If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.

I know its been awhile. I've been real busy, mostly just with work. Don't really feel like writing right now, so I'm just gonna make a list of my plans for the next few weeks:

May 22 - My 22nd Bday/Dad Arrives In LV

May 24 - Brooks Arrives In LV

May 27 - Leave LV For Boston

May 28 - Dylan's Bday/Jared's Grad Party

June 4 - Dylan's Graduation

June 5 - Leave Boston For LV

June 9 - Flight From LV To Spokane, WA

June 10 - Roadtrip With Lyn From Spokane To LV

June 11 - Arrive Back In LV With Lyn

Life Is Good

So, I basically haven't played poker in a couple of weeks, but today Theo staked me in a $55 tournament on PokerStars. This hand happens within the first 45 minutes. I wouldn't even think twice about this hand under my normal circumstances, but because of the situation I'm in now, every suckout and 'bad beat' (not saying this is a suckout at all, although i do consider this hand a 'bad beat') just hurts so damn much (doubledamn :)). It's just so sick because I basically haven't played poker in a few weeks and I jump in a tournament today with a first prize of 5k and this happens to me (see below). Maybe I should be happy to have a job.

PokerStars Game #4855298661: Tournament #23912134, $50+$5 Hold'em No
Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2006/05/06 - 22:31:39 (ET)
Table '23912134 8' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Ludrock (1320 in chips)
Seat 2: davidross (2105 in chips)
Seat 3: windrpepper (3530 in chips)
Seat 4: Samuel Love (1755 in chips)
Seat 5: Ling (2335 in chips)
Seat 6: dgevil (1625 in chips)
Seat 7: MSUcougar (2255 in chips)
Seat 9: Moosebabies (755 in chips)
Ling: posts small blind 25
dgevil: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Samuel Love [Qd Qc]
MSUcougar: folds
davidross said, "tx"
Moosebabies: raises 150 to 200
Ludrock: folds
davidross: calls 200
windrpepper: folds
Samuel Love: raises 1555 to 1755 and is all-in
Ling: folds
dgevil: folds
Moosebabies: folds
davidross: calls 1555
*** FLOP *** [9c Qh 2d]
doubleas is connected
*** TURN *** [9c Qh 2d] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [9c Qh 2d Ks] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
davidross: shows [Kd Kc] (three of a kind, Kings)
Samuel Love: shows [Qd Qc] (three of a kind, Queens)
davidross collected 3785 from pot
windrpepper said, "ouch"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3785 | Rake 0
Board [9c Qh 2d Ks Js]
Seat 1: Ludrock folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: davidross showed [Kd Kc] and won (3785) with three of a kind,
Kings
Seat 3: windrpepper folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Samuel Love (button) showed [Qd Qc] and lost with three of a
kind, Queens
Seat 5: Ling (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: dgevil (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: MSUcougar folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Moosebabies folded before Flop

Show Me The Money, Show Me The Money, Show Me The Money!!!!

Working fulltime now; yeah yeah, i know. Well, I went a year with financial, emotional, and physical freedom; it was one hell of a ride. But it's gotta stop somewhere, right? Maybe not.....I can work for a living and still be free, can't I?

My father's coming to Vegas in about two weeks. I can't wait to see him!

A week after my father gets into Vegas, I'm going to Boston for a few days. I'll be coming home for my brother's birthday and his graduation, as well as for Jared's graduation party. It's gonna be a great trip. When I get back to Vegas, Lyn and I will be moving in together. I can't fuckin' wait. She's so important to me and makes me so incredibly happy---we're gonna have a great life!

Well, I'm a working man now so I gotta hit the sack, but I'll keep on keepin' on, you can all be sure of that. Until then, peace, love, and happiness....

If your heart is empty, your mind doesn't matter.