RIP The Mookie

Gotta say I am pretty sad to hear that The Mookie got hijacked and kicked to the curb. The Mookie was one of my favorite tournaments when I used to actually have time to play online poker. I even came close to winning it once! LOL. I've finished second I think twice and once was the Wednesday right before we were all heading down to Vegas for WPBT 2007. I remember Don being drunk as fuck. In fact I am pretty sure Buddy still uses some of those recordings on his show. Maybe one day I will play in The Dank... but it won't be anytime soon.

GL to all those still playing.

Brutal

I keep forgetting to listen to the message!

I just sent myself an email (I do this often) to remind myself when I get home to listen to it. I am still confused as to why my aunt left the message and not him, but whatever... I guess I am not surprised. I am thinking that it is probably because he can't actually talk on the phone, who knows.

Maybe I should call him to find out?

Wow, I am a huge jerk

I wrote that last post in a matter of minutes and now I feel guilty for writing the top portion because I somehow forgot that Lola told me about my aunt calling and leaving a message.

I haven't listened to it yet because I have felt so stupid about this whole situation. How dare I call them out on something they have already responded to.

What a jerk.

As expected

It's been a few weeks now and I have heard nothing back from him or my Aunt. I shouldn't be shocked really and in fact I am feeling a bit selfish even writing about this. I mean really, who knows what the story is over (down) there? Maybe he is on his death bed, maybe he just doesn't give a shit. I find that hard to beleive but I wouldn't put it past him...

Anyway, not much else going on except being a Dad myself. Kicking ass at it to be perfectly honest. The worst part of my day is at about 7:30am when I have to kiss my girls good bye and go to work. Weekends are basically the best thing ever these days.

$1.96

The actually mailing of this card/picture was easy. The cost was minimal. Writing what was inside of it was surprisingly easy as well. I didn't put much effort into it, all I said was that I wish them well and hope they work on their personal health. I had no time to mention what a terrible person he has been for the last 25 years to me. The lack of communication, interest and genuine care are what hurt the most on a daily basis. I try not to think about it, but there are always reminders - everywhere. Today I heard a contest on the radio for hockey dads. I couldn't help but remind myself as to why I never had the chance to play hockey as a young kid and all the opportunties I missed out on as a result. I have always wished I had gone down the road of hockey in my youth. I know I would have done well, but now I will never truly know. Just the fact that I am still, to this day, missing out on all the beer league hockey and the good times that go along with it - I blame him. I will always blame him. It is pretty sad when I step back and think about it. I mean is it really fair that I blame him for being deprived such a luxury as a child? I doubt it.

Anyway, mission accomplished. I don't feel any different and certainly don't feel relieved or better or happier. I feel numb, just like before. It's a few pieces of paper with some words on it. That is it.

4 feet

Not yet

Still haven't mailed it. In fact, I wonder if I will ever find the time to get to the post office and stamp it correctly. I have no idea what it costs to send anything to Australia because I am a bad son and haven't ever considered reaching out like this before. I'm stalling for sure, trying to forget each day I drive home. Wondering if I do ever get around to sending it, will it be too late? I hope not, for everyone's sake. I guess I should just get my ass to the post office and get it done. Not so easy when my car is on auto pilot to get home and see my babies and wife as quickly as possible.

Soon, I keep telling myself. Soon I will get it done. Soon he will realize that I am a good son. A good person who took the high road and made the first move. Swallow my stubborn pride and just make it happen already right? I will feel better right?

Good Son

The card is written, the picture is in the envelope. Now all I need to do is actually show up to the post office, buy a few stamps and send it off to Australia. This is the hardest part. The doing. The writing was actually pretty easy as I kept it friendly, said thanks for the gifts and wished them luck in trying to get healthy. I found out my Dad actually just had a pace maker put in and they are now running test on his liver as it is basically failing him to a point where he will die soon. He never took care of himself and now it is finally catching up with him and the guilt he has burdened himself with for over 20 years now. My aunt weighs 98 pounds and has Lupus. She is so frail that when she was in the hospital last time they accidently fractured her arm! I feel bad for her and I miss her as an Aunt. Not as a step-mom though. That would have been really weird for me growing up as a child if they had chose to stay in Canada.

I keep wondering who has it worse off:

• Person A - never met their father, no relationship whatsoever.
• Person B - raised in family environment for first 10 years, then father left to another country never to be seen or heard from again. Cheated on mother.
• Person C - father is in the picture, but parents were divorced at young age for child. Now the father shows up at child's house (who is now in mid 20's) once in a while and asks to stay over, be looked after and fed. Then takes off back to his city and calls next time he needs a place to stay.
• Person D - father is always in the picture, loves their child and has a meaningful friendship with the child until the child is in mid 20's and then the father passes away.

Donkey Drama

Can't wait to see how this whole Survivor poker thing unfolds. We already have Waffles whining about how he will be the least popular and it will be just like high school all over again. Then we have epichoy ranting about what a great idea it is, even though he's never watched a single episode of the show that the concept was derived from. It is gonna create quit a stir when friends become enemies and feelings get hurt and people get back stabbed making back room deals and alliances. When the merge happens that last few standing will try and chop the prize pool and people will continue to whine all over again. If I didn't have twin duty on Sundays I would be in, but family comes first now. I think this whole idea was created by Goat just so that he could feel cool once and for all. High school does that to some people and they never seem to move on. So instead Goat has created this popularity contest. I can already tell you that the crew at BDR will all align together and try and finish in the top three. I am calling it right now - the whole thing is rigged, fixed and a it's gonna get bloody ugly.

I'll need an extra big bowl of popcorn for this one. Once the teams are made I will get a few people together and have a draft. Side bets will be had and a survivor pool will unfold just like in the real show. Donkey's vs. Fish? Sounds like a poker blogger match made in heaven.

Bad Son

I feel like a bad person for writing that last post. I mean, I don't really look forward to when he dies at all. It was just a thought I had that in order to take advantage of corporate work policies I would have to have a blood relative die, and this would be the first of its kind. Honestly, I doubt I could afford the time off, which would make it even more weird for me because I would then be going to work when my biological father had just passed and people would be wondering what the hell was wrong with me. How could I be so insensitive? How could I not want to grieve? What a terribly bad son I must be for not giving a shit about my own father. I have no idea how I will feel but I suspect it will be just numb and even keel just as I always am. Never too emotional high, never too emothional low. Just typically emotional about stupid stuff like my biological father passing away and not really knowing how to feel or what to feel or who to turn to to talk to about it. I guess this space is as good as any right now. When the time comes, I might think differently.

Is it? Part 2

Is it wrong that I look forward to the bereavement time off when my biological father dies?

It actually feels like he has been gone for a long time already. Out of sight, out of mind I guess.

Other Deets

My Dad lives in Australia (Perth). He moved there when I was 10.
My Dad is on some heavy medication. They say he wouldn't remember our conversation if we had one.
I will send him a note (and picture of the twins) instead.
My Aunt (his wife and my mother's sister) has Lupus. She weighs 98 pounds and is in worse condition than my Dad.
They are both alcoholics and have smoked their entire lives.
They care very little about their own physical health.
Neither will live to see 2012, which is very sad.
I hope I (and the experts) are wrong.

Is it? aka deep stuff

Is it wrong that I don't even know my Dad's birthday?
Is it wrong that I am numb to the fact that he will probably die this year?
Is it wrong that I am being selfish and not wanting to go and see him before he passes?
Is it wrong that I wonder how selfish you truly have to be to leave your kids and never contact them for years on end?
Is it?

Still playing as of 1/11/11

If there was no such thing as Rush Poker, I would have quit this game a long time ago. Rush has allowed me to squeak in thirty minutes here or an hour there when the girls are sleeping and Lola is watching some girly show like the bachelwhore or slut not to wear.

I'm a losing player. I know this much. Not self proclaimed break even like waffles. I am realistic and treat this game as a hobby. I am the perfect fish. I can stretch my $60 for a very long time. My swings are only $10 at a time because when I get it in good (or bad) I just shut it down when my stack is shipped in the wrong direction.

GL to all those who are still grinding.

Oh and Happy New Year.

Trip reports summary

Here is what I have learned so far:

- Buy the fucking dip says BadBlood
- Waffles can't handle his weed
- Don didn't win the trophy, he brokered his own deal for it
- Drizz chose an accounting project over the championship
- I assume Josie didn't win a tournament because she would have mentioned it by now
- Mrs. Chako is looking as hot as ever
- Kat is still the Queen bee
- Bayne is still badass when it comes to craps
- Oh Captain takes great photos
- Astin didn't go flying after all
- Dr. Chako is one lucky mofo
- Lighting gets senior discounts and is way behind in updating his blog because he has some ghey photo (no link allowed)
- Dr. Pauly is still the King

I know I've missed a bunch so I will continue to search for good stories and report back...

Expectations

If you attended the WPBT last weekend I EXPECT that you will write a trip report. However long or short, it is a requirement after you return. You do not have to write it right away or even within the first week, but you DO have to write it. It is your duty as a poker blogger.

I'm not going to call anyone specific out as I will respect the grace period at the time of year where everyone is very busy with Holidays. This is not a reason to not write one at all though.

Get on it.

If you've written a recap and you think I missed it, please comment and I will gladly come by and check it out.

Ok so what did I do while all my degenerate efriends were getting rippin' drunk, playing pai gow and grinding out blogger cash games? Well I did what every responsible new Dad would do on his weekend. I hung out with my family, went shopping, watched the Canucks, watched NFL, grinded out fantasy football playoffs, drank a few beers and of course most importantly participated in raising my two little bundles of fun.

I'd have to say it was the best WBPT weekend I've had so far, and I wasn't even there. This year I'll be living vicariously through your trip reports, so don't dissapoint and be one of those bloggers who thinks its too cool to write anymore. If I can take the time to write this post, you can take the time to write a brief recap.

Do it.

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Your support is much appreciated! :) :)

I played Poker

I had a free pass from Lola to go out. I had received an invite to trophy night (2010 Match Play Champion) and since it was the last one I'd be attending for many years to follow, I figured I should make an appearance. Lola arranged to have her sister come over and look after the kids so I was a free man for the entire evening and into the next morning if I needed it.

The trophy night was uneventful, the best part being the Canucks game we watched after it was over. The beat Red Wings 6-4 and are on a 6 game winning streak. I did get to see a lot of members and friends and they congratulated me on the birth of our twin girls. That was probbly the best part, not the Canucks obviously. Getting to tell stories about my kids and having people interested in how it all went, along with the comments about them being in the paper was quite surreal. I had no idea people cared so much, until I quit the club. Weird.

The evening started with a few beers followed by some wine with dinner. Dinner was a three course served style of a meal which is much different than the previous years where it was a buffet. I didn't mind though because I never seem to go up for a second plate anyway. The plate of prime rib and mash was more than enough followed by a chocolate tart.

The red wine was flowing and before we knew it the scratch league team (who took down every major trophy in the club) decided to take our scene to the River Rock and gamble. I broke my own rule and blew $80 on some mindless craps where we continuously loaded one side of the black/red saga and got burned multiple times. I keep forgetting what a waste of money table games are... probably because I only play them in a drunken state where money doesn't seem to matter much.

By the time it was midnight Penski and I headed to the poker room and I went to the cage to get my $300 in chips only to be told when I sat down that it was a $200 max buyin. Thanks cage!There was a young asian girl sitting on about $900 and I started to salivate. I was too drunk though, breaking rule #2 when I want to actually want to try and play properly. The table quickly tighten up as my image became known and my raises were respected. I only took down a couple of nice pots and lost a big one when I limped (smack myself in the face) UTG+2 with Aces after UTG limped before me. It folded around and I over played my aces to flopped trips. Net loss was about $200 on the night (including table games) and I got home by 4am.

Lurker Day

Nothing here to lurk at these days. I'll post the odd update here instead. If there is anything poker worthy I'll be sure not to bother. I mean really, writing about poker is so 2008 and people just can't stand to spend much time reading about hand histories, bad beats or even tournament victories anymore. I've never provided much in the way of strategy, which would explain the lack of traffic over the years. I never started this space to educate the masses anyway. Who am I to teach people about poker anyway? Just go read books and practice. Continous improvement is a must or you will fall behind the curve very quickly. I really don't think I ever even approached it.

I did play my first round of golf last weekend. I had a two month break and it was the first time I picked up the sticks since leaving the club back in August. We played the tips and I held my own. I had one deuce and shot 3 over 74. I'll take it.

Obviously I won't be attending the WPBT December gathering this year. 2007 and 2009 were my years. If you have a chance to go I highly suggest that you do. If only to see the new and improved Waffles physique. That would be worth it right there.

Happy Lurking.

The second and final sighting of Mark Meloche

It happened in the first half of episode 19. They picked up the action after the flop and Mark was drawing to three outs. The look on his face says it all. He was eliminated in 76th place and wasn't too happy when I got a text from our other friend saying "he's out - Q9 vs A9". I cam just imagine what he was thinking after flopping trips and hoping to get a timely double up. Alas, it was not to be and Mark hit the rail hard. GG buddy. Back to the daily grind & better luck next year.