Prelude to the New Year

Dec. 7, 2011, Paris, France.

I'm looking forward to 2012, but it will be hard to top this New Year, which was filled with milestones:

February: Trip to Dallas, PR in the Charles Harris 10K, Tucker, Ga.
March: Trip back to Chapel Hill, N.C.
April: Trip to Washington, D.C. (Cherry Blossom 10-miler)
May: Wedding in Maui, honeymoon in Australia
June: Trip to San Diego (Rock'n'Roll San Diego Half Marathon)
August: Announcement of baby on the way! Trips to Richmond, Va., Great Smoky Mountains National Park
September: Second trip to Washington, D.C.
October: Trips to Chicago and New York (and freak snowfall there)
December: Trip to London, Stonehenge, Paris. Second trip to Richmond, Va., Daily running streak marks five years.

The pull of the Mississippi

I was in London but stayed away from the Gutshot. I was in Paris but did not find my way to the Aviation Club.

But Tunica. I live nowhere near it -- 391 miles -- but it has to happen.

I was last there nearly four years ago. But it's still my home field for poker, where I've won the most money in live games outside of Vegas.

Rolling up along the flat Delta, jumping from one poker room to the next, the artificial facades, the buffets. Sitting down at a table to eke out the required five hours of play for a poker room-discounted rate room.

Can't wait.