Four white horses

Something that's good can still have a little bit of bad in it, and something that's bad still has a little bit of good.

Michael/The Man, "Two Hands"

Very small post here today, as my working life is taking over slowly. Gone are the care-free University days of old, no more slacking off at the video store, I have been in the office world for 18 months now and it is starting to take a strangle hold around the nape of my reason for being. Did that come over a little over dramatic? The short of it is - I have got shit loads to do at work and I am too tired at night to play poker at the moment. In fact, I have not played online since the last win - and man have I got "the itch". If you are reading this, you must know what I mean. You start thinking "How long has it been since I played?", new theories on play start circulating and before you know it, you are fanticising about all the poker groupies that will follow you and your gold braclets around Veags. All because I haven't played a hand since Friday night. Well all have our vices, don't we?

The live game last Saturday night went pretty well. I am no expert in live game etique (I say fuck spelling), but I tried to educate the masses anyway. I know what a string bet is and I tell everyone not to splash the pot - but really only because I hope somebody will do a Teddy KGB impression (sadly I was denied). We were playing 5 handed with one person sitting out to become the dealer because that is what they prefered. I am dealt 88 in late position, so I raise and get one caller - the "Distraction". The flop comes (8 T x) and I raise, she calls. The dealer asks to peek at my hand (this happens a lot in our home games because every one is learning and there is no real money on the line). Since the dealer is a former work friend of Serena, and the only other female at the table, she is really wanting Serena to win. I decline to show her my hand, even though she already has seen Serena's. The turn is another T and I have a full house. I make a large bet and Serena goes all-in with about 2/3 of my stack. I look at her, stare into her sole, and she has been known to bet two pair like it is the nuts. I tell her "You know it is going to be a long night?" and she confirms she knows, and the dealer is giggling like never before. I tell her she must have pocket tens but call anyway. Of course, she does and I am drawing dead on the river. I ask her if she cheated and she says she didn't - suprisingly enough I could tell she was tellign the truth. But the dealer, however, was still giggling like a 8 year old after being told to do a class project on "Uranus". Later I find out the pocket tens was no fix, but the flop and turn were. No matter, about an hour later we decide to call it quits and start cooking the BBQ for a late 10:30pm tea. After that, we starting playing Halo with one team upstairs and the other down stairs. These games are awesome and are very competitive. It was 3 on 3 but one person on our team had never played before, so they just stood in a corner. It was a great night but still wasn't poker and the "itch" remains.

Today I recieved all the casino decks I ordered online from two different guys, and I am happy to say that they all ended up different colours which is great. I'm sure they will get a quick work out tonight. So now I have a deck from New York New York, Mirage, MGM Grand, Sahara and 2 from the Bellagio. I'm happy with that, and one day the KEM cards will come my way!

Big props out to Iggy and his tournament, which take-2 will be happening this Sunday. Look slike Pacific Poker have done the right thing by them, so well done. It is good to see the customer service online is still an important part of the poker rooms. These things happen, "unforseen" circumstances. All you can do is try to limit their frequency and make sure you do the right thing by the customers when shit happens. Good luck to everybody, and my booby prize for first out still stands at my old plastic poker chips and a beaten up deck - hell, I'm paying $15 postage or whatever it is so I can feel a part of it. Good luck to all.

Hopefully I can come with a better update later on in the week, but as I said spare time is very little at the moment. I do want to plug the blog of PokerProf. He has a much great insight into the game than I, and is a must-read for anybody interested in poker. But really, check out the cartoons and top nine lists. You know, there is some really bad poker realted comedy out there. I'm glad I found some that was decent enough to give me a chuckle. Thanks Professor!

And finally, in repsonse to JW, my favourite quote out of The Princess Bride would have to be from Andre the Giant as Fezzik. I can't remember it word for word, so I will just do my best.

There they were, four white horses. And I thought, there are four of us, if we ever find the lady. Hello lady!