Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[AndrewT]

Dumb american states they should let him play because as a race Eskimos are healthy people and you dont hear about people from Eskimoland having strokes or heartattacks

He was in complete disbelief when i told him there is no such place as eskimoland he didnt believe me as im English

god bless america

Actually, heart disease is almost unheard of among rural Eskimos on account that the majority of their diet is fish.

[77dave]

Dumb american states they should let him play because as a race Eskimos are healthy people and you dont hear about people from Eskimoland having strokes or heartattacks

He was in complete disbelief when i told him there is no such place as eskimoland he didnt believe me as im English

god bless america

Actually, heart disease is almost unheard of among rural Eskimos on account that the majority of their diet is fish.

i wasnt doubting the comment on a health issue more of a geography one

maybe all the eskimos moved from eskimoland to innutland

[Miami Vic]

From what I can tell, Virgin changes the charges for an upgrade minute by minute. Some guy tried to sting me for £800 for a one way upgrade on a busy flight out of Gatwick.You can use airmiles to upgrade to Premium Economy. plus cash. You may be able to get an upgrade at check-in, if you get there soon enough. You can also buy extra legroom in economy.
Premium Economy is only worth an extra two hundred quid at most. You get a bigger seat, a little bit more legroom and a real knife and fork. Big deal. It's a weird hybrid between business class and economy and doesn't really have enough business about it. But it apparently bumps you to the front of line for a potential Upper Class upgrade. When I flew Upper Class to LA I didn't want to get off the plane, I was having such fun: massages, fine wine, hostesses...
I found a good and cheap way to fly back from Vegas: in an economy window seat (check in before you go to the airport) with one of those magic beany pillows and a sleeping pill. Knockout!
Have a safe flight.

Vic

[tikay]

Thanks for all the advice on the Ticket Upgrade.

Flush with $$$'s, I decided to Upgrade to Premium Economy - £275 it cost - and, on balance, it was just about worthwhile, mainly because it enabled me to sleep well for most of the journey - priceless, especially as I'd not been to bed the night before, & I had the Sky show to do when I got home.

What do you get for £275? Well, acres of legroom, a lovely footrest, fully reclining seat, proper "steel" knives & forks (terrorists presumably don't Upgrade), and a glass of champagne, not a lot of use to a teetotaller. But endless cups of proper, decent, tea, so that's good. On balance, just about worthwhile.

Gatwick was relatively painless, except I forgot where I'd parked the car, & spent an hour searching for it. But it was tipping with rain, & I just stood out in it & loved it - after the brutal heat of Vegas, to feel cool, fresh air & cold rain on me was achingly lovely. I'd not swap England, or it's climate, for anything on Earth.

I drove from Gatters up to Feltham - an hour or so, spent an hour working at the Sky offices, then went to my Hotel & got a few hours kip before doing the Show.

Kara was my "Presenter" for the Show, & the 3 hours flew by, usually a sign of a half-decent Show. I'd hooked up with Kara in Vegas, & she's huge fun & a good kid, really.

I had a Hotel in Feltham, but was all revved up with adrenelin, so decided to drive home straight after the show, & I'm glad I did, I was home by 3, worked for an hour or two, then slept for 9 hours straight, lovely.

Collected Angell this afternoon, he's fine & dandy, & has not stopped howling since I collected him! He's just beautiful.

I do the Show again on Monday, with Johnny Gould - my first Sky Poker show wth him, though we did scores of 425's together, and the Guests are an interesting brace. James Browning, an old mate & huge poker enthusiast, we worked on Poker Night Live together many times, & Andrew Hannah - blonde "hans47" - who's the Coach for the Chelmsford Chieftains I think, an Ice-Hockey outfit. We met in Southend a fee months back & he's huge fun. So Presenter, Analyst, & both Guests are all blondes!

So, a full 48 hours I've had, with a busy Monday & Tuesday ahead - am working in Feltham both days - & it'd be daft to do anything except rest up today. But I just noticed, there's a cracking 10k chips £250 Freeze at Luton tonight.........No, that would be too silly, by far. Then again.......... No, I won't go. Probably.

[RED-DOG]

Terrific! Candid and atmospheric, story telling at it's best.


I nominate this thread for "Best of blonde"

[tikay]

Stood waiting for my luggage at Gatters, I felt a tap on my shoulder, & it was none other than Richard Gryko, home after a 6 week Vegas trip, seemingly a mite too long for him I gather.

Richard & I, despite his youth, go back way before blonde. We often played on Stars together, 4 or 5 years back, & he was the first to label me "Gramps", the bugger. He's got a stratospheric IQ, is hugely entertaining company, & we rub along splendidly, I like him a lot. I have a sort of long-distance friendship - only in the written form - with his Mum, blondeite "MrsMummy", who reads every line of the blonde Live Updates.

Richard played in the '05 Monte Carlo Millions, & was in great shape chip-wise on the penultimate day, but was physically extremely unwell, sweating profusely & with a high fever. But for that, I'm sure he'd have Finalled, & when Richard gets a deep-stack, he's nigh on unplayable. Ivey would have had his hands full, for sure.

I shared a table with him in Vienna once, in the Spring of '05, Richard simply ran over the table. Amazingly, he finalled three on the bounce in Vienna on consecutive days - the €500 NL, €500 PL, & €1,000 NL, finishing 2nd, 9th & 7th. Some player! I think I made 1 Final that week, 2nd Chip Leader I was, & ran my AK on an A high flop into Chip Daddy Michael Keiner's Aces to bust ouot in 10th, oops.

And who can forget Richard's amazing run in the '06 WSOP Main Event, when he danced & dazzled non-stop & amassed a huge chip lead at one stage, before the wheels came off & he finished 50th for $160,000+. I was so proud of him then, & I was furious when the billy-know-nothings gave him a hard time because he'd blew his deep-stack off making a move. These guys accumulate chips by making moves, & it was a horrible injustice that instead of praising him to high Heaven, he got a rough ride on other British Poker Fora.

So it hurt me big time when, in the aftermath of a recent blonde Suspenson of someone - I forget who - Richard Posted that I was "a disgrace" for putting Ariston on a guilt-trip - like that's possible, & that Ariston, another good pal of mine, is unable to defend himself!

So Richard & I debated all this by the luggage carousel, honestly & robustly, & Richard stuck by his position, & me by mine. He's utterly honest, which I like, & so am I, so we agreed to disagree on the matter. Hopefully, we can remain pals, though I confess, his comments hurt me a lot. This is the problem with running a Forum - one comes into conflict with good pals over blonde matters. I can't begin to count the number of friends I have lost because of blonde, & the policies I have set for the Forum. Such is life, checks & balances, but it does make me wonder at times, do I need all this hassle, in return for helping to facilitate a poker Forum? I'm too soft & thin-skinned, I know that, but I am what I am, & can't change that.

Such is life.

[tikay]

Talk about the perils of running a Forum - by the most bizarre of timings, as I was typing my previous Post, Richard's Mum was writing me the most lovely of PM's. I won't disclose it's content, obviously, but it was a lovely note, & now I feel bad for making the Post I did. But it was fair, I think & hope. And if I'm gonna write a Diary, it may as well be honest, no point otherwise. I adore Richard, his Post cut me to the quick, I've bared my soul. Hey-ho.

I met "Mum" in Monte Carlo last year, Jen's Mum was there too, & we sort of hooked up & rubbed along wonderfully.

I do hope I've not offended her by my "Richard Post". Like I said, who'd run a Forum?

I think I need to escape the Forum for a few hours, to reflect on the price of honesty. Well that's my cue for heading South to Luton when I should be resting up......

[The Camel]

Dumb american states they should let him play because as a race Eskimos are healthy people and you dont hear about people from Eskimoland having strokes or heartattacks

He was in complete disbelief when i told him there is no such place as eskimoland he didnt believe me as im English

god bless america

Actually, heart disease is almost unheard of among rural Eskimos on account that the majority of their diet is fish.

i wasnt doubting the comment on a health issue more of a geography one

maybe all the eskimos moved from eskimoland to innutland

Eskimo Clark isn't an Eskimo.

He has the nickname Eskimo because he looks like the guy in the painting on the tail of Alaskan Airlines aircraft.

Pretty sure he's from Louisiana.

[JungleCat03]

Brilliant diary tikay, you've got the rare and admirable power to make even trivial details seem interesting and appealing.

You could write about what you had for breakfast and keep the salivating masses enthralled.

Keep it up and if you make it a regular thing, then we'd all be in your debt.

[Dry em]

They also have a terrific rule in many Vegas Cardrooms in that if you show one card (after the pot is won) you have to show both, which stops the A-bit merchants smirkily flashing their Ace like big boys.

Have to disagree, this is a stupid and needless rule and leads usually to no one showing anything. This "anti needle" rule is in place to stop people rubbing others down by showing one card and suggesting a bluff. My god, if you can't cope with someone showing you a bluff you're in the wrong game... There are many such rules that I found a pain, including some mind boggling ones at the Bellagio that I've written about before, including not being able to talk at all during a hand.

I have no problem with folks showing bluffs or assumed bluffs, I just prefer to see both cards or neither.

Just in case of confusion, my comment was a general one about why I disagree with the rule, rather than aimed at you specifically

[AndrewT]

They also have a terrific rule in many Vegas Cardrooms in that if you show one card (after the pot is won) you have to show both, which stops the A-bit merchants smirkily flashing their Ace like big boys.

Have to disagree, this is a stupid and needless rule and leads usually to no one showing anything. This "anti needle" rule is in place to stop people rubbing others down by showing one card and suggesting a bluff. My god, if you can't cope with someone showing you a bluff you're in the wrong game... There are many such rules that I found a pain, including some mind boggling ones at the Bellagio that I've written about before, including not being able to talk at all during a hand.

I have no problem with folks showing bluffs or assumed bluffs, I just prefer to see both cards or neither.

Just in case of confusion, my comment was a general one about why I disagree with the rule, rather than aimed at you specifically

I think you've managed to head off the future awkward carousel conversation there Karl.

[Dry em]

They also have a terrific rule in many Vegas Cardrooms in that if you show one card (after the pot is won) you have to show both, which stops the A-bit merchants smirkily flashing their Ace like big boys.

Have to disagree, this is a stupid and needless rule and leads usually to no one showing anything. This "anti needle" rule is in place to stop people rubbing others down by showing one card and suggesting a bluff. My god, if you can't cope with someone showing you a bluff you're in the wrong game... There are many such rules that I found a pain, including some mind boggling ones at the Bellagio that I've written about before, including not being able to talk at all during a hand.

I have no problem with folks showing bluffs or assumed bluffs, I just prefer to see both cards or neither.

Just in case of confusion, my comment was a general one about why I disagree with the rule, rather than aimed at you specifically

I think you've managed to head off the future awkward carousel conversation there Karl.

Thank God, I can't stand discussing awkward carousels...

[tikay]

Talking of awkwarcd carousels, that reminds me of my luggage.

I unpacked this afternoon, & was surprised to find, inside my suitcase, a note cum "flyer" from the "Transportation Security Administration", whose web addy is "www.tsa.gov".

It says, amongst other stuff.....

"To protect you & your fellow passengers......some bags are opened, & your bag was among those selected for physical inspection. .........at the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag".

Except, it appears, a pack of new socks, 2 shirts, several books, including a biography of Vincent O'Brien, one on the construction of the Hoover Dam, & one entirled "Schrodinger's Cat". Ignoring the obvious "the cat's out of the bag", the low-lifes appear to have pilfered the contents of my suitcase under the guise of National Security.

Like a bent copper, nobody enjoys officialdom taking advanatage of what amounts to executive privelege. We submit ourselves, in good spirit, to very necessary Security measures, but it's just plain wrong that these folks can pilfer our luggage at will. The American people are really very pleasant, & the US of A is a fine country. But it needs help with it's image abroad, & this kind of disgraceful theft from a regular guy hardly helps.

The TSA sucks.

That apart, security at McCarron Airrport was reassuringly thorough, & done politely & with good humour. Wish I could say the same for the Virgin Staff in Vegas, who were obnoxious in the extreme, and yet more reason not to fly with Wooly Jumper.

[tikay]

did you say hello to patrick or did you snub him again like you highrollers always do? and I think most blondes would like to see your diary continue, any diary that doesn't include "donk" "they are so bad" "id make so much money if they didn't always suck out on me" is well worth reading.

I think I've been whooshed here, but Patrick who, exactly?.......

But you are right, I certainly don't do Bad Beat stories, & I'm heartily sick of hearing them.

But I love interesting flop stories, & I like to imagine what each player is thinking during "Big on Big" confrontations.

On my last day in Vegas, Rob Garfield & I played the Venetian 8pm jobbie, & I exited when A-6 man muffed me, no big deal, so I rushed across to Caesars & got in as an Alternate for their 11pm affair.

I took my seat, BB first hand, with 2,825 of my original 3,000 still left, & blinds at 25-50.

It's Raised up to 200 in mid-position, & called in 4 spots, including the SB, so for 150 more, I'm kinda obliged to call.

Let's tell this one backwards. Post-Flop, 3 of us remain interested, & I'm holding......

 

Mr Small Blind is holding......

 

Whilst mid-Position Raiser has

 

My eyes nearly pop out when this flop transpires........

   .....!

This is all about how I (they) get paid the maximum, & it was all itsy-bitsy min-Raises & Re-Raises, before eventually, all the chips land in the middle.

On their backs, oohs & ahhs & gasps all round - two flopped straights & top set, bingo bango bongo.

But the fun sorta disappeared on the turn - 

How can you get upset at a hand like that? You just gotta smile, "gg, wp" da de da de da. Two weeks of favourable variance needed to be corrected.

It's my last night, so I'm still hungry for Vegas Poker, & I find myself in a short-handed $5 $5 Omaha Hi-Lo Cash Game, very nice, & I sit down with $1,000. I play a lot of $5 $10 Online Omaha High these days, & I was fairly confident I could beat this game. I do every cent of the $1,000, & mope off, tail between legs, wondering what hit me, before I suddenly realise that two Chinese guys had been tag-teaming me. I've still got a lot to learn, & I was a bit miffed that I'd blown almost $1,500 on my last day in Vegas. Poo.

[tikay]

But this IS a Bad-Beat story. Turn away, it's real ugly.

Masses of mail are on the mat when I get home, mostly junk, but I opened this corker.....

It's from "The Pension Service", & is headed.....

"Winter Fuel Payments - don't miss out!".

The Government is making Winter Fuel Payments again this winter to provide help for older people with their heating bills.

Our records show that you may become eligible for a payment this coming winter. To qualify for payment you need to be aged 60 or over in the qualifying week of 17-23 September 2007.................."

Tell me it ain't so