"Button, button, who has the button?"
Well I found the "post to journal" button again, so I figured I would update you on the few things that have been significant since my last post. For one thing, we had Katie and Alex down to visit a couple weeks ago. It was a great day, nothing too fancy. We played Sorry with the kids, went out in the yard for a little frisbee and, well, I guess you would call it kickball. We had lunch and dinner together. To my great surprise my burgers came out pretty good despite the grill throwing off huge flames every time I even nudged a patty. It was nice to have company and to show some friends the home we have made for ourselves down here. Hopefully next time we will have more to do outside the home and be able to show off the surrounding area a bit more. Of course the invite to "come on down" is still open to anyone with a day to kill.
Danielle and I attended one of her former co-workers wedding this past weekend, and despite it being outside (a bit cold and windy) it was a fun time. The bride told us she was staying at a Courtyard Marriott so I called up to get them my "friends and family" discount which is much bigger than I would have thought. So anyone planning on using a hotel at any time for anything, please let me know and perhaps we can get you a super cheap rate at any Marriott brand (Marriott, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, etc.) This particular Courtyard had quoted our friends $185/day (I think for a jacuzzi suite) and I got their rate down to $99/day!
Work is going about the same, we are short-staffed again because one of our new waitresses turned out to be a total flake. Called out on her first day and "overslept" a 4:00pm shift. Unfortunately that leaves me working 5 closing shifts each week. At least the money is picking back up though. One pay period (we get paid bi-weekly) in August I made less than I normally would in one week. The best part of this week was having fantastic tips but we got real slow after 9pm so I was out at closing time or before because the restaurant was empty. Only real bummer is that I go to work almost immediately after Samantha gets home from school. I'm usually still asleep at 8am when she goes to school, and she is always asleep when I get home. So I'm missing her a bit, but as a compensation Ella and I are having a blast with our "Ella/Daddy Days" and going to the gym with Tony and his daughter, Lorna.
Poker is still fun, I had a great run from July thru August of winning 19 out of 20 games. Unfortunately, I got some horrendous beats and lost 3 out of 4 of the games I started this month with. It has started to level off and I have another 4 wins under me now to be running a total of 24 wins out of 28 games. Debating on whether to invest in a cheap "satellite tournament" to get into their big $10,000 even in October. The satellite is only $100 and my bankroll can definitely afford it. If I won the satellites and got into that $10,000 tournament and just managed to make it to the money I would be up at least $11,000. Even if I didn't win the $10,000 event but did well we could look at $80,000-100,000. See how I feel about it over the next couple weeks. The main killer is that the satellites don't run late in the night when I am usually at the casino (because everyone is sleeping at home anyways) meaning I would have to take some time out of what could be "family time" to try that.
Lastly, I posted a bulletin on myspace I wanted to make sure you all got. It is regarding some dates I have chosen to take off from work and do various "fun day" events. Here is the bulletin:
To all my friends, I have a few dates set aside for me and the girls to be doing some fun stuff. If anything is of interest for you and you can come the same day we'd be glad to have you along.
Sunday 9/30/07 - Topsfield Fair ("oldest fair in america" with rides, animals, and shows, etc.) in Topsfield, Mass. www.topsfieldfair.org
Sunday 10/14/07 - King Richard's Fair (medieval festival) in Carver, Mass. www.kingrichardsfaire.net
Saturday 10/20/07 - "Booty Vortex" playing at The Sea Note in Nantasket Beach, Mass. http://seanote.com/ This is my friend's band and is a fantastic way to spend a Saturday night. You can hear a sample of their music at their myspace page, www.myspace.com/bootyvortex
And in the distant future we have my birthday, on 12/08...a Saturday this year and I am determined to make an event of it. No solid plans yet, but if you want to help me celebrate set the date aside. That is about it for now, if you are interested in any of these just send me a message thru myspace or call me. If you send a message make sure and leave me a number to call you at (in case I do not have your most current).
Blessed Be,
Barry
Danielle and I attended one of her former co-workers wedding this past weekend, and despite it being outside (a bit cold and windy) it was a fun time. The bride told us she was staying at a Courtyard Marriott so I called up to get them my "friends and family" discount which is much bigger than I would have thought. So anyone planning on using a hotel at any time for anything, please let me know and perhaps we can get you a super cheap rate at any Marriott brand (Marriott, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, etc.) This particular Courtyard had quoted our friends $185/day (I think for a jacuzzi suite) and I got their rate down to $99/day!
Work is going about the same, we are short-staffed again because one of our new waitresses turned out to be a total flake. Called out on her first day and "overslept" a 4:00pm shift. Unfortunately that leaves me working 5 closing shifts each week. At least the money is picking back up though. One pay period (we get paid bi-weekly) in August I made less than I normally would in one week. The best part of this week was having fantastic tips but we got real slow after 9pm so I was out at closing time or before because the restaurant was empty. Only real bummer is that I go to work almost immediately after Samantha gets home from school. I'm usually still asleep at 8am when she goes to school, and she is always asleep when I get home. So I'm missing her a bit, but as a compensation Ella and I are having a blast with our "Ella/Daddy Days" and going to the gym with Tony and his daughter, Lorna.
Poker is still fun, I had a great run from July thru August of winning 19 out of 20 games. Unfortunately, I got some horrendous beats and lost 3 out of 4 of the games I started this month with. It has started to level off and I have another 4 wins under me now to be running a total of 24 wins out of 28 games. Debating on whether to invest in a cheap "satellite tournament" to get into their big $10,000 even in October. The satellite is only $100 and my bankroll can definitely afford it. If I won the satellites and got into that $10,000 tournament and just managed to make it to the money I would be up at least $11,000. Even if I didn't win the $10,000 event but did well we could look at $80,000-100,000. See how I feel about it over the next couple weeks. The main killer is that the satellites don't run late in the night when I am usually at the casino (because everyone is sleeping at home anyways) meaning I would have to take some time out of what could be "family time" to try that.
Lastly, I posted a bulletin on myspace I wanted to make sure you all got. It is regarding some dates I have chosen to take off from work and do various "fun day" events. Here is the bulletin:
To all my friends, I have a few dates set aside for me and the girls to be doing some fun stuff. If anything is of interest for you and you can come the same day we'd be glad to have you along.
Sunday 9/30/07 - Topsfield Fair ("oldest fair in america" with rides, animals, and shows, etc.) in Topsfield, Mass. www.topsfieldfair.org
Sunday 10/14/07 - King Richard's Fair (medieval festival) in Carver, Mass. www.kingrichardsfaire.net
Saturday 10/20/07 - "Booty Vortex" playing at The Sea Note in Nantasket Beach, Mass. http://seanote.com/ This is my friend's band and is a fantastic way to spend a Saturday night. You can hear a sample of their music at their myspace page, www.myspace.com/bootyvortex
And in the distant future we have my birthday, on 12/08...a Saturday this year and I am determined to make an event of it. No solid plans yet, but if you want to help me celebrate set the date aside. That is about it for now, if you are interested in any of these just send me a message thru myspace or call me. If you send a message make sure and leave me a number to call you at (in case I do not have your most current).
Blessed Be,
Barry