Relax It’s Just Poker

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Women’s Queen of Hearts 10:00 am 70.00 buy in. My favorite since I won long long time ago. You got your picture taken with a nice crystal trophy and bragging rights for about a week. 92 women this time and no Jose Canseco.  He once claimed reverse discrimination and then was  allowed to play.  There was a standing ovation for the gal who knocked him out. But I heard he made it into the money.  Anyways  today one gal complained the hour was too early and her drive was too long (40 miles). She whined about “how everyone thinks she is Filipino”. Or Hispanic, I guessed Guam.  She reacted as if  I said she was cyclops with  psoriasis. I tried guessing, given the 40 mile hint but gave up…why because it was none of my business and she was not EVER gonna tell me. I liked her play, a little textbook but unlike me if she knew she was  beaten she fold. I like to  chase too much and then wonder why I’m short stacked. My mom owed me 5 bucks because whoever gets knock out first pays the other one. I realize with such a small buy in it was just best to enjoy the company.  I raise with pocket pair got reraised. And an Ace came I was out. Oh well.

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A Wish for My Friends.

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20150207_173428My birthday passed recently and for the record it was one of the most enjoyable special birthdays I’ve had in quite some time. To Fortino who I love because he is special and generous And Lillian who made me feel loved and cared for in a way that was reassuring. I didn’t realize I needed to be with these two but at the end of the night it was meant to be. In my opinion we three came from modest humble beginnings and by some measure we are successful. We all have loving family relationships and the laughter we share. Although it took a story of my other friend who farted at a party I took him too so he could flirt, did Fortino start to let the laughter take over. I shared about the pansy ass hand shake the car service guy gave me and the walk through sex shop in West Hollywood to notice “Organic Lube” and giant chocolate dildos and how I accidentally walked through photo shoot. It was in alley give me a break. I am in the words of some, a junkie of certain TV shows. Yes we went to Pump, the restaurant seen on the Bravo channel. It was beautifully lit and the music was just right, subtle French hipster music that if you listen to words closely you would start to cry. I was buzzed which helps the deep feelings coming bubbling up to the top and all I could feel was love for my two way way back friends. Fortino you are such a success and a picture of health. And to Lillian you made me feel like a birthday girl for the first time in a long time. I love you both and thank you for making this a remarkable Happy New Birthday.

Chinese and me

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The New year. Chinese New Year that is, which is February 19th and I’m excited. The driver went to see his son in Daly City near San Francisco. One bus and hopping on the Bart gets you quickly to Powell and Union. 26.00 dollars for 4 of us round trip. I first went onto the Bart when I was still a single digit midget and now I’m 49. Time has taken its toll on the poor rail as it screeches out loud. So it was best to chat at the station stops if you had something worthy to say. I people watch, the tired commuters after a long day their chins to chest and on the phone. Then there is Chinatown which is special to me since I went there often by myself and tried things I had no business trying. Being by myself is freeing, so I was free to try anything nothing exotic but questionable. Salty Plum soda which is more Vietnamese than Chinese but hey when in Rome. It tasted like friggin ocean water the kind you spat out quickly when you’ve been toppled by a wave. I passed on anything gelatinous but I tried the dried stuff. Dried little cuttlefish, squid and brine flavored strips of preened pressed shrimp things . We have fruit roll ups and they have salty roll ups. According to YoYo Chinese CEO Yangyang the story behind the red envelopes and fire crackers was a beast that pillaged villagers when his food ran out and a beggar told them the 3 things the beast feared. Fire, noise and the color red. Three things I fear is sickness taxes and death. Nian gao which means “year cake” but also rise in stature and success every year. So here’s to Us all of us.

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Back In The Truck

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Back in the truck and feels awkward but going to San Jose, Milpitas and San Francisco might help.The home where lawyers are roommates  or if you have rent control from the way way back you’re getting off cheap.  I loved it when both my grandmother and sister lived there at the same time and  I used every opportunity to visit.  I especially loved Chinatown where if you accidentally drop your groceries on the bus and oranges roll out you may not get them back. Or Louie dim sum on Pacific and Stockton where the  Chinese have a saying “a little dirt don’t hurt” so I’m staring at the cat with her litter lying on the bottom shelf as I order “Er bao  and sum mai” . If you can’t live in a building maybe you can scale it like a french dude did in little Italy  I watched it on TV and then went outside to see 5 helicopters hovering around a building near the Transamerica one with  cops on the roof waiting  to arrest him.  My grandmother lived above an erotica exotica bakery  “south of the slot” in the Tenderloin district.  The warmth and aroma were a bonus but the things they created with shredded coconut made it difficult for me to ask if the did a regular sheet cake for my Gma-s birthday.  “Sure” thank goodness.  San Franciscans are snobby, I would be too if I lived in Nob Hill or North Beach.  I thought paying a 50.00 dollar room tax per day at the Fairmont was a little too much. So I’ll visit for the day and   play some poker either at the Oaks Room or Garden State in San Bruno. Who am I kidding I gotta work.

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What do you Say?

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Lovely social media has created a stir. Last week I attend a meet and greet based on where and when you lived in a particular city. Apparently there was a party crasher, I know I sat next to her and she was delightful. A gentleman at the same event, didn’t think so and shared his perception that implied not only did she not belong but her behavior put this group at risk. 101 comments later I realized you can’t fix ugly. We yield power with a pen or a stroke of the keyboard and may I never state anything but thoughtful factual observations and expressions that promote how special we all are and how important it is just to be nice. I don’t have to endorse the dark side which is a part of us but sometimes I can’t help myself. Last week I buried the coca-cola in the cabinet and then stacked all the other less desirable drinks on top. Why? Because no one else was going to do it, they kept pulling out soda and leaving a plastic mess behind. I enjoy a nice break room. It’s lame but got so much satisfaction especially when I heard they were looking for them. I said I put them away hee hee.

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Here we go

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LAPC Los Angeles poker classic is an event to exercise your poker prowess. You can go from chip chump to chip champ .  I entered the Omaha eight or better 147 people in the field. I got served my walk of shame papers half way. I played my almost best and I realize how much I missed playing.  I saw Robert “chip burner” Turner the alleged inventor of this crazy making game and of course the usual suspects.  The Mexican and Filipino mafia each said their hellos. and I was happy to know the few  mistakes I made were not rookie ones. As the book says “you have to be willing to die” I say chip happens
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Free Time

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Mid February I going back out on the road meanwhile I am working at the surgery center playing a little bit of poker and reflecting. An opportunity came up to meet people from the neighborhood I grew up in. None of us knew each other but easily we shared our pasts and the present. Suzy from Montebello, who takes her 90 year mother to play at the casino, was generous and delightful. Surprisingly several people were educators. As The wholesome group discussion remained free of colourful language and showboating which I appreciate. Anna was considerate and lively letting both Sue and I edit the pictures she took of us. She is an avid photographer and she shared her love of watercolor and karaoke. Bill who I perceived to be a little lonely had an opportunity to share what it’s like to be a substitute teacher for 30 years. He is insightful stating that today’s kids have a struggle with “too many choices” and Sue stated ” I live in the house I was born in I teach at the school I attended…” I thought that was remarkable from a historical standpoint. Leslie was an attractive gal and a good sport. Matt choose on his own accord to record pictures of homes in Monterey Park listed by others on social media and then post which led to this meeting. I had my own agenda. I wanted to introduce them to this blog. In way I am too recording history which started out as a means to keep track of dates and places and has now become a writing expedition. Cheers to group of wonderful people.

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Gypsies

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1421779208531-542592867Played poker yesterday and looked up to see a couple of guys who I knew were gypsies.  Stereotypes aside I am fascinated because we all have evolved.  My folks do business with a guy and my mom said one day they chatted a little and Angelo said he  wanted more for his kids and family.  To read,  write and go to school was important to him and he actively  changed the course. Then there was gypsy Mike who was a beautiful sexy guy who love women. The story goes that he had a bunch of girlfriends and each of these lucky gals got gifts. He’d take something that belong to girlfriend number one and passed on to the next gal. One day gal one got her fur coat back. Few years back fishing out Long Beach my friends winnning jackpot fish went missing and yes  the  gypsies’ burlap bag was  right next to mine. So what’s a few missing fish.  Culturally in the past, the gift of the grift is in  their makeup just like other cultures that honor their elders or arrange marriages. I get it and I ain’t mad, in fact the two guys ended up  at the omaha table and we broke bread. A delicious club sandwich and fried rice. I enjoyed their company and they teased me for not being shy. It was a good time.

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A Movie Quote To Live By

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” Love completely without complete understanding” . Do I wish to practice this or accept it. I also want to be a recipient. Like the boyfriend who couldn’t sleep anywhere but his own bed. Camping and trips up the coast were passed on. Or the story of the pot roast where each generation cut the ends off of each side before placing it in the pan and the the son-in-law asks why. ” well my mom did it” and in the end he finds out it started because the pan was too small. And to love my impetuous self without complete understanding. I had several business failures and patent that didn’t go anywhere and cost me monies I didn’t have. I have drank the Kool-aid thinking if success in one area will translate to another. I never took a business class or wrote out a business plan so it’s no surprise. On a deeper level to love those who are self destructive. Whenever they call, to listen and be supportive and not contribute any advice. The drinkers are not going to quit and I just hope to catch them when they are sober. My half brother works in post video editing…in porn. We hardly know each other and I am grateful he reached out to me when my bio father died. He gave me an opportunity to say goodbye. I am grateful to Norman Maclean and Robert Redford. A River Runs Through It.

I Love The Quality Of My Problems

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A co-worker said ” If you were to throw your problems into a pile with others you would pick out your own.” She is right and I realized that I am not going to be rewarded for my suffering either. The ego is such that if I make sacrifices the outcome should go my way. I don’t know how people do it, handle their finances or lack thereof in the midst of relying on others. The “Rob Peter to Pay Paul” works for a awhile but it gets old quick. I crack myself up, who do I think I am when I judge others based on their actions when I really don’t know what is going on. I rented a studio to a gal who on paper looks like a high risk but I go with my gut and I understand the importance of giving someone a break. She needs a break she moved back from Florida because “there is no money there” and she went on to explain she can get a night teaching job here , in addition to her day job. Her spouse is staying behind to care for his parents both whom are too sick to considered moving . She told me her low FICO score. I choose her because she showed up where others said they would and did not and she came prepared. On the other hand I got a situation that read and smelled beautiful and it turned to shit, not right away but over time. The reason I love the quality of my problems is because I created them myself.

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