#384 - New Life for the Turbo King

Life has still not returned to normal, though it’s hard for me to remember what “normal” is like. We’re trying to rebuild trust and a better life for Ellie, our 16 year-old who ran away last weekend. On the positive side, we’re getting to spend a lot more time together and rekindle that special bond we’ve had. On the negative side, I can’t trust her for 6 seconds alone so I have to both (a) keep her active and productive all day and (b) keep her within 6 feet of me.

My online poker suffers, and the blog suffers. What’s more important, my daughter’s future or Full Tilt? Who can say … who can say?

My allergies, sinus infection, and all the other wussy things that have laid me low these last two weeks are clearing up. In the middle of all this, Barry, my 18-year old son, the forgotten child, had a cancer scare. I have present for exactly one-third of his medical appointments, but thank goodness I was there for the last one, when the doctor declared as a result of extensive testing that Barry does not have cancer.

The doctor, an expert in this field, came out to his crowded waiting room after we arrived and said, “I hope my receptionist told you I had three emergency surgeries today. I apologize for the delay and will get to everybody as soon as I can.”

So when we came into his office, he was very business-like, very to-the-point. Not rushing, not brusque, but here’s-your-good-news-no-need-to-worry-NEXT! He scheduled a follow-up in 3 months, just to make sure.

As walked out of his office, I apologized for my lack of involvement in the process. My Mom, in town for the winter, took Barry to the initial appointment and for the following tests. I told him that a family crisis kept me from accompanying my son before and, unfortunately, I would not likely be at the follow-up visit because of the World Series of Poker.

He stopped pushing us toward the door and asked, “You a poker player?”

I nodded.

“What game you play?”

“What ever they’re dealing.” That gets ‘em every time.

“So you’re a professional?”

I explained that I was actually an author but when I wasn’t working on a book, I supported my family playing poker.

“What’s your first name?”

“Michael. Michael Craig.”

“Michael Craig the author? I don’t believe it. I just came back from a vacation where I read The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King! It was terrific!”

Now we are practically out in the waiting room. The crowded waiting room. He was an impressive doctor and a terrific guy, but I sped through polite good-byes, skipped out on the co-pay, grabbed Ellie, and we bolted for the door.

I have another child, Valerie, who’s eleven. Guess I should see what she’s up to these days.

Between all that and the titanic task of cleaning my office - I didn’t pay last month’s bills or do anything toward paying my 2007 taxes, among several other things that I won’t even know about until I finish cleaning my office - I didn’t get write anything, read anything, or play anything, until at least two of the kids were in bed at a couple minutes before ten.

Although my office was still a mess - messier in fact that it was before I started cleaning it - I decided to play a little poker.

Sweet Turbo God there was a new tournament starting in 3 minutes, the $50 + $5 Turbo Fiddy. I’ve been asking for it and they gave it to me. Okay, us. Though they didn’t name it as I requested it, “Michael Craig’s Candyland.”

Naturally, I signed up. I also signed up for the $24 + $2 $17,000 Guarantee. That was also run as a turbo tonight, probably because of some site maintenance late.r The $69 + $6 $18,000 Guarantee was also a turbo, as was an unnamed (unguaranteed) $30 + $3 NLHE tourney that I’ve been begging Disco Stu the tournament director to revise as a permanent turbo (and call “Michael Craig’s Candyland”). Then, of course, there was the Turbo Hundo and then the $50 + $5 $8,500 Guarantee was moved up 15 minutes and made into a turbo.

Seriously, Disco Stu. Consider “Turbo Wednesdays,” okay? And maybe name it “Michael Craig’s Candyland.”

At 10 minutes before the Turbo Hundo started (midnight here), I was still in the first four tournaments. I was the chip leader in the Turbo Fiddy with 10 left. I had above-average chips with 49 left (already in the money) in the $17k G. And I was 6th with 104 to go in the $18k G.

I busted out of the $17k G in 44th place, worth about $52. I finished 8th in the Turbo Fiddy, for $287. And I finished 7th in the $18k G, cashing for another $630. I had a lot of good luck on the way to the pair of final tables - not nearly as much as the bad luck I’ve had on this $6-$8k losing streak - but some tough breaks at both final tables. I have a great record at final tables in turbo tournaments so I’m generally not going to get myself beat early or easily once I get there.

So it’s hardly an antidote for all my recent losing, but it was great to be making great plays, winning races, being the guy who hits the miracle card when he’s behind, and getting near - if not in - the winner’s circle.

We’ll hound them for some more turbos. Then I’ll catch up on blogs. Then I’ll do my bills and taxes. Then I’ll do my part to get those changes made that I’ve promised (and that I’ve written about but still not posted) for the blog.Then I’ll get back to that book proposal and that movie treatment. Then I’ll make sure Ellie gets on track with this online school we’re going to try. And before you know it, everything will be coming up roses and it will be time for the World Series of Poker.

I can hardly wait.