golddog goes for a ride
Inspired by chopstick's excellent thread, I'm going to try to keep one running as well.
Fair warning, though: I am neithe
Tangentially travel-related, I got my new United Club passes today. I guess I forgot to consider whether I wanted to keep their card with the price increase.
Or maybe I did, and decided that number was $156. Who knows?
Still no plans. Forecast looks like nice weather here, no reason to take an escape.
I had a tentative summer travel idea in my head to go visit friends on the east coast. Nothing serious, just kind of looking at a long road/camping trip.
WSOP schedule came out this week. Seniors Mon Jun 15, Super Seniors the 23rd (IIRC).
Took an initial look at the Seniors; both plane and hotels were very reasonable. I was initially a little excited about going out to play. After thinking about it a little while, I realized a) as little as I play any more, I couldn't even be as competitive (which wasn't much) when I played it for a few years. Also, 2) Vegas for 8 days (or whatever) to play both events is a lot.
My United card's fees are were charged and the cycle completes at the end of this month. (Plus a few charges I made inadvertently on that care, but that's another story). I think after paying that balance off next month, I will revisit schedule/cost/feel for poker, and look at a WSOP trip again.
But for now, I think I'm sticking with a road trip for the summer.
one dashboard option evolves a sensory experience while transporting yourself across logical eco cultural gradients of varied belief systems
as does the other with bonus felt smell applied
Yeah, but the pokers have been excruciating lately. As an example: last night, after dealing, jumped in game 2.
The second game is more like short-stack cash, instead of tournament: 1/2 blinds, start with 20.
Had gotten up a little to 28. 4-5 limpers, I have 99 in LP. Never getting rid of everyone (or even most) in this game, so I elect to call and evaluate.
Flop 982 rainbow. Well, that's pretty good.
Bet to 6 and a call. I shove my last 26 for a ~pot-sized bet. Two callers.
Runout 10, j. Grrr, I'm behind any callers now. Frustrating to go from "there's nothing I'm behind to" to "There's nothing I'm ahead of" just like that.
Naturally one of the callers had tens. Win that, I'm the overwhelming chip leader and almost certainly win the gift card. Rats.
As my old friend DaveB from another, now-defunct, forum used to say, "embrace the chase."
Seems to be an unending list of beats lately. Maybe I should stick to dealing.
It wasn't all bad though. We have a good group of people, always fun to spend time with, even when things don't break my way.
Toward the end of my dealing, I mentioned to our friendly waitress that I was ready for a beer. After finishing dealing and cleaning up, went to the bar to see what's going on.
She is a very good waitress. Always hustling, comes around frequently but not overly so. Just forgot this one time. Got me a beer. As is my custom, had a second while playing game 2.
Get to the bar to pay afterward, they covered my tab for forgetting. Said that wasn't necessary, mistakes happen, but they insisted.
Free beer is good beer!
You gotta admit though, free beer is a nice plus.
Federal tax refund was deposited today. Unfortunate to give them an interest-free loan for a year, but I'll get over it. Actually pretty quick--I only filed on the 12th, I think.
1st half property taxes are due on the second. Kinda nice to have that covered, I guess.'
Having trouble seeing this morning. Musta slept funny and squished my eyeball or something, everything's slightly out of focus. So I apologize for any typos.
On a more travel-related note, got an email from United that they're changing (improving, in marketing-speak) the credit card experience. Depending what and how you book and pay, get a bunch of extra miles when using the card.
Begins April 2, I think, so maybe then I'll do the re-look at WSOP.
Thinking of a couple different possible summer trips the other day--one to the east, one to the west. Neither super compelling, not a clear favorite.
It occurred to me it may very well be what direction I turn out of the cul-de-sac on the morning of leaving which determines which one I try.
It occurred to me it may very well be what direction I turn out of the cul-de-sac on the morning of leaving which determines which one I try.
That's the way my old man traveled. It's a fun way to go, and seemed perfectly natural as a kid. I've never been able to completely emulate it as an adult, unless I'm walking.
Yeah, I only have a general plan when road tripping. For example, if I turn east, the plan will be to go through Richmond and Columbia to visit some folks.
But, each day's route is very flexible, determined by what I see on the map that looks interesting plus anything I happen across. Arrival times are fluid depending on that.
It's a great way to travel. My wife always had trouble grasping the beauty of it. She wasn't stupid -- in fact, she was quite intelligent -- but she always had trouble in this one area. Something to do with chromosomes perhaps.
I understand some people's desire for stability--we've got a for-sure reservation at point X tonight. It's just not my thing. I find myself getting less adventurous as I age, but still want some.
Been a few times when I've got caught out there, having trouble finding a place, or having to pay a outrageous rate. But it mostly works out. Worst case scenario, I pull down some side road and crawl in the back of the Subie.
I got more cautious as I aged but reached my saturation point of caution in my 70s. Then I said screw it, I've lived this long, and now I've swung back to the opposite extreme.
I used to think that Harry Chapin stole my idea:
sometimes i get this crazy dream
that i just take off in my car
but you can travel on ten thousand miles and still stay where you are
But I never got around to doing it. It still crosses my mind occasionally, but I doubt I'll ever act on it.
The friend I'm potentially going to see in Richmond took a "big trip" around the US in a VW bus with his first wife in their youth. As I recall the story, they were just beating along, picking up work when needed, living out of the bus and seeing the country.
A strange part was, he never got to Wyoming until years after settling down in Colorado.
I've occasionally considered doing something similar. Maybe get a small RV or converted van instead of the Subie and my tent. But, I think it sounds better as a romantic notion than actually executing that plan. So far, I've found after a week or ten days on the road, it's time to start heading back--I'm ready for home again.
spouse and i have bantered with some sort of sprinter van in casual ways but nothing remote to serious yet, but a large part of that conversation hinges around there being two of us plus a mutt
wouldn't need much just automatic sleeping shelter when weather turns and some sort of semi-reliable cold food storage with water if we need it
not interested in pulling some sort of trailer and do not require ample space or showering facilities
Exactly what I'm thinking, Red. Place to sleep that (probably) more comfortable than my tent. Fridge for lunch stuff, soda and beer. Small enough to drive reasonably. Figure out screening windows for air.
Can use toilet and shower facilities wherever I'm camping, don't need that in-house (so to speak).
This year's trip will still be tent-oriented.
I think it was ElSapo who took a cross country trip and just bought window screen material at home depot along with a roll of flat magnet he cut and stuck to the screening to make screens he could just stick to the car at night while leaving the windows down.
Sounds right. That was a pretty great travel thread.
I'm sure there are a bunch of things one can only think of via experience, and I'd adapt as I went. Also might be nice to have a little gas stove in there. But, it would be easy enough to lug along a little campstove too.
Texting with my friend in Richmond today about other things, and he mentioned he's going back to Seattle for the summer.
Not unusual. The last several years we worked together, he was living in Austin, and would come up for the summer. Didn't press, but I kinda got the feeling this was a "maybe leave Richmond" thing.
So, I guess it's national parks of the west, then. That's fine. Maybe cruise up to the NW and see him and my other Seattle-based friend, it's been a few years.
Unless I think of/find out about something different.
spouse and i have bantered with some sort of sprinter van in casual ways but nothing remote to serious yet, but a large part of that conversation hinges around there being two of us plus a muttwouldn't need much just automatic sleeping shelter when weather turns and some sort of semi-reliable cold food storage with water if we need itnot interested in pulling some sort of trail
If you come up with a solution, please post here.
Texting with my friend in Richmond today about other things, and he mentioned he's going back to Seattle for the summer.Not unusual. The last several years we worked together, he was living in Austin, and would come up for the summer. Didn't press, but I kinda got the feeling this was a "maybe leave Richmond" thing.So, I guess it's national parks of the west, then. That's fi
I hope they're open when you get there.
promise i will if it ever actually happens (do not hold your breath)
mark is correct with the ElSapo thread until then
click the first couple of links in the first post for more information
https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/34/ot...
edit made it easy for you
https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/34/ot...
https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/34/ot...
Reading rppoker's thread reminded me of a Final Four story. Since it's that time of the year...
As mentioned, I was the student manager for the Pups' basketball team for a couple seasons in college. For some years afterwards, my friend Mark (who got me into the above gig) and I would submit for the Final Four ticket lottery.
He won a couple times, and was nice enough to invite me. One year, he called and asked if I'd like to go. Of course! Even better, it was in New Orleans, and Mark doesn't really drink, so I could imbibe.
Either the next day, or the next weekend--can't remember for sure--another college friend, Mike, called. Mike told me, "Hey, I'm getting married in the spring. Hope you can make it. Save the date, it's
So, on the phone to Mark. Fortunately, he was able to get one of his friends from St. Paul to go along, so this didn't put him in a bind.
That's how I missed seeing this live:
