Hey everyone, I feel so slack about the lack of updates and the vague blog. I was so excited the other day because I won two tournaments in the same night. The first one was the UB 80k sniper which actually had close to a 100k prize pool. The second was the Stars 70k 11r which was a huge field of over 1700 people. No chops in either!

The whole experience was pretty surreal actually. I remember wishing the Stars tournament would go away so I could 100% focus on UB and not actually realizing I was at the final table of Stars. Fortunately, I went into the Stars final table as a massive CL and didn't have to worry about playing tons of pots until UB was done. The UB ft was a little intimidating to me as there were some highly ranked p5ers on the table. I got asked to chop at UB during HU but the guy wanted to do a chip chop at this point I was 100k chips behind. I said absolutely not. I didn't even want to offer an even chop but I did and he declined. I totally tried to intimidate him and told him I play/played lots of HU cash (which I guess its more shorthanded than HU). I got a tiny bit annoyed because I had him all in twice before he tried to ask for a chop and he was behind both times. The first time he sucked out and the second time we chopped. I was glad for the 5 minute break that came because I got up and walked around to blow off steam. (Again, fortunately, I was CL at stars and could afford to sit out for a couple of minutes.)

The last hand at UB that won the tournament I did suck out but not by much. It was a really standard hand. I raised A2dd and the flop was K84 with two diamonds. We get it all in and he has 89dd. The turn was an 8 and the river was the 7d. Lucky 7!! I was so excited at this point I jumped up and down for about 10 seconds because it hit me that I needed to win Stars as well.

So I sat down and refocused. Stars FT was 4 or 6 handed at this point...I didn't remember since it was really late and I had been playing for literally close to 10 hours. Stars was super soft and everyone was really passive. I got overaggro at one point and reshipped 86 to a button open when I knew he wasn't opening light. Fortunately, I was able to turn it around and win 1st in that as well! The last hand at Stars wasn't quite as interesting as UB. I had blinded the guy down to less than 10 bbs and he open shipped K7o into my bb which I held Ako. No 7 this time! As a side note, thanks to my friends that railed the Stars FT. I know you guys were saying lots of funny things in chat that I wasn't able to respond to because I was focusing 110%.

It's my first actual week playing tournaments. I got the tournament bug about two weeks ago after playing the ladies wsop and watching a few mtt videos. My biggest inspiration is my friend Jason (NovaSky/jakoon1985). You guys should check out his cardplayer interview www.cardplayer.com/cptv/channels/13-other-poker-videos/poker-videos/2221-the-online-zone-jason-novasky-koon . I can't say enough nice things about him at the risk of sounding like a total fangirl...oh wait I am! :) I still have tons of leaks to fix but overall I feel like I'm playing really well. I have never had the passion for cash games the way I feel now about tournaments. Yesterday I final table bubbled two events. I think one was the FTP 50k and the other was the stars 20k $50 (1r+1a). My AA got cracked by AKcc and 99 aipf for the CL. Oh well...on the bright side of things I got knocked out in ftops (1r+1a) really earlly so I didn't have to waste the money adding on!

On a life update, I'm actually on a flight right now back to Charlotte to see my mom for mother's day. I really really want to go for a Triple Crown on p5s but, when I talked to my mom yesterday she was sad and tried not to show it. My brother had made plans to go on a kayaking trip because she never gets Mother's Day off as she works in retail. She said it wasn't a big deal but, I could tell. My mom and I don't have the best relationship...in fact for a long time, we had a very bad one. I guess I just feel like she's my mom, she's family, she's done a lot for me even with all her faults (and all my faults) we still love each other. It's going to be a big surprise to her. I even got my sister in law to buy some flowers so I will be able to surprise her at work (if my stinking flight ever lands!).

Secondly, the best part about heading home is seeing my lovies. I am so fortunate to have such great best friends. Although they don't understand the poker aspect of my life, they know me better than most. We have been best friends since high school and I think its rare that friendships last this long. We have all had our ups and downs but I can say through it all our friendship has stood the test of time. I think that people are really fortunate to even say they have one true friend. I have several (not counting friends that I have met through poker!). So, I feel truly blessed. I cannot wait to see my lovies!! I feel like such a schlub because I literally decided to go to Charlotte the day before and my poor lovies are scrambling around making arrangements to pick me up/go out to dinner etc and come in from out of town (on top of having real jobs haha). I also can't wait to kick it back with my brother and play lots of video games on xbox and wii. He keeps trying to talk me into getting the wii, but I know with my obsessive personality, it would not be good for me!

Unfortunately as I'm continuing my blog, we have just taken off from Atlanta over 1 1/2 late because of some weather issues in Charlotte. Blah. When I arrived in Atlanta, I hadn't realized how long I have been gone from the South. Everyone's accent made me smile! (I know I know, I have a Southern one too.) I ordered a sandwich close to my gate and was tickled pink they had sweet tea! It's totally standard for every place to sell sweet tea in the South, but after having done without for so long I was soooooo excited.

Anyway, I'm giving up a huge opportunity to get a triple crown my first week of playing mtts because I'm going to spend time with friends and family. I will only have one full tournament day when I return to try to make that TC. So far I have UB and Stars covered (which I hear Stars is hardest to win because of bigger fields) and I will try to make it at FTP or Bodog. I will be missing out on Sunday majors and ftops :( but spending time with friends and family is more important than anything else, especially if it makes my mom happy.

As a final note, I completely understand why mtt players get really burnt out. I haven't been eating or sleeping well this week and by the end of yesterday, I was really really worn out. I will have to make sure to take at least two days off a week since I want to do mtts full time. My friend Walter says that at least when I get back I will be fresh and ready to win that triple crown!

xoxo babes, glgl at the tables!