One of my favourite Dr Seuss books as a young kid was "Horton Heard a Who". Both of our girls like it as well. So, when we saw there was a movie version being released, we were looking forward to going. Mindy had a prior commitment that she needed to attend but when the offer came for the girls to go with some friends, she insisted that I take them.
I really enjoyed the movie, as did the girls. I think they did a really good job of expanding the story to fill out the 90 minutes, while staying true to the style and details in the book. The narration was select passages from the book with some additional stuff, done in Dr Seuss rhyming style.
After this, we went back to Gary's for some socializing...the kids were happy to play and the adults could enjoy a few drinks and some conversation. Mindy arrived for dinner and afterwards everyone sat down to play some poker. Due to the presence of the wives, "play money" was initially the stakes. Once the women got either bored or busted out, we started a real money game. I continued my winning streak, finishing with a $4 profit. Kevin was once again the big winner, busting out Gary and Bob over the course of the game.
Sunday involved a sleep in (for me) and waking up early with the kids (for Mindy). The afternoon was spent at another friend's house for a birthday party. Upon returning home, the kids went to bed quite quickly and we settled to watch some TV. I selected the Force v Blues Super 14 game on my computer while Mindy chose some reality TV. This was another great performance by the Force who are really playing some good rugby of late. It was actually a good sporting weekend for me - the Eels won, despite starting their season 40 minutes too late and also, NSW appears poised to win the Pura Cup (not really a surprise now they have their test players back).
This week will be busy - getting stuff done early in the week, then off the Chicago on Wednesday night for a training class.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
More Poker Stuff
This weekend was highlighted by a trip to Atlantic City for a night of poker. Once again Gary and Kevin were my partners in crime for the all night event. Arriving at the relatively early time of 10:00, we decided to try our luck at the Tropicana this time. Within 10 seconds of us arriving, we were all ushered to different tables and began the grind.
I stopped playing at 3:30, and am pleased to announce a $21 profit for my 5.5 hours of "work"! Hey, it is better than a loss. Actually got a little unlucky in one big pot that would have seen about $300 come my way (I hit my flush at the end...but the flush card made my opponent a full house), but generally played a lot better than on my last trip. Gary was a few $$ down but Kevin was a big winner, having a few straights get paid off. Hopefully next time, with a little more luck, I will be in the "big winner" column also.
We got home around 8:00 and then I had to immediately leave for a car appointment, then came home and grabbed a few ours sleep. On Sunday, Mindy and Holly spend the afternoon out shopping while Gary and I "watched" the kids. This watching involved watching sports and poker on TV, drinking beer and then playing some poker...this parenting thing is pretty easy, actually!
I stopped playing at 3:30, and am pleased to announce a $21 profit for my 5.5 hours of "work"! Hey, it is better than a loss. Actually got a little unlucky in one big pot that would have seen about $300 come my way (I hit my flush at the end...but the flush card made my opponent a full house), but generally played a lot better than on my last trip. Gary was a few $$ down but Kevin was a big winner, having a few straights get paid off. Hopefully next time, with a little more luck, I will be in the "big winner" column also.
We got home around 8:00 and then I had to immediately leave for a car appointment, then came home and grabbed a few ours sleep. On Sunday, Mindy and Holly spend the afternoon out shopping while Gary and I "watched" the kids. This watching involved watching sports and poker on TV, drinking beer and then playing some poker...this parenting thing is pretty easy, actually!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Gilly's Farewell
It was a shame that Gilly went out on a losing side, doubly so due to him not scoring too many as well but in the context of his career, I am sure that the good memories will far outweigh the bad. It will be interesting to see where the side goes from here. Haddin clearly comes in for Gilly in both Tests and ODIs. I was wondering whatever happened to White in the ODI team? He did OK for us when last selected, then was dropped for no apparent reason. Perhaps now he will come in and give us a good lower order hitter and another option, along with Symonds and Clarke to getting through 10 overs.
On the plus side, at least now I can get some sleep...and the torture of Mindy can end for a while. I am sure she is not going to miss having to deal with me spending hours on the couch watching cricket...now I guess it will be hours on the couch watching something else! However, the real cricket season for us is only a few weeks away - practice starts in April - so she will not have to miss the game for too long. On this topic, we are looking like pulling together a good team for the Philly Festival this year so hopefully we can make another run at the title.
On the plus side, at least now I can get some sleep...and the torture of Mindy can end for a while. I am sure she is not going to miss having to deal with me spending hours on the couch watching cricket...now I guess it will be hours on the couch watching something else! However, the real cricket season for us is only a few weeks away - practice starts in April - so she will not have to miss the game for too long. On this topic, we are looking like pulling together a good team for the Philly Festival this year so hopefully we can make another run at the title.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Tag Team
This weekend, Mindy an I seemed to alternate child watching activities, not the original plan but it just worked out that way. Saturday morning was spent at the ice rink again, Naomi has started her next round of classes and is starting to learn some new skills. I told her next week to avoid the knucklehead kid in her class that does not take direction from the teachers and basically distracts everyone else. Hopefully he settles down for next week. After this we went to meet some friends at the same Cuban restaurant we visited a few weeks ago. Again, I enjoyed the food and the kids had fun.
In the afternoon I played at being a lumberjack and set about splitting up some firewood logs we had picked up. It was interesting to me that adding 20% to the diameter of a log adds about 200% to the difficulty of splitting it. I did have some success but I think I will need the services of a chainsaw to finish the job.
On Saturday night, Mindy went out with some friends to watch a belly dance show, I fell asleep with the kids trying to get a few hours sleep before the cricket began. Everything went to plan, except for the actual cricket! I stayed up all night to watch a very frustrating game where we were slowly milked to death by Tendulkar. Hopefully we can play a little better for the next match. Inbetween, I was also watching downloaded Super 14 rugby games on my laptop. Enjoyed watching the Aussie teams do well, even though (with the exception of the Brumbies) they did not play particularly well. Still, the value of getting away wins for the Waratahs and the Force is huge. I like the new rule variations as well - seems to make for a much faster game and the ball is in play for longer. Hopefully they soon become the norm.
After grabbing a few hours sleep, the morning was spent playing with the kids. In the afternoon, we had planned to go swimming at the YMCA, but perhaps due to my lack of sleep, I was not feeling the best. Mindy then went with the kids and I grabbed some more sleep. After this, I took Naomi to the park to ride her bike with some friends. This was pretty much enough for me for the weekend.
This morning, still not 100%, I think I am getting sick with something...but it could still be due to the lack of sleep as well. Time will tell.
In the afternoon I played at being a lumberjack and set about splitting up some firewood logs we had picked up. It was interesting to me that adding 20% to the diameter of a log adds about 200% to the difficulty of splitting it. I did have some success but I think I will need the services of a chainsaw to finish the job.
On Saturday night, Mindy went out with some friends to watch a belly dance show, I fell asleep with the kids trying to get a few hours sleep before the cricket began. Everything went to plan, except for the actual cricket! I stayed up all night to watch a very frustrating game where we were slowly milked to death by Tendulkar. Hopefully we can play a little better for the next match. Inbetween, I was also watching downloaded Super 14 rugby games on my laptop. Enjoyed watching the Aussie teams do well, even though (with the exception of the Brumbies) they did not play particularly well. Still, the value of getting away wins for the Waratahs and the Force is huge. I like the new rule variations as well - seems to make for a much faster game and the ball is in play for longer. Hopefully they soon become the norm.
After grabbing a few hours sleep, the morning was spent playing with the kids. In the afternoon, we had planned to go swimming at the YMCA, but perhaps due to my lack of sleep, I was not feeling the best. Mindy then went with the kids and I grabbed some more sleep. After this, I took Naomi to the park to ride her bike with some friends. This was pretty much enough for me for the weekend.
This morning, still not 100%, I think I am getting sick with something...but it could still be due to the lack of sleep as well. Time will tell.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Fun in the Snow...and Poker
Saturday was quite busy. My morning class went well, but I was glad to get out of there. Immediately upon getting home, we raced out to a local golf course with some nice hills which is the local home for sledding. The girls had a lot of fun, Naomi was much more adventurous but Fiona enjoyed herself also. Naomi's only problem on the day was on one of her runs she collided with a boy walking back up the slope. Noboday was hurt but I think she was worried that she had done something wrong. Hopefully this will not deter her from wanting to try this again.
After sledding, it was off to Gary's for a night of poker. We played a NL cash game with 0.25/0.50 blinds. I really had no cards for most of the night, except for one hand where I was able to cash in. My AA held up against someone with a low pocket pair and someone else with top pair A kicker...so that was my win for the evening. After this game broke up, Gary, Kevin and I played a $20 buyin, winner-takes-all tournament. At the end, Kevin and I were still alive, I had him very slightly out-chipped and I got him all in with my KJ against his J9. Unfortunately a 9 hit on the turn which crippled me, and I came in 2nd place. Overall a small ($30) profit for the night but it was a lot of fun, hope we can do it again soon.
Sunday involved some errands and then watching the kids as Mindy went to the movies with a friend in the evening. They were exhausted after a big weekend so fortunately they did not fight bedtime as they will occasionally do.
After sledding, it was off to Gary's for a night of poker. We played a NL cash game with 0.25/0.50 blinds. I really had no cards for most of the night, except for one hand where I was able to cash in. My AA held up against someone with a low pocket pair and someone else with top pair A kicker...so that was my win for the evening. After this game broke up, Gary, Kevin and I played a $20 buyin, winner-takes-all tournament. At the end, Kevin and I were still alive, I had him very slightly out-chipped and I got him all in with my KJ against his J9. Unfortunately a 9 hit on the turn which crippled me, and I came in 2nd place. Overall a small ($30) profit for the night but it was a lot of fun, hope we can do it again soon.
Sunday involved some errands and then watching the kids as Mindy went to the movies with a friend in the evening. They were exhausted after a big weekend so fortunately they did not fight bedtime as they will occasionally do.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Snow Day!
Due to the snowstorm hitting the north east today, I have been allowed to work from home! Always nice not to have to battle traffic, although I will be quite busy. Hopefully I will be able to get out for an hour or so to see the kids' in their gymnastics class this afternoon. The snow is not too bad but bad enough to have made the commute quite tough. It started snowing about 2:00am and is forecast to continue throughout the day, turning to freezing rain just in time for the evening commute home, so it is better to stay in and enjoy the view out the window.
This weekend is shaping up to be busy once again - a work training class on Saturday morning that I really would rather not attend but kind of have to, however, a local poker night on Saturday night will balance out the day nicely I think.
This weekend is shaping up to be busy once again - a work training class on Saturday morning that I really would rather not attend but kind of have to, however, a local poker night on Saturday night will balance out the day nicely I think.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Bowling
Yesterday afternoon, Colgate IT sponsored an afternoon of bowling for all employees. Not that I am an employee...but I went anyway. It was a lot of fun. I played 6 games, getting between 125 and 150 in all of them. Basically, this is what always happens to me. I play about once every 5 years and seem to be able to throw it relatively straight but cannot get it to spin into the pocket, a skill you need if you want to get strikes consistently. One thing was frustrating though, we had someone in our group who was not aware of when his turn came up, EVER. We all can get distracted but is it really that tough to remember the person in front of you and to pay attention to see when they are done? Clearly for some people, it was! Sure beat working for an afternoon, that is for sure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)