CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

Living in San Diego is the best.  I should know my husband and I have lived in all four corners of the United States and some areas in between.  We started out in Oklahoma, he from Norman, me from Del City (after moving there from upstate New York (Rome) where I lived my first thirteen years).  We met in the Federal Building where we worked for Naval Recruiting District in Oklahoma City.  Yes, the one that was blown up by Timothy McVey.  Luckily, we had already met, fell in love, married and moved away.  He will tell you it is the first time he saved my life.  Oklahoma is the hottest hot in summer, the coldest cold in winter, windy all the time, don't even get me started about tornadoes and ice storms.  Wicked weather.  Only hardy souls should live there.

After we married he left Pensacola, Fl. and we moved to Corpus Christi, Tx where he attended flight school and I attended Lamaze.  We were then sent to Beeville, Tx.  One road in and out, no McDonalds (just a Whataburger and a Walmart).  Actually the perfect place to be pregnant except for the 100 degree weather and 100 percent humidity.  I swelled up like a Macy's Day balloon.  

Then Eureka! we were sent to San Diego, CA to complete flight training.  We packed up the kids, dog and two cars and drove out.  What a beautiful place, sunshine all year long, with soft even temperatures.  We lived there from 1980 until 1990 when we had to move to Willow Grove, PA.  Willow Grove is just north of Philadelphia.  We arrived sans winter clothing but soon found out it would be needed.  The winters are both beautiful and cold.  The snow piled up so that our dog had trouble getting through it.  The summers were hot and sticky and when little league began we were still wearing winter coats.  What a shock from living in San Diego.

Two years later we moved again to New Orleans, LA.  Put the winter coats away and get out your white hand towel to wear around your neck to catch the perpetual sweat leaking from your head.  The heat and humidity are stifiling and the rains were biblical.  There was a constant influx of bugs.  Our dog began losing his fur and had skin problems.  If I had fur I probably would have lost it too, it was that bad.

Just when you think the next move would be better than New Orleans we moved to Jacksonville, Fl.  Hot and humid times two with a non-stop parade of cockroaches and palmetto bugs.  Yuk, I hated it!  Did I mention the snake in our swimming pool?

Next stop, Manassas, VA.  Oh, the beautiful countryside, Green, green, green.  Four seasons again.  What a relief from the heat and humidity.  I felt like I could live there the rest of our lives,  but of course the U.S. Navy always has other plans.

Back to Willow Grove, PA.  Loved it, had a lot of friends and decided this should be where we retire.  Had I forgotten about beautiful San Diego?  I think I did.  My husband convinced me that our home in San Diego was waiting for us so we packed up and drove to the west coast.  There were rainbows, unicorns, pots of gold and flowers everywhere as we drove in.  I knew I was home.

But, one final test, there was one corner we hadn't lived in so my husband decided to take a job in Seattle.  OMG, we lived there (me not so much as I commuted between San Diego and Seattle) for five years.  If I stayed too long in Seattle I found bits of moss and mushrooms starting to sprount from my body.  Rain, rain, and more rain.  Soooo depressing.  The people walk around with frowns on their faces.  Women don't wear make-up or do their hair.   I can't live in a place like that - so....my wonderful husband arranged  to keep his job but be able to work from our home in San Diego.  HALLELUJAH!!

San Diego is like no other city.  It is "America's Finest City".  Everywhere I go people ask me where I live and I say "San Diego", they always say "oh I love it there".

You can plan on anything outdoors i.e. picnics, weddings, garage sales and not have to worry about rain.  It stays an average 72 degrees in the summer and rarely gets below 50 in the winter.  No snow to shovel, no sleet to drive in, no humidity and no bugs.  Perfection.  But don't get any ideas, we are all full up and I'm not going to mention the "T" word (traffic) unless I have to. 

I will always live here, you can't pry me from our home and I told my husband he would have to drag me out in a coffin to move again.

So come and visit, bring your money, see our Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Legoland, Padres/Chargers, The Hotel Del Coronado, Casinos, Balboa Park, the USS Midway, and on and on. 

Stay for a couple weeks then you must leave, you probably wouldn't like to live here anyway we have EARTHQUAKES!  ha ha.

GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS

The good news is I had a blast in Las Vegas, the bad news is I didn't cash in "The Ladies Only" No Limit Texas Hold'em event (with six men) at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) this year.  This is the fourth year I have played and with each year I feel I am a better player than the year before.  I trained seriously this year, played in a lot of tournaments with a good percentage of success.  I felt ready.  There were 1050 players from around the world.  Many top professionals (Kathy Liebert, Linda Johnson, Evelyn Eng, Pam Brunson, Vanassa Russo, Vanassa Selbst, etc. and celebrity/pros Jennifer Tilley, Shannon Elizabeth, Tiffany Michelle, Cheryl Hines).  My table had Barry Greenstein's girlfriend and he came over to give her encouragement and find out how she was doing.  He told her "not to play like a girl".  I used to like Barry Greenstein. 

There was commotion at the table next to mine where a "man" player resided.  He was acting out and generally being a real jerk.  The final straw came when he placed a tampon on the table to use as a card protector.  The floorman was called as the women complained at the outrageous inappropriate behavior.  He was only given a two round penalty but was told he would be out if anything else happened.  They (WSOP) then provided all the women at the table with a free massage.

I played nine hours and outlasted 3/4 of the field.  I finished two hours short of continuing to day two.  The last three to fours hours I was card dead (very bad cards).  I was never able to make any big moves to pick up more chips.  At last I got Ace Jack suited on the button and the table folded to me.  It was just the small and big blind to act.  I pushed my short stack in.  I wanted a caller but when the big blind insta-called I knew I was in trouble.  She had Ace King.  Her hand held up and she had me covered and I was out.  I was upset that I finished short of my goal but at least this year I didn't go out with the best hand.  I don't think I could have done anything differently except maybe for one hand.  I am trying not to beat myself up over it and remind myself that it still was a good showing.

I talked to Pam Brunson after being knocked out (Doyle Brunson's daughter and she remembered me from last year and was so sweet).  She was knocked out much earlier than me.  In fact so were most of the other people mentioned above. 

My husband cheered from the rail and gave me updates on other people for all nine hours.  He walked back to our room (about a half mile) twice to get me things I needed.  I don't know what I would do without his kindness and support.  He gives me good advice and encouragement.

The Rio/WSOP has made many improvements since last year the biggest being the room.  It is three times the size of the one you've seen on tv in years past.  So much more room and better organized.  No more long lines, etc.  The Poker Kitchen (food court) is right across the hallway and the bathrooms are very convenient.  During the women's they even closed down the men's bathroom and opened it up to women only.  They have a big stage at one end for speakers and have the bracelets for all the events displayed across the back of it.  As the bracelets are being won the winner's photo is added in the display.

The rest of my weekend consisted of playing live til  four in the morning, getting up three hours later and starting over.  I played in a big tournament at Ceasars ( a two day event) and came in 30 out of 184.  I would have done better but went out when my Ace King was beat by Ace Eight (eight on the turn).  That was tougher to take than the Ladies event.  I played nine hours there also.  Then I went back to the Rio after playing nine hours and decided to play in an 11pm event in which I cashed - coming in 10th.  Finished at 4am, no sleep but it was worth it.  FINALLY!!!

Overall it was a great and fun trip albeit the outcome.  I want to thank my family and friends who continue to cheer and encourage me and listen to my sad stories when I get knocked out or take bad beats.  I always feel like I might quit immediately after being knocked out when my mind is numb and my body is tired from concentrating and playing for so long.  But that just lasts until I sit down at the next poker table.  It is a cruel, frustrating sport but I can't think of anything I have more fun playing.  I have made many friends and learned valuable life lessons.  I will continue to play as long as I am having fun and as long as I can make enough money to keep me going. 

In the mean time our nieces are coming in July for a week so I will take the opportunity to be a good aunt and teach them how to play (as long as they bring their pennies).

SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL

BEING ALIVE

My husband and I recently attended a charity event/auction that was held by a friend of ours.  The charity was for a program called "Being Alive" and they are the HIV/AIDS program established in San Diego.  Our friend is the program manager of Being Alive and works extremely hard in this endeavor without much staff and with very limited resources. 

The event she put together was very well done.  It was held in an old, beautiful hotel called Park Manor where the top floor opens up to the outside and the view of the city, Coronado and the airport was spectacular.  She had delicious food, drinks, and a acrobatic troop that rivaled some of the Cirque teams that I have seen.  She was able to secure donations for auctions (artwork, baskets of goodies, Padre tickets) so that everyone would have a great selection of things to bid on.

Many last minute problems occurred that she handled so well that if I hadn't been aware would never had known anything was wrong.  When her auctioneer couldn't make it at the last minute she filled in and did a fantastic job. 

During conversations in the past  I asked her how difficult is it to raise money for HIV/AIDS these days.  She told me that in the best of times it is difficult to raise money for a disease that many people turn a blind eye to, or that have prejudices toward, but in this economic climate it is almost impossible.  She also said if I had a picture of any child (starving, injured, etc. ) to show the money is easy to raise, but no one wants to see a picture of an AIDS patient, 

I admire the difficult job she is doing and her willingness to continue when times are tough.  Without people like her to do the difficult work who amoung us would? 

I am proud to have her as a friend and admire her for never giving up. 

JOB WELL DONE!