Twenty-First & Four of a Kind

Forgive me for the extreme lack of updates. Much has been gone on in my life in the last month. Much. First of all, I promised a while ago that I would put up pictures of the trip to Greece & Turkey. Those pictures, as well as others, are online in my photoblog. I didn't take the time to name them all, so if you have a question as to what all those piles of rocks are, you'll have to ask me.

For those who are out of the loop, it is my regret to say that Hannah and I have broken up after nearly three years together. It was a difficult thing to go through, but I think we will both be better off. If Hannah or any of her family or friends are reading this, know that I love you all dearly, and you will always be in my heart.

In news that doesn't suck, my 21st birthday was this past Tuesday the 22nd. My mom gave me my presents the weekend before because I was home with Shawn for a show choir competition. She got me Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson's Super System, which is lovingly refered to in the poker world as the bible of poker. It's huge. She also got me a shirt and jacket, a sweet green Cubs hat, and... an electric guitar. I was actually quite shocked to see the guitar, and it's awesome to have it and just to be able to crank it up - releases stress really well. Grandma & Grandpa came through in the clutch and mailed me a card with $50. I also ordered some ridiculously cool poker chips which happened to get here on my birthday. Tonight will be the first night that they get used in a game. Anyway, on Tuesday night, Shawn and I went to Americana Bar & Grill, and after that we went downtown to Corner Bar. For the record, I didn't get wasted, but I did have my first legal drink(s). It was tight to see everyone and have a ton of people say "happy birthday". I think it was actually the best birthday I have had in a while. Now that I am 21, the only thing that I can't do legally is rent a car. I also can't get senior discounts at restaurants. Oh well.

Shawn and I started working out yesterday. I ran for a little over a mile on the treadmill, and then I did pushups, the bench press, and bicep curls. Our plan is to go every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday after choir, and then one time during the weekend. Hopefully by the end of the semester I'll be in really good shape. We'll see. I just remembered that Shawn, Joe and I went to Shawn's place in Onalaska the other weekend for a night. It was great fun... sort of a pre-birthday celebration I guess.


onalaska trip.jpg

I have been on quite a rush in online poker lately. In about two weeks, I have made over $500. Last night I played one of the most crazy hands yet. I will post the summary of the hand below, but keep these things in mind. The max you can buy in at this table is $100, so I was already up $36. My online poker handle is "mtpocket". If you ask me why I made such an unorthodox call, all I can tell you is that it was mostly gut instict and a little of watching him play a few hands. Without any further adieu, here is the hand:

Game #365751793: Texas Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1) - 2005/02/24 - 22:19:46 (EST)
Table "Pink" Seat 6 is the button.
Seat 1: mtpocket ($136 in chips)
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to mtpocket [Jc Jd]
hsiulanf: folds
Benafflek: calls $1
mtpocket: raises to $5
Limey: calls $5
H-Town: folds
Goodcause: folds
kopit: calls $4.50
Baited: calls $4
Benafflek: calls $4
----- FLOP ----- [4h Jh Th]
kopit: checks
Baited: checks
Benafflek: checks
mtpocket: bets $14
Limey: raises to $28
kopit: folds
Baited: folds
Benafflek: folds
mtpocket: raises to $42
Limey: raises to $103.25 and is all-in
mtpocket: calls $61.25
----- TURN ----- [4h Jh Th][Kc]
----- RIVER ----- [4h Jh Th Kc][Js]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Limey: shows [Kd Kh] (A Full House, Kings full of Jacks)
mtpocket: shows [Jc Jd] (Four of a kind, Jacks)
mtpocket collected $228.50 from Main pot

We'll end this post on a good note.