her to a Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital down here in Denver, mostly because her insurance company would no longer cover a normal hospital ICU unit. That said, she is in the LTAC's ICU, and will probably be in there for another week or two. But she continues to make small strides every day in her recovery. We're hoping we can move her to a rehabilitation hospital in the next month or so. But as of now, we're at Day 107 of her hospital ordeal. And frankly, it's really fucking lonely living in a big house by yourself.
Poker continues to be a lollercoaster for me. A week ago Sunday was about the worst day ever. Bubbled *three* consecutive Bodog $100k satellites by one seat. Played about 20 tournies with no cashes...and just ran really really really bad. The worst part was that I had decided that if I could have hung on for two of the seats, I would have actually played one of them.
Results were a bit better this past Sunday, so perhaps I've stopped the bleeding a bit.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Nice Day, And A Nice Finish
Thought I'd try one or two more quick Bodog tournies before bed, and I'm glad I did. This was a $7+1:
All in all, I managed to add around 50% to my Bodog roll today, and maybe 18% to my PokerStars roll, so no complaints out of me for a while. While I'm certainly no high-rollin' baller in these parts, I've finally managed to reach what appears to be a high water mark of the calendar year. And yeah, it feels good.
All in all, I managed to add around 50% to my Bodog roll today, and maybe 18% to my PokerStars roll, so no complaints out of me for a while. While I'm certainly no high-rollin' baller in these parts, I've finally managed to reach what appears to be a high water mark of the calendar year. And yeah, it feels good.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Better to be lucky than good?
Sometimes, you just never know quite how lucky you've got to get, to get what you've got.
PokerStars Game #33040822484: Tournament #195646742, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level XI (125/250) - 2009/09/19 15:09:57 MT 2009/09/19 17:09:57 ET
Table '195646742 214' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: illhustler (2983 in chips)
Seat 2: Mondogarage (4965 in chips)
Seat 3: lee trum (8530 in chips)
Seat 4: MrAura (8535 in chips)
Seat 5: sudnik (1101 in chips)
Seat 6: KaiLee04 (29865 in chips)
Seat 7: saldorf01 (9603 in chips)
Seat 8: Daigger (9315 in chips)
Seat 9: I'm a fn sta (4265 in chips)
illhustler: posts the ante 30
Mondogarage: posts the ante 30
lee trum: posts the ante 30
MrAura: posts the ante 30
sudnik: posts the ante 30
KaiLee04: posts the ante 30
saldorf01: posts the ante 30
Daigger: posts the ante 30
I'm a fn sta: posts the ante 30
saldorf01: posts small blind 125
Daigger: posts big blind 250
HOLE CARDS
Dealt to Mondogarage
I'm a fn sta: folds
illhustler: folds
Mondogarage: raises 500 to 750 (low pair, but open limping is weak)
lee trum: calls 750
MrAura: calls 750
sudnik: folds
KaiLee04: folds
saldorf01: folds
Daigger: calls 500
*** FLOP *** [8c 4d Ts] kaching, pays me my monay!
Daigger: checks
Mondogarage: bets 750 (only straight draws here, but figured overcards or pairs would call)
lee trum: raises 1750 to 2500 (?????????)
MrAura: calls 2500 (?????????)
Daigger: folds
Mondogarage: raises 1685 to 4185 and is all-in (not going anywhere, so get it in now)
lee trum: calls 1685
MrAura: calls 1685
*** TURN *** [8c 4d Ts] [4s] (GIN!!)
lee trum: checks
MrAura: checks
*** RIVER *** [8c 4d Ts 4s] [Qs]
lee trum: bets 3565 and is all-in
MrAura: folds
Uncalled bet (3565) returned to lee trum
SHOW DOWN :
lee trum: shows
(a full house, Tens full of Fours)
Mondogarage: shows
(four of a kind, Fours)
Mondogarage collected 15950 from pot
Oh SNAP! Really, who could have known I was drawing to one freakin' out. I don't think I would have played the hand any different under any circumstances. And I can probably count the number of one-outers I've ever caught on...well...one hand.
Nice triple up, just the same.
I ended up going out in this event around Level 16, when EP raised, I shoved QQ, he called with A7o (naturally), and the flop came 77J (also naturally). The A on the turn was just a gratuitous turn of the knife...
Today's been spent pokering it up in Jenn's ICU room, and I've actually managed to cash four times today, out of about seven events. None deep, except for turning $14.70 into T$162 in another one of those juicy Bodog $100k satellites. I really wish I felt like I had the bankroll to play the $100k itself, but right now, that would represent 20% of my Bodog roll, and about 15% of my overall online roll, so keeping the $T makes more sense.
Still, I haven't played a Sunday major on any site in at least two years...sure would be fun.
PokerStars Game #33040822484: Tournament #195646742, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level XI (125/250) - 2009/09/19 15:09:57 MT 2009/09/19 17:09:57 ET
Table '195646742 214' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: illhustler (2983 in chips)
Seat 2: Mondogarage (4965 in chips)
Seat 3: lee trum (8530 in chips)
Seat 4: MrAura (8535 in chips)
Seat 5: sudnik (1101 in chips)
Seat 6: KaiLee04 (29865 in chips)
Seat 7: saldorf01 (9603 in chips)
Seat 8: Daigger (9315 in chips)
Seat 9: I'm a fn sta (4265 in chips)
illhustler: posts the ante 30
Mondogarage: posts the ante 30
lee trum: posts the ante 30
MrAura: posts the ante 30
sudnik: posts the ante 30
KaiLee04: posts the ante 30
saldorf01: posts the ante 30
Daigger: posts the ante 30
I'm a fn sta: posts the ante 30
saldorf01: posts small blind 125
Daigger: posts big blind 250
HOLE CARDS
Dealt to Mondogarage
I'm a fn sta: folds
illhustler: folds
Mondogarage: raises 500 to 750 (low pair, but open limping is weak)
lee trum: calls 750
MrAura: calls 750
sudnik: folds
KaiLee04: folds
saldorf01: folds
Daigger: calls 500
*** FLOP *** [8c 4d Ts] kaching, pays me my monay!
Daigger: checks
Mondogarage: bets 750 (only straight draws here, but figured overcards or pairs would call)
lee trum: raises 1750 to 2500 (?????????)
MrAura: calls 2500 (?????????)
Daigger: folds
Mondogarage: raises 1685 to 4185 and is all-in (not going anywhere, so get it in now)
lee trum: calls 1685
MrAura: calls 1685
*** TURN *** [8c 4d Ts] [4s] (GIN!!)
lee trum: checks
MrAura: checks
*** RIVER *** [8c 4d Ts 4s] [Qs]
lee trum: bets 3565 and is all-in
MrAura: folds
Uncalled bet (3565) returned to lee trum
SHOW DOWN :
lee trum: shows
(a full house, Tens full of Fours)
Mondogarage: shows
(four of a kind, Fours)
Mondogarage collected 15950 from pot
Oh SNAP! Really, who could have known I was drawing to one freakin' out. I don't think I would have played the hand any different under any circumstances. And I can probably count the number of one-outers I've ever caught on...well...one hand.
Nice triple up, just the same.
I ended up going out in this event around Level 16, when EP raised, I shoved QQ, he called with A7o (naturally), and the flop came 77J (also naturally). The A on the turn was just a gratuitous turn of the knife...
Today's been spent pokering it up in Jenn's ICU room, and I've actually managed to cash four times today, out of about seven events. None deep, except for turning $14.70 into T$162 in another one of those juicy Bodog $100k satellites. I really wish I felt like I had the bankroll to play the $100k itself, but right now, that would represent 20% of my Bodog roll, and about 15% of my overall online roll, so keeping the $T makes more sense.
Still, I haven't played a Sunday major on any site in at least two years...sure would be fun.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Clearing Out Some Cobwebs
(BANG BANG BANG)
There. That's better.
The more time passes, the more many things stay the same...and time continues to trudge forward, with good things on the horizon, but seemingly further and further out every day.
The Good Doctor Mondo continues to get better. As of two days ago, when she was fitted with one of these, she can actually speak for a few hours a day. This has probably been the single greatest heartwarming development of our entire ordeal. I have no idea who Passy and Muir are/were, but I thank them.
Still, we're on day 85 in the ICU, with what appears to be another week or two in front of us. Still, we progress. The Good Doctor now undergoes physical therapy twice a day, instead of once, and we can see the results in her movements, and feel the slow return of a certain level of muscle tone. She even wriggled her toes for the first time a couple of days ago. Her arms and hands have come much much further, though she's still extremely fatigued by the least amount of work.
But we move forward.
Poker's actually been pretty good to me lately. I've only played once or twice a week, but usually manage to get one nice outcome per session, whether it's turning $10 into $T109 in a Bodog satellite, or final tabling a $4 FLHE MTT...at least I've been able to stop the bankroll bleed and even get it back up to where it was around 3-4 months ago. Which still isn't much, every so barely into the 4-figures (of which FT is still at a rollicking $20, lol). Mostly, it's been fun to restore some confidence in my game.
I've really enjoyed the nightly $3 triple shootout NLHE at PokerStars. I think I've cashed five of the last eight times I've played this (including one 2nd place finish). And the last three times I didn't cash, I went out heads-up at the first shootout table. Last time, I ran a rivered set into a turned gutshot, oh well. But I seem to be either just running pretty well in the shoothouts, or getting a better handle on how to play them. Oddly enough, I can't seem to turn that into success at true single table SNGs.
One thing I haven't talked about much this year is my beloved Colorado Rockies. Probably mostly because I've been hanging out at Purple Row and getting internet-talkin'-'bout-baseball over there. And partly because of our medical situation, which has limited me to attending only six games this year, all but one prior to June 23rd. But we're having a hell of a year, and are currently 87% to make the playoffs.
Still, how many of you have had AA go down to 66 after an all paint flop multiple times. That's why we play the games.
I've got very mixed feelings about going to any playoff games this year without my Good Doctor. She tells me I should go, but it just doesn't feel right. I'll have to sit and dwell on this one.
Either fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on your perspective), I will likely have to once again miss the Winter Blogger Gathering, of which I have never ever ever made one. Why? Well, it's actually a reason I don't mind in the least...see, based on present developments, the Good Doctor should be home some time early Novemberish, and she's shooting for her first public outing to be my firm's annual holiday party, as it's one of her favorite dress-up events each year. Which just happens to fall on the Saturday of the....yup...Winter Blogger Gathering.
So if I'm not there this year, it's because she's home, she's healthy, and out on the town. That's okay by me. I was truly looking forward to trying to get there this year, though....
There. That's better.
The more time passes, the more many things stay the same...and time continues to trudge forward, with good things on the horizon, but seemingly further and further out every day.
The Good Doctor Mondo continues to get better. As of two days ago, when she was fitted with one of these, she can actually speak for a few hours a day. This has probably been the single greatest heartwarming development of our entire ordeal. I have no idea who Passy and Muir are/were, but I thank them.
Still, we're on day 85 in the ICU, with what appears to be another week or two in front of us. Still, we progress. The Good Doctor now undergoes physical therapy twice a day, instead of once, and we can see the results in her movements, and feel the slow return of a certain level of muscle tone. She even wriggled her toes for the first time a couple of days ago. Her arms and hands have come much much further, though she's still extremely fatigued by the least amount of work.
But we move forward.
Poker's actually been pretty good to me lately. I've only played once or twice a week, but usually manage to get one nice outcome per session, whether it's turning $10 into $T109 in a Bodog satellite, or final tabling a $4 FLHE MTT...at least I've been able to stop the bankroll bleed and even get it back up to where it was around 3-4 months ago. Which still isn't much, every so barely into the 4-figures (of which FT is still at a rollicking $20, lol). Mostly, it's been fun to restore some confidence in my game.
I've really enjoyed the nightly $3 triple shootout NLHE at PokerStars. I think I've cashed five of the last eight times I've played this (including one 2nd place finish). And the last three times I didn't cash, I went out heads-up at the first shootout table. Last time, I ran a rivered set into a turned gutshot, oh well. But I seem to be either just running pretty well in the shoothouts, or getting a better handle on how to play them. Oddly enough, I can't seem to turn that into success at true single table SNGs.
One thing I haven't talked about much this year is my beloved Colorado Rockies. Probably mostly because I've been hanging out at Purple Row and getting internet-talkin'-'bout-baseball over there. And partly because of our medical situation, which has limited me to attending only six games this year, all but one prior to June 23rd. But we're having a hell of a year, and are currently 87% to make the playoffs.
Still, how many of you have had AA go down to 66 after an all paint flop multiple times. That's why we play the games.
I've got very mixed feelings about going to any playoff games this year without my Good Doctor. She tells me I should go, but it just doesn't feel right. I'll have to sit and dwell on this one.
Either fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on your perspective), I will likely have to once again miss the Winter Blogger Gathering, of which I have never ever ever made one. Why? Well, it's actually a reason I don't mind in the least...see, based on present developments, the Good Doctor should be home some time early Novemberish, and she's shooting for her first public outing to be my firm's annual holiday party, as it's one of her favorite dress-up events each year. Which just happens to fall on the Saturday of the....yup...Winter Blogger Gathering.
So if I'm not there this year, it's because she's home, she's healthy, and out on the town. That's okay by me. I was truly looking forward to trying to get there this year, though....
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
For Richer and For Poorer, In Sickness and In Health
Tomorrow marks the Good Doctor Mondo's 72nd day in the hospital, all but two of those days in intensive care.
Tomorrow also marks the 4th anniversary of the date we ran off to Vega$ to get all wedded and such, during our glorious "classy yet trashy" first sojourn to sin city as a couple. Between the chauffered limos and ultra luxe Wynn stay, and the midnight wedding in Chuck Taylors, with Elvis as escort, we could not have asked to have enjoyed ourselves any more.
I could not have imagined, not even a few months ago when this started, that not only would we not be home together for our anniversary, but that the Good Doctor would be continuing to face complications and hurdles that threaten to extend her life-as-ICU-patient untold weeks into the future. Still, we celebrate.
We celebrate that still have each other.
We celebrate that we are surrounded by friends and family who love us both dearly.
We celebrate that her prognosis has improved daily since the devastation of last week.
We celebrate that she may yet still be home before what we actually consider the more important anniversary of January 2nd - ten years to the day from when we first became a couple.
As one of her nurses reminded me on Sunday, just two days after everyone felt we were losing her, "at least you *will* have an anniversary". Kinda puts everything into perspective.
In sickness and in health.
Speaking of anniversaries, something my lovely wife and I can only aspire to is to match the 15(!!) years of wedded bliss of fellow pokah bloggah GCox and his lovely wife. Please stop by and wish him continued happiness.
Tomorrow also marks the 4th anniversary of the date we ran off to Vega$ to get all wedded and such, during our glorious "classy yet trashy" first sojourn to sin city as a couple. Between the chauffered limos and ultra luxe Wynn stay, and the midnight wedding in Chuck Taylors, with Elvis as escort, we could not have asked to have enjoyed ourselves any more.
I could not have imagined, not even a few months ago when this started, that not only would we not be home together for our anniversary, but that the Good Doctor would be continuing to face complications and hurdles that threaten to extend her life-as-ICU-patient untold weeks into the future. Still, we celebrate.
We celebrate that still have each other.
We celebrate that we are surrounded by friends and family who love us both dearly.
We celebrate that her prognosis has improved daily since the devastation of last week.
We celebrate that she may yet still be home before what we actually consider the more important anniversary of January 2nd - ten years to the day from when we first became a couple.
As one of her nurses reminded me on Sunday, just two days after everyone felt we were losing her, "at least you *will* have an anniversary". Kinda puts everything into perspective.
In sickness and in health.
Speaking of anniversaries, something my lovely wife and I can only aspire to is to match the 15(!!) years of wedded bliss of fellow pokah bloggah GCox and his lovely wife. Please stop by and wish him continued happiness.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I Think I Found the Biggest Online Douchebag Ever
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
LOL Fake Outrageaments
I wish Barney Frank were my Congressman. I'm all about the 1st Amendment, because only in America would we allow this nonsense. "Trying to have a conversation with you would be like arguing with a dining room table."
Frankly, I think ...the poor woman simply can't stop confusing socialism with Nazism, which is odd, because she doesn't *sound* uneducated. She only carries herself as if she were.
I really don't mind that a lot of the rabble-rousers at these town hall events are actually organized plants of various far right groups. I mean, that's the American way, and that's their 1st Amendment right to be there and speak up. That's part of the American political process and, in fact, part of what actually separates us from totalitarian parties such as the Nazis, the Taliban, the North Korean Communist Party, Ahmendinajad's party, etc. The debate is healthy. Hell, I'm a big Obama supporter and I'm hardly 100% convinced of the wisdom of all the aspects of his plan.
But if you do want to exercise your 1st Amendment rights (as I encourage you to do) in a manner that reveals your abject ignorance of the most basic truths, don't be alarmed when your bald faced stupidity is reveled in by everyone else. I mean, that's a lesson Sarah Barracuda keeps having to learn nearly every week, no?
LOL Fake Mustache On A Photoaments
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