Bruise Cruise

I should not expect to win if I haven’t played. I just thought it be like riding a bike. Nope not the case but I did meet Mr. Johnny Hale, who is an 1980 WSOP champ. At 87 years old he is kicking ass and taking names. He said while at the table ” I wish I was 20 years younger” another player said ” You mean you wish you were 40 years younger” Mr. Hale said ” No 20 years is fine”. 195 poker players played on and off for seven days. I recognized some players from Las Vegas high limit Venetian Room and I was intimidated then during a tournament I made a rookie mistake and Bam! I was out. The beautiful ocean and sea spray helped me cool down but I felt bruised and defeated. I still love playing poker. Badugi and open face chinese poker are kinda popular these last few years. I often say to those who play Omaha high low “you’re either a omaholic or omahalogist”. Poker invokes a lot of math so I cracked up when a really good aggressive gal player said. ” I spend half my life playing poker half my life sleeping and half my life shopping” sounds good to me.

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Chocolate Massacre

Women love chocolate.  With one exception.  In 12 days I am going on a quickie Poker cruise the last one I was on  I partied hard late into the night, I then crawled into my bed as not to wake up my bunk mates.  In the morning I screamed looking at my bed then grabbing  my neck for some kind answer to the question “who stabbed me in the night” why? OMG the sheets had what appeared to be old blood high up on the pillow area. Duh, these luxurious cruises place a chocolate on your pillow before you retire, I fell asleep and melted that damn  Ghirardelli chocolate square. Mystery solved. 

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STUFF..ING

Today we delivered an “overflow” which are items left behind because there wasn’t enough room in the first place.  We have delivered several of these overflows, none of which we have created.  I realized that some of us  most of us all of us are attached to our stuff. Long time ago Life magazine featured families all around the world and their stuff. A Saudi family,  a nomadic family in Nepal, and a  family from America were the ones I remember.  All the items in the home were brought outside placed on a foundation and lifted on a crane.  Of course the American family of four had the most stuff.  The Saudi family had twice as many people but significantly less. 2 or 3 Mercedes and super long couch is what I remembered. The nomadic family had whatever they could load on 4 or 5 Yaks. I’m somewhere in between the Saudis and the Yaks. I have become a keen observer of behaviors and some of us are possessed by our possessions. The accumulation can be overwhelming since I only have 2 feet and wearing more than one pair of shoes at a time is a realization that maybe I got the message a little too late.

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Mighty Miss

The River is milk chocolate brown and is 12,355,200 feet long.  I try to imagine all the written and unwritten history that has taken place here. In long haul trucking it’s the  most often used reference amongst drivers. And just about everybody had to spell it in second grade.  She is beautiful and dangerous and her silt is showing.  Between the giant barges and alligators she has plenty of company  and doesn’t get mad when I cross her…

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over and over again.

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Fork in the Road

Eating healthy was the goal but now it’s about making choices with the best outcome.  When you have a 53 foot trailer and truck, you are limited to truck stops for you dining options.  The limits increase ten fold once you get inside. I look around and see the swelling of rolled hotdogs and all package foods. I am scared (scarred too)further by the sites of many a trucker with large abdomens.  It seems these pendulant bellies are accompanied by missing teeth. A vicious cycle begins since you can’t chew properly for nutrients you stick to soft foods.  Some salad bars are hideous others like today terrific. Plain strawberries and grapes. Some soups are identified by observation not by title. Green Chile beef soup did not sound appetizing but upon inspection so healthy. Beans bay leaf clear broth and meat that appeared decent and edible. So soup du jour.

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G is for Gambling.

Arrival into Las Vegas Nevada last night is fun. Not complaining only explaining.  I got up at four am to be at the truck yard by 5. I tried my darndest to nap while traveling from Long Beach to San Diego then here. I begin to think about the din of Keno machines, the numbers I’ll pick, the waitresses that love to cut up with me  and bring Ginger ale with bitters in the tall glass. My palms start to perspire  and I lean into the glass to see those lights that I love.  My home is here and now it  is  temporarily occupied by family. I remind myself that charity begins at home. I’m a thimble full of resentment.

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Oh well. I am often a bridesmaid never a bride since one of the crew hit a jackpot. Damn foiled again.  I tell myself my luck will be ever present when I get back to playing poker. Later today I am meeting a new acquaintance thru friends to view  his new Corvette. He is a magician and maybe he’ll make me disappear.

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JUST THE THREE OF US.

IMG_0219.JPG. Plans change and now Florida is out and Tupelo Mississippi is in. This time it’s a party and saying goodbye to some good sleep. The driver called me ” how set are you about going to Florida?” And “Brian is going to join us”. I like Brian but it changes the sleeping arrangements. So head to toe the driver ( six foot six) and I (5’6) in one bunk and Brian upstairs in the penthouse. All three of us have traveled together before and we all got along. We joke since Brian who happens to look like the actor Keanu Reeves, works well others also sees things differently. Back in May the driver told Brian “Dude you’d shit gold bars and complain they weren’t shiny enough” Thanksgiving on the road will be a first. I appreciate that my mom did not give me sad eyes or “what about me?” Which she has perfected over the years. It’s like the bend and snap “works every time”. Thank goodness! May God Bless and hold tenderly all who have served on this Veterans Day.

Cha Cha Cha.

Cha is Mandarin for tea. While in Georgia I get a lesson in quick dialog.  A warehouse guy calls off a number “triple three” he repeats it a few times and asks if I know what that means. “I know a few” (I’m kidding myself) and he is dying to share it. For example. “That girl be looking for a triple three” She is looking for a date. I decide to go West Coast on him and say. “She looking for a dub but she ain’t thirsty.” We laugh since I want to be hip if not contemporary. Come to find out once again the joke is on me.  “Darn”. Triple three translates to nine inches. Now I’m just embarrassed.  The Duck Dynasty crew has a sweet tea product and it’s a big Sigh. The driver was more eloquent “it sucks”.

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Dear Thomas

I want you to know that is by no mistake we sat next to each other  at dinner to laugh and enjoy the cramped but cozy booth with six other people. I appreciate your candor and positive outlook. You had offered me such wonderful insight in a short amount of time. You have reassured me of decisions made without having ever met you till now. I know why they say “Save the best for last.” You are indeed the best.

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A Mix Bag.

1414592979513-1580271235Given that Halloween is coming, here is a mixed bag of goodies from yesterday.  Taxi to Sam’s town Casino in Shreveport 25.00 bucks each way. No five cent keno or omaha or even limit poker…bummer oh well. Then to the cafe to eat. Our waiter is from Beijing “yes I’m going to blow him away with my newly learn Mandarin” I asked for “Nemung bing shui” lemon water.  I get a big “huh?” I received my dish he asks “how is it ?” I reply “Kekuo” (delicious) “too cold?” “No its delicious”. Well I better hit the tapes again. Upon return home to the Petro truck stop we buy some water and the tv is on world series  San Francisco Giants vs KC Royals  and small talk ensued. I ask the tall nice gentleman at counter “Who ya For? ” “Kansas I guess they haven’t won” I pipe in trying to let the locals know this fender bender knows a thing or two. “Ya 29 years” he says he knows people in KC “so Ya I’ll pick the Royals” I said the only person I know in Kansas City is Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Everybody laughs because it’s late and we are all tired but more likely my faux pas. I know I know Kansas City Missouri and the state of Kansas ARE two different places. Oh well note to self. I just liked that everyone was laughing.

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