Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Where ya going?

It took me a while, but I've finally settled on a new blog location and name. We'll see how it goes. This isn't my first blog, I've had several before this, but it's my first attempt to narrow the scope of the content. The plan is to mainly deal with poker and music, but from past experience, few people care about those topics enough to read about them daily, so I'll mix it up with some other topics as well. There are enough to go around, that's for sure... home remodeling, parenting, school, yadda yadda yadda.

In the poker world, I've been spending the off-time from the poker league I'm in to look into creating my own custom table. I already have a store bought table, but it's pretty basic. The idea is to take a round dining room table we had sitting in our basement and convert it. It should be an interesting project. More to come on that.

Also in poker, a few friends came over Sunday night to play a cash game. It was an interesting mix of quality. Three friends have played quite a bit in the past, and the other two either have never played before or only played once. Buy-in was $10 with unlimited rebuys, and I ended the night $50 up.

One thing I've noticed in playing with new players, both in tournaments and friendly cash games, it's hard (read: impossible) to get them off hands sometimes. If they pick up anything, or have a decent starting hand, no matter what you bet... they aren't folding. It leads to the occasional unnecessary suckout (aren't they all???) and in my opinion, only emboldens their bad play. Perhaps it's only experience that can tell a player to fold when they should fold. I think the way to handle these situations is to be patient and keep pots with them in it as small as possible, if for nothing else, to keep any suckouts that occur as painless as possible.

Many times when pros play with amateurs, they will try to keep the pot small pre-flop, and try to out-play them after the flop. I think they're on to something with that strategy.

We might as well throw some music out there too eh? I found on The Late Greats an interesting cover of a Blind Willie Johnson song called Nobody's Fault But Mine. It's by John Renbourn.

http://www.box.net/shared/xrvjkftm9b

And, of course, I found this interesting because one of my favorite musicians, Mason Jennings also does a cover of this song.

http://www.box.net/shared/cr1exmvulx

Nick

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Monday, July 09, 2007

Balls on parade...

As you may or may not be aware, I've been celebrating my Spanish heritage since 1963 by running with the bulls in Spain. Here I am enjoying a nice cold beer during this year's running.

I have never, ever, seen such a disgusting spectacle as this though.

Is it now too much to ask to wear man panties with a kilt?

This guy may have balls, but they were sure as hell schriveled up after this. Dumbass.

Nick

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Friday, July 06, 2007

Fuck you Friday

You didn't think I would miss out on Fuck you Friday, did you? Well, since I've been doing mostly music related posts lately, I think I'll stick with that. And one of the biggest fuck you bands was one we discussed the other day, FEAR. A lovely band who has been around since 1977, FEAR is one of the original American punk rock bands. And I believe the only one to ever play Saturday Night Live, even though the set was cut. Quite an accomplishment for a punk band though :) They were featured on the first Decline of Western Civilization as well, which is a funky documentary and soundtrack if you can get your hands on it.

I stuck a couple of songs up from their best album (IMO), Live... For the Record. I hope you like them, because I like them.

Love ya
Nick

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Hands in the air, Rockabye your bear...

I don't like to put mainstream, commercial music on my blog. It just seems like they're more likely to sue your ass, as opposed to lesser known artists, who just want to get their music out there. But I made an exception and uploaded a few songs from the Rockabye Baby albums. They won't stay up long, so check them out.

And then go to their website and buy some cds (compact discs).

Love ya
Nick

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Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Hello?


Why didn't anyone tell me about this? I'm in love all over again...

I'll post more when I regain consciousness.

Nick

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Tuesday, July 03, 2007

This post contains everything you didn't want to know about me...

I've always really wanted to come out of the closet. You know how some people make this big deal about coming out of the closet and announcing they're gay... or that they're 38 and still playing video games... or they're becoming a woman...

Our old dentist actually sent us a two page letter in the mail at one time explaining that he, was now becoming a she. It was one of most awkward pieces of writing I've ever had the displeasure of reading.

Back to the closet, and me coming out of it. Now, once upon a time, I sort of came out of a small closet and announced that I was bisexual. But, I think anyone who has been reading this blog for any amount of time already knew of my rather deviant activities, especially relating to sex, so it probably wasn't a real big shocker. And it's no fun to come out of the closet if the door was already half open...

I actually have two confessions to make in this post, or "coming outs", if you will. I expect that when I divulge my first "coming out", a lot of people will lose what little respect they had for me. Upon my second "coming out", I suspect I will have to close this blog for lack of readers... But, no one comes out of the closet with the expectation that life will ever be how it once was. That's the risk you take. So, here I go...

Oh god, how do I say this... Oh, come on, just say it. Ok... I like techno. There! I said it! I like to listen to techno!!! I have a lot of goofy interests when it comes to music, and one of them is techno. It really started back in my drug-doing days. The first time I did acid, a bunch of us spent the night at a friend's house, and one of my friends was the hippy/goofy/techno type. He blasted this music thru the house all night that really drove several of us to edge of insanity. But it was fun. The music was trippy.

I've never been a raver type though. You know, the kids who take a bunch of weird drugs like ecstasy and suck on those ring sucker things... yeah, not me. I did go to an outdoor rave once though. It was in a city park, in the middle of the day. A bunch of djs just set up in a park shelter, with their turntables and enough damn electronics to power a KISS concert. And then imagine 50 or 60 kids running around the park with so much pot and acid that people were just giving it away, and throwing it on the ground. And we grew up in a very capitalistic drug scene. Nothing was free, and no way were drugs ever wasted. But, it was a weird, weird, very weird day...

So yeah, me and techno... whodathunkit? By the way, the hot wife absolutely hates techno, so you're not alone in your disgust and disdain.

And now, if you've thrown up already reading this post, I would suggest just closing your browser. What I'm about to tell you is not for the faint of heart. Ugh... this hurts... Ok, while I'm not exactly a fan of the group, I like a couple of extended dance mix versions from a group called Tatu...

Most sane people are scratching their heads... "who the fuck is Tatu?" Well, you may or may not remember, a couple of years ago they came on to the MTV scene with a song called "All the things she said". And then there was this big controversy about their manager, who just put two Russian girls together and paraded them out as lesbian schoolgirls who run around in their underwear and make out in the pouring rain. Apparently there's a market for that kind of stuff? Who knows...

I realize that extended dance mix version is just a nice way of saying shitty techno, but something about girls singing in Russian to shitty techno does it for me. Hey, it's not my fault they were poor Russian girls taken advantage of by some weirdo, pervert manager and exploited by an American culture obsessed with sex (me)... Actually, I'm really just obsessed with female singers.

Well, if I'm going to hell, you might as well come with. So, some Tatu over in the box.

Love ya
Nick

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Monday, July 02, 2007

Q & A

steve asks: "your pic shows you with a guitar. you say you were once in a band, but you're not now. why?"

Besides not being that good on guitar? LOL I was never cut out to be in a band really. Don't get me wrong, I love rockin' out, but as far as practicing, and getting gigs and all that... it just isn't me. I'm an introvert, and they don't seem to do well in bands. Unless they're drummers LOL Aside from that, I really have always loved my acoustic more than an electric. Not too many acoustic bands out there :)

steph! asks: "True or False...the opening perfomance of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in the movie 'Old School' is one of the top ten best opening scenes in a movie?"

It's not really an opening to the movie, but I do love that scene. The Dan Band is funny as hell :) BTW - a little trivia for you, what is THE best opening scene to a movie? The winning answer gets a prize...

"Or...fill-in the following blank: If I had a million dollars I'd" quit my job and sleep all day. And pay off all my bills and buy a new house in the country with a mile long driveway and a kick ass hot tub in the back that we could get naked in :)

"And (because I want to hear this one) how old is your child and do you plan on having anymore?"

Braeden is 8 months old, and no, we don't plan to have anymore. It would just push out the day that I can run around the house naked even further...

Nick

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Hows about I talk about me?

As is customary in my world, since interviews are flying around again, feel more than free to ask any questions you may have of me. Or if there is a topic you would like to see discussed here, I'm always open to topic suggestions. I have a zillion post topics saved up and ready to go, but it's always hit and miss with what interests ya'll. Well... usually it's miss... Ya'll are a hard group to generate interest with...

I would imagine this will be a bit of a slow week in the blogging world, with the holiday smack dab in the middle of the week and all, so perhaps we can spice it up a little bit with some reader feedback, questions or suggestions.

Love ya
Nick

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Sunday, July 01, 2007

Take me out to the ballgame...

We took a little trip yesterday, to invade enemy territory and show them how baseball is really played. And of course, the Brewers spanked the Cubbies 13-4.

We even got to see Scottie Pippen when we were driving down Addison St. on our way to Wrigley. He was in his black Escalade right next to us! I wasn't convinced it was even him, until we get to the park, and sure enough, who's throwing out the first pitch? Scottie Pippen. Nice...

It was a good day, and one of my lifelong dreams was fulfilled.



btw - I'll get to interviews probably tomorrow.

Nick

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