Last Post for a While...

Hey y'all...

I have decided to close down this "Zyzzyva" for a bit. Ya see, Deanna and I are separating, if y'all didn't know. It's a tough time, and I remain optimistic for the future, but I think I need to focus my private life postings on gaming stuff.

I hope that's kewl...

Maybe we'll be back someday, when my personal affairs are in better order...

:-)

Bad sh*t...

Some really bad things have been going down in my personal life, and this has sapped all my energy as of late. I have kept my gaming "dates," but that's it. I don't wish to air my dirty laundry on a public forum like this, so I'll try to get the energy to post about something happy in the next day or two...

Thanks for putting up with my PMS. ;-)

Late Days...

Even with all the volunteering for various stuff at school that I do, it's not enough, LOL! Today, there is the 5th Grade "visit/orientation" to the Middle School, and I had planned on skipping this since they had more than enough people going. Unfortunately, a couple people had to drop out at the last minute, so I volunteered to fill in during the 4:00-5:15 session, as warm bodies were needed. Ugh... I have the beginning of the Combat Commander Stalingrad Campaign planned for tonight at my place, 6:30ish. I haven't cleaned the game room up, thinking I'd be doing it now -- even worse, the "Rubble" counters are still unpunched (and clipped!). Will I be able to get to it on time?????

(Oh yeah -- if I leave now and come back, I'm told I won't find a parking space! 5th Grade parents are always worried about the jump to the Middle School, so it's a packed house...)

I still have to pick up Cheyenne from doggie camp after the 5th Grade stuff, then run a couple of errands, so I'll be cutting it close...

The weather here is turning nice, enough so that the A/C at the school was finally on today. Thankfully. My room gets really hot without it, even though a few girls always seem to be cold...

~5 weeks and counting (29 days with students, actually, then 2 more without), I think I can do it, I think I can, I think I can...

Grading, Grading, Grading...

OK, got most of it done tonight, still have some Social Studies projects to grade (Greek Gods and Goddesses). My procrastination has come around to bite me on the ass since progress reports are due next week. I also have 2 meetings tomorrow -- 1 all afternoon (special ed placement) and one as a "stand in" for a colleague (Medieval Day planning) after school. I suddenly find that I need a bit more time...

As the week progresses, gaming will get good. Playing Combat Commander -- Stalingrad Campaign with Derek on Wednesday, then Espana 1936 with Mike on Thursday. Saturday is the Rochester group's monthly meet at Millennium, so the good gaming times will be continuing... I'll try and get some kind of AAR up, as it's been a while.

Syracuse did beat Siena, dominating the game but not scoring as many goals as they should have. The final was 11-4, next up are the Maryland Twerps, coming off a beating down of previously undefeated (yet untested) Notre Dame.

Finally, in my constant listening of books on CD whenever I'm in the car, I'm about 40% of the way through Frank Herbert's Dune, and I'm really enjoying it. Over the years, I've started reading the books about a half dozen times, always ending in boredom/frustration. On CD, however, I've really gotten into the book, and I'm glad I'm finally learning the story...

Procrastination...

Sunday afternoon, and I still haven't graded all the Social Studies tests I need to have done by tomorrow, LOL! I just never learn... I will get to it, eventually.

I also have to clean up my game room as I'll be starting the Stalingrad Campaign game from Combat Commander with Derek P. on Wednesday -- and I have to get those counters punched and clipped (can do the latter in front of a game, in the evening...). I'm really looking forward to playing the campaign, as this takes one of my favorite games to a new level.

Syracuse is playing Siena tonight in the first round of the NCAA Division I lax championships. Syracuse got the #2 seed (Virginia got #1). I'll be watching tonight on ESPNU, even though Syracuse will probably (should!) crush 'em. I miss the days when I lived in the D.C. area and went to the championships over the Memorial Day weekend at College park, MD. I believe they're in that yucky Foxboro, MA this year...

I did bring a nice bottle of wine to my mother, and played lacrosse myself with Cheyenne earlier (lacrosse stick and tennis ball), so now I just need to get motivated to do what needs to be done. Onward!

Sunny Days...

Turning into a real nice day today, and the same forecast for tomorrow -- low 70s. Only blight is that it may thunderstorm (scattered) every now and then. We shall hope not...

I decided to finalize my Memoir '44 collection by buying all the expansions (with some of my Poker winnings!). I also bought a Stanley Tool Box to hold all the crap, LOL! I guess I'm a true geek about this, as I don't even play the game that often...

I suppose I'll spend some time organizing my gaming room this weekend, built around taking Cheyenne out for some fun. This seemed like a long, lonely week, as I didn't get any weeknight gaming in.

Have a nice weekend, y'all!

Drizzly Days...

Weather here has been pretty yucky the past few days. Right now, it's 51F and drizzling. Very, very gray. I guess this means spring is coming! On a better note, everything's beginning to bloom, and the Lilac Festival should be gorgeous this weekend. It's a fun time -- if you can get to it, just walking around ad taking in the sights and smells is worth it...


There's this little website called "My Brute" where you can sign up a "fighter" and automatically enter into fights with others. I got one going today, "Idiot Gal," and she went 5-1 in the arena. She's resting now and will have 3 fights tomorrow. It's not a computer game -- you don't control the fighters, you just sit back and watch. But it is mindless fun (I was introduced to it yesterday by John Foley). You can come and fight Idiot Gal (you don't lose/gain anything for this, as it isn't an "Arena" fight) by going here:

Fight Idiot Gal

Come on by, give Idiot Gal a fight, then head to the Arena to see how you fare! As far as I'm concerned, mindless is good sometimes...

No gaming with Mike this week, Espana 1936 has been pushed back to next week. I'm also going to get started on the Combat Commander Stalingrad Campaign with Derek P. soon, Really looking forward to that, as Combat Commander may just be my favorite game! I really need to organize my game room this weekend...

Last night, I got my first full night's sleep on a work night for the first time in the past 2 weeks. It's actually pretty nice to be able to come to work and not drag.

Great Weekend...

Hung out with Cheyenne Friday night, lavishing her with a lot of attention...

...since I was about to put her in the kennel for Saturday and part of Sunday. I use PetSmart PetsHotel, and they're really good there. As she's a regular, they all know and love her (how could anyone not love Cheyenne?), and take extra good care of her. Of course, as I was packing Friday night she knew something was up, so she wouldn't leave my side!

Saturday morning, I took her to her hotel around 9:30, then headed to Buffalo. I drove out to the Seneca Niagara Casino and got there a bit after 11:00. I checked in, but didn't even head to my room, as I wanted to get to UB for the Buffalo meet (Grant LaDue's BACSIM) as soon as I could. I stopped for lunch on the way back, so arrived at BACSIM around 12:15. Grant had dropped off the tables, and a few folks were there. I broke out my copy of Small World, and we began a 5-player game. This is a crazy little fantasy-themed game where there are combinations (random!) of races (such as ghoul, human, dwarf, giant, etc.) and abilities (dragon rider, spirit, berserk, commando, etc.). What this adds is true variation, as each game will be different. So, in one game there could be "Pillaging Sorcerers," while in the next you could get "Mounted Sorcerers." Anyway, players conquer regions (empty, with a "Lost Tribe," or with an opponents piece[s]) and score points for areas, often enhanced by ability and/or race. For example, dwarves get an extra point for each mining area, while a merchant ability gives an extra point for each area you control! So, players need to maximize their own points while clearing areas of opponents' pieces that are collecting big points. Eventually, the race you control will go into "decline" (your choice of when), and you'll start a new race/ability combo next turn. Declining races still score points for where they're at, but they can't conquer new areas (save for the ghouls!) or score ability points. Victory points are kept hidden (in the form of victory point chits), so you're never sure how much each person has. All in all, a very clever game. In this one, I finished 3rd out of 5 and had a lot of fun.

Next up was Le Havre. I have talked about this one before -- it's the game where you're running a "company" working out of the docks. You collect commodities, build buildings and ships, and try to earn money. In the middle of all this is the need to keep your workers fed, so one has to get food goods as well as building materials in his inventory. We played a 3-player game and I won big, as I had as many buildings as the other 2 players combined!

A second game of Small World broke out with the 3 Le Havre players. Another fun time, and I managed 2nd. Finally, we got a 4-player Le Havre game going and I finished 2nd again, as my lack of food began to drag me down as the game progressed. I had to spend too much time divesting of the loans I was saddled with...

It was a fun day, but with 10:00 approaching (actual game playing time was about 6 hours -- bullshitting time was about 3 hours!), I decided to head to the casino...

Once I got there and deposited my stuff in my room (and what a nice room it turned out to be!), I headed down to the casino floor and walked around for a while. I played about $40 worth of slots, and this lasted a while. I never hit the big jackpot, but I tried. I really need to stop playing slots, as it really is a fool's game...

Around midnight, I headed over to the poker room and bought in to a $1/$2 table for $100 in chips. The table stayed pretty full, with 9 or 10 seats for the first couple hours (6 of us there the whole time). It was a good bunch of guys, with most engaged in friendly chat and no trash-talking. One old guy (a regular, based on the dealers' talk!) was in a foul mood as he kept on losing, but this meant he mostly scowled at the dealer... Around 2:00 a.m. I was at ~$110. It was one of those "up and down" nights, mostly down, as my cards had been shit! Finally, though, I look at a hand and I have pocket aces! Yes, I'm thinking, now the trick is to keep people in initially to build up the pot! A guy in front of my raises to $12, and 6 of us follow. The flop is A-10-2. Wow! Trip aces for me, and no good chance for anyone else to draw a flush (3 different suits). I figure my set is good, so I'm thinking about how to string out the pot (which is already about $75). After a couple checks, a guys go all in with ~$125 dollars. 2 folds in front of me, then me. I'm thinking, "WTF?!?!" He could have A/10, A/2, 10/10, or 2/2. Any way, I have him beat, unless another 2 or 10 comes up (and an A doesn't). OK, now's the time to make some $$$! I call, and it takes all my chips. The last 2 guys fold. Now, unlike poker on TV, folks aren't forced to show their cards on all-in calls, but we agreed to. I laid first, he saw I had 3 aces, and he says, "Shit," as he throws down K/Q off-suit. At first, I'm happy, until it strikes me (in about 3 seconds), that he has an out if a J appears. Then one guy at the table says he folded a jack, and another says the same -- so only 2 jacks possible, I'm looking good. The turn is a 7. Drum roll, I'm about to get a pot of almost $300! And the river is...

...a fucking J.

Holy crap, I was shell-shocked. The guy (a 6-Nations Indian from Toronto) apologized to me, LOL! I sat there through the next hand just shaking my head and chip-less. After another hand, the dealer asked me if i intended to buy back in, as there were folks waiting for seats. Shrug, I came here to win, so i threw another $100 on the table and loaded up...

Well, I played until almost 5:00 a.m., and, without boring you with each hand, I played solidly and smartly, making good reads and folding when I should have. I did catch one young guy who had too many beers in him, and won successive pots from him. When it was all said and done, I cashed out with $381 dollars -- a $181 profit above my $200 chip buy ins. If I had won my earlier all-in, I would have been at ~ $600 with a $100 buy in, not bad for 5 hours work. But what the Hell, $181 over 5 hours works out to $36.20 an hour. Not bad, especially doing something I truly enjoy.

My only wish is that I had started playing "competitively" 25 years ago, though there wasn't a casino in Niagara then, nor were the Internet sites running that far back, so I've done what I can... I really do love playing Texas Hold 'Em, and just need to get to the casino more often to do this, as I'm a better player in person than online (though I'm pretty good there, if I do say so myself...).

Anyway, I headed up to bed at 5:00ish, got up at 10:00, showered, checked, out, and grabbed a quick breakfast at the Casino (delicious blueberry pancakes from the Three Sisters Cafe -- for the Iroquois, the "3 sisters" were squash, beans, and corn), then headed back to Rochester. I got Cheyenne at about 1:00, and we headed home and crashed for a while. I also felt good that she had a lot of fun playing with her buddies at the kennel (I put her in day care, as I do during the week). Gaming and my dog, the good things in life.

Gaming, all kinds!

Tomorrow I'm headed to UB for the BACSIM meet and a day of boardgames. I've decided to crash at the Seneca Niagara Casino and spend the night there, playing some poker later Saturday night and Sunday morning. Maybe even a few slots (mindless throwing away of money is fun!).

It'll be a nice little getaway, as this has been a long, long week...

May Day...

Unfortunately, May Day will never be a happy day for me anymore (and it has nothing to do with celebrations of communism...).

May 1, 1993 was my beloved dog Gypsy's birthday. She succumbed to mast cell tumor cancer on March 5, 2007. She was a paragon of health until this damn disease hit her. We fought it, together from June 2006 until her death. She had 9 excellent months, overall, and always got over her bad days. When she wasn't getting over her last bad day, I had to make the most difficult decision of my life. Just thinking about it is making me ball right now like a little baby. Fuck, but I loved that dog, and still miss her dearly. There's a verse in the song "Mr. Bojangles" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that goes:

He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
throughout the south
He spoke through tears of 15 years how his dog and him
traveled about
The dog up and died, he up and died
And after 20 years he still grieves

I know exactly how he feels and I also know that if I'm alive in 20 years, I will still be grieving, too. Someday I want to write about her -- maybe a "Marley and Me" short story or something, but I can't yet, as I'm still too sad about it all. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Here's a blurry picture of my girl that I keep on my cell phone. This was very near the end of her life, but she was still full of happiness (she was "talking" to me in this photo). She wore a t-shirt for 2 reasons -- so she wouldn't go at her tumors and so the medicine would stay on. What a wonderful friend.

As an addenda, the continued loss of my beloved friend makes my whole insides hurt. It is like nothing I've ever experienced before, and I've had most of my family die off over the years. While I'm sad about many of them, it doesn't weigh on me daily, like Gypsy does. And the hurt has gone away after 2+ years. This hurt for Gyppers is just just embedding itself deeper in my soul. I will always love that beautiful girl. Always.

On another bad note, some asshole(s) cut down 15 flowering pear trees around the tennis courts at the high school yesterday (their campus is right next to ours). Senseless vandalism at its worst -- I don't get what the perp(s) got out of doing this. Hell, break a few windows, tag the school's walls, whatever, but killing beautiful trees? Just makes no sense to me.

Senseless Destruction of Beauty