So Long...Farewell....

Deep Breath.

Can I relax yet? Oh no....not until we're in Vancouver.

Yes, folks, Tanya is going on vacation. We were presented with a lovely gift of a 7 day Alaskan Princess cruise last Christmas by the in-laws, and we are departing in the early AM tomorrow and will be gone for, gasp, 14 days.

As a business owner, the panic feelings are in full force. I have never, EVER, been gone this long from my business and it totally stresses me out. I thank the stars that I have a most excellent Manager to take care of things while I'm away, but still......I can't help but think that there is no way things will run smoothly without me here and that it's going to be HELL for all employees and how can I even THINK about going away for that long of a time period??? OK, deep breath now.

I have worked my ass off for the last 3 days to make sure that everything is done on my end, nothing else for me to do. I have to continuously remind myself that in my business, there truly is no "emergency" emergency. Everything can, technically, wait for my return, so now all I can do is pray that I don't come home to a storm, but that it's all being run smoothly and like a well-oiled machine.

No communication whatsoever while we're gone. I know the cruise has internet cafes, but Bill and I have made a pact NOT to check email or go online at all while gone. I don't know if we can hold out, but this will be a true test. I already don't think we can, and so have set up a seperate private Yahoo! email for easier emergency contact if needed, by my family or by my Manager. Technically, I'm already cheating, LOL.

So now the work is done, I started doing laundry, I'm ready to pack, ready to gather all my travel documents together...OH SHIT. Where's my birth certificate? Ordered an official copy back in February and due to it being so long ago, I have NO clue to where it is at.

Sigh. Just another thing to add to my stress level.

It's OK, I think I resolved it. I called VitalChek in Arizona, spoke with a live person, got her to print out another certified copy while I was on the phone and she is overnighting it to the hotel in Vancouver, where we will be tomorrow night. Great!

Or so I thought.

Turns out, I need the birth certificate to GET ACROSS the border, not to get on the cruise ship. Sigh.

So, I call the hotel, they set me up with a taxi company and I am going to pay major bucks to have them pick up the Fed Ex package at the hotel and drive it to me at the border, arriving around the same time that my shuttle does. HOPEFULLY this will work.

If I'm back home next week, you know it got all fucked up and my in-laws will absolutely HATE me. However, I will remain calm and feel confident that I have resolved my problem, and that everything will be hunky-dory. (Pray with me for this, please)

We are flying into Seattle, shuttle to Vancouver, boarding the cruise. After it's over, we debark and are staying in a lovely bed and breakfast outside Anchorage until it's time to come home. We actually had to stay an extra 3 days otherwise we would have had to pay an extra 2K each for airline tickets. Ridiculous, but it's forcing us to take a longer vacation, and should I really be complaining??

Anywhoo...try not to miss me too much. I shall have a full trip report upon return, and until then GOOD LUCK to everyone and knock em dead at the tables!

Here and Gone

Back from Phoenix, Cherissa did well in the pageant, although she did not end up in the final 5 (The Queen's Court). She was crowned Miss. Hostess and will return next year as returning royalty which tickles her. She was more disappointed that she didn't win for the family in the crowd vs. for her, what an amazing child.

Anyways, back home for a few days then gone for my Alaskan Cruise for 10 days, here and gone.

Husband Speaks

The passion that Tanya puts into life is what makes me love her. She's unconventional, extreme and does things that seem over-the-top. That's why she is my wife.

The topics below have been discussed in recent days. Since I know her better than you do, I thought I'd throw in my two cents.

TANYA & POKER

Even though I don't understand poker, I want Tanya to chop the river all day long if that is what SHE wants. She does her work, tends to family, she's a wonderful mother and she is a wonderful wife.

I know if it wasn't poker, it would be something else. I've been leaving The Wonders of Knitting magazine laying around lately, but she hasn't taken the bait.

TANYA & DRINKING

As many of you know, Tanya had gastric bypass surgery, so whatever she eats or drinks doesn't linger long. She drinks like many of us do, to get a buzz. It takes more for her to maintain that buzz. She doesn't drink at home, at work or around our daughter. We do drinks and dinner every few weeks and that's it.

TANYA & DRINKING II

I admit to raising my eyebrows when I learned that Tanya drained 50 shots in half as many hours. Three shots and I'm down.

TANYA & MONEY

A while back, Tanya posted here that she regretted not fully disclosing how much money she spent playing poker. Since then she's played within the parameters of an agreement we hammered out together.

TANYA & ME

My wife has a special energy and focus that I've not often experienced. I love and cherish her, our daughter and our life together. I put up with her poker passion and she allows me space to pursue mine.

I'm not a gamer, gambler or poker player, but I am a happy man.

TANYA

She dares to share her weaknesses and her strengths on these pages. Not many have the courage to publish the truth.

My Little Princess

PROUD MOM BLOG ALERT

Well, it's that time again, the Miss American Coed Pageant is this weekend and this will be my daughter's third year attending, and her last year as a Pre-Teen.

Cherissa asked to join these pageants about 5 years ago, but due to the cost, we were unable to actually do it until the year after and with the help of sponsors.

These pageants are based on academic achievements and personality. Make-up is NOT allowed, it is not one of those crazy Jon Benet Ramsey deals. I am not your typical pageant mom and it's always funny to me going to these events and seeing the other moms and how they react. I always seem to find one or two that are cool like me though, lol.

The first year Cherissa won the title of Miss. Spirit. This is the girl who shows the most personality and is decided by the choreographers out of all the girls in attendance, usually around 125-175. (Yes, they do their own little opening number and everything!).

The second year Cherissa won first place in Speech, (My Favorite American, Pat Tillman), Miss. Hostess (This is a special crown and banner/sash given to the girl who sells the most ads for the pageant program. It pays to be a Rotarian and Chamber of Commerce member, ha ha ha), and Miss Spirit for the SECOND year in a row!! (That was exciting and cool!)

This year she will be singing in the Talent portion, and the girl gives me goosebumps, she's that good. I'm not just saying that either because I'm her Mom! She will again be crowned Miss. Hostess, and will hopefully do well in her Speech again, as she has great stage presence and can deliver in front of crowds with ease.

So, wish us well and I will give report upon return. Try not to miss me or my blog too much while I'm away!!

Deep Breaths Tanya, In.....Out..

I'd like to buy the world a home,
and furnish it with love.

Grow apple trees and honey bees
and snow white turtle doves.

I'd like to teach the world to sing,
in perfect harmony. (sing with me!)

I'd like to buy the world a coke,
and keep it company (it's the real thing!)

I'd like to teach the world to sing,
in perfect harmony.
I'd like to buy the world a coke,
and keep it company.

Summary WSOP Report

Well, it's over, congratulations to all that played hard and won big, good for you I say!!!

FINANCIALLY:

Looking over my receipts, I can only guestimate at the amount total spent and won.

Events: $12,500
This includes the Last Chance 11 pm and the Super Satellites along with Events #: 2, 4, 9, 15, 16, 26, 30.

Satellites: $7,000
I have NO idea, but had roughly estimated this figure while there, to get a receipt for tax purposes, and I figured 3 satellites a day on days I didn't have events. DAMN, I should have kept better records! Now that I actually do the calculations, I think I spent well over $12,000.

Gambling: $10,000
Slots, Let It Ride, 3-5-7, Boston 5 Card Poker, 3 Card Poker.

OK, so that would put me at spending around $28K, not counting gas, hotel, food, etc. So let's just say $30K to make it an even number.

I know that I made exactly 3 withdrawals from our personal account of $500 each, for a total of $1500.
I know that I withdrew most funds from my online poker accounts for a total of about $4000
I know that I collected about $2400 from backers.

BY THE WAY: To my backers, thank you again for supporting and believing in me. I am truly sorry that I couldn't make us all BIG money, we all know that's the risk with backing, but I hope you at least feel like you've got your money's worth by living vicariously through me in my blog. Please trust me when I say that I did NOT drink the night before, or the day of any event that I was backed in. I know it may be hard to believe after reading all my Drunk Lady trip reports, but I had too much respect for you and the event to do that. All my drunkedness happended after busting out and drowning my sorrows, ha ha ha.

So, I started with about $8K, spent $30K, and have come home with Nada. Therefore, am I technically down $30K or down $8K? I say I'm down $5500K as that's what was taken out of my accounts, but 4K of it was already marked for poker, so technically, I only spent $1500 of household money.

AND I played for 4 days a week for all 6 weeks.

I'm OK with my figures, I know that if I didn't win as many satellites that I did, or win the jackpots on those damn Video Poker machines, that I probably would not have been able to last longer then the first 2 weekends. So, again, I'm OK with my figures!!

EDIT: I DID NOT LOSE $30,000 AT ONE TIME. I USED $6,400 TO PLAY FOR 6 WEEKS. IN ESSENCE, I USED $7,900 WHICH WAS $2,400 FROM BACKERS AND $4,000 FROM MY POKER BANKROLL AND $1,500 FROM OUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT. I WAS WILLING TO SPEND ALL OF MY POKER BANKROLL ($4k) AT THE WSOP, AND THAT IS WHAT THAT MONEY WAS EARMARKED FOR. I LOST $1,500 OF OUR PERSONAL MONEY DURING THE ENTIRE 6 WEEKS AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THAT IS BAD, FOR 6 WEEKS WORTH OF PLAYING. WOULD I HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BROUGHT HOME $30,000? AM I FUCKING STUPID? DOES EVERYONE SIMPLY THINK I'M FUCKING STUPID? I NEVER HAD MORE THEN $5K ON ME AT ONE TIME, AND IT WAS USUALLY 3-4K THAT I HAD ON ME THAT I USED TO REINVEST IN SATELLITES, EVENTS, ETC.

SO YES, I AM OK WITH MY NUMBERS AND SO IS BILL, AND THAT'S REALLY ALL THAT MATTERS, ISN'T IT? YET I CONTINUE TO BE CRITICIZED AND I CONTINUE TO LET IT BOTHER ME, THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM, THAT I LET OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS BOTHER ME. WHAT CAN I SAY, THAT'S PART OF ME THAT I NEED TO CHANGE.

EMOTIONALLY:

WOW, what a whirlwind 6 weeks it has been and although I had my ups and downs, and I never made it past 2nd break at any event, I seemed to do quite well in the satellites and simply had an overall marvelous time. I got to meet people that I only knew from online, I gained some very dear new friends, and I got to be better acquainted with past poker friends. I am a social butterfly and I LOVE socializing, so the past 6 weeks has been phenomenal. I loved my experience and am so happy and glad that I was able to do it. Much kudos and love to Bill for being so patient and tolerant during these weeks, and where the HELL would I be without Linda, my manager who was always there backing me up (and my business) when I was gone.

Loved it!

Tag...I'm It.

A friend of mine through WPC has a blog, http://itsmylifeasuninterestingasitmaybe.blogspot.com/ and has tagged me (well, I tagged myself as she didn't think I, or anyone else, reads her blog) and to show support to her and due to the wonderful compliments she's always throwing out about me on her blog, here it is.

If you don't get this blog, then you don't get those STUPID Fwd: fwd: fwd: emails. LOL

10 years ago, I was 21 and Cherissa was 3 years old. I live in Mesa, worked in Scottsdale (LONG drive) at a family physicians's office with 3 providers as a front office, check out, receptionist at $7/hour. I still remember having to learn how to spit out "Dr's Siegman, Ottwell and Chadwick, can I help you?" Every time I answered the phone. (Try it, it's hard 10 times in a row!!!) I was broken up with Cherissa's father and was doing the single life, but not enjoying it.

5 years ago, I was 26 years old and was Bill's girlfriend. I was contemplating the gastric bypass surgery at this time, and finally went through with it exactly one year later. I was working at a very large medical billing service in Phoenix and was promoted to Network Manager. I was making good money, $16/hour but still struggling and living paycheck to paycheck as a single mother.

1 year ago I was living in Kingman, AZ and doing EXACTLY what I'm doing right now. Playing poker online, playing poker live, and working for myself with the medical billing service that I own. I had 4 clients at this point, having just recently signed on my then biggest client, and was excited and proud of how far my business had grown in 2 1/2 years.

Yeserday I was in Vegas, at The Plaza, playing the $1500 NLHE UPC Event.

Today I worked and blogged like crazy.

Tomorrow I have a dental appointment at 8 am (egads!) and will be working and playing poker online ALL day and night long, probably going to bed around midnight.

5 snacks I enjoy: Cheetos, Pringles, Twinkies, Goldfish Crackers, PB Crackers.

5 bands that I know most of the lyrics of their songs: I don't know bands, but I know lyrics. Just like Erin, I know the words to almost every song that comes on the radio and have been commented on that fact MANY times.

5 things I would do with 100 million dollars: Make my entire family millionaires, set up foundations left and right, open businesses left and right, invest, and be a philanthropist. I love the idea of just giving away money. I have a generous soul and heart. I don't know if many remember this, but there used to be a guy that had a national column in all the big newspapers, where people would write in with their story, and ask for money. I think it was called Mr. Millionaire or something like that. I liked him. I loved reading that column, and that's what I would want to do. Give money away to people who need it, who could really really use it.

5 bad habits I have: Smoking, biting fingernails, gambling, apparantly drinking too much when I go out for the evening, forgetting names.

5 locations I would run away to: Costa Rica, Aruba, Australia, Holland, and Sweden.

5 things I would never wear: That one AWFUL outfit I wore to the WSOP Razz event (what a moron for even buying it, and then I HAD to wear it because I had nothing else, Felicia KNOWS the one I'm talking about. Spandex, Tank Tops, Daisy Dukes.....need I say WHY??? Baseball hats, I don't like them.

5 biggest joys of the moment: My family, my business, my poker, my blog, my new friends.

5 famous people I would like to meet: Oprah (Gawd, I admire her SOOO much), Will Smith (Seems like he would be really fun to hang out with) Micheal Jackson (I've always been a fan, sorry guys!), John McCain (I love this guy, and I'm a Democrat!!) and Julia Roberts (My all time favorite actress)

5 movies I like: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Summer School, Star Wars Saga...that should count as 6. These are the movies that I watch OVER and OVER again.

5 TV shows I like: Las Vegas, Medium, Law and Order, West Wing, Survivor.

5 favorite toys: Dual moniters, internet, my new Hyundai Tucson, my Let It Ride home game and Trivial Pursuit.

OK, that's it.....cheesy I know, but there you have it.

Lorrie, Corrie and Mom......TAG, your it. Respond in the comment section so my readers can read a little bit about my family. : )

Mwa Ha Ha...a NEW Experiment

Heads up SNG's.

So I'm trying to find a MTT on UB and not having much luck, the SNG's aren't filling fast enough, so I decide to try out the HU SNG's and entered a $20 one, for the first time, last week.

I won in 3 minutes.

Hmmm.....

I enter another $20 one and win that one in 5 minutes.

Hmmmmmmm.....

I play a $30 one the next day and win that one in 4 minutes (I'm timing them now).

HMMMMMM. I proceed to play 2 more $20 and win them as well. Right now, I am 5/5.

So I decided to do a little experiment. I know it's only doubling my money, but if I can double my money in less then 5 minutes, why WOULDN'T I??

I am going to play 10 $20 HU SNG's, if I win 7 of them, I move up to $30 HU SNG's, if I win 7 of them, I move up again. I will proceed as such and give daily reports on how I'm doing. Due to the time involved, I should be able to do all 10 in one night, as long as the players are there.

I am doing this on UB as that is where I started already and I'm thinking that they're soft right now, although that's due to my recent wins, obviously. We'll see if I change my tune later, lol.

Oh, and please, feel free to challenge me. : )

The Whole Story

Bill and I went out to dinner tonight and as an avid reader, he sees what people post about him in the Comments, about how understanding he is, and "How does he do it, because I never could it you were my wife" etc. etc. I tell him the comments I get while at my tournaments, as I hear it every single time I go, at least once a day. How they can't believe that my husband let's me travel and play poker, and enter tournaments.

I know how lucky I am to have such a caring and wonderful husband, but changes must be made because although he IS so understanding, he also has a few issues with the poker and traveling.

As explained to me, they are:

1. The safety concern of my traveling alone.
2. The safety concern of being a woman in the casino/poker atmosphere.
3. The biggest reason: My habit of always "pushing the envelope".

Telling him my schedule, and then changing it to include "one more day" or "one more tournament". Before I leave for a tournament, I tell him what I plan on doing, when I'm coming home, etc. I have a really, really bad habit of constantly pushing it by staying a little bit longer then originally planned, playing another tournament that I wasn't originally planning on playing, etc. It bothers him tremendously, and out of my love and respect for him, we needed to come up with a compromise.

We made an agreement back in January that I was to have the next six months to try my best to make a "run" for the poker goals I had established for myself. I was going to travel every month and end it with the Orleans Open (now in progess). Once the six months were over, I would be done with live tournament poker, and I would play online ONLY.

However, once we discovered I was pregnant, it all changed. I knew I would be stopping for the duration of the pregnancy, with perhaps an exception of the WSOP. (Too bad I'm not still pregnant, then I wouldn't have drank at the WSOP and people wouldn't think I was an alcoholic..lol)

So my tribute to Frank Sinatra was just that, a melancholy tribute to the end of my live poker play. I haven't reached the goals I set for myself, but I'm young. I have plenty of years ahead of me and although I don't believe the end is "forever", I know that I will only try again if I can give it a 100% try. To me, this means not being a business owner, not working, but just becoming a professional tournament player. Once I am able to get my business to the point where I no longer have to be in attendance, then I do believe that I will be "going for it" and have stated as much to Bill.

It will be hard, and I know I've stated "I'm retiring from live play" before (um, that WAS due to the pregnancy Felicia!) and I know I've stated "I'm done with online poker", (I was on tilt that week!) LOL, this is the time where I really do mean it and will follow through with it because Bill and I have reached the compromise and for me to break it would have consequences on my marriage that I am not willing to face or accept.

I love Bill and I respect his feelings so much, that I have no problem agreeing to the compromise, I just know it will be hard since I love the live tournament life so much.

"That which does not kill us, makes us stronger" isn't that how the expression goes?

See you online!!!

First Annual ITH Convention

What a blast. I have attended many private poker tournaments in the past and don't think I've ever had as much fun.

The people who make up ITH are incredible. Each person has their own personality that just seems to mix well with all the others and makes up a very nice little family.

I can honestly say that there wasn't a single person there that I did NOT like, and that's rare for me because although I'm a people person, in a large group, I seem to be able to single out at least a few that I don't like, for whatever reason, just as I'm sure there's always a time when someone singles ME out as that person for them. (make sense?) Anywho...there just wasn't one! I loved them all!

It's hard going to these private tournaments because I know them as their screen name on the forum, and not as their real name, so even while I'm there and I get to know their real name, I NEVER remember it. I remember them by their screen name only and then call them by that all weekend long. It's also hard to remember each one's name (for me that is) as there were so many, and they're mostly guys, and it's hard to remember the faces and names to all 60 different guys, but easy to remember the 10 women. (Actually, most of the wives that played were knows as "Such and Such's wife" not by their own name, lol)

It was an honour to arrange the convention and I was pleased that it went so well. There wasn't a single mishap and everything went according to plan, if not better!

Obviously, you notice I'm not actually mentioning the tournaments we had, but that's because the best I placed was 14th in one of the LHE events, and then zip...nothing else.

I did get busted in the Main NLHE event when I flopped a straight, he flopped trips, we moved all in and it came runner runner A, giving him a boat. Sigh...that's poker!

I made so many wonderful friends and I cherish the memories.

Thanks ITH!!!

www.internettexasholdem.com

The $1,500 Meltdown

I was in Vegas this weekend for the ITH Convention, which was held at The Plaza, Downtown. As most poker players should know, The Plaza is also holding their annual Ultimate Poker Challenge, which is a month long televised event ending with a 10K tourney next week.

Since the convention was over on Saturday night, I decided to try and win my way into the $1,500 NLHE event on Sunday. I played 1 satellite, because that is ALL they could get going, just not enough players/interest.

As a prelude to my ITH Convention trip report, yes, The Drunk Lady came out. She started drinking Saturday night after the ITH Main Event, and with the help of all her ITH'r friends, she had quite a good time playing $2/$4 drunk off her ass. She was able to get the ENTIRE table to match her shots, although she did 2 to their 1.

I stayed up all night. I played drunk, I continued drinking, and I played the satellite drunk. I busted out the first 8 people, then went heads up and proceeded to lose 5 races in a row and then busted out of the satellite, no time to even talk chop, and he had already refused a save when I had 12K in chips to his 2K.

So, I really wanted to play the event, and I had about $900 from the weekend left and knew that in order to buy in directly, I would have to get Bill's permission. I called him and we spoke about it for awhile, and he said that due to it being my last weekend and my last "hurrah" at live tournament playing, to GO FOR IT!! (GOD, I love my husband!) So I did, buying in directly and sat down with about 42 other entrants.

At the first table, I recognized a few players, but no known names, that I know of. I just couldn't get any cards, every time I made a raise, I was re-raised. every time I bluffed, I seemed to get callers, it just wasn't working to well for me. The hand that started the rush:

I was in the BB, UTG moves all in. UTG+1 calls. It's then folded around to me and I look down to 7d10d. I know it's not a "good" hand, but here is my chance to triple up and either bust out or make a serious comeback. I have no idea what I had in chips, but we started with 4500 and I believe I had around 1300, give or take.

The flop came 9h, Qc, 3d. UTG moved all in and the UTG+1 folded. UTG shows AA, I show my 7d10d, stating I either win big or lose big. We now know that I need perfect, perfect in order to win. The turn is 8s, so I now need a J or a 6, and low and behold, a beautiful 6 is peeled off and I triple up. Crazy, I know, but hey, that's poker.

I continued drinking while playing as I made the decision to just say "Fuck It" and play my last live tournament drunk and have fun, and see what I can do with it as I can't seem to win live tournaments sober.

I dominated. I kicked ass, I made calls that were questionable, then would suck out. I sucked out so many times, it was ridiculous.

JJ to his K, K and I get a J.
A Q to his J,J and I get an A.
77 to his 1010 and I get a 7.
Calling all in's with a draw on the flop and getting there.
Crazy stuff.

I had this guy at my table that everyone seemed to know, so I asked his name. He said Kevin. I said Kevin what, he said Kevin Smith. Hmmm. OK. Never heard of a well known named Kevin Smith. Turns out 5 mins later after calling him Kevin 10 times, he states "My name is NOT Kevin, Tanya, it's GAVIN". Dumb me, I have now met Gavin Smith and YES I know who he is. LOL.

I had another guy at my table, who I didn't know, but found out after busting him out that it was THE Vince Burgio. The guy has been dominating the UPC, winning two back to back and placing in the money several other times, etc. Here's that hand: It's the first hand after 1st break and this was my 2nd table after being moved. Both blinds are missing, not returning in time. I warn the other 3 players that were there that we would have to see who was going to be the one stealing their blinds. I am UTG and I see 5, 5. I immediantly raise to 4X the BB. Vince looks at me, and I tell him "I'm not stealing, I'll show if you all fold". He looks right at me and says, "I'm all in".

Hmmm. Well, don't piss off The Drunk Lady. I had him covered, I call. Sorry, don't know amounts, etc. He flips over K, 10. I show my 5, 5. Flop is Q high and then the turn peels off a 5, he's drawing dead, then tells me in a very polite way that I was stupid for calling his all in with a crap hand like 5,5. I mean it, he was very polite about it, just wanted to let me know how he felt about my call. I'm OK with it and still very much respect the guy. This is when I learn who he is as Gavin says, "Tough break Vince" Oh lordy, I just busted out THE Vince Burgio??? Yowzers.

So, we get down to 18 players, and I am chipleader. Top 7 get paid, and move to the final table which is televised, taping the next day at 3 pm. I continue playing the way I had been, continued drinking and knock out 3 from my table, other tables gets knock outs and next thing I know, we combine to a table with 9 players left.

I'm not sure about the chipstacks, counts, etc. I didn't pay attention to it, all I know is that I was in the top 3, easily.

This is where it all went wrong.

Depending on how you look at it, I either majorly screwed up or didn't.

I made the decision to continue playing aggressively and try to build up my stack so that I would be chipleader at the final table. This is where opinions will vary as to whether I should have done that, or if I should have stopped playing, not play a single hand JUST to make sure I made the top 7.

As you all know, one of my goals and dreams is to be on a televised event, this was my chance, I wanted it so much that perhaps, maybe, I should've played the chicken role just to get to my goal, but instead decided to be aggressive and play. I had a LOT of railbirds due to my ITH'r friends still being there, and noone (that I recall, but remember I was drunk) gave me any advise or hints and tips, they basically just said, "Take it Down" and let me play my game.

I was out in 2 hands.
Out in 9th place.

O
U
T

I am in the BB, I think it was 800/1600 at this point. The button raises to 4000, I look down to KsJs and I call. (I think I was at 40-50K). The flop was K, 3, 6 and I move all in, he immediantly calls and flips over A, A. I get no help, and I double him up.

I am crippled, down to about 8-9K and I know that any hand I get that is playable, I am moving all in. The very next hand, in the SB, there is a LP raise of All In. He has me covered, I look down to A,Q and I call. He shows J,J. Flop is all rags, with 2 clubs. The turn is a beautiful Qc. The river looks to be like a harmless 9, but then I see that it's a club. 4 clubs on the board, he holds Jc in his hand, and I am OUT.

I walk away quickly. I don't look or speak to anyone, I simply leave. I am walking towards the casino exit, to get some air, calm down, not cry, etc. Until I feel a hand on my shoulder, it's Ammbo from ITH. He was one of my sweaters and a true friend. We walked outside, he let me cry it out and cry I did. We talked about 10 mins, I sat and commiserated, we talked about whether it was a good decision or not to play the style, I was calming down. He trys to distract me and get me to sit with him at PaiGow and teach him how to play, I knew the distraction would work so I agreed. We sit down, and then I decide, wait, I need to call Bill.

I called Bill and before he even answered, I had a meltdown.

I'm surprised Bill could even understand a single word I was saying, I was literally sobbing and couldn't speak too clearly. I had a complete and TOTAL meltdown, I made Mike "The Mouth" Matusow look good, THAT'S how bad it was.

What a woman. Playing in a man's world and then breaks down like a little bitch in front of the other players.

I do believe that the alcohol (I estimated 50 shots over 25 hours), lack of sleep (awake for 40 hours) contributed to the Meltdown. It lasted about an hour, and then my wonderful friends took over.

They treated me exactly the same, simply trying to distract my mind, inviting me to the NL table, inviting me to the $2/$4 game, making sure I had shots, cigarettes, signing up for the 12AM tourney with me, anything.

I decided that I was hungry and so Torch (ITH'r) went with me to the Diner across the street (That San Francisco casino??). I had calmed down, but was coming down HARD. I was falling asleep at the table and looked like all those drunk people you see and make fun of when your sober. Torch took control and decided that I would not play the 12 AM tourney and needed to crash. I agreed with him, but it took me hearing it to really realize it, so we went back to The Plaza. He wasn't going to let me go back to the poker room because he knew I would probably change my mind and try to continue playing. However, I felt I had to go back to the poker room and say Bye to everyone. I really felt that all my friends, both ITH'rs and other friends that I had made this weekend were very supportive, and felt bad for me and were totally understanding of my meltdown.

OR they were all just being nice and talked about me behind my back, who knows?? LOL

I said my good byes and Torch walked me to my room where I then crashed, falling asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I woke up around 5AM for some reason, so I only slept for 5 hours, which is odd as my body should have shut down and I should have slept for at least 10 hours, but maybe my body is used to my strange sleep habits of the past 6 weeks. I decided it was time to go and left for the drive home right then and there.

I am a little embarrassed to post this blog, but then again, I'm not. I decided that you can only be embarrassed or ashamed about things you choose to be, so I have decided to not be about this incident. I feel that I am just such an emotional person who cares very deeply and passionately about poker, and I just happen to show it whereas other players may not.

That's just me, take it or leave it, love me or hate me.

I am so deeply, deeply thankful of my friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who were there and to all who helped me out. I will always hold a special place in my heart now for Torch and Ammbo for being true, true friends.

To all my haters, try not to leave TOO much flaming on my comments, it will hurt my feelings which are still pretty damn raw and then you'll be known as an asshole to the people who DO like me. (ha ha ha)


EDIT:
Well, this post has already generated a lot of heat/talk on my forums. Contrary to popular belief, I do NOT have a drinking problem. I went on a six week WSOP binge, which happened to include drinking and it's a little frustrating when I'm labeled an "alcoholic" or as someone with a "serious problem" but noone says a word to other people who did the SAME thing I did. It's OK for a 23 yo college kid to have fun and party and drink every night while in Vegas, but it's not OK for me?? I just don't get it. Double standards SUCK, lol.

Also, I did not mean to imply that I made no mistakes......HELLOOOOO it was ALL my fault, and I take full responsibility and that's why it hurt me so much because I KNEW it was me, not THEM. So I apologize if I came across as being "boo hoo" me. That wasn't my intention.

EVERY Word Fits....

....in regards to the last six weeks of poker, the WSOP, and the end of my live poker tournament life.

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.

I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and ev’ry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

WPBT "Charlie" Tournament

Copied and pasted from Pauly's Blog (www.taopoker.blogspot.com) because I'm too damn lazy to type it up myself and I know he doesn't care. I am signed up, but may not play if I'm still in Vegas. It's for a great cause, and that's all that matters. KARMA Baby, Karma.

WPBT "Charlie" Tournament

When? 6PM EST Sunday July 17th

Where? PokerStars Check under the Private Tournament Tab

How Much? $20 - every penny goes to charity

What Do I Get When I Win? The comfort of knowing you're doing something good for someone else.

No, Really... No. Really.

All proceeds to go to wherever Charlie Tuttle's family wants them.The tournament is open to bloggers and readers.

It's $20, I encourage all my readers to play or just sign up and help Charlie's family out....let it be your one (cheap) good deed of the week.

Thanks.

WSOP Watch

I know it's been awhile since I've posted, and I have some great posts coming up after this weekend.

I will be leaving for Vegas on Thursday, returning on Sunday and this will conclude my whirlwind 6 weeks of poker. Technically, the WSOP is officially "over" for me, but I will be in Vegas for the ITH (www.internettexasholdem.com) convention, and will be dropping in Benny's Bullpen to witness a little bit of final table action if I can.

I have been following the WSOP coverage like a mad woman, particulary sweating Fellknight (Jordan Devenport) due to my having 8% of his action. Day 1 was so phenomenal for him, he kept hitting trips, doubled up pretty early and ended the day at about 65K if memory serves, which was in the top 25.

Unfortunatly, Day 2 wasn't as kind and he was eliminated around 11:30pm, at about 625th place, when his Preso (5, 5) was called by A,J and a J came on the turn. (My numbers may not be exact, but you get the drift).

Soooooooo close to the money, 560 get paid, I was crushed for him. However, he did make it to almost the 10% percentile, so I'm extremely proud of him and I think he did an amazing job. He outlasted all other RGP'rs too, so that's worth mentioning, right??

Another friend that I have in the event is Matthew Hilger, he's the owner of ITH, he placed high last year earning 80K (I believe....I think he got 30th place?? something like that) Anyways, it would be very, very fitting if he could make the final table since he has a boatload of ITH'rs planning on being there for the convention. We've already discussed that if an ITH'r made it to the final table, then we would cancel our private tournaments and sweat our fellow player in droves. I do believe he is our last chance for that.

Matthew ended Day 1 with about 91K in chips (MOST excellent!) but just like Fellknight, he was hit hard with the deck and ended Day 2 with about 60K in chips. I'm sure he'll make the money, but let's hope he can rebuild his stack, have a better Day 3 and be on his merry little way to Day 5. Go Matthew!!!

That's it for now, I'm going crazy at home trying to catch up on a LOT of work for one of my biggest clients, but the damn internet kept going down all weekend and there is nothing more frustrating then when you are ready to really start working, and you can't. Bleh. Internet seems OK today though, so we'll see how much work I can get done today. I have to meet with this client on Thursday, so I might have to pull an all nighter or two before then.

Not much poker playing due to work, however I did make time for a $30 HU SNG, and busted him in about 5 minutes, it was too easy. I may have to keep playing those to see if it's me or if it was just him. LOL

Testing....

Trying to get one of Bill's pictures of me at the WSOP to use for my profile pic, but no matter how hard I try....I can't get it to show up without a bunch of squiggly lines and other distorting causing crap on the pic on this page. If you click on the pic though, it takes you to my profile where it looks OK there...just not on this blog page. Weird and frustrating. Sigh.

Accomplishments Feel Great

I absolutely love it when I accomplish something. The feeling is so refreshing, it helps clear the mind and put me right back to where I consider myself, which is ahead of the game.

I have "caught up" in my work, my employees are doing excellent jobs, I don't have to meet with one client until the end of next week, and thus I have a little bit more free time this week then I thought I would have.

I was planning on going to Vegas on Thursday to pick up Cherissa from the airport. The plan was to drive there, pick her up, drive right back home. Due to the circumstances surrounding my work right now, and due to my ever loving and oh-so-generous husband, I get to go tomorrow afternoon and stay for one night.

I will be leaving around 11 AM, meet with one of my clients, then head to Vegas from there. I do not plan on playing any super satellites, in fact I really have no intentions of going to RIO at all, as IF I was to play and win, I couldn't stay for the Main Event anyways, so why torture myself?

I will then be back in Vegas from 7/13-7/16 for the ITH Convention (www.internettexasholdem.com) and to hopefully, I pray, sweat someone at the final table....if I know anyone at the final table that is.

After that weekend, my WSOP is officially over. It's actually probably already "officially" over, but hey, it ain't over until the fat lady sings, and I have not sung yet. Once I consider it over I will be doing a summary WSOP trip report. That one should be a doozy.

The weekend after the ITH Convention, I will be going to Phoenix for my daughter's pageant. Then I come home and the very next weekend, Bill and I leave for a 10 day vacation/cruise to Alaska. I'm really looking forward to it, but we're also very nervous as we have never left the office for that length of time before. Kind of scary.

Anyways, no real meaning to this post....just wasn't ready for bed yet so I decided to grace my readers with my presence today.

Lastly...well wishes to Felicia Lee who begins her chemo therapy this week. I'm sure she knows how much the poker community is wishing her well. Best wishes to you Felicia.

I'm My Best Pimp

Much thanks and appreciation sent out to Pauly.

Fox Sports News Article:

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/3724248

Fox Sports Photo Gallery:

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/pgStory?contentId=3724284&pageNumber=27

Interview with Pauly:

http://radio.weblogs.com/0142180/

Actually haven't listened to the interview yet, due to my mental breakdown with my speakers one day a few months ago, but I'm sure I sound pissed. LOL. It was taken after I had calmed down after the WSOP Ladies Event.

EDIT: OK, I listened to the interview on Bill's computer, and if you ask me, I sound pretty damn good. I seem to be calm and rational, even though you can tell when I pause to take a deep, relaxing hit from my cigarette. I was chain smoking for a little bit that hour, but it helped calmed me down. I also found it amusing that Pauly cut out my part about my calling my opponent a Bitch and stating how I hoped someone knocked her out soon. LMAO.

Women and Poker

Settle in, this is a long read. You may want to skip if it doesn't interest you, but also note that this is my 3rd blog for today and how the hell did you, my reader, get so damn lucky??!!

As posted on RGP by "Debbie in Ohio":

I have to say I was very disappointed on how the Rio/Harrah's/WSOP people treated the ladies at the 2005 WSOP Ladies Only event.

We had 601 women in our event, and I busted out in the first 20 min when I misread a tell on someone who'd been pushing our table around (She'd been flinging her chips and glaring as if she was bluffing), when she had a better kicker than myself.

However, I stuck around for the whole thing, and watched.

I think if the WSOP people are going to HAVE a Ladies Only event, then they should treat the event equal to all the other events.

It's sad really, that it took a Movie star with a chip lead to get them to even NOTICE us.

Now, how you ask did they disrespect the Ladies and their event?

1) This should of been from the start, a two day event. When asked why it wasn't, several ladies were told, by the staff even from FEMALE staff:

"Well, this is the first time we've done it no limit ... and hey we figured the ladies wouldn't know how to play it as well, so they'd bust out faster than a mixed event"

and also:

"We didn't think we'd get this many women to show up"

Like, gee, didn't they learn their lessons from Tunica and New Orleans, where women showed up in DROVES. In Tunica they had more women in the Ladies event, then the WHOLE turnout for the MAIN event there!

In New Orleans, they would of had TWICE as many as they did (there were 300 women there), had they not played fast and loose with the schedule and changed the event a few months before hand.

In New Orleans, the other events were put up on the stage on the TV tables, where the women were shoved off in a corner ... and we didn't get an announcer either then.

In New Orleans, the table I was at, between when we lost one player and the 3rd player a whole 20 min elapsed, and then when we refused to play more,and ONLY then (and started yelling in unison for the floor), did the tournament directors tear themselves away from WATCHING other satellite tables play to come over and do their jobs and fill the seats.

2) Back to Las Vegas WSOP event ... When they came to get their seat assignments ... they told women registered in the 2005 Ladies WSOP event, THREE, count them, THREE different times that the event would start at.

11:00 am PST, 12 noon PST, and 2pm PST (the correct starting time was at 11:00 am PST)

3) When it got down into the money, and Jennifer Tilley had a MASSIVE chiplead (the women was luckier than snot I have to say. I think she must of had poker genies, one on each of her shoulders, based on the number of times she called with the worst hand, and sucked out the better player on the turn or the river), all of a sudden, the WSOP people and ESPN 'discovered' that there was a Women's WSOP tournament happening, simply because the Movie star was in the chip lead.

It was then and ONLY then, that they (TPTB and ESPN) proposed that play stop, and the women come back again the next day. Problem was, most women had planes to catch the next morning (because they had been told it was ONLY a 1 day event), and in one case that I know of, a single parent had small children and had to get back again because she'd have no child care, and couldn't find someone else to care for them.

Again, all because of piss poor planning on the part of the WSOP people.

4) Finally, the final table. I don't care if the event had NOT been planned to be filmed or not, or if people agree if there should or should NOT be a Ladies ONLY event in the first place. If there is an WSOP event, it should be respected just as much as the other events.

The other events, when they got down to the final table(s), the final 9 if you will, each had their final tables announced. Well, when the Ladies got down to the final table, we had to BEG and CHANT for an announcer. When realized that NO final table would be announced, crowd began: "Respect the women! We want an announcer for the Women" and also simply"Announcer, Announcer!" over and over again.

Well, about this time Phil L. (the Unibomber) showed up (again, as he'd been coming over every now and then to check on Jennifer's progress) and began talking to the women spectators. Several of the ladies started talking to him how totally disrespectful that the women were being treated (BTW ...Phil L. Is a VERY nice young man). He agreed, and then was talked into going to the officials to speak to them, and use his pull with them, about getting an announcer for them.

It's only because of Phil and when the ESPN film crew came over to check on Jennifer's progress again, and began filming, the crowd chanting, then and ONLY then did suddenly an announcer appear. This was AFTER as well, the 9th lady was knocked out, and as such, SHE never got announced AT all!

5) Phil also pointed out to the powers that be, that there was a TV camera final table available, as Phil was convinced by the crowd watching the ladies (which BTW the crowd there watching the Ladies event towards the end.... was 4 times as many as were watching the Omaha Final table that was happening at the same time), to use his pull with the WSOP and the ESPN people, and thus on the next break, the remaining 6 ladies were moved over to a TV table, but NOT the stage where normally final tables were filmed and played at.

6) When after 17 hours of playing (the ladies played from 11am on Sunday until 4am on Monday Morning), they were down to the final 4, then and only then ... when Jennifer had a MONSTER chip lead (she had about 1/2 of the chips when she first sat down at a camera table, which grew to 3/4ths of the chips when she knocked out the 2nd chip leader, by getting lucky on the river and getting her belly buster straight draw filled there), that ESPN rejoiced when the ladies decided to then come back the next day, so they could film the 'final table' on the stage.

This all because Jennifer Tilley the Movie star, and girlfriend of the Unibomber had such a huge chip lead.

There were other things going on as well.They had to institute a penalty rule towards the end, because some of the professional poker player husbands, boyfriends and significant others were going into the playing area ... DURING the event and coaching their wives and so on.

Phil L. was NOT one of them, and had been getting a sandwich for Jennifer and came back into the area to give it to her, almost giving her 15 min inthe penalty box, all because he was NOT aware of the rule when it was announced

Carlos Mortenson and his wife were the WORST offenders.

Mrs. Mortenson was going to Carlos or Carlos to her after EVERY hand she was/had been in at one point, asking his advice or getting coached ... right there ... in the middle ... DURING THE EVENT that is!

It got several of the women and spectators upset, as most of these women didn't have such an advantage (having professional poker players coaching them in the middle of the event). Thus because it was sooo bad and sooo obvious ... TPTB instituted the rule where the spectators had to stay behind the ropes and not give advice to the players during the event.

There is something good though about Jennifer winning ... perhaps it might draw more women into the sport, and make TPTB sit up, take notice, and take women in Poker more seriously. You'd think with the fact that most men who are of age who would go into Poker are pretty much there, that TPTB might realize that their 'growth industry' for Poker, is NOW getting Women into playing. This is where the 'fresh money' is, if TPTB would simply stop and think about it.There is money to be had by getting more women into the sport, and if the TPTB would simply realize this, they just might treat the women with more respect than the disrespect they showed them at the 2005 WSOP Ladies only event.

Lastly, be it where you are one that agrees that Ladies only events should or shouldn't be, I think that everyone should agree that if you HAVE the event, then it should have the SAME respect given to it, that the other events are given.

Comments?
DEBBIE IN OHIO

Oh yeah...as posted by me in reply:

Was gone for a few days, but have to respond to this thread.

Being a woman who played in the Ladies Event, I do agree with several of Debbie's points. However, here is where I differ: I feel the women (and women's events) bring disrespect onto themselves.

Did you hear the whooping and hollering that went on everytime that there was a bad beat? Did you hear the whooping and hollering that went on once they were in the money? While you may hear this occasionally in a "regular" event, you don't hear it general, as a rule. (Unless it's final table and ESPN is filming it).

I was disgusted by the behaviour of the ladies (as a whole) at this years event and it has caused me to "wake up" and decide to boycott all future ladies events. I will never play one again. In regards to disrespect, the whole poker community (again, generalization) disrespects the Ladies Event. They ROLL their eyes at the ladies who cheer,clap, whoop, and holler everytime they win a hand. They come up to "real" poker players who happen to be women, and ask them "Are you here for the "Big" event?" MEANING the Ladies Event. Even the bracelet is a smaller, "feminine" version ofthe "real" bracelets. The media puts out a list of "The Wives" who are playing the event.

Women's events were started with the sole intention of giving the ladies, the"wives", of the "real" players something to do while their man was playing in a tournament. That day and age has come and gone and Women's Events should no longer exist, IMO.

At this point, it appears that the Ladies events are becoming well attended due to the number of women who are playing poker, by starting online usually, and who....what?....are too afraid or intimated to play against the Big Boys??

I don't know, I know that I played it in order to have one more chance at a WSOP bracelet, which I found out later was different then the "real" bracelets.

I'm rambling, but my point is, Ladies Events are disrespected as a whole already...so why would a poker player, who happens to be a woman, want to play in them? Soft money is the usual answer as to be quite honest, I don't know how proud I would be with the title of "Ladies Event Winner" knowing that I am a "real" poker player and knowing that other "real" poker players disrespect the Ladies Events.

Just my one cent, 1/2 price today.
TANYA PECK
MISST74

Next post by G-Man in response to my post:

Are you the same Tanya Peck that wrote a column in a recently launched "WOMENS"
poker magazine? Perhaps you should reconsider your stance on this subject about
boycotting womens events based on this affiliation or maybe WOMENS magazines
shouldn't be avilable either and you can boycott them also.

OTH... if you are not the same person, please accept my apology.
GMAN

Then on the next post by Pokerhoe:

I happen to know that she is the same Tanya Peck that is a contributing
writer at the afore mentioned magazine. I say good ridence...take a
hike ....ladies poker doesnt need ya! and BYE, BYE!!
POKERHOE
(and on an off note, why the HELL would a woman choose the name of PokerHoe as their handle????)


TURNS OUT G-Man and PokerHoe are one in the same person (or a husband/wife team), a woman who used to be a member of Women's Poker Club, then defected over to WPC's rival, PokerChix.com. Her comments didn't really get me riled up but I did have to respond to both of the posts and here it is:

NO, I AM the same person, and believe me the stances that I have now have seriously affected my decision on whether or not to continue writing for WomenPoker Player magazine. I have had a long conversation with the owner of the magazine, I told her that I would be unable to write for the magazine in the future until a few points were made.

I am NOT against women in poker (duh), I am against segregation of women in poker. I believe that women, if they want to enter the poker field, should be prepared and ready to play with men. Thus, you will never find me writing articles (and you never have) about how "good" Ladies Events are to the world of poker, I have always spoken out loud about my dislike of them, however I still played them....just didn't like them.

Now that I have publicly announced my intention to boycott all Ladies Events, I had a hard time deciding if my continuing of writing articles for WPP and my involvement on a Women's Poker Forum would label me as "hypocritical".

I have come to the conclusion that it won't, as again, I try to write about strategy, hints and tips for newcomers (who just happen to be women) and my next article may not even get published since it will be about the WSOP Ladies Event and live play etiquette. WPP is for women who play poker, not just for women who only play Ladies Events, Annie Duke is on the next cover and we all know SHE doesn't play Ladies Events. Therefore, I feel justified at this time.
TANYA PECK
MISST74

Thus producing the next response by WPP:

Woman Poker Player magazine is very pleased to have Tanya's articles and she is more than a welcome contributor. The feedback from our readers on Tanya's contributions are excellent.

Woman Poker Player's mandate is not segregation among players, and we do not promote exclusively women's only tournaments. We also have male writers contributing, and male subscribers as well. It is our mandate to encourage more women to enter the field of poker and we include lifestyle items of interest to women.

Tanya is a great person, and a very good poker player, and as she mentions, Annie Duke, who once played in women's events but does not do so anymore, is on the cover this issue. Annie is a role model for many women in poker.

Thank you Tanya for your contributions, and we look forward to the next issue.
WPP

OK, END OF RGP QUOTING.



So where does that leave me now? As I tried to explain, I do feel "funny" continuing to write for WPP and continuing to be a member of WPC, as I am afraid of appearing to be a hypocrite. I do NOT like Women's only events, I never have, but now I will no longer be playing in them. So can I still continue writing for a women's poker magazine, and still continue being a member of a women's poker forum? After talking with Maryanne, YES, I can.

Again, I am not against women in poker, I am against segregating them. I think women should be comfortable in poker enough to play against men. I don't think it's right to segregate us into our own little event, as it's been pointed out before, there are no "Men's" events, and to be quite honest, if there were, I would be pissed!!

On WPC, I am regarded as a professional. Many of the members look up to me and come to me for advice. I have been told numerous times, and my husband was told as well, by members how much they respect my play and the advice that I do give, when given. A lot of these women are beginners who really only play online and they have no idea about the real world of poker, outside of their house. My goal and intentions are to make them comfortable enough to leave the confinements of their home and get out there and PLAY! Shit, it took me a year to get up the courage to sit down at a real poker table. I had NO ONE to offer me advice or support as I was the only one I knew who actually played poker, and look at me now!

Felicia Lee HATES women's only events, she finds them absolutely degrading and disgusting. I never agreed with her until after this year's WSOP event. Now, I do find them degrading due to the amount of disrespect that they garner from the other "male" poker players in the poker community, it just took me a while to wake up and see the disrespect that Ladies events get.

I will continue writing for WPP and I will continue being a member of WPC. I will start boycotting women only events and will encourage other women to do the same. I will not play any WPC online events, although to be quite honest, the only events I ever played with WPC were WSOP qualifiers. I never joined in on their weekly scheduled tournaments as I have stated before how much I dislike playing with only women. I have my reasons and since I'm going all into depth here I'll spill them.

This is my opinion only and I'm sorry if you disagree with them or you feel offended by them. I dislike women's only events because it's filled with two different types of women:

1. Gossipy, chit chatting women who can't seem to talk enough about their hair, makeup or husbands.
OR
2. Bitches.

When I play a ladies only event, I will fit into one of these categories myself. I adapt to my table and to my mood for the day and if I'm not in a bad mood then I fit into #1, if I am in a bad mood, then I fit into #2. I find this generalization to be true for the most part and that's just how it is.

Now, I have made a lot of friends on WPC and I would never categorize them into one of those two, as I don't play with them so I don't HAVE to. However, I do believe that they will fit into one or the other. Every lady does that plays in a Ladies Only Event, and that includes moi.

And THAT folks is how I feel about Women and Poker.

Defending Myself

As a blog writer, I know that it's my own damn fault that I sometimes get criticized for things I write; hands I play, my drinking, my marriage, etc. However, there comes a point when I actually have to blog about the criticism, and my reactions to all of it.

1. I am not new to poker. I have been playing for over 4 years. I have studied, and I have trained myself for tournament play only. I know that I am not good in cash games, I have admitted this. I have posted before regarding my "Risk vs. Reward" theory, and while a lot of people have criticized me for this theory, I believe in it and HEY, it works for me. Also, I have never claimed to be a professional, although I have claimed to be a semi-professional, and I know that there will always be something for me to learn. However, what makes you think I want to, or I'm going to learn it from you?? (Unless your a well known pro or someone who's play I respect)

2. I am NOT a drunk, nor an alcoholic. I believe in having fun and to me, this involves alcohol. I enjoy having a few drinks and I enjoy the buzzed feeling, dammit I enjoy getting drunk. I am not prone to hangovers, I never get them, so as long as I am not hurting anyone, I see nothing wrong in it. I do not get drunk everyday, hell, I don't even drink at home. However, when I drink, I do drink to get drunk. Otherwise, why waste the money??

3. I have never understood why people feel the need to criticize the hands that people play. You were not in the hand, you were not in the tournament, you do not have the inside information about the table, about the players, that I do. Don't question my judgement. Yes, I make occasional mistakes, and yes, I try to learn from them. However, you pointing out that "You shouldn't have played 10,J anyways" does nothing for me. It doesn't "teach" me anything, all it does it make me wonder when YOUR book is coming out.

4. Bill and I have a very unique relationship. It's filled with communication, trust, support and compromising. I don't think I could be married at all, if we didn't have the relationship that we do. I love my husband with all my heart and soul, and he KNOWS this. Just as I know how much he loves me. For anyone to question the depth of our relationship just makes you appear ignorant to me as you have NO IDEA what my marriage is about and how it works for us. I'm very, very lucky to have him and anyone who has ever met me should know that he's lucky to have me too. We make a great couple.

Don't take this post as a "rant" but rather as a way for me to express myself to the criticism that I do get. Again, I know that by having a public blog the criticism will come forth, but at least I feel better about the points I've made regarding particular criticism's that I hear all the time.

Thank you, please drive forward.

Razzzzzz

Sorry it's been so long since last post, I've been extremely busy with work right now. The end of the month is always busy for me due to closing of the months for my clients, and I don't get paid until I finish so you better believe when I try to finish as quickly as possible. Especially since I only get paid once a month.

So, let's take you back to last week, the week of Razz.

I left for Vegas Tuesday afternoon with daughter in tow since I was going to be taking her to the airport to catch a flight to Phoenix in order to stay with my sister, Lorrie. We arrived in Vegas around 2 pm and had a few hours to kill, so I took her to the WSOP and let her see where "Mommy plays". She thought it was pretty awesome and was a little starstruck when she saw Moneymaker, Raymer, Evelyn, Danny N. , and met Matt Savage. I then took her over to Circus Circus where we won a boatload of stuffed animals.

After getting her on her flight safely, I headed back to Rio and played in 2 Razz satellites. Pretty interesting as both tables were filled with a bunch of named pros, and I found it amusing that they were playing $210 Razz satellites with the "peons".

In the first one I played with Miami John, who actually remembered me from last years WSOP. I had played a super satellite with him, he was in the 1 seat, I was in the 2 seat and we had chatted up quite a storm. I actually didn't recognize him until he came up to me and started talking to me like he knew me, turns out, he did. (lol) There was also another woman who I didn't know the name of, but could tell she was either a pro, or married to a pro. Speaking of marriage, this was the tourney where I sat with Katrina Jett and WOW that girl can TALK. I liked her A LOT. I think she would be pretty fun and cool to hang out with at a bar. She was bad mouthing Kathy Liebert like you would NOT believe. I heard some pretty not-so-pretty stories about her, believe you me. At one point I told her not to be "catty" and this was before I knew who she was, she just poo-pah'd me and told me that Kathy was well aware of her dislike of her. Anyways, I ended up busting out in 3rd place and Katrina ended up chopping it with some guy who kept talking to her like she was some GOD, it was embarrasing.

In the next one, which I had already bought a seat into while playing the other one as I could see that I was going downhill pretty darn fast, I jump into my seat (#3) and lo and behold, who do you think is in the #1 seat? Yep, Kathy Liebert. It was hilarious, I had to jump back out of my seat and go to the other table where Katrina still was, I told her "Take a look at the #1 seat in my new tourney" she turned around and almost busted a gut laughing so hard, it was pretty funny, but you might have had to have been there. I busted out early in this one, finishing about 4th or 5th as memory serves.

Next, it's off to the 11pm Last Chance Tourney. About 170 players and I ended up in 9th place!! Woo Hoo! My best placing in these damn events. Where there were about 13 players left, I went on a streak that put me from the shortest stack to the chip leader. Then I fucked up. Majorly. I played 3 key hands that I had no business in and ended up at the final table (9 handed) with only 10K in chips, when I should have had about 40K. I won't go into gory details about the hands, as then I will get severly punished by the poker community, and I've already been chastised enough by two friends that were sweating me that night. Needless to say, I moved all in with AK, one caller with A10 and he ended up hitting a 10 on the flop. Ces la vie. Out in 9th place around 5:30AM for a prize of $685.

I then gambled a little bit in the pit, playing 3-5-7 and headed for bed, crashing around 7-8AM.

Woke up at noon, the Razz event didn't start until 2PM, so that's why I was able to stay up a little bit later the night before, knowing that I would be able to sleep in a little later then other events.

I gave a little Razz report before, and I won't go too much into it, but I was SO dominating my table, it was awesome. My mistake was not adapting to the player to my right who learned from my aggresive behaviour and brought it back to the table after the first break. He played MY game, and since he was to my right, he took all my moves and I was forced to be like the other passive idiots at the table. Thus, I lost all my power and was reduced to being knocked out right before 2nd break, and this was after being chip leader at my table at 1st break! Heartbreaking I tell ya.

By the way, I have a collection of decorative pill boxes that I use as card protectors. Anyone who's played with me live have seen them, and I get a lot of recognition from them as they are pretty unique. I have a crown, a fly, a ladybug, a high heeled shoe; and they are all bling bling, decked out in jewels, making them all sparkling and pretty. Well, I told my sister Corrie (Corrie is Lorrie's twin, Corrie lives near Sacramento, CA and Lorrie lives near Phoenix. Cherissa went to stay with Aunt Corrie last month, I blogged about it, and she is with Aunt Lorrie this week...but I digress...) about my collection, and promised her that I would try to look for a frog pill box in honour of her and Corrie, I found it honey. I bought one on my very first day at Rio and I blame YOU for all the bad luck it's brought me. Naw, just kidding. I am always asked if it's my "Lucky Charm" but I always reply, "Nope, it's just my card protector." Besides, being a gambler, I'm not superstitious, it's bad luck.

Get it??

Anywho, after playing the Razz event, I played in a few more satellites. To be quite honest, I have no idea if I won/chopped or lost. I guess that's what I get for not typing up my report until a week later, or even 1/2 a week for that matter.