Vegas Pics - Day 2

At the Saturday tourney, Don is sitting next to MeanHappyGuy (in yellow), and Smokkee is standing behind him.

A bunch of bloggahs...
The mean tournament director who kicked out Iak is yelling at us here to "keep it down" or we'd all have to leave. Give me a break.
Uh, Zeem and Falstaff....

Me and Bayne

WAFFLES!!!!!! At the final table,.

BrainMc is HYSERICAL!

Badblood (arms crossed). He really is a nice guy!

Day 1 Continued

Okay, sorry - got side tracked with wedding stuff!
So, we head to the MGM Friday night. As usual, the blonkeys congregate to common tables.
Check out this donkalicious display of hotties:

And, the TRUE Vegas Hotties:

Vegas Day 1: Friday

Okay, so we get up Friday morning, drop the baby donkey off, and head to Vegas.

The traffic was really light, and it only took us a little over 4 hours to get there.

I got excited along the way:

Whiskey Pete's and Buffalo Bills are about 40 minutes outside of Vegas.

So we get to the hotel (Stratosphere), and get checked in. The rooms are OK. Nothing special. A good price for a clean place to stay. The bathroom was nice enough - a big tub for my luxuriation! The casino was just big enough, and not too busy. The poker room is TINY. And the female poker director is very outspoken and funny - she cracked me up! The only thing that I really did not like about the Strat is the fact that it's sooooooooooo far down the strip that it's kind of a pain in the ass to get to and from. Luckily, we had Ray's car there so that we did not have to burn a ton of $$$ on cabs.

We get to the room, and take a nap. Yes - a nap. Grandpa Smokkee was sleepy. I finally gave in, deciding that a nap would allow me to stay up really late that night. Zzzzzzzzzzzz

So, after the nap, we get beautified and head over to the Rio to see who we could see. I see a few Pros:

Phil -

Jesus:

Doyle:

And Fuel55!!! Not a pro, but just as good in my book! Plus, he had Jesus at his table.

Smokkee gets a call from Hoy, and we are directed to donkey table 161, where Iak, Hoy, Don and Weak have settled down for some WSOP cash game action. We chat a while and my girl Carmen heads over. I get the fashion update and the gameplan for the night: MGM cash games (aka donkeyland). A while later, Smokkee signs up for a satellite, where he ends up splitting the money with 2 other guys. Nice Job Honey!

After that, we head to MGM.

VeGaS bAbY!!!

Well, we are heading to Vegas tomorrow.
Ray says we have to get up at the ass crack of dawn, drop the little donkey off at the Pet Hotel, and be on our way promptly. Uggggggggg

I'm really excited to see everyone, including my girl Carmen, who I have not chatted with in AGES! I'm looking forward to hearing all the WSOP gossip and catching up with her.

I'm also looking forward to seeing Miami Don, Iak, Waffles, Fuel, Hoy, Blinders and all you other Donks out there right now - and meeting some new Donks like bayne. Missing from the scene will be Lucko, Peaker, Al, Poison and Kat. Boooooo! Maybe next time!

I really want to check out the Pussy Cat Dolls Casino at Caesar's. It's supposed to be burlesque. Should be kewl. I'm sure I'll have some pics to post latah. Not sure how much poker I'll play though. Maybe some blackjack. Hmmm.....may be a game time decision.

We are staying at the Stratosphere. I've never stayed there before, but have always wanted to. I'll give a report on the rooms and pool area. I plan to spend a good amount of time @ the pool. I'm soooo white right now!

Also, I wanted to give all you wine lovers a tip about Vegas that most peeps don't know: there is a wine cellar @ the Rio. It's kind of hard to find, but VERY worth the search! It's over by the Tilted Kilt. You have to walk down an iron staircase, and into the cellar. They have at least 25-30 different flights to choose from - HIGHLY recommended!

That's all for now. Viva Las Vegas, Beeeeeeeches.

Sweet Baby Jaiden

Ray and I traveled to my "Homeland (Cleveland)", as he calls it, this past weekend.

My nephew and Godson, Jaiden, was being christened, and most of the family was in attendance. So, we boarded the red eye from LAX to Cleveland Friday night.

Here are some pictures. Call me bias, but isn't he just the cutest baby?!?!?

And yes, this is me in the House of the Lord. I'm such a little angle, huh?

My mom, sister, me and Grandma with baby Jaiden after church.

And the winner is....JASLENE

The road Jaslene Gonzalez traveled to become America's Next Top Model's eighth season winner was apparently a long one, as she had to overcome an abusive relationship prior to conquering the catwalk.

"Before I got into that relationship, I had a good head on my shoulders and walked with my head up high," said Gonzalez in the July issue of Seventeen, People reported Monday. "But during that relationship, things went down little by little. It was such a dark moment in my life. It was horrible!" The 21-year-old online college admissions advisor from Chicago, IL said the relationship could have completely set her back from achieving her dream of winning Top Model, but she wouldn't let it.

"I wasn't having my rest or eating the food I wanted to eat. So I mentally gave up, but I still did what I had to do," she told Seventeen, according to People. "I think perseverance is the key to success. There were so many roadblocks for me, but I overcame them all."

In addition to receiving a management deal with Elite Model Management, a $100,000 contract with cosmetics company CoverGirl, and the six-page fashion and beauty layout in July's Seventeen magazine for winning Top Model 8, Gonzalez now finds herself in a situation to help others in abusive relationships. "I can give so much advice, but it starts within yourself," she told Seventeen, according to People. "You need to get help. Talk to somebody, because once you talk about it, you hear it, and then you understand what you're going through. That's what it took for me to let go."

Gonzalez is living proof that the strength gained from overcoming past difficulties can help you achieve your goal in life, as she had always aspired to become a model. "I couldn't believe how mature, strong, and confident I've grown," Gonzalez told Seventeen, adding her journey was not an easy one even once she made it as a finalist on Top Model 8. "I definitely broke down along the way though."

Jaslene Gonzalez (born 1986 in Puerto Rico, raised in Bolingbrook, Illinois) is an American model, the winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8, and the series' first full Latina winner. She is the third winner of Latin descent in the series, following Yoanna House (Cycle 2) and Naima Mora (Cycle 4). She won the title of America's Next Top Model on May 16, 2007, after having been a finalist along with 21 year-old Natasha Galkina from Dallas, Texas.

America's Next Top ModelBefore the show, Gonzalez was an online college admissions advisor. After failing to get past the semifinal round of Cycle 7, she was devastated but assured show host and supermodel Tyra Banks that she would be back for the next cycle's auditions. She did return, and was cast for Cycle 8. Gonzalez became a front runner early in the season, garnering high praise for her photos and being called first two times consecutively at the start - a Top Model first. While her consistency wavered in the middle of the competition (at one point leading to a warning from Banks that she was "falling and falling"), Gonzalez improved towards the end. The judges were also impressed by her drive to win. However, Banks was also concerned about the intensity of Gonzalez's passion for Top Model. In the penultimate judging session, she expressed concern to the other judges over how Gonzalez might react to an elimination from the show, fearing that Top Model "is her life".

At 5'7", she is the second shortest winner, ahead of Cycle 3's Eva Pigford, who is 5'6.5". She is the second winner from Illinois; the first was Adrianne Curry from Cycle 1. Jaslene is the only winner to have never made an appearance in the bottom two during the entire course of the competition - thus beating the record previously held by Cycle 6 runner-up, Joanie Dodds. In her on-camera commentary in the final episode, Gonzalez said, "I'm the Latin spice here. I'm not your girl next door but I'm your girl down the block in your hood." As part of her prize, Gonzalez wins representation by Elite Model Management, a $100,000 (USD) contract with CoverGirl cosmetics and a photoshoot for the cover of and a six page spread within Seventeen magazine.

My 7

New daddy Peaker did this to me. So, here goes.

7. Ray and I met in Las Vegas. I was there on vacation with my cousin, Jen, her BF and another girl, Erin. The day we met, I was sitting by myself at the bar at the ESPN Zone in NYNY. I was sitting by myself because of the events from the previous night:

Jen, BF, Erin and I decided to go out to the Hard Rock cafe Friday night. We arrived around 11pm and got drinks. We were waiting for one of our friends, a local, to join us. Brandi arrived around midnight and we all made small talk. I decided to go to the ladies room, and on the way back, stopped at the Hard Rock store. You know, the one on the corner, right by the entrance?
Anyway, I was gone maybe 20-30 minutes. When I got back to the group, they were not where I had left them. So, I walked around the round bar a few times looking for them. No luck. So, I went back to the original spot and waited. And waited. And waited. For 3 hours.

Now, the fact that I'm realizing that my cousin and friends abandoned me was sinking in. BUT, that is not the worst part. My delightful little cousin was carry the purse. THE purse. Let me explain. Oftentimes when girls go out together, they put all of their money, identification and lipsticks into ONE purse. One girl carries the purse. I was not carrying the purse that night - she was. So now, I have no purse. I'm moneyless, ID-less and have no cell phone. I'm stuck. And by this time, it's 3am. I must have been looking somewhat distressed because this guy comes up to me and asks me if everything is OK. I tell him my situation, and he lets me use his cell phone. I call my good ole cuz, and Yep, they are back at the hotel, fast asleep!

Are you F-in Kidding me?!?!?

I go out to the cab line, and get a driver to take me to my hotel, promising to run up to my room and come back to pay him. He is very, very skeptical, but agrees. I ended up tipping the guy $20 over the $7 cab fare. I then race up to my room, rant at my cousin, pack my belongings and get my own room. How could my own flesh and blood abandon me like that? In Las Vegas, no less?? She said I took too long in the bathroom. What a biotch! I have not talked to her since.

Anyway, the good part about this story is that the very next day, I met Ray. We have been inseparable ever since. So although I lost something on that trip, I also found something: the love of my life, my soul mate. I guess sometimes things happen for a reason.

6. I want children. Or a child. Ok, we'll start with one, and see how that goes.

5. I've never really been into drugs. I smoked the Marijuana once or twice, and experimented a bit with some other things once or twice, but that's it. I've never done cocaine, heroin or speed. Nothing like mushrooms or crack. Alcohol is my vice. In college I drank Boone's Farm wine and Mad Dog 20/20. They were cheep, and I was on a budget! I eventually had a beer phase, but that has passed. Now I drink mostly wine (I have advanced from the Boone's Farm, I promise!) and mixed drinks - mostly Gin & Tonics or Red Bull & Vodka.

4. I lived in Bethesda, MD, and worked in down town Washington, DC, 2 blocks from the White House, at the time of the 9-11 attacks. I was getting ready to go into work that morning, and my sister called and told me to turn on the TV. I watched as the second plane hit. I watched as the Pentagon, 2 miles from my house, was hit. I lived 1/2 mile from the Post Office that was poisoned with Anthrax. In the days that followed, I, and I'm sure many, many others, lived in constant fear. I rode the subway (Metro) to work every day, and constantly wondered if that was the next target. "America's Subway" is engraved in stone above the entrance to the downtown station, making this a prime target in my mind. But I still went to work every day, numb. Our building and the surrounding buildings were evacuated due to bomb threats on a weekly basis. I could not send mail to anyone, for fear of possibly spreading a deadly chemical weapon. It's truly a sick feeling to know you can't send your sister, mother, friend a birthday card without putting their lives in danger.

I moved back to Cleveland, OH after a year in DC, and never looked back.

3. My sister is my best friend. Although she lives in Cleveland, OH, we talk at least 5 days a week, and email almost daily. She is truly my best friend and confidant. She is always honest with me, tells me how it is, kicks my ass when it needs kicking and has been there for me every step of my wierd, funny little drama packed life. I miss her terribly and feel like I'm missing a huge part of her life by living so far away. I desperately want to move back East. And after school, God willing, that is what Ray and I plan to do.

2. I was married before. My first husband and I met in college Sophomore year. We struggled through 3 tumultuous years together, constantly fighting and breaking up. We eventually convinced ourselves that getting married seemed like a good idea. We were young, and very dumb. The marriage lasted about 7 months before our fights became physical. He hurt me physically ONE time, and I through the bastard out. I had the marriage annulled, moved to a new city and put that part of my life behind me. That was almost 12 years ago.

1. My dad died from a heart attack at 47 years of age. His heart was weakened by diabetes, as was much of the rest of his body. He worked for Ford for over 16 years, and had taken 2 weeks off for vacation, and to spend time with family. The day he went back to work, was the day he died. A massive heart attack on the floor of Ford Motor.

Although it's been about 10 years now, I'm still not over it. I will never get over it. Loosing a parent is tough. It's the toughest thing I've ever had to go through. I think of him every day. I talk to him sometimes, like praying to my own personal guardian angel. And I believe that he hears me. I know that he knew I loved him. But I will always regret not telling him more.

Little Smokkee's Birthday and Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo weekend was Little Smokkee's first birthday.

Of course, I was a huge geek and did this:

I've always told myself I would NOT be one of those girls who dresses her mutt in frilly doggy clothes, and thank God I have not gone that far. I could be a candidate for biggest spoiler though!

Dionne's out

Sorry, Wonka, but your girl Dionne has been eliminated.
The judges said she needed too much coaching....

BUT, I forgot about one Biotch that is still in the running to be America's Next Top Model!!

Introducing NeNe (Natalie):

Pretty HOT, huh?

So, it's NeNe, Jaslene, or Natasha. Who will win? I'm still voting for Natash.

A new recipe....mmmmmmm

I made this for dinner tonight:


Rosemary Vanilla Chicken Yield: 4

A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason, this is also an account of what happens when I make this dish, so you’ll understand each step. Of course when you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don’t like.

Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!I often braise chicken thighs for dinner; they have infinite varieties of preparation and go well with just about any side dish. They are flavour sponges too! In this version I pair the woodsy aroma of rosemary with the subtle flavour of vanilla. Try experimenting with other seasonings for different flavours.

Ingredients:
Rosemary Vanilla Chicken
8 x chicken thighs
4 tbsp of olive oil or vegetable oil
2 x onions, sliced
2 x carrots, chopped
1 bottle of chardonnay
1 x vanilla bean or 1 tbsp of vanilla extract
2 x large sprigs of rosemary, needles peeled off

Directions:
Rosemary Vanilla Chicken
Remove the bones from the chicken thighs by slitting the back of the thigh with a sharp knife. Carefully trim the meat off of each bone. Try to leave the thigh in one piece, but it’s OK if it ends up in several pieces.

Preheat a large frying pan over medium-high heat then splash in the olive oil. Add the chicken and the bones and begin browning. As each piece browns, turn it over. Continue until each piece is golden brown then lower the temperature. This is the best time to add the rich flavours of caramelization before the liquids are added and before the meat begins braising. Take the meat and bones out and reserve while the vegetables are cooked.

Add the onions and carrots to the hot pan and cook them for a few minutes until they slightly soften. This will brighten their flavours considerably. As you stir them, loosen any brown bits that adhere to the pan’s bottom. These are caramelized juices from the meat and will add a lot of flavour to the dish.

Add the chicken meat and bones back to the pan. Pour in the wine - reserving a sip for yourself! You may also use less wine and make up the difference with homemade or canned chicken broth. For this dish I prefer the oaky vanilla-like flavours of California chardonnay.

Slit the vanilla pod lengthwise and scrape out the seed paste inside. Mince the remaining pod and add along with the seeds and rosemary to the chicken. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Place a tight-fitting lid on the pan and let braise on the stovetop over medium heat until tender, about 45 minutes. Remove the lid and fish out the bones, they’ve added their flavour and can now be discarded. Turn the heat up and reduce the liquid until it thickens into a sauce. Taste; then season with salt and pepper.

Serve over any rice, pasta or grain

It was Sooooo very good!
If you try it, let me know what you think!
I love to use rosemary with chicken - it really is a great blend of flavors.

America's Next Top Model

These are the finalists.
Tell me who you think will win.

Jaslene?




Natasha?

Or, Dionne?

MY pick is Natasha. Have to love those Polish girls...

Home Game

Okay, so this weekend's home game was a friggin HIT!
Ray got his wish - I made hot wings.
AND, I made pasta primavera, pulled pork sandis, baked beans and BBQ Meatballs.
We also had a veggi tray and cheese tray (courtesy of Ray).
Everyone seemed to love the food.
Also, we supplied ALL the booze. Whitch I'm SURE everyone loved!!
We had a total of 26 peeps.

Here are the dirty details, according to Blinders, our tourney MC:

Saturday night, the Laguna Niguel Special Event on the OCPT was
completed, hosted by Ray AND Tina.
We had 26 entries, 55 Rebuys, and 22 Add-ons for an OCPT
record prize pool of $2,060. After a rebuy filled
first two hours, the field started to drop.
At the final table bubble we would have Steve,
Chip, Larry, Chris, Christina and Wes. Steve
would go out on the bubble when his preflop
push was called and did not hold-up. Next Chris
would lose a huge chunk of his stack, and be
eliminated a few hands later in 5th place.
Chip would be out next, followed by Larry shortly after. H
eads-up we would have Christina and Wes, who both
held nice sized stacks for most of the tournament.

Christina would have the biggest stack after eliminating
much of the final table. A chop was discussed, but
Christina would not negotiate, and used her large
stack to knock Wes out about 10 hands into heads-up.
Congratulations to Christina who won the largest 1st place
prize ($850) in OCPT history. She also moves into the
2007 lead, and 4th all-time with the oversized cash.
Congratulations as well to Wes who won $500 in his
first ever OCPT event. Thanks to everyone who made
this special event the biggest and best yet on the OCPT.




















Okay, So, I, of course, only made it to the second table.
I guess hostessing and poker do not mix. I did not get any cards and was totally consumed by the constant attempt to please my guests. So, I wentout with AJ os.
Oh well. Next time.

I'm Back, Biotches!!

Okay, so work is slowing down a bit.
School does not start again for a few months.
The Elf Is Back in Business!!!!

After long hours of working, keeping up the household and taking care of my Smokkee's (big and little), I am finally able to turn my attention back to my blog.
So you have me back - for a few months anyways....

This weekend, Smokkee and I are hosting a home game.
Blinders, Poison and boobielover will be there, along with some others.
Scandalas pictures to follow....

So, the Martha Stewart in me is trying to decide what the hell to have for food and drink.
I have to serve my guests a hot meal before I take their $$$, you know?
Any suggestions?
Should I go with the traditional wings and meat/cheese platter? or maybe some homemade pulled pork sandwich's (no jokes here)?
Perhaps a veggie platter? cheese platter?
And the booze: beer and liqueur. We don't serve water in MY Bar! What movie is that quote from??
Maybe some wine for the ladies.

I'm sure I'll come up with something, and be running my ass of at the last minute.
Oh the joy of it.

Call me the God Mother

My sis and her hubby have asked me to be the God Mother to my sweet angel nephew, Jaiden.

Not only am I intensly honored, but hugely overjoyed as well. Seeing little Jaiden's face makes me smile so big. Even during times of stress. I have this picture on my desk at work and all I have to do is look at it, and he makes me smile. How can you resist this face:

And, check out Peaker's blog for an article that brought tears to my eyes. It's called "And then one day, he looked up and smiled".

Saint Patty's Day

Okay. So I have not posted in a while. Been Busy.
Ray talked me into a hiatus from work to play at a home game this past weekend.
Blinders was there, along with Audra and some others.

I'm In!!!

I received this yesterday:


Hi Tina,

So I was able to use my magic and have the committee review your file today as opposed to Thursday.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

You have been accepted into the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology here at Argosy University/Orange County!
I had no doubt that they would love you!
I'm very excited to be sharing this good news with you.
You will receive an official letter stating your acceptance, but I thought I'd give you the heads up before you receive the letter. :-)
Now go out and celebrate!!!

Thy H. Nghiem
Assistant Director of Admissions
Argosy University/ Orange County

PARTY TIME - EXCELLENT!!!!
As I read the "Congrats", I immediately burst into tears, as I shared the email with Ray.
This is one of the most important days of my life.
I simply cannot believe that my dream is about to come true.
I look forward to this new journey in my life....

Party Party Party

This is me a year or so ago at a friends birthday party.

It was at a Mexican resaurant in Long Beach.

I was on stage dancing a little Flamenco....

We drink Sangrias and ate Mexican food, including flan.

A dream come true

I think we have decided on the Mansion.
It's an English Garden style white and blue estate on the ocean, in Laguna Beach.
As you enter through a gate surrounded by grapevines and ivy, you are swept away to another world.
Travel a short distance down the cobblestone walk to the cool white front door.
Enter, my friend.

You are greeted by a grand staircase, dining room a little further to the right, and two fireplaces.
On this main level, a large white-pained window is framed by elegant flowing draperies.
It beckons to you.
As you approach, you are struck by the most amazing view of the ocean and beaches stretching far down the coast.





Upstairs, you find one of the guest suites first. It is decorated in traditional decor, comfortable and welcoming. Very much like a luxurious Bed & Breakfast suite. Back down the hall a bit lies the Master suit, containing a fireplace, King bed and separate walk in dressing room. You hear the sound of the Ocean and are drawn to glide past the fireplace and bed, to the French doors at the West end of the room. Here, you open the doors and walk out onto a balcony on the Ocean.

The air is crisp and clean. The rhythmic waves lull you into a trance.

The ceremony begins on the sprawling outdoor patio, as the sun sets over the ocean. Immediately following will be an indoor cocktail hour and then dinner, where guests will be served, yes you are correct, Filet Mignon and Chicken Marsala (our caterer is the Chef that prepares the menu for Champs restaurants). Wines for each course to be selected by the bride. Dancing into the wee hours will complete the night.

And now for the location....

Ray and I have an appointment tomorrow with our wedding coordinators, Francie and Elizabeth Christy. These two women are totally over the top. They always serve us wine and give us appetizers, call each other baby and believe that they are "The Mermaids of Laguna Beach".

Check out their website.

Ray went with me to the last meeting, and I think his ears started bleeding as we girls talked about colors, cakes, flowers and dresses. So tomorrow will be a thrill for him, I'm sure.....giggle giggle.

Anyway, we are going to a Mansion on the beach and the beach at the Ritz tomorrow to check them out as possible ceremony and/or reception sites.





I'll let you know how that goes!

Wedding Dress

So, I went here today:

It's an upscale Bridal Salon in Corona del Mar. They had Melissa Sweet, designer gowns, showcased this weekend. It's the kind of place where they only have about 50 gowns, all very pretentious, all very high priced. Why did I go here? LOL - Did not know it was like this. I'm not a very pretentious person, and I don't care much about designers and labels (except in shoes - wink). So, I was on bride.com, looking at gowns, and a lot of them pointed to this bridal salon.

I got there, and was all by myself, which was okay since this was my first venture out trying on dresses. I walked in, seemed to fit in, sighed, and then signed in. This cute little OC blondie named Melissa was helping me with my dresses. So, basically, it's like, strip down in front of Melissa and spend the next hour climbing into dresses, looking into mirrors and having all these ladies coo over how beautiful you look.

I tried on this:

And this:

Both were beautiful. As I was falling in love with the second gown, I made the mistake of looking at the price tag: $6,000!! OMG BUT, if I bought today, it would be 10% off. LOLOLOLOLOL

Smokkee better win some Big Tourneys soon!

The search continues.....