Miss the sissy's belly already!! Oh, and some IMPORTANT poker stuff...

So, I'm sitting in the airport waiting to get on the plane that will take me 2,500 miles away from my pregnant sister and her large belly (she's over 8 months pregnant - due Nov. 17th). I'm filled with such a mixture of emotions: sadness for not being right there next to her, and fear because she is about to experience something scary and new, and a wee bit painful.

You see, my sister is my best friend. She is one of the few people that has stood beside me through all my ups and downs, the crazy decisions, the heartbreaks, the victories and the day-to-day stuff. Although she is 4 years younger than me, we lived together for several years at Ohio State; she as an undergrad and me in grad school. Although I'm the older sister, many times she was the wiser one.

I was honored to the Maid of Honor at her wedding. And am now honored to be the Aunt of her first child. And did I mention her husband? Perhaps the NICEST man on the face of the Earth! He would do anything for you, without you asking. He takes good care of my baby sis, and I'm eternally greatful.

So, the baby's sex is unknown. They just want him or her to be healthy. This drives me crazy because I'm ready to SPOIL the child already, and one can only purchase so many yellow/cream/green outfits!!! Also, those sneeky suckers are not giving up the goods on the name! UGH! What's a Mega-spoiling Aunt to do??

Oh well, I'll have to wait. Which I'm not good at. Patience is something I have to practice. Which MAY be why my poker game is shit. I get impatient, and do stupid things. Any advice from anyone would be appreciated. I would like to start taking poker more seriously. Smokk bought me a book: The Psychology of Poker. I think I'll read it. Anyway, look out bloggers....the hounds of hell have been unleashed, and are comin to getcha!!

I am soooo sick of this shit!

How many times have you been fed the FUCK up with Poker?????
I know, I'm just a hack novice that dabbles in poker occasionally. BUT, I deserve a chance, right? I'm a good girl. I'm nice to small children and puppies. Why can't I have a chance?? Why can't I win a pot?

Okay, I think I'm done. The psychosis has passed....

Anywho....the Mook sucked for me tonight. Athough I did not go out first, my lovah, Smokkee did. And, I managed to make it to going out THIRD. What a fuck up.

In the 2nd chance, I went out something like 12th. FUCK UP!!

I guess I have to keep in mind that I only play ONE tourney a week: the Mook. AND, it's filled with perhaps the best bunch of players in the world: THE BLOGGERS

So, how do I get better? Smokkee says to read books. I don't know. I want to just have the gift of winning. I'm a smart girl. BUT, in poker, you need both: smarts and the gift (luck). Damn, it sucks...

So now, for Wine

I love Wine. Ray has taken me to Napa, Temecula and Solvang for wine trips, and I have become a Lovah of wine. I have to admit, I was into wine before Ray. But, now it's all I drink. Can't hardly stand beer anymore. Here are a few of my favortie wineries:

Houge
Fat Bastard
Black Opal
Robert Mondavi
Peju

Spankin it

That Ass, that is.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Troy Smith is getting lots of help in his bid for the Heisman Trophy.

Smith connected with four different receivers for first-half touchdown passes and a stingy defense powered top-ranked Ohio State to a 44-3 victory over Indiana on Saturday.

"We're an equal-opportunity employer," coach Jim Tressel said after the Buckeyes (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) stretched the nation's longest winning streak to 15. "We'll throw it to whoever's open."

Portrait of a Heisman winner




Troy Smith has yet to pull a Heisman pose, but at this point you'd have to forgive him if he did. Ohio State's senior quarterback added to his already-gaudy stats on Saturday, going 15-of-23 for 220 yards while throwing 4 TDs without a pick. Unbelievably, that kind of performance has been the rule, not the exception, for Smith this season. Smith hasn't thrown an interception in seven of the eight Buckeye wins. With the date fast approaching, the Columbus faithful has begun drooling over what could be OSU's second No. 1 vs. No. 2 game of the season when Michigan comes to town Nov. 18. Without further ado, Smith's season stats:
Comp. Pct: 67.9
Yards: 1,715
TD: 21
INT: 2

So... I love to Cook

Here is one of my fav recipes for Chicken Marsala (I know, too domestic, but I'm a mysterious woman with multiple interests):

Chicken Marsala Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2003
Show: The Essence of Emeril
Episode: Cooking with Wines

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
2 (6 to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in halves and pounded thin
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups sliced mushrooms (cremini, oyster, shiitake)
3/4 cup Marsala
1 cup chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped chives, for garnish

In a shallow bowl or plate combine the flour and Essence and stir to combine thoroughly. Quickly dredge the chicken breast halves in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking to remove any excess flour.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and cook the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon of the remaining butter to the pan and add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are golden brown around the edges and have given off their liquid. Add the Marsala wine and bring to a boil, scraping to remove any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. When the wine has reduced by half, add the chicken stock and cook for 3 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Lower the heat to medium and return the chicken breasts to the pan and continue to cook until they are cooked through and the sauce has thickened, about 5 to 6 minutes. Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, add salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with chopped chives and serve immediately.


Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Were you worried??? NO!

2006 Ohio State Football
#1 Ohio State vs Michigan State (Oct 14, 2006 at East Lansing, Mich.)

Ohio State (7-0,3-0) vs. Michigan State (3-4,0-3)
Date: Oct 14, 2006 Site: East Lansing, Mich. Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Attendance: 73498

Scoring Summary (Final)
Score by Quarters ....1..2..3..4...Score
---------------------------------------------------
Ohio State............. 7..17..7..7......38
Michigan State...... 0..0...0..7.....7

Co-Workers asked me if I was worried about this weekend's game. I responded proudly and confidently with the following: I will have this same smile on my face come Monday morning. Hell no, I'm not worried!

And now, the famous Script Ohio:

LOL - fun and funner

How funny!! And how much fun! Okay, so I went out 1st AGAIN in the Mook. I was sooooo pisssed off! OMG - what a psycho! I forsook poker, the Mook and my boyfriend. Then, I got into the 2nd chance tourney. I got my humor back. Somehow the cards that avoided me in the Mook showed up in the 2nd chance. OR, I played differently - looser - not sure which. Whatever, I met my fav boyzzz slb and Surf on the final table. I don't even pretend to think I'm of the same caliber as them. I just slipped on a banana peel...and they were gentle.

Anyway, I took 2nd place, after Surf took slb out. And Smokkee made some of his $$$ back! Thanks for letting me dabble in the poker.

xxx ooo

The Mookie.....Ugh...

What a Donkie I am....going out in the first hand of the Mook. I guess I just couldn't let my AQ go. Oh well, not my night. I'll just stick to coaching Smokkee on his football picks. I like playing the Mook 'cause the freakin bloggers crack my Ass up!!

So, I'm studying for the GRE. This is a test I will take to get into Grad School. I got my Masters in May, but want to get into a school to get my Ph.D. in Psychology. Scary, huh? Anyway, I got into a school this Fall, but was wait-listed, and there did not end up being enough spots for me to get in. Next year, for sure. Anyway, the GRE is like a glorified SAT. There's no real point to it, and No one is really sure what is measures, certainly not IQ, but I need it to get in. So I'm studying. go figure.

Oh - and does anyone watch Gray's Anatomy? Holla back - it's the BEST show on TV. CSI is another Fav of mine.

Oops....we did it again!!

Heisman display: Smith tosses 4 TDs as No. 1 Ohio State rocks Iowa

Ohio State's Ray Small, left, catches a touchdown pass in front of Iowa defender Adam Shada, right, during the second quarter.

Ohio State's Anthony Gonzalez, left, celebrates with teammate Troy Smith, right, after catching a touchdown pass during the first quarter of the game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006, in Iowa City, Iowa.

The way Ohio State has manhandled the competition so far, there's every reason for the Buckeyes to think we're unbeatable.

In less than three seasons, we've seen Troy Smith go from a running quarterback to a relaxed, confident pocket passer. In 2006, the 22-year-old senior seems to be scrambling out of necessity rather than by choice, and mostly as a way to buy his receivers time to get open. Think anyone in Columbus is complaining? Hell No.

In Saturday's 38-17 win over No. 13 Iowa, Smith completed 16-of-25 passes for 186 yards, 4 TD and 0 INT. He also ran the ball seven times for 20 yards.

Smith threw for 186 yards and four touchdowns and No. 1 Ohio State made another September statement, thumping No. 13 Iowa 38-17 Saturday night and extending the nation's longest winning streak to 12 games.