My First Poker Tournament!

This past Saturday my friend Jason and I signed up for my city's American Red Cross Casino Charity event. It was so much fun! There were about 80 people playing Black Jack and/or Poker. There were door prizes and silent auctions going on as well. Drinks and plenty of yummy hors d'oeuvres! Our poker table had myself, Jason and four other men. We played from 7pm to 10:30pm. I won the first two hands and started to lose, but one of my biggest wins started with a straight, river-assisted flushes and 3-of a kind. My biggest hand and win of the night was a full house of aces and nines. Most of our table had 1-2 rebuys - I had none!!

At about 10:15pm, I had wom most of the chips at my table. One of the more outspoken opponents, John, gathered all the chips from everyone's pile and pushed them towards me and said, "Here! You might as well have them!" At the end of the night, I had $11,850 in chips and came in second to the night's big winner who had $12,000. Dang!! Oh well, there's always next year!

Nice thing is, I won the silent auction for the helicopter ride with my city's Police Department. When the event organizer collected my check, she smiled and added: "Oh, they're gonna love YOU." I'm sure I will blog that day when it comes!

The Promise

One of my favorite songs by Tracy Chapman
I just got meloncholy right now...

"If you wait for me then I'll come for you
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart
If you think of me, if you miss me once in awhile
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
If you dream of me like I dream of you
In a place thats warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
I've longed for you and I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waitingIve longed for you and I have desired
To see your face, your smile
To be with you wherever you are

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
Please say youll be waiting

Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end

If you can make a promise if its one that you can keep,
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me and say you'll hold
A place for me in your heart."

Fond, far away memories take over me tonight.
I close my eyes.
I can still feel the warm Caribbean breeze on my face.
and hear the waves as they lapped the Princess.

Music softly streaming through the air as I breathed
a quite thanks to Him.
I turn around only to see you,
without your glasses and handsome in your tuxedo.

You were there the whole time and I didn't know.
Yet you take my hand and I smile as you asked me to dance...

"When I saw you, I knew we'd be together, like a wink and a smile..."

Quote of the Day by Thomas Edison

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

The Sweetest Thing

I haven't felt that way since... I was twelve. It was the summer I got my first bike - it was baby blue, with a basket with plastic flowers and tassels on the u-shaped handle bars. I loved that bike; I love feeling of the wind brushing my cheeks.

Life sometimes gives you second chances. I got that wonderful, youthful feeling again this past Friday. Marc came by after work. He hugged me at the door and said, "Hey babe, (I love hearing that), I need help with two bags in my truck." My mind's first reaction was, "My God, how long are you planning to stay??"

Happily we walked hand in hand to his truck, he lifted the back and I saw his new black beach cruiser... but it took two seconds for me to realize that he wasn't taking his bike out... he was taking this little white beach cruiser out with pink tires and pink decals....

I gasped. Then I squealed like a little girl at Christmas when her Dad pulls out a bike from behind the tree. I looked at him aghast and asked,

"Oh my God, is this for me??!!! You're Kidding?!?! Is this mine??!!"

He smiled and propped the world's cutest bike in front of me. He said that the bike shop put the seat as low as it could go. He put the handle bars on and I jumped on the bike... I was still on my tippy-toes, but I'll make do.

Quickly I changed into sweatpants while Marc made some adjustments to both bikes. As soon as I came out, we jumped on our brand new bikes and started cruising down the street, up the hill and then meandered through all the neighboring streets.

I felt like a kid again. I really did. After some yummy Zankou Chicken, we had a nice night watching our favorite shows: Rome, Apprentice: Los Angeles and The Office.

The next morning, we went to his other surprise: Two tickets to the German Art and Opera workshop at the Getty!! There was a private tour, box lunches, we had a picnic overlooking the gardens and an hour of German songs by members of the Los Angeles Opera group. It was a perfect day. Thank you Marc!

I love this man!!

Airport Blog: Maximum Exposure

It was another busy Monday morning at the Burbank Airport. I was going through security as usual. As I struggled to take my coat off and rush my luggage through the x-ray, I noticed a lot of security guys from the other lanes giving me an all-too-knowing grimace. Their eyes focused on my blouse. I looked down to see my chest mimicking a Pam Anderson paparazzi photo party. Two of the top buttons had unbutton and the boys were loose! Here I was, holding up security traffic as I nervously tried to button up as smiling TIA and other amused travelers looked on. Ah, yes, a day in the life of a road warrior.