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Williamsburg – Day 4

After the long day and late night yesterday, everyone was a little slow getting started. We made a return visit to Astronomical Pancake House followed by a pit stop at Kmart to get water shoes for Maria. Finally arrived at Water Country about 12:30. After a thorough sunscreen application, we entered the park, rented a locker and set off.

The maps here were even worse with regards to scale, but if we ever go back we’ll know our way around. There was more of a crowd here with longer waits. Got half dry between rides. The only ride that we all really liked was the Wild Thang. Two people per raft with lots of twists and turns.

We all agreed that the water park was number three on the list of attractions. If there were no waits, the experience would be much better.

Left about 6:30, went back to hotel, got cleaned up, then out to dinner at Oceans and Ale. Good food, good beer selection, and friendly service.

Money is the tool, not the goal

Just ran across one of the best quotes regarding money that I’ve ever read. From an article by Mark Chafkin at Inc.com comes this quote:

“Money is like gasoline during a road trip,” he says. “You don’t want to run out of gas on your trip, but you’re not doing a tour of gas stations. You have to pay attention to money, but it shouldn’t be about the money.” – Tim O’Reilly

Poker Super Sunday

I’m playing in five $5000 NL Hold’em tournaments today. First at Noon, then at 2:00, 4:00, 7:00, and 10:00. This is the culmination of the the First Time Depositor freerolls for December at PokerStars.

Noon results:  1622 of 7400.  Thank you Time Warner. My internet connection crapped out for an hour at 12:45. I had built up a better than average stack, but when I was reconnected I only had about three times the BB. Went all in with a pair of 10s. Busted out.

2:00 results:  Off to a slow start. No cards to work with. Finally made a little headway. Finished in the money (barely) at 1166 of 7084.

4:00 results:  Overlapped the 2:00 for about 20 minutes. I’ve got to get a bigger screen if I’m going to multi-table. 1169 of 6671 and barely in the money again. At least I’ve got an hour break before the next one.

7:00 results:  Made a stupid call. He had to have a higher straight. Everyone at the table knew it, including me. 2884 of 5934. Stupid call. Stupid.

10:00 results:  486 of 5192 and another cash to wrap up the day.

Poker tip

Don’t start a large tournament at 10:00 on a work night.  While you always hope to win, with a field of nearly 1800 it’s likely that you won’t.  You’ll probably play an hour or so and be out, hopefully you’ll even cash.  Last night was good news, bad news.  

First the bad.  I played for nearly five hours and didn’t get in bed until 3:00 in the morning, then up at 6:45 to face a typical Monday.

The good news… I actually won the tournament.  That’s my first multi-table tournament win.  As a bonus, it was a freeroll.

PokerStars Tournament #124183229, No Limit Hold’em
Freeroll Super Satellite
1768 players
$500.00 added to the prize pool by PokerStars
Total Prize Pool: $500.00
Target Tournament #124176348
360 tickets to the target tournament

Tournament started 2008/12/14 22:00:00 ET
Tournament finished 2008/12/15 2:44:06 ET
1: rlh268 (Cary), $79.00 (qualified for the target tournament)
2: DC751 (Bolingbrook), $57.50 (qualified for the target tournament)
3: tuscano (Shelby), $41.00 (qualified for the target tournament)

…

1766: xalesana (Monterrey), 
1767: okipost (???? ????), 
1768: szogo89 (Siemianowice Slaskie), 

You finished in 1st place (eliminated at hand #22932898326).

HoA meeting

I’m writing this from my annual Homeowners Association meeting and it’s going just as I expected. The usual suspects ramble on about issues that the group can’t do anything about. Speeding, parking in the street, kids ringing doorbells, blah, blah, blah. I’m an hour into the meeting and we haven’t accomplished squat.

Then you have the people that complain because they got a letter notifying them of a problem. They’re complaining that the letter hurt their feelings over a minor issue. It’s just a piece of paper.

Now Mrs. Cozolino just went on a high-pitched rant. And we haven’t even gotten to the real issues yet.

Now they’re debating the future price of natural gas. Just when it couldn’t get worse… the awkward speeches from the candidates for the open board seat. I voted for the person who wasn’t present.

Tarot

You are the Hanged Man

Self-sacrifice, Sacrifice, Devotion, Bound.

With the Hanged man there is often a sense of fatalism, waiting for something to happen. Or a fear of
loss from a situation, rather than gain.

The Hanged Man is perhaps the most fascinating card in the deck. It reflects the story of Odin who offered himself as a sacrifice in order to gain knowledge. Hanging from the world tree, wounded by a spear, given no bread or mead, he hung for nine days. On the last day, he saw on the ground runes that had fallen from the tree, understood their meaning, and, coming down, scooped them up for his own. All knowledge is to be found in these runes.

The Hanged Man, in similar fashion, is a card about suspension, not life or death. It signifies selflessness, sacrifice and prophecy. You make yourself vulnerable and in doing so, gain illumination. You see the world differently, with almost mystical insights.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

To England

I survived the flight, day 1, night 1, and day 2. Fairly painless overall. My traveling companions and I are the only guests at the Walnut Tree Inn. It’s pretty much what you might imagine an English inn and pub to be. Quaint and quirky.

The closest thing to real humor so far is that one of the guys in the meeting looks like Michael Palin dressed as some character with a Moe haircut and a moustache.