I was up at six with paperwork on my mind.  Writing Smarter Than Me was the easy part.  Doing everything that is required to just give it the opportunity to make it in a VERY tough market is the real work.  I finally finished the paperwork for Barnes & Noble and that little ditty took four or five hours.  Next I started building e-mail groups; ISG, the ESOP Association, Media Outlets and that is just for starters. 

Judith wanted to sleep in this morning and I walked to the Colorado Belle alone.  The wind was blowing and the temperature was in the mid fifties. 

Thirty three players showed up at the morning tournament.  Some days the magic works and some days you can’t buy a decent hand.  Today was one of those days.  I’m in the middle of Beyond Tells; another poker book.  This one is written by a James A McKenna, Ph.D., a shrink/card player who really sheds a totally different spin on why people spend time on the green felt.  Years of crazed poker players lying on his couch provided this complicated and interesting read. 

I was out of the tournament by the third level with mediocre, at best, hands.  I’ve sworn off limit games; playing games you don’t like or enjoy is a sure road to the poorhouse.

Judith wanted to go to Lake Havasu for a winter market and I decided to tag along.  I had some errands to run in Bullhead City and thought we could get them out of the way on the trip to Lake Havasu.  Judith decided to read me the description of what we were about to experience and that is when we learned it is NEXT weekend. 

We changed plans but agree we’d take in the Market next weekend.  My first stop was at the Polaris shop to pick up a badly need part for my six wheeler.  For the last year it has had a horrible squealing coming out of the rear brakes and I just can handle that for another season.  They didn’t have the part in stock but ordered it and I should have it before we head for Las Vegas on February 16^th. 

A few days ago Bill Granger and I had lunch at Wiener Schnitzel.  I have heard of this chain, however, never ate there before.  I had their pastrami dog and it was about as good as it gets and for just a buck eighty nine.  I decided to take Judith there today and we both ordered pastrami dogs, one small fries and two drinks all for less the ten bucks.  The food was just as good as on my first visit, the employees friendly, the restaurant very clean and packed with people. 

I’ve been drinking Beefeaters gin for years and have never had a problem finding it…..until the last few days.  Walmart and Safeway didn’t have any but a little hole in the wall place called Liquor Castle had a few bottles on their shelves.   I picked up a small bottle which should last until we make it to the next Costco. 

Someone sent Judith an e-mail extolling the benefits of coconut oil.  Move over olive oil a new sheriff has come to town.  Actually, it is pretty good and I’m for anything that decreases the chances of hiding our own Easter eggs. 

We ate early and I was off to the Riverside for their weekly fifty dollar bounty tournament.  It wasn’t until I was seated at the table did I realize I had the wrong glasses; reading instead of my trifocal poker glasses.  The table had a couple young guns that were well into the Super Bowl weekend celebration and raised every time I entered a pot.  Unfortunately I had typical limping hands and had to abandon several pots.  I knew the most aggressive guy was going to lose his chips early on and he did.  Unfortunately it wasn’t to me.  The combination of not being able to see the cards and less than playable cards it turned into a VERY short night.  Tomorrow I’ll take the day off from poker and regroup.

We have free breakfast buffet tickets for the Riverside and will eat there after our walk.  The rest of the day is for reading and relaxing and maybe even taking in the Super Bowl.

I got up late and Judith got up early; both around seven thirty.  Both the Grangers and post were leaving today and we agreed to have breakfast at the Colorado Belle.  Judith and I left a little after eight and walked the river walk to the Colorado Belle.  We bought six breakfast buffet “tickets” and were too late to get the window seat requested by Bill Post.  Our server, about out age, brought us coffee while we wanted for them to arrive.  I really feel lucky knowing we don’t half to serve coffee and clear dishes to make it to the end zone. 

We had a nice visit and a decent breakfast.  The Posts are heading back to New Jersey and the Grangers will go back to spent time in Tucson.  We’ll stop in Tucson on the way to Texas and spent a few days with Bill and Norma in early March. 

Twenty eight entered today’s Colorado Bell tournament.  The same old same old are there each morning and I pretty much have the players dialed in.  On the other hand the better players are staying out of my way until we get to the final table.  Speaking of which…………  I’ve made the last three final tables and five out of the last seven but, unfortunately, only cashed once.  Today I went to the final table with above average chips.  I got involved in two consecutive hands, both strong hands that were WAY ahead.  On the first hand my opponent who was only a twenty percent favorite to win against my strong hand caught runner, runner to win with a flush.  With my final hand I pushed on the big blind, from the small blind with A8 suited.  This guy had been calling light all day and I knew I was ahead.  He turned over A4 and by the time the river came he had made a straight and I was out one before the money.  The only saving grace is that I’m playing well and when the poker curtain closes that is all one can ask. 

I was back at the rig by eleven thirty and settled into getting things crossed off my to do list.  Job one was answering some media enquires about Smarter Than Me.  I’ve got another interview opportunity on the Josh Tolley show www.joshtolleyshow.com and sent off a review copy.  I never heard of this guy but checked him out and he has got the fastest growing business talk show on the planet.  You’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs. 

I just got our River House hydro bill and something seemed really wrong.  The bill for the main house was what I expected, however, the bill for the River Cabin was out of sight.  Everything is shut off with the exception of the warm room and that has always been very reasonable.  I finally figured out, with Louise’s help, that they didn’t read the meter because the road was snowed in and just billed the same as last year.  And, of course, last year Louise had lost her home and was living in our River Cabin.

I decided to play in the evening bounty tournament at the Riverside and was seated at table 6, seat 4 when the cards went in the air.  Twenty five players plunked down their fifty five bucks to collect the bounties and vie for the top three spots.  An entire planeload of young bucks from Michigan just arrived and they were getting in the super bowl weekend mode early.  The rest of the two tables were filled with seniors and some damn good poker players.  I haven’t seen a pocket pair of aces since Christ was a cadet and getting by with marginal cards seems to be my new standard.  I do play tight and when I do enter a pot I do so aggressively and am getting respect with people getting out of my way.  I’m playing a lot of positional poker against smaller stacks and that seems to be getting me by until the good cards find a way back into my life.  When we got to six players I promoted a chop and no one refused; we each walked with $134 plus our bounties. 

I’ll play the morning tournament then go to Lake Havasu with Judith later in the day. 

SEVEN pars in a row!!

Finishing the Barnes & Noble paperwork was on my mind when I got up at six thirty.  I turned on Fox, got the coffee brewing and fed Buddy.  Every time I’m faced with stacks of paperwork my mind rewinds about twenty years when promises of the paperless office filled out heads.  That was another great idea that will never happen.

Judith has been getting up early the last week or so to walk with me to the Colorado Belle.  We left the rig at nine fifteen about the time the wind started to kick up.  The river was pretty this morning.  The Colorado River is nice and wide with a pretty good flow.  They stock trout in this stretch of the river and most mornings there are several fishermen trying their luck.  The river also holds catfish and striped bass. 

Bill registered for the tournament and requested different tables.  I got there at nine thirty and bought my entry.  I went to the Keno area and he showed up a few minutes later.  Twenty six entered this morning’s tournament.  I started out well then got down to just a thousand chips when the blinds were 100/200.  I was on the button when everyone folded to me and I looked down at AK.  I pushed and the small blind folded instantly.  The big blind was a guy that I have taken a lot of chips from the last several days AND he had a big stack of chips.  He thought for a second and said “I call with absolutely nothing” and flipped over 2-4 unsuited.  Everyone laughed…then the flop came 5, 3, Q.  The turn was another 3 and then the River was an ACE turning “absolutely nothing” into the winning straight.  Poker.   One of the sins of playing poker is getting into games you don’t like.  I don’t like limit poker and, once again, made the dumb mistake of pulling up a chair at the 2-6 limit game.  There were at least four players in each hand and betting anyone out of the pot was just about impossible.  I threw in the towel after ninety minutes and lost sixty four bucks.

I had a quick lunch at the rig with Judith before Bill and I headed for the golf course.  Judith, Mary Ann, Norma and Bill opted to go to the movies at the Riverside. 

By the time we got to the Riverview Par three the wind was howling and just one other player was on the course.  I decided using tees wasn’t the way to go because you can’t tee up shots on the course.  I decided to change my swing and shot a decent 36 on the first go round.  By the time we started the second orbit I was hitting the ball well and had the distances figured out.  Then things came together and I pared the first SEVEN holes on the second go round.  I choked on the eighth hole and shot a seven, then shot one over on nine for a THIRTY TWO on the back nine.  This was my best golf outing in years.  When I get to Tucson I’ll take off the training wheels and play a “real” course. 

The last time I saw Jim Avery was at least fifty years ago in New York or New Jersey.  Jim was married to my cousin, Barbara Granger and was the owner of Avery Shirts a business his father started.  He moved to Las Vegas in the early sixties and our paths have never crossed.  Jim and Barbara divorced eons ago, however, Mary Ann, Barbara’s sister, has kept in touch over the years with Jim and his family.  Tonight Jim and his daughter drove down from Las Vegas to get together for dinner.  He suggested the Saw Grass Grill and we met there at six thirty.  I sat across from Jim and we had a wonderful conversation.  He is both a pool and poker player and had lots of interesting stories about both.  He was a personal friend of Stu Unger; a legendary gin and poker player.  The food at the Saw Grass Grill was excellent and fairly reasonable.

The Grangers and Post will be leaving tomorrow morning.  We will meet them at the Colorado Belle for breakfast before they head on the separate ways.  I’ll play in the morning tournament then take care of Smarter Than Me tasks. 

Bill Post, cousin Mary Ann, Judith, Norma and cousin Bill

I woke up this morning with Smarter Than Me on my mind.  Today the second e-mail blast will go out and should get a better response than the first.  Multiple impressions are the key to getting the message across and for people to respond.  That has always been the case going WAY back to the direct mail days.  Once I fed Buddy and got the coffee on I checked my e-mail.  Starring back at me was a request from COSTCO.  I communicated through several e-mails and will get a review copy out in the morning.  Smarter Than Me is in the early stages of being considered for a review in Small Business The Costco Connection.  This could be the beginning of getting Smarter Than Me in the Costco stores and that would be a huge feather in our cap. 

I got an early start this morning and walked into the poker room at nine thirty.  Bill Post had already entered and requested we sit at different tables.  I paid my money and was assigned to table 1, seat 2.  I had thirty minutes to kill and went to the Keno area.  I bought my standard five dollar tickets and sat down with a new edition of southwest Poker News.  On the very first game five of my eight numbers came up and I won seven dollars.  Bill dropped by and we talked a few minutes before heading for the tournament tables.

There were no young guns at the table today; all seniors with the exception of a forty something woman.  An older woman set to her left and two seats to my right.  The older lady plays every day and is a very good poker player.  I made a mental note to leave her alone and zero on the weaker players.  I immediately picked up some chips and was sailing right along.  On the second orbit I looked down at AK and raised.  Two players called; both weak in my opinion.  The flop came AK8.  I was first to act and checked as did the players behind me.  The turn came a blank and I raised eight hundred.  The first player went all in and the other player folded.  The player that went all in was weak, very old and very confused so I really couldn’t put him on a hand.  I felt he held a pair and NOT AA or KK.  I called leaving me just eight hundred chips.  He flipped over QQ and I was a big favor.  The Turn gave no help and then the QUEEN hit the board on the river.  Poker.  I stayed even winning a couple little pots until the blinds went up to 300/600 and I was first to act.  I looked down and had KJ off and pushed my last eight hundred chips.  One by one everyone folded to the blinds.  The small blind folded and then the big blind, the forty something lady, folded instead of putting in just two hundred more to call.  Regardless of chips the pot was giving her odds to call.  That doubled my chips and I was off to the races.  I made the final table and was chip leader.  Bill Post made the final table too but had precious few chips.  I was catching good cards and everyone was playing tight trying to cash.  Bill was eliminated in ninth, three out of the money.  I knocked out two more players and after only ten minutes we were down to just five.  I had the majority of the chips but offered the table a chop and we each walked with $109.  I probably could have cashed higher, however, there were mostly regulars at the table and what goes around comes around and I may need a chop the next time I come to the final table with a short stack. 

The Par 3 course overlooking BullHead city and Laughlin

Bill Granger and I played golf this afternoon at the Par 3 in Bullhead City.  We both played better and I won by two strokes and carded a 71.  The greens are the pits but the price can’t be beat; ten bucks and you can swing until dark if that’s what floats your boat. 

Yesterday was Bill and Norma’s fifty third anniversary and we decided to celebrate it tonight at the Tropicana Steak House.  They run a two lobster tail special for nineteen bucks and that’s what I had on my mind……until the waiter mentioned the evening special was a veal chop.  That just happens to be my favorite and it turned out to be a great pick.  I didn’t hear any complaints around the table.  It wasn’t a cheap night on the town but better than decent. 

More poker and golf tomorrow.  I assume the ladies will be working  hard at “saving” us more money on all the great sales. 

Big Horn Sheep on the rocks

Another month bites the dust.  Where is the time going?  We are at the half way point in our winter jaunt and it is all downhill from here.  I even found myself looking at the seed websites this morning.  A quick check of the River House cameras brought me back to my senses.  There is two foot of snow on the ground and it is still cold.

Judith was up at eight thirty and I tried a different sourdough pancake recipe.  Something is different with this batch of starter.  It acts like none other I’ve had in the past.  The result seem pretty good and there is that distinctive sourdough taste but………………….

Judith and I got a late start on our walk to the casino and I didn’t get to the poker room until just five minutes before the tournament started.  They had only planned for three tables and they put me on the alternate list.  Within minutes I heard “seat open on table two” and I was in the game.  I immediately got involved with the chip leader and increased by stack by fifty percent.  I was playing well and catching good cards; a wonderful and winning combination.  When I got to the final table I had seventy five hundred in chips.  One thing I find important is having a strategy for the final table and that starts with knowing exactly where you stand.  I did the math; thirty two players @ 1500 chips each puts 48,000 chips in the game.  With a ten man final tab the average chip stack is 4,800.  My stack was well above average and should put me in the top six spots and in the money.  I said should.  There were four really small stacks that I knew had little choice but to go all in and my plan was to play tight and let the bigger stacks take out the short stacks.  Two players went out almost immediately.  Blinds were at 1000/2000 and eating up my stack and I was all of a sudden…..card dead.  I picked up KJ of diamonds in middle position and pushed expecting the remaining players to fold or at the most to get one caller.  I got two callers and my hand was dominated by A7.  He took us both out; leaving just six players.  I was co-bubble boy and the rest of table chopped immediately with each player getting a hundred bucks.  Poker!

I jumped into a 2-6 limit Hold’em game and eked out a six buck profit for my ninety minutes work.  My January poker play came to an end with a one hundred and fifty dollar profit for the month.  Better than the alternative. 

Just a few of the many Petroglyphs

Bill and Mary Ann came in late last night and had breakfast with Judith, Norma and Bill.   Judith organized a three o’clock trip to Christmas Tree Pass to show our eastern friends the petroglyphs and great rock formations.  Judith and I have made the half mile trek many times, however, we still enjoy showing this amazing place to our family and friends.  There are such a huge number of these rock etchings it really makes one wonder what was happening here all those many years ago. 

I have always assumed there were big horned sheep in this area, however, have never seen any, until today.  We were back in the truck and bumping along the dirt road when Bill Post pointed out two big rams standing on a ridge several hundred yards away.  I grabbed Judith’s camera and took today’s blog picture.  It is a great picture but……………

Today is Bill and Norma’s fifty third anniversary.  We wanted to take them to the Steak House in the Tropicana, however, they are only open four days a week.  We ended up at the buffet at the Colorado Belle.  The good news it was cheap; sixteen bucks for the two of us.  The food was about what one would expect and there were shockingly few people in the place.  Three of the five restaurants on the top floor are closed except for the weekends.  Last year things were tough here and I’m pretty sure there have been lots of layoffs since we were here last.  How again is the economy getting better? 

The Flordia primary is over and Romney booked a big win.  His new debate coach seems to be helping.  That combined with Newt not having a lot of cash to advertise could bring an end to this gong show in the foreseeable future.  The CBO is forecasting another TRILLON deficit for 2012.  God help us……PLEASE!

Both Bills may join me in the poker wars tomorrow morning.  Judith, Mary Ann and Norma will  shop in the afternoon while Bill Granger and I play golf. 

Buddy started her get me out of bed act around six thirty.  I immediately realized the wind wasn’t blowing and that can signal a very nice day here in Laughlin.  With Buddy fed and the coffee on I checked it at River House; no new snow with the temperature close to freezing. 

I worked on the paperwork for Barnes & Noble.  This is beginning to look and feel a lot like a job.  That’s not a bad thing and sure helps the time fly by.

Judith was up around eight thirty and decided to walk to the Colorado Belle with me.  There wasn’t a breath of wind as we went down the River Walk.  Lots of people were out on this beautiful morning.  I paid my entry fee and headed for the Keno Lounge.  I checked yesterday’s ticket and booked a seven dollar win.  Believe me I know Keno is the longest of long shots but for some strange reason I’m willing to “invest” a few bucks while I catch up on the poker news. 

There was another poor showing at today’s Colorado Belle morning tournament.  The economy seems to be taking its toll here in Laughlin.  Many of the poker dealers have been laid off and more are looming on the horizon.  One of the dealers has been there NINETEEN years and is next on the list.  No easy, Papa.

I’m not sure which is worse; being card dead or getting second best hands.  Poor hands play themselves as do good ones.  The problems come with those promising hands that come up short and ship your chips across the table.  This morning there were only twenty players and I hung in there just thirty minutes.  I did get on a 3-6 limit table.  I’m not fond of limit Hold’em but it was the only game going and Bill was coming over to the casino at noon.  I booked a twenty five dollar win recovering all but five bucks of the earlier entry fee.

Bill showed up at twelve on the dot and we agreed to play a round of golf.  We picked up his car at the Tropicana and drove up to the rig to get my clubs before heading to the course in Bullhead City.  Last year the course offered an after three twenty five buck rate which included a cart.  Today they wanted forty five and we gave it the double thumbs down.  I searched golf courses on my IPhone and found a 9 hole track close by.  We called and they offered a ten buck end of the day special. 

The course was part of a RV Resort in the hills above Bullhead City and about five miles from the Riverside.  We checked in at the pro Shop, paid our ten bucks and got in line.  The couple in front of us insisted we play ahead of them and that was just fine with us.  The course was interesting with several water hazards a few traps and all par three holes between ninety eight and one hundred and sixty five yards.  Bill has been cheating on me and playing a few rounds.  This was just the second round I’ve played this “season” and it shows.  I did birdie one hole and pared another which wasn’t good enough; Bill won by two strokes.  We’ll have a rematch on Thursday.

We always have dinner with Bill and Norma and decided to eat at the Colorado Belle.  They order a pizza and I opted for the sliders while Judith ordered the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich.  I heard no complaints and the meal was a reasonable thirty bucks including tip.

No word from Mary Ann and Bill.  I’ll play in the tournament tomorrow morning and it is anybody’s guess what the rest of the day holds.

Slide out advertising….It could catch on!

Laughlin has been my “poker home” since we have been RVing these last nine years.  I have always played the ten o’clock morning tournament at the Colorado Belle which usually filled  four or five tables.  NOT today.  I never even though of asking about the size of the field and was less than pleased when we started with only sixteen players.  Plunking down thirty bucks for a first prize of just one hundred and sixty bucks is not good bankroll management.  There were all seniors at both tables and mine had seven men and one woman.  I recognized several players at my table but took my foot off the pedal for a couple orbits to get a feel for how people were playing.  I was getting pretty good cards, however, as soon as I put in a small bet everyone folded. Just after the blinds went to 50/100 I picked up pocket Kings.  Since I wanted action and I had just bet the last three hands I just called as did three other players.  The flop came 2, 6, 9.  I checked and the lady to my left bet half the pot; eight hundred bucks.  I had twice as many chips as her, put her on 10-10, JJ or QQ and shoved.  She flipped over 66 for trips.  Before I could blink twice the turn came a K and I had all her chips.  Those kings were the last two decent cards I saw and while making it to the final table was no big feat I ended up there with precious few chips.  I was able to outlast two other players but busted out seventh.  There wasn’t a cash No Limit game at any of the casinos so I decided to call it a day.

I called Judith and let her know I was heading home and she said she’d walk down the hill to meet me. 

After lunch I settled in with Throw Them All Out.  Everyone with the slightest interest in politics and the future of this country needs to read this book.  This book isn’t pointing a finger at just one side of the isle.  Both Republicans and Democrats have been working the system and stuffing their pockets for way too long and we need to bring it to a halt immediately.  This book gives in depth details of what is going on in plain view.  If we had done these things we’d be in jail and rightfully so.  Our “representatives” are buying and selling stocks in companies that will be directly affected on issues they have before them in the House and Senate.  There is a vote tomorrow to eliminate these practices and even if it passes we need to wipe the slate clean and THROW THEM ALL OUT!

My cousin, Bill Granger and his wife Norma, has been coming to Tucson and Laughlin for the last twenty years.  They live in upstate New York and leave each year shortly after New Years and spent three or four months in the sunny Southwest.  They rolled into Laughlin around four.  We talked briefly an agreed to meet at their hotel for dinner at six. 

The days of the supper cheap meals at casinos are long gone.  We did however get a decent pizza at the Italian restaurant at the Tropicana.  We caught up on the past year; we both have lost friends to the big garden in the sky and are another year older and deeper in debt.  They will be here for a week.  We usually have dinners together.  Judith and Norma shop and Bill and I will try to get in a couple rounds of golf. 

Our other cousins, Mary Ann and Bill Post, will fly into Vegas tomorrow and be here tomorrow night.

View from our RV site–Laughlin in the Lights

 I woke up this morning with book signing on my mind. Linda purchased three copies; one for each son and another for her grandson, Zach.  Signing a book for someone you don’t know is easy; bla, bla bla bla, bla bla…..Ed………………..done!  On the other hand when you know someone I want to say something specifically to that person.  No easy, Papa. 

The wind kicked up last night giving us a little preview of what is waiting for us in Laughlin.  Judith is a light sleeper and the wind woke her up several times.  I, on the other hand, slept like a baby and never moved a muscle until seven thirty.  Richard left at seven and his big diesel was parked right next to our rig and even that didn’t wake me up.

With books in hand I went over to the house to deliver them to Linda and play a couple games of crib.  Linda is an excellent crib player, caught some cards and whooped my butt.  Judith came over around nine.  While Judith did one last sewing project for Linda I hooked up the rig and got things ready to head north.

The plan was to leave at eleven and we left right on the nose.  There is no straight up the freeway route to Laughlin.  It is just a tad under two hundred miles but takes a good five hours to make the trip.  The wind was kicking up pretty good and I decided to keep the speed around fifty five. 

If I live to be a hundred I’ll never figure out the attraction Quartzsite holds for so many RVers.   Quartzsite, Arizona is way out in the middle of nowhere near the California border.  Few buildings exist but there are thousand, if not tens of thousands, of RVs parked anywhere you can find a place to hang your hat.  No electricity, No water and No sewer; at least not the way we find it in most RV Parks.  This is mostly BLM land with NO CHARGE for staying.  Interstate 95 runs right through the center of “town” which is one big tent city and RV sales lots.  I know it is cheap, but………………………

Once we crossed the Colorado River at Parker, Arizona we set the clock back and hour and pulled into Laughlin at three.  We stay at the Riverside RV Park and sometimes get a site that makes Judith less than happy.  The good news is they are running a ninety nine dollar a week special which works out to fourteen bucks a night.  That, my friends, is a deal.  Judith was hoping for a site on the edge and got her wish.  We were assigned site #423 which is located on the fourth level overlooking Laughlin. 

The wind was doing what it does most of the time in Laughlin; blowing at about 20 MPH.  We got the rig set up and then decided to take a walk along the river and check out the tournament schedules.  I had no intention of playing this evening until I found they were running a “Monster bounty” promotion at the Riverside.  Normal bounties are usually 10% of the buy in, however, in this tournament it is FIFTY PERCENT.  I bought my entry then finished our river walk.

I walked back down to the Riverside and was seated in seat two, table nine when the tournament started at six thirty.  The best two players were seated to my left; both senior citizens and this wasn’t their first rodeo.  Three women were at the table; a sixty something, a forty something and her grandmother who was eight five if she was a day.  By the time we made two orbits around the table I was counting my chickens before they hatched.  Grandma was having a hell of a time; she didn’t know the chip values, played out of turn and WON every hand…….  I got involved in a hand with her and managed to take half her chips with trip sevens.  Meanwhile the guy to my left was drinking like a fish and had already consumed three Scotches.  The dealer made reference to his ‘looseness” on several occasions and he was betting way too much to actually have that many good hands.  Four of the twenty two players had already busted out and my plan was to play to get bounties and worrying about cashing when the field was tinned to five.  I picked up a pair of Queens on the button and bet twenty five hundred.  The small blind (drinker/raiser) raised to ten thousand; about a third of his stack and half of mine.  Now I have the third best starting hand in poker against only one player who has been VERY loose and betting most hands.  While I thought about him having AA or KK I actually thought he could have “any two cards”; AK, AQ, AJ, A10 or JJ was my best guest along with a stone cold bluff.  I pushed, he “instacalled” and flipped over AA.  The flop came 10-10-10 with no Queen on the turn or River.  I was toast! Poker.

I’ll play tomorrow in the Colorado Belle morning tournament at ten and then let the day unfold as it should. 

Sunset over Yuma

One thing you can always count on in Yuma is good weather.  Of course between April and October it is hotter than the face of the sun.  I can’t imagine living here during those months and enduring the heat.  People here turn off their water heaters and use those same water heaters to store cool water for SHOWERS.  Most of the snowbirds arrive here in Early November and start heading home in mid March.

My day didn’t start until almost eight; Arizona doesn’t participate in daylight savings time and I haven’t adjusted to the time difference.  Judith was up shortly thereafter and we discussed the day.  A visit to the huge flea market is usually a must while visiting Yuma, however, Richard and I won’t have time today.  Judith and Linda agreed to pick up a few items for me while Richard and I finished the projects we started yesterday.

Job one for me was getting a haircut.  I haven’t had my locks trimmed in two months and it shows.  Richard recommended his barber just a few blocks away.  On the way I picked up diesel at $3.77 a gallon; about the least expensive we’ve seen this year.  The barber shop was full of Q-Tips (old folks) and the two barbers were knocking them out pretty fast.  I waited about five minutes and then within another five I was walking out the door with a better than decent haircut.  The best part was the price; ten bucks.  Next we made several stops and picked up the parts to finish the prawn pot puller job and more paint to finish painting my hitch and stabilizer bars. 

We were back at Richard’s just before noon and decided to have lunch before getting started.  The BBQ made the perfect lunch.  Cold baked beans are every bit as good as when they are hot off the stove.

I pulled the prawn pot puller apart two months ago and it took a little head scratching to get all the parts put back together.  Richard is a great help on projects like this and we had it put back together and packed neatly away in the truck in no time.  Next Richard took on the task of painting and I drilled holes for the pins that will hold in the sewer hose.  No more duct tape. 

Judith and Linda were home around three with a car load of goodies they picked up on their day on the town.  They brought back a beautiful flat of plump, red strawberries that we awesome. 

Prawns I caught on tonight’s salad

Richard had a fantastic year salmon fishing and Linda asked me to cook a big fillet.   I fired up the Tool Box Grill and while the coals were burning down I boiled fifty prawns to top this evening’s salad.  Linda fixed her great cauliflower dish.  It is really simply but VERY good.  She puts a whole head of cauliflower, slathered with a mayo (2/3) and mustard (1/3) concoction, in the microwave for about twelve minutes.  Next she puts cheddar cheese over the top and microwaves it again until the cheese is completely melted.  It is simple and great. 

With the dishes done we settled into the game table.  The ladies refused to play Pegs and Jokers insisting on a tie.  They broke out Mexican Train and as far as I can tell the person that can remain awake is the winner.  Next we played Wizard, a card game that I enjoy.  I took the early lead but Linda over took me in the closing rounds and won. 

Richard leaves early in the morning for a Ham Radio get together.  Judith and I will take a morning walk with Linda and then head for Laughlin around eleven. 

The Colorado River at Yuma

The time change must have thrown Buddy a curve; she let me sleep in until almost eight.  We woke up to crystal clear blue skies with temperatures already well over fifty. 

Judith was up at eight thirty and getting ready for the day.  I went over to the house and played Richard a couple games of crib.  The first hand I was deal was a twenty two point monster and I was over forty points ahead at the half way mark.  Richard caught good cards late and closed the gap and avoided a skunk.  The second game he won by just a couple of points.

The plan was to take a three mile hike next to the Colorado River through a wetlands area under restoration.  The beavers aren’t cooperating with the restoration process and are falling trees about as quickly as they are planted.  Most of the trees are now encircled with four feet of fence.  By the looks of things these beavers have been taking climbing lessons.  I saw several trees that were chewed off and lying against the fence put up to protect them.  One can hardly help but think what this river looked like before all the damns and diversion of billions of gallons of water.  Today it is just a trickle only several feet deep and just a stone’s throw across.  This fertile valley exists only because of the once mighty Colorado River dumping nutrient rich silt for millions of years.

After our hour long hike we headed to the nearest In and Out for one of their great burgers.  I had the Double Double with grilled onions, fries and a shake.  Judith and Linda opted for the single cheeseburgers and Judith passed on the fries.  Passed on buying them, that is, but managed to eat most of mine and some of Linda’s.  A new Five Guys hamburger place just sprang up across the street from In and Out and Linda told us about their great burgers and fries.  They only popped into my universe these past several months.  Thanks to the internet I quickly learned they are privately owned, have been around since 1984 and currently have over 900 outlets and are growing rapidly.  Only in America. 

The ladies had to make a couple quick stops which turned out to be about two hours.  I rolled down the windows and enjoyed the beautiful, eighty something degree day.

We were back at the house at two and I immediately started unloading the truck.  I found by prawn pot puller and asked Richard to help me with the restoration project.  Richard started dismantling it and preparing the frame for painting.  I cleaned out the truck and located parts for two other projects we’ll work on tomorrow.  I checked the temperature at three and it was a super pleasant EIGHTY degrees.

Our mail arrived this afternoon forwarded by Escapees in Livingston, Texas.  Escapees is an amazing organization that really supports the RVing community and their mail forwarding service is first class.  When I saw the envelope for Barnes & Noble I knew the moment of truth had arrived.  When I sent the copies off for review I knew it was a long shot to get distribution within the Barnes & Noble system.  I was expecting a single page…thanks but no thanks….letter.  NOT!  While Smarter Than Me won’t be on their shelf’s anytime soon I was approved for their on line distribution network www.bn.com and it will also be available at the store locations with a 5-8 day delivery.  This is not exactly a home run but it wasn’t a strike out…either.  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!

 I love BBQ; good old southern style slow cooked, melt in your mouth ribs, brisket and chicken served with corn bread, beans and slaw.  I’m not a big fan of franchise restaurants, in general, and especially so when it comes to BBQ.  With that said let me tell you about tonight’s dinner at Famous Dave’s.  I have now eaten at Famous Dave’s four times.  I keep waiting for a bad meal so I can confirm that the good meals I’ve had there are just a fluke.  NOT.  Today we ordered the feast and it was as good as it gets.  The brisket was as tender and tasteful as brisket gets as was the chicken and ribs.  Famous Dave’s is the REAL deal.

Within minutes after getting back the Pegs and Joker cards were in the air.  Richard and I won two straight.  Judith and Linda will be contacting their divorce lawyers in the morning.

Lots to do tomorrow.  With Richard’s help I’ll finish my to do list before we leave on Saturday.