CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Brr-rrrrring!

"Good morning, this is your 3:30AM wake-up call."

Ugh...way too early to be typing. Must...shower...fly...home...sleep.

Updates later this afternoon.

Chompzzzzzzzzzzzz...

~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: The Long Journey Home

Two really sick beats led to my bust-out. No time to recap the day's events...heading home on an early flight. Check back tomorrow for a final recap.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Reset

I played my best today (although I did make a questionable lay down late in the tourney...had to go with my gut).

Finished around 50th out of a field of about 150. (14 places got paid)

It has been a long week. I am not down...just tired. Time to reset, rest, and make a run at it tomorrow.

Chhhhomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Enthusiasm!

I took Jimmy V's advice and I am running strong.

A bit of a roller-coaster day but I am still battling. Currently at ~T$20K.

About 60 players remaining out of the (approximately) 130 entrants.

Still a lot of poker to play. Time to head back, stay focused, and play with ENTHUSIASM!

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: The Passionate and Inspirational Jimmy Valvano

You know the Greeks didn't write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: "Did he have passion?"

~Dean from the film Serendipity

Coach Jimmy V had enough passion for 10 men.

1983: after winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship

(fast forward to time stamp 1:44 to see the final shot and 1:58 to see Jimmy V's reaction)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5N2eKdvL4

1993: after receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award

James Thomas Anthony Valvano died less than two months after this speech (after a year-long battle with cancer).

Carpe Diem!

~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: End of the Year

Today is December 2, 2008. At the beginning of this year, I incorporated the following philosophy into my decision-making process and day-to-day tasks: to act as if this was my last year on Earth.

I did not go on wild, meaningless shopping sprees or take on daredevil expeditions. Instead, I focused on some basics.

• Be present
• Help others
• Follow my bliss
• Embrace my fears

As the year comes to an end, it is time to reflect. (Don't worry, I won't bore you with a laundry list.)

All in all,  I am pleased with being more proactive and less complacent in all areas of my life. However, I have not been as consistent in my approach as I had hoped.

Conclusion: I am on the right path and have more work to do.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Aches and Pains

Brrrr, it is cold today and that is not helping my stiff neck (and now sharp muscle spasms). To make matters worse I feel ill. Fuuuuuun! If I do get a cold, I think I know how I got it...at the poker table...from Mr. Nwomgr Imsr Cyjbyn.

Now, maybe, just maybe, this guy has a health issue (that caused what I am about to describe) or decided on using a disgusting tactic to creep out the table. If it is the former, my apologies. If it is the latter, DUUUUUDE!?!?

Warning: The tale I am about to tell involves balled up napkins, mucus, and a cup filled with the aforementioned (used) napkins.

Let me set the stage. Ten men, sitting elbow-to-elbow around a poker table. Cards shuffled, dealt, played, mucked, and reshuffled. Stacks of chips bet, won, lost, and redistributed around the table.

The problem: a player is stealthily positioning his hands under the table, slowly bringing a hand back to the table, up to his face, opens his hand slightly to reveal a balled up napkin that he inserts into his nostril, removing it, placing hand below the table, swapping the napkin between his hands, repeating the above action but with the other nostril. Rinse, wash, repeat, all afternoon.

Early on, the action wasn't all that noticeable. Then a few of us noticed something but were like "No Way!" As time passed, it evolved into "Oh My God, Really?" Transitioned to "I Mean, Seriously, Really?" And spiralled into "Can't You Just Blow Your Nose?"

Hence, Mr. NWOMGR IMSR CYJBYN.

[Note: the above "sayings" were all nonverbal reactions to the questionable nasal act and the winning of the "contaminated" chips.]

Long story short, Mr. NWOMGR IMSR CYJBYN busted out of the tournament (leaving behind a plastic cup filled with gooey, round balls of napkin paper).

Long story even longer, I was the beneficiary of some of Mr. NWOMGR IMSR CYJBYN chips and (it would seem) nasal byproduct.

Sniffle...

~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Comedy!

While I take a break from the blog, I leave you with the following (for your viewing pleasure):

The Guild

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grCTXGW3sxQ&feature=channel

Enjoy!

Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Strike Three...

...I'm out.

After scraping and scrapping for over five hours, I could not distance myself from the increasing blinds; such is the case as a short-stack ninja.

The good news is that my creative juices are flowing. Now I will have time to write.

Thank you all for your support and following along. The next tournament is on Thursday but I will still add entries to the blog.

Have a great evening.

Hiiiiigh-YA!

~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Uphill Struggle

Today can be summed up in one phrase: climbing Everest in roller skates!

After starting with T$16,500, I am sitting at T$3,925. But no worries, I still have about 20BB. Plenty of time to play solid poker. I sure do love this structure!

I won't go into the details of the hand that did the most damage, as I hope to have a full day of poker ahead of me and I do not want the information floating around in cyberspace for all to see.

Off to grab some grub, then back to the tables.

Chomp! ~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net

CHOMP!NG AT THE BIT: Where Am I?

Woah! I fell into such a deep sleep, I overslept.

Just enough time to shower and prep for a long day ahead (and hopefully grab some food on the way to the tournament room).

Happy Monday!

Yawwwwn...

~Sammy "The Dentist"

www.sammythedentist.net