Who is the shark here?

So my first time at the retirement home poker game, I am the youngest player by 20 years.  A nice old lady immediately accuses me of being a shark.  Hmmm, have they been reading my blog?  I buy in to the 5/10/25 cent game for $4.00.  I am a little confused at first because both the green and black chips are worth a quarter.

The dealer Antes for the table, and it is dealer's choice on the game.  This could get wild.  Happily their game of choice is Omaha high/low.  I win a couple of pots, having to explain to the table captain (who incidentally they call "captain"), who actually won the pot.  Confusion on this happens frequently.

I am up a couple of bucks and feeling good until we stray into the classic home games, and some I have never heard of before.  Grocery store? Double omaha? The cross....that I have played before.  So, mostly staying out of these games, and folding the nuts once out of confusion.  We played only one texas hold em hand...my dealer choice...and had to explain it to 3 players.  WTF...the most popular game in the world!!!

The pot of the day was won with a flopped straight flush with another player betting, him raising, and the rest of us calling....me with a low draw.  Bottom line, had fun, was invited back....why wouldn't they as stuck $2.65 and 2nd biggest loser.

Mistakes Happen

Playing on Pokerstars today, I made a horrible mistake.  With only 2 Million in my account I accidentally signed up for a $1 million buy in tournament.  There goes my bankroll management that I am so careful about.  So, I find that there is a $200k bounty in effect.  Great, after a couple of hits I am a big fat target.  But, luckily I get it in with a shorter stack and win my 1st bounty!!!  Now "only" stuck $800k I feel slightly better.  Then, boom, another bounty.  Also, am now in contender position with only 20 or so to eliminate before cashing for over $1 M !!!  I am starting to like this until raising big from the button with multiple limpers, the big blind shoves a huge stack.  Fold to me and I snap call with my KK.  He turns over JJ, and there is dancing going on until the flop which has a jack. Crap, I am eliminated in 50th place and he gets my bounty with his lousy 2 outer. 

Poker night at the retirement home

With great anticipation I waited for the big game tonight.  It was a busy day today with my mom, lots of physical therapy sessions and a total of 4 health care workers coming by.  Sitting in front of the tv, called my sister who asked me what time poker started.  Gotta go, almost 7, must lock up my seat, forgot all about it.  Rushing down to the card room passed the daily activity schedule.  What the what?

Maybe it is still going?

Nope.

Back to the room to watch NCIS which begins an hour earlier here.  Repeat of a show I had seen.  My life is almost ruined, saved only by America's Got Talent on tv.

Phil The Caregiver

I am flat out not a nurturing person.  Plants die under my care.  Animals are injured or die on my watch.  People? Don't ask.  So, when I volunteered to fly to Phoenix to help care for my mother, who is recovering from a stroke, expectations should have been low.  Instead, from day one I have been the pretty much sole helper for Mom.  That would include feeding, helping to restroom (although bathing is where I had to draw the line....sister Kathy is doing that as we speak), putting into bed, giving meds, etc.  I will be here for 2 weeks...one of them solo as Kathy is taking grandkids back to San Diego.  We are hoping to get her into assisted living soon as the care will need to be ongoing.  So, for now I am updating my blog from the lobby of the Renaissance Retirement and looking for something to occupy my spare time.  I heard there is a poker game on Tuesday night in the card room, heh, heh. Wonder if I can get them to up the stakes?