It sinks in....

So I've got a great new job opportunity.... Blah~Blah~Blah

This position is really.... Blah~Blah~Blah

Amazing how well everything is coming togeth.... Blah~Blah~Blah

I'm so excited about.... Blah~Blah~Blah

I walked around the perimeter of the cave here this morning, not sure of why I was doing so. During the jaunt, I touched trees I'd planted with Pebbles. I laughed at the piece of drywall hanging from the ceiling in the barn. The one I promised Peb's, "I'd get around to fixing up. Some day." I cleared a patch of snow large enough for a Muskoka Chair, off one end of our deck. I then placed a chair down and parked my ass into it. I sat and stared at the view I'd come to love and cherish, more than any other sight in my little corner of the world. One of the kids next door seemed to somehow know, that I needed a lonely cry.

Why I sat there was for sentimental reasons for certain, as for 30 minutes in rather minus Celsius temperatures, I managed to ignore the tears freezing against my cheeks. The snow falling and collecting upon my shoulders and head went mostly unnoticed also, as that view of my world never looked so unique to me, as it did at that very moment in time.

Its just a house and a yard I told myself.
Wood, bricks, grass and trees.

There'll be a new house in your future soon Bammer, so get over it.

The sentimentality of using ten years to build a home from a house, seems so little to get yourself all worked up over. But there I sat, saying goodbye to the spoils of my labour just the same.

In one hand I hold a signed contract of intent. A document that has the power to change our lives for the better forever. In the other hand, a one-way plane ticket.
That one-way, is away.
Away from home.

One week from today I'll be starting the process all over again. A challenge that has never caused me any reason for concern in the past. But as I sat there on the deck enjoying the sights and sounds that I've truly come to think of as home, it started to sink in.

It wasn't the brick, the wood, the grass or the trees I was saying goodbye to. It wasn't the friends, family, neighbours, or even the rural route mail delivery guy at the end of the driveway that I was going to miss the most.

As much as I've travelled over the years and made the adjustments for my living arrangements accordingly, for the first time in my life it was really hitting me. What was happening to me was the clarity of the moment. I've left houses, apartments and various neighbourhoods and friends behind before with nary a thought. But this time somethings different.

This is the first time I have ever had to say goodbye to my home.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Das Goat....

Making bloggaments fun again, well that just couldn't have been easy. Herding cats and all. But this kid is determined to doff his cap in the direction of one of the master herders of all time, Julius Goat.

Thanks to Survivor Donkey Island;

1) The right crowds show up.
2) Online Poker is fun again.
3) There's now occasionally something to read on our blogs.
4) Hilarity ensues at each post.
5) I get less sleep on Wednesday nights.
6) My weekly liquor bill now parallels fuel prices.

All good things IMHO.

Normally I wouldn't join a club that would allow someone like me to be a member, but this is fun. So I continue to donate.

I think we all owe Goat a big thanks for the fun because those are my principles, and if you don't like them, well.... I have others.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

What a wicked game we play....

So, I invited the boys over for a drink.

Seemed the right way to say farewell.

They wanted to play some Hold'EM.

Seemed the right way to make me puke.

Even the more intelligent of you should be able to put the thousand words required, to these simple pics.

The flop bet.


The Hollywood moment.


The eventual three all-ins....

followed by....

deal your own fate.


Only one or two things left to do.

First off,


Flush vs. Boat vs. Royal.

That's the first thing taken care of.

Now to complete it!


Royal Flush, over Straight Flush, over Boat.




To everyone that has ever taken the time to do so but more specifically today, to my Brudders Donk-EH and CC,


My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Losing 'it'....

I honestly know when it happens!
I just don't know how to stop it yet.

Constantly putting up with the absolute tediousness of relentless Bammer, after Bammer, after Bammer, eventually manages to get to me. When it does, my weak ass performs at Hold'EM just about as good as most American "Stars" singing *their National Anthem.

POORLY!

I started out The Survivor Donkey Island/Mookie/Dank/Goat whatever, by busting Waffles with pocket 8's. His A-K did not improve on the flop, turn or river and voila, Bammer manages a quick double up. I'm not proud of all-in with 8-8 on the first hand actually but honestly, I figured it for a race and went with my gut. Just got lucky like a Donkey is all!

So by first break,


I'm in the lead.

The rule is quite simple actually, play the third in a row just like Aces.


It feels dirty when they're sooted, but chips are chips.

So after surviving dozens of Bammer's in a row, I'm still on the leader board after second break.


I've shown a total of 8 Bammer's and 5 Hammer's to the table, thus far through the second hour.

I then see monster action ahead of me, as I hold reasonable starting hands for the first time all night. Monster pots develop, as I opt to fold my not quite good enough for battle holdings.

Natch, only to see them unfold as follows.


I think this next one was my favourite!


So then they come at me again, and again, and again.

BamBamCan: [9c-3s]
BamBamCan: [9h-3s]
BamBamCan: [9h-3d]
BamBamCan: [9d-3c]
BamBamCan: [3c-9s]
BamBamCan: [9h-3h]
BamBamCan: [3d-9c]
BamBamCan: [3s-9s]
BamBamCan: [9c-3h]
BamBamCan: [3c-9s]
BamBamCan: [9h-3d]
BamBamCan: [As-10h] <--- Of course 'it' happens here.

I ran that shite into Q-Q and to make things worse, it was a player I should know much better than to do that against.

Like I said, I know WHEN it happens.
I just haven't figured out HOW to stop it yet.

So in summary I guess, not much sucks quite as bad as playing good Poker and making some fairly smart decisions along the way. Having good timing for nearly three hours or so and surviving the game, despite the cards you are dealt. Only to have the bad 'it' take control of your mind, so the good 'it' doesn't stand a chance.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

*This is a post all on its own. I just need to word it correctly, so my friends don't take it as American bashing.

Outwit, Outplay, Out 15th....

My strategy for Survivor: Donkey Island was really quite simple. I'd align myself with the strongest competitor almost immediately and at my starting table, that obviously meant.... HOY!

Our agreement was made on nothing more than a quick virtual nod, rather early on in the game. Our strategy was brilliant too! I'd simply take all of his chips early on, then distribute them amongst the others as best I could. Obviously for his collection later on in the game.

As you can see, things were going brilliantly for us!














Then of course, I'd also have to make it look like I knew what I was doing on my own. This of course would be the toughest part of the game, but I felt up to the task!

First, I snatched a pot with complete air.


Then when I really needed to trust my read, I made the right play for another.


Now the hardest part of the whole Outwit thing was to get HOY's chips on his immediate left, without arising the suspicion of the others. This wouldn't be that easy. I needed to deftly pass HOY's chips over, but only when it was clear that it was nothing but good old fashioned Donktastic play on my part.

Fortunately,


Muhctim fell into our little trap!

The last step in our plan was a total surprise to all. I'd gather just a few more little chippies,


then simply slide them along to a real player, sitting on HOY's right.

This WAS NOT simple kids! I had to wait for what seemed like forever to get a sure thing loser like a soooooted Bammer.


OH and I almost effed the whole deal up earlier on! I got three Bammer's in a row and totally on instinct, I almost played the third one like Aces! Fortunately though, I managed to find the fold button somehow.

WHEW!

Now that HOY was completely surrounded by chips, I figured the win was a mere formality. It was time for The Goat to BLOW out my torch.


OH and just to show you all that you really shouldn't mess with my strategy going forward in the game,


I'm telling you, align with me kids.
I'll take you to the top!

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Hell hath no fury....

Normally when Peb's is in her "office," it's a rather calm and quieting experience.

Just like you see here.


After holding a 3:1 chip lead HU in this game however and just two hands later, I'd find myself requiring a dictionary for the swearing impaired.

PebblesCan shows [Ac As]
overthehil shows [6c 2s]
*** Flop*** [9d 7h 2h]
*** TURN *** [9d 7h 2h] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [9d 7h 2h 6s] [2d]
PebblesCan shows two pair, Aces and twos
overthehil shows a full house, twos full of sixes

PebblesCan shows [Ah Qs]
overthehil shows [Ac 2d]
*** Flop*** [7d 3h 2s]
*** TURN *** [7d 3h 2s] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [7d 3h 2s 3c] [Jc]
PebblesCan shows a pair of threes, Ace high
overthehil shows two pair, twos and threes


Although I truly love her fire and determination,
that was a lot closer to fire and brimstone, if you ask me.

:)

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

When Vince goes home....

I think all of the PACKERS WIN celebration alcohol is starting to become a distant enough memory to write. It could be close though! Bedrock threw one hell of a green & gold victory party, I can tell you that!

The thoughts I have on The Lombardi Trophy are simple. No trophy in any sport, anywhere, is more appropriately named. For no one IMHO should ever be more recognized for defining what it takes to be a winner, in a sport that requires a total team effort. Having said that, I also believe that Mr. Lombardi was more capable than any coach that has ever coordinated any team, of bringing out the very best in any individual, when they needed to be their best. And from what I've learnt over the years of my study of the man, for Mr. Lombardi, he needed your best on every down.

Yes I'm a die hard cheesehead so I may be biased just a touch but to me, Mike McCarthy did a damn fine Vince Lombardi impression on Sunday. One after another we lost Collins, Driver, Shields, Woodson and honestly, I thought those losses just may be our demise. It only got a few seconds worth of coverage on the broadcast as per usual, but Mike McCarthy did what Vince would've done I think. He pulled together the rag-tag remains he had for a team and inspired them. Forcing them to bring out their very best. Shields was supposedly so taken with the McCarthy speech, he eventually threw his helmet back on and made a bunch of great plays, despite what was probably a dislocated shoulder at the time.

Aaron did a damn fine job picking the Steelers apart I thought and had Jordy Nelson not had the most bizarre case of the dropsy's I think I've ever seen, I can't imagine what his stats could have looked like at the end. Quarterbacks and MVP titles are rather standard fair in this NFL driven by the media types, and there's nothing really wrong with that I guess. But I'm a blue collar cheesehead at heart and not one player on the field during the entire game, was more valuable to his team and more disruptive to his opponent, than Clay Mathews. Start to finish, Clay went 150% in everything he did. I can't call out one specific Clay Mathews play that made the difference in the game but what I can do, is recognize the pure talent, heart and desire he showed out on the field, all in the biggest game of his life. He left it all out on the field, held nothing back, on any and every single play. The definition of drive, desire and a championship attitude.

After watching that game from the sidelines, I think Mr. Lombardi would have made a different choice as his MVP.

I've patiently waited for 14 LOOOONG years to once again say, congratulations Vince! You're going home again!

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Funny thing this life, Part II....

Typically, I'm used to *mountains and trees as a view.

Well.... welcome to the new Bedrock Bammer!


Mom says, "Always check out the neighbours when considering a move"



Good advice although fortunately, they're just like my current ones!

Dad asked, "how will you entertain yourself?"


I told him there was a plan for that.

My oldest Sister wondered, "Is there culture? You know how important that is to you."


I mentioned this old place.

"It's pretty flat out there you know Bammer." said brudder CC. "Grain elevators


road signs and nothing but the back of a semi,


pretty much making up the landscape."

Then he pondered, "Any thoughts on what type of home out there may fit your needs?"

"Ya" I said, "I think I may have found something."

"Does it have the property you're used to though Bam?" he asked.


"Not bad CC" I answered.

"What about the house though?" I heard him ask. "Is it decent at least?"


"Ya, it's okay I guess." I told him.

"You have such a great view for a full 360 here in Bedrock, are you okay with what's out there?" CC wondered.

"Considering it's Saskatchewan I guess, not too bad CC."


was my response.

"Well Brudder" offered CC, "if you and Peb's are going to be happy AND they're going to throw the average price of a Ferrari at you every year I say, you might as well run with the bulls!"

Ya, funny thing this life.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

*Mountains here are NOT like Banff, Jasper, Colorado etc.... I get that. But it is NOT as flat as a Saskatchewan prairie.

Funny thing this life....

Just under one year ago I was in a golf cart in G-Vegas, talking with a friend from Seattle, about a California career move. We were discussing a major life event decision that he needed to make and hopefully, I was being a good sounding board for him to bounce a few ideas off of. It's funny though, how easy it was for me to offer an opinion on his situation.

I say that because, now its I who finds himself in the exact same situation.

This Thursday, I'll once again pack myself into a plane and head out across this great country. Over the next several days after, my life and the direction it takes will be totally up to nothing more than a couple of little decisions.

You see once they make theirs, I think the real fun starts.
For I'll be forced to make mine.

Suddenly, I find myself wishing I was back in that golf cart.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....