Pucks and Poker

I just learned I can win win seats to a hockey game in Sweden on Pokerroom.com, the only online site I play at. Not because I don't want to play at other sites, but because when I started playing online, they were the only site I could play on with my Mac. I don't know if that's true anymore.

Anyway, I think this is fun, and that a certain someone would appreciate this trip. You'll find me there after Xmas, trying my best.

You gotta fight, for your right...to photo

Yesterday I went with Matt to the second MTA Photo Ban Protest. There's already many recaps better than I have energy to write and many better photos than mine (which are here), so check out a few:

Kill the Bird
jpreardon
Gothamist

Amazon.com has the Catalog Info Up

I'm getting a huge kick out of the catalog copy that's up on Amazon.com right now:

About the Author
Toby Leah Bochan got hooked on poker at the age of seven. She teaches an all-female poker class and has played in a number of tournaments. She holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Texas.

Product Description:
Badass girls play to win!
You can play your cards right every time-with The Badass Girl's Guide to Poker. Whether you're playing poker or picking which guy at the table you'll bring home after you win, you'll always know which badass moves to make, including:

-Complete rules and winning strategies
-Table manners and poker slang
-Flirting, bitching, and other ways to use being a girl to your advantage
-Advice on improving your love life through poker

Complete with girl-to-girl advice from poker champs Annie Duke and Cyndy Violette, The Badass Girl's Guide to Poker will ensure you have a rip-roaring time-and bring home the chips. Whether you want to get into the boys' game, set up a girl's night, or play online, in tournaments, or at casinos, The Badass Girl's Guide to Poker will get you there with confidence and style.

It's funny. Between having this info up and the piece in New York Mag, I feel for the first time like it's really happening. I guess I sort of didn't really believe it before.

But the funniest thing of all is that for some reason, this blog has been translated into Japanese, and if you translate the translation back to English, the title of my book becomes "the donkey * girl guide where is bad to the poker: Everything which is needed in order to defeat the Japanese boy!"

I need to trademark the Donkey Girl Guide -- and fast!

Arnold Roston, 1913-2004

Thanks to everyone who sent their condolences on my grandfather's passing. A weird coincidence that occured over the last week was that in order to write and gather facts I went to the NY Public Library to look at his entry in Who's Who on Monday after work. On Tuesday, I received my own official invitation to place my bio in there. I always thought it was a kind of shady thing, but I guess it's real, unlike those Who's Who in College scams. I don't really know, but I don't have to pay or buy anything to be in it.

I figure I'll do it, since it's definitely something my grandpa would like me to do. I wonder if he was the one who nominated me. I'm going to choose to believe he did. But I know better than to believe Who's Who on when he was born: They say 1923, but I know that was just good old grandpa, shaving 10 years off his age.

offline for a while

I woke up Sunday morning to the sad news that my grandfather, Arnold, died in the wee hours of the night. He was 91 and had been sick for a long time so it wasn't really a surprise, but it's still very sad. I don't have much else to say at this point but may post more about him later. And by later, I probably mean next week, as I expect to be traveling and spending time with my family most of the week.

If you're here looking for the NY mag article, it's here or on newstands.

Check Out New York Magazine's Year End Double Issue

All's I'm sayin' is, there's an article in it that's called "Poker Became the New Pogo Stick" and I might be ridin' that pogo stick in some of that article.

And would you expect any different? I bounce with poker joy.

I'm a Cover Girl

It's not the cover I dreamed of, but it's still cool to
see it.

I have not smoked a whole carton

So, as of today, I have not inhaled over 200 cigarettes that I ordinarily would. The crazy dreams have started. In one, I got thrown out of my imaginary holiday party for doing the luge event shirtless. You know, that part of the office party where they bring out the silly olympic events. That's normal, right?

Today I am also extremely sweaty. I don't know if that's a normal side effect, but since my sense of smell is returning, I will tell you a secret my cube-buddies might have noticed: I stink like a locker room!

Finally, for those NY Poker players, you can meet legend Doyle Brunson today at Rockefeller Center in New York at the Brookstone store from 2-4 PM. I may dash up there myself.

I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so

Now, for no good reason, you can order The Bad Ass Girl's Guide To Poker: All You Need To Beat The Boys from Japan!

Now that I feel I'm over the biggest hump in quitting smoking, I'm going to stop with the stats. Unless I mess up or I notice some major hurdle or cool number on the smober-o-meter.

Santa Smokes, But Toby Don't

Walking from the train this morning to the office, I noticed this sidewalk grafitti. I had no idea Santa smoked! No wonder he's so merry, even through the holiday season.

I made it through the weekend in Boston, so I begin my 2nd smoke-free week.

Stats:
Smober Time: 1W 2h 35m
Amount Saved: $49.75
Cigs not Smoked: 142

Other funny cigarette humor: This Cigarette Pack Has Got it Goin' On!

Now to do some of that there work stuff they pay me for.

Best. Egosurfing. Find. Ever.

I'm a little scattered and distractable this week, and one thing I do periodically is Google myself. Oh come on, you know you do it. Anyway, I was seeing if I was coming up for the book yet. That's the ticket.

Anyway, apparently Google has doubled its index, including now having Livejournal posts indexed. Everyone in my office has already heard about it, but I thought I'd share this dream commentary in which I indirectly appear with everyone.

To my friend who wrote it: Dude, why'd you use my last name? Seriously.

I also found this funny animated gif:


Tonight I'm off to karaoke. I wonder if my voice will be improved?

Why It's Good You Can't Smoke in Poker Rooms

Smoke signals!

I'm just happy it's Friday. What can I say?

Coming Soon to a Computer Near You: Annie Duke

Annie Duke and Eagle Games Bring Poker to the PC

Eagle Games announced today that world-class professional poker player Annie Duke will be endorsing and appearing on its best-selling software game, DD Tournament Poker: No Limit Texas Hold'em.

Cool. And I read on the publisher's Web site that it's Mac compatible! Hooray. If anyone out there is looking for a Xmas/Hanukkah gift...

Meanwhile: Stats.
Smober Time: 4D 3h 49m
Amount Saved: $29.11
Cigs not Smoke: 88

Gum chewed today: 2 pieces
Average gum chewed per day: 7 pieces

Smokey, the Rat in the Hat

Even though I'm phobic about rodents, I found myself jealous last night of this fake rat, fake smoking a fake cigarette in what I guess was a Christmas display, since the rat is wearing a hat.

Clean and Smober

Day 4, getting easier.

I went to a bar for the first time last night and was fine. Also got some bad news about my grandpa, managed not to smoke. Turned out grandpa didn't have a stroke after all, as the first thing he did when they took the breathing tube out of his mouth was ask the nurse if she was married. Ah, same old hitting on every woman grandpa. Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin!


Smober Time: 3D 9h
Amount Saved: $23.62
Cigs not Smoked: 66

And that makes it quitting time for work too.

Less Stupid Today

Jesus. This not smoking really does affect one's brain. I didn't need any 9 to make his king invalid last night. The QJ on the flop did that. I think I was right about the QJ6 flop, but I think I transformed a 4 into a 9. It's possible.

Anyway, stats update:
Smober Time: 2D 3h 24m
Amount Saved: $14.99
Cigs Not Smoked: 42

I think I'm going to keep playing in that Tuesday tourney. People in general played too loose and it wasn't hard to get to 13th, even though I wasn't catching great cards/flops in general. It was only once I got towards the end that I started making questionable plays, which is my weakness. But I prefer no-rebuy tournaments and first place was $960, which is pretty good for a $60 buy-in.