Cold!!

One would think that living in MN 39 of my 40 years that I would somehow be used to the cold. The real sad thing here is that it really isn't even cold yet. Mid forty degree weather is NOT cold in MN during late Nov. We don't even have snow on the ground yet.

I have found two things that really have made a huge change on my ability to deal with the cold. One is major weight loss, in other words, I lost my fat layer that helped keep me toasty. I'm not saying one should bulk up for the winter, but it did help. The other is age. I'm not sure exactly what that is about, but I think part of it is the older I get the less tolerant I am of most things I don't like.

Part of my concern this year is geocaching. I've given up catching up to my sister and brother with the number of finds they have under their belt, but I really enjoy geocaching and need a "fix" sometimes. In the heat of the summer it can be annoying to be out trekking in the woods. Between the humid air, bugs, poisonous plants, etc. it's just not always fun. (Until you make the find.) This will be my first winter caching, and I'm not looking forward to it but know I will have to try it. I have images of two layers of long johns, pants, multiple sweatshirts, parkas, wool socks, snowpants, big ole' boots, gloves, hats and a whole lot of complaining. I'll be sure to post it so everyone gets a good laugh in.

As a child I remember playing outside for hours on end during the winter. Sometimes with friends, sometimes alone. I'd come in with wet gloves and half frozen toes only to warm up, switch to dryer gear, and run back out for more. Walking to school I remember that the snow was really high on the edge of the road, seemed like small mountains. I always say we get much less snow now than we did then, but I wonder if that has more to do with my height then and now. (I do think we get much less snow now.) I would walk across the top of the mini-mountains to and from school at Madison Elementary. At home I would make snow angels, or snowmen, or just putter around in it. The thought of intentionally spending time in the snow now makes me cringe. I sincerely miss that youthful imagination and the ability to ignore the fact that I can't feel my toes.

I know for some the reduced amount of snow is a bummer. I completely get it and sincerely sympathize with resort owners, dealers of snowmobiles, skiers, and the general snow lovers. While all of you are sulking over the lack of snow I personally am dreaming of how I can get my family moved to the southwest. Don't worry, we'll come back to visit you with your frostbite with our tans and skin cancer. Hmpfff...I just can't win.

How come on TV it's a good play?

At my house we watch a lot of televised poker. When most people get excited to see a movie star, we get excited to see a poker pro. I often wonder however why we have different views on different things when we see it on TV, and when it happens in a live game.

For example: A pro player raises or calls a fairly substantial bet with fairly poor cards. The raise is obvious, they want to outplay the other people in the pot. The call, well, I think they feel mathmatically that they have live cards and the value in the pot warrents a call, or they plan to outplay the person after the flop, depending on what the flop is. In general people are in awe of plays like this. They feel the poker player is a good player for making the raise, or if they hit on a flop, for staying in and beating the opponent.

Now, take that same strategy and lets move to bar poker. First let me say, I'm either not brave enough or wise enough to play this style of poker. Again, I'm the school book tight player. I have however called a medium raise with 2/4 suited, I've seen people make a substantial raise with their 7/2, etc. They hit, they win, we hate them. Or they outbet us, show us the bluff, and we hate them.

Not complaining, really I'm not. I just find it interesting that when a pro does it they are a good player. When the dude next to me who has three to many beers does it, he's a dumbass donkey player.

Don't get me wrong...there are plenty of completely insane things I've seen at bar poker that NO pro would ever do. My personal favorite, one which I'll blog on eventually, is the "bluff call". What in the good Lords name is a bluff call!?

Just understand this, most of the time we know who we're playing against. Remember, some are the dumbass donkey players who called you with the crappy hands, others, really get what they are doing, understand odds, etc. and may have just completely out played you. There is a difference. If you don't feel there is, remember that the next time your favorite pro calls with a crappy hand. :)

G-night poker buddies!

Tuesday night poker

Played Tuesday night at the Clearwater Legion. It tends to be one of my favorite, yet most frustrating game of the week. Favorite because simply I like most of the people there, the bartender treats me well, and often I'm at Dave's table and get to hear of his poker adventures of the week. :)

My frustration stems out of fear. I play scared poker in Clearwater, in fact, I'm starting to play scared poker at a lot of locations. What I mean by this is I can have a monster poker hand and yet I bet small, fear the bluff, etc. Why you may ask...well because I get called. I can have aces and raise ANY amount pre-flop and the person with 3-5 suited will call without hesitation. Then, of course, they catch bottom pair or a flush draw (even if they need runner runner) and they will call me down. So, scared poker. Blah. I'm sure the way to combat this is simply to stop, to bet what I should and hopefully mathmatically I will win more than I lose. I think normally this is the case, but so many times, like last night, there are enough people at the table who will chase me down that normal odds simply are not in my favor.

Part of my issue is the desire for longevity. In other words, I don't want to go home early. I am a very social creature, so I want to stay, talk with my friends, and hang out. If I lose my chips I can still do that, but the poeple there are obviously focused more on poker than my random babbling. :)

I know I need to move past this, and I'm hoping to start on that right away. My biggest lesson thus far in poker is folding. I'd rather make a bad fold than a bad call. My next hurdle is to get past the scared poker, and then after that, I need to learn to be more aggressive in general. (I'm extremely tight player, I play a hand when I have a really good one, especially after the flop.)

Wish me luck and feel free to throw advice my way. I may not always listen to it, but I enjoy hearing it none the less!