PTO Request Submitted - WPBT Winter Gathering

[skipping record sound] I need to post more. [/skipping record sound]

Any great minds out there harnessed a time travelling worm hole for me? I need a few more hours in the day that don't cut into my dream time. Now that my kids are grown, I actually get sleep and right now, I'm really lovin' it.

The dates are set for the Winter Gather 2014 Edition. I've submitted the request for a hall pass, PTO (employers term for vacation) and created alerts on Kayak for prices, although I think I'm buying the airfare soon. Prices may never get better than they are right now, unless you know something and really want to share that with me....I'd be much obliged.

For those of you scoring at home, if I'm going, the likelihood the Wil Wheaton will also being there is very slim. We've each gone 5 of the 10 years, and we've never been there the same year.

To sum things up...

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Last full day of #WPBT 2013

So many memories.  I'm about to start the last day of the 2013 WPBT adventure that started last Thursday. This was the first year I had nothing planned but the tournament. Nothing. The plan was just see what happens and let adventures happen. 

Wow. So far, that plan is worked beyond my wildest imagination. 

Thanks to everyone that organized it. Thanks to everyone that followed the #batsignals. Thanks Short Stacked Shamus, John K. and BJ for letting my dream come true. Guys, this has been one epic weekend. 

I've got a lot to write about. The memory card in my camera is almost full. Actually hoping I have an extra one. Maybe, this has inspired the blogger in me to start again and post. Well, see. There's that whole finding time thing. 

Time to start the last 24 hours and make sure I head home with no regrets. Hope you have a great day!

Because it is 108 days away

Just booked round trip airfare to Las Vegas Nevada Dec 5-9. There's so much more I should be blogging about but there's too many excuses to whine about. Just know, I'm way too excited to be at WPBT this year. Who's joining me?

Happy Independence Day!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday and remember just how important our independence really is.

I've got some exploring to do

Superaged spirits: How old is too old for whiskey, gin, and chartreuse? - Slate Magazine

I found this article recently and thought I had to share it with everyone. Having attended a few whiskey tastings in my day and drank a few whisk(e)ys aged 30 and over, a lot of this came as no surprise. While it was fun to drink some aged spirits, I can't say that any of them really blew my socks off. The 30 year Canadian Club comes to mind. While it was indeed expensive and it sure was smooth and oaky, that's about it. No wow. Just "Hm, that's what a $200/bottle whisky tastes like."

Younger rye's are tasty. And 16 - 25 seems to be where Scotch gets awesome. Thoughts? What are your experiences?

We might need to take better notes at whiskey club :)

Superaged spirits: How old is too old for whiskey, gin, and chartreuse? - Slate Magazine:

'via Blog this'

Just a few more days

The time is drawing ever so close to me heading back to Las Vegas. I fly out Sunday, today is Thursday. Yikes!

As the clock winds down, I'm struck by how different this trip will be from any other trip I've made to Las Vegas. My first visit was almost 17 years ago. OhCountess and I honeymooned in Vegas. Neither of us ever being there before. At the time, I didn't play any poker. It was 1996 and the boom was a ways away. Traveling with the Mrs was awesome. What a fun place to spend our first few days as husband and wife.

The next trip I can remember was a trip my wife won in 2008. By now, I played poker a lot of poker and this blog was up and running. It would appear on May 4, 2008, I posted my first Vegas poker tournament win. Good times.

By winter, the WPBT Winter Gathering was a must. This was my first and I was REALLY nervous. I mean flying 1300 miles to a big town and meeting up with people I never seen in the flesh? There's posts from that trip somewhere on this blog. For those of you there, you'll remember I had OhCountess by my side. While we were waiting to check in at the Imperial Palace (Holy long lines, Batman), I told her to go find the bar with the sign that read "Geisha Bar" and announce herself as OhCountess. Why? She asked...Hehehe, yep, there were hugs waiting for her from strangers. Great times! Oh, and I finished 5th in the blogger private tournament. For those of you scoring at home, that's two Vegas tournaments and two cashes. ;-)

The following year, I was back for WPBT in December. At this point, it's a no-brainer that I'm going to this thing. OhCountess stayed home and I went by myself, which isn't exactly true, I was flying by myself but I was meeting up with 100 or so friends. According to my trip reports, I had a blast. I didn't win or even cash in a tournament and to the best of my recollection, I sucked at the cash games. You can relive the stories here with this link.

WPBT 2010 was a blast again. Back in Las Vegas, much better at the whole travel by myself thing. Hanging out with the crew of bloggers is the best. So many people you proudly call your friend. That trip is chronicled here. But my last longer team, ya, we gots hardware. I seem to remember going pretty deep that year. Last longer bet money sure feels good.

2011. The last time I was in Las Vegas seems so long ago. I wasn't blogging nearly as much, but I think I won a poker tournament that weekend at the IP. I know I won one there sometime. I didn't cash in the WPBT but made it very deep again. Aces cracked by JJ.

2012 - I never went to Las Vegas. The horror. The horror.

Well, this time, I'm going to make the trip because my employer has decided it's a good idea. I fly out of Minneapolis on Sunday. Pick up a rental car and drive to the Hilton Garden. Not really on the strip, which is probably the best for the first few days when I'm supposed to be learning about a complicated medical system. I'm very much looking forward to seeing my fiends that live there: CK, PokerVixen, WriterJen, Dan. Who else lives there?

I've made no concrete plans at this time. When my class is done on Thursday, I switch hotels and move into Bally's. Lightning36 raves about this place. Let's see if it lives up to the hype. I get to bring a checked bag so all of the camera equipment is coming. This whole having a car thing is going to be really new to me. I've never been to Vegas and had a car. Any suggestions for things to do? I have a list but I would LOVE suggestions. Maybe WriterJen will cook something? I'd love to see everyone's pups. Dogs are cool. This trip will definitely be weird without all the bloggers.

Nervous excitement is building rapidly. What have I forgotten to get ready? Am I missing something? Can the clock move faster? Will I survive not seeing my wife and kids for 7 days? What will I get my wife for her birthday (it's March 11 - the day after I get back)? How much exploring will get to do?

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!