From: "bob ogus" Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 21:05:21 -0400 Subject: [BARGE] Trip report Even before the long and somewhat boring report.thanks to Peter (who bravely suffered thru BARGE), Nick, and Mick - and everyone else who helped make this BARGE successful.the Jersey boys, especially, as he knows so well, Goldie.Chuck, Nolan, all of you are the very best.thank you! And thanks to all the staff at the Shoe - this was one of the best BARGEs - great tourneys, side games, and reindeer games all were fantastic Arrive on the 23rd.one vacation each year combined with BARGE makes for an early start.8th year in a row without wife who stays home to care for dogs and enjoy break from the husband who she affectionately calls grumpy - or worse. (Quick update on sick dog: 95% recovered from lesion on brain stem; had one testicle removed today to relive torsion in that area.reports from doctor is he seems to be doing well.wife will pick him up tomorrow in Gainesville) For those who did not hear the news, I too remain somewhat limited by the results of the car accident of 2 years ago.has it really been that long? If I appeared stupid at cards that was my fault.like missing the steel wheel that Randy pointed out giving me a 3/4 win Not recalling my friends' names - or days of the week..results of head issues.sorry.the report will be blurred by lack of days unless tied to special events Arrive mid morning.check in at GN .woo woo - first score.I have points on their "private accommodations" system and will get three free rooms this trip and be upgraded to next level as of this trip. Hook up with Adam B (allknight) for poker at Venetian - my favorite room in town.see tom Young one of the managers, who is a friend of many in town BARGErs.including Steve who we three salute and mourn as a friend indeed.poker is okay .I book a small win with nothing of any real merit to discuss. Play some at the GN - 1-2 NLHE.low limit with deep stacks .get pocket Kings and win when I triple up on the river against Aces! Win a few hundred that goes away as I play too many hands and try for draws in.down to a few more than $200 when I hit my JQ spades with a flush on the flop and a straight flush on the river.win a small bonus too! Woo woo! (BTW.woo woo is what Akitas sound like when they bark .unless they are very angry and then you hear them roar) Spend a day exploring new O8 games (8-16) at the Orleans and retreat back to a wide open 4-8 with a half kill that sees 6+ players calling before the flop and as many as 3-4 going to the river.pots are HUGE.many over $300! Sweep two rich ones - one with a 54 low and a pair of 5s..presto! Spend the weekend playing at GN and Orleans with a stop at the Venetian to mix things up.play in O8 tourney at Orleans and win a bit placing 4th.join the gang at Big Al's Saturday after a near two hour wait. Seeing the first group of friends is great and makes the wait immaterial. thanks to Randy Collack for organizing this but perhaps we should try Mexican next year? Next big event is dinner with the Goldmans.at a small grotto of a restaurant called Hugo's Cellar - a great experience worthy of a try if you can stand the rake. Another small win at NLHE in the GN allows me to continue my (relatively new) BARGE tradition.workout, massage, steam bath and whirlpool five times in 10 days.I started that last year to help lose the final 5 pounds for "the" freeroll First BARGE poker is PL Courchevel as a cash game.surprise! I win. Woo woo! OTOH - I do not do well at the tournament - in fact I do not book a win or come close - at any of our well run (thank you organizers and the folks at Binion's) - although I do wind up my CHORSE experience with a strong finish - 4 sweeps of the last six hands to bring my team almost back to even! Ate Mexican with Old Bear and the pickles.the restaurant on Main served good food at reasonable rake but one dish nearly smoked Mark.the waitress comped him a second meal - neat! Get to speak to friends (dealers and others) downtown who I have known for years.see even before BARGE.ask them about Carol the shift manager we all love who was let go by the Shoe.then we see her at the banquet - that was great! Thanks Peter for that. One night I play in a dealer's choice game with Marlin, Dan G, Grizz, and Bob Lauria (hope I spelled that correctly) - the game is full of raise and reraise to $15- surprise!!! One hand stands out.a game of O8 (2or 5 from your hand) .I get dealt a six high straight and do not have to raise once - flop is King, 9, and four rainbow.bet goes to $15 with five to the turn - an 8 - four players go to the river which is a three rainbow again! .I bet, Marlin and I take it to $24 before he calls and announces "lock low" and slaps his cards down with glee.until Dan and Bob explain that I sweep with the six high straight - I rule the table for a brief but very sweet heater and take over $600 out of the game!!! Woo woo! So far.I am ahead for BARGE! Most would say that is a miracle. Ask staff to deal Omaha only dealer's choice - a game that proves to be very popular.seating one or two tables throughout the remainder of BARGE even thru the reindeer games.with some locals playing - I book wins except for two games when I face a nearly BARGEr full table.am present for two Oklahoma hands when dealers win.the first one is when I ask the dealer (winning nearly $180) to toke the players and he willingly gives us each a dollar.what fun ! the second was not so large but the dealer immediately toked us each TWO dollars! No holler! The Egg and I was great as usual.thanks Ice and/ort Goldie and the Jersey boy.I pick up Oldbear and John (?) another BARGE friend at airport afterwards and then return to tables.the smoker at Dan and Sharon's was real; fine also.good food, chance to see our five week old Akita puppies on Dan's lap top, good cigar, better bourbon.the mint julep stand out as does the special bottle one of us snaked from the bar.the haze was real as was the drive back downtown.. Play dealer's choice again next night and see a sight to be seen .after confirming with some lady BARGERs I walk away after seeing more ice on a lady then is even seen at the uptown rooms.one ring of 6-8 karats with another more than half that size matched by earrings of weight and clarity.a bit of a distraction for a few minutes. The symposium was different.well run as usual but without certain folks and some syndicates it took more of Peter's skills to keep the bids going. Some of us went out to celebrate Shelley and Steve and their oh so beautiful habit of dialing in the radio at local bars where ladies practice their pole dancing and other skills...I demonstrate near total stupidity before returning to my somewhat limited senses before any real damage is done.that is a story that some can repeat but I hope will not. The banquet was great as was Doyle and Nolan - and the reindeer games after a short delay were fine too.went to bed early and had the last massage and steam Sunday woo woo. a super BARGE.started my journey home with more cash then I started with and a fantastic time with all of you - including the many Virgins and near Virgins.no limp Corey, Jepstonian and his posse, etc.thanks for the memories each and all of you. had one very bad beat on the way to the airport when a poor demented lady hosed three of us with gas as I fueled my car.hit one lady in the face with a full stream, soaked me and a second women with the ladies getting the worst of it.two guys wrestled the pump form he as she was starting to get me.I spent some time washing up and then found a men's store on Maryland that was open.nearly killed the salesmen as I walked in and asked if he could fit me quickly.he called a tailor in and $240 and 2 hours later I was on my away to the airport.spent some time to clean up then went to US AIR club for a few hours.then had pleasure of seeing Sean for a few minutes before we went our separate ways.home again home again to see the wife (joy), see Rebel's big ball (see first report on d0g above) and celebrate our 34th anniversary Tuesday.back to work now with hopes for the next BARGE Am I the only one counting the days?