From: "Kevin" Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2015 12:11:05 -0500 Subject: [BARGE] Trip Report #1: I Love This BARGE Best BARGE Evah. What happened? I'll have to wait for your trip = reports to find out those details. I hoped to write a trip report, telling wonderful stories, but I know = that if I did that now it would not be cogent and it certainly would not be complete. This year, more than ever, BARGE was a blur to me. So much, so fast that no amount of Adderall could compensate. So many wonderful = happy faces. So many beautiful smiles and so many loving arms. Tears are = coming from my eyes as I write this. So many amazing people reached out to me = this past week that it was completely overwhelming for me. Is it possible to receive too much love? Can I ask for more? (foreshadowing=85.wait for = it). In 1999, I was invited to come to this event called BARGE to play poker. = In the time between 1999 and 2015, I learned that poker is just an excuse = for 190+ amazing people to gather together in one place and reunite as a = family. Like all families, we have struggles and conflicts. There are sibling rivalries, but there is also an immeasurable amount of respect. In my lifetime I have made mistakes. Some of them involved my BARGE = family. Most have been forgiven, some have not. I guess that's understandable. = One should not get to define the duration of one's own penance. I have = tried to give as much as I could to BARGE. I have received much more in return. = And so, on Saturday evening, I requested a microphone and I tried to tell a story of what BARGE means to me and why you all are an important part of = my life. It was risky. Perhaps it was too hokey. Perhaps it was out of = line. Perhaps it was uncomfortable. But it was genuine and it was real. It is = what I call the spirit of BARGE. I know of no other way to speak than from my heart. This Trip report ends up not being a tale of fun, frivolity and self-indulgence. Instead, it is an acknowledgement of how special each = and every one of you is. In trip reports, it is nice to acknowledge the = people who contributed to your joy. There are many ways to make contributions. Sometimes it's sharing a meal. Sometimes it's a drink. (Ok, a little = more than sometimes). Sometimes it's an attentive ear, a supportive word, a = kind gesture, a hug, or even a smile. Sometimes it is simply being there, so = that a friend knows that he is not alone. I would be remiss if I failed to mention those people who made this BARGE very special for me. Without = going in to details about each and every moment (there simply isn't the time = or the mental ability to recall all of that) I will simply list the people = who were there and are very, very special to me: 1. Warren "Must be first" Sander 2. Doug "@dgr" Grismore 3. Russell "Messenger of Doom" Fox 4. Frank Irwin 5. Steve "Crunch" Daniel 6. John "JZK" Scheinberg 7. Ashton "Ashton" Applewhite (guest of John "JZK" Scheinberg) 8. JP "Mr. M" Massar 9. Caryl Aronson 10. David "Meeee" Aronson 11. Dan "ADB smalltalk" Goldman 12. Masanobu "Masa" Fujioka 13. Suenghee "Sue" Fujioka (guest of Masanobu "Masa" Fujioka) 14. Paul Zuzelo 15. Suzanne Zuzelo (guest of Paul Zuzelo) 16. Stephen "bozo" Blackstock 17. Michael "Mike" Chow 18. Paul "prmcm" McMullin 19. Andreas Wolfram 20. Donald "ADBBingo" Rieck 21. Louis "Bob_O" Ogus 22. David "sam_6" Lawful 23. Alex "Maverick600" Ziselman 24. David Low 25. Jim Anderson 26. John "Schecky" Caldwell 27. Jennifer "JenLeo" Leo (guest of John "Schecky" Caldwell) 28. Rob Fagen 29. Nathan "Woodstock" Hess 30. Lisa Hess (guest of Nathan "Woodstock" Hess) 31. Joe "Chiprider" Long 32. Sean "oscar" McGuiness 33. Ross Poppel 34. Rich Strauss 35. John "muscatel" Grout 36. Steven "Steve" Markowitz 37. Steve "SteveLB" Lewin-Berlin 38. Adam "Allknight" Bachrach 39. Debbie Bachrach (guest of Adam "Allknight" Bachrach) 40. Dan "dann" Nussbaum 41. Karl "SmartMeanFatKid" Kirchoff 42. Shae "$hae Money" Martinez (guest of Karl "SmartMeanFatKid" Kirchoff) 43. Steve "stevew" Watanabe 44. Oliver Juang 45. John Lloyd 46. Sharon "Shaza" Goldman 47. Peter "ADB Foldem" Secor 48. Randal Hennemuth 49. Travis Coleman (guest of Randal Hennemuth) 50. Janace "Jan" Pierce 51. Mike "ADB Howler" McBride 52. Sue "Howlerwife" McBride (guest of Mike "ADB Howler" McBride) 53. Janie "Janie" McIntosh 54. Martin "slickmv" Veneroso 55. Linda M "Llew" Lewis 56. Steve "Steve" Pierce 57. Josh "Fargin Icehole" Paley 58. Erin "SpiteBastard" Ramsay 59. Chuck "HEChas" Humphrey 60. Larry Stone 61. Corey "LingCod" Imsdahl 62. Kathy "Hot Flash" Imsdahl (guest of Corey "LingCod" Imsdahl) 63. Nolan Dalla 64. Guy "Grizz" Berentsen 65. Gerald "gerdog" Petersen 66. David "Heldar" Heller 67. Andrea "Mizz Heldar" Darvas (guest of David "Heldar" Heller) 68. Steve "Ice" Eisenstein 69. Ira Wiedman 70. Terry Wiedman (guest of Ira Wiedman) 71. David "BronzeDodger" O'Grady 72. Michael "Michael" Hunter 73. Rebecca "Redbird" Kerl 74. Dean "MrBookworm" Kerl 75. Mark "Oldbear" Hughes 76. Gillian "Gillian" Groves 77. Michael "mickdog" Patterson 78. Murray Logan 79. Steve "Paul the Octopus" Sherman 80. Len "Len G" Greenberg 81. Jodi "Jodi S." Shapiro 82. Chuck "ADB Enabler" Weinstock 83. Scott "Bwana" Byron 84. Chris "COC" OConnor 85. David "dasoussan" Soussan 86. Stevan "goldie" Goldman 87. Jeanne "Jeanriders" David 88. Patrick "CtheTurn" Kirwan 89. Scott "Samarai Bastard" Samarel 90. Pete "TrayRacer" Segal 91. Lynsy "Lynsy" Higgs Iwamoto 92. Bruce "Cyberchomp" Iwamoto 93. Sean "Formerly AAmaz0n" Morrow 94. Asya "AH-see-ya" Kamsky 95. Ryan "Ryan" Troll 96. Derek "CindrllaMan" Gomez 97. Randy "ADB Schmengie" Collack 98. Carol Collack (guest of Randy "ADB Schmengie" Collack) 99. Bruce "ADB Bigboy" Kramer 100. Alan "Bearsfan" Veach 101. Belinda "Mrs. Bearsfan" Veach (guest of Alan "Bearsfan" Veach) 102. Diana "Prof Chaos" Mercer 103. George "George" Wattman 104. Sharon "Lil Angel" Lewis 105. Barry "Mr. Raise" Kornspan 106. Rick "Rick M" Mombourquette 107. Michael "BIG MIKE" Klein 108. Jeanne "FHR" Di Muzio (guest of Michael "BIG MIKE" Klein) 109. Regis "Regis" Donovan 110. Bob "Blues" Herlien 111. Pauline Herlien (guest of Bob "Blues" Herlien) 112. Monte "hodger" Christensen 113. Patrick Milligan 114. Charles "Boomerman" Natkins 115. Doug "KUYA" Maher 116. Beverly "Un1corness" Matthews 117. Jade "JD" Matthews (guest of Beverly "Un1corness" Matthews) 118. Stan Woods 119. Jordan "FellKnight" Devenport 120. Claudia "Claudia" Mastroianni 121. Rich Korbin 122. Lori "PokerVixen" Miller 123. Marc "cramcram" Howard 124. Ken "QB" Kubey 125. Sandra Joe (guest of Ken "QB" Kubey) 126. Edmund "rktsci" Hack 127. Maryann "Good Doctor" Hack (guest of Edmund "rktsci" Hack) 128. Larry "azalphapoker" Bierman 129. Claudia Anderson (guest of Larry "azalphapoker" Bierman) 130. Connie "baguette" Kellers 131. Brian "Nick Name" OGrady 132. Ben Gamble 133. Tanya "MissT74" Peck 134. Bree "Dan's Kid" Goldman 135. Jeff "Blofeld" Deitch 136. Roy Cooke 137. Bea Berman 138. Chris "Tom Bayz" Mecklin 139. Ron "8=3D=3D> Box" Grossberg 140. Andrew "Andrew" Bloch 141. Chris "Jepstone Bastard" Jepsen 142. Patti Beadles 143. Michael "pygmyhipo" Maurer 144. David "David" Kluchman 145. Chris "Sharkbait" Kluchman 146. Anthony "Karma Withakay" Goldstein 147. Melanie "Siren" Goldstein (guest of Anthony "Karma Withakay" Goldstein) 148. Eric Rosenberger 149. Kevin "UN" Knourek 150. Michelle "Shifty" McBride (guest of Kevin "UN" Knourek) 151. Michael "Here 4 Chips" Brennan 152. Courtney Brennan 153. John "JRX" Reed 154. Carol "CKBWoP" Kline Anderson 155. Jared "Mr3Putt" Anderson 156. Eileen Milligan 157. Deron Brod 158. Arthur "Cider Bastard" Goltz 159. Kyle "Super-ev" Minnis 160. Sabyl "Kaismom / Metryx" Landrum 161. Kai "WSOP Champ 2034" Landrum (guest of Sabyl "Kaismom / Metryx" Landrum) 162. Stephen "slandrum" Landrum 163. Tim "Timmer" Stine 164. Paul "Paul Stine" Stine 165. Ronald "HappyRaiser" Nutt 166. Stephen "Stevie Lowball" Rokitka 167. David "ProfDC" Croson 168. Jake "JakeWasHere" Hamlin (guest of David "ProfDC" Croson) 169. Rachel "SurveyLady" Croson (guest of David "ProfDC" Croson) 170. Mike "ValueTown" Connors 171. Barbara "Kevan's Mom" Garrett 172. Peter "Taki" Caldes 173. Maria "Maraki" Caldes (guest of Peter "Taki" Caldes) 174. Kenny Shei 175. Andrew "Prock" Prock 176. Kelly "Kelly" Loyet (guest of Andrew "Prock" Prock) 177. Evan "Evan" Prock (guest of Andrew "Prock" Prock) 178. Katelyn "Katelyn" Prock (guest of Andrew "Prock" Prock) 179. Rodney Chen 180. Len Marciano 181. Mary Marciano (guest of Len Marciano) 182. Kevan "Kevan_fish" Garrett 183. Beth Garrett (guest of Kevan "Kevan_fish" Garrett) 184. Keith "ODB Phat Mack" Troell 185. Kim "Tiltmom" Scheinberg 186. Matt "grapes" Grapenthien 187. Rich "Omaholic" Bremer 188. Wendy "wendy" Freedman 189. Claudia Gutwirth 190. Jessica Gibbs (guest of Derek "CindrllaMan" Gomez) And of course, the Binion's Staff. All of you have touched my life in = some important way. I had mixed emotions about leaving the Board this year. I have had many, many people tell me that they believed that I could remain on the Board = for as long as I wanted. That is both uplifting and humbling at the same = time. I came to the Board with several goals in mind. One of these goals was to = help BARGE grow and while there hasn't been growth in the number of annual attendees, I believe that there has been a spiritual growth. Maybe not = =96 maybe it's just more visible now. Maybe my hokey emails, comments and speeches have opened the door for others to express themselves. Maybe = not. That's not the point =96 it's not about who. The point is that = it's happening. The point is that we are evolving. The point is that growth is now inevitable. In order for a thing to grow, there must be love. There must be = enthusiasm. There are many great stories to tell, not only of BARGE 2015, but of the BARGE community itself. If you want to be part of the reason that BARGE grows, then you need to be part of the process. Tell your stories. Tell = them to friends. Tell them to co-workers. Tell them to family. Tell them in = poker rooms. Tell them on social media. I know you're an introvert, but take = a chance!!! I took a chance, and have been greatly rewarded as a = consequence. Six years ago, I wanted to get the ball rolling. Well, it's going to = roll, but don't sit back and wait for it. Get behind that ball and PUSH! We = are so much more than a gathering of poker players. We are a family. An often dysfunctional family for sure, but a family nonetheless. There are many people on the stage who have done, and will continue to do, a lot for = this family. And there are many people behind the scenes who never ask for = credit or even seek any form of acknowledgement whatsoever. And so it is that I leave the Board not with sorrow, but with great joy in knowing that the right people are in place, and the entire community itself has now taken = on the responsibility not only to sustain, but also to expand BARGE. I will continue to do whatever I can to help with the process, but I no longer = feel the need to be "in charge" of that. It has grown to be something = bigger than I can handle. WE =96 all of us together, need to be in charge of that. Our growth will not be the result of a massive recruitment campaign = simply to boost numbers. It will be organic, which will result in us attracting = the *right kind* of people. When you tell your stories, people will want to = hear more. People will want to know how they can become part of this thing we call BARGE. Let them know and then *follow up* with them. Make them feel welcome before they even attend. And if they are the right kind of = people for us, they will "get" us and they too will want to give back more = than they receive. How much more can we become? That's kind of like asking = how much more can anything become. How much more can life itself become? = Well, we can become all that we want to become. We can become more in = everything we do. How much more? We can become all that we ask. In the words of P=E4r Lagerkvist, the 1951 Nobel Prize winner for = literature: The wealth of life is boundless. The wealth of life is as great as we = can grasp. Can we ask for more? When nevertheless we do ask for more, then = all of the incomprehensible exists as well, all that we cannot grasp. As = soon as we are able to reach out our hands for something, as soon as we get the feeling that something is, immediately it is. Can we ask for more? In 1991, a handful of SIGGRAPH attendees sat down and played a poker tournament. Many years later, as a consequence of that action, my life changed tremendously for the better. The little things that we do can = bring powerful results. The little things that we do can change lives which in turn can changes other people's lives. Binomial expansion is cool. Ask = for more and then TODAY -- go do something little. Kevin Un (Lame Duck) A+++ G+++ PKR+ PEG- B++ TB ADB+ M+++