Frantic Friday : The Halloween Edition....(NSFW)

It's the most wonderful time, of the year!

Yeah yeah, I know! That normally goes with another holiday right? Well I happen to love Halloween and often I think of it, as my second


We don't have a ton of neighbours out here in Bedrock but those we do have, love to party it up at this time of year.

Last years party was totally off the hook and judging from our conversations so far this year, it looks like we may have even more fun than that!

What's that?

Oh yes! We take this time so seriously around these parts, that we all get together for a


to discuss our



This neighbouhood party for


always keeps me busy as a bee!

Last year Marcy and Britney from next door, rocked the party as two


I can't wait to see Britney this year, as she's decided to come as Peter's little Sister


Can you imagine!

One thing about living out in the boonies like we do in our little cave here, it can be said that we never get sick of seeing us some


I had a huge laugh with Marcy about her costume this year.

She's recently married and when asked about her ideas on how to dress up for the party she replied with, "I'll be coming as the old ball and chain."

I gave some careful consideration as she described the way her costume would look and then I told her, "if you dress exactly the way you've described,


Even brudder CC and Gueber are going to get in on the action this year. CC is famous for his past costumes and after that breathalizer thing he wore last year, I can't wait to see what he comes up with this time around. He always keeps his costume ideas to himself but one things for certain, he never dissapoints!

Neither should Gueber I believe. Although I can't quite picture what she's going to look like as her hero


I was seriously considering going as a little boy this year, just in case she really got into the part!

Peb's had a real dilemma figuring out how to top last years amazing costume. Absolutely everyone thought her


outfit was HAWT!

I was a little dissapointed when she said she was going to dress up a little bit "tamer" this year. Then she showed me her costume!

My Peb's is going to be a


and if you ask me, a HAWT one at that!

Alright kids, that's going to have to do for now.

I hope each of you has a great


and if possible, you all get to attend a wild


and have a blast!

Take care!

Huh? What?

Oh...... me!

Well, it's supposed to be a secret but since we're all friends here and I know I can trust you to keep it, I'll let you in on what I'm going to wear to the party.

Let's just say that this year, I'm hoping to deliver a lot more


than Pizza!

;)

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Me Hold'EM? Puh-leeeease....

Lack of sleep, (more than usual) has seen me sitting down at the virtual felt a little more than normal. Rather than get wound up at a bad beat, I'm finding it brain exercise that can actually help me get the old eyes closed a little faster.

So I've committed to a plan of 90 player SNG's again, hoping to learn enough to consider it a little bit of practice. That is practice for the game against you my dear readers, in our game up coming in Vegas in just a few short weeks.

I know, I know! G/L me!

Anywho....

I usually get all jammed up when the games start like this. I was just settling in when I realized, I didn't have a beer in front of me.

*bing* I hear the game start, as I'm making my way to the beer fridge in the back room. As I get back to the 'puter, I see my hand time out and fold. No biggie, it was only the first hand after all. I watch the action unfold and see that big slick took the pot off of A-Q.

Boat over boat... DAMN!

I must've had crap anyways.


Uh........ ya.

So early in the game, and both players slow played the hell out of pretty good holdings. Interesting. NOT typical at all, but interesting!

Then after a few hands where I once picked up only the blinds and then, made a good re-steal on my BB after a SB raise, I was moved to a new table.

It was there at that new table, that I think I found the gold standard in ATM drawing machines. I watched three hands where with only a draw to gutters and second or third best frushes, this chap managed to get all of his chippies into the center. Problem was, he was hitting!

So I took a shot here while in a hand with him, hoping to hold and double up.


Apparently according to the chatbox I, "got lucky there."

Mmmmmm....... K.

As we went along it became clearer and clearer to me, that this player was heavily leaning towards betting any draws he had out there.

Yes potentially I guess he could hit his draws against me, (as he had some others) and any play would cripple me with a loss. But it did make it easier to get his chips in on a race, when I was actually holding some type of hand.

Here was my favorite example. Apparently I was a real, "Lucky Donkey" for seeing a flop in my BB. Uh.....with no raise pre!


Considering how many times he did hit his draws on the River, I guess all I can say is, "Hee-Haw!"

I haven't scored any big wins or anything, but I have managed to final table a few here and there for some cash. Not much at my $1, $2 & $3 levels mind you! But every little bit helps the confidence, you know?

I'd honestly rather get some deep sleep truthfully, but as long as I can "Donkey" my way into some fun and some pay outs, I'll take the practice when I can get it I guess.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

The 'Payne' always remains....

Ten years to the day after I lost one of my favorite Golfers on the tour, I sat at the first tee focused on one simple phrase.

W.W.P.D.?

I must have asked that question of myself, dozens and dozens of times over the last 10 years. Only yesterday on the anniversary of his passing, a slight chill ran through my body each time I did it.

It's actually happening again right now as I write this, as my mind races with the thoughts of a great time passed. Not in the way it does with thoughts of one of his two US Open wins, or the PGA Championship win for that matter.

It's all about the loss of a friend. A friend only for one day I'm sad to say but, it was a pretty special day to me.

Still the single most popular read around these parts, the story of how I met Payne Stewart consistently brings back a swell of emotion and laughter. Every single time I re-read it, the roller coaster of sensations starts that long and grinding chug-chug to the top, always to be followed by the inevitable free wheeling fall to the bottom. It's times like this the anniversary of his passing, that brings out some of the deepest sadness I possess within me. I mourn for Golf's loss, our loss, his families loss and quite selfishly I know, I take myself deep into a place I only reserve for that one days memories, and I mourn my loss by myself.

Although physical memories surround me as I write this, such as a tribute wall to his incomparable 1999 US Open win.


The phenomenal print I was given with Payne putting on the 12th. hole at Augusta, with his friend and caddie Mike Hicks at his side.


And of course there's also the closet full of knickers and knee socks always ready to come out to the course with me, when ever the opportunity and emotions arise.

But the one that has and probably will always mean the most to me, sits hanging on the wall in front of me now.


That picture brings me right back to that one day. The day that I found out that one of my heroes, was really just a friend waiting to meet me.

So there I sat on the first tee asking myself, What Would Payne Do?

I continued to ask myself the question W.W.P.D. over each and every single shot. Over the first tee shot, all the way to the last 8" putt for the win.

I won a special event on a very special day, all thanks to wondering W.W.P.D. as I went about my business on the Golf course.

A victory indeed, but a bitter sweet victory at best.

Quietly as the stragglers from the event started to make their way home for their Sunday dinner with family, I raised my glass to the heavens and said a quick prayer and toast to a lost friend and his family.

One things for certain if you'd ever met the man, The "Payne" will always remain.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....