It's about frigging time
2 Comments Published by katitude on Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 12:17 a.m..
Forgive me bloggers for I have sinned. It's been two weeks since my last confession of donkitude, errrr, I mean, blog post.
I'm still mightily in holiday relax-o-mode; it's noon and I'm still in my bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. And I don't plan on getting out of them anytime soon unless it's to slip into something even more comfortable, like a hot bubble bath.
Relax-o-mode has caused me to lapse in a few things, blogging being the most notable. It's not because I had nothing to say.
It's because I'm one hellishly lazy kitty right now. Yeah, like that's a big shocker.
It's a nice change, believe you me. December was loopy - Vegas, work, shopping, family, laundry, packing, yadda yadda.
And then on the 27th - dead stop. Hunny Bunny and I hit the road for three days and drove to Calgary:
Three days of conversation where some things were resolved, and some weren't. Add in the good road conditions and the full Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy on cd, and it was a pleasant enough journey.
New Year's was spent at my brother's place, playing poker with my family and Joanne. God I haven't laughed that much in ages. High point: having fun with friends and family. Low point: getting stacked by my 13 year old nephew who had NEVER played before (so he claims)!
I did play a lot of poker while there, and had some good hits, primarily a 6th place finish in a 5k guaranteed and a nice double up playing live with Joanne at her favourite casino.
*****
Brave NewWorld Year
I'm not a huge fan of the whole New Year's thing. I think I've worked through far too many NYE parties as a waitress, and the sight of all that forced gaiety and ensuing silliness has made me a jaded fuck about the whole event.
And while I understand the desire for a clean slate and how attractive a fresh new calendar can be for those wanting to turn over a new leaf (or improve upon an existing leaf), it seems like a lot of pressure to put on one unit of time. Resolutions...I don't think so. I'm done with 1) setting myself up for failure and 2) making a record of it. Oh yes, I have journal entries that blather on about losing weight, night school, exercising, being nicer to my fellow man (idiots included), stop drinking so much, call my family more (even the ones I don't like that much), etc.
And that whole Five-Year-Plan thing .... ummm, yeah. I barely know what I'm going to do tomorrow, much less in five years. I've always preferred to let my life meander organically. And yes, you can call me aimless and/or lazy, or that I've squandered many of the gifts and opportunities that life has tossed my way. You wouldn't be the first. But it's worked for me... I know I quote Douglas Adams ad nauseum but here's another:
A few years ago, Hunny Bunny and I went to a series of discussions/conversations that was organized by the Marshall McLuhan Program at U of T. It was open for every one to join and participate and it was always an interesting mix of thinkers and doers. The first five minutes or so was devoted to introductions, first name and occupation. At one event the introductions were particularly tedious: "Hello, I'm ______ and am a professional _______ (student, scholar, butcher, baker, candlestick maker)". When it was my my turn, my inner smart alec surfaced and I said "Hi. I'm Kat and I'm working on becoming a professional human".
So with that in mind, my goals for the new year are the same as they ever are. Try every day to be slightly better version of me than the day before. And if not a better version, then perhaps one I like a little bit more than the day before.
Succinct. To the point. Lots of room for interpretation. Works for me.
Oh, you want a realistic short-term goal too? Demanding bunch aren't you?? Sheesh.
Ok, how's this - to ramp up my disposable income so I can afford my blogger habit. You lot are freaking expensive - Winter Classic, Summer Classic, Okie-Vegas, Eh-Vegas, meetups, blogger games, etc.
And you're worth every single penny. Even you, Waffles *grin.
*****
Some poker...
The CC Partnership has started, and I'd like to say I'm off to a rousing start.
But I can't.
Playing with someone else's money feels far weirder than I'd anticipated. I've played several of the Poker Stars $12+1 six-handed SnG's that I'm normally pretty damn good at, and have bombed in each and every one. I did double up nicely in a cash game, however.
But today I'm not quite in a serious money making poker frame of mind, so I'm off donking away my own cash on Full Tilt.
Will keep you posted.
*****
Bits and Bobs:
Nice to see that while my favorite waiter may have left his place of employment he is still writing. I LOVE this entry. Porn Demons, indeed. Explains a lot about some people's error messages actually.
File this site under "next-year's-christmas-shopping". Has something for everyone!
I'm still mightily in holiday relax-o-mode; it's noon and I'm still in my bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. And I don't plan on getting out of them anytime soon unless it's to slip into something even more comfortable, like a hot bubble bath.
Relax-o-mode has caused me to lapse in a few things, blogging being the most notable. It's not because I had nothing to say.
It's because I'm one hellishly lazy kitty right now. Yeah, like that's a big shocker.
It's a nice change, believe you me. December was loopy - Vegas, work, shopping, family, laundry, packing, yadda yadda.
And then on the 27th - dead stop. Hunny Bunny and I hit the road for three days and drove to Calgary:
Three days of conversation where some things were resolved, and some weren't. Add in the good road conditions and the full Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy on cd, and it was a pleasant enough journey.
New Year's was spent at my brother's place, playing poker with my family and Joanne. God I haven't laughed that much in ages. High point: having fun with friends and family. Low point: getting stacked by my 13 year old nephew who had NEVER played before (so he claims)!
I did play a lot of poker while there, and had some good hits, primarily a 6th place finish in a 5k guaranteed and a nice double up playing live with Joanne at her favourite casino.
*****
Brave New
I'm not a huge fan of the whole New Year's thing. I think I've worked through far too many NYE parties as a waitress, and the sight of all that forced gaiety and ensuing silliness has made me a jaded fuck about the whole event.
And while I understand the desire for a clean slate and how attractive a fresh new calendar can be for those wanting to turn over a new leaf (or improve upon an existing leaf), it seems like a lot of pressure to put on one unit of time. Resolutions...I don't think so. I'm done with 1) setting myself up for failure and 2) making a record of it. Oh yes, I have journal entries that blather on about losing weight, night school, exercising, being nicer to my fellow man (idiots included), stop drinking so much, call my family more (even the ones I don't like that much), etc.
And that whole Five-Year-Plan thing .... ummm, yeah. I barely know what I'm going to do tomorrow, much less in five years. I've always preferred to let my life meander organically. And yes, you can call me aimless and/or lazy, or that I've squandered many of the gifts and opportunities that life has tossed my way. You wouldn't be the first. But it's worked for me... I know I quote Douglas Adams ad nauseum but here's another:
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.But just because I am aimless does not mean I am without goals.
A few years ago, Hunny Bunny and I went to a series of discussions/conversations that was organized by the Marshall McLuhan Program at U of T. It was open for every one to join and participate and it was always an interesting mix of thinkers and doers. The first five minutes or so was devoted to introductions, first name and occupation. At one event the introductions were particularly tedious: "Hello, I'm ______ and am a professional _______ (student, scholar, butcher, baker, candlestick maker)". When it was my my turn, my inner smart alec surfaced and I said "Hi. I'm Kat and I'm working on becoming a professional human".
So with that in mind, my goals for the new year are the same as they ever are. Try every day to be slightly better version of me than the day before. And if not a better version, then perhaps one I like a little bit more than the day before.
Succinct. To the point. Lots of room for interpretation. Works for me.
Oh, you want a realistic short-term goal too? Demanding bunch aren't you?? Sheesh.
Ok, how's this - to ramp up my disposable income so I can afford my blogger habit. You lot are freaking expensive - Winter Classic, Summer Classic, Okie-Vegas, Eh-Vegas, meetups, blogger games, etc.
And you're worth every single penny. Even you, Waffles *grin.
*****
Some poker...
The CC Partnership has started, and I'd like to say I'm off to a rousing start.
But I can't.
Playing with someone else's money feels far weirder than I'd anticipated. I've played several of the Poker Stars $12+1 six-handed SnG's that I'm normally pretty damn good at, and have bombed in each and every one. I did double up nicely in a cash game, however.
But today I'm not quite in a serious money making poker frame of mind, so I'm off donking away my own cash on Full Tilt.
Will keep you posted.
*****
Bits and Bobs:
Nice to see that while my favorite waiter may have left his place of employment he is still writing. I LOVE this entry. Porn Demons, indeed. Explains a lot about some people's error messages actually.
File this site under "next-year's-christmas-shopping". Has something for everyone!
A title I can live with
5 Comments Published by katitude on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 11:27 a.m..
 | My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Grace Lady Katitude the Omnipresent of Withering Glance Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title |
- - - - - - - - -
I hope everyone's holiday was nice...mine was definitely a study in contrasts. The upshot is 1) my husband is beyond wonderful in most ways, and 2) I'm glad it's over.
So we're leaving tomorrow for a winter road trip to Calgary, the home of my brother and family, Joanne, and six casinos (SIX!) within the city limits. Yeah, I'm playing me some poker on this trip!!
I'm going to be sans internet access as we wend our way across the northern central states, so trip reports will be few and far between. This could be a loooong trip - we've travelled along this route before, but were on separate motorcycles with no helmet-to-helmet communication. This is really our first time travelling together a long distance over many days in the same vehicle.
Should be ... interesting *grin.
I wrote a nice long post about my feelings about this holiday season, but after the catharsis I deleted it. It was far too personal and well, too much of a downer to inflict on y'all for the holidays.
So.
It's now officially Christmas by my clock, and may I be the first to wish my friends a very happy day.
May you find everything you need, and a few things you want, during the day.
May you be able to enjoy your family, no matter their quirks and foibles; and if not, may you find yourself in the company of friends to bitch about it later.
May you be able to laugh with children, play, and remember what it was like to believe.
Raise a glass to those who cannot be present, and remember with joy those who are no longer with us. Shed tears, but let them be bittersweet and not sorrowful.
Enjoy.
Remember that while change is inevitable, it doesn't have to completely suck. If old traditions are no longer available or are too painful, make new ones. Nothing is written in stone.
I wish all of these things for you, and more.
So.
It's now officially Christmas by my clock, and may I be the first to wish my friends a very happy day.
May you find everything you need, and a few things you want, during the day.
May you be able to enjoy your family, no matter their quirks and foibles; and if not, may you find yourself in the company of friends to bitch about it later.
May you be able to laugh with children, play, and remember what it was like to believe.
Raise a glass to those who cannot be present, and remember with joy those who are no longer with us. Shed tears, but let them be bittersweet and not sorrowful.
Enjoy.
Remember that while change is inevitable, it doesn't have to completely suck. If old traditions are no longer available or are too painful, make new ones. Nothing is written in stone.
I wish all of these things for you, and more.
Well, even though it looked an awful like taking a real test (you know, where you have to THINK), I took the Poker IQ Test. Blogger is being pissy about uploading images right now, or I too would upload the cheezie certificate that says I got 117. I do believe is more than Guin or KGB got, which just proves how faulty the damn thing is.
However....
It's been quite a week, poker-wise (which is good as so many non-poker things have sucked. A lot.).
As well as being chosen as a CC Partner (hold the huggle jokes, please and thank you), there was the Full Tilt 9K Guaranteed 7th place finish on Monday.
And tonight I managed to fold my way to 4th place in the CC Thursday's Bash game tonight. Now normally a 4th place finish would have me whining about being Bubble Girl yet again. However this was the last of the four-game series sponsored by PokerWorks with additional cash prizes awarded to first and bubbles of each game. Also, after the four games, the person in first place in total points gets $300, second place gets $200, and third place gets $100.
So my fourth place finish tonight gave me $25 for the bubble; but combined with my donkalicious play in the previous three games it garnered me a second place finish overall for a cool $200.
Many thanks to CC and Pokerworks for setting this up!
However....
It's been quite a week, poker-wise (which is good as so many non-poker things have sucked. A lot.).
As well as being chosen as a CC Partner (hold the huggle jokes, please and thank you), there was the Full Tilt 9K Guaranteed 7th place finish on Monday.
And tonight I managed to fold my way to 4th place in the CC Thursday's Bash game tonight. Now normally a 4th place finish would have me whining about being Bubble Girl yet again. However this was the last of the four-game series sponsored by PokerWorks with additional cash prizes awarded to first and bubbles of each game. Also, after the four games, the person in first place in total points gets $300, second place gets $200, and third place gets $100.
So my fourth place finish tonight gave me $25 for the bubble; but combined with my donkalicious play in the previous three games it garnered me a second place finish overall for a cool $200.
Many thanks to CC and Pokerworks for setting this up!
Out first in the Mookie again. Sigh.
But like I told Pokerwolf, if the poker gods want me to look like a goober in blogger events, then give me payouts in other games, I'll take the embarassment AND the cash *grin.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I have a confession to make...I am guilty of the sin of technology lust. Hunny Bunny's old first gen iPod was stolen, so he has gone out and purchased one of these.
Yes I know I have a perfectly working one of these, that I have dropped, banged about and abused for three years; it's travelled thousands of miles being vibrated to crap in my bike jacket pocket and like a Timex, the thing keeps on ticking. And I have long resisted the Apple marketing machine.
But the nano, it's so sleek and black and sexy. I covet it. With every fibre of my being.
I have dropped hints about Christmas presents, but was gently and lovingly reminded of the $ donated to my degeneracy in Vegas. I have tried to pull the "hey look over there!" distract-and-pocket technique, but he knows me far too well and is on to me.
God I hope they go on sale after the holidays. That will be the day when my Dell meets with some sort of an an untimely accident. Maybe dropped in a glass of beer *grin.
But like I told Pokerwolf, if the poker gods want me to look like a goober in blogger events, then give me payouts in other games, I'll take the embarassment AND the cash *grin.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I have a confession to make...I am guilty of the sin of technology lust. Hunny Bunny's old first gen iPod was stolen, so he has gone out and purchased one of these.
Yes I know I have a perfectly working one of these, that I have dropped, banged about and abused for three years; it's travelled thousands of miles being vibrated to crap in my bike jacket pocket and like a Timex, the thing keeps on ticking. And I have long resisted the Apple marketing machine.
But the nano, it's so sleek and black and sexy. I covet it. With every fibre of my being.
I have dropped hints about Christmas presents, but was gently and lovingly reminded of the $ donated to my degeneracy in Vegas. I have tried to pull the "hey look over there!" distract-and-pocket technique, but he knows me far too well and is on to me.
God I hope they go on sale after the holidays. That will be the day when my Dell meets with some sort of an an untimely accident. Maybe dropped in a glass of beer *grin.
This is the last day before the holidays - cards and small gifts abound, both students and staff are giddy with anticipation and sugar highs.
The best cards I've received this year are 1) a hand drawn Santa cat card and 2) an e-card with this message:
Added:
* "I am how happily in touch with my inner geek. Thank you and happy holidays." in binary. How COOL is this kid?!? *grin.
The best cards I've received this year are 1) a hand drawn Santa cat card and 2) an e-card with this message:
01001001 00100000 01100001 01101101 00100000 01101000 01101111 01110111 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110000 01110000 01101001 01101100 01111001 00100000 01101001 01101110 00100000 01110100 01101111 01110101 01100011 01101000 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110100 01101000 00100000 01101101 01111001 00100000 01101001 01101110 01101110 01100101 01110010 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011 00101110 00100000 01010100 01101000 01100001 01101110 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01100001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110000 01110000 01111001 00100000 01101000 01101111 01101100 01101001 01100100 01100001 01111001 01110011 00101110 *This is the kind of moment you live for as a teacher, that makes all the grumbling, stress, marking, paperwork, etc. all worthwhile. It's easily worth the thousands of dollars in salary I gave up to do this job, and frankly as awesome as the seventh place was last night in the tournament, this is what makes me feel like a real winner.
Added:
* "I am how happily in touch with my inner geek. Thank you and happy holidays." in binary. How COOL is this kid?!? *grin.
For the past four nights I've played MTT's and placed ITM...and tonight's was THE BEST BY FAR (caps intended).
I got home feeling a bit blech but wired from too much chocolate (the holiday gift of choice for students to give to teachers..whatever happened to a nice bottle of wine?!?), and sat downt o get a token peep.
Easy peasey.
Then Hunny Bunny called, saying the gig is going late and he won't be home for a while. Dagnabbit; but then again that means I don't have to worry about dinner. So I settled in and decided to donk away my newly minted token in the Full Tilt 9k Guaranteed.
Holy crap, I love this game, a sentiment that we all know is subject to change at any time.
I admit to getting VERY freaked out just before the final table bubble. The blinds were so high I was getting a nosebleed from the new altitudes I had to play at. If it wasn't for the help of Joanne, Waffles and Pokerwolf combined with the cheering squad of FastPitch and Surflexus, I'd have gone out in 50th, still in the money and really happy.
It's been said before....bloggers are awesome. They cheer you on, commiserate with you in your defeats and beats, but still challenge you to do better and tell you when you've been a bonehead (thanks Waffles).
Thanks guys...really.
I got home feeling a bit blech but wired from too much chocolate (the holiday gift of choice for students to give to teachers..whatever happened to a nice bottle of wine?!?), and sat downt o get a token peep.
Easy peasey.
Then Hunny Bunny called, saying the gig is going late and he won't be home for a while. Dagnabbit; but then again that means I don't have to worry about dinner. So I settled in and decided to donk away my newly minted token in the Full Tilt 9k Guaranteed.
Holy crap, I love this game, a sentiment that we all know is subject to change at any time.
I admit to getting VERY freaked out just before the final table bubble. The blinds were so high I was getting a nosebleed from the new altitudes I had to play at. If it wasn't for the help of Joanne, Waffles and Pokerwolf combined with the cheering squad of FastPitch and Surflexus, I'd have gone out in 50th, still in the money and really happy.
It's been said before....bloggers are awesome. They cheer you on, commiserate with you in your defeats and beats, but still challenge you to do better and tell you when you've been a bonehead (thanks Waffles).
Thanks guys...really.
This is my last Monday at work for 3 weeks. Excited? Happy? Thrilled? Anticipating those first few mornings of delicious sleep-in-until-ten?
You bet. In ways you cannot even imagine.
My countdown continues - 9 days until we leave for Calgary. Was telling my sister-in-law that I don't really care much about Christmas or Boxing Day this year; I've even let Hunny Bunny off the hook (just a stocking, big gifts later/whenever). Getting a hug from my nieces and drinking a beer with Brain and Shar is what I really want for Christmas.
************************
On the poker front, things are progressing. I totally goofed in the Bad Beat on Cancer last night, and was the first blogger out. I then proceeded to sign up for the $5+50 on Full Tilt and played the way I should... folded crap, bet aggressively when I had something, bluffed successfully a few times. I placed ITM, 42 out of 400+.
Maybe there's hope for me after all.
************************
This was in one of Toronto's free newspapers today. This explains the constant construction there.
************************
I've spent the last hour+ goofing around on something that one of the students showed me:
The Generator Blog
Here's someone who just finds and links generators. Want your own action hero? Have your own personalized slogan or snowglobe? Want to see what you look like as an elf? Or just really want to kill some time rather than try and work? This is the spot. I've killed more time there than if I read an uber.
************************
Despairing at the lack of poker content in this here blog? Well that's about the change.
I've just been notified that I've been selected as one of CC's Partners (squeeee!), so once that gets rolling my whole game will be displayed for all to mock...eerrrrr...review *grin.
Thank you, CC!
You bet. In ways you cannot even imagine.
My countdown continues - 9 days until we leave for Calgary. Was telling my sister-in-law that I don't really care much about Christmas or Boxing Day this year; I've even let Hunny Bunny off the hook (just a stocking, big gifts later/whenever). Getting a hug from my nieces and drinking a beer with Brain and Shar is what I really want for Christmas.
************************
On the poker front, things are progressing. I totally goofed in the Bad Beat on Cancer last night, and was the first blogger out. I then proceeded to sign up for the $5+50 on Full Tilt and played the way I should... folded crap, bet aggressively when I had something, bluffed successfully a few times. I placed ITM, 42 out of 400+.
Maybe there's hope for me after all.
************************
This was in one of Toronto's free newspapers today. This explains the constant construction there.
************************
I've spent the last hour+ goofing around on something that one of the students showed me:
The Generator Blog
Here's someone who just finds and links generators. Want your own action hero? Have your own personalized slogan or snowglobe? Want to see what you look like as an elf? Or just really want to kill some time rather than try and work? This is the spot. I've killed more time there than if I read an uber.
************************
Despairing at the lack of poker content in this here blog? Well that's about the change.
I've just been notified that I've been selected as one of CC's Partners (squeeee!), so once that gets rolling my whole game will be displayed for all to mock...eerrrrr...review *grin.
Thank you, CC!
Bad Beat on Cancer Tournament on sunday
0 Comments Published by katitude on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 7:54 p.m..
Just saw this on Phil Gordon's mySpace
Date/time: Sunday, December 17th at 9pm EST (6pm PT)
Where: www.fulltiltpoker.com
Tournament Name: Bad Beat on Cancer (under Private tourney tab)
Password: badbeat
I'm so there. You?
Come on..you know you wanna....
Date/time: Sunday, December 17th at 9pm EST (6pm PT)
Where: www.fulltiltpoker.com
Tournament Name: Bad Beat on Cancer (under Private tourney tab)
Password: badbeat
I'm so there. You?
Come on..you know you wanna....
* shamelessly ripped off from Bobby Bracelet
Well, I'm glad that this post is a good one, it being such a nice round number and all:
Yes! A final table! I'd forgotten what it feels like.
Many thanks to Bloody P, Mr. Parx and Fastpitch for railbirding me. And a very special thanks to Bloody P for the extra tips....it gave the game a whole different perspective, especially in the last legs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Finally, both Hunny Bunny and I are home, at the same time! We're sitting in bed this morning, drinking coffee and chatting, and catching up on the last week or so. We talked a bit about Las Vegas, and how I discovered some insights. He asked what was the key thing I learned, thinking it would be about poker. I replied:
Push is g00t. And never trust a sober person with a notebook.
Well, I'm glad that this post is a good one, it being such a nice round number and all:
Yes! A final table! I'd forgotten what it feels like.
Many thanks to Bloody P, Mr. Parx and Fastpitch for railbirding me. And a very special thanks to Bloody P for the extra tips....it gave the game a whole different perspective, especially in the last legs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Finally, both Hunny Bunny and I are home, at the same time! We're sitting in bed this morning, drinking coffee and chatting, and catching up on the last week or so. We talked a bit about Las Vegas, and how I discovered some insights. He asked what was the key thing I learned, thinking it would be about poker. I replied:
Push is g00t. And never trust a sober person with a notebook.
Soooo tired. But am still coughing myself awake as soon as I lay down, so restful sleep eludes me. And will for some time.
Trying to deal with PVD (Post Vegas Depression) as best I can by playing poker, but online seems flat after a weekend of irl frivolity with these people.
I played the CC Thursday bash tonight, where I left in 9th place of 14, which leaves me tied for third with 23skidoo on the big money leaderboard. Many thanks to my sis-in-law for the railbirding and giggles in the chat!
Will our heroine pull it out of the fire? Tune in next week, same bat time, same bat channel.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OK, Vegas is now behind me; time to stop my gaze from looking longingly over my shoulder and direct it forwards.
The holiday season is soon upon us, but better than that is my two and a half weeks off (insert wild cheering here). The plan is for Hunny Bunny and I to hop in the car and drive out to Calgary, ostensibly to visit my brother and his family (who I miss desperately). But an added bonus is to hang with Joanada, who by happy coincidence lives pretty damn close to my bro.
I'm glad to have a new countdown. 12 days to go.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And now that Vegas is over, we can all turn our eyes to the next one, a mini one, a blogger meet-up lite if you will: Eh-Vegas.
The dates are set at February 10-11, and as well as a game (duh), there are visits planned for here, here and here.
Confrmed so far is me, Jules, Graham, Joanada, Iakaris, Guin, and Astin. Lots more are tentative. Details to follow as they appear....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dear heart, if you keep picking at a scab, it will never heal. And it will leave a bitch of a scar as a lasting reminder.
Just leave it be.
Trying to deal with PVD (Post Vegas Depression) as best I can by playing poker, but online seems flat after a weekend of irl frivolity with these people.
I played the CC Thursday bash tonight, where I left in 9th place of 14, which leaves me tied for third with 23skidoo on the big money leaderboard. Many thanks to my sis-in-law for the railbirding and giggles in the chat!
Will our heroine pull it out of the fire? Tune in next week, same bat time, same bat channel.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OK, Vegas is now behind me; time to stop my gaze from looking longingly over my shoulder and direct it forwards.The holiday season is soon upon us, but better than that is my two and a half weeks off (insert wild cheering here). The plan is for Hunny Bunny and I to hop in the car and drive out to Calgary, ostensibly to visit my brother and his family (who I miss desperately). But an added bonus is to hang with Joanada, who by happy coincidence lives pretty damn close to my bro.
I'm glad to have a new countdown. 12 days to go.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And now that Vegas is over, we can all turn our eyes to the next one, a mini one, a blogger meet-up lite if you will: Eh-Vegas.
The dates are set at February 10-11, and as well as a game (duh), there are visits planned for here, here and here.
Confrmed so far is me, Jules, Graham, Joanada, Iakaris, Guin, and Astin. Lots more are tentative. Details to follow as they appear....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dear heart, if you keep picking at a scab, it will never heal. And it will leave a bitch of a scar as a lasting reminder.
Just leave it be.
Some things change....
0 Comments Published by katitude on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 10:14 p.m..
...and some things don't.
It's Wednesday, Hunny Bunny's not home (working in London until Sunday), I'm chilling with good tunes and even better girlie chats, donking out of the Mookie in record time. Again.
Forty-two of forty-five.
Somebody better call Hunny Bunny.....it appears I'm a bigamist. I got married to top pair with a kicker. Which is all g00t unless the other person in the hand has the other two aces for a set.
It's Wednesday, Hunny Bunny's not home (working in London until Sunday), I'm chilling with good tunes and even better girlie chats, donking out of the Mookie in record time. Again.
Forty-two of forty-five.
Somebody better call Hunny Bunny.....it appears I'm a bigamist. I got married to top pair with a kicker. Which is all g00t unless the other person in the hand has the other two aces for a set.
One of the main recurring thoughts that's been whirling around my fevered brain is: how the hell can I write up my 2.5 days in Las Vegas? (The other thought is will I ever get over this freaking cold/cough, but being away from smoke filled casinos seems to be clearing that up nicely. And thanks to all who refrained from giggling during our conversations when my voice cracked like a boy's at puberty.)
I'm completely flummoxed. Do I write about the moments? The experiences? The gambooling? The people? Or do I write about how it's shaped me, even over a period as short as a weekend?
It's almost too much.
There were the initial moments of wandering through the airport parking lot with Joanne, Maudie and Gary looking for Joanada's car - she'd been on the phone with Gary when she parked it, and had forgotten where it was. Now, I've talked to Gary on the phone, and have experienced the effects of his velvety voice firsthand, so I completely understand why she forgot the car. But it doesn't mean I didn't make her buy me several Kamikaze's at the Geisha Bar to make up for the delay in getting alcohol into my system.
Oh the Kamikaze...what a vile drink. Add them to the tequila that Pauly handed me, and the beers that Weak and Zeem (and others) handed me, and well, yes there were pear-shaped moments. You have to love bloggers...not only will they get you plastered, they will also run after you to talk you down from the ensuing wicked case of the maudlins.
That first night had a ton of laughs, and I got to meet new people like Linda and Fuel55, but I can't say anything more, as I've been sworn to secrecy. By several people. But I can tell you of my shock when I walked through into the hotel room to see daylight. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I say my watch said 10:30am Toronto time. Last time I did an all-nighter like that, I was much, much younger. Much. Younger.
I awoke at noon Vegas time, and while I wasn't bounding out of bed bright-eyed and bushy tailed, I felt good enough to meet the rest of the bloggers at the Wynn for lunch. Once I was showered, semi-rehydrated, tylenol-ed, dressed and made up I realized just how wrong I was, and laid back down curled up in a semi-fetal position for another hour or so. Joanne and I headed to the restaurant at the IP where we ordered food and then only looked at it for an hour until Gary joined us.
The rest of the afternoon is fuzzy, and the next thing I clearly remember is my delight at finding out that Fiamma in the MGM where Joanne and I had dinner served Bloody Caesar's. It is THE BEST drink for settling one's umm ... delicate ... condition after a night of excess, BAR NONE! Honestly, I don't know why it's hasn't caught on in the US before this. Add that to an incredible meal of divine pasta, and suddenly I was human again.
From there it was on to the merriment at the MGM poker room where I donked off $100 on CORSE but had a lark doing it (my first live straddle, wheeee!), and then giggled it up at the Sports Book. Jules, I swear I did try to give you a Dial-A-Shot or Dial-A-Butt-Grab there, but the big dude said no cell phones. I have witnesses, not that they're any more credible than I am *grin.
Best moments there include:
Went downtown with Weak for breakfast, which turned into far more of an adventure than one would think as much of downtown was closed off. Initially we thought it was a film shoot as there were hundreds of people wandering around in Santa suits, but it was the end of a Fun Run. Pretty freaking surreal.
Barely made it back to wake Jo at the appointed time, where her response to "Are you going to the WPBT tourney?" was "unngnggghahaaaaaa".
I loved playing the tourney where I got a kick-ass if scary starting table of F-train (aka my hero), Maudie, Dawn, Pauly, -EV, Carter, Surly Poker Gnome and the tardy Grubby. I finished firmly in the middle of the pack as I am wont to do, and my hammer bounty was won by -EV mere moments before the Rooster bluffed Gracie off her hammer with...a hammer!
Best lines I heard at the tourney:
Once Jo showed up, Weak grabbed us and Gary and drove us to the Rio's buffet where we had a blast. Gary was telling us a story about how he looked in one bar and there was a midget running up and down on the bar, pouring drinks for people, and they were going wild. "And everyone is yelling Yay Iggy!" Joanne replied. This was another evening where I faded fast, and split for bed after the PokerTek thing ended.
Colds suck. Colds in Vegas suck huge.
Let me tell you, it's pretty surreal to wake up refreshed, head down to the casino floor and talk with people who have been there all night. I made a run for coffee (mmm coffeee....hadn't had any in 3 days no wonder I had a headache!) then sat at the Pai Gow table with Gary and Easycure.
OMFG, that is one fun game. I'm hooked. And that's at 11am. I can only imagine what it would have been like with Waffles. and Garth.
PAAAIIIII GOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!
My last moments in Vegas were spent with the rest of the morning-after degenerates in the sports book, drinking more Caesar's and getting as many hugs in as I could before leaving.
The truest thing I said all weekend was "I don't want to wait seven months before seeing you again." Of course, the sincerity of the line (and it's VERY sincere) may have been ruined by me pouting and stamping my feet.
I really didn't want to leave just yet.
This is my third blogger event. The first one in July was to meet everyone for the first time, and the second one, the Bash was to get drunk and let off some steam. I had no real expectations of this one, other than to hang and take a vacation from my life for a bit.
But you know what they say; everywhere you go, there you are. And this trip turned out to be not so much a vacation from my life as a series of insights into it. A Douglas Adams quotation works well here:
I stepped three feet to the left.
Things have shifted; not a lot, not in a bad way. Things that I have railed against have fallen into place somewhat....which is not to say I won't rail against them in the future, but for now, all is well. There was no great lightbulb moment that caused this, no Eureka. Just the ebb and flow of conversation and alcohol among friends.
And I do count a number of you as my friends now. You know who you are. While this is yet another word that gets eroded from overuse, I don't use it lightly. You need help moving, or moving a body, I'll be there with beer, boxes, packing tape and/or a shovel. Like the joke goes:
I'm completely flummoxed. Do I write about the moments? The experiences? The gambooling? The people? Or do I write about how it's shaped me, even over a period as short as a weekend?
It's almost too much.
There were the initial moments of wandering through the airport parking lot with Joanne, Maudie and Gary looking for Joanada's car - she'd been on the phone with Gary when she parked it, and had forgotten where it was. Now, I've talked to Gary on the phone, and have experienced the effects of his velvety voice firsthand, so I completely understand why she forgot the car. But it doesn't mean I didn't make her buy me several Kamikaze's at the Geisha Bar to make up for the delay in getting alcohol into my system.
Oh the Kamikaze...what a vile drink. Add them to the tequila that Pauly handed me, and the beers that Weak and Zeem (and others) handed me, and well, yes there were pear-shaped moments. You have to love bloggers...not only will they get you plastered, they will also run after you to talk you down from the ensuing wicked case of the maudlins.
That first night had a ton of laughs, and I got to meet new people like Linda and Fuel55, but I can't say anything more, as I've been sworn to secrecy. By several people. But I can tell you of my shock when I walked through into the hotel room to see daylight. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I say my watch said 10:30am Toronto time. Last time I did an all-nighter like that, I was much, much younger. Much. Younger.
I awoke at noon Vegas time, and while I wasn't bounding out of bed bright-eyed and bushy tailed, I felt good enough to meet the rest of the bloggers at the Wynn for lunch. Once I was showered, semi-rehydrated, tylenol-ed, dressed and made up I realized just how wrong I was, and laid back down curled up in a semi-fetal position for another hour or so. Joanne and I headed to the restaurant at the IP where we ordered food and then only looked at it for an hour until Gary joined us.
The rest of the afternoon is fuzzy, and the next thing I clearly remember is my delight at finding out that Fiamma in the MGM where Joanne and I had dinner served Bloody Caesar's. It is THE BEST drink for settling one's umm ... delicate ... condition after a night of excess, BAR NONE! Honestly, I don't know why it's hasn't caught on in the US before this. Add that to an incredible meal of divine pasta, and suddenly I was human again.
From there it was on to the merriment at the MGM poker room where I donked off $100 on CORSE but had a lark doing it (my first live straddle, wheeee!), and then giggled it up at the Sports Book. Jules, I swear I did try to give you a Dial-A-Shot or Dial-A-Butt-Grab there, but the big dude said no cell phones. I have witnesses, not that they're any more credible than I am *grin.
Best moments there include:
- meeting Daddy
- watching Carmen with the Marines
- watching the look on Waffles face as Carmen was showing me just how good my boobs would look with either 1) a boob job (never going to happen) or 2) a good push up bra (which I have but it ruins the lines of the leather tank top I was wearing). My reward for being part of this show was Waffles losing control and accidentally pouring beer down my back when he went to hug me. Totally worth it.
- having enough self restraint not to ask for a martini
- Number of time I grabbed/patted/stroked somebody's butt = 3
- Number of times my butt was grabbed/patted/stroked = 9-ish
Went downtown with Weak for breakfast, which turned into far more of an adventure than one would think as much of downtown was closed off. Initially we thought it was a film shoot as there were hundreds of people wandering around in Santa suits, but it was the end of a Fun Run. Pretty freaking surreal.
Barely made it back to wake Jo at the appointed time, where her response to "Are you going to the WPBT tourney?" was "unngnggghahaaaaaa".
I loved playing the tourney where I got a kick-ass if scary starting table of F-train (aka my hero), Maudie, Dawn, Pauly, -EV, Carter, Surly Poker Gnome and the tardy Grubby. I finished firmly in the middle of the pack as I am wont to do, and my hammer bounty was won by -EV mere moments before the Rooster bluffed Gracie off her hammer with...a hammer!
Best lines I heard at the tourney:
- "beep boop beep boop...Poker bot says: CALL", F-train to -EV as -EV was taking a long time pondering F-Train's raise.
- "Fast playing is the new slow playing", -EV
- "After a few days, we all sort of morph into one big bloganism", Falstaff
- "Cool! I'm the meat in a McGrupp grope sandwich", me
Once Jo showed up, Weak grabbed us and Gary and drove us to the Rio's buffet where we had a blast. Gary was telling us a story about how he looked in one bar and there was a midget running up and down on the bar, pouring drinks for people, and they were going wild. "And everyone is yelling Yay Iggy!" Joanne replied. This was another evening where I faded fast, and split for bed after the PokerTek thing ended.
Colds suck. Colds in Vegas suck huge.
Let me tell you, it's pretty surreal to wake up refreshed, head down to the casino floor and talk with people who have been there all night. I made a run for coffee (mmm coffeee....hadn't had any in 3 days no wonder I had a headache!) then sat at the Pai Gow table with Gary and Easycure.
OMFG, that is one fun game. I'm hooked. And that's at 11am. I can only imagine what it would have been like with Waffles. and Garth.
PAAAIIIII GOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!
My last moments in Vegas were spent with the rest of the morning-after degenerates in the sports book, drinking more Caesar's and getting as many hugs in as I could before leaving.
The truest thing I said all weekend was "I don't want to wait seven months before seeing you again." Of course, the sincerity of the line (and it's VERY sincere) may have been ruined by me pouting and stamping my feet.
I really didn't want to leave just yet.
This is my third blogger event. The first one in July was to meet everyone for the first time, and the second one, the Bash was to get drunk and let off some steam. I had no real expectations of this one, other than to hang and take a vacation from my life for a bit.
But you know what they say; everywhere you go, there you are. And this trip turned out to be not so much a vacation from my life as a series of insights into it. A Douglas Adams quotation works well here:
“He was constantly reminded of how startlingly different a place the world was when viewed from a point only three feet to the left.”You can go for years along a certain course, acting a certain way, holding certain beliefs, understanding certain things. Then in one weekend, one day, one hour, or one minute, things will change.
I stepped three feet to the left.
Things have shifted; not a lot, not in a bad way. Things that I have railed against have fallen into place somewhat....which is not to say I won't rail against them in the future, but for now, all is well. There was no great lightbulb moment that caused this, no Eureka. Just the ebb and flow of conversation and alcohol among friends.
And I do count a number of you as my friends now. You know who you are. While this is yet another word that gets eroded from overuse, I don't use it lightly. You need help moving, or moving a body, I'll be there with beer, boxes, packing tape and/or a shovel. Like the joke goes:
An acquaintance will tell you not to do something. A friend will bail you out of jail after you do that something. A real friend will be sitting beside you in jail saying "damn that was fun!".And people wondered why I was getting teary-eyed in my goodbyes. Damn, that was fun!
...and thanks to the cowgirl who partied too much* and the schmoes at Air Canada**, I'm tired as hell. I got home exactly a half hour before I would have if I'd taken the red eye, so I could have enjoyed the full Sunday with bloggers after all. As far as I'm concerned, somebody owes me some Bloody Caesars and more blogger fun, dammit!
This is going to be a long day.
Post to come when I wake up a bit...that might be much, much later. Like tomorrow.
I can no longer use the word "fun" to describe blogger gatherings; it's just too pale a word to cover the experience. So I checked a thesaurus, and well, those options aren't working either; some come close, like: blast, buffoonery, celebration, escapade, frolic, gaiety, gambol, high jinks, jocularity, mirth, romp, tomfoolery.
The one word that keeps coming to my mind is:
supercalifragalisticexpealidocious.
* first leg of the flight had to turn back as one of the passengers had a "minor medical emergency", aka too much Vegas and cowboys, not enough food.
** second leg was delayed again and again for many things. Can't relate them here or I'll get super pissed off all over again.
This is going to be a long day.
Post to come when I wake up a bit...that might be much, much later. Like tomorrow.
I can no longer use the word "fun" to describe blogger gatherings; it's just too pale a word to cover the experience. So I checked a thesaurus, and well, those options aren't working either; some come close, like: blast, buffoonery, celebration, escapade, frolic, gaiety, gambol, high jinks, jocularity, mirth, romp, tomfoolery.
The one word that keeps coming to my mind is:
supercalifragalisticexpealidocious.
* first leg of the flight had to turn back as one of the passengers had a "minor medical emergency", aka too much Vegas and cowboys, not enough food.
** second leg was delayed again and again for many things. Can't relate them here or I'll get super pissed off all over again.
Leaving on a jetplane
3 Comments Published by katitude on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at 7:48 p.m..
24 hours from the time I hit enter I'll be sitting in Terminal Three at Toronto's Pearson Airport.
Waiting.
Knitting to calm my nerves.
It's not the flying that I'm nervous about.
It's seeing all the bloggers again, and some for the first time. Well, nervous is the wrong word.
I'm so fricking excited I'm quivering. All over. And will be until I get off the plane and have my first shot with Maudie, Joanne and Gary.
There's a lot about la vie de ce chat that doesn't make the blogwaves....but trust me when I say I am looking forward to some BIG FUN.
And yes, the caps are intended.
Waiting.
Knitting to calm my nerves.
It's not the flying that I'm nervous about.
It's seeing all the bloggers again, and some for the first time. Well, nervous is the wrong word.
I'm so fricking excited I'm quivering. All over. And will be until I get off the plane and have my first shot with Maudie, Joanne and Gary.
There's a lot about la vie de ce chat that doesn't make the blogwaves....but trust me when I say I am looking forward to some BIG FUN.
And yes, the caps are intended.
I had read the word cowboys on other blogs when talking about Vegas, but I've been sick and well, a little out of it so I paid it no mind at all.
But it finally sunk in today.
There will be cowboys
in Las Vegas
at the same time
I am there
to goof off
with bloggers.
Holy jeepers!
This has the potential.....
2 Comments Published by katitude on Monday, December 04, 2006 at 10:01 a.m..
.... to destroy even more workplace productivity than an Iggy uber!
DP at WiredPairs posted a link to We Feel Fine, " an exploration of human emotion on a global scale."
I have just whiled away the last 70 minutes exploring the site. The applet is stunningly beautiful, and it's an interesting concept.
Two things immediately hit me while wading through the lovely floating dots and reading out of context snippets of blogs:
I guess it's a life is good day for most people on the intertubes. If I can shake this sinus infection before leaving for Las Vegas, I'll join them.
DP at WiredPairs posted a link to We Feel Fine, " an exploration of human emotion on a global scale."
I have just whiled away the last 70 minutes exploring the site. The applet is stunningly beautiful, and it's an interesting concept.
Two things immediately hit me while wading through the lovely floating dots and reading out of context snippets of blogs:
- Teen angst is teen angst no matter where you are. But really, you should be over it by your 40's, don't you think?
- People can't spell for shit. I mean, I know I typo, but jesus people! (Ok teacher-rant endeth now).
I guess it's a life is good day for most people on the intertubes. If I can shake this sinus infection before leaving for Las Vegas, I'll join them.
ramblings on poker, family and vegas
1 Comments Published by katitude on Sunday, December 03, 2006 at 6:55 p.m..
I was at my younger brother's house when I got hooked on poker.
I was out there to relax, hangout in their hot tub, drink his beer, catch up on the girl talk with my sis-in-law and spoil my nieces. Oh, and they had cable; I didn't as I was spending my dough on high speed internet access, junkie that I am. We were lazing about on Sunday, they were watching football and I was just chilling, trying to find the motivation to get my ass of their couch and into my car to head back to Toronto.
It was between games, and my sister-in-law was flicking around the channels trying to see if there was anything we could kill an hour with, and it landed on a WPT final table.
And so the love affair/obsession/abusive relationship began.
After two years of watching me, they've decided to play too. It's started innocently enough with some friendly home games run by friends of theirs. And now I'm sweating them in $1 SnG's.
You never know how much (or how little) you know until you teach someone. My brother would tell me his hands, and I'd say things like:
"Stop limping. It makes people think you're a weenie"
"Dammit, if you're going to be in a pot, bet! Otherwise, fold"
"You're going to call a 4x BB raise when you have J3 off and there are no J's or 3's on the board. Did mum drop you on your head when you were a baby or something?"
"Fold that crap"
"Raise NOW"
"Stop commenting on the cross-eyed nurse avatars boobs. It's probably a guy anyway"
"No matter what you may think, A2 is not a good hand. Trust me."
"No, K2 is not good either. Really. Would I lie to you? Well, yeah, I did then, but not now, trust me."
"Knock if off and listen, or I'll introduce you to my friend, Waffles!"
But it worked out well, thanks to major suckouts, and he placed 2nd. Yay, Bro!
As thanks, he sent me this...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
4 more working days until Vegas. I am mostly ready already, and what isn't ready, will be ready as appointments have already been made to make sure I am ready on Thursday.
Fuck, I'm so there, I'm even dreaming about bloggers. Good dreams. Dreams where fantasies come true; dreams where I win tournaments and drink without getting hungover.
Ah, if only......
I was out there to relax, hangout in their hot tub, drink his beer, catch up on the girl talk with my sis-in-law and spoil my nieces. Oh, and they had cable; I didn't as I was spending my dough on high speed internet access, junkie that I am. We were lazing about on Sunday, they were watching football and I was just chilling, trying to find the motivation to get my ass of their couch and into my car to head back to Toronto.
It was between games, and my sister-in-law was flicking around the channels trying to see if there was anything we could kill an hour with, and it landed on a WPT final table.
And so the love affair/obsession/abusive relationship began.
After two years of watching me, they've decided to play too. It's started innocently enough with some friendly home games run by friends of theirs. And now I'm sweating them in $1 SnG's.
You never know how much (or how little) you know until you teach someone. My brother would tell me his hands, and I'd say things like:
"Stop limping. It makes people think you're a weenie"
"Dammit, if you're going to be in a pot, bet! Otherwise, fold"
"You're going to call a 4x BB raise when you have J3 off and there are no J's or 3's on the board. Did mum drop you on your head when you were a baby or something?"
"Fold that crap"
"Raise NOW"
"Stop commenting on the cross-eyed nurse avatars boobs. It's probably a guy anyway"
"No matter what you may think, A2 is not a good hand. Trust me."
"No, K2 is not good either. Really. Would I lie to you? Well, yeah, I did then, but not now, trust me."
"Knock if off and listen, or I'll introduce you to my friend, Waffles!"
But it worked out well, thanks to major suckouts, and he placed 2nd. Yay, Bro!
As thanks, he sent me this...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
4 more working days until Vegas. I am mostly ready already, and what isn't ready, will be ready as appointments have already been made to make sure I am ready on Thursday.
Fuck, I'm so there, I'm even dreaming about bloggers. Good dreams. Dreams where fantasies come true; dreams where I win tournaments and drink without getting hungover.
Ah, if only......
