interesting day - and the BEST poker hand, eeever!

Just came back from the no-longer-weekly-Barrelmen Poker Game.

I got a big chip lead early. One hand, 4 people went all-in (since the last buy-in was coming up). I think the flop had a K-Q-J-10-random. We ALL had hands. Someone got a set. Someone got a straight to the K. Someone else probably hit a pair. Me? I had big slick: A-K. I won. MAJOR chip lead early.

A few hands later I went up against an all-in. The flop was something to the effect of: 7S-5S-random number. I was holding QS, 10S. I think I might have hit a pair too so maybe there was a Q on the board. Anyway, I had a lot of outs. Actually, I think I took two people out with that hand. I got a flush on the river. Increased the lead. Basically, I tightened up til I was head-to-head. I took out 3 of the last 4 players. I was just hitting cards.

So the last hand was this: I was holding K,10D. Flop: AD-QD-JD. ROYAL FRICKING FLUSH! I checked the big blind ($350). Player 2 raised $700. I called. Turn came, I think it was a 6S. He must've hit something. he went all-in. I called immediately. (Going into the hand I held 65-75% of the chips.) I apologized. He didn't realize it. I WON WITH A FRICKIN ROYAL FLUSH.

but...

before that hand was dealt, our friend rigged the deck. it was a joke. we got punk'd. The best hand in the world didn't really come. BOOO!!!

I ended up winning despite trying to rush and fish for an end. I was sleepy. I was tired. I was catching cards, but I realize I also wasn't blessed with too many pockets pairs, so I did manage my stack well. I haven't won in such a long time. I walked home with $80 extra dollars.

Add that to the $50 I won for the NCAA Bracket and the $33 dollars of merchandise I sold and I have had a reasonable amount of "income" this week.

After the diatribe on Filipinos, I had a meeting with my friend's group of Filipino adult clients and introduced myself and my project. At first I had some "wtf" faces - but after a few minutes, some of them started asking questions and offered to be interviewed despite not having children within the age range. It felt nice. Made me realize why I'm so frustrated... because I have high hopes for this project. Initially I wanted to get 5 families (2 parents (if available) and one child) so at most 15 participants. BUT, if the clients say they're interested, I'll interview as many of them who participate. More work for me. But opportunities like these come very rarely. I also want them to recognize my appreciation.

After that, I had a nice discussion with one of the people who worked there (who started after me). She's engaged, but I have a crush on her. Haha, JK. She's just an interesting person. All the good ones are always taken, right?

The Warriors won their 6th straight on the road and 7th in a row altogether, despite playing like crap in the 2nd half. I guess confident teams pull through despite playing badly - and right now, they're the hottest team in the league. For years we've always had some false senses of optimism - "they'll be good next year!". FINALLY, this year, it is actually for REAL!

The A's won their first game of the season off of a great start by #5 pitcher (filling in the 2nd spot for ailing Rich Harden), Saarloos. He pitched really well in place of Huddy last year. I think he's solid. Swish, one of the Moneyball babies, hit two homers. Solid win. 9-0. Oh, and rookie reliever Huston Street, who at this time last year, was pitching Texas on the way towards the National Championship. He's flown through the A's farm system to get a roster spot. He came up in the 7th or 8th with the A's up 7-0. Good time to bring a really YOUNG rookie to pitch his first Major League appearance ever. He got into some trouble. He put two men on. With two outs, Sammy Sosa came up. His last at bat almost left the yard. Street got ahead early on Sosa with two nasty breaking balls. There was a short battle with Street winning by whiffing Sammy on another off-speed pitch.

When the W's win, the A's win, and I win... it's a good frickin' day!