Buy him two cigars

Normally, it'd be one, but since there are two deals that help the Braves today, Schuerholz can have two.

The first one became official a couple hours ago - Mark Teixeira will fill a big hole at 1B, and arrives with lefty reliever Ron Mahay (2-0, 2.77 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) in exchange for C/1B Jarrod Saltalamacchia (which makes my spellcheck explode) and SS Elvis Andrus (in AA), and two other pitching prospects.

While it is getting rid of a lot of minor-league potential, this deal appears to be new management taking a stand to try to win NOW. It's a welcome change from the last few years. Teixeira will bolster a lineup weakened by lousy production at 1B and by Andruw Jones, who will probably drop to 6th in the new lineup. Plus, it's a homecoming for the former Yellow Jacket, and he's signed until after the 2008 season, so at least it's not the possibility of a two-month rental and skipping town.

The second deal JUST became final: Kyle Davies is gone, and Octavio Dotel is coming into town. I've never been a big fan of Davies, and Dotel will bring some help to a pen that was promising in April but has been rocked by injuries for the last two months. Though I'd have liked to see some starting help with Buddy Carlyle and Jo-Jo Reyes a shaky back-end, getting two big boosts in the bullpen might provide some support should they be as shaky as I fear. Even so, I don't think they'll be any worse than Davies in starting roles.

I'm happy with both deals. For now. Maybe there will be a deal for Bronson Arroyo in the next hour or so. If so (as has been rumored today) then I have no complaints at all.

The looooooooong update

Well, snce I haven't posted much over the past few weeks, I figure it's time to actually mention all of the weird stuff that's happened over the past month or so.

At the end of June, the one thing I had thought would happen for some time finally did happen - I was let go by the bank. Even though I was miserable every day, dreaded going in, knew they were trying to push me out, and really didn't enjoy it or care anymore, it was still a bit of a shock.

I started looking around the following Monday, but really didn't look too much right away - I was content to focus more on schoolwork as I had a project due on the 15th. Plus, we had the baptism on 7/7/07 and mother-in-law visiting for a little over a week to help out with recovery from Kim's surgery (which went well).

After Kim's mother left I stepped up my search a bit. I decided to contract with AFLAC to be an agent, though that will not work very well if I'm not a halfway decent hustler. I've had a few interviews with corporate jobs, and signed up with a couple of placement agencies. I've contacted GSU about going on a full-time basis. I've even gone through the initial steps of joining the Marietta Police (surprisingly, at a rate better than the bank paid, which says a lot about the bank).

Even crazier has been the environment at my former office. Since I left, I found that one associate took early retirement, another will take it next month, one associate got fired (and required security escort) and that my former manager is leaving the department entirely (former as in two years ago, not former as in one month ago) because she's sick of the new overhead management as well. So, perhaps it's for the best that I am not there anymore. It's turned into an all-out purge of the old guard, of which I was one of the first casualties.

Still, it's not fun not knowing what will happen next. But, at least I'm trying to pursue a bunch of different options. Hopefully, something will turn up fairly soon.

That pretty much sums up why I've been out of touch lately - hopefully this sheds some light on why.

PokerStage: Winter Classic

PokerStage: Winter Classic

December 6-10, 2007.

Hmmmmmm...............hopefully, things will be a bit smoother by then. Also, it hopefully won't be finals time, assuming I'm able to figure out how to go this time.

Test Time

Well, tomorrow I have an interesting exam.

Because they are now recruiting a new class, I decided to submit an application for the Marietta Police Department - follow in my sponsor's footsteps, I guess, and it's something I wanted to do when I was younger anyway. So what if it's not the 13th precinct in New York?

I got a callback for going through the process (which I wasn't even sure I would receive, but thankfully I did) and have the aptitude test tomorrow afternoon.

Thankfully, the physical exam would be later on, so I have some more time to shed some pounds. I actually might be in good enough shape right now to pass the test, but it's probably better for me to resume regular workouts anyway.

I haven't had many happy things to write about lately - I've been pretty listless on many fronts lately, hence the lack of quality postings. Really, of any postings.

An easier way to get it

Well, I didn't take part in any of the Potter hoopla last night at 12:01 AM. Wasn't planning on it with class this morning.

I did find myself having to go to the supermarket tonight, though, for all sorts of items as I normally do on a Saturday night.

What I didn't expect was that Deathly Hallows was being sold at the local Kroger, and that it was marked down already, and that there was already only one copy left.

That copy is now sitting next to the computer, so I think I know what I will be doing tomorrow aside from the lawn. It's bound to be better than the 842nd showing of Blue's Clues and the Wonder Pets.

A nice payout

Bounties can be fun.

Tonight was the Mookie. I haven't played it in a while. I was able to play tonight - sometimes, you gotta love cashing in freerolls and building up something, however small.

Riggstad decided to place a bounty on AlCantHang - one bottle of SoCo.

About 40 minutes in comes this awful, horrendous play.

Full Tilt Poker Game #2989548094: The Mookie - Crazed Poker (22691435), Table 2 - 50/100 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:51:26 ET - 2007/07/18
Seat 2: APOSEC72 (3,290)
Seat 3: PokerBrian322 (13,685)
Seat 4: GCox25 (2,980)
Seat 5: AlCantHang (2,500)
Seat 6: oossuuu754 (11,360)
Seat 7: BuddyDank (3,455)
Seat 8: crazdgamer (3,825)
Seat 9: JTS102 (6,500)
GCox25 posts the small blind of 50
AlCantHang posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to APOSEC72 [Ac Td]
oossuuu754 folds
BuddyDank folds
crazdgamer folds
JTS102
APOSEC72 raises to 500
PokerBrian322 folds
GCox25 folds
AlCantHang has 15 seconds left to act
AlCantHang raises to 1,100
APOSEC72 has 15 seconds left to act
APOSEC72 raises to 3,290, and is all in (I made a crappy play here - shoved back against the wrong guy.)
AlCantHang calls 1,400, and is all in (Please let it be medium pair like I thought...)
APOSEC72 shows [Ac Td]
AlCantHang shows [Qh Qd] (Dammit)
Uncalled bet of 790 returned to APOSEC72
*** FLOP *** [Ks 2d 5d] (Bleak)
*** TURN *** [Ks 2d 5d] [Qc] (Bleaker, now down to four outs)
*** RIVER *** [Ks 2d 5d Qc] [Jc] (NO FUCKING WAY!)
APOSEC72 shows a straight, Ace high
AlCantHang shows three of a kind, Queens
APOSEC72 wins the pot (5,050) with a straight, Ace high
AlCantHang stands up

Sick, sick, sick. Totally sick.

That was an absolutely stupid play on my part, that early on, and I got stupidly lucky. Of course, the rest of the night, I got no respect for any raises at all, and I went out in 27th because I couldn't adjust to save my life tonight.

But, at least I'll be able to get my drink on and be very comfortable in the South. A little.

After the Mookie and Dookie finished, I fired up a .25/.50 NLHE table while completing my writing assignments for the week about torts and Mitch Williams, Richard Jewell, and Tim McVeigh - also known as three people who have never been in my kitchen.

I was able to finish up almost one full buyin, despite not getting a hand better than A-J or 2-2.

Strange, strange night.

Braves Pic Dumpage

A couple weeks ago, when the Red Sox were in town, we all got to go see the game at Turner Field. As a bonus, we were able to all go on the field before the game thanks to a local promotion.

Both kids enjoyed it, and for some reason the scoreboard operator kept putting the kids up on the Jumbotron. Alex, of course, thought it was really, really cool to see himself on a 75-foot screen.

On the runway, being silly.

In front of the Braves' dugout. Roger McDowell said hello. Unlike in Seinfeld, he didn't spit.

On the outfield grass, about 15 feet from Tim Hudson who started the game. Apparently it wasn't that inspiring, as the Braves lost 4-0.

We left after the 6th innings when the skies opened up for an hour-long rain delay. It was still quite fun for everyone, though.

Worlds Colliding

Who's bright idea was this?

Jesus, some people are desparate for weird TV stuff. Even the ones that already have shows.

I guess Matusow's just pissed he's not at the final table tomorrow. As for Griffin - well, I guess when you put crazy and crazy together it's not going to be good.

Hat tip to the Blogfather.

The Opposite of OCD

We all know a lot of people who obsess over one or two things.

Hevad (RaiNKhAN) Khan does not have that problem.




Yes, you did see that correctly. He is playing 26 Sit-and-goes AT THE SAME TIME.

Apparently, he does not have a problem focusing on only one game at a time either. He is holding his own in the Main Event with about half a million chips.

Nice stack.

Among the chip leaders right now is Gus Hansen, and they are well into the money now. Bastards.

Go here for continuous updates on the Main Event and Chip Counts, and yes, that really is Spider-Man still in the event.

Thanks to TripJax for re-linking to the clip, because, well, it's funny.

FTOPS V Coming Soon

Poker Stars does its thing in September...and Full Tilt will run its next FTOPS in August with a total guaranteed prize pool of seven million dollars.

Yikes.

Event Number, Time, Description, Buy-in, and Guaranteed Prize Pool listed below.

Event #1 - Wednesday,Aug 8th,21:00 ET, NL Hold 'em, $200 + $16, $500,000
Event #2 - Thursday,Aug 9th,21:00 ET, HORSE, $200 + $16, $150,000
Event #3 - Friday,Aug 10th,21:00 ET, PL Hold 'em, $200 + $16, $200,000
Event #4 - Saturday,Aug 11th,15:00 ET, PL Omaha6-max, $500 + $35, $150,000
Event #5 - Saturday,Aug 11th,16:30 ET, NL Hold 'emRebuy, $100 + $9, $300,000
Event #6 - Sunday,Aug 12th,18:00 ET, NL Hold 'em, $300 + $22, $1,000,000
Event #7 - Monday,Aug 13th,21:00 ET, NL Hold 'em6-max, $1,000 + $60, $1,000,000
Event #8 - Tuesday,Aug 14th,21:00 ET, FL OmahaHi/Lo, $200 + $16, $150,000
Event #9 - Wednesday,Aug 15th,21:00 ET, NL Hold 'em6-Max Rebuy, $300 + $22, $450,000
Event #10 - Thursday,Aug 16th,21:00 ET, 7 Stud, $200 + $16, $100,000
Event #11 - Friday,Aug 17th,21:00 ET, Limit Hold 'em6-max, $200 + $16, $200,000
Event #12 - Saturday,Aug 18th,15:00 ET, NL Hold 'em, $2,500 + $120, $600,000
Event #13 - Saturday,Aug 18th,16:30 ET, PL OmahaRebuy, $100 + $9, $200,000
Main Event - Sunday,Aug 19th,18:00 ET, NL Hold 'em, $500 + $35, $2,000,000

See you in September

Well, this should attract a bit of traffic to Poker Stars:

Hat tip to Otis and the others having fun/busting ass in Vegas right now trying to cover over 6000 players in one place.

Don't have a Poker Stars account? Click here to get one through Poker Source Online with my referral code.

I don't feel like a couple million.....