From: Howler
Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:59:56 +0000
Subject: [BARGE] Howler's Trip Report 2008 part 1


Day 1 - 2  (Sleep is for the weak)
Arrived in Vegas at 1530 on Tuesday.  Sue and I took a shower (not
together because she would have no room) and went down to the casino.
Many Bargers were already rooling and I said my hello's and got
into a 4-8 holdem game and proceeded to order many beers.  I busted
very early in the NL Shootout (wasn't the first but I think was
second to bust).  Went back the 4-8 game and managed to play OK for
several hours and took 1 rack out of the game.  I and two other
Bargers decided to play the 2:00am NL tournament at Binions.  I
played tight for a while but found the play to somewhat soft so I
pushed a few marginal hands, generated a stack and managed to make
it to the final table.  I finished third but the real score was
made by Ron (last name escapes me, virgin last year, real nice guy,
hung out with Scottro last year but I didn't hold that against him).
Ron won it and got an entry into the Sunday tournament.  Great Job
Ron!

I went back to the poker room and played some more 4-8.  I managed
to pull myself away long enough to go get Sue and have some breakfast.
We ate at the caf and went back to the poker room to mull around
and see everyone.  About 3:00pm on Wednesday I finally decided to
take a nap before I had to play the 7:00pm lowball tournament.  I
went to the room and slept for a couple of hours, woke up refreshed,
grabbed my first football of the week and headed over to the
tournament area.   I played OK in the lowball tournament but never
had any real stack to speak of and went out somewhere in the middle
of the pack.

My virgin friends, Len and Sandy as well as myself and Sue, rushed
over to the Nugget for Karaoke and I got here just in time to join
in on "If I had a Million Dollars".  The room was in full swing and
we had a ball.  We sang, drank, danced and I received my first Barge
punch in the nose from an accidental weave instead of a bob.  Great
time.  I watched Marlin fall three times at Karaoke and twice on
the way back to Binions.   Nolan and I walked back to Binions
together and I made sure I engaged everyone I saw in conversation
on the way back to the poker room, much to the amusement of Nolan.
When back at the poker room, I made a very loud announcement that
the Bargers were indeed "BACK IN THE HOUSE!"

Day 3 - Mostly hung around the poker room and played some EV VP.
The Stud Shootout was very enjoyable as I was able to talk with
Gavin for quite a while.  He was on my left and we had a great time.
I arrived at the table with my football of beer and one of the other
Barger's commented on the fact that he loved to see people playing
that were drinking.  I smiled and said "thanks".  I agree with the
theory that if you learn something while drinking, you can only
play drinking.  Gavin and I preceded to rool the table.  We got
heads up and I had a two to one chip lead.  Gavin, of course, beat
me.  I went over to the poker room and got into another 4-8 game
and managed to blow off half my stack when a two outer magically
appeared on the river.  3:00am and I go to bed now.


From: mcbride1231@comcast.net
Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:04:12 +0000
Subject: [BARGE] Howler's Trip Report 2008 part 2

Day  4 -  
 
At 7:30am, Jade, Sue and I saw Marlin and he said he must have
fallen down last night because he had a raspberry on his knee and
his back hurt.  I made him aware that he fell five times that I was
aware of.  Marlin Rocks!  Jade also regaled him with the story of
Jade helping Marlin to the elevator and Marlin trying to tip him a
dollar for the assistance.

The TOC tourney came very early.  I was still very tired (I don't
know why).  I played poorly, won 5 pots, 4 of which were quartered,
and never really had a presence in the game.  I did get to share
the table with my virgin buddy Len for a while so that was worth
the price of admission.  I busted somewhere in around 90.  I finally
get some sleep because I wanted to try a repeat as the NL champion.

Day 5

The NL tournament was a bunch of fun.  I played well and built my
stack slowly when low and behold Sabyl shows up.  She is a great
player and she replaced me as table bully.  She proceeds to build
up a big stack and then Nick shows up with at least twice the amount
of chips Sabyl has.  They push us around for a while but I managed
to take some chips from Sabyl right before our table breaks.  I
went pretty deep in the tournament finishing around 40th.  We won
the last longer with the Virgins when Nolan busted at the same time
as the last Virgin,  Nolan having the bigger stack.   The Virgin
team was a great bunch of folks and I hope they are long time future
Bargers.   My wife Sue made the final table of the SO NL tournament
and had a great time.  If she every plays in the big one, watch
out.

The Banquet was good and I liked the speaker.  He brought up some
good points about staying too long in a game where you "just don't
feel right" and about poker sponsorship.  I made a great score at
the banquet when my dinner arrived and it was an end cut of prime
rib (MMMM, Prime Rib!"  Many drinks and conversation later, we broke
and headed back for the reindeer games.  I played in the 4-8 Omaha
H/L game and would have done OK except for toking off like $60.  I
would like a copy of the picture Dan Goldman's daughter took, I
think her name is spelled Bree but I am not sure, where I called
the Gamblers Anonymous hotline with copy of their flyer in my hand.
The funny thing about that was is the lady on the other end wanted
to put me on hold or call me back.  About 3:00am I said my goodbyes
and headed back to the room for some much needed sleep before our
8:00am drive back to Colorado.

Thoughts

I had a great time again this year and for me it was the Best Barge
Ever.  I love the people, the fun, the camaraderie and the friendship
of over 200 of my closest friends.  I was given pause earlier this
year by my virgin buddy Len and his wife Sandy when they asked me
what Barge is and what to expect their virgin year.  I thought for
a while and this is what is said.  "Imagine 200+ people of differing
backgrounds converging on Vegas to have fun and play poker. Imagine
further that these folks love what they do and want to share it
with others.  Add in a mixture of Pros, amateurs and novices that
have a real passion for poker and people.  Add a dash of alcohol,
a pinch of debauchery and a whole hand full good clean dirty fun
and what do you have?  The world's largest home game and one great
place to spend a week of vacation.  Thanks to Chuck, Peter, Nick
and Mickdog for another great Barge.  Thanks to all my friends,
both new and old, for your friendship and caring.  A special thanks
to Jade and Beverly for hanging out with Sue and I.  Next year we
make more time for fun with you folks.

See you all next year but until then, be safe, be good and take
care of yourselves.  I love this Barge!

The Howler's