Full of 'Craps' part 2

Upon arriving, Dan met up with his family and Shaun and I started the circle in search of our table. We have a friend Dennis who is a big time poker player. I have never watched him play, but he does eat and sleep poker. We usually invite him on our casino runs to add a little legitimacy to our entourage.

Shaun had been calling him most of the day but had yet to connect. I decide to give his cell phone one last ring as I had a strong suspicion he was already at the casino. I got his voicemail and explained we were at "Foxwoods" and he should call my cell if he was there.

Meanwhile, we couldn't find the nerve to start betting at $10 tables so early in the evening so we each resigned ourselves to putting $5 into a quarter slot machine. After losing that in 30 seconds, we decided to eat at the $13.95 buffet.

The length of the line to the buffet was intimidating at first, but the attendant said it would only be a 25 - 30 minute wait. We decided to go for it. As soon as we had gotten in line, a battalion of people passed by us claiming they had folks further up in the line holding their spaces. I was ok with this until an elderly couple just walked past the end of the line and stopped just ahead of us.

Normally I would have said something, but to be honest the women of the twosome looked like a scrapper with a walker and was just looking for a reason to go upside someone's head with it. So I resigned to a nasty sideways glance in her direction and let it go.

At this point my phone rings. It is Dennis. As I suspected he was there (and had been for 11 hours). He says he is having a miserable day and would like to join us for dinner. He met us at the line (after losing a battle with the rope barrier that separated him from us). It was pointed out that we were now the obnoxious people holding place for people in line and the irony of the situation was a little embarrassing. It subsided as we got closer to the front of the line.

It should be stated here, that Dennis has taken a very different career route then the rest of my college friends. He has had at least half a dozen jobs in laboratory settings since graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology. While I could write a half dozen different things on Dennis' exploits, what you need to know is that he really wants to be a professional poker player. I have never met someone so comfortable on the floor of a casino than Dennis.

So, as soon as Dennis meets up with us, he is on the phone describing the play by play of his round of bad luck to one of his poker buddies. It sounds as if he couldn't get a break and was at that moment down $1000.00.

Shaun and I hear this and turn sickly green. We can't imagine being in a position of being $1000.00 up, let alone losing that amount. Even though Dennis is a little crabby about his loss, he buys us dinner with his casino points. I know for me, if I was that much in the hole, I wouldn't be able to eat, let alone pick up a tab! But that is Dennis for you!

By the end of dinner, we were all stuffed and as ready to hit the tables as we would ever be. Dennis needs a break from poker and heads with us to reconnect with Dan. We find Dan and find a craps table that had space for us.

To be continued...

Full of 'Craps' part 1

About every six weeks or so, a regular group of my friends and I head on out to the Connecticut Casinos to try to bring a few dollars home that we normally wouldn't have. This group consists of high stakes "gamers" (gambler has such a distasteful ring to it) and those of us who get feverish when there is $5 on the line.

My friend Shaun and I fall into the latter category. We have probably made the trip to the casino 10 times in the last few years and every time it is the same story: we separate from our high roller friends, circle around the casino for 45 minutes, trying to find the allusive $5 minimum bet craps table. As soon as we do, we plop down our $5 and hope to God we don't lose it. It's not that we don't have a little extra to bet with, but each red chip (the equivalent of $5) represents eating lunch out, or half a movie ticket, etc. and to just give away money for no reason is against my nature.

Normally we head up on a Tuesday or Thursday after work so the crowds are more manageable and the $5 tables are a little less scarce, but our friend Dan was traveling up to meet his cousins this past Saturday and asked if we wanted to go.

So we loaded up the car and drove the 90 minutes to the Casino. Upon arrival, our worst fears were realized; the place was packed. Geniuses that we are, we forgot that the Preakness was run that day and of course all casinos would be packed with people betting on the ponies and then playing table games. The true travesty is that there would be no $5 tables. If we were to "game" this evening, the stakes would be considerably higher....$10 to get in on the game.

To be continued...

The freaks come out at night

As I have done with the first two installments of the new episodes of Star Wars, I went to the 12:01 am showing last night. I go not only for the movie, but also the experience of being out with the fans. I am by no means a fanatic: no costumes for me, and to be honest, I only know what I have seen in the films. So, while these movies are some of my favorites, I don't obsess on it like some of the more zealous fans do. I do enjoy seeing the films with people who have a passion for it. It ensures the right amount of applause at the appropriate time in the film. It is really a phenomenon that only happens at these early morning first screenings. Plus watching some of the freaks in costume passes the time while waiting for the show to start.

Last night was different. There were 8 of us and we all met up at 9:00 to grab a bite and check out the scene. Upon eating and inspection of the theatre, we decided to head over to a sports bar to kill some time. At 10:30, (an hour and a half before the show time) we headed to the theatre fully anticipating to have to jump into a line and wait at least 45 minutes until the theatre would let us claim our seat. We were surprised as we were ushered in immediately to a half filled theatre.

I can't say that I was disappointed to not have to wait in line, but a small part of me wishes that we did have to put some time into standing in line. It is part of the experience and really that is what these outings are for me. The movie could be a disappointment, but the experience makes it worth it, listening to the over-analyzed diatribes of people obsessed with the films, some in elaborate costumes. It is really something to experience. I even intended to snap some pics to post here, but the absence of a line made that part of the evening moot.

So we claimed are seats and waited 90 minutes in the hottest theatre I have ever been in. It was "Africa hot" or "Hotter than the hinges of Hell" (I'll let you pick your metaphor). Only a few folks had costumes (mostly cloaks and capes). Overall, it was pretty tame.

Luckily any disappointment that I had in the lack of pre-show craziness was offset by what was the best film of this new series, tying in new to old in the appropriate manner. I am not going to comment on it, because the 'net is full of reviews of the movie these days, but for those who have been jaded by the last two volumes, give this one a chance. I think you will like it.

By the time the film ended I was doused in sweat (because of the movie, or more likely the freaking hot theatre!) and a feeling of satisfaction that I had not experienced with the first two.

As I drove home at 2:30, I noted how pleased I was with my decision to stay up for the first show. I then realized that I was even more psyched about my decision as I had taken the following day off from work. I always forget how much being a fan kicks your ass!

Nai

Magnum P.I.

Just going through pictures on my camera phone and found this one that made me laugh.

This was taken on a visit to Wilmington, NC to visit my friend Shannon. We we're at a boat race on the Cape Fear River and noticed this gentleman (second from left) in a beret and, what was accurately described by our friend Bob, as "Magnum, P.I. shorts."

Priceless!

Posted by Hello

Open letter to all the future contestants of "The Amazing Race":

I realize that I was late to jump on the bandwagon of this show, but I already have observed the following pitfalls. This is my advice to anyone who makes it on the show:

1. If your relationship is falling apart, it will not get better by adding the stress of an around the world race. The Amazing Race is not relationship therapy, nor is it a test to measure how well you work together under stress. The stress of marriage is very different than the stress of bungee jumping off a 150 foot bridge.
2. Referring to any country outside of the US as a "third world country" makes you really look like the arrogant American you most likely are and if it is said by people that have the words "model" or "actor" in their resume, you come off extremely obnoxious.
3. If you are over 60, good for you! You don't stand a chance, but bravo!
4. There is ALWAYS a flight leaving earlier than the one you are on.
5. No matter how far behind, there is always a chance.
6. No matter how far ahead you get, remember that no lead is safe!
7. Be wary of any previous winners of reality t.v. shows. They are shifty and will sabotage you at any turn.
8. Phil the host only likes you if you are in first place.
9. The prettier you are, the farther you will go.
10. Yelling at people that don't speak english won't make them understand you.
11. Hire a local to guide you whenever possible.
12. Being smarter than everyone else is a nice quality, but the Amazing Race is a physical contest. If you are counting on your ability to outfox the other teams to make up for your physical stamina, you will quickly be eliminated. I would suggest a pre-race workout routine of rope climbing and repelling, heavy lifting, running and rowing.
13. Lastly, when approaching the final pitstop, make sure to pay your Cab fare. Apparently karma is a huge factor in "The Amazing Race"

I hope this list is helpful. If it is, a small portion of your prize would be appreciated!

Nai

"Is this the Real Life? Is this just fantasy?"

I have spent most of my life disinterested in sports of any kind. That is not to say I didn't try as a child. Soccer and basketball were attempted for a season, baseball for 2. I was forced to abandon these activities because I found it interfered with my ability to fit in the 4 hours of T.V. that was a huge part of my daily routine.

So now, when most of my male friends discuss (read: obsess) on sports and reciting statistics ad nauseum, I am lost. Sure I can counter with "The reason Don Knotts (Barney Fife) left 'The Andy Griffith Show' was he had understood that Andy Griffith would not do more than 5 seasons so he signed a film contract and was obligated to leave even when Andy Griffith continued" and other nuggets of pop culture history.

However, it is very hard to avoid sports and I am mellowing with age. So when I investigated Yahoo's fantasy league baseball, I saw an opportunity to make something I find to be a rather dull spectator sport and add some participation. Now I can obsess with the best of them. I am memorizing stats, researching players, and in 3rd place, actually competitive so far. I have to admit I am hooked.

So to all my "I Can't Bunt" league mates, I give you fair warning: The manager of the Raleigh Durhams just may be the longshot this season.

A slip of the tongue...

A word of caution to my faithful readers in the New England area. When frequenting a "99" restaraunt, please take great caution in ordering their Barbeque Turkey Tips. Just one consonent off and you just may get a different kind of breast than your were anticipating.

A lesson learned the hard way by the author and a very stunned matronly waitress named Anna.

It's all uphill from here... Part 4

When we all reached the starting point, Brother Toby begins to beat a drum he is carrying and we start out on a leisurely pace. At this point we are on the main road and heading into a curve that obscures the terrain ahead.

Once around the bend, I notice that we will be traveling away from the sanctuary down a steep sloping grade on the main road. Immediately, I become concerned as 1.) We are heading away from the Peace Pagoda 2.) We are quickly descending the steepest hill I have encountered in a long time (Picture Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings) 3.) The Finish Line is at the Pagoda which was at a much higher elevation than the starting line. Being the smart guy that I am, I realized what goes down, must come up and I steadied my pace, because cadence is everything.

This would be the last I see of Greg because he is practically running. So here I am walking downhill (or more accurately downmountain), without my walking buddy or IPod (which was in the car because I didn't want to be rude to said walking buddy), quickly realizing that with every step down would equal a steep climb up and now questioning my ability to do this task, as I had pretty much "atrophied" during the winter months.

After what had to be a mile and a quarter (although if this was a 2 mile walk as advertised it should've been only 3/4 of a mile at this point), the procession turned around and began the long, steep climb of death. I saw Greg for one last time as he barrelled past me in the other direction. I maintained a comfortable pace and climbed, and climbed, and climbed. When I was younger, I was diagnosed with asthma and have taken the holistic treatment plan of inactivity to keep it in check (no inhalers for me!). So effective is this plan I often forget I have asthma. Well, I won't be forgetting it anytime soon as my chest became quite uncomfortable constricted and my breathing became labored, and, as with any exertion, my face must have been a deep shade of red. The same color red that caused elementary school teachers to insist that I sit out recess because the color is just plain scary on a pasty white guy as myself.

I must have been quite the site because at one point I saw a monk on the sidelines and he deeply bowed to me. No one else but me. I figured that he must have seen my apparent respiratory attack as a sign of my dedication to his religion and recognized it with a bow, when in all actuality, I was avoiding a scene by needing a rescue by the side of the road.

Finally, I reached the point where we had started. With renewed energy, I started up the dirt road to the Peace Pagoda. I figured I was past the worst of it. No just a short climb to the Pagoda. I was very wrong. The hill became even steeper, so steep that I had to reach out and use the roots on the path to help me climb this mountain. Luckily the hill plateaued at 3 different points and I rested at each, being passed by the elderly and small children, who looked like they were on the leisurely stroll that I was promised but had not received.

Just when I thought I would give up and walk to the car, I saw, at the top of the steepest rise yet, the Pagoda and the finish line just up ahead. With my last ounce of strength and determination, I crawled up to the top, keeping the finish line in my sites. I fought for air and miraculously stayed upright, knowing people have had an easier time running a marathon than I had climbing this mountain.

Just as the finish line was within my reach, a volunteer told me to get off the course, as the runners were about to arrive. I was directed off the path, and not allowed to cross the finish line. There would be no paper peace swan for me, no sense of accomplishment that crossing that finish line would have symbolized, just an orange wedge and a Dixie cup of water.