Mistakes

Even though I wasn't going to play poker last night, I finished everything else that I had to do and decided to play 1/2 hour of poker. I played on Titan Poker, even though I do not seem to have much luck there. After a bit of time I was down a few dollars, but nothing major. After an hour I decided that I needed to stay a little longer to win back the $3.00 I was down. Just then, the table got down to heads up. I was going toe-to-toe with a guy and we seemed to be just passing chips, when another played showed up with $5.00. This guy then proceeded to dismantle me and the original player. I knew I was out classed. I also knew that I should just leave, but I didn't. I eventually lost my entire buy-in. I think this loss was caused by the following mistakes
1. Poor table selection - I couldn't win, and I knew it, as the competition was better than me. I should have left when I noticed that.
2. Playing when not at my best - it was late and I was tired. I should have been sleeping instead of playing poker

Man camp

I went for a 3 day camping excursion with Chris, Al and Andy. We camped at Andy's cabin along the banks of the Allegheny river just below the Kinzu Dam. It was a great trip. Here is the report.

We started Friday morning at Al's house. Al first had to get his car because he had left it at the bar on Thursday night. He was in terrible shape and his wife was not too happy with him. Once we finally got his car, we loaded our gear and our 3 bikes onto it and headed north. We had lunch (steak hoagies and beer) in Warren, dropped our gear off at the cabin and headed to the ATV trail for some mountain biking. We did see a bear on the way into the cabin (the first of two bear sightings of the weekend). The ride was awesome, but by mile 8, I was not too happy with my choice of Genesse beer or a steak sandwich. We rode 10 miles in about two hours. The downhills were fun, the were smooth with banked turns. We drank some beers in the parking lot and then went back to the cabin. Chris cooked steak and potatoes as I fished and drank beer. After dinner we played a .25/.50 game of Hold'em to prepare for Saturday's excursion to the casino. I couldn't get a draw to come in to save my life and lost 7 dollars.

Saturday morning, we just kind of stumbled around in a hung-over haze until around noon. Chris and Andy went golfing and Al and I went into the forest to shoot shit. We blasted some cans and a box with a .22 a 12 gauge and my 380. Before we left, we drank a beer and then shot the bottles. We then went to the warehouse for lunch where we finally found the elusive Bloody Mary. We had a couple of beers and watched the Penn State game. We then went back to the cabin for some more fishing. I caught a few bass and we headed to the casino. My luck continued as it had Friday night. I played for 2.5 hours before I won a single hand. I then started to pick up some hands and I felt momentum shift my way when Al decided he wanted to leave. I had promised him that I would leave when he was ready, so I did not protest, even though I really wanted to stay.

We packed up early on Sunday and made it home pretty quick. The next time I go to the Allegheny Forest, I may drive that way. 79 - 80 -86 -62-59-321

I was on my way to a winning week until Saturday afternoon. There was a complete donkey that raised from the button. I was in the big blind with KK. Flop came Q-rag-rag. I checked, he bet and I just called. Turn brought another rag and I checked raised him. He reraised and I capped. I now had him figured for AQ and in no A or Q hit river, I would cap again. River=3. I bet, he raised, etc it was capped, and he showed Q3s!!! He reraised on the turn with a Q terrible kicker. This put me on tilt, and I never recovered. By the end of the night, I lost $60.00. Man that sucked.

Big Time

I have finally made the "big time". I am mentioned in the blogosphere. I would reference the particular blog, except for the fact that I intend to remain anonymous. Linking to the blog, would certainly blow my cover. So, here are the facts. Our school district must appoint a tax study panel according to a state law. I applied for an appointed onto said panel. I also contacted all of the school Directors that I knew soliciting their support. As I had contact with many of them through the election process and a few other civic endeavors, I figured I would get the support. One director eagerly gave his support until I told him that I was against his position. At the school board meeting where they were to vote on the panel appointments, he raised considerable objections to my appointment. A few of the other board members stuck up for me and in the end, my appointment was approved 8-1. The newspapers, liking a good controversy, made sure to cover this story in depth. I have been on record as opposing an increase in our municipality's earned income tax and this is one of the issues that we will be covering for the school district in the study panel. Well a blogger that covers my community made a blog entry covering the panel vote.

I have played NL hold'em at Titan Poker this week with terrible results. I just can't seem to win. Truthfully, I think it is because I am much better at limit. Although, at limit on Titan I can't win either. I think I am going to restrict my play on that site to tournaments only. Last night I took second in the limit O8 sit-n-go

Good Weekend

Friday night we went to the Irish Festival. We had a good time. My daughter was afraid of the music at first. She seems to be really afraid of loud noises. She calmed down after a bit and she thus had a good time. I was able to convince my wife to stay later than we had originally planned because she was drunk. So, I got to see Gaelic Storm after all, which was cool. I got to chat with some friends too, so it was good.

We stayed in on Saturday and I watched the Texas OSU game, which turned out boring after OSU took such a big lead.

I went for a nice road ride in the morning and then took my daughter fishing and hiking. We had a good time. The hike wasn't really planned. I went to some parkland our community has where a group of volunteers is putting a mountain bike trail. The group has been trying to get me to see it as the park may be sold and the want me to vote against it. I decided to walk the trail for myself. I met up with another dad that was exploring the trail with his 2 kids for the first time. The five of us started exploring and walked too far when we were not sure if the trail looped. Luckily, Abby did well and I did not have to carry her too much. We ended up meeting up with one of the trail volunteers who pointed our way out. The trail did loop. The trail volunteer immediately recognized my name and now it looks like I will have to tour the property with him. I will definitely ride this trail on my mountain bike.

I started to chip away at my poker losses from last week throughout the weekend until I played last night at Paradise. The table was much looser than what I have become accustomed to on Party. I lost to a 5-outer on the river and tilted off most of my $20, which sucked, but overall I played well for the week. I will seek to have a winning week this week.

A week of nothing

I did not make it to the gym at all this week. Even though I had good intentions, I slept in each of the 3 days I planned on going. This sucks, I just have a weak fortitude I guess. Oh well there's next week.

Actually, I have missed most of what I had planned to do this week. I think I am just floating by. I have little direction and little motivation. I guess the problem is that I really do not want anything bad enough to be working hard for it. I say I want health, but I haven't done anything to get it. I say I want wealth, but I haven't done anything to get it. I have turned into the ordinary person, and I don't like it. I must use this weekend to refocus.

how about a little discipline...

It just amazes me how at one minute I can be totally on top of my game, and then a few days later be totally under it. After my performance on Sunday where I was on fire playing poker, I took a turn in the wrong directions. On Tuesday, I donked off $15 playinge like a complete moron. By now any reader will know what I did. I played too many hands. A caller never wins!!!! I must remember that. So I then did what any good donkey would do, I played online blackjack. After losing 40 dollars, I just knew I could get it back. I did get back to a 5 dollar loss and was going to leave, but I just knew that next bet would get me back to even, so I posted it and lost it. I kept chasing until I was down my 40 again. How stupid of me. That game has a negative expectation, yet I continue to play it. Just dumb

I did manage a second-place finish in a sit-n-go. Unfortunately, it was my second of the evening after I wasted my first. In the first one, I played crap hands like crap. In the second one, I played well ( I did everything I should - play alert/good cards/position etc.)

This morning, I donked off another 6 bucks playing like a fish again. I need to tighten up.

Back from KY

We just got back from a visit with friends in Kentucky. All in all it was a great trip. We did a distillery tour (Woodford Reserve Bourbon), and took a trip to Keeneland Race Track. I highly recomend both.l The distillery is very small, they only make 17 barrells of whiskey a week and sell most of it at the gift shop. Keeneland was a wonderful track. We missed the training rides (dawn until 10:00 am) but did manage to watch some simulcast.

On Sunday our friends had a party, for which we smoked some ribs. The ribs were great.