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

tom cruise the pirate

Valkryie was... Average. It gets a 3* rating, and should be happy with it. I found it very watchable, but ultimately pretty, well, average...

1) The fact it didn't use subtitles is cause for at least 0.75* reduction
2) It was a bit to Hollywood, it reminded me a little of Munich in it's approach. Again, a film that promised a lot, but became a little too commerical.
3) Tom Cruise did not act the part all that well
4) The fact it's a thriller based on something you know failed, since Hitler committed suicide in the final hours of the war with Berlin surrounded means it's essentially like biting into a rolo only to find it's hollow in the middle
5) It's pity we didn't see more of the Hitler character, because I felt the actor, and we he was cast was very good, yet as the film didn't need him in it that much we didn't see him. Acting on him was good though.

May go and see Defiance tomorrow, although, after this film I may give it a miss. It's a long similar lines and has Daniel Craig with an awful Russian accent so...

Played 3 sessions of 10mins each of Omaha, and one person added 'omfg' in the chat box, when I was technically ahead but made an awful call. I'm up about $40. Playing only 0.10/0.20 up to 0.25/0.50. May give it a go for a little while.

N-Dog

bits and pieces

Am off to watch 'Valkaryie' tonight, after some din-dins. Watched '7 Pounds' a couple of weeks ago (3.25*), you spend most of the film wondering what's going on, yet it all seems a bit predictable and plods along at points. Will Smith plays the role well, but his anguish is a little OTT in my opinion at times. However, I enjoyed the film, and the twist at the end was good, but by that point your so used to not knowing whats going on you don't really know what to think.

Watched a couple episodes of a fairly new series called 'Fringe' on Sky 1, that started a while back. I'm going to reserve judgement on this one.

Played some poker, from the $600 point, I must have lost about $300, but am now back up to $700 profit for the year so far.

Managed to lose 5lbs since Christmas, though the homemade BLT I just had has probably changed this round. Been to rugby and football training a fair bit, and the gym, and then went mountain biking on Saturday which was ACE!!! Hardcore but ace. I did bin it into a hedge, but it didn't hurt, and at the end we were coming down sheer rock, I felt like a proper extreme mountain biker, though realistically I maybe... erm... wasn't. I deffo wanna do more mountain biking.

This weekend is a wedding reception of someone I've not spoken to, a family (gf's) meal, checking out my gf's brothers cat that is nearly 2 stone (not fat, just its breed - Maine Coon), gym, prob play tennis/squash on Friday nightm maybe a walk on Sunday, so all up a cool weekend, active and lots to do, just the way I like it! Will I be too shattered to stay up and watch Superbowl on Sunday... Hmmm...

Planning on going to London March 6th, and April 10th. I have a free flight for one of them.

Am applying for a Portfolio Manager job at an investment/private bank, though it's completely beyond my experience, I hope maybe they can see me in a supporting role, and develop into a similar managerial position within this area. Can't stand doing this audit malarky! If only I could do more advisory based work.

Parents home from Thailand, which they enjoyed, and I enjoyed having the house to myself!

Had an offer of 290k accepted on a nice house, stay tuned to see how this goes, finding out on mortgage details now, but the rest should go through fine.

Anyways, back to work,

N-Dog

oh my days

Now let me start of this post by saying I am by no means a prude... But c'mon, THIS is ridiculous!!!

I was reading Negreanu's blog, and he was going on about this 22yr old Yank, who was AUCTIONING HER VIRGINITY!!!

I thought, wtf, this can't be true... But... it appears as though it is... What makes me sure it is, is the fact that her sister it turns out works in a brothel also, the Bunny Ranch just outside Las Vegas, which is where this 'thing' will take place...

Apparently she has had a bid of $3.8m lodged!

She says it is to put herself through school... I suggest reading Negreanu's blog, http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/blogs/article/453

He gives great insight into why this is such an interesting story...

I believe people should be able to pay for sex should both adults be consenting, what they do is their choice... (I would NEVER do it though I might add! My gf fulfills all my needs in THAT department) But this story I find horrific... I don't know quite why it makes it worse, but it does...

Anyways, in other news, I thought I'd post quick reviews of all the good/bad films I watched over Christmas/NY period...

Casino - 4/5, Lady Vengeance - 4/5, Stardust -3/5, Transformers - 3/5 (the film was AWFUL, but the special effects were amazing), 24 - Redemption - 2.5/5, Golden Compass - 2.5/5, The Grinch - 3/5, Persuit of Happyness - 4/5 (seen before but watched again)... Sure I watched more, but can't think of them!

In other news... poker is ok, I have won a bit lost a bit... I am on about $565 profit for the year, I have lost about $90 from my peak...

I cam 10/180 in a $12 turbo tournie, my hands held when they needed to until the final table bubble. I lost JJ v K9 for a pot that would have made me chip leader, then I raised in position with 9d10d v mid big stack (bout 1/3 more than I had). He flat called. Flop comes K J x two diamonds, I bet out, he re-raises all in, there is 64,000 in the pot, and I have 11,000 behind, I call and don't hit. I had a terrible draw on this table, and should have just waited it out till the final table to see if my draw improved. Once in the hand, I think I have played it right.

Anyways, back to the grind,

N-Dog

wild thing

Good start to the New Year all round. Had a good night, watched some good movies, stayed out of trouble. Gonna kick the 'New Year fitness plan' into shape this week, house to myself (and gf) as my parents are off to Thailand.





Watched 'Into the Wild' today. AWESOME film... The conclusion he comes to... ''Happiness is something you have to share''... So true... Brilliant film with some stunning scenary in Alaska. Also showed how lonely very intelligent people can get, over thinking things... This was one of the most captivating films I've watched recently. I might start rating films I watch... I'm going to rate this one 5/5, as I couldn't find anything wrong with the film.

It basically follows a brainbox from a priveldged yet unloved background reject the corporate, career path his parents want for him, and instead donate his life savings to Oxfam, and leave off on adventure up and down America.

The film follows the relationships and experiences he has along the way, and if I hadn't been watching it at my girlfriends house with her parents in the room, I may have come over all emotional... MAYBE!

Based on a true story too...

Poker's gone well, am up $625 after 3hrs play. Had a nice win in a 27 man $30 MTT. $300 first prize.





Ace,


N-Dog