the WU reborn

The End of the Tunnel

Every time I make a run, girl, you turn around and cry
I ask myself why, oh why
See, you must understand, I can’t work a 9 to 5
So I’ll be gone ’til november
Said I’ll be gone ’til november, I’ll be gone ’til november
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I’ll be gone ’til november
I’ll be gone ’til november, I’ll be gone ’til november
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I’ll be gone ’til november
January, february, march, april, may
I see you cryin’, but girl, I can’t stay
I’ll be gone ’til november, I’ll be gone ’til november
And give a kiss to my mother

-wyclef

So, what's new?  Photos in the new November album.

Tyan got a new Civic, finally putting the 323 to rest.  R.I.P.

Thanksgiving was chilled out.  Dad made prime rib, and Mom cut her thumb open trying to slice sweet potatoes.  Thankfully, given my recent thumb slashing experience, I had an idea of how to handle it, and she's recovering well.

Dad and Mom celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.  Congratulations to you for that!  We hung out and had dinner, and the kids got them a trip to Savannah, Georgia, which is apparently an area they'd like to explore.  They'll probably go in spring.

I got some new Skechers walking shoes at D.S.W. 

I saw Alexander which was not one of Oliver Stone's better films.  Also, it's 3 hours folks.  But, it was not bad.

Last week Snoop, Karl, Bryan, and I went to see Paul Oakenfold at the new Sound Bar in Chicago.  While the best trance show I've ever seen remains Oakenfold in Vegas 2001 new year's eve, his recent shows have been a bit disappointing as he moves more towards break beats and away from trance.  I hope he comes back around.

I've recently caught up on a lot of my homework, and am getting ready for the last few weeks.  Probably not a lot of time for poker at the casino, but will still play a few tournaments on Party Poker.  Speaking of which, last call for Vegas.  If any of you want to join us in mid-January, let me know pronto.

This Friday is Brendan's birthday in Chicago.  A bunch of us are going down to point and him and call him old, after which we will turn around and go home.  Or perhaps stay for a few cocktails.

Last week, Johnny mentioned Solly's for burgers, and I guess I haven't been there for a while because I remember their burgers being small, but they have gotten large.  I don't know if that's so that they can hike the price up or what, but they're still greasy as ever.  I can't eat that more than twice a year.

I

want

the

sun.

What have you done with it?

Week in Review

Monday I had my logic exam.  I was up until 4 a.m. studying.  It looks like I passed, which is good.  The rest of the week was a lot of papers and classes.

Thursday night, I threw a dinner party for eight people.  Sanjay, Adam, Rachel, Eric, Jayme, Tiffany, and Shanna made it.  I'll post some photos shortly.  Originally, we had twelve, but four had to cancel last minute.  I decided on Italian.

Menu:

Bruschetta

Brasato di Maiale

Risotto San Martino

Escarole and Pine Nuts

Everything turned out fine, and I think I would make everything again except for the pork.  It was fine, but wasn't stellar.  Rachel made and brought a great tiramusu, keeping with the Italian theme, and of course people brought lots of vino.

After dinner, a few of us sat around and chatted by the fireplace.  Good way to kick off the weekend.

Friday night I met Roy, Vanessa, Snoop, and Johnny out at Metro, and then we went down to Three for a bit.  We had some martinis and chilled.

Eddie baled on me for a skirt for Saturday's Chicago trip, so instead, I studied in the morning, then headed to the poker room for some 10-20.  It wasn't a horribly productive day, but was a win nonetheless.  Afterwards, I met up with Jake, Mark and James and we headed to G's house for a No-Limit Hold 'Em Tournament.  I was hoping to meet up with Sean and Eric as well, but that didn't end up working out.  Twenty-nine people entered at $25 a piece, and I ended up winning, which was cool.  In any case, it was good to see some of the old gang again.

Today, I've been cooking and cleaning up the house a bit.  I'm going to pick up the folks from the airport tonight, as they're getting back from Vegas and San Diego.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Lots of Love

wk

Around the Bend

WTF is with the weather?  It's warm as hell out today, albeit humid.

This week is almost over, and after next week (Thanksgiving), the final stretch is in sight.  Graduation will be December 19, and it couldn't come at a better time.  I'm suffering from a chronic case of senioritis, but managing to limp along.  This semester has been a series of procrastination followed by cramming.  However, with three lit classes, it's not hard to fall behind.

November has seen my poker game get back on track.  My game is the best it's ever been and it's reflected in the results of my sessions.  I've even taken up learning Omaha Hi-Low.

Thursday, I'm throwing a bit of a dinner party.  I'm cooking Italian.

Saturday, I'm going to Chicago to meet up with Eddie.  We're planning to hit Harrah's and the Korean BBQ.

I'm still planning the Vegas trip for my birthday.  So far Johnny, Snoop, and Nick are in.  Let me know if you'd like to join us on January 15 weekend.

Happy Birthday to AP!

Up North / Papers / Poker

Photos in the November album.

Last weekend, I went up north to Bill's cabin near Crandon, WI. 

Friday, Brendan and Shanna came to get me, and we went to get Tiffany.  We met Johnny in Green Bay for a quick fast food dinner.  The five of us convoyed up to Crandon where Bill and AP were already waiting.  There was no power at the cabin, or at least hadn't been for a few hours.  It finally went on and we settled into the chilly house.  Eventually Scott and Catherine showed up, and we all settled in for some cocktails. 

At some point, I was slicing up some limes for gimlets and cut my thumb up pretty well.  It didn't require stitches but I'd say it was close.  Luckily Scott is a nurse, and he patched me up.

Next morning, we went for breakfast, then loafed for a while.  Shanna made some amazing cookies.  Scott let me borrow his bike an I went on a bike ride with Catherine.   I can't keep up with her, like.....at all.  She's a bike stud.  All of the guys went to pick up a bunch of wood for a bonfire, and went grocery shopping for dinner.  Brendan made a brisket, and I cranked out the corn-egg soup.  Everyone seemed pleased.  We helped Bill take his dock and other random fixtures out of the lake.  That evening, we burned wood for six hours or so and chatted.  Good fun!

Sunday, we made brunch and then headed back home.  I had a ridiculous amount of homework to do, so I got right on that.  This week is going to be insane for me with lots of catching up to do.

Tonight, as a study break, I entered a $32 No Limit tournament on Party Poker.  My buddy Mike from PA (who has been trying to help me play NL better), watched the whole thing happen!  This was a qualifier, with 2nd and 3rd winning another seat into one of the $32 tourneys, and first place winning a seat ($226 value) into the Party Poker Million semi-finals.  Well, I won.  So, that means that sometime between January 6-9 I will be playing in the semi-finals.  One out of 60 people who play in that tournament will win receive an entry to the Finals of the PartyPoker.com Million IV and a cruise for two.  Gotta love a poker cruise!  The package value of each seat in the Finals is $12,600.

So, I'm pretty pumped!  God knows I could use a frickin' cruise after this hell semester.  If you want to watch me when i play that tournament, let me know, or if you are interested in signing up for a (real money) account, click here.  You will get up to a $100 bonus.

Episode III Trailer

Any time I hear someone say "rise Lord Vader," the hair on the back of my neck stands up. I wasn't as wild about the other two, but this one looks pretty good. Thanks to Mark for the trailer. Enjoy!

STAR WARS EPISODE III TRAILER REVENGE OF THE SITH

Halloween / Election Day / Bad Beats

New photos in the October album.

Welcome home to Mom who's back from South Africa after three weeks!

Sanjay threw a party Saturday, so I stopped in to compare trick or treating stories with some of the old TFG gang. He had some of his little helpers make some wop, which I hadn't had in years. It was tasty and strong, as all wop should be.

This year I voted for the first time. Frankly, I didn't like either candidate, but I felt it necessary to vote for the lesser of two evils. Hope you got out there too.

Tonight, I went to Benihana for all-u-can-eat sushi with Mark and two chicklets from his work. I had my doubts about quality, but it was actually pretty good. Nothing quite like a gigantic platter of beautiful sushi being laid down in front of you. If you vote for me for president, I'll make it a law to have two of those in every garage!

This weekend I'm heading up to Bill's cottage in B.F.I. It'll be nice to get away and hang out with a bunch of white people with guns. Just kidding, no guns. Well, maybe.

I haven't had enough time to focus on my poker game so it's been going to crap lately, very inconsistent but still good enough to not have to punch a timecard. I'll share one bad beat with you just for giggles.

I'm at Potowotomi playing 10-20. In 5th position, I’m dealt 10♣ 10♦. Under the gun (UTG) calls, I raise, table folds around to small blind (SB) who cold calls for 15 more dollars. UTG calls.

Three to the flop. It comes A♣ 10♠ 2♥. I’ve got trips. SB bets, UTG calls, I raise. Both guys call.

Turn comes A♠. This fills me up. Amazingly, SB bets out again. UTG folds, I raise, SB calls.

River is a total blank: 7♦. SB checks, I bet, he calls.

He turns up… A♥ 2♦ giving him aces full of deuces to my tens full of aces. After analyzing this hand a few times, I don’t think I could have gotten away from it at any point as I went from pair to trips to boat. Frankly, I think he's a tard for calling a raise for 1.5 more bets with A2 offsuit, but that's just me. I’d love to hear any comments though.