I got nuthin

What the hell am I doing up at 6 on a Saturday morning anyway? Perhaps because I was falling asleep at 10 last night? Perhaps because I'm so used to getting up about then? Or perhaps it's just a sign that I'm getting a little bit older, not to mention a bit crankier too. Work is still kicking my ass but it's that time of the year. It's just a case of nutting up and pushing through. There are some changes coming there that will impact my job in a good way but the best part of that probably won't be felt for at least a couple of years. Till then this time of year is gonna just be a bigger pain that it was. And it was never a picnic as it was. But it does keep me interested and that makes it a good job.

Didn't do much this week. Played very little poker online, missed all the tourneys except for a short appearance at the Booze Cruise as I just was too tired to play well. I did get a couple of books to read, as I read a lot when I'm not busy online. For you Josie here they are. I just finished "The Vigilantes" by WEB Griffin on Wednesday and I am almost through "The Program" by James Swain. Time for a little break. I like to read. A lot. I always have and I read pretty fast. Griffin is perhaps my favorite author still alive as I have been reading all of his series since the 80s. Swain is a more recent addition to my reading list. He is a local guy, he lives about 10 miles up the road, and he sets some of his books here including one series where the hero lives in Palm Harbor. So when either of them come out with something new, I try to grab a copy from the library or if I can find it cheaply, download it to my ereader. I got 3 of Swains books that way. If you like Military fiction, there is no better than Griffin but since most of you are more the gambling type, read some of James Swain's Tony Valentine series. I think you'll like them.

I think love of reading is one of the best things I passed to my kids. They all read a lot and it helped with school and work I believe. Of course I wouldn't call what they read as "the classics" yet reading is still reading. It keeps them from ruining their minds watching Survivor, American Idol, etc and they couldn't care who Paris Hilton is doing or what Kim Kardashian is wearing. Ok back to our regularly schedule post about nothin. Thursday we went to Orlando to pick up the daughter and bring her home for the weekend. I really didn't want to but she really wanted to come home and I didn't want the wife to go alone to get her so I volunteered to go with her. This is probably why I was so tired on Friday night besides going in early and working late too boot.

Today is now Sunday. Last night the PQ and I both played in the Saturday night tourney at Derby Lane. I lasted about 2 hours. I played ok, made a couple of mistakes that cost me a bit but nothing too bad. My biggest problem was every time I tried to bluff or steal I was called and my opponents hit big hands against me. Two guys flopped trips with so/so hands and one got top pair and called my river bluff saying "I know I'm beat but I guess I gotta call". I probably should have bet a bit more that time. PQ did much better and went out just short of the final table when she pushed AJ into AK. She got off to a good start but we both have problems in the middle of tourneys when we are not aggressive enough and she let herself get blinded down.

I went to the 1/1 no limit cash table and bought in for $60 deciding if I lose that I'm going to sit in the bar and do some sudokus I brought with me. But I never got to them. I lost $20 early when my two pair got flushed but a bit later I picked up 7-8 of clubs in mid position and flopped the joint when 4-5-6 came down. There were 2 hearts which worried me so when it was checked to me I bet $6 into an $8 pot. I got two callers. The turn was a nice 2 of spades. This put two spades and two hearts on the board but also gave anyone with a 3 a straight. Small blind bet $8 and the big blind who was very aggressive called. It came back to me and it was time to quit fooling around so I pushed all in for another $24 on top. Small blind called and the aggro big blind (soon to be known as my ATM) starts yammering and posturing trying to decide whether to call or not as he shows A6 of hearts. I didn't want a call as I can see a heart on the river and my day is done but I said nothing. The dealer warned him not to show his hand as there could be more action between him and the small blind. He was more interested in looking like he was on TV. Eventually he talks himself into a call. River is a queen of spades and they both check. Small blind had 8-3 for a 6 high straight and my ATM had a pair of 6s. They were surprised when I flipped over the 78 for the 8 high straight. That got me on my way.

A bit later I pick up AA UTG and I raise it to $4. I get 3 callers including Mr ATM in the small blind. I see a beautiful AQ7 rainbow flop. It's checked to me and I bet $5 like it was a scared continuation bet. One guy folds but the guy in seat 1 calls. My ATM raises to $21. I probably should just call here and I would if we were heads up. I know he hit that one good, probably 2 pair or a set but I am more worried about the guy in seat one. He has been pretty tight and I don't want to call and price him in with a gutshot straight draw and a backdoor flush draw only to see him turn another card to his flush and me not be able to push him off. So I went all in over the top for another $75. Seat one folds and my ATM goes into his act again. He shows AQ and I look away. I want him to think I'm nervous, maybe I have AK and he has me. It must have worked cuz he calls and is drawing very thin to running queens which don't come. Next thing I know I've turned $60 into $200.

Luck turned bad for a bit as I got rivered twice in a row by a flush and two little pair when the deuce came up. I tightened up my play and picked my spots. Had to fold QQ when it flopped and turned badly. Stayed out of trouble a couple of times and watched some other hands not come in as my stack dwindled a bit more. I got down to about $125 and was figuring on quitting if I got down a bit more when I got QQ again in the big blind. My ATM had decided to leave by then and was replaced by another guy who was aggressive but tight as he stayed out of many hands but when he was in, he was usually in hard. 2-3 people call and it gets to him and he raises to $10 on the button. I call as I am putting him on AK -A10 or a mid pair. I have him beat there I figure but he only has $25 behind so I figure he calls with a big A if I push in. So I call. Fortunately everyone else folds and the flop is 9-3-2 with 2 hearts. I bet $25 figuring he dumps a big ace unless he maybe has A9 or 2 hearts and if he has flopped a set well good on him, I'm not dumping QQ there. He calls and flips up JJ. He hated to see my QQ. That put me up over $160.

A little later PQ comes by to tell me she went out in 13th and was kinda tired as well as hungry. I'm ready to go as I'm hungry too as well as a bit tired. We hadn't eaten since lunch 12 hours before. I cashed out with $170 and considered it a very successful night even though my tourney went a bit poorly. After a trip to IHOP we got home about 2 and I was asleep by 3. And now it's shower time as we are taking the girl back to school soon. I hope everyone is having a relaxing Sunday though I'm sure it's not sunny and 80 for everyone today like it is for me. See ya on the tables, though probably not tonight. Until then stay lucky you nuts