I did a bit of driving yesterday. My original plan was to just drive 150 miles to a casino south of Eureka. I arrived there at 2:30 in the afternoon. After parking and entering the poker room, I discovered there is no poker on Tuesday night in this Casino. So I began to drive south on the Avenue of the Giants through the Redwoods of Humboldt and Mendocino counties.
It took a little over 2 hours to go 40 miles because I was averaging 20 miles an hour in order to enjoy driving this scenic alternative to US 101. By the time I got to Willits, home of Black Bart Casino, I had driven 300 miles.
Then I discovered Black Bart’s didn’t have poker either.
Another 20 miles put me in Ukiah. We lived here in 1980-1983. We had some significant memories of our time then. We owned our first home, our son was born there, our daughter went to pre-school, and so on. After driving past the Church, where I was a pastor and then the area we used to live in, I thought “how did we ever live in such a small quiet place like this”?
I tried to locate a poker game in town. I saw a billboard for Robinson Rancheria Casino that offered poker but it was about 22 miles east of the direction I wanted to go. I pulled into a Wal-Mart to cook some dinner and do some thinking.
I called a little casino in Hopland, which is about 20 miles ahead. Even though it was more driving today, it was in the direction I was going. They did have a game, and I knew they had a parking lot where I could spend the night.
It was a very bizarre Poker game. It was 3-6 limit hold-em with 7 people. Everyone except me, played every hand, and bet almost every opportunity.(No raises, no folding, just bets and calls) At least 4 people saw the river every hand.
Five of them appeared to be migrant workers, three spoke only Spanish, two helped interpret for the other three. Four of them weren’t sure what hand beat what, and the dealer would have to help them at showdown. In most cases they didn’t know, if they had won or not when every body showed cards. But, they all had fun.
The game broke in about 2 hours because 4 of them lost all their money. But, they seemed to have a lot of fun at it, even when they lost.
I didn’t catch many cards but I still left up $40 for the couple of hours I was in the game.
The next morning I filled up with gas in Santa Rosa and toured Petaluma. We lived there in 1989.
I looked at our old property and met the current caretaker. She game me a tour and it hasn’t changed much except for the 20 years of tree growth. In 1989 I went through a deep period of depression and one of the things that helped me was planting trees.
So consequently I planted 18 redwood trees, 4 fruit trees, a weeping willow and an assortment of others. As you might imagine, these trees dominate the area around the modular home where we used to live. But, they do look beautiful.
I stopped in at Sonoma Joes Poker room in Petaluma. It is now called Casino 101. They had 6 poker tables and I was able to get into a No-Limit game after playing an hour of 4/8. I was outdrawn three times, and failed to catch a straight and a flush. I was chasing too much. I was down about $500 when I caught two big pair and they held up. I left about 6 p.m. only down about $150
I wish that was where it ended for the day.
But, no…. I wanted to get to the eastside of the Bay Area so I wouldn’t have traffic for tomorrow. I made my way across the top the San Francisco Bay, and crossed the Benicia Bridge into the East Bay area of Pacheco.
I located the Grand Casino in Pacheco and played 6/12 limit while I waited for a seat No-Limit Seat. I lost $300 there and finally my seat opened up in No-limit. I went up and down from 200 to 100 with my initial buy-in. Then four of us called a $25 bet. The button pushed all-in for $125. I had KJ Diamonds and would have thrown it away with one caller. I knew from the stack sizes if I called 2-4 others would also, go all-in giving great implied odds to a hand that would play well multi-way.
I called, and sure enough 4 others called resulting in a pot of about $600. When all the hands were exposed I liked mine the best. The first who pushed all in had A8 off suit. Another had A7, and another had K9 and then a 78off suit. Mine was the most potential outs. The A7 was hearts and he caught three hearts for a flush to win it all.
I was down and out. I had reached the maximum I allow myself to lose in one day, so I gave up my seat and left.
I drove across the California Delta Area in the dark which was an eerie experience.
There was no moon and I could just barely make out the murky water as I drove across the tops of levees and crossed drawbridges, many of which were a single lane for both directions. I was praying I wouldn’t meet a truck or another RV on one of these and my prayers were answered. I thought if I drive off what of these poorly lit, winding levees I will become a permanent part of the California Delta Waterway system and never be seen again.
In Stockton, I missed the turnoff for the Super Wal-Mart, and ended up driving 8 miles in the wrong direction before I discovered my error.
Oh well, tomorrow is a new day. I am looking forward to it.
P.S. Just when I thought I could not get any more unlucky today I awake at 2 A.M. to Pokey barking at someone who is approaching the van and trying to look into the driver’s side window.
Then I notice a yellow flashing light and realize it must be the Wal-Mart security person.
Now, there is a knock on the side door, as Pokey is growling and barking like a mad dog, as I try to locate my clothes and dress quickly in the dark.
I open the door and the security guard is telling me how sorry he is, but he has no choice.
He further tells me he doesn’t agree with the decision, but the manager called him and wants no one sleeping in the parking lot in their RV’s.
There are not a lot of us, only one other Class C and a Class A 35 footer. I guess Stockton is not most people’s vacation destination of choice.
I follow the Class C out of the parking lot. He drives across the street to the Home Depot lot and resumes his sleep.
I decide to go a few blocks further and find a side street with a number of truckers sleeping. I join them for the rest of the night and go back to sleep remembering the only other time we were run off from a Wal-Mart. It was in 2002, in Homestead, Florida at the entrance to the Florida Keys, and several police cars showed up like it was a major drug bust.
In this terrorist age, with repeat offender criminals, let out of prison daily, and serious crime at and all time high, you can sleep well, knowing there are a few brave souls on the frontlines, protecting this country in the middle of the night, by keeping seniors and retirees from invading your local Wal-Mart.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Rich is a state of mind...
I feel rich today! No, I didn’t win any money last night.
Well, actually, I won $4 for about 5 hours of poker playing.
The poker director and I were laughing as I cashed out my 80 cents per hour for a night of work. We both laughingly remembered, at each of our respective first jobs, we were paid 75 cents an hour.
Mine was working in a fast food place called Henry’s, a “McDonalds” imitation that never made it. I still remember standing outside during a break, late at night, not wanting to go back inside, because I disliked the work.
I have never felt that way about poker yet, and I hope I never do.
I spent the night in the little parking lot at the Elk Valley Casino, just outside of Crescent City, California.
I awoke about 8:30 a.m. and the sun was shining and I was excited.
The reason I was excited about the sun was two fold.
One, it had rained non-stop for the last two days, and more importantly, the most beautiful part of my trip was today. I would be driving through the “Redwoods Forests”.
John Muir, the famous botanist refers to a Redwood grove as “God’s Cathedral”. Even on a bright sunny day, like today, you are in the shade, because these enormous trees go up almost 30 stories, and some are bigger around then the RV is long. Majestic and magnificent fail to describe the experience of standing in a Redwood Grove. Underneath this canopy of trees, ferns grow everywhere, and the quiet is like another world.
Some of these trees have been growing from before man changed the calendar from B.C. to A.D.
US 101 now go around some of the best groves, but I remember the old roads, through the Redwood National Forest, and Prairie Creek State Park. No one drives them anymore except bicycles and those that know they are still there. So after locating the first one, I slow to about 20 miles per hour and roll down the windows to enjoy the drive through the Redwood Forests, as much as I can.
We stopped at a trailhead, and hiked in about a mile. Later, I saw a sign that said dogs weren’t allowed on the trails. Oh, well, Pokey got to “go where few dogs have gone before.”
A little later we pulled over to observe a herd of Elk. Pokey was fascinated by them as was I. Three miles later we saw what I first thought was an auto accident. A number of cars were on the side of the road and people were out milling around. It turns out it was a herd of 30 elk crossing the road and feeding right by the side of the road. We were within 20 feet of them. You could see the wonder on some people’s faces and the enjoyment on many others.
It was in this setting that I realized again that “rich” is a state of mind.
Here we were enjoying this setting and a logging truck comes barreling down the road.
He is both driving too fast for the setting, (this is a posted area with signs indicating an Elk Crossing Area.) and it is obvious that he is bugged that people stop to enjoy the elk.
They possibly impede his progress for a few seconds by slowing and pulling over. He is cursing and yelling out the window while pulling on his air horn to try to stampede the herd. Both the people and the elk looked at him with momentary interest, and then went back to what each was doing before.
In that situation the only one making money was the trucker. Yet, he was, by far, the “poorest one” in that setting of great richness.
For fear of sounding too Zen, I offer this lesson from this experience, “it is not what we possess that is important, it is what possess us that is most important”. Being possessed by wonderment is rich, being possessed by anger, and frustration is abject poverty.
We continued down the road, continuing to enjoy this “sacred setting”. We pulled off the road near the ocean shore just north of Eureka. Pokey, and I hiked through the brush to the ocean and walked, while looking at the rough churning sea of Northern California.
Then after this exercise it was back to the RV for a nap for the both of us.
Since this was turning out to be such a special day I decided to make a “special meal”. I opened the can of Spam, Fried some eggs with it and warmed up some flour tortillas. Of course I added a generous portion of hot sauce to mine. Pokey got all the same for breakfast minus the hot sauce. It was a meal fit for a Mexican King. Since Pokey is both English (Yorkshire) and Mexican (Chiawawa*), he qualifies in both counts.
(*Since I don’t know how to spell it I just wrote it the way you would understand.)
He “gulped it down”, showing his pleasure with brisk, tail wagging. I gulped mine down, but didn’t have a tail to wag.
After cleaning up it was time to get back on the road. After Eureka there are plenty more trees waiting for us.
Well, actually, I won $4 for about 5 hours of poker playing.
The poker director and I were laughing as I cashed out my 80 cents per hour for a night of work. We both laughingly remembered, at each of our respective first jobs, we were paid 75 cents an hour.
Mine was working in a fast food place called Henry’s, a “McDonalds” imitation that never made it. I still remember standing outside during a break, late at night, not wanting to go back inside, because I disliked the work.
I have never felt that way about poker yet, and I hope I never do.
I spent the night in the little parking lot at the Elk Valley Casino, just outside of Crescent City, California.
I awoke about 8:30 a.m. and the sun was shining and I was excited.
The reason I was excited about the sun was two fold.
One, it had rained non-stop for the last two days, and more importantly, the most beautiful part of my trip was today. I would be driving through the “Redwoods Forests”.
John Muir, the famous botanist refers to a Redwood grove as “God’s Cathedral”. Even on a bright sunny day, like today, you are in the shade, because these enormous trees go up almost 30 stories, and some are bigger around then the RV is long. Majestic and magnificent fail to describe the experience of standing in a Redwood Grove. Underneath this canopy of trees, ferns grow everywhere, and the quiet is like another world.
Some of these trees have been growing from before man changed the calendar from B.C. to A.D.
US 101 now go around some of the best groves, but I remember the old roads, through the Redwood National Forest, and Prairie Creek State Park. No one drives them anymore except bicycles and those that know they are still there. So after locating the first one, I slow to about 20 miles per hour and roll down the windows to enjoy the drive through the Redwood Forests, as much as I can.
We stopped at a trailhead, and hiked in about a mile. Later, I saw a sign that said dogs weren’t allowed on the trails. Oh, well, Pokey got to “go where few dogs have gone before.”
A little later we pulled over to observe a herd of Elk. Pokey was fascinated by them as was I. Three miles later we saw what I first thought was an auto accident. A number of cars were on the side of the road and people were out milling around. It turns out it was a herd of 30 elk crossing the road and feeding right by the side of the road. We were within 20 feet of them. You could see the wonder on some people’s faces and the enjoyment on many others.
It was in this setting that I realized again that “rich” is a state of mind.
Here we were enjoying this setting and a logging truck comes barreling down the road.
He is both driving too fast for the setting, (this is a posted area with signs indicating an Elk Crossing Area.) and it is obvious that he is bugged that people stop to enjoy the elk.
They possibly impede his progress for a few seconds by slowing and pulling over. He is cursing and yelling out the window while pulling on his air horn to try to stampede the herd. Both the people and the elk looked at him with momentary interest, and then went back to what each was doing before.
In that situation the only one making money was the trucker. Yet, he was, by far, the “poorest one” in that setting of great richness.
For fear of sounding too Zen, I offer this lesson from this experience, “it is not what we possess that is important, it is what possess us that is most important”. Being possessed by wonderment is rich, being possessed by anger, and frustration is abject poverty.
We continued down the road, continuing to enjoy this “sacred setting”. We pulled off the road near the ocean shore just north of Eureka. Pokey, and I hiked through the brush to the ocean and walked, while looking at the rough churning sea of Northern California.
Then after this exercise it was back to the RV for a nap for the both of us.
Since this was turning out to be such a special day I decided to make a “special meal”. I opened the can of Spam, Fried some eggs with it and warmed up some flour tortillas. Of course I added a generous portion of hot sauce to mine. Pokey got all the same for breakfast minus the hot sauce. It was a meal fit for a Mexican King. Since Pokey is both English (Yorkshire) and Mexican (Chiawawa*), he qualifies in both counts.
(*Since I don’t know how to spell it I just wrote it the way you would understand.)
He “gulped it down”, showing his pleasure with brisk, tail wagging. I gulped mine down, but didn’t have a tail to wag.
After cleaning up it was time to get back on the road. After Eureka there are plenty more trees waiting for us.
Didn't it rain....
I didn’t play the shootout at 11 A.M. at the Mill in Coos Bay, Oregon.
In fact I was on the road by 9:45 A.M.
I think I wanted to get back to California to feel like I was making some progress toward home.
It rained all day again today. In fact the rain was so heavy at times I just pulled off the road and took some breaks three different times today.
The first break was at a view area overlooking the Ocean. There was not too much of a view because of the rain. I utilized the time to clean up the RV, and do a little writing, and make lunch.
Then near Gold Beach, Oregon, I found a little quiet spot near a Visitor’s Information site that was closed for the season. I took a nice long nap to the “drumbeats of rain” on the roof of the RV.
My third stop of the day was Brookings, Oregon when it began to rain so heavily my wipers had difficulty keeping up with the deluge.
I found a rest stop, “fired up” the hot water heater and took a shower and changed out of the clothes I had been wearing for the last two days. (I apologize if that is way too much information for some readers, but I want to be able to communicate the ambiance of an old guy and his dog living in close quarters). I wasn’t sure which one of us really had that “wet dog” smell, so I decided to eliminate the possibility it was me. (grin)
My final resting place for the day is at the Elk Valley, Casino outside of Crescent City, California.
I arrived here close to 5 p.m. and signed up for the 6 p.m. Single Table Tournament and then I am planning on playing some No-Limit Poker afterwards.
Tomorrow, my goal is to make it to just south of Eureka, California. I am hoping for a clear, or at least, a non-rainy day, so Pokey and I can do a little hiking in the Redwood Tree Groves.
P.S. I logged onto my Party Poker account and tried to play a little poker. As Party has promised they have suspended play with all U.S. players. So, I logged onto my account and transferred the $100 balance I still had with them back into my bank account.
An Era has ended. I was a “net loser” on-line over the last year. I shouldn’t be too sad about not being able to lose any more money on Party Poker. And I am certainly better off then many of my fellow Americans who don’t live within a close distance to a place to play poker. It is a sad day for poker players.
We continue to lose more freedoms everyday. Land of the free, home of the brave, needs to up-dated to “Land of the governmental fees and home of the legislative hypocrites.”
In fact I was on the road by 9:45 A.M.
I think I wanted to get back to California to feel like I was making some progress toward home.
It rained all day again today. In fact the rain was so heavy at times I just pulled off the road and took some breaks three different times today.
The first break was at a view area overlooking the Ocean. There was not too much of a view because of the rain. I utilized the time to clean up the RV, and do a little writing, and make lunch.
Then near Gold Beach, Oregon, I found a little quiet spot near a Visitor’s Information site that was closed for the season. I took a nice long nap to the “drumbeats of rain” on the roof of the RV.
My third stop of the day was Brookings, Oregon when it began to rain so heavily my wipers had difficulty keeping up with the deluge.
I found a rest stop, “fired up” the hot water heater and took a shower and changed out of the clothes I had been wearing for the last two days. (I apologize if that is way too much information for some readers, but I want to be able to communicate the ambiance of an old guy and his dog living in close quarters). I wasn’t sure which one of us really had that “wet dog” smell, so I decided to eliminate the possibility it was me. (grin)
My final resting place for the day is at the Elk Valley, Casino outside of Crescent City, California.
I arrived here close to 5 p.m. and signed up for the 6 p.m. Single Table Tournament and then I am planning on playing some No-Limit Poker afterwards.
Tomorrow, my goal is to make it to just south of Eureka, California. I am hoping for a clear, or at least, a non-rainy day, so Pokey and I can do a little hiking in the Redwood Tree Groves.
P.S. I logged onto my Party Poker account and tried to play a little poker. As Party has promised they have suspended play with all U.S. players. So, I logged onto my account and transferred the $100 balance I still had with them back into my bank account.
An Era has ended. I was a “net loser” on-line over the last year. I shouldn’t be too sad about not being able to lose any more money on Party Poker. And I am certainly better off then many of my fellow Americans who don’t live within a close distance to a place to play poker. It is a sad day for poker players.
We continue to lose more freedoms everyday. Land of the free, home of the brave, needs to up-dated to “Land of the governmental fees and home of the legislative hypocrites.”
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Mill Casino, Coos Bay, Oregon
It rained all the way from Florence to Coos Bay, Oregon. I stopped about ½ way and took a nap because I planned on playing late in the evening at the Mill Casino in North Bend. We arrived at the Mill Casino in the middle of the day and I went in to check out the poker room. I was slightly disappointed. It was not a room. It was a roped off portion of the casino floor with two tables. The Casino reeked of smoke. Smoking was allowed anywhere in the Casino except the “roped off portion of the two poker tables.” I guess the smoke knew not to go past the ropes.
There was a 4/8 limit game going and the ½ No-Limit game would not start until 5:30 p.m.
I put my name on the list for the No-Limit game and went back to the RV to make dinner for poker and me.
The rain had stopped and the sun was shining, so I took Pokey for a long walk around the Casino park and out to the old wharf on the bay. He seemed to have a lot of fun and broke into a run and jumped quite a few times. I think he was happy the rain was over.
After reading and cleaning up from dinner I went in to play. The game didn’t begin until shortly after 6 p.m. There was one fellow my age, and the other 9 were all young men in their mid 20’s that were Caddies at a local Country Club.
A couple of them were good players. Two of them were really bad. And a few were just fair poker players. Fortunately, one of the really bad ones was lucky at Blackjack. He would lose $200 at poker and go to Blackjack and win a few hundred. He would come back and do it all over again. I think he transferred $800 from the Blackjack tables to the Poker Table. That is the only way I can win any Blackjack money. (That is, when someone brings it to the Poker Table.)
I lost my first hundred and bought back in for another $100. The game broke at midnight and I was about $400 up. So I did alright at the game tonight. I played well, but I got two lucky river cards that accounted for ½ my winnings tonight.
I may play a “shootout” in the morning at 11 A.M. and then hit the road for some serious driving. Tomorrow, I should make it to California on the coast somewhere around Crescent City.
There was a 4/8 limit game going and the ½ No-Limit game would not start until 5:30 p.m.
I put my name on the list for the No-Limit game and went back to the RV to make dinner for poker and me.
The rain had stopped and the sun was shining, so I took Pokey for a long walk around the Casino park and out to the old wharf on the bay. He seemed to have a lot of fun and broke into a run and jumped quite a few times. I think he was happy the rain was over.
After reading and cleaning up from dinner I went in to play. The game didn’t begin until shortly after 6 p.m. There was one fellow my age, and the other 9 were all young men in their mid 20’s that were Caddies at a local Country Club.
A couple of them were good players. Two of them were really bad. And a few were just fair poker players. Fortunately, one of the really bad ones was lucky at Blackjack. He would lose $200 at poker and go to Blackjack and win a few hundred. He would come back and do it all over again. I think he transferred $800 from the Blackjack tables to the Poker Table. That is the only way I can win any Blackjack money. (That is, when someone brings it to the Poker Table.)
I lost my first hundred and bought back in for another $100. The game broke at midnight and I was about $400 up. So I did alright at the game tonight. I played well, but I got two lucky river cards that accounted for ½ my winnings tonight.
I may play a “shootout” in the morning at 11 A.M. and then hit the road for some serious driving. Tomorrow, I should make it to California on the coast somewhere around Crescent City.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
A night in Florence, a day in the woods...
We spent the night last night in the RV at a Super Wal-Mart in Florence.
Then we drove the 50 miles to the Oregon coast in a light Oregon rain. The drive was so beautiful in the forest, we stopped two times just to walk by the river, through the trees, even though it was raining. Pokey, the dog, enjoyed all the smells, while I went for the visual beauty.
We stopped at a new casino in Florence: The Three Rivers Casino. It is a large dome tent and doesn't have any poker. So after stretching my legs, using their restroom, and walking a couple of times around the building I considered myself lucky and left without placing a bet. (grin)
Now I am sitting next to the "Lighthouse Historic Inn on the Ocean, using their Wireless Connection to write and upload this.
Next stop... The Mill Casino in Coos Bay, down the road another 50 miles.
Here is my tribute to the people that are doing the most damage to this beautiful country of us.
It is all disgustingly true....
Can you imagine working for a companythat has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:
* 29 have been accused of spousal abuse
* 7 have been arrested for fraud
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
* 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
* 3 have done time for assault
* 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting
* 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
* 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year...
Can you guess which organization this is?
Give up yet?
It's the 535 members of the United States Congress.
The same group that just passed a law banning us from playing on-line poker, because on-line poker was corrupting the moral fabric of this country.
Is it just me?
Or do you also think we are being led by idiots, without a clue?
Then we drove the 50 miles to the Oregon coast in a light Oregon rain. The drive was so beautiful in the forest, we stopped two times just to walk by the river, through the trees, even though it was raining. Pokey, the dog, enjoyed all the smells, while I went for the visual beauty.
We stopped at a new casino in Florence: The Three Rivers Casino. It is a large dome tent and doesn't have any poker. So after stretching my legs, using their restroom, and walking a couple of times around the building I considered myself lucky and left without placing a bet. (grin)
Now I am sitting next to the "Lighthouse Historic Inn on the Ocean, using their Wireless Connection to write and upload this.
Next stop... The Mill Casino in Coos Bay, down the road another 50 miles.
Here is my tribute to the people that are doing the most damage to this beautiful country of us.
It is all disgustingly true....
Can you imagine working for a companythat has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:
* 29 have been accused of spousal abuse
* 7 have been arrested for fraud
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
* 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
* 3 have done time for assault
* 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting
* 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
* 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year...
Can you guess which organization this is?
Give up yet?
It's the 535 members of the United States Congress.
The same group that just passed a law banning us from playing on-line poker, because on-line poker was corrupting the moral fabric of this country.
Is it just me?
Or do you also think we are being led by idiots, without a clue?
A blast from the past.....
I am filled with emotion tonight and memories. I just had dinner with Bruce Westlund, my best friend from 5th grade until I was about thirty. Then we lost track of each other until yesterday, when I contacted him through his brother. I found a reference for his brother Paul on the Internet.
When I was 10 I went to Bruce’s house and said “Do you want to shoot some hoops?”
He was a year older then me at our church and we had only said Hi, a couple of times before that. We played basketball together, and became best friends. I went to a college because he was already there, we were roommates, and we quit college together. Then we joined the Army together. We separated in the Army, when he went to Vietnam and I was stationed in Korea. I got out before him, and got married. He lived with us, for a short time, while he was getting his feet back on the ground from having his head messed up by drugs & Vietnam.
The last time I saw him was in 1982. We had lunch at an Airport in New York City.
Caren, and I were flying back from the Middle East. He was working in New York for Federal Express.
We lost track of each other until tonight. We did a lot of talking to catch up the 25 years we had both lived since then. He is living here in Eugene, with his wife Jean, and near his brother and his family in Eugene.
When we both saw, each other we both started laughing, and I stated the obvious. It looked like we were each wearing “old guy masks.” It took a couple of hours to adjust to the old guy in Bruce’s body, and I am sure it was the same for him.
We laughed, we shared some disappointments in our life and some struggles. He has in-laws near us in San Diego, so we talked about being able to see each other again in a year or so.
What a treat to have such a long time friend who still cares for me and I for him.
I suggested we split the dinner check in case it is another 25 years we won’t remember who owes, whom, a dinner. (grin)
When I was 10 I went to Bruce’s house and said “Do you want to shoot some hoops?”
He was a year older then me at our church and we had only said Hi, a couple of times before that. We played basketball together, and became best friends. I went to a college because he was already there, we were roommates, and we quit college together. Then we joined the Army together. We separated in the Army, when he went to Vietnam and I was stationed in Korea. I got out before him, and got married. He lived with us, for a short time, while he was getting his feet back on the ground from having his head messed up by drugs & Vietnam.
The last time I saw him was in 1982. We had lunch at an Airport in New York City.
Caren, and I were flying back from the Middle East. He was working in New York for Federal Express.
We lost track of each other until tonight. We did a lot of talking to catch up the 25 years we had both lived since then. He is living here in Eugene, with his wife Jean, and near his brother and his family in Eugene.
When we both saw, each other we both started laughing, and I stated the obvious. It looked like we were each wearing “old guy masks.” It took a couple of hours to adjust to the old guy in Bruce’s body, and I am sure it was the same for him.
We laughed, we shared some disappointments in our life and some struggles. He has in-laws near us in San Diego, so we talked about being able to see each other again in a year or so.
What a treat to have such a long time friend who still cares for me and I for him.
I suggested we split the dinner check in case it is another 25 years we won’t remember who owes, whom, a dinner. (grin)
Last of Spirit Mountain...
Well, the day began with a tournament here at Spirit Mountain Casino, near the Northern Oregon coast. I lasted till the blinds got to 1K & 2K and had 6K left, after paying my big blind. One person limped in and the small blind called and I checked with a J7 unsuited. The flop came J, 10, 8 and the small blind went all in for 4K. I thought he probably had me beat, but I said…”well, I hear you have to get lucky to win one of these things and I threw in my 4K thinking he had a Jack with a better kicker, then the bettor called also behind us. When the hands were exposed, it turns out, the small blind only had a pair of 6’s, but the caller had a J,10 for two pair. I needed a 9 to make a straight, in order to survive. It didn’t come and I was out.
I went back to the RV, played with Pokey, read and took a long afternoon nap. Then after making us dinner, I went in to play for the evening. I played 2-4 N/L from 4-10 p.m. with a very enjoyable table. The two gentlemen to my right, and I told jokes for hours. The whole table was laughing either with us, or at us.
The only part that was frustrating was, there were two horrible players that raised often with nothing. The lost at least a thousand each from their horrible play and very little of it to me. They were such easy money, and I was card dead all evening. I went 3 hours without being able to play a hand. I was willing to play and two cards over tens, and any two suited connectors from 6-10 never once got any cards within that range in that 3 hour period and that is difficult to accomplish.
I only wanted to risk $200 tonight, so I would blind down under $100 before I got any cards to play, and then would double up to $200 and do it again. I think I did it 4 times in 6 hours.
When I got down to $70 I looked for a place to go all in. One of the horrible players, bet $20 in first position and I knew he would not have a very good hand. I only had A,10, but figured everyone else would drop if I went in for my last $70. I did and they did, and he called.
He had a KJ and sure enough a J came on the river and my $200 buy-in was gone. I thanked everyone, and told the two to my right, how much I enjoyed playing with them and joking with them and headed back to the RV to walk Pokey.
Now I am drinking a cup of hot chocolate, thinking about the evening and wondering if there was something else I could have done for a different outcome.
Well, it is still early enough after I am refreshed I may go in for a second round tonight and hopefully get some better cards.
(A little later….)
Well, I did go back and played until 2 A.M. I did catch some cards, and more importantly I caught a couple of players who thought they were a lot better then they were. I was able to have pretty good read on them most of the time and was able to win back most of the money I lost in that wild 10/20 game in La Center.
This will be my last night in Spirit Mountain Casino. I am going to drive down to Eugene Oregon, tomorrow evening to have dinner with an old friend. Bruce Westlund and I were best friends from 10 to age 30 then we lost track of each other for 25 years.
Tomorrow night we will have some catching up to do.
I went back to the RV, played with Pokey, read and took a long afternoon nap. Then after making us dinner, I went in to play for the evening. I played 2-4 N/L from 4-10 p.m. with a very enjoyable table. The two gentlemen to my right, and I told jokes for hours. The whole table was laughing either with us, or at us.
The only part that was frustrating was, there were two horrible players that raised often with nothing. The lost at least a thousand each from their horrible play and very little of it to me. They were such easy money, and I was card dead all evening. I went 3 hours without being able to play a hand. I was willing to play and two cards over tens, and any two suited connectors from 6-10 never once got any cards within that range in that 3 hour period and that is difficult to accomplish.
I only wanted to risk $200 tonight, so I would blind down under $100 before I got any cards to play, and then would double up to $200 and do it again. I think I did it 4 times in 6 hours.
When I got down to $70 I looked for a place to go all in. One of the horrible players, bet $20 in first position and I knew he would not have a very good hand. I only had A,10, but figured everyone else would drop if I went in for my last $70. I did and they did, and he called.
He had a KJ and sure enough a J came on the river and my $200 buy-in was gone. I thanked everyone, and told the two to my right, how much I enjoyed playing with them and joking with them and headed back to the RV to walk Pokey.
Now I am drinking a cup of hot chocolate, thinking about the evening and wondering if there was something else I could have done for a different outcome.
Well, it is still early enough after I am refreshed I may go in for a second round tonight and hopefully get some better cards.
(A little later….)
Well, I did go back and played until 2 A.M. I did catch some cards, and more importantly I caught a couple of players who thought they were a lot better then they were. I was able to have pretty good read on them most of the time and was able to win back most of the money I lost in that wild 10/20 game in La Center.
This will be my last night in Spirit Mountain Casino. I am going to drive down to Eugene Oregon, tomorrow evening to have dinner with an old friend. Bruce Westlund and I were best friends from 10 to age 30 then we lost track of each other for 25 years.
Tomorrow night we will have some catching up to do.
Pokey the dog, enter's his first poker tournament...
Well Pokey the dog buys into his first poker tournament, but he doesn’t win it. Here is how it happened.
When I pulled into the parking lot of the Chips Casino in La Center, Washington yesterday, I noticed a line of people at the front door of the casino. So Pokey the dog, and I walked over to investigate. We found out that a poker tournament was going to start in 30 minutes, when the Casino opens at noon.
I was also told this was only a three table tournament, and there were already 22 people in line. Three more guys were walking this way. So Pokey and I got in line. One of the regulars said they only allow 5 alternates and then turn away the rest. I was hoping they would come out and give cards or markers to the first 30 in line. Then I would take Pokey back to the RV before I had to go inside. It was not to be.
At noon the doors opened and our line marched in. I picked Pokey up and tucked him under my arm. When we reached the door the security guard looked at me, then at Pokey, and I quickly said. I will take him right out, as soon as I secure my place in line.
The line slowly slinked past the main cage, where the cashier saw Pokey and smiled.
Then when I got to the tournament director’s desk I shielded him with my body, slapped my money down and got my seat card. I did an “about face”, and marched out of the casino, saying “thank you so much”, to the security guard.
I got Pokey settled in the RV, and walked back into the Casino and took my seat waiting for the tournament to begin.
A few minutes later the tournament Director, and another security guard approached my chair on both sides. The director said Sir, do you have a dog with you? I looked at her blankly, and said have you checked under the table?
She said in a stern voice, there better not be a dog under the table.
I said “did someone see a dog?” She said, “upstairs” saw you with a dog”.
I said “really, do you think they might be drinking up there?” Now, she is starting to laugh while still trying to look stern.
I said, I saw the sign at the entrance that said no weapons in the casino, but I missed the sign about dogs.
Now, she is realizing I don’t have a dog, and she is about to laugh at the situation, but she was trying to still act stern. After a moment of her looking at me, I finally said “did you know there was a monkey that played at the World Series of Poker this year” and they made him leave. (Which is true)
She said “she didn’t know anything about that, and grinned and said “crazy old man”.
She wasn’t that much younger then me, so I let that one go with only a grin.
Later, when she came back by, I said, you know that was really a serious situation, no one “carded” him when he came in and he is underage.
She walked away with a grin, just shaking her head.
Then the jokes began at the table about a couple of poker players that smell like old dogs.
And the guy that use to date only dogs before he got married. This hand is a dog… oh, no offence meant… (And on, and on, and on it went).
I didn’t win the tournament, but it sure was fun.
When I pulled into the parking lot of the Chips Casino in La Center, Washington yesterday, I noticed a line of people at the front door of the casino. So Pokey the dog, and I walked over to investigate. We found out that a poker tournament was going to start in 30 minutes, when the Casino opens at noon.
I was also told this was only a three table tournament, and there were already 22 people in line. Three more guys were walking this way. So Pokey and I got in line. One of the regulars said they only allow 5 alternates and then turn away the rest. I was hoping they would come out and give cards or markers to the first 30 in line. Then I would take Pokey back to the RV before I had to go inside. It was not to be.
At noon the doors opened and our line marched in. I picked Pokey up and tucked him under my arm. When we reached the door the security guard looked at me, then at Pokey, and I quickly said. I will take him right out, as soon as I secure my place in line.
The line slowly slinked past the main cage, where the cashier saw Pokey and smiled.
Then when I got to the tournament director’s desk I shielded him with my body, slapped my money down and got my seat card. I did an “about face”, and marched out of the casino, saying “thank you so much”, to the security guard.
I got Pokey settled in the RV, and walked back into the Casino and took my seat waiting for the tournament to begin.
A few minutes later the tournament Director, and another security guard approached my chair on both sides. The director said Sir, do you have a dog with you? I looked at her blankly, and said have you checked under the table?
She said in a stern voice, there better not be a dog under the table.
I said “did someone see a dog?” She said, “upstairs” saw you with a dog”.
I said “really, do you think they might be drinking up there?” Now, she is starting to laugh while still trying to look stern.
I said, I saw the sign at the entrance that said no weapons in the casino, but I missed the sign about dogs.
Now, she is realizing I don’t have a dog, and she is about to laugh at the situation, but she was trying to still act stern. After a moment of her looking at me, I finally said “did you know there was a monkey that played at the World Series of Poker this year” and they made him leave. (Which is true)
She said “she didn’t know anything about that, and grinned and said “crazy old man”.
She wasn’t that much younger then me, so I let that one go with only a grin.
Later, when she came back by, I said, you know that was really a serious situation, no one “carded” him when he came in and he is underage.
She walked away with a grin, just shaking her head.
Then the jokes began at the table about a couple of poker players that smell like old dogs.
And the guy that use to date only dogs before he got married. This hand is a dog… oh, no offence meant… (And on, and on, and on it went).
I didn’t win the tournament, but it sure was fun.
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