So that’s that – Clonie wins a close one by the score of 5-4. It’s too bad that Wahlroos loves to skydive and I have an extremely debilitating fear of both heights and flying, otherwise he might’ve pulled off the upset here. Check back next week for another round of thrilling, heart-pounding heads-up action which will involve absolutely no hula-hooping (be strong, stop shedding those tears). But you never know, perhaps the slinky will make its first appearance…

That said, everyone seems to have certain “necessities” that they don’t leave at home. Here's what the pros said they couldn't go on the road without:

When I’m traveling – for a tournament or just for fun – I can’t live without my blow-dryer, iPod, cell phone and charger, or my laptop.

I’ve always got my laptop and a cell phone.

I travel with a Mac laptop and an iPhone (best smartphone ever made, and I try them all). Since the iPhone doubles as a video iPod, I listen to podcasts, watch TV shows and movies, surf the internet, do email, etc. on this one little device. I also have something called a Slingbox, which sits at home and allows me to connect to my TiVo and cable TV signal remotely via my laptop. I recommend everyone who gets addicted to a show like Lost or Prison Break run out and get both a Slingbox and TiVo. Whenever I’m at the airport I pick up an issue of Wired Magazine for the plane – it’s my “road” reading.

My laptop. I’ve got a wireless router that I can plug it into any modem outlet and use my laptop anywhere in the room – I’m always connected. I love most New York Times best seller novels, and I never travel without my iPod – I’ve got a very eclectic mix of music.

If I have my girlfriend with me, I’m all good. If I have my laptop as well, that’s a bonus.

I’m pretty low-maintenance, but I need my own shampoo and conditioner – I hate the hotel stuff!

What are their personal thoughts on what’s happening in the world of poker – or what’s happening in the world in general? What else do they do? What are they into? In short, what are they like?

In The Pros Speak, we chat with the pros and find out what’s going on in their lives, ask their opinions, and get to know a little bit about the individuals. We deliver the goods from the pros – in their own words.

Find out a little bit more about the lives of the pros away from the table. Serious, humorous, or deliberately irreverent, The Pros Speak will bring you a personal perspective that you won’t get anywhere else.

First up to the plate is Clonie Gowen. Clonie is recognized as one of the finest women in poker today, both at and away from the table. She’s a media sweetheart and gets a lot of coverage, but once you get past the tournament at hand or her spread in Maxim, what’s she really think of it all?

We were lucky enough to talk with Clonie about being on the road, time away from poker, and about anything that she was good enough to chat about. Here’s what she had to say:

What does “poker lifestyle” mean to you?

Making a living as a professional poker player, you spend most of your time on a plane and staying in hotels. Sure, when you travel the poker circuit you have friends which you have dinner with and go out with. But for the most part the lifestyle can make you miss out on the important things, like the family and friends you have back home. That said, I love my poker lifestyle, but I have the personality to handle it – a lot of people don’t. You can’t lose focus on having a life outside of poker. 

Does this mean that she plays poker just for fun sometimes?

When you are away from poker, what do you do to relax?

I love to spend time with my family and hang out with friends. Being outdoors is great – I hike and mountain bike and really enjoy working on my yard. When I am at home, my favorite place is my bedroom. I love it because it is mine. I can get away from everything and everyone, read a good book, or watch a great movie. As with most poker players, I am very comfortable with alone time. 

I admire different people for different things, but I usually base it on how I see them as a friend. I admire Chris Ferguson for the kind of person he is. I’ve never met a true professional who can hide his emotions so well, yet still be an all-around great, humble person. I admire Linda Johnson, Robert Williamson, Mike Sexton, Phil Gordon, Eric Sidel, Andy Bloch – the list could go on and on. Each of these people has a quality that I recognize in myself or I hope to find within myself someday. 

Could you tell us a couple of things about yourself that people probably don’t know?

I’m learning to speak German and I’m a certified scuba diver with over 60 dives to date. I could eat sushi almost everyday. And I played "Dungeons & Dragons" when I was a teenager.