A couple of other random thoughts

2 hospital trips within one month. That's pretty crazy, huh? I can honestly say that might be the first time that's happened in my life, maybe since I was a toddler. Other than a follow up type of a thing. So....there's always a first. Let's hope it's the last, at least for a while...after tomorrow's appointment.

Poker...I've battled my way back to having a positive month, so far. I'm pretty proud of that. I would really like to win more, though. I've got stuff I'd love to buy.

Netflix on the Wii...good stuff.

So, I missed the Ben Folds concert last night. That flipping stinks. I can't tell you how disappointed I am. Not many opportunities to see your favorite artist, but then I have to go home and sleep since I've lost sleep, blood, patience...you name it.

Got some Gator for Grilling of the Meats XII, which is coming up in approximately 10 days. Julia had better get going on that one.

I had something I wanted opinions on when I started this. I've lost it.

So, I spent the entire day Tuesday in the ER.

That wasn't the most fun that I've ever had.

Among the firsts for me:
CTScan
Ultrasound (that wasn't administered by my spectacular trainer, Amber "Beef" Nagele)
IV
Having multiple women look at my junk at the same time.

Needless to say, I'm OK this morning. Some internal abdominal stuff, but nothing serious, and the pain has reduced immensely. But thank you to Julia for taking the day off work and keeping me company, and to both of my parents for offering to leave where they were and come at a moment's notice.

Quick poker post...

hopefully a life update post tomorrow.

I'm trying to get in to freerolls to learn how to play better at 6-handed. As I hopefully get in to more tournaments and live cash games, I'll need to know how to play shorthanded a lot better than I do right now. It will greatly help my post-flop play, so I know I need to get it done.

Any tips you might have would be great.

Thanks!

So, I've had/have laryngitis.

This has been a very, very difficult few days. I lost the top range of my voice on Monday night, after a cold of 5 days and a basketball game, as well as giving a tour to my cousin Cathy in the cold on Monday. All exacerbating factors. One of my vocal cords was swollen to about triple the size of the other one, while the throat is just raw from clearing my throat from the sickness.

So, I'm thankful that Dr. Edwin McCammack at Christie Clinic is an Illini fan, and also an undersanding man, and made it a priority to get me back in to shape for tonight's game with Northwestern. I'm going to have to get him and his staff something nice.

I'd like to say that things are going to be perfect tonight, but I think more appropriately, they'll be functional.

We'll see.

Also, on a side note, I suck at poker.

I suck for not writing more in December

So, my apologies to anyone who is still following this.

I'll try to give a quick recap of my Holidays, as best I can.

The most important thing is that I got to see most of my family, whether it be in person, or via skype. I received a ton of great gifts, and I'm incredibly thankful. I don't want to list them or brag or anything, because I realize I'm lucky to have such wonderful people in my life that are nice enough to get stuff for me. I hope that the gifts I bought for people were equally enjoyable.

Traveled to Lombard to see my Dad, although it was a pretty short visit there. While there, I had the misfortune of watching the Illinois-UIC game, and nearly crying. Just brutal to view. But we had a great dinner at Wildfire, with its gluten free buns, and I'm happy about that.

Had a great Christmas Eve-early with my mom and Julia. Our respective Santas were fun. Julia got a very nice game for the Wii, Project Runway. I can't wait to see that one in action. Mom, meanwhile, got a game where you create your own horsie and ride it around. Pretty fancy stuff.

Julia and I spent the actual holiday with her family in Tulsa. They were spectacular to me, making sure I was set to go with all of the gluten free items I could possibly want. That's a mixed blessing. I truly enjoy gluten free cakes and pies (homemade crust!), but man, my belly surely doesn't need it at all. Good gravy. Not having run in 4 months makes it difficult to burn off the necessary calories. That's for sure.

Got back in time to watch the Illini bowl victory at home. The last time the football team had won a bowl game was within a few weeks of me taking the Mix job. Thta's shaky. 1999. Also, I felt very old.

Speaking of which, I got the recent Sports Illustrated, where they highlight all of the athletes that have passed away in the last year. Now, THAT made me feel old. All of a sudden, there are these people who I used to watch, and they're dying. crud. I felt particularly bad remembering that Ron Santo passed. My poor grandmother.

That's all for now. No poker stats for December, becuase I sucked. And because then Jill will get all mad at me. Can't have that.