Restaurant to remember in Chicago

For all my friends in Chicago, and also for me, so that I go back there the next time I'm there.

Las Mananitas
3523 N. Halsted St. (Boys Town near Wrigley)
773-528-2109

Poker tournament on Sunday and Tuesday. Excited and nervous. More on that later.

Yesterday was Star Wars Day...

May the Fourth be with you.

Current poker update

On pokerstars, I continue to make slow and steady progress toward my goal of having $100 in my account by June. I got to 85 at one point last week, only to lose $4 in one day, most of it on one hand where I had pocket Aces, which, for those of you that don't know, is the best hand you can have pre-flop. That was a bummer.

I'm also really enjoying playing live with Tony and his vet friends. Mostly because of the fact that Tony has a couple of drinks, and so does everyone else, and I sit there stone sober, and watch them do some crazy things. For example, Tony took it upon himself this past weekend to fall out of his chair. Yet I couldn't quite take any of his money. Card dead.

Speaking of which, if anybody out there is thinking ahead for a nice birthday present for Mike Cation, Card Player magazine would be swell.

I'm also finding I really enjoy discussing hands as they come up. I wish I had a few more people to discuss them with.

After I move up upon reaching $100 in my account, I'd also love to try some other games on poker stars. I've already found some good videos about how to play pot-limit omaha and how to play 7 card stud, but I think it'll take some more time to really "get" those games. Especially when I won't get a lot of experience playing it live.
I also have to start thinking about when I can go up and play in Chicago sometime soon.

That's all on that front for now. My thoughts on the Illinois Marathon are upcoming tomorrow.

Random Geography for ya!

Jill doesn't think that was the best video ever.

and maybe I should not have used that superlative, but I thought it was fun.

Updates on life:

Contrary to what most people think, my life does not slow down because basketball announcing is done. In fact, late March to early May is the busiest time of the year for me, as I announce some basketball, baseball, tennis, and a soccer game. Some weeks, I have 5 or 6 events. That's tough to keep up with if you also have a real job. But it's good for my finances, which is important, I suppose. It's also tough to keep up with your girlfriend, who has 3 night classes.

Had an interesting experience after announcing the Ultimate Basketball Challenge, the fundraiser for the Wheelchair Basketball Programs at the U of I. During that event, I'm allowed to joke around a bit, make fun of some of the players, and the things that happen during the game. A nice woman came up to me afterwards and said, "I think you did such a great job! You made this event just wonderful and fun, and I was really laughing at some times! You should do the basketball games at the Assembly Hall!" I was stunned. I replied, "Actually, I do announce the basketball games at the Hall!"
Her reply: "But they're so boring!"

I explained that there are a lot of rules that the Big Ten enforces, and so I can't exactly make fun of players on the court. But it made me wonder what people expect me to do as the announcer.

Went up to Madison for the annual "On Wiscation" trip on Friday and Saturday. And while I had a spectacular time at the concert and Ella's for dinner, I have to admit...the highlight of Madison for me, every single time, is the farmer's market. Good night Irene. I bought 3 blocks of cheese. I'm pretty much done with one of them already. I got some beef sticks, some bison burger patties, and southwestern fiesta brats. And most importantly, I got a piece of GF chocolate chip cheesecake that I'm saving for May 1st at approximately 1PM.

Which leads me to my running update. Thanks to my personal trainer Amber Beef Nagele, I've managed to continue running through what she guesses is bursitis and patellar tendonitis. My knee continues to stay strong, and I ran 13 miles on Saturday night, even if it was slower than I'd like. I'm excited to be able to finish what will be my longest race ever, at 13.8 miles. (note: we're doing a marathon relay, and the 2 legs I'm running happen to be the longer 2 legs, 7 and 6.8)

I got to go to a Cubs game last week with Voss, Scot, and the Bav, and we sat and had a blast in the bleachers. I also got hit on by a nice 20-something who decided the appropriate pickup lines involved her asking me if I liked Tea Party rallies like the one she went to the week before. Now, obviously for those people who know me, that's not my cup of tea. But I went along with it for the comedy. When she told me that people only insult Sarah Palin because "they're intimidated by her", I was quite proud of myself for keeping it together, and just nodding, before turning to Alex and giggling.

Crackmonkey softball is back for what could be a final season. We won game number one on Sunday in very cold conditions, and true to form, I decided to try and dive, and bruised the hell out of me knee. SMRT. SMRT.

I think that's all for now. Announcing some baseball tonight, and then tennis over the weekend, including a visit from everyone's favorite coach at Michigan, Bruce Berque.

Best video ever:

Run I'm doing today....

Blogging for the fun of it....

Thanks to those of you that I know that have joined the Mix Racing team for the Illinois Marathon. We're still in need of some people to sign up, so if you, or anyone you know, is running on May 1st, please ask them to sign up. It costs $20, with the money going to the American Cancer Society. That's it. Really simple. And you get a wonderful Mix racing shirt. Thanks for your support! :)

Had a couple of NIT games to announce this week. I certainly understand the issues of motivation for games like that. It isn't the end all be all, as the next day, you're watching the NCAA tournament. But I guess if you're there, you give it your all. So I know I did, and I was happy with how I performed. I was also approached by someone with the Indiana Sports Commission about potentially doing events in Indianapolis. That's a big yes.

Also, I was asked to give a clinic about football PA announcing by the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers. Now, I'm honored, but I don't do football. So I had to turn it down, sadly. But I've now got a professional organization for freaks like me! Yippee!

This weekend brings a Crackmonkey get together at the Cappa house hold, which means one of two things: A High Stakes Poker Tournament, where, inevitably, I will lose my money to someone who tries to collect diamonds because they're pretty, or a wonderful game of catchphrase. Likely, the latter, as the $10 we'd need for poker is out of most people's price range. Tony and Jill, our wonderful hosts, have offered to do this despite Jill being 6 months pregnant. And having to deal with Tony.

Speaking of poker, I've been playing relatively well of late, although I realized a couple of weeks ago that playing sick is a horrendous idea. I couldn't make proper decisions, made horrible reads, and only won money from Tony when I got lucky and my Queens beat his Aces. So that won't be happening again if I can avoid it.

OK, so Julia and I are planning a trip through the south this summer. We're going to go to Raleigh to visit her friend Lindsay, but after that, we'll be rambling through the south on our way back. We could really use some thoughts on where we should go! No idea will be rejected. If you want to leave anonymous ideas, that is fine too.

Thanks for listening.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day, all. My mom really likes this holiday, and always prepares corned beef and cabbage and all. I'm so so on it. I do loves me some corned beef, though.

Endulge me for a second to get this plug in. Here at the radio stations (I say here because, yes, I'm writing while working), we've organized running "teams" for the Illinois Marathon coming up on May 1st. It's an idea that I came up with last year, but Liz Murray, aka Riley/Drew/Liz, has really pushed this year, and done a great job with. I'm the captain of "Team Mix" and we could use some support if you're planning on running, or attending the Marathon (or any of its associated races). For only $20, you get a dri-fit "Team Mix" running shirt, and the money goes to the American Cancer Society. Unlike Team in Training, which is a wonderful program, you don't need to ask others for donations. Just $20, and you get a dri-fit shirt. Hey, even if you're not going to be there, say you live in Brazil and can't make it...sign up, you'll get a shirt, and it goes to a great cause. Here is the link so you can sign up.

I love running outdoors so much more than running on a treadmill. I hate the treadmill. So I've been going out and running the last 2-3 weeks around my "block", which is four miles. I'm still not getting as much of a long run as I'd like, because of a) bad weather, and b) an illness that Sarah gave me. Nothing like trying to run while you're spitting up phlegm every tenth of a mile. THANKS!

Julia and I have gone to Mas Amigos a lot lately. If you're not familiar, and you live in Champaign, make it a priority to go there.

I don't have a lot to say about the Illini in the NIT. It is going to be hard for me to watch that game tonight, although if I want to watch it, I'll have to do that on the internets. Yuck.

Julia has a lot of classwork going on right now, as well as doing some travel around the area for a project involving 4-H. That has resulted in a positive for me, however, as she brought back some Amish cheese this past weekend. Delicious!

I have purchased tickets for a Cubs game on April 15th. We'll be sitting in the bleachers. Love it. Great way to start the spring, really.

Anything else?

Some interviews....

Included in this update are my interview with Poker superstar Taylor Caby, as well as the actor that portrays Ron Swanson on Parks & Recreation, Nick Offerman.

Enjoy!