Another lousy Stars game

Sitting here waiting for the second game of the Stars blogger freerolls to start so figured I’d keep myself busy typing. May play a few other games tonight depending on how I feel. Already put a couple of seconds on the board in AP freerolls this afternoon.

One of the things I forgot to put in yesterday’s post was the fact I finally made it up to the gym yesterday, first time since the stroke, if anyone cares about the rehab. Was planning to basically work the legs but after a few miles on the bike and some weight work on the legs I decided to see what the arm could do, if anything. Started of with a seated chest press at minimum weight. That gave me some problems, not with the weight itself but pushing with my hand brought a sharp pain in the wrist. Not an auspicious beginning. Moved to the curls. They were a bit better. Couldn’t turn the wrist enough to get the usual grip on the crosspiece but was able to grab the runner up to that and so worked it that way. While only the 20# minimum on that also it was tough and had to use my good arm as the steadying force, the way a spotter works for a man doing a bench press. Arm work really seemed to be a long way. Moved to lat pull down after and things picked up a bit. It’s a split machine so that I could set it to just work my left arm. Started without any weight figuring the machine itself might provide enough resistance and almost wound up on my ass when it didn’t. Added 5# and that was better but still to light. Moved to 10# and that was better but might try 15 when I hit it tomorrow. Then moved to the dumbbells and found I could grip and hold a 2.5# one without much trouble so did some shoulder shrugs and then some curls with the bad arm. They felt good. Called it quits after that. Had therapy today and didn’t want to pus too hard. Hand was a bit swollen this am, probably from my cavalier treatment of the wrist. Therapist decided to see if we can start stretching that out when I told her. Also started me on the hand bike to start building strength when I told her I could grip pretty well now.

Stars tourney has started and find myself seated at Mojo’s table. Speak about inauspicious beginnings. Find myself halved early by a couple of slow plays. First I hit a K with a decent kicker and get nailed by an A-K who didn’t raise pre and was content to just call me down when I bet. Never suspected that A. Next hand had PP8s and called pre flop raise. Two lo and J hit and raiser checked and the raised my bet. Figuring he raised on PPJs or maybe even slow played an A-J. Either way couldn’t call with the 8s. Folded for awhile and thought I struck gold when I got A-A and 2 raisers in front of me. All in and both called and was against A-J and K-K. King thru the gate and I’m gone about a quarter of the way through. Just as I leave CK comes to the table so stick around to watch her and Double M for awhile. Oh well CK down. PP 9s against A-K and he flops the joint with T-J-Q.

Well time to go hunt up a few games to bore you with later. Thanks for the visit.

Having some fun

Ok, have to make this a quickie as it’s halftime of the Bird’s game. Have to see if they can find a way to throw it away. The end of the half showed they are capable of it. Andy, run the frikkin ball on 3 and 1 once in awhile, give the new FB a chance.

As for poker I seem to be on a bit of a streak, both with Omaha games and sponsored games. In sponsored games I am 3 of 4 in the last few days. Took down the Shark game on Friday night, one from Pokersluts on Sunday, for which I have to thank Goatlady for introducing me to, and the Tuckfard II tonight. Also bubbled the first Tuckfard. All 3 wins really shouldn’t have been either. In all three I was short at about mid game and got lucky when I was more or less forced into a push situation. Won those situations to keep me alive until the cards finally decided to become playable. Might have done better in the first TuckFard if Mojo hadn’t had such an acute sense of smell. He was raising preflop like a madman and I was pulling garbage most hands yet I actually pulled A-A 3 times and wouldn’t you know he folded all 3 times. I swear he smelled those frikkin Aces. OTOH, I will say I did take advantage of DonK in both games. In game 1 I called his preflop raise with a little pair and then took advantage of his check on an A hi flop to pot it. He folded, damning that A saying he had Ks. Sorry Don, I only had 4s. Later, in the O8 game he pots it but it only has 4 left so I make a donkey call with only a hi draw and hit it to end his game. That one I was sorry about, it was a bad call though not as bad as the hurt the Shockerkitten dealt him in game one calling a push and repush with 7-9s and spiking trip 9s. Just wasn’t Don’s night. Overall it was a fun night, a good substitute for not making it to the bar.

As for the Omaha streak, two of the above wins were in Omaha games. I also cashed a couple of bigger Omaha tourneys though just barely. Winning the smaller ones is nice but would love one of those big paydays. Only blotch on the Omaha record the last few days was the Poker Stars freeroll this afternoon. Sucked at that one. Well, can’t have everything. Still more chances there however. Another thing about the streak is that it has been scattered over 4 different sites so that no one bankroll has been increased by a significant amount. Put anywhere from $15 to $60 into 4 playing stacks. Maybe one of these days I’ll get one up enough to withdraw something. OTOH however two of those rolls started out from a $10 cash on AP freeroll so I shouldn’t complain.

Oh well, this one went longer than a quickie though I did it during commercials. Time to stop boring you, watch the end of the game and Thank You for visiting.

Frustration

Getting tired of paired boards. Was having a mini run this weekend. Though I don’t play a lot of MTTs as a rule, usually confine myself to SnGs and ring games and limit the MTTs to blogger and league games, I gave up ring this weekend and played some MTTs and did decent. Started off with a few cashes in SnGs on Fri afternoon. Then won the Shark game on UB that night with a few more SnG cashes, including a win on Tilt. Saturday saw me cash a few multi tables, not for huge amounts because only getting smacked by the deck at opportune times enabled me to keep alive in them but I tripled my money which is a hell of a lot better than losing. That combined with some more SnG cashes, including throwing my last $3 on Stars into a SnG which I won made for a decent day. Overall was up about $120 for the 2 days which ain’t bad since I’m not one to put a lot of money into online games. In fact on some sites I’m playing with found money, banks I’ve started with freeroll winnings. Which brings me to today and my opening statement.

Actually it started yesterday but then it only cut my winnings short. Today it’s killing the winning totally. The paired board is killing me. I’m flopping two pair and losing to pocket pairs when the odd card winds up pairing giving someone a higher two. My mid pairs are getting destroyed when the board winds up double pairing and I lose to the guy who just can’t fold that A. I t’s wiping out my stacks and today has killed me when I was chip leader in 3 SnGs. Finally signed up for a PLO tourney to try and break the streak. We’ll see.

Finally got my ticket for the Stars blogger games. First is a PLO tomorrow afternoon. Verizon is coming in to install TV service around that time. My luck they’ll have to shut down my Internet connection to do it. Think I have an aircard around here somewhere. Better try and find it in case I need it. Can’t wait till TV service gets installed. The way Comcast has been nibbling away the channels, while raising prices, was beginning to think antennae would be better.

Thought I was going to get out to an RPT game tonight but nephew is hollering sore back so guess it happening. Combined with the fact that my usual game, the Trappe on Mondays, is probably off tomorrow because the Birds are on the tube means a lot of online poker unless I just go to bed.

OK, enough boredom, time for some PLO and a few more SnGs to try and break the streak. Thanks for stopping by.

Wine and a win

Sat round all day yesterday playing cheap poker and POed since I wasn’t in Vegas, that and it was just a miserable day all around. Poker wasn’t much better. Up until the end of the night it was basically a wash. Win a few bucks here, lose a few there. Was going to play the Donkament but with everyone in Vegas, no one signed up so that killed that idea. While entertaining that idea I was looking at my email and noticed one from the Shark Tour. Now I used to ply games from the Shark Tour years ago when it first started up and it was basically a few freerolls and some $5 buy ins. After awhile I just stopped and they have grown during the time I was away. Lot more events, website with message boards, whole nine yards. Nice setup. Looking at the email I noticed there was a small buy in rebuy on Ultimate Bet at the same time as the Donkament. Since I like to multi table in tourneys to keep me from being bored I figured I would indulge after all these years.

Well as it went, I had a few glasses of wine while playing last night and due to recent circumstances I had throttled my usual consumption of alcohol way down. After all, when you have a weak leg and semi useless arm giving you balance issue it don’t seem too smart to put something in your system where the main effect seems to be to screw up your balance. IOW, I’ve been on the wagon for the last few months due to the stroke and the unaccustomed alcohol combined with red wine’s natural effect of making me sleepy were doing their thing. When I checked and saw only two others registered for the Donkament I decided to pull out. Since I was giving up there and feeling tired I was ready to also pull out of the UB game but decided what the hell. Good decision. Though only a small field, about 20, I decided to play and made a triumphant return to the Shark Tour. Thanks to a friendly deck at the proper times, a few judicious steals and semi bluffs, a couple of good reads and basically two really good guesses on “what the hell, if I’m beat I’m beat” situations I wound up taking it down to add a few bucks to the UB account. Felt good to win against some decent players. Heads up got a bit scary. I went in with a better than a 10-1 chip lead and some good heads up play by my opponent with a bad guess or two combined with a couple of good guesses and bad boards allowed my opponent to bring it back to almost even.

Situation didn’t last long there though as, on the final hand we both got a bit tricky and I was a bit trickier, and luckier. I caught K-Qs in the BB my opponent either just called or min raised. Rather than raise I decided to see what the flop would bring deciding to take it from there so I just called. Flop was A-x-T and I checked. My opponent bet the minimum and I figured it was worth the price to play the gutterball so called. Turn was that beautiful J and I checked again hoping for something other than the min bet. He obliged, I raised and he shoved followed by my call. He had, as I said, been playing tricky, holding A-K, hoping to trap and got unlucky. River added insult to his injury by bringing a K and giving me the victory. Enjoyed the hell out of myself as tired as I was, play was very good. Going to have to start paying more attention to the Shark events. Sorry no one was around for the Donkament however.

Enough boredom. Enjoy Vegas people and think of us little people who couldn’t make it.

Half assed book review

Was going to hit the sack after getting knocked out of a tourney on Tilt when my tens lost to 3s when he spiked a set but Turner Classics came up with a movie I like at the moment so decided I’ll stat up and watch and do a bit of writing. Played some with Goatlady tonight and had a great time. Hope to see her at the tables again.

This post however is going to concentrate on my recent reading. As I said in previous posts I have acquired a new supply of reading materials and have actually gotten to read some of them so decided to give my opinions on some of them and hopefully convince some folks to pick up a book.

Think I will start with Watchmen by Alan Moore. Watchmen started out as a comic book series but has been collected into a graphic novel. Now of course there will be those snobs who look down on “comics” but Watchmen is not your ordinary, everyday comic. Not that I have anything against them, I enjoy the hell out of them, but if you take away the graphic format you have a book that is every bit as relevant as any great piece of literature and more so than most. Written back in the 80’s the subject matter was very relevant to the times and even more striking, some of the subject matter relates very much to the attitude of many in the upper echelons of the US government over the last 8 years, almost prescient. On the whole it is thought provoking, including the comic within the comic and especially the ending. The movie version is due to be released in March of 09 and I wonder how they will handle it?

I’ll try not to let out any spoilers but I can’t guarantee what will happen when my fingers go on a roll. Watchmen, like many comics, is based on costumed heroes but, except for one of them, they do not possess super powers. They are masked vigilantes, more of the Batman type, and rather than super pure fighters for truth, justice and the American Way, they are all too human with the faults and foibles of normal people, except for the one guy who is actually a superman, and as things progress he goes in the opposite direction, finding it hard to relate to humanity. It’s these characteristics that lead to the thought provoking scenarios that unfold.

The setting is also not your typical comic setting of the world at large, though I have heard that modern comics have gone to the alternate universe extreme to kill off characters and bring them back. Watchmen is set in an alternate universe where the US has a decided edge over the rest of the world due to “control” of the one actual super being, Dr. Manhattan, but the Russians aren’t exactly kowtowing so that the Doomsday clock is set at 5 minutes to midnight. Also, instead of running free a law has been passed which requires “heroes” to register, and be under the control of, the US government. Due to this most of them have retired though a couple work in sanction and one at least doesn’t give a rat’s patoot and is an actual vigilante, operating outside the law.

The book opens with the murder of a man, which is nothing strange, until the one true vigilante discovers that he was one of the “heroes” working in sanction with the government. This leads him to contact the others who have retired with the backgrounds and attitudes of these people framing the situation in their own terms. As the story progresses it also regresses as much of it is back-story on the history of the masked crime fighter in the world. It dwells on motives and actions and the fate of many of the vigilantes. The story leads us down paths as to what happens to people when they stray into the realms of the unusual. Add in what happens when the level that people care, or don’t care, and the methods they use to show it and there are conflicts galore. The author draws no pat conclusions and does not ram morals down your throat. You are required to think to make any sense of this story and anyone seeking pat answers or stories that make you feel warm and fuzzy will probably not like it. If you like a challenge to your mind however it is a recommended read. I have no idea how Hollywood is going to handle this one without wrecking the entire story but will be interesting to see what they have done.

Routinely busy

Been even a longer break between posts since last time. Wonder if my fan(s) are worried? Wonder if I actually have any fans? Does it really matter. Actually it’s been a combination of 3 factors, nothing really exciting going on, doing a lot of things (just not anything exciting) and, the last few days having to repair my network which ain’t so easy to do one armed.

Finally went out and got that new recliner. Not actually the one I wanted, that is still on the back burner since it’s an 8 week delivery time but found a great bargain at Lane’s going out of business sale. It’s huge, sturdy, sits up about 3-4 inches higher than most of the other furniture, comfortable as hell, was about 65% off and we got it loaded in the van and home the next day. Been spending a lot of time in it and it doesn’t accommodate a laptop well with only one arm, so it’s time not spent on the computer. Need to get one of those slanted type chair tables. Debating on the second recliner. I really want the Berkline I saw, awesome chair and reclines to 180 degree flatness. Maybe I’ll replace my bed with it. OTOH, they got another Lane just like the one I got and the cost of that and the one I got is the same as the cost of the Berkline alone. Decisions, decisions.
A nice poker win would make the decision easier.

Doctors have also kept me busy. Checkups and more checkups. Got approved for fulltime work right after the New Year so will be back there then. Just as I’m starting to get used to lazing around. Oh well. Went to the eye docs while I’ve been making the rounds. Got some new specs. They are another reason I’m keeping the recliner on the back burner. Could have furnished the whole house for the price of new glasses. Am glad that new materials have given me options besides tortoiseshell coke bottles but damned they have gotten expensive. Vanity, thy name is poorhouse. Look good tho and actually can read a lot better with the new bifocals.

Trees finally arrived last weekend and got some of them in before the rains hit again. Arbor Day society forgot my Japanese maples tho. Seems this property is not destined for Japanese maples. This is the third time there has been a screw-up with them. Last time someone was replacing some trees they had to cut down and asked what we wanted and they were told red maples, since Japanese maples have red leaves all year round. Well we now have two red maples in the yard. In fact actually there are three since the last Arbor Day shipment included a free one. For that matter so did this one but that is one of the ones I haven’t gotten planted yet. Got the hollies, the walnut and one of the cherries in. Still have the firs, another cherry and red maple to get in. Again, a lot of work with no notion of whether it is any good until the spring. Not a game for the immediate satisfaction crowd.

Pokerwise haven’t been doing a lot of playing either live or online. Got in a live game at the Snakster manor the other Saturday. Started off hot and was up about $80 the first orbit. Felt really good when I fired pre, flop and turn bets with the hammer and actually got these guys off the hand. Not my usual style of play but just had to try. Good thing Miller was late to the game because his response to my raise would be a reraise no matter what he has. He then usually sucks out on me. The good luck disappeared in a flash however on two hands when I caught top two on both and Pops, the Snakster’s father-in-law, caught a straight and then a flush on me. Most of my winnings shifted his way. Pops don’t usually walk away a winner though so was not about to begrudge the suckouts. Ground out a few bucks in winnings over the course of the rest of the night so it wasn’t as if I donated out of my own pockets. Other than that and a game or two at RPT venues my poker has been taking a backseat to my reading. (BTW Goat lady, my handle at Tilt is Wolfshead. My handle at most sites is Wolfshead or some variation thereof, usually Wolfshead56 if the plain name isn’t available) As for the reading I picked up a number of paperbacks, which are a lot easier to read right now than my usual hardbacks and so have been spending a lot of time getting reacquainted with the written word.

As far as the one handed situation things are improving slowly but surely. Arm strength is getting a lot better as is range of motion and control. Wrist and hand are getting there though a lot slower. Finger dexterity is the real bitch. Two hand typing still a while away.

Speaking of typing this hand is getting a bit tired of boring you for now so we will say adieu and thank you for listening. More in the near future.

Thanksgiving

Been a week since I posted, shows how exiting my life has been lately. Not that it has been all that action packed to begin with but the last week has been total bore. Not much poker, what little I have played I have sucked at. Bit of therapy and that is becoming routine. Bit of good news in that next week may write Fini to the leg work leaving only the arm to keep pushing on. Plants are all in the ground waiting for the spring to see if I was just jerking off rushing around to get them in. Still waiting on the trees to be delivered. Thought they might have shown this week with the recent cold snap but they haven’t made it yet. Just a damned slow week

Thanksgiving evening and just woke up from post dinner nap. The stroke has curtailed my alcohol intake over the last few months and it shows. Couple of glasses of wine and I went down like a baby. Way out of shape for any blogger gatherings right now, would be perceived as a lightweight. Slept thru the first half of the Eagles game. Eagles slaughtering the Cards. I start watching the game and all of a sudden the Cards are kicking Philly butt. Cards pinned on their own 10. They score here and I am turning it off. Will confirm that I am a total jinx when it comes to sports. Every time I watch things go to hell for the locals. Maybe not. Warner gets hammered but completes the pass for a first down but Boldin just fumbled with nothing but green shirts around. They might hang on here..

Overslept any poker games also. Oh well. Now wide awake and nothing to do. What a bite. Hopefully get out to a live game this Sat. Will be a nice change of pace. Heard the possibility the game may be on, just haven’t had it confirmed. Need to see if I can get a ride home if it’s on. Not driving is still a bitch.

Got my daughter’s school pictures this week. I am getting old. The pictures this year were not of my little girl child, they were of a young lady I hardly recognized. Another year I’m going to have to load up the shotgun and give my ex some rules to post to keep the boys in line. Know where her brains come from but have no idea where she gets her looks.

Got some early Christmas shopping done this week. Finally found a Wii for my daughter. She’ll be happy as a clam come Christmas. Only been hinting, no outright begging, for over a year now. Also did some of my booze shopping for the holidays. Usually get a few bottles of good blendeds for Christmas gifts at work which usually handles the visitors but since I’m not at work who knows if they will be there so needed to get them in addition to the bourbon, rum and rye I prefer. Someone went marching thru my supply over the course of the last couple of months. Outside the scotch which I keep on hand for some good friends, and my Irish, of which I occasionally partake my cupboard is bare. Needs some serious replenishment. That doesn’t even count the wines either. My stock of bubbles is getting seriously low and Bollinger is a bitch to find in PA. Don’t even think of Krug or Pol Roger. Outside the domestic bubbles it seems Mumms and Moet are the kings of the shelf around here. Moet isn’t bad in a pinch but as far as I’m concerned Mumms is the Andre of French bubbles. Seems when it comes to champagne my tastes run more towards Ay and Epernay rather than Reims tho I make an exception for Krug. As for American bubbles they have improved immensely since the French houses have started producing in the states but Iron Horse and Schramsberg are still the bubbles of choice for me, when I can afford them. Bubbles are not a cheap addiction.

OK, it’s still Thanksgiving and I guess I do have a lot to be thankful for. A beautiful daughter, a great family who have given me great support during these times. Tho still impeded a bit by the stroke I’m thankful that it wasn’t a lot worse than it was. I could have been spending this time in a hospital somewhere. And loads of thanks to this community for the friendship they have shown.

OK, family just arrived from the slots parlor so it’s getting a bit hectic hectic here. Enough of this journey into the land of boredom. I shall open the door and allow you to leave. Thanks for the visit.

Ramblings about poker, strokes and reading

Playing the Mookie tonight. Had a ride to a live RPT game but didn’t feel like getting dressed. Game started off fast and went downhill. Opened with A-Q in MP but had a raise and reraise in front so gave it up. So far I got nothing else. Hanging around with half a stack or less for most of the game. Seem to catch a hand at just the right time to stay alive. Other than that, nada. Few times I did catch something no one else did and I got some blinds or min pots. Ah well, such is the game. Should have gone to bed, therapy in the am.

Speaking of therapy got some good news, bad news the other day while there. First, the therapist says that she thinks my progress is faster than she usually sees. Altho it’s hard to believe, at least in my mind, I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and believe her. Bad news, it seems that total recovery, including all the internal damage could take up to a year after I think I’ve recovered fully. I do notice that certain small things are just coming back in my leg even tho the strength and balance have seemed almost totally back for a week or so. More like muscle control issues rather than strength, ones like being able to clench certain muscles.

Was going to play the Dookie also but decided not to. Too tired. Finally got the rest of the plants in the ground today. Place was a sea of mud and it was cold and windy but it got done. Me on shovel, nephew on post hole digger and father on hoe backfilling and we knocked it out. Thought we were finished at 2 dozen holes but got a bargain. Seems the nursery sent 4 extra plants. Today that was a bargain I really didn’t need, hands were cold. Big cup of hot chocolate spiked with some coconut rum helped afterwards. Some of the bushes had some live growth on them even tho the leaves had finally fallen off them so hopefully they will survive.

Time to start on a new subject, one of my favorite ones, books. Decided to start on this for a couple of reasons. One, I’m a voracious reader and book collector and hope to be again. Right now it’s tough to read since holding a newspaper and books one handed is a bitch.

Two, just before the stroke happened I had just ordered a number of books, some of them just collector’s editions of books I already have or have read in paperback. Others were new material I haven’t had the chance to read. Added to them are two graphic novels I just ordered. Except for certain special editions of these concerning certain series I collected in my youth I hadn’t really been a purchaser of graphic novels before. Not a snob, I got my start reading comics in the mid 60s and my daughter has discovered the joy of manga and while I buy them for her I take advantage of the fact they are lying around the house and read them myself. It’s just that I always enjoyed comics for the stories more so than for the art and when they went to a quarter from twelve cents and I realized that I could buy paperbacks like Conan for 50 cents and get a lot more story comics fell by the wayside in favor of books. I have however, been reintroduced to the love of comics. This week I got, as I said, two graphic novels. One was basically a compendium of some of the comics of my youth, a volume which is basically nothing more than reprints of Dr. Strange comics from back in the day. I loved Dr. Strange. Only regret is that the prints are in B&W. One of the things about the Doc were the psychedelic colors use to represent the spirit world in those comics. If I find the stories as enjoyable as I remember I may have to search out the hardbound versions that are out there. They aren’t cheap but they are in color and on better paper. The other book is Watchman. I have heard a lot about this series but never read it but while looking at something else I noticed the series has been compiled into a hardbound edition. So I thought I would check it out. This book is not a child’s comic with a lot of issues that were very relevant when it was written back in the 80’s. Started reading it earlier tonight. May write more about it when I am finished. May write about other books when I start buying and reading again. As I said, reading is a passion.

Third, I was reading Astin’s blog earlier and he mentioned he should read more, that he enjoyed it but that he just didn’t do it enough. I left a comment urging him to do it. Reading is something I will encourage in anyone, no matter what they read. Massaging words in your mind only improves your mental abilities. It’s one of the reasons I buy my daughter the manga. It may not be the classics but it encourages her to read. As I said, I started on comic books myself and graduated to heavier things. Another thing is that he said he enjoyed it. I also enjoy it and temporarily am not really able to enjoy it. It bothers me that I can’t but at least my problem is only temporary, this time. While in rehab I met a woman who seemed no worse off than I physically. While I was killing some time reading, before I realized how frustrating it was one armed, she told me I was lucky to be able to use my time reading. Her stroke had damaged a portion of her brain that left her unable to read. While the effect could be temporary she can’t be sure and even if so there is no telling how long it will be before the ability returns. What I am trying to say is, if you enjoy something, make time to do it. You never know when the ability to do so may vanish. And if you don’t already do so, read. It’s good for the mind and the soul.

OK, somewhere amidst the 4th or 5th paragraph I got knocked out and should have gone to bed but I was up on my reading soapbox and decided to try and finish. So enough boredom for tonight so I’ll step down from it and say thanks for tuning in.

Just cruisin

Couldn’t play my live game last night so decided to sit in on the TuckFard. (and no Bam I wasn’t researching it, or TuckFards in general, or even recliners. Was trying to find out why none of my Disney DVDs will not auto play unless they are the first disc in my changer. First disc and they play OK, in any other part of the rotation it skips them. This is my second changer and it did the same in both of them so have a feeling it’s something in the disc coding. Anyone else have a similar problem?) After my last couple of blogger games this one was a pleasant surprise. No rebuy madness and contrary to what the name would lead you to expect so tight well played poker. Three handed it seemed to go on forever. Collected a couple of bounties and made it to second place. Seemed to make a habit of slowly building a stack and then handing it off to WS, the eventual winner, in one fell swoop. Three times I had him going in and he wound up passing me. Not to say he played donk hands, his hands were good, mine just better.(except for that frikkin J-4 suited he made a move with and I decided to call with J-9 suited. Neither hand anything to be proud of but that 4 on the flop really pissed me off.) Kudos to both him and SuzyQ for a testing final and thanks to all participants for a fun game.

Felt really good this morning but that feeling lasted only as long as therapy. Damned sadists there noticed things were going a lot easier today so decided that they were going to add some weights or resistance bands to my arm and legs as I went thru the routines. Bitches. Feeling dog tired now. Day is nice here today. Sunny but windy. If the rain holds off till late tomorrow I might finally get the last of the berry canes in the ground. That I will consider an accomplishment.

Right now playing some cash games but not doing so well. Good just ain’t good enough and the RNG favoring the chase artists. Plus have two characters at table that are afraid to bet their hands. I hate it when I’m in position and decide to bet out second pair since it checked around to me and get check called all the way down only to have some asshole turn over flopped top pair and never even bet it. Why the hell are you playing in the first frikkin place? And if you are afraid of your kicker then why cal? Bet your damned cards will you. Slow playing a pair of Js with a 7 kicker is not a good idea! May just shut it down for awhile and nap. League game tonight so will be playing that and anything else I might find. Been playing the $1 PLOs at 10:20 on both AP and UB but haven’t been able to catch a playable hand for 3 nights now. ‘bout ready to give up on it for awhile.

OK, starting to rant. Time to shut it down for a bit. More boredom later. Thanks for the visit.

Coming along, coming along

Bit of a busy day today. Weather let up and bit of cold spell coming in so took advantage, grabbed a shovel and some help and dug some holes. Got 15 blueberries in the ground today with help from Dad and my nephew. Still a dozen blackberries and a dozen raspberries left to go. Was able to do the blueberries because they are going into a grass verge on edge of property so even though ground was pretty wet we were able to dig because of the grass. The old garden area where I’m putting the others is tilled so is still a sea of mud, no way to dig. Seems like they are calling for either rain or snow tomorrow so have a feeling that those other berry plants may be goners. Snow I can live with but rain going to hold things up a few more days.

Again the exercise felt good but paying for it now. Muscles still not used to it so I’m starting to tighten up. Part of the problem is the furniture. Never before realized how bad common household furniture is for handicapped people. Sitting on the couch or chair and there isn’t really enough support to feel comfortable and the edge of the seat winds up cutting circulation to the legs so that they start to fall asleep. Add in the fact that you sink into a gravity well when you sit on most furniture and without two arms that work you can’t lever yourself up or you have trouble sliding up to the edge to be able to be able to use your legs to lift. Need to go shopping to find my self a recliner that provides support, I can get out of easily and can take the pressure I’m going to wind up exerting on it without falling apart. I ain’t a small guy to begin with and using only one arm I can apply some heavy pressure in uneven directions that a normal person wouldn’t naturally do. Any suggestions, I’m all ears. Might even go looking for a futon or a daybed as I’m also spending a lot of time sitting on the edge of the bed and that’s a bitch since there is no support at all for the back. Something that converts from bed to seat and back may help.

Missing my live poker game tonight. No ride as my nephew is working. Maybe I’ll make the TuckFard. We’ll see. Played a Buy in league game last night and bubbled. Cards were good early and a 3 way all in at final table plus one sent me into the final table as second stack when I spiked set of 4s vs set of 3s and ppKs. Hands went cold after that and I got injured when I caught A-J with a J on the flop for top-top but one of the callers to the preflop raise had ppQs. Been in a bit of tourney funk lately. Close but no WEO. Hopefully I snap out soon.

Well we have been boring long enough. Need to do some research before I do any playing tonight so I’ll just say thanks for tuning in.

Ranting, even tho I'm doing well

The tables were not kind to me yesterday and I can’t even blame the donkeys. It was a day where you get good hand after good hand only to keep winding up second best, usually on the river. Hi pocket pairs got no callers. Flopped two pairs would get overridden by a set or by the board pairing to give the other guy’s pp a better two. Mid aces that paired would wind up losing to an unsuspected A-paint that wasn’t raised pre. Or bet post. Even bubbled two SnGs, one because of big stack calling my all in with crap and catching a straight to my flopped top-top. Then I get top pair, good kicker called down by bottom pair that turns to a back door straight. As they say, only thing worse than bad cards are good cards that aren’t quite good enough.

Today another miserable day. Not raining hard, just occasional spritzs but ground too muddy to do any digging. Tomorrow predicted to be even worse. I ordered these damn plants for the fall so I didn’t hit the spring rains and now I’m getting screwed again. Damn arms and shoulders feel like digging again too. Someone up there hates me.

Speaking of hate I’m beginning to have a few too. First and foremost right now is the touchpad on this laptop. Damn thing a major pain in my butt. Half the time the tap click doesn’t work at all and the other half the cursor seems to slide all over the screen with a mind of its own. I spend an hour at the nickel and dime table on UB and double my money and then give almost all of it away when I move the cursor to fold and it slides back to call. when some peckerwood goes all in. The reason I say peckerwood is because, after sitting there for at least a half hour and watching me turn over good hands when I lead out betting, and watching him do nothing out throw out reraise after reraise, and showing nothing when called, he still kept trying to force me out of hands I had already led out a pot sized bet on. This time he actually had decent hole cards and they stood up. Thankfully, being the peckerwood that he was he returned the money, and then some, within the next orbit. Gotta love those donkeys who are betting without even a chance to suck out on ya.

Speaking of hate, donkeys and suckouts bring me to my next rant. What the hell is it with these people that refuse to release an A, no matter how weak and what the board and/or betting tells them? Got caught by two of these assholes tonight, one in ring, and one on a $5 SnG. In the SnG we had both taken out 2 people and were the big stacks., everyone else under the starting stacks. I catch A-J suited OTB and raise 3xs and he calls from MP. Flop brings 3 unders and the flush draw so I go pot. He tanks then calls. Turn brings me the A and still have nut flush redraw so I push figuring even if he has the A he’s outkicked plus I have outs. He again tanks then calls. River a 3 and it shows him with A-3 and I’m gone. WTF? Nothing on the flop and piss poor kicker on his A at the turn after I have already raised pre, potted flop and pushed on the A. How he even got to the turn outside of being brain dead I’ll never frikkin know? Same thing in the cash game, I raise pre, pot flop and put the guy all in on the turn when I pair the A to my A-K on the turn. Of course the A-5 calls all the way and catches the river 5. Again however he eventually gave me my funds back. One of these days I’m going to build a temple dedicated to the cult of the almighty, invincible Ace. The way some people worship it I should make a killing on the collections.

Third rant, again dealing with peckerwoods and lo stakes poker. I am really beginning to hate these folks that sit down at the table with the minimum stake just so they can go all in when they decide to play a hand. While they are doing a bit of fattening my accounts it’s not a fun way to play Not only that I have a feeling that they are actually costing me money. Too many times I have a good hand and actually improve it but it is only me and the idiot in the pot because his all in pre scared out other potential players. Considering what some people at lo stakes will call a 3xs raise with if that guy hadn’t pushed I might have had a few more fish on the line. Oh well, as long as the RNG doesn’t go nuts on me I’m still coming out ahead. BTW, I got back what I lost yesterday plus a few extra thanks to the peckerwoods today. Should have een even more.

OK ranting is boring so enough of it. Thanks for allowing me to rant.

A new low, even for me

Played the Bad Beat on Kidney Failure charity game on Tilt. Started off with about 80 players including 4 Tilt pros Have no idea what I’m doing here as the way I feel I should just turn out the light, turn on the tube and just lay my ass flat on the bed. Under normal circumstances I would actually be playing the game that way but being one armed for the time being manipulating the laptop in that position is a no go. As it’s for charity I decide to forego my comfort. Game starts and I find myself at a table with Andy Bloch. After the first hand I find myself leaving the table with Andy Bloch. What a time for me to go uber aggressive. Battle of the blinds first hand with me in the BB with Q-J. SB min raises so I call. Flop comes 3 under cards giving me a gut shot so when SB checks I pot it figuring he didn’t hit. He calls. Turn brings a Q and again he checks so I pot, he pushes and I don’t have enough left to bother folding top pair so I call. Seems that Q gave him his straight and sent me to the rail. Oh well, my reputation as a donk is preserved. Even worse I didn’t even get gigli honors, or is that dishonors, as 3 others found a way to beat me out. Since I had already decided to say to hell with hitting the sack I decided to hang around and rail Bam, who I am happy to say made it to the final table before he ran into a card rack, nay a card tank, by the name of Andy Bloch. Bad enough the man has the skills we all wish we had, last night he also had the devil’s own luck as well. As they say, them that has, gets. Have to say Mr. Bloch was a perfect gentleman, interacting with the players and laughing at the jokes, some at his expense, because f his luck, and bidding defeated players farewell with the standard GG. Thank you sir for helping out a worthy cause and folks, if you see him signed up for a charity game, participate if you can. The causes are worthy and if you should get lucky enough to be seated at his table you’ll have fun. At least until he finds a way to take you out.

Since I was up and railing Bam I decided to play the PLO turbos on AP and UB. Both were major donkfests. Have never seen so many preflop raises and reraises. Any high pair or double suited hand was seen as worthy of a pot sized bet even if the double suits were led by 4s or 7s. This was followed by all ins on any flush draw. On AP I stayed card dead and went down early. On UB I hung around to get close to the cash when a couple of my top 2s on the flop converted to boats against those optimistic flush chasers. However I ran into one too many chasers around the bubble and so went into the night and finally to bed. Another day, another game.

Today is a miserable day here. Cold, wet and neither helping my sore muscles or arthritis. Had to cancel today’s therapy session as I’m just too stiff and sore from yesterday. Just going to be lazy the rest of the day, probably play some poker and hope it clears up for tomorrow. In the meantime will find new ways to bore you. Thanks for allowing me to.

Pay it forward

For the help this community gave me getting thru some tough times hope this helps someone else. It's late but just ran accross it. Hope Dr. Pauly forgives me for lifting this from his post.

You can help out this Wednesday, Nov 12th.
Here's the details:
When: 9pm ET on 11/12
Where: Full Tilt - Tournament #67971755
Buy in: $10+$10
NLName: Bad Beat on Kidney Failure
Password: CailtyssRulien

Hope to see you there. So much for my early night.

Addendum: Well early night anyway, out on the first hand.

Pooped ain't the frikkin word

Calling for rain tomorrow so even tho today wasn't as nice as yesterday I decided I had to try and get some plants in the ground. Unlike the sun yesterday today was overcast but otherwise a decent fall day. Wanted to get an earlier start but was still tired and fell asleep after breakfast and didn't get up until noon. Thought it was going to be a bitch but turns out it made no difference. Started late and Dad decided to give me a hand. Thought I might just be able to use a heavy pointed rod to make some holes but when I opened the box of plants we noticed that, even tho the plants were bareroot, the rootballs were still fairly large. Meant bringing out the post hole digger. Amazingly I was able to get a grip on the damned thing and was able to operate it after a fashion something unthinkable just a week ago. Things are improving. Couldn't get enough leverage to get real deep so I started the holes and took a break while my father finished them off. All in all we got a dozen red raspberry canes and half a dozen blackberries in. After that I was bushed. My therapist going to kill me tomorrow as, from the way I feel now, my arm and hand will be totally useless. They got a good work out today however and while I'm pooped it's that good feeling you get from a great workout. Can only be good. Just hope my raspberries make it however. While most of the plants still had a lot of foliage and the bags they were packed in still had a lot of moisture in them so they weren't dried out the plants are supposed to be dormant but the red raspberries have sprouted new growth, probably due to the warm spell last week. Just hope they survive the cold. Still have a dozen golden raspberries, a dozen blackberries and about 15 blueberries still to go. Plus have about 15 trees coming in in the next couple of weeks also. A lot of digging still to go. Blueberries going to be the toughest as they are going into a section where I have to cut thru grass to get them in and they need bigger holes than the raspberries. Luckily they have some dirt around the roots so may be able to survive a few more days as long as they stay dormant. Have to say thanks to my father because without him nothing could have gotten done. Just have to make sure I don't wear him out or let him wear himself out. If it was up to him we would have gotten another dozen or two in the ground today, as least.

So, as the title suggests, my ass is dragging. Feels good to have accomplished something even if someone else did most of the heavy lifting. Did what I could and suprised myself with the ability to be able to do what I did. Hopefully the rest of the planting will build up stamina in my arm if I can get it done. The rain ain't going to be helpful for planting tho the wet ground will definitely be a benefit to the plants once they are in. Have a feeling tho that I'm hitting the sack early tonight.

Last, but definitely not least, today is my daughter's birthday. In case her mother has somehow stumbled across this blog, tell her her father sends birthday wishes. It's times like this that really get me down, not being there for the occassion. Have already called and wished her Happy Birthday and had a little chat but just not really the same as being there. In case you see this, Happy Birthday Scoot.

Hokay, arm is starting to feel like it's ready to fall off so guess that is the signal I've bored you enough for today. Thanks for the ear, or in this case, the eyeball.

Addendum. Just my frikkin luck. I had hoped to make the Dec gathering but that idea has gone by the wayside. So what arrives in the mail today? An offer from the Mirage for a 3 day stay in either a suite or deluxe room, it depends on which days you pick as to which you get, plus $250 towards play, good Dec thru Feb. Don't know if it was for me or my father but as we share the same name and he had no intention of traveling it could have been all mine. Never rains but it pours.

Further addendum. Fuck pooped, right now my damn muscles are stiffer than my dick got after perusing Bam's Halloween post or the one about contacts.

Pooped

It's a beautiful day here and I'm too pooped to enjoy it. Out late at the bar game last night and up early for the docs and therapy. Wanted to get those plants in the ground today but therapy has wasted my legs so hopefully tomorrow stays as nice and hopefully my plants are still alive. Any volunteers are more than welcome to stop by.

Good news from the doc. Got okayed to return to work, at least part time. Can start back 3 days a week on Mon. Acck, while writing this I got bad news call from work. Because of the way the handbook and rules are written I can't return to work. They made no differentiation between salaried and hourly personel and there is no provision for light duty in the rules so that even tho I would be doing my regular job, just less hours, it is construed as light duty and so if they allow me to do it they have to accomodate those folks in the plant with light duty jobs so I'm SOL until a full release. Arrrrrrgh!!!!!!! Stuck for now. Damn.

Bam, appreciated the advice but the league game didn't come with corn dogs and chicken fries so that decided the issue, that and being able to get out of the house. (see above). Last night started hot and quickly fizzled. Third hand I flopped the nuts, K-hi straight, and had 2 folks push all in in front of me, smaller straight and 2 pair. Didn't even have to work at it. If only they were all that easy. After that the cards went further south than Argentina. Won a couple out of the blinds, stole a few but mainly just did a lot of folding tho when the blinds went up started to bleed chips with A-face hole cards and lo flops. C-bets only brought raises and my stack dropped. The death blow was dealt by one of those people who hate to give up an A no matter how low the kicker. Afraid to bet them and afraid to let them go. He limped and I raised with pp 10s and he called. Flop brings A-x-x and he checks and I throw out a pot and he calls. Turn a blank, another check, I figure a draw so I push and a call. He turns over A-3 off and river isn't a 10 so I'm left with a BB and a half. WTF? What is the purpose of check calling that lo ace? If you think it's good why not bet it or at least test bet it to see if that low kicker is useless? If you are afraid of that low kicker being no good why call the bets? I will never figure these people out. Was able to work the remaining chips up to a couple of BBs but went out in tenth. Wasn't too bad. Made it to the corndogs.

As for the league it didn't turn out too bad. I lost a few points of my lead but not most. Still have 30+ point lead with 4 games left. Think one of them is next Mon tho so have to make a good showing in the Sat game. We'll see how it goes.

BTW, since my legs are tired I sat and played poker, what else. Must be getting better, picked up $10 on the .05-.10 tables and another $3 on the penny ones. Except for that call from work not a bad morning.

OK, enuff boredom fofr you folks. Thanks for tuning in.

Frustration

As the title suggests frustration is setting in today. Frustration in everything, even the good things. Poker went so-so over the weekend. Died in the couple of blogger games I played yet picked up a few bucks in the penny ante and nickle and dime ring games. Better yet I took a 4th in my league game, which added to the first a couple of days earlier, has expanded my lead for the month to 50 points. So why frustration? The next league game is tonight and it's the night I like to play a live game. Also tonight's game is stud, one I usually do well in. Altho the league championship gains me nothing but bragging rights it one thing I haven't been able to do yet. Been close a number of times but always a bridesmaid, never a bride. While skipping the game won't kill me a good showing could just about put a lock on it. But I like my Monday night at the Trappe. Thus frustration.

Frustration is also resulting from the stroke. While things are coming along pretty well I received a number of berry plants I ordered last summer last week. Right now they are sitting out there, bareroot, and I can't get them in to the ground. Add to the fact that today looks like a beautiful day to do some planting and again some frustration. The fact that the last time I ordered these plants a couple of years ago they arrived at the same time as 3 straight weeks of rain and thus died while I waited to plant them doesn't help. Thought I was going to get them in Sat since my nephew was off work but the rain screwed that up.

Finally the rehab. Still going well, notice the arm has a lot nore strenghth and I have a lot more control of it but now we are down to the small things and they are, of course, frustrating. Movement, strength and control in the fingers and hand, while coming along, are progressing at a much slower rate than everyhing else. While to be expected it don't mean that I like it. It's tough and, what else, frustrating. Add in the fact that I don't know if the stiffness I'm fighting in the fingers is due to the stroke and will eventually clear or from the arthritus I've had for years and will just be a major impediment the rest of the way and I'm also majorly confused.

So, all and all, it's frustrating, to which I have just added a modicum of boredom so we will say adieu for now.

50-50

Payed some poker tourneys last night and came out 50-50. Played the Mookie on Tilt and I belomg to n online league at Poker Analysis and they had a game on Cake poker last night. (plug for PA at www.pokeranalysis.com it can use more participants) Sucked at the Mookie, won the league game. Gave me a few bucks on another site and last night confirmed my opinion of enjoying AP as my favorite poker site. I know, neither game was on AP, but trying to play on both site at the same time was difficult. While both sites have warning system for a live hand in play neither is as good as the one that AP has and I had hands folded because I was involved in a hand at the other table. A-A once at the Mookie. The risk of multi tabling. I do have one complaint about AP when it comes to multi tabling however. When the table in play pops up it is impossible to put it in the background without making the play which can interfere if you have a more important play also in action at anothe table. Can't have everything.

Back to the games. The Mookie was fun but probably would have been better if my attention wasn't divided and the cards hadn't sucked so bad. Won a couple of hands but tey were mainly just keeping my head above water, never good enough to make a threat. Just hung on and had some fun. As for the league game it was touch and go early on. Was doing OK but twiced flopped top 2 and had the board come up 4 card straight or flush after a couple of check calls to half or pot sized bets which led me to giving up the hands to river bets. A table change and some decent cards got me up to third place and K-K and a reraise from top stack got me to first about halfway in. That was about what it took. Never went below 3rd after that even after a couple of suckouts by some short stacks all in pre. That and the fact that K-K popped up 3 more times in just the right situations, and held up every time, put the W on the board. It was first game of the month so I take an early lead in league standings. Want the bragging rights of a league win. Come close a number of times but always seem to fall a few points short. This month it is mine. Just have to make sure I make the games.

Speaking of games and site difficulties, isn't there a easy way of finding a game on Tilt? They have names but Tilt doesn't use them in the lobby. I basically search by time and buy in but I'll be damned if I could find the Mookie last night. Finally got there by doing a search on Riggs' name figuring he would be playing and found it. Thank Riggs, knew you would eventually be good for something someday.

For those interested the recovery goes on. Pushed too hard the other day and damaged the hand somewhat. Thing was swollen and exercises had to be put on hold. Iced it down and swelling id going down. Still working the arm and leg. Feel good. Therapists are bitches tho. Just when I start feeling good about my progress they come up with anew exercise that makes me sweat my cojons off and realise how much farther I still have to go.

Enough boredom for now. Thanks for your attention.

Legging it out

Feeling good this morning. Legs, which had been feeling tired over the weekend, feel strong. Not up to any jogging but walking a lot more naturally and can actually take my shower standing instead of sitting down. Still keeping the chair handy tho, to be on the safe side. Arm is steadily improving. Forcing it to try and do some easy tasks and it's getting so I can pick up some clothes with it and shut, and sometimes open, doors. Just thought I'ld let you know for those who care how the rehab is coming. For those of you who don't really give a flying fuck, bite me. You just have to live with it. Life and blogs are a bitch.

Spent most of the day yesterday playing poker online while watching football. Damn Eagles better improve before they face the Giants next week. Poker was basically a wash for the day. The donkey tables on UB were kind to the donkeys yesterday so I lost a few bucks over there. However as they say, the Lord also giveth. Cashed a $3 PLO on AP along with a couple of $1 SnGs to make up my loses on UB. May have actually made a buck or two in the final outcome. Should have done better in the PLO but not paying attention caused me to screw myself. My final hand, in position, I flopped top and bottom with no draws on the board and had it checked around to me. Normally I pot it in this situation but I didn't notice bottom pair so I just checked also and then caught sight of the second pair. With 5 in the pot it was a decent one at that level. When the turn came a blank, or so I thought, and it again checked around I hit the pot button and wound up with a caller. Damn, as that pot bet put in 3/4 of my chips. Still it was a rainbow board and that turn, a 6, only put out the faintest of straight draws. The river another blank, get a check, I push the rest of my chips figuring I might still be good, Get the call and that turn shafted me, Guy had pair of 6s in his hand. Still can't figure why he checked that turn but considering his hand I couldn't have seen him sticking around if I had only punched that flop. Ah well, such is life, and poker.

Speaking of poker I really wanted to play the Tuck Fard tonight but Monday is the night of the one RPT game I play regularly nd haven't been there in awhile. If I had both arms working I would take the laptop with me and do both but with only one arm there is no way I can juggle both. Besides they have a free buffet with mini corn dogs on it and my corn dog quotient is damn low these days. Maybe in another week or so. As I said the arm is getting stronger.

Ok, this is long enough in the kingdom of boredom. Thanks for allowing me to be your guide.

Public service announcement

This is a message for the victims of stroke, both the actual person and their friends and relatives. I originally started this blog after I met a crazy group of fun people who shared a common vice with me, poker. Even worse these folks carried their degeneracy even further, they actually wrote about their vice. After meeting them however I decided that maybe this wasn't as disgusting to the normalmind as it sounded. Or maybe it's just that I am not normal. Either way I had decided that I would participate in this peculiar type of degeneracy, at least dip my toes in the water. I have a sick mind there is no doubt. However, something occured between the intention and actuality. I had a stroke.

I had a stroke, simple sentence, major problems. I was lucky, my stroke was minor, as far as these things go. Lost use of my left arm and weakened left leg but my higher functions were unimpaired. However, as lucky as I was there are still problems that go with having your body fail you, especially at what is considered a fairly young age. Not to mention being cooped up in rehab and all the indignities that accompany it. All this time on my hands led me to following thru on my intention to blog altho the focus, at least temporarily switched from poker to my condition and circumstances. Be that as it may, blogging helped me thru a tough time and the encouragement of other bloggers and the fact that they linked to my blog so that others might read is highly appreciated and can never be paid back.

So what does all this bullshit have to do with a PSA? Only this. For anyone who might be reading this and is either stuck in rehab or knows someone who is, I recommend blogging, if possible. Most rehab hospitals seem to have wifi and if no laptop available some have a community computer. It's a connection to the outside world, a way to rail against the indignaties of the world and a good all around stress reliever. If someone does start one or knows of someone who has and informs me of it I will try to do what I can to see that it circulates because while blogging itself was theraputic knowing it was being read added to the effect.

That's all I have to say for now and hope this hasn't bored anyone and may actually help.

Ready to roar

OK. it's a new week and feeling like a new man. The lassitude is falling away. Now I just need to get out and about to find some fodder for my dearthless wit and prose. If not I might just have to start voicing my views on the campaign. God help you if I start that.

Spent Saturday with Dr. Pauly. Interesting game. Considering my few associations with blogger games, the Numb Blow and a charity rebuy, and the fact it was PLO, I was expecting more madness. Suprised the hell out of me to find a fairly tight, reasonably played table. Was enjoyable to play a PLO tourney where half the people didn't think that a high pair meant a preflop pot raise. Made it to 6th and was a lucky shit to do that. Early on cards were so cold I got frikkin frostbite on my fingers. The couple of times I did get playable hands I was in the BB and got a walk. Forced to go all in with marginal hands a couple of times and wound up sucking out to stay alive. Cards did wake up just before final table and I got myself up to a reasonable stack for the final but I died when I got good hole cards but couldn't catch a flop. Oh well, I made up my entry fee over on UB on the penny ante and nickle and dime NL games. Just love donkey tables when the donkeys aren't getting lucky. Good game people and will keep it in mind when my Sat afternoons are not spoken for. BTW, thanks for the cheering from the rail whoever you were. Didn't recognize the screen name but all flattery highly appreciated.

Speaking of UB, I hate the site. Had to put some bucks on it because I didn't realize I could get cash onto Stars or Tilt (also not a favored site tho the bloggers seem to love it) and UB was my only option for action in the hospital, or so I thought. Thing is, UB was the first site I played many moons ago and I did like. Changes in policy and the recent scandal seem to have cut into player participation however so the amunt of available games as decreased since I played there and I hate the "contributing" rake factor when it comes to clearing bonus. Major disincentive if you play tight. However I have some money there now so will see if I can persuade the donkeys to keep contributing to the fund until I reach the amount where I can transfer back into my AP account. I could do an AP transfer to UB and then back to AP but what the hell, I'm up 50% so far so might as well see if I can keep milking the cow. Besides beginning to like getting ranted at. you gotta love it when you get bitched at for a play and when, in violation of usual policy I tried explaining. As the guy kept bitching a third party chimes in saying not to hand out free lessons, The bitcher replies that he just has to educate me and the third party replies, "I wasn't talking to you, I was speaking to Wolf". That, of course, sets off a whole new series of rants. Priceless.

OK, time to catch up on my reading and play some poker. Damn Eagles have a late game so need to keep myself occupied for awhile.

Bored you long enough, i thak you for allowing me to do so.

Rested, a bit

Been home a week now and been about that long since I last posted. Sorry but been a bit busy. Had my daughter for last weekend and she took up most of my time. Mon spent the morning at the doctors then the rest of the day driving with my brother, for those of you worried that I might be behind a wheel, not just yet, to get my daughter back to her mother. Tues spent with doctors and therapists, Wed was free but used that to catch up on missing sleep and yesterday with the therapists, family and still more sleep. Did get out for a haircut and a bit of RPT poker last night. Helps immensely, mentally. What few free hours I did have spent mostly catching up on those missing Zs.

Hate to say it but a strange feeling hit after my daughter went home. Not exactly a depression, more like a feeling of lassitude (how do you lie them $5 words?). Really didn't feel like doing a whole lot, no posting, no poker, nada. hing is, as bad as the hospital was there were things to rebel against, to poke fun at, to engage me mentally. At home it's just routine. Noone to bitch at, to wise off to. The crap cops would feel good here however. A week home and my system still hasn't adjusted to real food.. Hear that Bryn Mawr poop police, if you are listening, I'm taking about six shits a day. Hope you are happy.

Therapy is a major pain in the ass. Spending money on a medical co-pay to do things with oversized rubber bands that I could do with weight machines at a gym I am already paying for. And at a lot less I might add. Therapy costs me in a week what I pay for the gym in a month. Big incentive to get fixed, fast. Luckily the PT therapist says I won't be seeing her long. Leg is doing well. Some days it feels 95%, others maybe only 80%. Tires fast but rest and exercise will soon fix that. Arm is another matter. It's coming along well but who knows what we are looking at. Trying to get it to do simple tasks as much as possible, like closing doors or pulling up blankets. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Can almost make a fist with the fingers. Thumb still recalcitrant tho it has started moving as has the wrist, a bit. On the whole, good progress I think. Need the arm fairly active for the leg to get over the final hurdle because the damned boat anchor act still throws off the balance a bit no matter how good the leg feels.

Finally got out to play some RPT poker last night. Good to know some things haven't changed during my enforced layoff. The peckerwoods are still turning up as usual. Was doing decent until apair of 4s in the hole becomes a set on the flop. Due to two suited cards out there I don't slow play but throw out about a 2/3 pot bet and get a caller. When 3rd suited falls I figure he hit and just check but so does he. River a 4th suited and I wind up losing to his 5 hi vs my 4 hi. He called my flop bet with gut shot straight draw I know I gave him the free river but figured I was already beat at that point. Figured he would chase flush for that bet, never a gutterball. Lost half my chips and straggled to 12th. Then again he might have even called a turn bet figuring he had flush and straight draws. Who knows.

Speaking of poker, it's late but who ever thought up the Numbblow? Someone's bingo night get canceled? That was a hell of an experience. Unlike some who played it all in every hand I did try for a little sanity in an insane world. I at least wanted playable cards before I hit the button. 3 times I got up to 40K only to lose it all when I flopped two pair and got rivered by higher two pair. The last time was right before the rebuy ended so I went into the real game with the minimum. Got that up to 30k before I lost it the same way. Flop two pair and go all in against top pair top kicker. Runner runner pairs the board counterfeiting me and I'm gone. Ah well, it was fun but wouldn't like to do it for a living.

Getting tired and figure you guys are of me so time to thank you for letting me allow a bit of boredom into your lives. See you later

Home Sweet Home

Home, finally. Let me go about !0 am yesterday. Got home nd just sat around for while, until my brother got home, since he was driving me up to pick up my daughter. Did eat the hell out of a roast beef sandwhich while waiting tho. Walking felt a lot better all day. Felt good.

Brother got home and headed out to get the daughter, met her and her mother about 30 min north of Scranton. Drive was a pain in the ass, figuratively and literally. After getting released from the frikkin wheelchair I just confine myself to another seat for a long period of time. Seeing the daughter was worth it however.Met her at the food court at some truck stop. Had to exercise great will power to keep from pigging out on the corn dogs they had. After 2 weeks of hospital food I was sorely tempted but promised my brother dinner for doing the driving and he wasn't exactly expecting truck stop corn dogs. Also figured after 2 weeks of healthy eating I shouldn't go loading up on the garbage right off the bat. Have to ease myself into it.

After picking up my daughter and getting home we decided to go out for wings. Not exactly healty but probably better than corndogs. Figured I better hold off on the beer tho. No sense aggravating the balance problems. Stuck with Diet Coke. Wings tasted damn good even without beer. Right now just itting around, enjoying the daughter's company and resting. Catching up on lost sleep. Will discuss the NumbBlow later.

Thans for the opportunity to spread a little boredom.

Relapse

OK, what frikkin genius thought up that game? Enough to put me back in the hospital for 6 more weeks and I haven't even left yet.

Anticipation.

Freedom is fast approaching. While I still have almost 21 hours, H-hour is 10 am Fri, I have gotten thru most of my therapy sessions for the day. Have 30 min left of PT later this afternoon and then Mary Kate wishes to talk to me after that. Then it's down to clock watching. Would love to skip the second PT. I'm beat. The arthritus in the leg was acting up last night so sleeping was a bitch and this morning's sessions have worn my not so young ass out. Ah well, haven't gotten my out patient schedule yet but that can't start until at least Tue so I will get a few days break. Between that and the drugs for the arthritus on Mon I should be raring to go by Tue. In some ways I'm going to miss the people I met here.

On anoher bright note, go Phils. They took game 1 last night even tho the hitters seemed to be doing their best to piss it away. Hamels seemed to get shaky at times in the regular season but damn, he's definitely been a money pitcher in the post. Now, if second half Myers is the one that hits the mound in game 2 Phils could be traveling back home up 2-0. Hopefully the hitters get comfortable back at the Bank and put this one away quickly.

Release, a Phils win and a few more bucks at the poker table make for a semi contented Wolf and a boring blog. It's much better when I am at my cynical, sarcastic, smarmy worst, sticking pins into my voodoo doll of the world of officiousness. Hopefully my rightous anger will find some new targets in the outside world to keep things entertaining. (Damn, I'm a pretentious shit, ain't I)

Thank You for allowing me to bring a few minutes of boredom into your life once again.

I'm infamous

Sitting here playing some poker waiting for the Phils to start so I figured I'ld lay out a few more comments.

Well the support group met again today and Monday was a day that would live in infamy. They remembered me, not sure whether it was with affection or not, but they remembered me. Mary Kathleen asking me if i had any talking points for the meeting when she came in. Told her the blog was interesting today but that she would have to read it. Didn't want give some of those people heart palpitations. She did seem to expect that I would be throwing my two cents in conversation however. Before everything started a few of those I had gone to therapy with made some comments on my propensity to keep things lively, shall we say. Most were good natured but there were a couple I wasn't sure about. Not that they were negative but neutral sounding, could be read any way.

Well the meeting kicks off with Mary Kathleen asking if everone has a seat. Sorry but you don't feed me softballs like that. I just have to let loose with an "aw come on now" as every participant is confined to a wheelchair. That elicits a laugh. She was refering however to a woman standing behind her husband's chair but the opportunity was still too good to pass up. She brings up a book she was refering to on Mon before I sent her meeting all to hell, by about a PhD who suffered a stroke and her 5 year path to recovery. Sounds interesting but the main purpose was to lead the discussion down the path of "what if". After some remarks about things discussed Mon it was, "if you were talking to someone writing a book, how would you advise them about the care of stroke recovery persons." Again the main issue is dignity with these folks. Not just the poop police questions that are part of my schtick here so far, dignity in all things. Necessary intrusion for medical purpose are bad enough. but there are a ton of other things.

My suggestion for people to keep things as normal as possible when dealing with people recovering from stroke seemed to meet with general approval. While we may be impaired in some fashion, and while some may have other than just physical impairments most of us still retain our mental faculties even if we can't express what we are thinking. We are adults, not children, even if we must learn things as children do and play children's games to do so. Encouragement is fine but keep it real, as if we are adults, not as if we are children or pets. We don't need to be babied. For those of us who can do things, let us or at least let us try. We can't relearn it if someone else does it for us. If we can't do it we will let you know and ask for help. As one gentleman said, don't ignore us. We're here and we can hear. As he said, he's in the room and the kids are discussing, "what do we do about pop?" I told him say. "hey, pop's here, why not ask him?" To hell with politeness, some things must be met head on. Whether ignorance or too much compassion, both can be injurous to the recovery of stroke victim. The main requirement, IMHO, to making a great comeback from stroke is maintaining a positive and realistic attitude and affronts to dignity, however they come, whatever the reason can really set that back. After all, not everyone has an ego as big as mine and the attitude of go to hell if you don't see the world as I do, that they can shrug things off.

Damn, will you listen to me. I wasn't even sure I wanted to attend those meetings. As I was described once, it's not as if I don't play nice with other kids, it's just I don't need other kids to be able to play. Group stuff ain't my type of thing unless it is poker or bar hopping and here I go sounding like some kind of radical activist. Hey though, while only a short timer here compared to most of them, and in relatively a lot better shape I find I like these folks and relate to them. If things bother me it has got to be hell for some of them and if my spouting off can change some attitudes then I am more than willing to do so. Hey, when did I ever need an excuse to fire off my yap anyway.

Most of these people don't have the ability to get online and shout at the world to relieve their frustration the way I do. The fact that I have been able to get on here and joke and complain and, in general, just spill out my bullshit has done much to help me maintain a good mental attitude over the last week or so. The knowledge that there are people out there actually listening, or at least being kind enough to pretend they are has been icing on the cake. The words of encouragement are those little sugary flowers they set around the edges. Whoops, being diabetic maybe I should come up with a better analogy there. Be that as it may, what I'm trying to say is that while I have had a lot of help from people, both known and unknown, out there I have had options to help me cope. Not everyone has those options so if you do have dealings with such as us, please do not add to the troubles, we have enough as it is. Please think.

For those out there in the poker blogger community I wish to appreciate my thanks for the welcome reception to your world. I hope I can keep this thing running and be as entertaining as I hope it was, when not talking about shit and vibrators. God, did I just put that visual out there? (Bam, you're right, still some milage left.) Thanks again and I soon hope to be out there giving Falstaff more reasons to hate me as his jinx.

Thanks for allowing be to bore you again.

They just keep coming

Just when you think things are getting routine this place finds a way to suprise you and, coincidentally give me fodder for this blog.

So they do some major scheduling on me this am and I have 2 straight hours of therapy. Tiring but it gets it out of the way rather than leaving those little 30 to 60 min gaps in between which are about as useful as tits on a boar hog. So I'm feeling a lot better this morning and we're off and running at 9. Everything is going smooth but fairly routine until I hit the 11 OT session. Well my regular therapist is off today so I'm getting pot luck and I draw, what to me is a cute kid. Nice, seems to know her job but, unlike Carolyn, my regular, seemingly a bit stiff and business like. My normal bandinage is falling flat, unlike the give and take that goes on with Carolyn.

I figure, oh well, a good workout but a boring one. Then about 20 min in to the session the girl goes out of the room and brightens up my whole day. So help me god, she comes walking in with a freaking industrial strength vibrator, the kind I have only seen before in porn movies. Not the practically shaped kind but one of those big ol' wands with the circular head, this one being smooth on one side and knobby on the other. Holy shit. What's this, she gonna sit on the floor and give me a show while I'm supposed to wank off using my left hand? That would be some major incentive to get that arm working believe me. My mind is racing, both with all kinds of possibilities and the fact that today's post is going to have something interesting in it, after all the crap jokes can only carry you so far. So there I am, totally cracking up and both the therapist and the woman in the session with us are looking at me as if I have gone mad. I have no idea how far I can take this thing without being offensive. With Carolyn it would have been a blast, So I step lightly into the issue, talking a bit around the subject. You can see the light slowly dawn in the other patient's eyes about where my thought process is, tho she apparantly isn't finding the humour in it I am . The therapist is totally clueless however unless she is covering well. Oh well, I guess I'm not going to get away with my usual smart ass so I'll just have to be satisfied with having something interesting to blog about. Too bad, the kid was good looking enough to have made a decent amatuer video. Besides, can't wait to see what Carolyn thinks about this tomorrow. She's still leary about mentioning the word stool in my presence.

BTW, the vibrator did have a totally legitimate, if prosaic, purpose in therapy. It seems that, if applied to the proper muscles in the arm, it stimulates them and makes it much easier to make certain movements with the hand and wrist. Who knew? Still think it can be put to better uses but it now gives me a reason to acquire and keep one handy just in case I ever meet someone who is willing to compliment the way I think. "Hey, I'm not a pervert, I got a legitimate reason for having it. However I am more than willing to allow you find other reasons for its being". God, I am such a sick puppy. Now I got the support group in another hour or so. What can I do to liven that up and give myself some more blog fodder?

BTW, only a few more posts from here at Happy Acres, also affectinately known as Bryn Mawr Rehab. I'm getting sprung Fri morning. They enjoy my company so much that they really don't wish me to leave but one must do what one must. Actually they think that if I hang around another week they can release me as a mostly indepndent while now they say I still need a keeper. You know, I actually find myself agreeing with them and under other circumstances might accede to thir wishes. This weekend however, my daughter comes to visit and having not seen her since July I ain't spending it here so we are splitting. Promised them I will be dilligent with the out patient therapy. Main isues seem to be balance, I can navigate but they are afraid that I'm not quite ready to recover if I should stumble, and my arm, which would benefit from the extra week of intensive work here. Also, if they can get the extra week approved by the insurnce company it would be an extra week of therapy not charged to the account. Seems insurance companies are willing to approve in patient stays felt necessary but put strict limit on out patient stuff.. It figures.

Time to get ready for the support group. Thanks again for allowing me to bore you.

Lost one to myself

Was debating whether to post again today or not and I lost.

Today was a tough one. Was feeling OK thru most of the morning but then I think the last week and a half came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. The pressure, the lack of rest, the strain of therapy where it feels like you are lifting tons and you can't even make the fingers move, it all hit around lunch time. Felt like a rung out dish rag most of the day. Even worse, i screwed up the balance tests early and had my main therapy sessions late. Had absolutely no want to to do them. Just wanted to lay back on the bed and rest. Well I gutted it out and got thru the sessions, did quite a bit of work in OT as a matter of fact tho I slacked in PT got back to the room and crashed out on the bed figuring dinner, my family's visit, then tube until I fade. No blogging, no poker. So much for good intentions.

So here I am, got a table up on the screen and writing away but I am folding it in about 10 min. About even at the table, have lost 2 SnGs but have won the buy ins back at the ring game. Well I was ahead, had a guy call my As push with 6-7 off and flop the nuts. So I am down for the night. Oh well was going to retire shortly anyway Seems that we have a meeting tomorrow to review progress and decide where we go. All I know is I go out of here for this weekend. Daughter's visit is getting closer and I'm not missing it. Time to go folks and sorry that there were no great tales to tell today. Tomorrow tho we have another support group meeting and I will do my best to enliven it and bring a break from boring routine into these people's lives an d hopefully regal you with the results. Some times wonder if I playing the role of R.P. McMurphy here.

Thanks for allowing me to bore you once again.

Another day, another duodenum

It's 7:15 and I'm up for another day. I'm becoming to adjusted to this frikkin place. Not that my sleep is getting any better, just that I'm starting to ignore the distractions during the night. Most surely a bad sign.

Again we are in wait mode as these peckerwoods try and decide what to do with the day. You think they could plan these things out a day in advance at least, instead of waiting to the last minute. It ain't giving me any confidence as to what would happen if I had to rely on them for anything really serious if they can't do simple planning. Ah well, I'm up, made my report to the crap cops and ready to go. Wish they were.

Played a bit of poker on UB last night. Picked up $3 bucks in profit in the micro NL ring, another $5 in a couple of half buck SnGs and bubbled a $1 turbo PLO game and got called a total donk along the way. How did he know, I never played with him before? Guy seemed to think I was nuts for calling his preflop pair of Qs raise with a double suited spread and that they should lock me up for calling his push when I hit flush and a multiple possibility straight draw on the flop. I mean, how could I even think of calling his push with 23 outs? In a turbo tourney? With half my stack already in the pot? And about 6xs the BB left in front of me. Total donk move of course. Of course half my chips shouldn't have been in the pot to begin with because we all know that a double suited spread is a worthless hand. Even better I did it a second time the next orbit around to take him out. He must have stuck aroundfor 5 min berating me. Wasn't able to cash however. Went out near or in the bubble when the double suited spread finally failed me. Hit the flop for the draws again but they din't appear this time. Ah well, live by the sword, die by the sword. in case anyone doesn't know it yet, UB is a major donkey barn, at least at lower levels. Yea, I know, all places are bad at the low levels but these guys make most low level players look like pros. It's ironic that Helmuth's name is associated with the site. It's a shame I can't get to my AP account. With all this time on my hand could probably have increased it by another 50% at the SnGs.

Ah well, breakfast has arrived so we'll say adios for now. Thanks for your attention.

Last time I'll be invited

Work is over for the day and made my phone call to my daughter and now just sitting here waiting for dinner which will be in about 15-20 minutes so while starting this now I probably won't actually post until later.

Therapy was good, or in the case of the OT, indifferent. Have yet to figure out what exacty the hell is the difference between Physical therapy (PT) and Occupational therapy(OT) except the one seems more concerned with my leg, PT, while the other is with my arm, OT. PT was a bitch this am but was encouraging. Spent an hour at it and did two laps around the hallways without the use of the cane to start. Then went on to various and sundry leg exercises and which kind of resembled Step Reebock, only in slow motion. Got a burn in the legs like I never did in the gym and I'm only doing my own body weight. Legs are weary but it feels good. Left leg felt fairly solid too tho it does tire easy. OT was mainly taken up with making a splint for nights so that the fingers are kept spread. Seems that the hand has a tendency to curl up in these cases, which makes getting full movement back even harder if you don't cut the tendency short. Also fitted for some sort of sling that supports the arm while walking but keeps it straight rather than hooked up in front of you. Better for balance it seems. Followed it up with more PT where we did balance tests. If I didn't score 100 it was damned close. Toughest two come up tomorrow however, standing toe to heel wth your eyes shut and then balancing on one leg. Didn't hve time to get to them today. They also sound easy but think, they are two of the tests the cops use to check sobriety. They ain't that easy with a bum leg. Hopefully mine is up to it.

Now to the meat of the issue and hence the title of this post. After the PT I had a small break until the stroke support group so I grabbed a book, headed to the lounge where it was scheduled and waited. They start bringing the people in and while there weren't any of the truely fragile ones there most of these people make me feel like a kid to begin with and damned lucky to boot as most are in way worse shape than I am. A woman who was next to me, who I had met in therapy and seemed to have a similar problem to mine, tells me that I'm lucky to be able to read to pass the time. Seems that while her visible impairments don't seem as bad as some and her speach has no apparant defects, her brain is scrambled so that she can no longer read. It could have been depressing but most of them refused to let it be so and I figured I could do no less out of respect for them.

So Mary Kathleen, the head doctor, kicks off the meeting asking a question or two, trying to elict conversation and it's a bit like pulling teeth. She getting some responses but no real give and take, they re relying on her to carry it. She then gets to asking how people are coping and afterr an answer or two I figure to throw her a bone and bring up this blog. She asks if it's anything she really needs to read and I say probably not but that I have a few loyal followers who love the stories about the crap cops. Damn, all hell broke loose. If there was one thing these folks were willing to talk about it was the poop police. Everyone wanted to have their say and discuss the indignaties of the whole situation. Was like a dam had shattered. There were the jokes but also it seemed to have triggered some serious talk among these folks and instead of carrying a limping meeting for another 15-20 min it seemed that she had to break it up before they were done. herb, what the hell did you do? I crack wise and seemed to have touched a nerve. I can also understand why as, if I who am in fairly decent shape considering, am offended by what is going on in that catagory, how do these others feel where the care is probably much more intrusive than just having a nurse stand there watching while you whip out your wang to drain it or won't let you get off the pot by yourself because they are worried you are going to fall. Not to mention those ever present, intrusive bodily function questions. After the meeting I told her that that is what she gets for extending me an invite. That's me, trouble on the hoof.

Also added to my reputation in PT today. You get one main therapist in both PT and OT for your stay here. The Pt therapist, a great girl, Jeanette by name, told us today that they were rotating her to a different station so that we would be getting a new therapist tomorrow. As we were leaving the new person came in and Jeanette introduced her to us explaing who we were. I just looked a her and told her, "your life just became hell". She just looked and Jeanette, after putting up with me the last couple of days, started laughing like hell. Also got a major scare this morning. As I think I stated elsewhere I prefer to be pushed to PT rather than scoot nyself so that I don't wear my legs out beforehand. Today I had a new pusher, a nice lady, as opposed to the smart ass that was doing the job earlier. He was too much like me so we mixed like oil and water. Well after a few minutes of my witty reparte as she pushed me down to the gym she says that they should keep me around to improve morale. Woman, hush your mouth! Don't you even be giving anyone ideas.

Well, enough for today. Maybe I'll play some micro poker tonight. Been a couple of days since I have. Yur attention has been highly appreciated.

Waiting for Godot

Slept in today, made it until 7 before the woke me up. Actually they were in at 5 to check blood sugar, I am diabetic, but I practically slept thru that. Seems they also had the OT therapist scheduled to come in and teach me the morning routine. Sorry to disappoint her but I was already dressed and ready to go by the time she got here. If they would let me get up on my own I would have been washed up and my teeth brushed too. As I told her, I won't say getting dressed isn't a problem, trying to do anything with a bad arm and there are going to be problems, but they aren't major ones. Have only minor difficulties getting cleaned up and dressed. Only major difficulty is my right foot, my right arm needs about 2 inches added or my stomache needs about 2 inches subtracted to be able to get a sock on. Shoe is doable, it's rigid enough but the sock just flops all over.

Got breakfast and my schedule and now am waiting. Day is fairly busy but it's a late start, not until 11. If they aren't going to start me until 11 why did they wake me at 7? I will never understand hospital logic. Booked until 4 so as I said busy. As I guessed they got the support group on there. Since it's not at night, from 3-4, and I can't call my daughter until after 4 I'll probably go to see what it is about and to keep Mary Kathleen at bay. If I get her up here tomorrow trying to talk one on one I won't be able to resist and will probably have her stamping me certifiable. Think she is already wondering about me after our opening interview. Stray thought just wandered in, Wonder what she would make of Al? Or maybe the Rooster when he is being cagey.

Main doc wandered in this morning. She heard about the daughter's visit this coming weekend and said she'll talk to the therapists to see what they think and maybe springing me by then. Said the one therapist said she would prefer me for two weeks but she realizes the mental benefits of the visit can offset any deficits in the physical realm that would happen due to switching to out patient. Main problem is that out patient is 3 times a week for an hour as opposed to 5 or maybe 6 for 90 min by being in. Tho the extra days can't hurt , I am discounting session times because while they say the session is 30 or 60 min by the time the pusher gets here to take you where you need to go you wind up losing about 5 or 10 mins anyway and you usually share the session with another person so that half the time is spent resting while the therapist works with the other person. If , like today , I'm already in the wheelchair, I sometimes don't bother waiting for the pusher but kick myelf around. TThat's a bitch before a PT session however as it tires the legs right before you hve to use them for the therapist and she's the one judging how strong you are. Prefer to be pushed to the session and kick my way back. Don't care how tired the legs are once I'm back in the room.

As a final aside for now, I seem to have finally pleased the crap cops. Talked to both the rehab doctor and the medical one and they both said they will strike the "Halloween candy" from the meds list so I no longer have to go pill sorting to pull them out on my own. A relief, pardon the pun.

More misadventures later. Thank you for your time and attention

Day of rest

Today was mainly a day of rest. Only had half hour of therapy scheduled, that at 9 this morning and I was even robbed there. Frikin schedule didn't get here until about 5 of and by the time I got ready and the delivery guy got me there it was 10 after so I only wound up with 20 min. After that day was my own. Figured I would work on my legs and hand while lying around watching the games. Well got some done tho not as much as I would like. Damn arm was more tired than I thought from yesterday tho I was able to get a bit of rhythym in a cople of exercises they gave me to do. Just wasn't able keep it up as much as I would like. Problem is, as the arm gets tired you don't feel it as you would regular fatigue as you would from lifting weight. It just stops working on you which is frustrating as you don't know whether it's a set back or not. Hand actually clenched all 4 fingers today, an improvement over yesterday's 2. Thumb is still pissed off at me however as it refused to budge. Think it may be holding out for chocolates and flowers or maybe even drinks and dinner. Don't think it realizes it has already screwed me.

New roommate may not be entirely as bad as I thought. He is still one of the fragile ones but he didn't look as bad today as he did yesterday and he can talk and move around a bit though he is basically stuck where put him, bed or chair. He can talk however tho not exactly a brilliant conversationalist, and he watches TV. In fact he's screwing me up right now. Family brought my cell phone earpiece and I was intending to call my daughter tonight to congratulate her and talk to her but the volume on his tv is so loud that using the bluetooth will be tough. Doesn't bother me while watching mine as I'm using a headset which keeps out the background noises.

Hit the crapper a couple of times today. Yea, just what you folks want to hear but threw that in because I know it will make the shit police around here happy. At least the piss scans are over with. Told these folks that they can concentrate on the arm and leg and the brain, the plumbing works fine thank you.

There is a stroke support group tomorrow night or so the head doctor mentioned. Wonder if they are going to try and stick it on my schedule? Wonder if I will bother if they do? In case you haven't guessed by now I'm not a support group type person. unless it's a group of bloggers in a bar or a group of poker players. They want me to start feeling good about myself they can take me to my regular Mon nite support group, the RPT game at the Trappe. If anyone heading that way reads this tell Kaitlyn I said hi, hope to see her soon. anyway, back to the subject, I don't need any group to help me feel good about myself. I have an ego as big as the Rockies and about as solid. in fact I border on the narcisstic. Don't give a rat's ass as to what most people think about me as I know my worth to myself and if they don't agree with me that is their problem not mine. Except the bank when I'm trying to get a loan, hate when they don't agree with me as to my value. We'll see what happens. May go just to keep my sanity because I know that if I don't the head doctor will be up here on Tue. wondering why and trying to convince me what a benefit it is. Don't they always.

Guess it's time to call it a nite. Gonna put the late game on and maybe do a few more hand exercises. Gotta be careful tho. Hate to have it so tired that it refuses to show off for the therapists tomorrow and they think that there is some other problem with it.

BTW, the maudlin crap is over. I'm feeling feisty again.