The Chipstack: A mid-week how-do-ya-do

Have today off. nice feeling, considering I went 9 straight over the past week. Back to the grind for 2 more on Thursday and Friday, but a nice breather will be enjoyed today.

Been slow getting moving, but after finishing this, the grass gets cut, the bushes (that were left undone by Mrs. Chipstack in my absence) will get trimmed, and then it's off to the gym for a bit of a sweat and maybe a swim. Have to be back home by 3 for the kidlets, so a short window of time remains for me. Yeah, I know I should have done it earlier, but hey, I took some time to chill out, after a week's worth of running.

I'll get a little reward tonight, as well, with Irish Jim shifting his game to tonight...I can actually attend. I am looking forward to playing some hold 'em, as it's been about 2 weeks since I last played. I was thinking about this the other day--I am coming up on 5 years of poker. Yeah, I'm a part of the Moneymaker boom, but still, has it really been 5 years? I mean there was Chris, then Raymer, then Hachem, then Gold, then Yang....yeah....5 WSOP's, with the 6th beginning at the end of this month.

In 5 years time, I have gone from a total novice to a semi-decent player, and I have a long way to go before I get to decent. I have played in 2 WSOP events, and can not wait to get back in. Hoping for 2009, but that is subject to change. I have learned so much about other games--games I didn't even know existed before I immersed myself in this beautiful game. Omaha, Razz, 2-7 triple draw. I was playing dealer's choice games on very random occasions (Follow the Queen, Chicago, 7-stud hi-lo split), but hold 'em became my game of choice after watching the WSOP.

Now, I can't get enough of it. My buddy Big Vito introduced me years ago to a fella that is now making the rounds as a professional player. He had a huge run (I believe) at Festa al Lago at the Bellagio. I haven't seen him in quite a while, and yes I am leaving his name out of this for my own reasons. I'll just call him C. I saw C playing in the main event last year (saw him at the table for just a few moments), and heard he went broke in a hand where his set was 2nd best to another set. I would love to pick his brain a bit, and find out just what he did, and had to do to get where he is today. I know he's a solid player, and that's where it begins, but he's a damn good guy, too, and that certainly doesn't hurt him.