I loooove poker.

Specifically, Texas Hold 'Em -- it is the Cadillac of Poker, after all. At least that's what Mike Sexton keeps telling me.

How did this happen -- this whole poker thing? Well, I got hooked on Hold 'Em last year. I was flipping through channels and happened upon the Travel Channel -- and took in my first episode of the World Poker Tour. Later, I caught the World Series of Poker. It was insane -- the drama, the stragey, the bluffing. Oh man, I really wanted to play this fucking game... I mean poker had always sounded alright -- but it wasn't until I really saw how the pros were playing each and every hand that I saw the magic of the game.

On that level, it's all about how good you are at the game, 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time is luck -- that's why they call it gambling, baby. It's a truly fantastic game. And watching the top pros in the world play and seeing their strategies in use -- that's invaluable learning, right there. It's a terrific way to learn the game of poker at a really high level.

I mean, it's seriously enthralling stuff -- just ask Lindsay -- she's hooked now, too. One of us, One of us, bitch.

But, you know? Seeing it on TV still wasn't enough -- I really wanted to play. So I started playing some free games online -- not for money, though -- don't start calling 1-800-BETS-OFF quite yet. I was playing, just to play, try out strategies, etc. It was fun.

But I really wanted to play other real people who were just as invested as I was, so I enlisted the wifey. Since I had her hooked on Hold 'Em, too, it was easy to convince her to play some hands with me. It was a really fun thing to do. I mean, a match of wits between 2 people that have shared nearly every moment in their lives together in the last 9 years? Count me in!

Last Christmas, Don & Linda (the in-laws!) found two different sets of 1950's poker chips & holders for me. Wow -- great gifts. Lins and I have been usin' 'em ever since. But playing against each other just wasn't fully itching that scratch, if you catch my drift. So I went to Barnes & Noble's and snatched me up a copy of the "Poker Bible" -- Doyle Brunson's Super System.

Super Fucking Bigass Book would also be an apt name, if you were wondering (I'm pretty sure you were). This book is fricking yoooge! You're fired! (Hee. You should hear how bad my Trump impression is. Yikes!) I made it through that book in near-record time.

Lately, everytime Ross, Lindsay and I get together, the three of us shuffle up and deal -- Texas Hold 'Em time, bitch! Hee.

Almost everytime we play, either Lindsay or I will control the action, the betting. Lately it's been Lindsay. She's been killling Ross. Beating me up quite a bit, too... I'll mostly hang back and play tighter while those 2 duke it out. Ross will be in on most every pot, cause otherwise -- what's the fun, right? Hee. It's insane. It's fun as hell. I love playing poker with those 2..

Last Friday night, Lins was in Iowa on her yearly "I have a holiday, you don't, I'm going to Iowa, Nanny Nanny. Boo Boo." vacation. Know what that means? That means that Unkie Ross and Eric BuddyNyte Tyme™. Woo!

We both had a ton of fun. He came over and we pulled out the poker tabletop and shuffled up and dealt, as it were. Really good talk times and bad faux-documentary-style-movie-about-poker filming ensued. The Crippler vs. the King (working title -- okay, I just made that up.). Ross played the fading ex-champion coming back for one more stab at the big time -- the Crippler. I played the cocky, unlikable hip-hop trust-fund-kid -- the King. I mean, aren't there so many of those? Hip-hop-trust-fund-kids? Right? R-right? Okay, maybe not. Anyway, an awesome time was had by all, uncluding the dogs. Also: real poker betwixt Ross & I ensued. Much, much poker. Hee.

We played 2 games with decent sized chipstacks and Ross won them both. Kept his streak of a few straight wins vs. me going. But really, when it's a Ross vs. Eric event, winning doesn't matter too much. It's mostly about fun -- the fun of competing and pushing ourselves to do better. Hee. Maybe I should read that Super Fucking Bigass Poker Book again or something anyway? Couldn't hurt! Hmmm... (Or maybe I just wanted to type "Super Fucking Bigass Poker Book" again? Ooh! That was again! Yeah!!!)

So, anyway, Friday night was really one of those great nights that you remember for a long time. Especially if you tell a "story" on your "website" about it. Now I'll never forget, for sure. Also, have I mentioned how happy I am that Ross lives in the MPLS, scant minutes from my house? Cause I am. Happy. Woo boy. It's great to have such a really great friend live within "hangout" distance of me. I love it. This Spring and Summer? Much basketball will ensue -- oh yeah. It's ON!!!

Okay, I'll wrap this lil thing up. Good friends -- know when to Hold 'Em. *ding!*

Wow. That was kinda schmaltzy. We'll try not to go there very often. Our apologies. We'll talk again soon!
*e