So a few nights ago I was playing poker online.

(no big news there…)

I was determined to NOT make the same mistakes I always make.

(learn more here)

And I didn’t.

I sat down at a low stake No Limit table (.50/$1) and pretty quickly doubled my money.

The next night I did almost as well.

So LAST night I think…

I’m gonna try two tables at once.

What’s the worst that could happen? Even if I only do half as well… that’s still pretty good.

Meanwhile I’ll be adjusting to multi-tables and in the long run that’s where the money is at!

So I opened up TWO low stake No Limit tables (.50/$1).

Bought in with $60 on the first and $50 on the second.

I have to admit the first thirty minutes were rough.

It was a real challenge adjusting to that. Even though I played pretty tight pre-flop and folded a lot of hands… it was still a much faster pace than I was used to.

I was down a bit on each table for that first half hour.

Then things started to turn around.

.. well at least at ONE of the tables.

I Played for an hour or two, and after I had settled in and adjusted to the pace was actually enjoying the multi table experiment.

The end results though weren’t as glorious as I had hoped.

Table one was up 54 bucks!

Table two was down 50.

For those of you drawing math problems in the air that boils down to four dollars positive.

After an hour or two… not so hot.

But it WAS positive.

If I can at least stay ITM (in the money) while I learn to handle multiple tables I’ll consider it a big win.

I have a live game tonight so I must go.

I’ll report the results soon.

Today is Jana’s Birthday!

Happy birthday Baby!

Happy birthday Jana

Hope you like the present … no you can’t open it before dinner… and I’m sure we’ll enjoy our night out on the town.

I love you!

So it’s day 16 of my getting BACK into Atkins.

I’ve lost 8 pounds.

It’s not working as fast as last time… but the first two weeks haven’t been as “bad” either.

I think both things are due to the fact that I am allowing myself “sugar free” / “zero carb” candies every now and then. The first time through I did not… and I about went insane the first two weeks last time.

That’s not to say that it’s been easy.

Yesterday Jana had some toast with butter…

Not exactly a meal worthy of the food channel.. but I would have killed for a bite.

I want a chocolate chip cookie so bad I’d commit a number of felonies to get one.

BUT I WON’T.

(see previous post about promises to one’s self)

Anyway I can take a little comfort in the fact that this is about the time (if my previous Atkins experience holds true) that the cravings and withdrawal should start to subside. Then I can settle in for three to four solid weeks of loss.

Then it’s just a matter of taking three to four weeks to “balance” my eating habits into a healthy and planned carb intake.

And finally perhaps as many more weeks getting into a more flexible plan.

That’s where I was before the wedding when I felt and looked good compared to today.

At that point I wasn’t counting carbs much… it was more like:

“Choose the lower carb version when available, eat foods as close to unprocessed as possible, and generally be smart about eating”

And I was holding my weight stable.

Then the Honeymoon wrecked it.

Well…no.. I wrecked it. And I happened to be on our Honeymoon at the time.

Perhaps step one in keeping self promises is taking responsibility.

Anyway that’s how exciting my life is… you get to hear me talk about my burning desire for buttered toast.

So … it’ s been a while. Sorry.

I’m still lacking a good recorder to do Audio Blogs.

And I’m still much to fat to continue to do Video Blogs.

So put on your reading glasses.

I don’t have anything terribly profound to share but I thought I would tell you two things I’ve come to realize in life.

1) Poker is a metaphor for life.

There are a great many things I’ve “been meaning” to do in life… and just haven’t gotten around to it. There are even a few that I NEED to do… but haven’t despite the obvious and negative impact on my life.

The same is true for my poker game.

Every time I play I make the same three mistakes.

I’m sure there are more … but these three are consistent and crippling. If I could stop them I’d play much better.

Since I’ve identified these mistakes you’d think that would be easy.

But I apparently haven’t gotten around to that either.

Last night I played with 18 guys.. got to the final table, but finished out of the money.

Beaten again… by my own stupid play.

So it is with life.

Dedication to promises I’ve made to myself just isn’t an attribute I’ve been able to muster as of late.

I’m not even sure what to do about it…

I’ve known about these poker problems for awhile… and it hasn’t mattered.

Maybe I need a long vacation to spend some time with monks and find balance or something.

2) Courage on behalf of others is easier than for oneself.

I remember a situation that happened recently.

The dog was kenneled and Jana came home to an empty house.

(a rare treat)

But as we walked inside something odd happened.

ALL The power went out. All of it.

And the house Alarm started screeching and wailing.

It was frightening. Both of us were sure that someone had cut the power and was breaking in.

(one too many episodes of CSI perhaps)

Anyway Jana made an instinctive move to go hit the code on the alarm.

I made an instinctive move too.

I grabbed her arm.

“Don’t move.” I said.

I picked up the deadly MAGlite that was by the door.

“If you hear anything weird get outside and take off.”

Then wielding my flashlight I walked into the house to face the would be intruders.

Of course there were none.

The Alarm stopped soon enough, and the power came back too.

We laughed about it.

But at least I had learned that in a time of crisis I was able/ready to step up and at least attempt to protect my wife and my home.

I learned the other day though…

That the protective instinct is altogether different than blind courage.

The other day I was home alone.

No one to protect. No one to instantly be more concerned for than myself.

I was washing dishes.

The Tivo was paused so I could return to the Olympics when I was done.

Halfway through the dishes though something happened.

A loud sudden screeching boom. And a definite male voice.

Did I spin around with one of the knives I was washing and yell

“Come on out you Son of a Bitch! You Picked the WRONG house this time!!”

No.

I spun around hands dripping, eyes wide, pants soiled, and ready to beg for my life.

Was this horrible sound something so convincing as a power outage and House alarm.

No.

The Tivo was out of pause sapce.

The TV started playing and I wet my pants.

God forbid anyone brake into the house when I’ve got no one to protect.

I’ll be useless.

Wow a whole new month.

Guess I’d better post something otherwise that empty little calendar on the right will drive me nuts.

Tonight Darren, Jeroen, and I are playing in a poker tourney.

Wish me luck, I’ll give you an update when it’s through.

Thank God for Tivo because it’ll probably be a late night and I’d hate to miss Battlestar Galactica.

Saturday Jana and I have big (but still secret) plans so we’re looking forward to that.

Sunday is the SuperBowl

And Monday is another round of secret work with Jana.

If I play well in the tourney and the rest of the items shape up it could be a really good weekend.

Stay Tuned.

Also make sure you check out Kevin’s Hilarious post.