12.17.07 

While a bit overdue and most likely unnecessary (as interested parties have already read these), here's the best source on the Internet for 2007 WPBT Winter Classic trip reports. You are the only one I'm sending there, my invisible internet friend. Nobody else. Only you, who for reasons beyond my comprehension, don't read real poker blogs and are not yet entirely caught up on the hijinks. Don't speak. I'm aware there's an excellent chance you only exist in my imagination.

Las Vegas Poker Blogger Trip Reports Via Iggy

The Vegas trips are always heaven and hell for me. As much as I adore the people listed in my side bar and enjoy playing poker online with them, I am socially awkward and exceedingly uncomfortable around large groups of people I don't know well. In Vegas, this manifests itself in anxiety, insomnia and the fear that I've inadvertently insulted someone because I didn't accept their offer to join them at breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner/irish whisky at o'sheas/pai gow/vegas show/tournament/NLHE table. 

For the record, I turn down nearly all invitations in Vegas. 

It's not you, it's me.

Because I get overwhelmed easily and find myself incapable of engaging in normal conversation, I often retreat to my room for hours on end in an effort to decompress. As a result I miss most of the festivities and find myself catching up on the trip reports linked above. I would seriously consider not attending these gatherings at all, but every time I go, there are a handful of terrific moments that make getting on that plane and enduring the social anxiety worth the price of admission.

Running into Mike Waffles, the very best and my most favorite Aquarist in Las Vegas, was one of them. Maudie and I got lost on our way out out of Caesars and when I bumped into Mike next to the aquarium by the Atlantis display, he barely remembered me from last year. But being the generous guy he is, on his own time, he took Maudie and I for a personal  tour behind the scenes. He's been instrumental in creating an outstanding marine life educational facility buried in the bowels of that massive casino and mall. There are over 100 species of ocean life in their 50,000 gallon aquarium, and Mike enthusiastically answers any question about them all. 

On a different day, and one of the few times I ventured to the poker tables, the woman who put our names on the wait list at the Mirage renamed me Tracy.

Seconds later, Maudie became Mautie.

Shortly after that, Garth became Girth. 

Girth!

As you can see below, she got Pablo right, but I have to wonder what Orba's name really was.

Girth!

I ended up down only a little during the Mirage game, but I lost the rest of my live bankroll at a 1/2 game at the Venetian after the blogger tournament. I can only blame my poor decisions and the fact I probably shouldn't have been playing in my condition. But I was seated near Alan, Craig,  the PokerGnome and Mr. Subliminal. They had me laughing and despite my sleep deprivation, I didn't want to get up.

About that sleep deprivation. I endured the most extreme insomnia I ever experienced on this trip to Vegas. I was on the third night of two hours of sleep when I ran into Betty Underground at the MGM. Certain I was going to die from my "condition", Betty talked me down from the ledge and assured me I'd not only live, but fed me a Blue Moon and convinced me I could still have a good time.

So to thank Betty, I've matched her $100 donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. I encourage you to do the same. In fact, I'll personally add $10 to your FullTilt bankroll if you match even half of that before December 31st. (Email me at SGK at sheverb dot com if you do.) 

Happy Holidays!

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