Good (yawn!) Morning

What day is it? I thought it was hard keeping track in St. Louis! ... Another day, another dollar or two or twenty ...

Still feeling fantastic from last night's yoga class. Yin yoga. A lot of holding poses for extended times. Me likee a lot!

Tonight's my first WSOP tournament. Day 1C of The Giant, a $365 or so NLHE with rebuys. I intend to make my bullet count. So today is mostly a day of rest. Gonna be a long night! (I intend!!) Pool and book sound like an excellent primary plan; eager to get into the new Bourne novel by Eric Van Lustbader (love his work!).

Hungry. This is enough thinking to start the day. More later. Y'all keep smiling...

The Blog is Back

"Stone cold sober as a matter of fact..." Got Elton on the mind, led to the headline. I'm back in Las Vegas. Back to attacking the live poker games (and more of life!), back to the WSOP. Back to the blog. The journey continues ...

(And more on Day 2 of this trip later. Day 1 is on my Facebook; will recap it later too. I've always been a one-post-a-day blogger, but that may change.)

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving -- one day early!! Going to be sooooo busy the next few days I might not have time to get back here and say it at the right time. And one week from now I should be landing in Las Vegas for a much-needed working vacation and job interviews. Tell ya what all I got planned while out there later ... never a dull moment!

Mobile madness

Bought a cellphone from T-Mobile yesterday. Driving me mad! Came with no real instruction booklet. Very little idea what I'm doing. Help!

And then the crazies elect Trump president. Yesterday was definitely not good ... Tomorrow looks worse.

Weekend surprises

College football Saturday: Nebraska over Wisconsin. Especially with the points. My lock game.

NFL: I'll take points on Washington, Arizona and Philadelphia. Make a nice parley. Better individually.

Poker: I'll finish in the top 5 tonight in CardsChat League action online. What, you were expecting a WSOP prediction? If I say Qui Nguyen, then Cliff Josephy will win. And vice versa. Let them fight it out; I ain't jinxing nobody!

Would you believe Jeff Jordan at Martinsville? Cubs in 5, clinch World Series at home? Stephen Curry scores 50 at Phoenix on Sunday? Nah, me either. But those would be nice...

Of course, I only write for fun, not serious whatevers. Not me! Then again ...

The joys of live blogging

I played online poker last night in the CardsChat Fall League 2016 at PokerStars Home Games. Thursday is my normal night (this is only Week 2 of the league's season, so there really is no normal ... especially for me!), but I switched with the team captain because of real life obligations. Captain pcgnome warned me that Fridays seem to be the toughest, but that didn't scare me, even though I was a sad 14th of 20 players in Week 1 (got up to 3rd then quickly collapsed, the story of my life; more on that later). I don't scare easy. Obliviousness is bliss!

A friend inspired me to listen to some online radio while I played. Haven't done that in quite a while, but it worked nicely and got my energy soaring. Soaring too much, as it later turned out; the shamalamadingdongdorkdonk (me) just can't stand too much success (see paragraph one). I also was posting on Facebook as I played. Only later did it dawn on me I was live-blogging my tournament, only not in the blog! My subconscious is always a wonderful weapon and muse.

Sadly, transposing the posts from Facebook to the blog isn't as simple as I hoped it would be. Damn difficult, turns out, dang it. But let's try. Hmm, cut-and-paste of the whole block brings over too many unwanteds, too long to edit out waste. Looks like we'll have to c-&-p post by post. And no time stamps, durn it, that woulda been nice. Next time I'll do it different, probably write straight to the blog.

So here goes. Really needed those time stamps, and good luck "getting" the inside jokes meant for Facebook Friends:

-- What I'm listening to while playing poker ... (Broadway Showtunes on jango.com)

-- And now Liza's gotta make me feel bad! Dang work ... "Life is a ..."

-- Wish I was at GenKink "Tonight". Ah well, 6th of 15 left first break. A responsibility to my team! Gonna win this game ...

-- What Glee! Let's Do The Time Warp Again!!! And where are we having a watch party for Thursday's new version?

-- Finally into 1st place, 13 left. Somebody name a song from Sweeny Todd please ...

-- Damn It, Janet ...

-- Wouldn't It Be Loverly? Lost lead, got it back, team boss on rail ... too much attention!

-- Final table, 9 left, shamalamadingdongdork is 5th. Not bad. But "Can Anybody Find Me Somebody To Love?"

-- oops, left the "donk" off the end of my name; sorry, poker buds

-- Second break, 5th of 8 left, Sweet Transvestite chasing me to the wine cabinet. Still can find any Sweeney...

-- Clay Aiken, Cyndi Lauper and Dee Snider? This I've been searching an hour for?? Gotta learn it ...

-- Sorry Judy, but I prefer Iz's "Rainbow"

-- Sad. Finished 8th. Done in by sexes ... I mean 6s. Fun!! Good practice for Vegas, and the Heartland Poker Tour which hits St. Charles at the end of this month (boy did that news surprise me!). Hey Tone Wallace, any of the local gang gonna play there? We got any satellites?

-- And good night from un-Radio Station POKRRRRRR

That's it. REALLY needed those time stamps! It was a good game, and I was going well until rivals and crowd started noticing me. I don't like the spotlight! Brings out the actor/showoff in me, and cuts down my intuitive empathic skills. But I need to get used to dealing with crowds/attention if things are going to Go Bigger. Death of me was 66 on the small blind (?), getting greedy (don't ask why) and pushing an unopened pot all-in, and having UTG (?) call and reveal Qs. No help, I didn't really deserve help, and I got to go do other things while the band played on. Next time ...

Enough. Got a GottaTalkPoker game in half an hour on Americas Card Room. Time to start balancing.

Thanks for visiting. More soon. (And I promise some football predictions later or tomorrow ... if I remember. For now, best college upsets I see are North Carolina, UCLA and best-bet Texas Tech!)

Bot test

Is it really Friday? I just can't keep track. Too much to do, too much going on.

Today I'm having a contest here in Shamanalix Sayz. If you're a bot and reading this, zzzkwlch me your home address and the name of which Doctor Who is your favorite to bot around after. One winner will be chosen from submitted bots. Prize this week may be a job at Facebook; their bots are horrible -- nothing works good at that site, Facebook doesn't care about all the things that are broken and give wrong directions and aren't rightly focused to its user/customer. They've been telling me about "My Events" that are miles away from where I live, and won't get it right! They need YOU, a good bot!

Grand prize winning bot next summer may get a job at THIS blog...

What does all this have to do with poker? Or women? Or sports? Or anything? I got no idea ...

Atlanta over Denver!

Early weekend peek

As you can guess, I didn't like any NFL teams very much last weekend. That, and being out of town, led me to decide to let the bookies keep their money. Sorry.

This coming weekend will be a lot different. Green Bay and Philadelphia look like solid winners; I'm trying to decide which to ride in the Survivor contest I'm still alive in. Top dog? Falcons are looking very sweet so far, you don't want to give that offensive machine too much head start.

We'll talk more about this later. My day off, and catching up at home is my primary duty. Feeling very creative still, thanks to my new muse (hope that lasts!!!).

Archon 40 scored a 10!

Still recovering from Archon 40 convention last weekend in Collinsville, IL. Had a date with a Star Trek lady and Alice from Wonderland. Wish the weekend never had to end; possibly the best one I've had in many years (not counting Vegas this past summer). At least it has inspired me to write, chat and try to grow. Thanks B-babes!!!

Coming up: I have no idea. Is it too early to start planning for Halloween? The Breeder's Cup races and trying to win some more money? The World Poker Bloggers Tour convention/reunion in Las Vegas?

Enh, I guess I'll just start preparing for the Naked Glo Party on Saturday. What colors do y'all recommend for me? No green, I don't want to be like that!

Shuffle up and pass the winterizer...

I like quickies...

Not much to say this day/week. Off to Archon 40 Convention first thing Friday. Should be awesome, with writers, artists, cosplayers, balls (OK, dances/masquerades), gaming and so much more. I need a break ... as long as this cold doesn't flare back up!

Last week's football tips went pretty well. Came out ahead, though no biggie. This week I would say key your parlays with Cincinnati, which should cover tonight. Upset of the weekend will be the 49ers over Dallas straight up. The Shamster is 1-0 on those; thank you Atlanta!

My old phone gets a reprieve until November. That's OK. I'm a bad, slow, dumb shopper. Still dunno what's best. Wish they had phones and services you could rent for a week and try out. Makes too much sense though. Burners don't get net access, do they? And that's what I want/need.

I'll be Brad in Saturday's late "Rocky Horror" showing at Archon. Leaving the fishnets home; Brandy or Jim can be that character.

Measly no-cash 5th in the PLO tournament just over, a private event by Gotta Talk Poker forum at BCP. And I'd been running so well lately in GTP's low-entry tourneys. Oh well. Lots to do before this weekend's trip!

And counting the days till Vegas!!! Get ready for me! Any suggestions where a good place to watch El Clasico on Dec. 4 in Las Vegas, a fan friendly bar with spirited supporters of Real and Barca? Viva Renaldo!

Who's keeping track?

Did I say once a day or once a month?

Wish Doyle and Vanessa would stop warring. Be nice! Turn the other cheeks! Set good examples!

I hate these colds that last over a week. I hate mornings.

Is it yesterday yet?

Best bets of the NFL day straight-up: Miami, Dallas, Green Bay, Carolina. Add Baltimore or Tampa Bay for a good 5er, even if doesn't pay a whole lot. Best longshot of the weekend; Atlanta, I see it winning outright Monday.

Don't ask me about the big Exaggerator-Nyquist horse race showdown Saturday. Wha' happened guys!?!?

Go Cardinals. Baseball. Bought NLDS tickets last night, so now they gotta survive to go up against the Cubbies next month ...

Friday night (although ill) I went to a wonderful retrospective at Fontbonne University on the sculpture work of the late Jaye Gregory. Great show. Made me miss the artist/teacher/friend even more.

See ya tomorrow. If I translate right, in dog days that's mid-October...

And away we go ...

OK, I am back. Promise at least one post a day from here until December (would say end-of-year, but with a trip and holidays, I can't guarantee month 12). Even if it's just a sentence or 4, I'll get something out.

My primary inspiration is that plans are finally stepping up on the World Poker Blogger Tour annual gathering the first weekend of December in Las Vegas. Much more info popping up in the related Facebook groups, including organizers starting to plan last-longer teams for the big Saturday event at Aria. Gotta find teammate(s). If anyone will have this forgetful old codger. Gotta figure how to get in touch with people. Hope Al and Pauly and CK and the oldtimers attend. I haven't been to WPBT gather in almost a decade...

Before my week in Vegas is a weekend at the Archon 40 Convention in Collinsville, IL, Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Second time I've attended it, this time going for a fuller experience. Look forward to many writing and editing tips at workshops, plus all the parties and dances and cosplayers and gamers and Marvel comics maniacs. And a Rocky Horror show the Friday night. I need this break.

Then back to poker and Vegas planning. My goal this trip (besides lining up a job writing sports book tickets for William Hill, Caesars or someone) is to improve on the 4th-place, $800 cash in a Golden Nugget bounty  tournament on my Fourth of July trip to Sin City (I love that town!).

I'll be staying at the Stratosphere. Finally getting some good communications from the Strat folks about my stay; hate being ignored or given a runaround.

Thinks are mostly looking up ...

Three months and counting!

If I'm going to the annual Poker Bloggers Convention in Las Vegas the first weekend in December, maybe I better start doing some poker posts again.

Nah, not right now. No time. But I am looking forward to the con. I forget the official name, I think it's World Poker Bloggers Tour; I'll remember it for certain next time, and post more info. Our big tourney is Saturday the 3rd at Aria, I think they decided. I booked a week at the Strat, to enjoy all The City has to offer as well as the Con ... and do some more job hunting as a sports ticket writer.

Now if only I remembered how to play poker ...

(And it's shocking though maybe not surprising how many of the old poker blogs (including many on list at right) are no more. Gotta get updated one of these days soon ...)

Where'd everybody go?

Wow!

Clinked on links at right to check on old blogger buds. Some links are gone. Most haven't posted in years.

Jeez!!! Guess you can call me Rip van Winkle. I'll clean them up sometime soon...

Anybody know exactly when in December the Poker Blogger Gathering will be in Las Vegas this year? At least that education experience was still going, as of last winter; about time I got going to it -- especially with Southwest offering super cheap rates for another day or two.

Somebody, anybody. Gimme a date. For poker blogger con. Let's start there...

Meanwhile, I'm prepping to hit Vegas (finally!!!) June 28-July 7. I cannot wait!!!

Closed for repairs

This blog remains temporarily idle and closed for physical, mental and emotional repairs. Please stay tuned. We'll be back when you least expect it!