For those of you that read my blog, T_Overland is a much better player than I am. I make too many bad calls and have a really hard time beating him. Here is the most recent example. Although he took second, he was in first most of the game.
Played a few tables tonight. Finally won one. Played against T_Overland again a couple of times. He’s getting better. See how he ended up in fifth? It’s a whole lot funner to have a buddy to chat with. Even if I loose, I enjoy the time.
Tomorrow is the big Birthday party. I’ll put in a link to the pictures once my wife uploads them. She spent a couple of hours making a picture board for the party too. Already had a couple of cancellations. My mom showed up a lot earlier tonight that we thought. She watched Cars with the girls so it gave me some time to play. I’m really glad she came out from Florida to be at the party. Maybe I’ll get on the microphone and say something and she’ll start crying…
I was up late last night playing poker and won my biggest SNG. The best part is that I landed my first ever Royal Flush.
Here is a snapshot of my Royal Flush. The coolest part is that it took a Royal Flush to win the hand. The other guy had quad hooks.
Here is a snapshot of the final hand to win the 45 SNG.
Here is a snapshot showing I came in first and the prize money. Notice the time. It ended on my birthday!!
This first on is about how a pro football player was shot three times by police. I’m absolutely sure every one will jump all over the police about it. No way will the pro football player accept any responsibility for his actions that escalated to the shooting.
The second story is about an escapee that shot two officers. One has died. I’m absolutely certain that if the escapee is shot and killed, an investigation will be made into why lethal force had to be used.
I believe this is in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City. The light was just right and I was able to be still enough for this to come out. It’s looking straight up into the ceiling.
Here is another except a different angle and zoom.
Later that night we went to a free Billy Joel and Brian Adams concert outside of the Colliseum.
Went to church in Davie. They have their own building. Apperantly they sold the building to a different ministry a while back. That church didn’t do well and wanted to sell it. Florida had the funds to buy it back. It’s a bit weird for me to be in a church. We’ve bet in schools, civic centers, parks and just about everywhere except churches for the past sixteen years. The girls really enjoyed children’s ministry. They both made friends and seemed to overcome the anxiety of walking into a room full of people you’ve never met before.
John Porter had a really great message about “going”. The disciples had to be made to get on the boat by Jesus. Later, Jesus walked on water to them. Sometimes we have to be made to go somewhere for our own good. I thought that was going to lead to a bunch of change announcements but it didn’t. The ministry is doing pretty well and certain roles need to be filled. More leaders, missionaries, C.M. workes, etc.
Sarah really wanted to go golfing with me so I took her in the cart with me. Gramps was in the restaurant joking with the guys, drinking beer and watching the golf tournament on t.v. Sarah really enjoyed riding with me. As I approached the ball she would jump out of the cart and try to run but not fall. She would usually fall. She filled my fairway divots, raked the bunker after sand shots and tend the flag for me. It is the closest thing to having a caddie I’ve ever had. We had a pretty good time except when she would try to distract me during a swing by saying, “Hey dad, there’s a duckie!” She also liked to wave the flag over the hole to show me where it’s at. The crowning moment was the last hole where she reset the gps and so I had to guess the yardage on my third shot on a par 5. I need par to break 90. I guessed wrong. The shot was very straight but right over the top of the flag, bounced on the green and into a sand trap. My sand shot was pretty good, about four feet from the hole but I missed the putt for a bogey and finished with a 90.
Gramps was still in the restaurant drinking, joking and watching the tournament. Sarah started making some concoction with the last of her Sprite. She kept adding peanut skins, crushed peanuts, salt, pepper and Negro Modelo beer. Gramps was down on his casual betting on random things and was challenged to drink the concoction to make it even. He did it, how gross is that. I thinking he was reliving his college days.
We went back to the house and made pizza and watched a bit of T.V. before hitting the sack.
It’s been tough to blog with so much running around. After Florence, we went to Rome for six days. The place we stayed in was very expensive but worth it. We got breakfast and light evening buffet every day. Rome was also incredibly hot. We swetted like pigs. So many things to list, you can see the pictures when Erica is done uploading them to her photo page. St. Peters, Vatican city and museum, Colissium, The fountains and Obolisks, many Piazzas, squares, churches. The best part of Rome is a toss up between the gelato and the concert. We were about thirty or fourty feet from the stage to see Brian Adams and Billy Joel. It was free so it made it even better. The crowed was very civil and energetic. We slept in mostly, went out for a few hours, came back to the room, slept till evening, then went out for dinner during the cooler hours.
It was fun to mess with the street vendors. I had worked a guy down to 65 euros for a leather bag but didn’t have the money to buy it right then. Later in the day it was a different guy and was working him down but hadn’t made a deal. Some other lady started looking at the bag and I whispered that I had gotten them down to 65 euros. The vendor heard me and started getting irrate that I was messing with the customers. We ended up leaving but boy did that guy get mad. I thought he might send some thugs to rough me up. I kept watching our back to see if someone was following us but no one was. I had apoligized but that didn’t calm the guy down. Erica had her eye on a purse. It’s a Prada. They started around 35 to 40 euros. I finally was able to get a guy down to 10 and so we I got it for Erica. The only real Italy thing I got was a street vendor bracelet made of leather. I like it because it’s very neutral in color and the little bead thing has a guy and a girl reaching for each other with a little symbol between them. The symbol kind of looks like a kidney so that’s our joke to each other. I love you so much I would give you my kidney…
Flight back to Florida was fine.
Played golf today, 94. Swam in the pool with the girls for a while. Not much else. very relaxing day. More golf tomorrow but probably at a different course since the greens were sanded here at Grand Palms.
Firenze today. Got up early and read for a while. Drove and parked in the town we’re staying in, Bagno a Ripoli. Hopped on the bus to Florence. Got off on the wrong stop. Walked around for a few minutes, got back on the bus and found the correct stop for all the good stuff.
The David is very impressive. I can’t say much more than that, you have to see it for yourself. We also visited Davinci’s museum. That was very cool. His ideas were so ahead of his time. Just basic stuff we take for granted now. Worm gears, machine guns, tanks, cranes, odometers all kinds of other stuff. Grabbed a bite to eat and found this internet spot. Off in a few minutes to see the Science museum. I’ll provide links to pictures once we get back to Florida.
We leave for Roma tomorrow. The flight isn’t until noon so we shouldn’t be too rushed. Type at you soon.
Got up late again, had a long Q.T. and headed to Pisa. Took the autostrada again. It’s getting really easy to drive and feel normal. Pisa was a lot better than Sienna. The tower is really cool to look at and get “the picture”. Then you stand around and watch everyone else get “the picture”. I payed the €15 and went all the way to the top. The memory card was full and only got a three second 360 view from the top. It was well worth it, just like paying to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We hung out for a while longer and started feeling tired. Took the autostrada back. Hit the sack for an early day in Florence (Firenza).
BTW, I got a fine for going through the Telepass on the autostrada. €40 is not that bad I guess. All part of the entertainment. The good news is that it can get payed for at the post.
Woke up late and off to Sienna. Did a lazy drive through the Chianti region. Just like going to Napa wineries. We got to Sienna and ended up inside the city walls. That’s a no-no for tourists. Grabbed a quick pizza with buffalo motzarella, quite good. Found a free parking spot and started walking around.
I prefer Catania. It’s just way to touristy. The only thing I really enjoyed was watching all the tourist run out of the rain. Got a few really cool pictures of rain draining from the roof tops. Can’t post anything till we get back to Florida. Took the autostrada back to our place. Found a really great place to eat outside of town. It was very packed with people, everyone was Italian. They didn’t understand English so we felt like it was the place for us. I don’t know if it was the place to take people on their birthday or just the place to lie and say it’s your birthday. Their were at least six “birthdays”. The waitress brought out a cake with a sparkly candle and they played different Happy Birthday songs. It was really funny overhearing the table next to ours try to imitate the song with their accents.
