From: Bob Ogus
Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:15:52 -0400
Subject: Re: [BARGE] MARGE 7 Trip Report

A little late but here is my report

Getting ready for MARGE was a hoot
Had a very important business seminar (I hosted) in Orlando the week before
What a laugh when Tom Overton called to say he was on the way a week early
Unfortunately it turned out that he could not attend - we all missed him.

Then the Monday before, the docs found blood clots in my legs
So there was mad scramble (by the loving wife) to find a set of 14 injectors
loaded with an anti clotting drug - oh what fun  - seven days of self
injection...Ucky - and ugly

Anyway, got on the plane (against Doc's wishes) and flew to Biloxi/Gulfport
where Oldbear was kind enough to meet me and pick me up


2.5 years after Hurricane Katrina and there is still a great deal of
devastation - have not been back since and (as Oldbear said) I am astonished
at the destruction still in sight.  

30 minutes later and we get to the hotel...Mark asks me to store the
trophies in my room so I do...the room was great and the rate (once Norm got
it straight) was better.

Make it rot the poker room 30 minutes later and meet some old friends - and
new ones.
Kendra was supportive and helpful in every way.  As was every member of
Norm's staff.  They went out of their way to make us welcome.

I won some money at 4-8 HE then played in a good Omaha 8 game.  The games
were generally soft with lots of tourists and a solid group of regulars some
of whom knew how to play poker...seriously the games were all right but it
was a lot of no fold em HE until I played 1-2 NLHE later in the week.


Norm comped us to dinner at the Brogozzo's Italian Restaurant.  They had a
special meal for our comp that was very good.  We were able to try several
samples of pasta and desserts in addition to several other dishes. Good
conversation and better friends.  What a combo...


Thursday came around with me thinking of the first MARGE tournament...O-8,
my game.   Last BARGE I won the Orleans O-8 tourneys twice!  
Sure enough some hours later it is time to chop the money and then play for
the trophy.
Bingo.

By the way, thanks Mark...the trophies were great.

Another great moment at MARGE is the appearance of Annette Colledge, the
Tournament Director.  She was - as was Norm - one of our good friends at the
Grand.  We were very fortunate to have this energetic professional direct
our tournaments.  (Did anyone else notice her twin sister playing later in
the week?)

Later that night I play more NLHE.  I start with $200 and get to put $300
away as I go to the restroom.  Slowly I build my stack to over $500...then
three beats (one mistake on my part) and I am down to $26.  A new dealer
comes in ...and promptly triples me up, then doubles me up twice in a row.
I tell her if I win again she gets half my winnings.  Next hand.  BANG.  She
gets a $65 toke!  I leave 4450 ahead.  Makes up for my earlier losses.  Now
ahead with winnings from tourney adding up. To a nice stake.

Thursday my friend Howard comes in for his first AGR - and promptly wins the
TOC.  I bubble out of an earlier open tournament 11th when they pay 10.
Then lose more at ring games.  Another great dinner... Poker has turned
against me - I lose much of my winnings until late when I make some up at
NLHE (after a nap when others were tired.)

Before I forget thanks to Minus 200 who offered and then provided great
insight into the locals and their games.  Even though he seemed destined to
lose, lose, lose,; his help to me was welcome and effective.  And his wry
sense of humor was also a welcome addition to my MARGE.

The friendship and camaraderie at MARGE - especially with the small group -
was great.  With a minor exception everyone was fun to be with and made my
weekend.

The Isle's 12 PM tournament is a bounty tournament where you ante up $35 for
the tourney, $25 for the bounty, and $5 for the dealers.  I go out but have
4 bounties.  

At the end of the tournament, a bunch of us went to Faradays in the Isle of
Capri and had a very good dinner - with another generous comp. At the end of
the dinner, Mark and others got a couple of bottles of Merlot and toasted in
honor of Grant Beardsley (Dr Fish) who had passed away.  

When we wandered back to the poker room, ten of us got into a game of
Midnight Madness consisting of alternating rounds of Omaha 4-8 with a half
kill and Crazy Pineapple.  I lost about $150.

Saturday was a blur.  The tournament started at 12 and I was out first.
What a bummer.  My legs were killing me and my head was not in the game.  I
left early and took some pain pills.  Then Howard took me on the first of
two memorable rides (ostensibly to help me find a book to read on my way to
Camp Lejeune for work on Sunday).  Little did I know that the warning light
(low gas) would come on 3 minutes after we left the hotel down HWY 90 -
which has no gas stations left after the storm.  15 minutes later - it
seemed longer - Howard found  a side street and then 5 minutes later a gas
station.


The Isle of Capri poker room is staffed by several old Biloxi Grand poker 
room dealers and run by Norm Redo, another old Biloxi Grand Poker Room 
veteran.  They did a superb job.  Norm was more than gracious - and generous
- even setting up some finger food for the Awards Ceremony.  The trophies
(and a Jacket!) were great.  

Like Mark, I found the whole Isle of Capri crew very professional.  
The no-smoking was a blessing.  I am writing the Director Of Card Ops and
the Manager to express my thanks.,


MARGE 2007 was a success due to Mark's hard work.  We owe him our thanks, a
vote of confidence, and our support next year.

Oops...almost forgot the second ride.  Howard and I shared a room Saturday
and then he was nice enough to give me a ride to the Airport on his way back
(driving to Orlando).,  We leave too early to tell and then find police cars
and lights 2 miles short of the exit for the airport.  (Later we found out
that a lady, driving drunk, had hit and killed people causing a multiple car
accident.)  Off we go paralleling the highway, cutting thru an industrial
park, taking 2 or 3 side roads and voila we hit the right road and make to
the airport with plenty of time.

I did manage to win enough that (except for two massages) the trip was a
break even proposition,,,, what a deal,,,5 days of real fun with friends for
almost nothing.

Thanks to all and best regards until we meet again.


From: Bob Ogus
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:09:00 -0400

Oops
Small typo
Not 4550 ahead - $450 ahead after NLHE