When does technology outwit a Mother's intention?

MySister and I found a Care Bear gift in our parents' basement. There are a bunch of items down here, primarily books, that our Mom wanted to see if we thought could be donated. Seeing as how the Care Bears gift comes with a VHS tape.... it's not donate-worthy. However, it also makes it a keeper!

Did I just sleep in a sports bar?

It's 5:40 AM. Moments ago I woke up. Moments from now I'll be ND bound. Tailgating awaits us.

Due to the early start, I drove down to my friend's house in Addison, IL last night and slept on the futon in his basement sports bar, which is outfitted with the memorabilia he's collected throughout the years.

How long would you wait?

Q: "How long is the wait, 1? 2 hours?
A: Yes (said the hostess)

How do you kill time at a car dealership?

Q: How does my fancy phone benefit you today?
A: Get ready for a nightmare.

At just after 3 PM I learned it's going to be longer than I expected until I get my car back.

So, let me tell you about a dream I had last Friday night. That's correct sleep fans, this dream had a big effect on me: My memory of it is as clear as it was last Saturday morning.

This is what I remember...

I had just arrived at a poker game that was being held at a building that looked my condo building. I know it's not my building because it's surrounded on all sides by a parking lot and has a basement.

Shortly after I entered the basement I realize somehow that I don't have enough money for the buy-in. I walk out with the intention of finding a cash machine.

There are other people mingling outside of the building by now - smoking and what have you.

Then a cop car drives up. People start scattering and running away. The police officer quickly got out in an attempt to detain someone or anyone.

In the melée, the cop finally gets a hold of someone - only to have the guy violently Head Butt him. The cop died. In my dream I saw him die.

Then I ran away.
Later (not knowing how I got there) I answer the door and talk to the investigating detectives.
* * *
I wake up in a sweat.
It takes me longer than normal to realize I was dreaming.
Stuff like, "there's no basement in my building" is said to myself to help me calm down.

Yes, it's a rather lame dream. Also, I HAVE NOT SEEN INCEPTION yet in case you think that's somehow related. On one hand, I'm just happy to have a dream that didn't involve my teeth in another weird way. But, that policeman head butt image seems chiseled into my mind.

I was upset that this dream has been bothering my mind. Now I'm more upset that writing about it only killed a half hour.

What was my best moment of the 2009 Vegas Trip?

Well, the flight home was not oversold.
That gamble, like so many others of the past 48 hours, didn't pay off.

But some of them did:

It was just after Midnight. After a dissapointing Mirage tournament in
which I might have played my worst poker of the trip and after I
walked over to TI and lost more in a $1-$3 NL game - I was done.

Done gambling, done for the trip. Time to take the long walk from TI
to the Monte Carlo, sleep and head for the airport immediadetly after
awaking.

But I knew there was a 1 am Caesars tournament.
I knew there would be many great looking women hanging around the
poker room's entrance ( the room shares a wall with Pure nightclub ).
And I knew there would be Pussycat Doll blackjack dealers.

What I didn't expect to see was a $10 blackjack table with a pussycat
doll dealer!

I decided that, now at about 12:40, I would sit down with $100 and
try to get to $170 in twenty minutes (in time for that 1 am $70
tournament).

This is a good story. I did it. I was very closely tracking my
betting, and promptly left when I hit my goal on the mark.

It felt remarkable, hustling over from the blackjack table to the
poker room.

In my mind, I played that 1 am tourney for free. And I knew it would,
for sure, be my last gaming action of the trip.

I played for over two hours. Busting out in 9th place out of 19 (only
top 3 paid). It was 3:45 am by the time I finally go back to the
Monte Carlo. Ending the vacation on a, for me, somewhat happy note.

When is making progress no longer good enough.

I finished 5th out of 18 in the 11 am Tourney at TI.
Top 3 paid. Both me and the 4th place finisher busted out on the same
hand, bringing a celebration to those souls making the money.

I've gotten closer and closer every tournament. It's starting ti
sting. Looks line the 7 pm Mirage tourney is my last chance for romance.

Do you think my room number is good luck?

They put me in room 30-124. I'm currently 30 years old and my birthday
is 1/24.

So the Wynn tourney.
Ah, it's why I like tourneys.... You can't make one mental mistake. I
was sitting very pretty with 7 people left ( we started with 20, top 3
paid) and I got caught being too cutesy. Dropped from about 75K to
under 35K by doubling up this Brazillian Cougar that barely spoke
Spanish.

A brave comeback soon commenced, but I lost to a 6-outer on the River.
All in all, I played from 8 pm to 1 am in that thing. The Wynn won't
joke around in these things: 20K in starting chips / 30 minute
levels / a break every two hours.

The two tourneys I bought into today took just shy of 9 hours total.
I'm a little mentally fatigued righ now without much to show for it.

By the way, my room looks out into the belly of the City Center beast.
The Aria looks more like an upscale condo building than a hotel.

Have I even seen the inside of my room yet?

I'm resting just outside the Wynn Sports Book.
The 8 PM daily tournament starts in under 40 minutes, which has
allowed me ample time to catch my breath over a Roast Beef sandwich at
the Wynn deli.

Long story short, I left the Caesars Poker Room with more than I
entered and have decided to make the strech for the higher buy-in at
the Wynn.

Besides, I was already halfway there from the Monte Carlo. I knew I
wouldn't get to play in the Wynn Poker Room much, so I'm taking the
opportunity.

My room, last I checked, wasn't ready. After the plane landed, I took
a cab to the Monte Carlo, left my bag at the Bell Desk, and hit their
Poker Room.

Not all that impressed with that Room, and left after an hour to the
In-N-Out for lunch. I tried to check in when I got back (circa 1:30),
but they told me a room wasn't ready. (I guess this is to be expected
when you don't make reservations).

So I bolted for Caesars, a route which took me past City Center.
Tomorow I will have to take pictures with my camera (not just my
phone) to later illustrate the scope of that project.

Again, Caesars went well, and I'm currently watching some MNF and
getting mentally prepared for the most expensive tournament (including
Charities) of my life.

We'll see where the night takes me after the tourney.

Is that a Lucky Charms watch?

The watch stopped working over two years ago.
Late last night I decided that it's time to bring it back.

My first poker tournament starts in a little over an hour. I will be
attempting my "win the buy-in" mission as soon as an open seat
presents itself at a $1-$2 NL table.

Where to get lunch in Vegas?

Bad news: The Poker Room in the Monte Carlo serves Pepsi.
Good News: In-N-Out serves Coke.

Can you paint the picture?

Q: Where am I?
A: My balcony.

It is 64 degrees in the City of Destiny tonight.
I am sitting on a chair on my balcony.
My headphones are pumping the song "Ready, Able" into my brain.
This is why I like mobile blogging.

Although I set the whole mobile capability up in order to document a
recent trip to San Fran, this is really the reason why I like it.

For when I am by myself late into the day at my condo (and without a
purpose) I am usually attempting to empty my mind at my computer, or
trying to clear it on my balcony. Tonight I'm thowing my stone at
both birds.

Washington Street is, 99% of the time, very peaceful. When I am out
here past dusk, only two things tend to disrupt the tranquility:
-the late arriving neighbor parrell parking
-smokers across the street lighting up

It's such a wonderful night in Des Plaines.
Later this month will be the 3 year anniversary of my closing.
Not much has changed in those 3 years.
I have a new couch, hopefully soon a new roof, and a sense of mature
accomplishment.

The first month living alone, I remember, presented an odd challenge.
I didn't know how to cope with just myself. Nobody just "stops by"
like your friends down the hall when living in a dorm...

You are home and your day is done. Hello evening and good night. I'm
used to it now, and don't fear it. The opposite may now be the case.

UPDATE: my neighbors to the immediate east just appeared on their
balcony. Luckily I know that they never initiate contact with me. I
am dead to any neighborly contact now thanks to my eyes transfixed on
this text and my ears in iPod occupation.

Yesterday was a day for me to recharge batteries that weren't
neccisarily in need of recharging. I woke up early, but napped most of
the afternoon. Watched a DVD, but not of a Film but a TV show now
extinct. I also watched a meaningless preseason NFL game.

Sometimes when I sit out here on the balcony I want to see life.
Health conscious feet running. Canine friendly owners walking.
Mindless children ambling. Older folks strolling.

Othertimes I prefer to stare into a suburban abyss. Rows of midsized
sedans parked in preparation for the workweek. Trees with soon to be
departed leaves. Sidewalks with zero trace of snow, salt, or snap.

When I bought the chair I am now sitting on, I bought two. I don't
think the two have ever been used at the same time. I would like to
think I might be able to share this quiet relection with another. But
D.P. isn't the sexiest of locales. Not exactly a third date preposition.

I think I'm going to attempt to fall asleep earlier than normal
tonight. Hopefully this post will have served some sort of purpose...

Was Billie Jean not your lover?

Michael Jackson will live forever in many forms... For example as a
wedding reception dance floor catalyst.

Where exactly is this wedding?

This is a private residence, man.

The rehersal dinner last night, the ceremony and the reception are all
at my cousin's new wife's step mom's house. It is the most beautiful
property I have ever been to. Literally cut into a vineyard. I
actually fit in well around here. I could get used to this.

By the way, if anybody out there is wondering why I'm blogging, not
dancing... I will just have to explain in depth later.

What warms your heart?

MySister dancing with our Father.

What table are you at?

Literally sitting in the middle of a vineyard, I am at the same table
as my cousin David along with Tom and his wife Amber: awesome cousins!

They're hitched!

What can be better than this?

Day 3 wrapup:

I haven't seen these cousins since the last family wedding.
That was six years ago,
However, it has felt like no time has passed at all.
Tonight I was invited to the rehersal dinner.
Not being in the actual cermony at all, I was honored
Yes, modern custom has driven most weddings to invite out-of-town
family to these affairs.
But it is not a given, and I am exhuberent to be included.

I failed in picture taking tonight. There were just too many cousins
that I needed to reconnect with tonight. No time to step back and
report. Luckily I will be back in at that locale tomorrow, and will
get the scenery pics out of the way first.

Kinda at loss for things to do tomorrow, pre cermony. Maybe I will
actually sleep in tomorrow? But that seems lime a waste of an
opportunity. My cousin Tom, the one from Vermont - not the one
getting married, is staying at the same hotel as me. Tonight was the
first time I met his wife Amber. I am looking forward to spend more
time with them.

What is distinguishly older than my Dad?

We stopped to take a quick gander into Muir Woods National Monument.
It is a Forrest of Redwoods.

The idea to go here was MySister's... Good call Mo.

What's the view from the back seat?

Well we had some issues getting to our rental car, but we're finnally
in the car heading north.

Crabcake or lobster ravioli?

I forgot to mention our San Fran Seafood choice: Scoma's

Maybe I don't have as much experience in this arena, but if all the
seafood meals I have ever had in my entire life: Scoma's was the best.

It's right on the Wharf, but doesn't have as obnoxious of a sign as
the other restaurants. My parents knew of this place because my Dad's
sister and her late husband took them there years ago. I know
understand why they remembered it as well as they did.

My Dad had Clam Chowder, MySister had the Crabcake sandwich and my Mom
had the Crabcake dinner (which means she got a couple more cakes
without an Onion roll). I ordered the Lobster Ravioli, but traded some
of that with my Mom for a Crabcake.

Typing this encounter is really making me hungry, and slightly sad
because I don't know how long (if ever) I will have seafood that great
again.