Viva Las Vegas! Sending you good vibes from Vegas! The last week or so has been a lil crazy and all over the place emotionally. Nana's mental state is taking a new turn, which of course is not a good thing. With me in Vegas, Natalie is on Nana duty. Nat found her in the kitchen, had empty the contents of the refrigerator. She had a pair of scissors in hand and had eaten 10 cheese sticks and was working on number 11. The brain is clearing mis firing to a different level. We continue to brace ourselves for the future.
Vegas? Yup, I'm here! Had a free airline ticket that had to be used by end of October, and free hotel. Soooooo here I am! Been able to see the Zac Brown Band, Jimmy Buffet and Donny & Marie thus far. My favorite being ZZB. However, I get to see Brittney Spears tonight, so looking forward to that.
Upon my arrival on Thursday, I began to play poker. Normally, I play low dollar amount tourneys, in this case $30. Which allows me to play for anywhere between 2-6 hours. Having grown up in Chicago, I spent many hours playing cards in the winter. Sooooo I LOVE to play cards. Well, this trip I decided I was going to try "live action" poker. Which basically means you "buy in" for a certain dollar amount and that is the amount of "real" money you stand to lose. It has taken me two years to convince myself to risk $100 to try live action.
I played on Thursday for 4 1/2 hours, walking away with $150 extra. I was excited! Found out that if I played 10 prior to 7 a.m. on Saturday morning I could qualify to play a "freeroll tourney". What is that you ask.....any regular/local customer that qualifies plays tourney at Saturday for a chance to be one of the top 10 finishers, all of which win $300.
If you know me, I'm a bit competitive. So, on Friday morning I showed up to the poker room at 10 a.m. in hopes of playing so that I could earn more hours. Unfortunately, no one was there to play. Since it was my birthday, I decided to have my hair done at 3:30. After which, I returned to the poker room to earn hours. Played until 7:05 p.m., then jumped in a taxi to go see ZBB at the MGM. Following the AWESOME concert....pics to come.....I went back to the poker room. After all, 7 a.m. Saturday morning was fast approaching.
Upon my return, I was told I still needed 4 1/2 hours of play. No way, forget it. Instead I met cousin Dennis (from Texas). He and I played roulette for a short while, didn't do any good so decided we would play ....yes....you guess it....poker. To make a long story short....we had a drunk at our table which upset Dennis who went back to his room. I however, stayed and you guessed it....earned my hours. By the time Dennis left I only need 2 hours to qualified. So, finished that up at 6 a.m., went to breakfast, showered changed and was back to the poker room for the tourney by 8:15.
All I could think, is why....oooo why did I do this to myself?? And....where the HELL is the coffee....bring the pots....line em up. I mean, what good is qualifying if you are so exhausted that you can't think clearly enough to play good poker?? The great news....only 23 people qualified to play.....sooo I only had to play and hour or two. I think I can....I think I can......
Because the freeroll tourney is designed to give back to the "regulars".....every player that finishes in the top 10 gets $300. So, only need to play long enough to take out 13 people. Here's what happened.....
There were 11 players left....including ME....WOOT! However, I only had one.....yes one ....$1,000 chip left....not good. I was the one with the least chips, another guy had $2,000. So, one of us would pop the bubble to the top 10. The bit boss called for a ten minute break.
During a few hands, I notice the local guy next to me was giving signals to two guys across the table. Which I read and used to my advantage, I hate cheaters. During the break, four of the five men sitting at my table were scheming as to how to take me out. I was very easy to figure out that they were. I even mentioned it and the head nods to the dealer, who said he would pay attention to their convo, for if they were....it is considered cheating. A lil part of me, giggled that I had their respected and worried them.
Bout one minute after speaking to the dealer, I turned to see the lil cheating twit next to me over at the other table. He was whispering in the ear of the other player that was low on chips. Now, he was definitely cheating. I was sitting next to my dealer, and I pointed it out to him. Upon the return to the table. the lil twit turned to me and said something to the effect. "Hey, I told that guy he should just fold. Since you both are short stacked if he folds his blinds you will be even". My response, "dude you can't do that, that is cheating and we are not in the same position. I'm on the button he is small blinds".
Thank goodness, the dealer heard it all and was furious. He set him straight. I was ticked, now there are five players working together against me. I took a deep breath and was ready to take them on!
I had five hands to chose from to play. None of which were good. Soooo here we go. I was big blind, which means I had no choice but to put my one and only chip in the pot and play the hand. Of course, all the cheater went into the hand, in hopes that one on them could beat my hand. Up to that point, the four of them were NEVER in one hand together. Soooo obvious that they were cheating!
I took a deep breath, and leaned to the dealer and said "it's in God's hands". It was time for me to look at my two cards. OMG....8 and 3......HORRIBLE CARDS! Until that is.....the flop......8,8,9. WOOOOO HOOOOO I hit three of a kind on the flop. I had to control my reaction, but I wanted to scream. The turn was a jack. Then the river was ......HELL.....YES......another 8!!! QUADS! I was soooo excited but had to sit quietly until the cheaters "checked" through their bets. Then....the lil twit turned his cards over to show a pair, two others hit a full house. At which time they were all laughing and giggling thinking that one of the three (fourth had nothing) had taken me out! I sat quietly, then stood and turned my cards over yelling....."WELL....I GOT QUADS"! <<<insert laughing>>> Just wish I had their reactions on film.....priceless to say the least! ahahahahahahahah
Talk about a crazy turn of events, but happy to say honesty won that day....not the cheaters. Also, happy to say that I finished in the top ten and won $300. WoooT! Then I went to my hotel room and crashed!
Natalie has been working hard on her fitness and limited PT. She will return to the doctor for a post op visit and hopefully full release to PT and regular shoe on October 30th. Nat took a drive to Macon to the tourney there. Besides dropping off a salsa order, she was able to spend time with some of the players and staff she is friends with. Not sure how she did it, but she somehow talked Nic into driving her and Robby to Macon. Again, she is soooo lucky to have two awesome brothers.
Time for me to shower, breakfast and get ready for the Brittney Spears concert. So, until next time...Love and Blessings.....Sherry!
