I'll be back... (updated on my iPhone)

Tired, so tired...

This year has seemed very tiring, work, doing stuff with the house, living essentially in two different houses with my girlfriend... All whilst trying to do my normal, 'do everything' mentality... i.e. mountain biking, football, rugby, gym, runs etc... I swear I wonder why I'm not as skinny as a supermodel... I never seem to have much time to 'do nothing'... But I see this as a blessing to be greatful for!

Ah yes, the love of chocolate, cheese, bread and pastrie.... There we have it!

Anyways, we have completed on the house, we have re-decorated the two rooms we wanted to, and we will be moving in starting from Monday, and hopefully living there by next weekend. Can't wait, it will make my life so much easier!

Looks amazing, and can't wait! I'm actually really looking fwd to living with my gf, despite her OCD tendencies with the cleaning!

Work - Gone pretty ok, up until this last job I was on which I had a lot more responsibility, and more than most other people at my level. I organised it poorly, and got a bit of a talking too, but I know I can improve, its whether I want to or not really! See I work in audit which is dull, but sometimes I work on due diligence, AIM listings, and working capital projects that aren't dull...

I just don't think I'll be happy until I work for profit and not salary... It's just finding what to do... At the end of the day I'm not going to be happy doing 3-4hrs overtime for someone else's pocket. I don't get paid overtime, and the bonus just doesn't cover the hours your EXPECTED to do... I don't do them which is why I probably get in to hassle at work...

I'm a bit scared to move right now tho, as this whole 'economy' think has up till now been pretty much a non entity over here (Isle of Man)... Until the biggest fund administrator HSBC closed their operations here, to move to Luxembourg! This laid off my girlfriends sister in-law, and the groom of the wedding we were at last weekend!!! Savage...

We have, however, been added to the 'white list' of tax co-operative countries, inc UK and US, so this will hopefully stop Alistair Darling referring to us as 'a tax haven rock in the middle of the irish sea'... Hmmm... At least Obama doesn't mind us!

Life - Going to the 'Big Smoke' this weekend with my gf, we are off to see 'Oliver!' with the winner of the 'I'll do Anything...' program from BBC1. This program also starred Sam Barks, who comes from the Isle of Man, in fact I used to play football with her brother, he;s now a pilot. She came third I think. We saw her in a show called 'Cabaret' that was on over here a month or so back, it was ace, it had loads of girls in lingerie prancing around the stage!!! I doubt Oliver! will have quite so much visual appeal! lol

Films - Watched Fargo for the first time all the way thru the other day, this was a pretty stylish thriller I felt, with some comedy moments, and well acted throughout, I give it 4*. Saw, 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' with my gf a while back, I found this quite entertaining, but then again I don't really mind chick flicks, I give it 2.75*, I saw Zoolander by myself, and thought this was pants, 1.75*, rewatched Jerry McGwire (sp) 3.25*, re-re-watched 'The Dark Knight' 4.5*.

Poker - I'm very please with how I've been playing this year. Very pleased. I'm learning patience, and don't seem to be getting involved in ANYWHERE near the number of large pots this year, especially without a hand. I'm still averaging $41 an hour, and am up just short of $1,900.

I am very annoyed with bubbling a few MTT's a few weeks back when I have been in very good positions just prior to the bubble. I have decided this is due to manic aggression on the bubble, and doing the opposite of above, getting involved in too many big pots, with mediocre hands at best.

Anyways, best get to bed... I'm tired!

N-Dog

you don't call, you don't write...

Firstly, an apology to C and the London Massif for my lack of communication recently, I have been super busy, but hopefully it'll all settle down by the end of March. I'm down London way the last week of March with work, and again with my girlfriend in April, to see 'Oliver!' and 'Bloc Party'.

Anyways, this is my performance so far, slow, and fairly steady thus far. I'm up $1,310 this year, in 25hrs 41mins. Giving an hourly rate of $51! My BB/hr is 34.84, with an ROI of 21.01%.

To give you some indication, my average session is just 24mins.

Can anyone give me any feedback as to whether this is good, or bad performance? I think for the stakes I play, and the length of time I play it's pretty good, although a fairly small sample period.

I have decided my target for the year will be a conservative (based on current winnings!) $6,000 for the year. At $500 a month, this is far in excess of any prior year best (approx $2,500). I think if I keep my focus, and play only when I'm confident I should make it.

I have had a few good cash sessions lately, with a good mix of nice hands, and good play. My bluff selection seems a little better later.

I have installed some 'rules' for myself.

1) As always, I will buy in for 60% of the maximum. I prefer to start this way, I have always bought in for less than the max.

2) If I drop to 25% of the max buyin I will automatically quit the game, and find a new table. I find this focuses me, and prevents me tilting off the remainder.

3) Play position more

4) Be more creative, but play fewer big pots, and try and 'steal' more pots of around 10BB's

5) When I have some bigger cash wins, in subsequent sessions play STT's, to stop me happily throwing money around thinking I'm the dogs b's! Just cos I won a massive pot with AA v KK, does not mean I should start trying to bluff people all the time. I have been VERY guilty of this in the past, and I know it. Playing STT's will prevent me doing this somewhat, and will make me focus.

6) Quit while your ahead, if I'm sitting with $240, and bought in for $120, I should recognise this is a good win, and be happy to quit

Films...

13 conversations about the same thing (4*) - original, and clever, also teaching you good morals... Happiness is not something to take for granted

Open Season - (1*) - not original, or clever... poor example of an animation film... There is only ONE Toy Story... Well, actually 2, but anyways...

Chat soon,

N-Dog

NEWSFLASH: train crash on the pineapple express

Two more reviews,

Pineapple Express (2*) - This was one of the crappest films I've seen in a long time. I'm not a weed fan, and perhaps you have to be to find this film entertaining. I would say it would only appear to fans of Tom Green's 'Freddy Got Fingered'. My girlfriend and I were close to switching it off. There were the odd very funny bit, but all up. This is a BAD film.

Friends With Money (2.75*) - Quite a contrived chick flick, it was mildly entertaining. Showed finding happiness in life, is just about being a happy person. Hmmm... Deep N-Dog... deep... lol

Went mountain biking to day... in the snow... interesting! Went for a walk in the hills yesterday.

Have decided my sport for next season may be hockey...

IDIOT!!!

4 man table... No prior moves by opponent, yet I still 4 pop a guy all in with AJ... PRICK!!!

-$120