From Waffles who wrote this about me...god I'd almost forgotten the poodle thing!

************

Comment on this entry, and I will:

1. Tell you why I am friends with you.
2. Associate you with something - fandom, a song, a color, a photo, a word etc.
3. Tell you something I like about you.
4. Tell you a memory I have of you.
5. Ask something I’ve always wanted to know about you.
6. In return, you must post this to your own journal/blog.

************

Bambam

1. Because you're a blogger and you rock!
2. A turtle that dances
3. You are the most open and friendly person I have met in quite a while.
4. The look on your face when you and CK went off to the lapdance.
5. Where the hell do you get those shirts?
   

Joanada

1. Because you're a blogger and you rock!
2. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
3. Nothing I says shocks you, and you are usually right there with me.
4. Like Waffles, the night at the MGM rates pretty high.
5. When are you moving to Toronto? *grin
   

Riggstad

1. Because you're a biker blogger and you rock!
2. A Crackberry in a holster, like a gunslinger for the new millennium/
3. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! And you've got a great butt *grin.
4. Keeping us all in stitches at Eh-Vegas with your stories.
5. Wanna go for a ride sometime?
   

Jules

1. Because you are the Loud one, and have been for over 10 years.
2. Duckies and Daschunds.
3. Your confidence in all things.
4. two memories tie: the first is the night I left husband # 1 and the conversation we had at the Feenix, and the second is night of the martinis and CBGC at the MGM
   
5. Why did you have to move to the other side of the world and leave me here in Toronto sans a partner in crime?
   

Could you please explain how I got dumped out of my rebuy tournament in the first half hour when I had the auto rebuy option selected??

I'm waiting.

This has been a really shitty week, between the high stressful at work and the post blogger / Eh-Vegas letdown, and I was really looking forward to this. WTF am I supposed to do now?

Thanks. A. Lot.

It is 3:22 and I have finished writing the last report card. The relief is palpable.

My original plan was to go downtown and go shopping, but in view of the snow, I think my best plan is to head home, with only a minor deviation into the liquor store for sustenance.

Later, you can find me on Full tilt, drunkenly donking off some funds in cheezie SnG's and the sublimely ridonkulous Donakment.

I love Fridays.

This utter bullshit is why I have to go back to report cards:

Full Tilt Poker Game #5437919712: Riverchasers Online Tour (35918033), Table 3 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:33:40 ET - 2008/02/28
Seat 1: on_thg (4,420)
Seat 2: morrdt (9,185)
Seat 4: Fishiswa (7,000)
Seat 5: katitude (4,740)
Seat 6: Zeem (2,600)
Seat 8: GCox25 (4,600)
Seat 9: a104l9 (2,480)
Fishiswa posts the small blind of 100
katitude posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to katitude [Qd Qh]
GCox25 folds
a104l9 folds
on_thg folds
morrdt calls 200
Fishiswa raises to 800
katitude raises to 1,400
morrdt folds
Fishiswa calls 600
*** FLOP *** [7d 9c 3d]
Fishiswa bets 5,600, and is all in
katitude calls 3,340, and is all in
Fishiswa shows [8c Td]
katitude shows [Qd Qh]
Uncalled bet of 2,260 returned to Fishiswa
*** TURN *** [7d 9c 3d] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [7d 9c 3d Js] [6d]
Fishiswa shows a straight, Jack high
katitude shows a pair of Queens
Fishiswa wins the pot (9,680) with a straight, Jack high
katitude stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9,680 | Rake 0
Board: [7d 9c 3d Js 6d]
Seat 1: on_thg didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: morrdt (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Fishiswa (small blind) showed [8c Td] and won (9,680) with a straight, Jack high
Seat 5: katitude (big blind) showed [Qd Qh] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 6: Zeem didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: GCox25 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: a104l9 didn't bet (folded)

Look who's posted!

I thought I felt the earth wobble a bit on it's axis *grin.

My pal Taylor just sent this to me:

Phil Hellmuth is coming to Toronto!

Once you've picked up your dropped jaw and wiped up the beverage you just spilled on your keyboard, head over to UltimateBet and grab your spot at the first stop on the UltimateBet Cross Canada Tour.

The hyperbole aside, are these types of seminars worthwhile? Or are they just a big giant cheese factory?

PokerTart asked me in a comment "Now where's your story about your second place finish!?!", and all I can say is "What story?".

I swear to god, I don't remember how I got to second. And no, it wasn't because of the beer I drank.

As with Okie Vegas, I was really having too much fun to be paying full attention to what was going on around me. The repartee between Riggstad and NuttzCarson was cracking me up....I can still hear the


Don't get me wrong, I was completely focused on the game, but it was more on the people than the cards. Don't ask me what cards I had when I ran a raging bluff on IronGirl, but I knew she hadn't caught and didn't much like what she had, and would fold. I have no idea what suit my KQ were when I called CK's all-in near the end, but I can describe the look on her face right down to the last detail when I knew that unlike the other shortstack allins she'd recently done, she had an ace in there, but it was worth the gamble to see if I could 1) knock her out in third to claim second and 2) knock her out to get the shirt (Tuckfard Matty succeeding on both counts).

This Eh-Weekend was good for me on a number of counts. I kicked most of my winter doldrums out to the curb, thanks to my friends who made me feel a little less alone. I earned some extra dough that has already been used to buy some necessary gear for our month-long road trip this summer. And the universe handed me a few things to think over on my quest to become a professional human.

To all who participated, thank you again. And Pokertart, I'm sorry that I can't really answer your question. Maybe I should start taking notes....

I totally forgot to strain the bacon-infused vodka for Al ("No way I was gonna drink it anyway!" ~Al), so it remained in my freezer until about 20 minutes ago.

Holy fuck, that is pretty damn tasty in a Bloody Caesar!

But you didn't need me to tell you that, did you.

Good thing I won some money this weekend (winning cash of bloggers is sweet, isn't it?), and now I can afford to to play in some of the 55 events over 13 weeks. According to B.W.o.P.'s calculations it'll cost $1,018 if one buys in directly, so it's time to hit those token frenzies and SnG's!

Fifty-five events. Sweet jeebus.

Eh-Vegas is now nothing but a receding image in my rear view mirror, and I'd give anything to turn this life around and U-Turn right back. Miss you all already!

Have I mentioned lately that work sucks this week? Blech.

But holy fucking hades, that was fun. There are so many moments that stand out; however I believe that discretion is the better part of valour especially where the Internet is concerned, so some details (which may or may not involve lapdances, boob kisses and hotdogs) will go unremarked. But those who were there will be smiling in remembrance now, and the rest of you will be wondering wtf you missed and maybe Eh-Vegas should be included in next year's travel plans.

Yes. It should. And yes CK, it will be at a warmer time. Maybe March.

Other folks have written/are writing great posts with the fun that was had by all, so check them out:

• Astin
• Joanada (no post since Dec. 06, but we can hope *grin)
• Tuckfards
• BamBam and Pebbles (the turtle has the place of honour right by my computer!)
• PokerTart & Bankwell
• Riggstad
• AlCantHang
• B.W.o.P. (the bendiest person I know!)
• IronGirl
• VinNay (border guards suck)

Me, I'm going to be quick and just do mine a la Flickr. Enjoy!

We have normality. I repeat, we have normality. Anything you still can't cope with is therefore your own problem.
~Douglas Adams

But what do you do if normality is the problem??

After every blogger get-together there is a period of adjustment back to normal that is getting more and more difficult. My awareness of encroaching Real Life hit me about 9pm while at the Niagara poker table with CK, VinNay, Astin and Riggstad, and it's been a downward spiral back into responsible adulthood since then. Which means that I'm working my ass off today and tonight to make up for the work I studiously avoided on the weekend.

So there is no way I can carve out the chunk of time necessary to post about Eh-Vegas until maybe tomorrow afternoon, so here's a picture to tide you over:

To everyone who flew, who drove, who waded through both successful and unsuccessful border crossings, who cooked, who played, and who made Eh-Vegas fucking awesome just by being there....


And off I go to mark grade 9 papers and create lesson plans for the inspection tomorrow.

Normality sucks.

Canada in February. Brilliant.
~ text message from AlCantHang at 3:53 am.

Lots to say about things like beer, Dial-A-Shots, lackluster strippers and laughing so hard I just about choked, but no time as brunch in the Distillery District aways. But let me just say it had been a loooong time sine I was thrown out of a hotel room for making too much noise.

Note the past tense?

She's the one that sent me the LOLinator site link. Here is my LOLname name:


I'm pretty sure I may look like this at some point this weekend.

Like the other Kat, I am addicted to lolcats, and cruise through I Can Has Cheezeburger when I need a giggle.

I was cruising through today during lunch and they has a Poker Cat contest! Alas, this is only available for US residents, so all my clever ideas are for naught.

Good Morning, on this, the first day of Eh Vegas.

It's the day of, and I'm sure you woke up this morning and a giant list of things to do jumped into your head. If there is anything that we can do to help please let me know.
~NuttzCarson

First of all, thanks for the offer. But I have no idea right now. There would have been a giant list of things jumping into my head if my head wasn't already filled with cotton wool.

Soooooo tired. Yesterday was spent outdoors with the students. Every Februray, the school empties for Ski Day and we head out to Horseshoe Resort for winter fun. A morning of cross country skiing followed by an afternoon of tubing has resulted in a stiff and tired Kat today. I have no idea how I managed to stay awake to hang out with Joanada until 11 (although I'm told I feel asleep during my favourite part of the movie).

But I'm off early today, and I'm sure that once the adrenaline of a blogger get together weekend hits my system I'll be fine. And if not, well that's what Red Bull is for, right?

So J and I will be checking into Courtyard Marriott tonight around 5-ish. Not sure what time everyone else is expected to be in town, so call me when you're close and we can arrange to meet a drinking establishment.

Joannada arrives tomorrow.... and the weekend's fun begins.

Hair done and roots gone? Check.
Bounty purchased? Check.
Hotel confirmed? Check.
Laundry done? Check.
Heads up given to club? Check.

Yeah, that's five things I've accomplished. The rest of my to-do list looks like this:

Get air mattress and sleeping bag from storage locker. Decant, filter and bottle bacon vodka (just looked at it ... it is not a pretty sight). Pick up prizes and trophies from two separate places. Get cupcakes. Get bread. Go to school, get folding chairs and bring to Astin's (Saturday). Pedicure. Manicure. Depilate where appropriate. Pack. Get chocolate. Premix some martinis.

And in there somewhere I have to complete paperwork for inspection (this is a HUGE one because I hate paperwork with a passion that burns hotter than a thousand suns, and so avoid it until the last possible moment, which also happens to be the worst possible moment and so it proceeds to utterly bite me on the ass), finish ALL my marking, and write 75 separate works of fiction report card comments. (Note to self: next year, check the school faculty calendar before setting the Eh-Vegas date.)

But wait, there's more.....

The rest of my to-do list is: Get drunk. Have fun. Act silly. Hug lots. Ass grab if the moment is right. Take pictures. Call IIF's with Dial-a-Shots.

Fuck the rest..I think I'll just focus on the last bit.

Saturday is the day when the degenerates conglomerate in the T-Dot for some poker and silliness.

The game has been moved to 8, to accommodate Astin's need for recovery on Saturday before cooking for 20.

Yes, you read right, I said 20. That is the top limit of peeps that poor Astin is willing to slave over a hot stove for; and according to the list I have there are approximately 26 people attending Eh-Vegas. Now you've seen me play poker and know how math-challenged I am, but even I can see those numbers don't work. So please let Astin or I know if you're coming for dinner or not.

And also let me know if you're coming to play pokah as we're on the cusp of needing another table, and I'd like to give the club some notice. We're at an 8pm start time, buyin is $50 + $10 (for the dealers) for T3000 with one addon of T1500 for $20. If you bust in the first hour, you can get one rebuy, $50 for another T3000.

For the Yanks who are venturing across the border, here's some bits:

• Get some Canadian cash. Most places will take $US, but as Astin has mentioned, they will bend you over and have their way with you on the exchange rate.
• Canadian money is different colours, and yes it takes some getting used to, but once you do there is zero chance of drunkenly handing the cab driver a fifty for an $18 fare and saying "keep the change" because it looked exactly the same as a twenty. Not that that's ever happened to me.
• Speaking of Canadian money, the $1 and $2 coins get heavy after a while. Re-enforce your pockets.
• Booze: we have it, but unless you're in a bar, it can only be purchased through central provincial run locations that close at 9. No point throwing a wobbly over it, that's how it is. It's better than it was, and there are people working to bring it into the new millennium, but for now, get your libations before 9. There's an LCBO by the club, and we'll make a run before the game starts.
  
• You may have heard the nasty rumours that we're on the metric system up here. If you're at all interested, this a good conversion site is here with some printable charts.

Tentative itinerary:

Friday: who knows. Astin has thrown out the names of some good restaurants and bars, all with plusses and minusses in terms of space, location, food, beer selection. Al has mentioned strip clubs. What do y'all want to do?

Saturday: recovery. brunch. shopping. whatever until 5-5:30 when we descend upon Astin's for dinner.

Sunday: recovery. brunch. Niagara Falls. whatever.

All it took was Hunny Bunny mentioning that I wasn't playing live poker often enough. Within ten minutes of him uttering that statement we'd arranged for me to drop him off at the car show so I could take the car for the drive to Niagara Falls.

It was a great day here, sunny and mild, and along the way I took a side trip off the highway to do a wee tour of my old stomping grounds. I played with the idea of taking a longer journey around my former haunts, but decided against. Nostalgic yearning is not good for poker focus.

In retrospect, I'd have been better off.

I got to the Poker Room at 1:15 to find only two thirds of the tables going; usually by this time, the place is on the way to being packed.

And why were they not full? They were only spreading 2/5, 5/5 and 5/10 NLHE. No 1/2 NLHE, no 1/2 or 2/5 limit. All the fishie games seem to be missing, the games that entice the tourists and passers-by to sit down and blow their buyins on some fun. And if they're not here, then according to the aquatic food chain players like me are the fishies.

If I was smart, I thought to myself, I'd go to Niagara Casino instead. But alas, I'm not that smart, and so waited for a table. The results of two hours of play:

What I started with: $200
Most I was up: $165
Most I was down: $90
Session fee: $18 ($6 every half hour. Not doing that again.)
Dealer/waitress tips: $16
What I left with: $208

So for two hours, I won $42 playing poker, of which most was lost as the cost of sitting at the table. Yippee skippee, drinks are on me.

Although I think I'd have been better served spending my day elsewhere, it's not to say it was a complete waste; me old dad used to say a day you learned something new is not a wasted day. And I learned two things:

1. In this winter of my discontent, I have lost touch with my intuition, that little voice that whispers in the back of mind and lets me know when something is not a very good idea. Every stupid thing in my life has come from not heeding that little voice, and since I am getting too old for that sort of shit, I need to center myself and find it again. And when it's loud enough to tell me something, I need to listen.
   
2. I was far too tight, and not nearly aggressive enough. There were opportunities where a well-timed bluff would have taken the pot, and I did not take advantage of those opportunities. I was too scared.
   

I don't much like this place I am in, poker-wise and life-wise. I've lost my nerve, my confidence is shot, I am not myself. If I had a motto, right now it would be I doubt, therefor I might be.

If you're into the whole pre-packaged, corporate-driven, false holiday thing, then Happy Valentine's Day. Hunny Bunny and I had a conversation at the beginning of our relationship where he asked me if I wanted the a big deal on ONE day or little things throughout the year. I think I chose well.

I'm spending this day-just-like-any-other at home thanks to a mild sinus infection (yay), while Hunny Bunny is working - thus begins my period of being a car show widow. Which doesn't mean I won't be lacking for things to do...the school is being inspected in a few weeks and the next report card cycle is around the corner.

But eclipsing it all is the fact that like a drunk lurching determinedly down the sidewalk, Eh-Vegas approaches. My liver goes into training over the weekend.

Confirmed is:

Astin, a.k.a. the chef
Joanada (time to update that blog, missy!)
Al
Riggstad
CK
Irongirl
Iakaris (wtf happened to your blog, man?)
Pokertart
Bankwell
Bambam and Pebbles
NuttzCarson and some TuckFards (number to be confirmed)
Tawny and Taylor

Interested:
Rooster
Martini Goddess
RecessRampage

If you're sitting on the fence, just look at the roster of attendees, at Astin's menu, and think about the opportunity to play drunken donkey poker with degenerates.

And no, it's not *that* cold up here! Weenie.

You know it's a bad day when after stopping off for groceries for the night's dinner, you get home and open the bag to find a large bag of Miss Vickie's, onion chip dip, a 2L bottle of Coke, a chocolate bar and a six pack of cupcakes.

I had gone to the store for chicken, mushrooms and couscous to make a nice yummy dinner. Apparently my subconscious had other plans. I <3 my subconscious, as the cupcakes were delicious!

****

You know it's a bad poker day when you play the Blogger therapy game, drop 21 rebuys and hit only once. Or was it twice?

Doesn't matter, my brain hurts from beating my head against a wall all day at school, not feeling up to doing the same tonight, so departed after only a half hour.


****

File under "Who are you?" - Hunny Bunny came home from his latest gig, working for General Motor's entry into the Toronto Auto Show. He's working on the set up, and someone he works with passed on a hi to me from someone who was on the set build, someone who plays online with me.

Dear Someone...who are you? And will be joining us for Eh-Vegas?


****

Pimpin' Dr Pauly:

1) Don't forget Saturdays with Dr. Pauly tomorrow (see tourney tab for details)! I'll be there donating to my friends, as is my purpose in life :-)

2) Truckin' is up. Go and read some amazing stories, including a great entry by Mini-Waffles. In a not unrelated sidenote, I wish I'd been able to meet Johnny Hughes while at the last gathering of poker degenerates. If you haven't read his book, you should.

Played my three matches with mdemontecristo last night on Full Tilt. I didn't have to worry about multitabling as I'd been dumped out the Mookie moments before in 72nd place (FWIW, I'm glad to see the return to normal starting stacks of 1500!).

It was a good HU match; the first game saw me hitting the flop in huge ways, straights, flushes, 2 pair, for a quick win. Why can't that happen any other time?

mdemontecristo won the second game after a bit of back and forth - I think we actually made the 4th blind level on that one!

The rubber match game was mine when I re-raised preflop with 44, and a 4 hit on the flop making his flopped two pair null and void.

Gross and ghey was what he typed in the chat window. That's poker for ya.

I advance to the next round against Waffles. It's like a dream come true, time for payback after him setting up the HU Catfight oh so long ago.

We shall see who's Kung-HU is better.

A few people have contacted Astin and I about where to stay, so here's some info:

1. I've booked a room for Joanada and I for Friday through Monday at the Courtyard Marriott at Yonge and College. This is a bit north and east of Astin's and the club, but is on the subway system and is pretty much a $5-ish cab ride from anywhere we'll be going. The cost with a AAA/CAA discount or through Expedia/Travelocity is $99 a night for 2 queen beds, and includes a breakfast brunch. Like I'm going to want to eat breakfast.
2. Another possibility is the Super 8 on Spadina on the third floor of the Chinatown Mall. I think it's fairly new, but it's right on Spadina which is busy and, well, it's a Super 8. They have a deal on the site if you book 2 nights it's about $95 / night. A plus is it's very close to the poker club.
3. Astin has mentioned the Metropolitan which is fairly close to both his place and the club. Their price is listed as $150 on their site, but $125 through Expedia.
4. I think some of the Tuckfards are looking at the Sutton Place, but I've not heard anything definitive. It's close to everything, and they have a Studio suite for $100 through their website.

So, like a dork I signed up for the HUC6, even though the last time I progressed far enough to be heads up with anyone was in 1986 (or so it feels).

The opponents have been set, and I'm battling mdemontecristo in the first round, someone who is a complete unknown to me. In preparation, I've been catching up on some reading, and have practiced in some HU SnG's on tilt over the last two nights.

My results:
Monday night, 6 played, 6 won.
Tuesday night: 4 played 0 won.

The main difference between Monday night and Tuesday night is the level of distractions I inflicted on myself. Monday had me playing just that table, no tv, no other Windows open, with only some chillin' lounge on the radio. On Tuesday, I had a 2 table $5 SnG open with Weak_Player, IM windows for Weak, Waffles, Instant Tragedy and Joanada, and I had Firefox open as I booked my hotel for Eh-Vegas (accommodation details later today or tomorrow).

Note to self: there is NO TIME for that crap in HU!

Tonight is my match against mdemontrcristo, after 10:30 or so EST. Not sure if I'm going to indulge in the Mookie tonight or not, have to play that by ear. I really want to win tonight as it means I get to play against Waffles.

Tuesdays are my afternoon off. Originally this was built into my contract as a period when I could still run my business part time and augment my meager salary. that's the party line... it's really just an afternoon during the week to goof off when the rest of the wage slaves are at work.

On this wet and dreary afternoon, Hunny Bunny and I set off to Ancaster, about an hour's drive away. We pulled in to the Old Mill Restaurant about 15 minutes early for our lunch date with CC, who's there for a lightning raid business meeting.

It could not have been a better lunch; the dining room was empty, our table overlooked the falls and the mill creek, the service was impeccable and the food was amazing.

But what made the afternoon remarkable was the chance to sit quietly, and catch up with a friend. The conversation meandered, and it's surprising how little poker talk was spoken considering thats the original common thread between CC and I.

Thank you, Craig.

If all goes according to plan, at this time in precisely three weeks, I will be lying in a hotel bed, one arm flung over my eyes to keep out any painful vestiges of daylight that manage to infiltrate through the curtains. My mouth will be dry, my head will be pounding, and my stomach lurching every time I think of something as innocuous as juice or coffee. And one or all of the following statements will be floating through my head:

• In retrospect, that last shot of _______ (insert alcohol here) was not such a good idea (accompanied by a pitiful whimper).
• Oh good lord did I really say/do that? And do I need to apologise for it? (accompanied by an oh-not-again kind of groan).
• __________ (insert name here) has a very nice ass (accompanied by a slight smile).
• Please tell me that someone did / did not get a picture of that.
  
• I dunno...did I lose money? or win some?
• Hot damn! that was a blast!
  

That's right, I'm talking Eh-Vegas aftermath. And based on thirty years of silly, drunken behaviour under my belt, I think my prediction will prove fairly accurate.

If you've not yet planned your poker getaway to the Great White North, get on it. Count this as your invitation - the more the merrier!

Let the hammers fly!

And they are even sweeter when you can take out Mr. Whiney Crankypants with them *grin.

Wow.

Out in 19 minutes.

And the only reason why I'm upset I bounced so early is because I really love the fun, no-pressure blogger game and figured that I'd get at least an hour worth of chat-box banter for my ten bucks *grin.

Perhaps my time would have been better spent this afternoon reading up on Omaha, rather than giving myself a pedicure. But then again, sometimes you have to do the girlie things to feel fabulous on a grey winter day.

Well I have a week to figure out how to play Omaha and last longer than 19 minutes. Any reading suggestions?

"Why are you in such a good mood, Kat?" ~ grade 8 student
"I have absolutely no idea, but I'm going to run with it anyhow" ~ me

Well maybe I have a bit of an idea...

• It's Friday, so I can stay up late tonight and sleep in tomorrow without consequences.
• It's snowing, so world no longer looks brown and grey and dingy.
• It's the Bloggerment tonight, so I can act silly with my IIF's.
• Even though I had to wear a hat today, I don't have ugly hat hair.
• Eh-Vegas is in three weeks.
• I have a litre of pre-mixed martinis in the fridge.
• It might be a short day as it's snowing, and Torontonians get all freaked out by snow, even though yes, it's Canada and yes, it's winter.
• Saturdays with Dr. Pauly is back.
• I have found my next knitting project. I only have to finish these (got one done!) and this boobalicious beauty first.
• Even though I had the wind taken out of my sails by a rivered set, I played good in Riverchasers last night. Well, good until the rivered set; after that I tilted and said fuck it.
  

I had to stand in for one my colleagues the other day, and found myself supervising the grade 3 art class. This is a grade that I don't teach, but love the fact that they're in the school as they're still at that age where things like gender inequality, queen bees and wannabes, self esteem issues and poor body image are not yet whispers from their future. They're funny, smart, irreverant, immediate, and they bring an interesting perspective to things.

So as we're drawing and hanging out I asked them a question on a subject that's been running through my mind, a topic that Iggy and Maudie are trying to get us to care about - What do you think of cheating?

The response was instant and unequivocal: cheating is wrong!

There was no justification of actions, no prevarications, no what if's, no well maybe's, just plain and simply wrong. One went so far as to advise that these people who cheat need to have their Mommies talk to them.

Bingo. But then again, what Mommy (or Daddy) these days can say that they show the best example? And while I'm not a Mommy, I know that I have to be a good example, a role model, but I'm falling short a lot of the time.

We've believed our press so much that we think that because we're special little snowflakes or butterflies or whatever the touchy-feely analogy is these days, the rules don't *necessarily* apply to us. We see it all the time, and everywhere; no one will know if I gank this paragraph off the internet, I'm late so it's ok if I break some minor traffic laws, what are the chances that a handicapped person is going to need that parking space right now, it's ok as long as you don't get caught.

And I look at the eight year olds, and hope like hell that they can find their way through this, because, let's face it, we're none of us setting that great an example. All I can think is that we are so desensitized to it all...the last few decades are peppered with stories of political, business, sports and religious leaders who do wrong, seem unrepentant and don't get punished nearly enough.

So why bother to care? All I can do is point to the eight year olds, and try to act better.