Bounty Mountie

Trying to see how I do in my first large MTT back on Full Tilt - the Mookie doesn't count. It's the $11,500 Knockout (Bounty) tourney, with 6-max NLHE.

799 players in this one. 84 spots pay.

First hour:
I was at about 3000 for a while (starting was 2000) but tried to get another bounty and ran KQ into AJ which knocked me back down to 1700. I stayed around there for a while, not getting involved in any big pots, and was 300th out of 348 at the break. Not great, but alive.

Busted halfway into the second hour. Checked 74 hearts in the BB, and got a straight and flush draw from it. I pushed in my remaining 1200 into the 400 pot, hoping for a fold, and got called by A8 hearts - top pair and nut flush draw. My outs dropped from the 13 I thought I had to just four, and none showed up.

At least I got one bounty from it.

Welcome Back

1 token down, I guess. A nice way to resume play on Full Tilt. I'm using the token in the $11,500 Knockout Friday at 11:00 - $4 per bounty. Let's hope it goes well.

Exponentially better

BBT3 is here.

And it's gonna blow your mind.




Two main event packages, five $2,000 packages, and cash for end-of-tourney freerolls.

55 events over 13 weeks. Four nights a week, sometimes five.

Wow.

Reward for Overacting

And the Oscar goes to.....

Mildly disappointing show. Some good spots, but mostly...eh.

Just like the old man

We went on Friday to an APO event at Piedmont Park - it was a casino night, so we figured it would be OK to have the kids along. Lots of room for them to run around and such.

They had roulette tables and blackjack tables, and towards the end of it all Alex and I walked over to one of the tables to put up the remaining chips - we hadn't done much playing at the tables, but were mostly chasing them around, playing with their toys, or dancing around in a silly way as kids are wont to do. Alex picked out two numbers, 10 and 29, and I put the other chips around the table.

At the end of the night, the chips would be exchanged for raffle tickets for prizes, so we'd either get extra raffle tickets or give away the chips, no big deal either way.

29 hit, and Alex got a lot of chips, and as a result, a raffle ticket.

After helping clean up, the raffle was conducted - gift cards, gas cards, a poker chip set. As they got to the chip set, they called out a number - and Alex's ticket WON.

So, upstairs, in his room, is a new 300-chip poker set in a shiny silver case. This probably means he won't play with my 500-chip set anymore, as he now truly has his very own.

Should make for an interesting show-and-tell item.

Emerge Stronger

n-n-now-th-that don't kill me
Can only make me stronger
I need you to hurry up now
Cause I can't wait much longer
I know I got to be right now
Cause I can't get much wronger
Man I been waitin' all night now
That's how long I've been on ya

Eight months after everything got turned completely upside down, we have turned right side up.

I signed all of my papers today, and will be starting a new full-time job in one week, eight months to the day after I got released.

I can't say here what it is, but it's got a lot of good qualities:

It's in Cobb County, so no downtown commute. Reverse commute, and with 15 minutes of home and church/school (when that applies next year)

It's using both my customer service experience, my corporate relationship experience, and my IT experience.

Good benefits, and flexible with classes, especially this semester.

Also flexible with regards to the tax office, where I will now be working weekends.

Nice people, but well-known publicly-traded company.

Lastly, it's not a bank, so there is opportunity for growth.

Last time, I was hesitant to post even when it was 90% sure, and sure enough the 10% came back to bite me. This time, I know I'm starting, and after signing off on everything today I finally felt some relief after the last several months of depressing insanity.

Thanks again to everyone who listened to me gripe, whine, mope, or sulk. God willing, this can be the beginning of really putting life back together and that I can actually come out of this whole experience stronger than I was before.

2008 is getting off to a good start!

Approaching the halfway point

Midterms are next week, so it's a good time to take stock of where I stand:

IT Mgmt (CS): Two projects out of the way. First was an 85, the second will be a 100. Group project next week but with aprticipation it's floating along at an A. Midterm doesn't happen until the 10th, after Spring Break.

Proj. Mgmt (MBA): One group presentation out of the way, but no grade yet.

Cost/Budget Control: Two quizzes, for a 91 and 100. Solid A, very few worries about next week's midterm.

Operations Mgmt: No grades yet, midterm Monday.

Corporate Finance: Three quizzes so far, for 93, 90, and 100, averaging an A. Midterm Thursday.

Hopefully, all the grades stay up after next week.

Travel Agent Duties

I think I posted the WSOP schedule previously, but if I didn't, here it is again.

Last week, in the mail, we got an offer for two free weeknights at one of Harrah's Las Vegas properties. One of the valid ranges was from June 1 to August 31.....which just happens to surround the WSOP timeframe.

So, if I happen to win a package this year (and I will aggressively try to do so this year, aside from half-assed attempts of previous years), what might look attractive? If I managed to win one of those 2K packages on Full Tilt, Stars, or elsewhere, what might be feasible?

Well, there's...

Event 6, Omaha 8/b limit, Tuesday June 3 at 5 PM
Event 7, NL Hold 'Em, Wednesday June 4 at 12 PM
Event 9, 6-max NL Hold 'Em, Thursday June 5 at 12 PM
Event 17, NL Hold 'Em Shootout, Monday Jun 9 at 12 PM
Event 19, PL Omaha, Tuesday June 10 at 12 PM
Event 32, NL Hold 'Em, Tuesday June 17 at 12 PM
Event 35, Seven-Card Stud, Wednesday June 18 at 5 PM
Event 36, NL Hold 'Em, Thursday June 19 at 12 PM
Event 43, PL Omaha 8/b, Tuesday June 24 at 12 PM
Event 47, Seven Card Stud 8/b, Thursday June 26 at 5 PM
Event 52, NL Hold 'Em, Monday June 30 at 12 PM

Everyone of these has a buy-in of 2000 or less - normally 1500. A package would cover the buy-in and one or two plane tickets.

So there are possibilities. Knowing myself, though, I won't want to go too crazy trying to do this, as there are enough other things I should be concentrating on, even though it would be intriguing if it could be entirely freerolled.

Too bad I used my miles already. If we did, I know Alex would like Mandalay's shark tank, the Mirage's pirate show, and the flamingos at....the Flamingo.

Crank dat Superman

I watched the Skills competition for the first time in years last night, after getting back from a rare date night and watching Juno.

There were several good dunks, but this wins hands-down.

That's some height.

Breakthrough

A new word has been uttered by the youngest, newly-walking member of the household.

While sitting next to me sharing an apple, I asked Sammie if she was all done with the apple, using the hand-motion for "all-done" when I asked. She's been replying to signs pretty well as she learns new words.

Well, today, instead of waving back or shaking her head, she said....

"No"

Cute, even though it's not a word we want her to learn (though it seems to be a word we say plenty.

One furry creature at a time in the house please

I ended up with a day off today, due to Alex having pinkeye early yesterday. He was able to return to school this morning as he'd been on eye drops for 24 hours, and I've been taking the time today to do house chores.

I'd been working in the dining room, trying to set up for a nice dinner tonight. Since it's warmed up a bit, I had the back door wide open so Maggie could go in and out as she pleased, being a dog pushing ninety.

I was in the laundry room starting a load up, when Maggie started barking loudly and wildly. She doesn't do that too much anymore, so I came out to see a little, bushy tail running out of the house.

Our house attracts lots of birds and squirrels. I had a bowl of Halloween candy (because Alex doesn't eat very much of it) on the Halloween table and I guess the squirrel decided to come in after it.

I don't know if it made off with a Twizzler of Twix or Snickers or anything. I'm sure it'll have a story to tell the other animals...



"I just couldn't TAKE IT any more...all that candy was just sitting right there! I had to get it! I ran and ran and got in and then I saw this horrifying creature! I've never been so scared - big, ferocious teeth, ready to squash me, with rain coming from its mouth! I can't believe I'm alive!!!!!!!"

And the other squirrels are teasing him like he just saw a UFO.

Too bad none of us got a picture.

Bad Parenting 101

If anyone ever sees us treating our daughter this way, just shoot us.

Just when you think you've seen it all with regards to egotism, vapidity, and being spoiled, something comes along and knocks you off your feet.

Or in my case, starts you laughing for five minutes straight at their collective stupidity.

Valentine Video

A bit on the bizarre side...

End of the nightmare

Apparently, the writer's strike is over. Prepare for even more preening during upcoming awards shows in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, we're still going to be subjected to Flavor of Love 3.

Please, no hate-comments about linking to E! Online.

Abstinence

No, I did not give up blogging for Lent.

I just haven't had much of a chance to write anything. It's actually been a busy week. I was working at the precinct poll Monday and Tuesday, the tax office the past three days, and going to classes every night except tonight. I also had two projects due this week, which kept me working even at home.

Beyond that, I've been sleeping. I've been absolutely bushed all week and I'm hoping to catch up quite a bit this weekend.

We went to mass on Wednesday morning, like good little Catholics. Before work, we went to the 7 AM (!!!) service - all four of us, which gave Alex an interesting story to tell at school.

Last year, I think I gave up fast food, or snacks, I can't quite recall. I decided to go old-school this time, and give up alcohol for Lent. I don't drink very often, but it's still something to give up and something I like/enjoy.

Unwittingly, I've also been doing a soft-fast every day so far in Lent, meaning one full meal per day with only light snacks the remainder of the day. I objectively did it on Wednesday, as supposed to, but it just happened yesterday and today thanks to work. I didn't really think about it, but perhaps it's something I'll continue.

Today's one meal was stuffed crab and garlic shrimp with whole grain rice - no meat, fish/seafood only.

If nothing else, perhaps I'll lose some weight if it continues all the way to Easter.

Huggable

We've always had trouble getting Sammie to go to sleep on her own in her crib. Being a cuddle-monster, we always end up rocking her to sleep or letting her fall asleep on us before we move her to her crib.

She gave us two welcome surprises this weekend.

First, she took her first solo steps. VERY exciting, both for us and for her. We spent 14 months trying to get her to walk, we'll spend the next 17 years trying to get her to slow down.

The second surprise came last night. Kim had put Sammie in her crib, and she was standing up and crying. I came upstairs, and gave her the pacifier. She stopped crying, and held out her arms while still standing up. I leaned down, and gave her a big hug and stepped back. Instead of crying like she tends to do, so plopped herself down to go to sleep! Apparently, she just needed a hug, instead of being rocked to sleep as normal. I put the blanket on her, turned off the light, and stepped out, and she peacefully went to sleep.

So, we may have hit several milestones this weekend.

Now if I can just figure out how to put the barettes in her hair to keep it out of her eyes...being a guy, I have no clue how to fashion her hair.

Working the poll

No, not a stripper pole.

Since I'm not scheduled for tax work tomorrow, and my class meets in the evening, I decided to sign up and work tomorrow at one of the precincts in Cobb County as a poll worker.

I don't really need the day off, so I decided it would be a good thing to do. If nothing else, I'll be lowering the average age drastically.

Hopefully there will be a large influx of non-McCain voters at Bells Ferry tomorrow.

42: Hopefully not the answer

Oh, goody.

I could handle a year of Patriot fans being smug about an undefeated season, a fourth Super Bowl, etc.

But a year of the same from Giants fans?

With Eli Manning, a.k.a FFL killer, as Super Bowl MVP?

I haven't rooted for the Giants in any of their Super Bowl seasons, or any of their crappy seasons, as a former long-suffering Jets fan.

I've hated them for approximately XXII years.

And now, they get to hoist the trophy.

Kill me.

At least I won't have to deal with even more Manning commercials. You thought there were a lot before? Well, now you'll get a bunch with Eli's smug mug.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY

Well, we here at Casa de Francase are now preparing for Sunday's festivities, which is essentially an American national holiday. I'm getting all the needed "supplies" and setting aside time today and tomorrow to work on all of my projects due next week for class so that I can enjoy Sunday without worrying about schoolwork.

I was really hoping for a Packers-Patriots game. I don't like the Giants, I've never liked the Giants, and with the line at 11 1/2, I'm not picking them to beat the spread. I'm rooting for 19-0 and a convincing win by New England to cap a once-in-a-lifetime season.