First Redeye Out of Town

We're all scared. You hid in that ditch because you think there's still hope. But Blithe, the only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function. Without mercy. Without compassion. Without remorse. All war depends on it.
--Band of Brothers

Peace, through superior firepower!
-Point Break

Ugh. I'm sitting here, wide-awake at 3:30 in the morning, drinking diet Coke and munching on cocktail peanuts like I'm on some redeye flight. Of course the great difference is I have (free!) wireless and I've been munching up European players at NL tables, demonstrating to them the possibly American pastime of pot-bombing. Smart bombing? Some Brit reraised me $35 with KQo and called my subsequent I-don't-give-a-fuck-about-you reraise all-in with AA. (And he lost). Nice. Then I busted him out with RPG 3s.

A few days ago, also way too early in the morning, I stole a few pots (small ones) from Clonie Gowen when she played at her NL table at Full Tilt. It beat the last time I played her. She bet then, I raised and she reraised all-in. Kitty had to slink away... I know someday I'm going to have to tell her I named my cat after her! Hee hee

All I have to get through is one day. Then I'll be on a plane with Drew to Las Vegas. There's opportunity cost this time around, as I'm sacrificing a trip to Virginia with Kelley. Oh, the things I do for England...

I'm eager to see some places that weren't up and running last time I was there -- the new poker rooms at Paris Las Vegas (my favorite casino outside of the Bellagio and home of the $16-a-pop marzipan that the goddess loves) and the Hilton. Can catch the Tuscany's room as well, didn't go there because I was too busy workin' the $4/8 salt mines at MGM Grand, Bellagio and Wynn.

We'll also probably catch a lot more NL play, something Drew has a lot more experience in than the no-fold'em hold'em limit games he's played the last few trips here. I'm looking forward to it. Gone is the bite from last December when I lost huge chunks of money to a 1-outer and a 6-outer. I'm baaack, as Louise wrote to us and I'm not afraid to put chips on the line.

I think my friends and I worry too much about the little short-term swings when we should be looking at it in a macro kind of way. With one exception -- April 4 -- things have continually gone up from the first day I held hold'em cards in my hand. Being fixated on loss is only going to hinder our progress up the limits. Giiivvvee ussss the precioussss, no matter the cost!

This will be a fun trip. And a profitable one, I hope.