I've added a banner on the left hand side for an amazing learning site for poker. I don't care if you're an advanced player or a total newbie to the game, this site is amazing. PokerStrategy.com is filled with all kinds of great learning tools from beginner to advanced, has an unparalleled video section for all levels, and offers online live coaching on all the more popular sites. It is also possible to customize your education to your wants. Cash games (limit and no limit), SNG's, MTT's, Omaha, whatever you want to learn, its available for you. And best of all, its free to join.
Just click on the banner and tell them STR82ACE sent you ;) You will NOT regret it!
Hell, take the initial quiz and they'll even GIVE you $50 to start with on the site of your choice. How can you go wrong?? Well, okay, refuse to learn to play or use their resources, you CAN lose, but if you apply yourself to their resources you can't help but become a better player.
Saying all that, it doesn't stop the beats from happening. This week, I'm down a bit but after looking at my stats on the software they offer (also free of charge), I discovered that I most of the time, I went in way ahead, only to be sucked out on. A few times I offered played medium pocket pairs and learned the hard way that I should have folded, and I didn't win a race with QQ vs AK all week, but over all, I'm good with what I am learning from this site.
Took a horrible beat at the weekly league game very early in the tournament. I'm dealt AA on the button. Couple of limpers, and I raise to 40 (blinds are 5/10 still, first level). SB raises me to 100 and the limpers all fold. Now, history with this SB is that he is very aggressive, and if he is in a pot, he's going to be play it hard from start to finish, and his range is all over the map. He plays a ton of hands, and often has trouble folding draws. I WANT his raise. Gets back to me and I re raise to 400! Its a big bet, but I'm always happy to take down a small pot preflop with AA anytime. He ponders for a bit, and eventually calls. Flop comes down 862 rainbow so its pretty safe board. I bet out 600 and before I get my chips out, he pushes for another 560. I know he's either got 66 or 88, and either hand SHOULD have folded to my re reaise, but I couldn't pull out, not with that pot. I called, he showed 66 and won with trips...absolutely sick. But I still want that call every time.
Weather lately is starting to tease. One day is very mild and warm, the next the bottom of the thermometer drops out. Typical end of February type of stuff. Every time I head out to the porch for a smoke, I see my golf clubs there, just waiting patiently for spring to happen. Can't wait to get back into the game. Come on spring time.
We might be moving to a new building at work. Had a lot of real estate people coming in this week to look over the place, I guess the lease is up soon and they are considering moving to a smaller facility that isn't costing so much. Found out we're currently paying $12.50/sqft for the current place, and frankly, we're being raped! There are decent places out there for anywhere from $5 to $7.50 that will suffice our needs, and with the amount of empty space we have now, its just a waste of money. We'll see what happens, but I have to think the current lease holder is going to become much more open to negotiations now than the past few years. With this economy, they would be stupid to think they can get that kind of capital anymore.
Anyway, enough for now. Check out that site I told you about...its well worth the few minutes and won't cost a cent. Good luck.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Using the Short Stack Strategy
Awhile ago, one of the members of the league sent me an email for a new site that specializes in using a different strategy...Short Stack. Basically, what it does is teaches you an alternative way to build a bankroll online with minimal investment. At the time, I reviewed it very quickly, but dismissed it as being one of the many bogus things you see online these days, but recently I got to thinking that I need something to get my bankroll back up to where I want it to be. I haven't reloaded anything online in about two years, and although I am glad to say that I haven't had to reload, what I got left with is very low capital on a couple of sites, and because of it, I was almost afraid to play with it at all, because I didn't want to go broke, and I wasn't fussy on having to reload, namely because I can't afford to. I remembered the site the guy sent me, and decided what the hell, especially if I pass their little test, I get a $50 free bankroll to start with from them. Really, I couldn't go wrong, it was a win/win if it wrong, and I would be out nothing. So I read the introduction and passed their little test, downloaded a new software platform, and have started playing it.
I wish I had done this when I first got the invite.
The site itself is not what I had originally thought it would be at all. There is a TON of great information on it including coaching videos, tutorials, and a forum to ask questions and review, and the people are truly helpful. Their goal is to TEACH YOU, the new player, the way to build a bankroll, manage it, and by doing so, have fun and make profit. Its been a great resource for me recently, and I'm on it a lot more than some of the other forums I've been on for a lot longer time as I am very keen in the information it has and the people running it are very helpful. They truly do want to make you a better player and help build your bankroll from the ground up.
The strategy itself is simple. You start on a table with a very small stack (20bb's) and if you build it on the table to 25bb's you leave the table. If you fall to 15bb's you reload back up to 20bb's only and continue playing. They offer you a starting hand chart to use, and if you use it religiously and follow it to the letter, you will come out ahead in the long run. Sure you're going to have those times when you can't win, but they really stress the long term goals and to stay focused on them instead of the short term swings. I've only started this new system this week, and its already making me a better cash game player, and I'm excited to continue with it over the next three months in order to clear my bonus and move up. The number one thing this site tries to teach is proper bankroll management and not to over extend yourself. Alot of other sites talk about it, but this is by far the best site that really explains it in great detail. My goal is to continue playing this way until I clear my bonuses on the new site, and see how my bankroll survives using this and ONLY this strategy to the letter. I'm starting very low because the free $50 is only enough to play the lowest limits, and its what they suggest as well, in order to play the proper way with the strategy and using their guidelines. I'm excited about this, and will dedicate myself on this one site for the next while.
Its not the easy though at first, mostly because the starting hand chart they offer is very very restrictive, and its like teaching an old dog (me) a new trick. Its so tempting to play the way I always have and forget the guidelines of the new system, but I'm making it happen. I'm forcing myself to play by their rules, and its more difficult than I first thought it would be. But I want my long term goal of building a bankroll properly to come to realization and I believe this will do it for me. Once I do that and clear the bonuses on this new site, I'm going to use the system on the other platforms I usually play on and do the same thing with those accounts until I have a nice new bankroll to rely on. After that, its bankroll management all the way.
If you're reading this blog, and want a link or more info, simple post a comment here and I'll send you the details. I'm offering this because if you sign up using me as reference, I also qualify for the Tell a Friend bonus, and well, I'm a greedy SOB ;) Not sure if it caters to Americans though, but anyone else is welcome to try it. I would be very appreciative if you do use my link, that you also tell them I sent you for the Tell a Friend bonus. Then you can also use it to spread the work and build up your own rolls.
You can be sure I'm going to be blogging about my successes, but I'm also going to blogging about all the issues and problems I may or may not have, as well as any failures I experience using this system. Stay tuned.
In other news...Mom's b'day with this past week. She sounds good, but I can tell she's getting tired. Dad is doing okay, but the limits he is under is preventing him from doing his share of the day to day stuff and Mom is doing her best to pick up the slack, and its starting to wear on her. I worry of course, but there's not much I can do right now. I will have to plan a trip up to see them very soon.
That's about it for now. See you in a week or so.
I wish I had done this when I first got the invite.
The site itself is not what I had originally thought it would be at all. There is a TON of great information on it including coaching videos, tutorials, and a forum to ask questions and review, and the people are truly helpful. Their goal is to TEACH YOU, the new player, the way to build a bankroll, manage it, and by doing so, have fun and make profit. Its been a great resource for me recently, and I'm on it a lot more than some of the other forums I've been on for a lot longer time as I am very keen in the information it has and the people running it are very helpful. They truly do want to make you a better player and help build your bankroll from the ground up.
The strategy itself is simple. You start on a table with a very small stack (20bb's) and if you build it on the table to 25bb's you leave the table. If you fall to 15bb's you reload back up to 20bb's only and continue playing. They offer you a starting hand chart to use, and if you use it religiously and follow it to the letter, you will come out ahead in the long run. Sure you're going to have those times when you can't win, but they really stress the long term goals and to stay focused on them instead of the short term swings. I've only started this new system this week, and its already making me a better cash game player, and I'm excited to continue with it over the next three months in order to clear my bonus and move up. The number one thing this site tries to teach is proper bankroll management and not to over extend yourself. Alot of other sites talk about it, but this is by far the best site that really explains it in great detail. My goal is to continue playing this way until I clear my bonuses on the new site, and see how my bankroll survives using this and ONLY this strategy to the letter. I'm starting very low because the free $50 is only enough to play the lowest limits, and its what they suggest as well, in order to play the proper way with the strategy and using their guidelines. I'm excited about this, and will dedicate myself on this one site for the next while.
Its not the easy though at first, mostly because the starting hand chart they offer is very very restrictive, and its like teaching an old dog (me) a new trick. Its so tempting to play the way I always have and forget the guidelines of the new system, but I'm making it happen. I'm forcing myself to play by their rules, and its more difficult than I first thought it would be. But I want my long term goal of building a bankroll properly to come to realization and I believe this will do it for me. Once I do that and clear the bonuses on this new site, I'm going to use the system on the other platforms I usually play on and do the same thing with those accounts until I have a nice new bankroll to rely on. After that, its bankroll management all the way.
If you're reading this blog, and want a link or more info, simple post a comment here and I'll send you the details. I'm offering this because if you sign up using me as reference, I also qualify for the Tell a Friend bonus, and well, I'm a greedy SOB ;) Not sure if it caters to Americans though, but anyone else is welcome to try it. I would be very appreciative if you do use my link, that you also tell them I sent you for the Tell a Friend bonus. Then you can also use it to spread the work and build up your own rolls.
You can be sure I'm going to be blogging about my successes, but I'm also going to blogging about all the issues and problems I may or may not have, as well as any failures I experience using this system. Stay tuned.
In other news...Mom's b'day with this past week. She sounds good, but I can tell she's getting tired. Dad is doing okay, but the limits he is under is preventing him from doing his share of the day to day stuff and Mom is doing her best to pick up the slack, and its starting to wear on her. I worry of course, but there's not much I can do right now. I will have to plan a trip up to see them very soon.
That's about it for now. See you in a week or so.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Satellite Seat Win
Well maybe my luck is changing around finally.
Just won a seat into a 7500euro prize pool game for next Sunday. I think I would just as soon taken the second prize, only a 7e difference really. The format is good for that game though, 10,000 chips with 20min blinds. Just not sure if I want to play it, or unregister and take the tournament credits instead. The way I've been getting knocked around lately, just might be my better alternative. They haven't listed the breakdown yet, but I"m assuming first pays out about 2500e or something close to it. I got a week to decide, just can't forget to unregister in time, that's all. Right now, I have no plans for next Sunday, I just don't know if I should play and risk it on ONE tournament, or just take the credits and use them over several.
Surprised I even won it to tell you the truth. Played well, but been taking massive beats on that site the last while. Its not P*, but the way the bad beats are rolling lately, I could swear its the same software!! When we got headsup, I offered allin blind next hand since the prizes were about the same for first and second, and my opponent agreed. I get 103os to his 107os. I was waiting for second place when I hit a 3 on the river and stole it from him. But he did say he would half prefer the cash anyway, so it was decent deal for us both.
Called Dad last week and talked to him for a few minutes on my way home from work. Man, does he sound weak. Just tired, like he had been overdoing it, but according to Mom, he hasn't been. Doctors told him he couldn't lift anymore than 5lbs. Told him I know the size of fish he catches so that shouldn't be an issue at all. Called me a smart ass for that one ;) Mom and Dad are up to Dave's place this long weekend, Dad plans on going ice fishing and Mom plans on doing nothing at all. She's beat just trying to keep up to things all by herself I guess. Wish I could be up there to help out more, but it just can't be done right now, and she says she's fine anyway.
Still keeping to the budget I created, but it hasn't been that hard really. I KNEW Feb would be a tight month anyway, and if you don't have the money for extras, you cant' spend it. The phone hasn't been ringing lately with people looking for payment either, so I guess that's a 'so far so good' thing. Really won't have a lot of extra monies until next month, and whatever there will be will have to go into truck repairs and maintenance. Ada has a few summer camps coming up this year too that need to be paid now as well, so I'll have to budget that into March/April as well.
One thing I'm trying to do to help the Scout Camp budget is working the bingos. The troop works at a bingo place a couple times a month for fund raising, and any parent that helps out gets so many credits on account for stuff like camps and what not for their kid. Used to do them all the time couple of years ago, but didn't do any until last week. The format has changed now, so I don't have to do any running on the floor, and it makes it a longer night cause we're not as busy, but if it gets my kid to camp for little or no money, what the hell.
Just won a seat into a 7500euro prize pool game for next Sunday. I think I would just as soon taken the second prize, only a 7e difference really. The format is good for that game though, 10,000 chips with 20min blinds. Just not sure if I want to play it, or unregister and take the tournament credits instead. The way I've been getting knocked around lately, just might be my better alternative. They haven't listed the breakdown yet, but I"m assuming first pays out about 2500e or something close to it. I got a week to decide, just can't forget to unregister in time, that's all. Right now, I have no plans for next Sunday, I just don't know if I should play and risk it on ONE tournament, or just take the credits and use them over several.
Surprised I even won it to tell you the truth. Played well, but been taking massive beats on that site the last while. Its not P*, but the way the bad beats are rolling lately, I could swear its the same software!! When we got headsup, I offered allin blind next hand since the prizes were about the same for first and second, and my opponent agreed. I get 103os to his 107os. I was waiting for second place when I hit a 3 on the river and stole it from him. But he did say he would half prefer the cash anyway, so it was decent deal for us both.
Called Dad last week and talked to him for a few minutes on my way home from work. Man, does he sound weak. Just tired, like he had been overdoing it, but according to Mom, he hasn't been. Doctors told him he couldn't lift anymore than 5lbs. Told him I know the size of fish he catches so that shouldn't be an issue at all. Called me a smart ass for that one ;) Mom and Dad are up to Dave's place this long weekend, Dad plans on going ice fishing and Mom plans on doing nothing at all. She's beat just trying to keep up to things all by herself I guess. Wish I could be up there to help out more, but it just can't be done right now, and she says she's fine anyway.
Still keeping to the budget I created, but it hasn't been that hard really. I KNEW Feb would be a tight month anyway, and if you don't have the money for extras, you cant' spend it. The phone hasn't been ringing lately with people looking for payment either, so I guess that's a 'so far so good' thing. Really won't have a lot of extra monies until next month, and whatever there will be will have to go into truck repairs and maintenance. Ada has a few summer camps coming up this year too that need to be paid now as well, so I'll have to budget that into March/April as well.
One thing I'm trying to do to help the Scout Camp budget is working the bingos. The troop works at a bingo place a couple times a month for fund raising, and any parent that helps out gets so many credits on account for stuff like camps and what not for their kid. Used to do them all the time couple of years ago, but didn't do any until last week. The format has changed now, so I don't have to do any running on the floor, and it makes it a longer night cause we're not as busy, but if it gets my kid to camp for little or no money, what the hell.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
February; the WORST month of the year!
Well, its been awhile. Life just gets in the way of things sometimes.
Spent the past couple of weeks OFF line. Was getting pounded everywhere and just thought I would stop for awhile, try to regroup my thoughts a bit. Spent most of the last couple of weeks doing up a budget too. It isn't fancy, but its something I think I can commit to. The bills have been getting a bit high lately, and I needed to make a plan to get things back under control again. February is going to be very tight, but things should loosen up a bit in March going forward enough to get my line of credit down a bit. All I have to do is make the plan happen. Sounds easy, but I know I have to commit to it.
Action on The Hill has been very slow this season. I guess it just isn't a good time to start a new season, right after the holidays. In the past, the last game was usually well into January, and after a short break, everyone was ready to play again. Attendance was good because everyone wanted to get those extra points and play the SET money, so getting a game together was relatively easy. But starting a new season in the first of the year has proven more of a struggle this time. Players have other priorities this time of year, and the weather and road conditions make it more difficult for the out-of-towners to make it every week. We've only had two official games so far...going to be a long season that's for sure. Darryl is still on about the Vegas trip in April, and as much as I would love to go, after doing the budget recently, I don't think its feasible. Oh, its definitely possible, I should be in much better shape financially by then, but I believe it will be just too soon and I don't believe it would be a good decision to make just yet. I want to get more ahead of everything before I expense something like that.
Haven't talked to Mom or Dad lately either. I'll try calling them later, so what's been happening. No news is good news though, so I just assume that nothing much has changed. Still can't believe the specialist can't see him until end of March, but I guess if there is nothing he can do for Dad, there's no reason to go see him. Hopefully the new medication will do its job and loosen the blockage up enough for him to get back to his day to day stuff.
Kid is at a camp this weekend, her first REAL winter camp. She has no idea how cold it can get, and her packing was quite light considering. Yea, its supposed to be mild this weekend, but you still have to prepare for the conditions. She can get so aggressive and she definitely has a rather mature ability to push buttons, more so than her real act should give her. She has a talent for pissing her parents off though, that's a fact. Oh, she did get an A in her science fair project. "THE SCIENCE OF WATCHING PAINT DRY". Really. Wow.
Nothing happening on the job front lately. Haven't visited the sites much lately either. Things at work are not much better, but at least it appears that the CEO is finally seeing the light...you can't build and ship ontime if you can't start ontime. He's loosening up the wallet a bit more this week, hopefully he will continue that trend. And all it took was our biggest customer screaming for better delivery, and threatening to pull work away. Not sure why he seemed so surprised they would do that.
Spent the past couple of weeks OFF line. Was getting pounded everywhere and just thought I would stop for awhile, try to regroup my thoughts a bit. Spent most of the last couple of weeks doing up a budget too. It isn't fancy, but its something I think I can commit to. The bills have been getting a bit high lately, and I needed to make a plan to get things back under control again. February is going to be very tight, but things should loosen up a bit in March going forward enough to get my line of credit down a bit. All I have to do is make the plan happen. Sounds easy, but I know I have to commit to it.
Action on The Hill has been very slow this season. I guess it just isn't a good time to start a new season, right after the holidays. In the past, the last game was usually well into January, and after a short break, everyone was ready to play again. Attendance was good because everyone wanted to get those extra points and play the SET money, so getting a game together was relatively easy. But starting a new season in the first of the year has proven more of a struggle this time. Players have other priorities this time of year, and the weather and road conditions make it more difficult for the out-of-towners to make it every week. We've only had two official games so far...going to be a long season that's for sure. Darryl is still on about the Vegas trip in April, and as much as I would love to go, after doing the budget recently, I don't think its feasible. Oh, its definitely possible, I should be in much better shape financially by then, but I believe it will be just too soon and I don't believe it would be a good decision to make just yet. I want to get more ahead of everything before I expense something like that.
Haven't talked to Mom or Dad lately either. I'll try calling them later, so what's been happening. No news is good news though, so I just assume that nothing much has changed. Still can't believe the specialist can't see him until end of March, but I guess if there is nothing he can do for Dad, there's no reason to go see him. Hopefully the new medication will do its job and loosen the blockage up enough for him to get back to his day to day stuff.
Kid is at a camp this weekend, her first REAL winter camp. She has no idea how cold it can get, and her packing was quite light considering. Yea, its supposed to be mild this weekend, but you still have to prepare for the conditions. She can get so aggressive and she definitely has a rather mature ability to push buttons, more so than her real act should give her. She has a talent for pissing her parents off though, that's a fact. Oh, she did get an A in her science fair project. "THE SCIENCE OF WATCHING PAINT DRY". Really. Wow.
Nothing happening on the job front lately. Haven't visited the sites much lately either. Things at work are not much better, but at least it appears that the CEO is finally seeing the light...you can't build and ship ontime if you can't start ontime. He's loosening up the wallet a bit more this week, hopefully he will continue that trend. And all it took was our biggest customer screaming for better delivery, and threatening to pull work away. Not sure why he seemed so surprised they would do that.
Monday, January 19, 2009
I should quit while I'm ahead
Typical hand for me the past few days...
Seat 1: angelux (1665.00)
Seat 2: GoingGray (1665.00)
Seat 3: Felone (1470.00)
Seat 4: todi36 (1500.00)
Seat 5: Scarix (1350.00)
Seat 6: QQPokerQQ (1500.00)
Seat 7: Mr.Jaguaro (1350.00)
Seat 8: lefote (1500.00)
Seat 9: picigeorge (1500.00)
Seat 10: torres15 (1500.00)
Felone post SB 15.00
todi36 post BB 30.00
** Deal **
GoingGray [Ad, Ah]
*** Bet Round 1 ***
Scarix Call 30.00
QQPokerQQ Call 30.00
Mr.Jaguaro Call 30.00
lefote Fold
picigeorge Fold
torres15 Raise to 90.00
angelux Call 90.00
GoingGray Raise to 480.00
Felone Fold
todi36 Fold
Scarix Fold
QQPokerQQ Fold
Mr.Jaguaro Fold
torres15 Call 480.00
angelux Fold
*** Flop(Board): *** : [9h, 9s, 3s]
*** Bet Round 2 ***
torres15 Bet 210.00
GoingGray All-in 1185.00
torres15 All-in 1020.00
*** Turn(Board): *** : [9h, 9s, 3s, 8s]
*** River(Board): *** : [9h, 9s, 3s, 8s, Jc]
*** Showdown *** : Rake: 0.00 Total Pot: 3225.00
angelux Fold Win: 0.00
GoingGray [Ad, Ah] Two pair aces and nines Win: 0.00
I can't believe my lousy luck lately. I've lost count of the sng's I've played and only played one hand in and lost it all in one hand. Sick sick sick. Over the weekend, I must have played 20 games, and monied zero times. I'm getting in ahead almost everytime, and if not, I've got draws coming out my ass. Either get sucked out on or never hit my draws. One Hand this weekend, I played 9 10 clubs. flop comes down 7c8cJs. I push, get called by QKo and sure as hell, 9 on the turn, 10 on the river. SICK! I know it goes in cycles, but this is horrible! I haven't won a sng since Christmas.
Yep, wouldn't you know it...get AJclubs, push my last 450 in chips...get called by 22...and he hits his set on the turn AFTER I hit a jack. I hate this game!!
League was supposed to start last week, but we didn't have enough players, so I pushed it out to this week. Cant' wait to get that going again. I have that itch something fierce, but the way things have been going, maybe I should postpone it another six months or so.
Haven't heard much about Dad lately, other than the fact that he's still in pain, and the soonest the specialist can see him is March. WTF?!?!?!?!?!!?
Getting frustrated now. Think I'll stop. Already logged off the poker site too, I am not in a good frame of mind right now.
Oh, had a second interview today. Didn't go as well as I had hoped. Looking for more of an IT kind of guy than a professional production planner. We'll see.
That's just the kind of day its been. God I really HATE Mondays!!
Seat 1: angelux (1665.00)
Seat 2: GoingGray (1665.00)
Seat 3: Felone (1470.00)
Seat 4: todi36 (1500.00)
Seat 5: Scarix (1350.00)
Seat 6: QQPokerQQ (1500.00)
Seat 7: Mr.Jaguaro (1350.00)
Seat 8: lefote (1500.00)
Seat 9: picigeorge (1500.00)
Seat 10: torres15 (1500.00)
Felone post SB 15.00
todi36 post BB 30.00
** Deal **
GoingGray [Ad, Ah]
*** Bet Round 1 ***
Scarix Call 30.00
QQPokerQQ Call 30.00
Mr.Jaguaro Call 30.00
lefote Fold
picigeorge Fold
torres15 Raise to 90.00
angelux Call 90.00
GoingGray Raise to 480.00
Felone Fold
todi36 Fold
Scarix Fold
QQPokerQQ Fold
Mr.Jaguaro Fold
torres15 Call 480.00
angelux Fold
*** Flop(Board): *** : [9h, 9s, 3s]
*** Bet Round 2 ***
torres15 Bet 210.00
GoingGray All-in 1185.00
torres15 All-in 1020.00
*** Turn(Board): *** : [9h, 9s, 3s, 8s]
*** River(Board): *** : [9h, 9s, 3s, 8s, Jc]
*** Showdown *** : Rake: 0.00 Total Pot: 3225.00
angelux Fold Win: 0.00
GoingGray [Ad, Ah] Two pair aces and nines Win: 0.00
I can't believe my lousy luck lately. I've lost count of the sng's I've played and only played one hand in and lost it all in one hand. Sick sick sick. Over the weekend, I must have played 20 games, and monied zero times. I'm getting in ahead almost everytime, and if not, I've got draws coming out my ass. Either get sucked out on or never hit my draws. One Hand this weekend, I played 9 10 clubs. flop comes down 7c8cJs. I push, get called by QKo and sure as hell, 9 on the turn, 10 on the river. SICK!
Yep, wouldn't you know it...get AJclubs, push my last 450 in chips...get called by 22...and he hits his set on the turn AFTER I hit a jack. I hate this game!!
League was supposed to start last week, but we didn't have enough players, so I pushed it out to this week. Cant' wait to get that going again. I have that itch something fierce, but the way things have been going, maybe I should postpone it another six months or so.
Haven't heard much about Dad lately, other than the fact that he's still in pain, and the soonest the specialist can see him is March. WTF?!?!?!?!?!!?
Getting frustrated now. Think I'll stop. Already logged off the poker site too, I am not in a good frame of mind right now.
Oh, had a second interview today. Didn't go as well as I had hoped. Looking for more of an IT kind of guy than a professional production planner. We'll see.
That's just the kind of day its been. God I really HATE Mondays!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Not a good start
Its been a slow start so far this month. The league doesn't start until this Thursday, and I'm not getting a real positive response yet. Only two others have signed in thus far, but I know there'll be others at the last minute. I do hope it happens this week, I'm getting the ITCH again.
Dad went back to the hospital again. He was complaining between Christmas and New Year's that he wasn't feeling very good, and insisted he could wait until he saw the specialist at the end of January. Well, I guess it got too much for him and he went in to get it checked out, and they put into bed right away and had the specialist come to him. Another blockage. However, after he was rushed down to London for tests and hopefully another stint procedure, the bad news was given. This blockage was far above the stints put in last summer, and behind the heart. The location prevented any kind of surgery and there is nothing they can do but try to clear it out with meds and make him as comfortable as possible. He's back home now, has to wear a nitro patch from the moment he wakes up to when he goes to bed, and he's taking meds to try to clear the blockage slowly and for pain too. I've talked to my niece Penny, who's a nurse, and I think she really wanted to reassure me things will be okay, but I can tell in her voice that it isn't the best situation. To me, it seems to be a ticking bomb in his chest, and it could stop ticking any time. Still, although it could be any time, it could also be five years down the road, and knowing my father, he's stubborn enough to fight it forever. I love my father, I don't tell him that near enough, but I do. Its just something I don't say to him. But I want him to live! His granddaughter wants him to live. Please Dad...don't give in.
My father taught me how to fish when I was a kid. I remember one time while camping, my brothers and some friends were playing some kind of hide and seek game, and Dad was getting ready to head out to fish a place he never fished before. I didn't feel like playing hide and seek (just NOT my kind of fun). When they all left to play, Dad threw my fishing rod and tackle box into the van, told me to get in and hide, and he took me with him for the afternoon. I was thrilled! Off we went to a section of river, just me and him. I remember that was the day he caught the biggest brown trout of his life, I was there! It was MASSIVE! A real beaut. I remember he was on the shore, I was standing up to my crotch in the river fishing a different hole, when I saw his rod tip bouncing. 'Dad I think you got something' I said. He looked, gave it a second or two, then jumped up and set the hook. What was on the other end of that line was the most spectacular brown trout I have EVER seen. Dad played it well, then horsed it on shore. Now, at the time, this was how you fished...set the hook, bring it in hard and fast...now I know he's damn lucky he didn't loose that monster. At the time, he was a member of a fishing club, and he submitted it for the annual Fishing Awards at the end of the year. AND HE WON IT THAT YEAR!! FOR THAT FISH!!! I will remember that trophy sitting on our old TV set for an entire year. It was because of that fish, that day my father took me, his fishing buddy, out for an afternoon, and came back with a prize. I don't know who was more proud of that day, me or him, but it was the most memorable moment I have of my father.
There are a lot of stories about my father and fishing. Maybe I'll post more in later entries, who knows, but right now, I just want to be able to return the favour to him and get him out fishing one more time.
Haven't started tying flies for that swap yet, but the date isn't until the end of March, so I have plenty of time still.
I see another Canadian won the PokerStars Caribbean Tour, and he's from Toronto. $3MILLION first place prize, all from a satellite seat too. I REALLY need to play more satellites. Canadians this past year or so have done very well. I could be next!! ;)
Dad went back to the hospital again. He was complaining between Christmas and New Year's that he wasn't feeling very good, and insisted he could wait until he saw the specialist at the end of January. Well, I guess it got too much for him and he went in to get it checked out, and they put into bed right away and had the specialist come to him. Another blockage. However, after he was rushed down to London for tests and hopefully another stint procedure, the bad news was given. This blockage was far above the stints put in last summer, and behind the heart. The location prevented any kind of surgery and there is nothing they can do but try to clear it out with meds and make him as comfortable as possible. He's back home now, has to wear a nitro patch from the moment he wakes up to when he goes to bed, and he's taking meds to try to clear the blockage slowly and for pain too. I've talked to my niece Penny, who's a nurse, and I think she really wanted to reassure me things will be okay, but I can tell in her voice that it isn't the best situation. To me, it seems to be a ticking bomb in his chest, and it could stop ticking any time. Still, although it could be any time, it could also be five years down the road, and knowing my father, he's stubborn enough to fight it forever. I love my father, I don't tell him that near enough, but I do. Its just something I don't say to him. But I want him to live! His granddaughter wants him to live. Please Dad...don't give in.
My father taught me how to fish when I was a kid. I remember one time while camping, my brothers and some friends were playing some kind of hide and seek game, and Dad was getting ready to head out to fish a place he never fished before. I didn't feel like playing hide and seek (just NOT my kind of fun). When they all left to play, Dad threw my fishing rod and tackle box into the van, told me to get in and hide, and he took me with him for the afternoon. I was thrilled! Off we went to a section of river, just me and him. I remember that was the day he caught the biggest brown trout of his life, I was there! It was MASSIVE! A real beaut. I remember he was on the shore, I was standing up to my crotch in the river fishing a different hole, when I saw his rod tip bouncing. 'Dad I think you got something' I said. He looked, gave it a second or two, then jumped up and set the hook. What was on the other end of that line was the most spectacular brown trout I have EVER seen. Dad played it well, then horsed it on shore. Now, at the time, this was how you fished...set the hook, bring it in hard and fast...now I know he's damn lucky he didn't loose that monster. At the time, he was a member of a fishing club, and he submitted it for the annual Fishing Awards at the end of the year. AND HE WON IT THAT YEAR!! FOR THAT FISH!!! I will remember that trophy sitting on our old TV set for an entire year. It was because of that fish, that day my father took me, his fishing buddy, out for an afternoon, and came back with a prize. I don't know who was more proud of that day, me or him, but it was the most memorable moment I have of my father.
There are a lot of stories about my father and fishing. Maybe I'll post more in later entries, who knows, but right now, I just want to be able to return the favour to him and get him out fishing one more time.
Haven't started tying flies for that swap yet, but the date isn't until the end of March, so I have plenty of time still.
I see another Canadian won the PokerStars Caribbean Tour, and he's from Toronto. $3MILLION first place prize, all from a satellite seat too. I REALLY need to play more satellites. Canadians this past year or so have done very well. I could be next!! ;)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Looking Forward; 2009
Before I get into the projections for the new year, just a couple of quick things that happened over the holidays.
Boxing Day was spent at my youngest brother's in Cambridge. He and his family, our parents, and other brother Dave all joined in for some really fine eats. Ham, trout, salmon, chicken, all cooked very well, despite my sister in law not being able to boil water without burning the crap out of it. The meal was excellent, and no one even mentioned the lack of salt beef this year. Because of our Newfie heritage, a Christmas without salt beef was going to be questionable. Mom & Dad were both told by their doctors they are forbidden to eat the stuff any more. Talk about knife in the heart of a Newfoundlander! Still, with all the selection that was there, it was a very good holiday feast shared by family. After dinner and the official gift opening, my brothers and I sat down to play some hold em. No money exchanged, just for fun. Dad came down just as we were starting, and we invited him to play. Now Dad doesn't know hold em, but claims he can play poker, just hasn't in 20+yrs. So after a quick tutorial, we were playing together. I have never played cards with my father, and it was great for the four of us to play together. Still, of course, newbie donkey took the whole game down. Now we'll never hear the end of it from him. Took a pic of him with all the chips with my cell, and I'll download it when I figure out how. Spoke to Mom the other day on the phone, and she told me it was all he talked about driving home, him playing with his boys...and beating us. Seems he really enjoyed it as much as we did.
Nathan brought down his Mum's Christmas present...a used clothes dryer. And wouldn't you know it, the damn thing doesn't work. He's handling the issue with whomever he did the work for in lieu of cash, but it has really left us in a spot. After some discussion, he has found a new dryer for her, and is bringing it down soon, only thing is I offered to pay for it because he really doesn't have the funds to do it himself. His business, this is the wrong time of year, and he's a bit strapped for cash. No problem, but I'm a little short as well, and will need to budget a bit in January to do it. Truck needs work too, have to include that in the budget as well. Sigh...new year...same old crap though.
Okay, 2009...what could it mean to yours truly?
Well, here's hoping the work situation improves dramatically! And I don't mean with the place I'm at now, I'm done with that zoo thank you. I need to get a totally new start somewhere else, somewhere that I can have potential again, somewhere where I can feel as a part of the team again, someplace that actually works to improve things for the company and not make every goddamn decision based on the CURRENT financial position with zero concern for future requirements. I actually took the liberty to see what the sales projections were for 2009. If we were to hit it, it would be over $16m in sales....BEST we would ever do. The problem is that most of the work hasn't started yet, and with the current leadtimes for production and processing, we're very very late. Reason we're late is because the bean counters are not paying for any raw material purchases, and the CEO refuses to get any operating capital extensions from the BOD or banks. My To Start list of jobs is now over 100...and its NEVER more than 20!! If we can't start jobs on time, we'll never hit that sales target. I'm not seeing any positive moves, and with Sciex announcing they are closing in 2010 and will be offloading most of their production by June 2009 to Singapore, I'm not liking the picture at all. There are other personal reasons for my decision as well, but that's the icing on the cake. CFN is in bad shape, and I need to get off that sinking ship. Can't come soon enough for me.
Okay, enough doom and gloom, time for some positive thinking now.
Poker wise, I want to be able to get out more and play some live tournaments outside my own league games. This means Woody's, West Side, maybe a couple of underground games once in awhile, and ultimately, a casino tourney. Maybe NOT Vegas in April, but at least some bigger buyin event somewhere locally. Speaking of Woody's, I qualified to play his Season Ending game tonight. Game time is 7pm. Its a freeze out, which is different from his usual rebuy format. Since I play a lot more freezeout than they do, I might have a small advantage, and considering that I'm starting short stacked tonight because I didn't earn as many points as the rest did, so I'll be at a big disadvantage chip wise, but I think I can outplay them more preflop because of the game format. We'll see anyway. I haven't played a West Side game in a very long time, and I usually do pretty good in them. Haven't won any of them, but usually go pretty deep, and besides, the cash games afterwards are very good to me ;) The Vegas trip is on my mind too...would love to go, just not sure if I can swing it or not. Maybe I'll talk to Darryl, he's the one organizing it.
My golf game is on winter break, and most likely will be until April at the earliest. I'm not going to pay for lessons again this year, but I want to hit the ranges a bit more than last year. This year, I think I'll concentrate on my short game more, try to save myself a few strokes that way. I usually can get to within 120yds easily enough...but muff it from there with club selection, distances, and accuracy. If I can concentrate on those aspects of my game, I'm pretty sure I can break the 90 mark this summer. Also, want to get a chance to go see my brother Dave and get out to play a round or two with him. He lives 8 hrs away, near Ottawa, so if I do go, I want to make it an extra long weekend sort of thing, that way we can golf, go fishing, and maybe even play some poker somewhere together.
This year, I also want to get out and do more fishing. Not a lot maybe, but definitely more than the once I got out last season. Its something that I KNOW I enjoy, and really would like to get back into without it having to cost a fortune to do it. I haven't started tying those flies for the swap yet, but I will by the end of January. Might take me a bit to remember how to do them, but its like riding a bike really...I hope. One thing I do want to do is get together with a couple of guys from Hipwader forum and get a fishing partner again. There are times I want to be just left alone to fish, but there a lot times that having a buddy around to bs with is just as much fun. Since moving to Brampton, I don't see my best friend much at all anymore, and it gets a bit too quiet on the rivers sometimes.
UPDATE: JAN 4
Played Woody's game last night, and did pretty well. Didn't win it, but I did take home 4th place cash. Great way to start the new poker season! It was good to see all those guys last night too, and the fact that half of them can't play freezeout format was a bonus. Only hand I really had all night was KK UTG and I three bet it to 300. Folds around to Bill in LP and he cold calls it. Then it gets re raised all in by dealer. I quietly call, Bill wisely folds, and my KK hold up against AQo for a change. That double up kept me in the game the rest of the night. Good thing too, as I never saw another decent hand to play for quite awhile. Last hand I played I had 78o. Bill raises just enough to push me all in as I didn't even have 4BB left. He shows a dismal 10 2o, but hits the deuce on the flop and I didn't improve. He goes on to win it all after that. Good game, good bunch of guys, and I know I can play them too. Like I said, would like to play there more often this year.
Boxing Day was spent at my youngest brother's in Cambridge. He and his family, our parents, and other brother Dave all joined in for some really fine eats. Ham, trout, salmon, chicken, all cooked very well, despite my sister in law not being able to boil water without burning the crap out of it. The meal was excellent, and no one even mentioned the lack of salt beef this year. Because of our Newfie heritage, a Christmas without salt beef was going to be questionable. Mom & Dad were both told by their doctors they are forbidden to eat the stuff any more. Talk about knife in the heart of a Newfoundlander! Still, with all the selection that was there, it was a very good holiday feast shared by family. After dinner and the official gift opening, my brothers and I sat down to play some hold em. No money exchanged, just for fun. Dad came down just as we were starting, and we invited him to play. Now Dad doesn't know hold em, but claims he can play poker, just hasn't in 20+yrs. So after a quick tutorial, we were playing together. I have never played cards with my father, and it was great for the four of us to play together. Still, of course, newbie donkey took the whole game down. Now we'll never hear the end of it from him. Took a pic of him with all the chips with my cell, and I'll download it when I figure out how. Spoke to Mom the other day on the phone, and she told me it was all he talked about driving home, him playing with his boys...and beating us. Seems he really enjoyed it as much as we did.
Nathan brought down his Mum's Christmas present...a used clothes dryer. And wouldn't you know it, the damn thing doesn't work. He's handling the issue with whomever he did the work for in lieu of cash, but it has really left us in a spot. After some discussion, he has found a new dryer for her, and is bringing it down soon, only thing is I offered to pay for it because he really doesn't have the funds to do it himself. His business, this is the wrong time of year, and he's a bit strapped for cash. No problem, but I'm a little short as well, and will need to budget a bit in January to do it. Truck needs work too, have to include that in the budget as well. Sigh...new year...same old crap though.
Okay, 2009...what could it mean to yours truly?
Well, here's hoping the work situation improves dramatically! And I don't mean with the place I'm at now, I'm done with that zoo thank you. I need to get a totally new start somewhere else, somewhere that I can have potential again, somewhere where I can feel as a part of the team again, someplace that actually works to improve things for the company and not make every goddamn decision based on the CURRENT financial position with zero concern for future requirements. I actually took the liberty to see what the sales projections were for 2009. If we were to hit it, it would be over $16m in sales....BEST we would ever do. The problem is that most of the work hasn't started yet, and with the current leadtimes for production and processing, we're very very late. Reason we're late is because the bean counters are not paying for any raw material purchases, and the CEO refuses to get any operating capital extensions from the BOD or banks. My To Start list of jobs is now over 100...and its NEVER more than 20!! If we can't start jobs on time, we'll never hit that sales target. I'm not seeing any positive moves, and with Sciex announcing they are closing in 2010 and will be offloading most of their production by June 2009 to Singapore, I'm not liking the picture at all. There are other personal reasons for my decision as well, but that's the icing on the cake. CFN is in bad shape, and I need to get off that sinking ship. Can't come soon enough for me.
Okay, enough doom and gloom, time for some positive thinking now.
Poker wise, I want to be able to get out more and play some live tournaments outside my own league games. This means Woody's, West Side, maybe a couple of underground games once in awhile, and ultimately, a casino tourney. Maybe NOT Vegas in April, but at least some bigger buyin event somewhere locally. Speaking of Woody's, I qualified to play his Season Ending game tonight. Game time is 7pm. Its a freeze out, which is different from his usual rebuy format. Since I play a lot more freezeout than they do, I might have a small advantage, and considering that I'm starting short stacked tonight because I didn't earn as many points as the rest did, so I'll be at a big disadvantage chip wise, but I think I can outplay them more preflop because of the game format. We'll see anyway. I haven't played a West Side game in a very long time, and I usually do pretty good in them. Haven't won any of them, but usually go pretty deep, and besides, the cash games afterwards are very good to me ;) The Vegas trip is on my mind too...would love to go, just not sure if I can swing it or not. Maybe I'll talk to Darryl, he's the one organizing it.
My golf game is on winter break, and most likely will be until April at the earliest. I'm not going to pay for lessons again this year, but I want to hit the ranges a bit more than last year. This year, I think I'll concentrate on my short game more, try to save myself a few strokes that way. I usually can get to within 120yds easily enough...but muff it from there with club selection, distances, and accuracy. If I can concentrate on those aspects of my game, I'm pretty sure I can break the 90 mark this summer. Also, want to get a chance to go see my brother Dave and get out to play a round or two with him. He lives 8 hrs away, near Ottawa, so if I do go, I want to make it an extra long weekend sort of thing, that way we can golf, go fishing, and maybe even play some poker somewhere together.
This year, I also want to get out and do more fishing. Not a lot maybe, but definitely more than the once I got out last season. Its something that I KNOW I enjoy, and really would like to get back into without it having to cost a fortune to do it. I haven't started tying those flies for the swap yet, but I will by the end of January. Might take me a bit to remember how to do them, but its like riding a bike really...I hope. One thing I do want to do is get together with a couple of guys from Hipwader forum and get a fishing partner again. There are times I want to be just left alone to fish, but there a lot times that having a buddy around to bs with is just as much fun. Since moving to Brampton, I don't see my best friend much at all anymore, and it gets a bit too quiet on the rivers sometimes.
UPDATE: JAN 4
Played Woody's game last night, and did pretty well. Didn't win it, but I did take home 4th place cash. Great way to start the new poker season! It was good to see all those guys last night too, and the fact that half of them can't play freezeout format was a bonus. Only hand I really had all night was KK UTG and I three bet it to 300. Folds around to Bill in LP and he cold calls it. Then it gets re raised all in by dealer. I quietly call, Bill wisely folds, and my KK hold up against AQo for a change. That double up kept me in the game the rest of the night. Good thing too, as I never saw another decent hand to play for quite awhile. Last hand I played I had 78o. Bill raises just enough to push me all in as I didn't even have 4BB left. He shows a dismal 10 2o, but hits the deuce on the flop and I didn't improve. He goes on to win it all after that. Good game, good bunch of guys, and I know I can play them too. Like I said, would like to play there more often this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
