Why Does It Take So Long To Fill A Seat?

Generally I prefer to leave my day job where it belongs, in the poker room. But eventually (aka, when I retire) I may have to write a book about it. I have one page done so far and since I haven't blogged in awhile, what the heck. Here it is. Along with pictures of some of the poker/gambling related jewelry I've worked on. These are pieces that can be found at ChezChani.

So, Why Does It Take So Long To Fill A Seat?

Short answer:
Table changes

Long answer:
“John , I have a seat for you on table 9, would you like it?.”

“Oh, I just played my blind, let me play to my button.”



Tick Tock.

“John are you going to take that seat?”

“Oh right, let me look at it.”

Tick Tock. Tick Tock.



“John, you taking that seat?”

“Yes, I’m just racking up.”

Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

“John, what’s up, are you moving??”

“You know what, I think I’ll just stay here for now. But leave me up for the next one.”

Some Things are Harder To Sell

I made these cufflinks awhile back but kept putting off listing them.


Why? I don't know. Some things are just harder to part with.

These happened to be made with mismatched cufflinks I got in a jewelry bag of odds and ends. The oval one is engraved 4-18-59, leading me to believe it's probably gold. Yes, this one is older than I am (yikes!).

Do men even wear cufflinks anymore? If they don't, they should...

Poker Mania at ChezChani

Just for the heck of it, I've been making fun pokerwear. Check it out...and keep checking because I'm pretty sure I'm not done.

Again?

I have just given notice at my job. I will be working in a brand new poker room in a brand new casino in a brand new multi-building, multi-purpose complex.

The new City Center features 5 different buildings, hotels, condos, restaurants, entertainment, and one casino called Aria.

And I am leaving my current place of work, a small locals casino in North Las Vegas, to go there.

For those counting, that's poker room number 8 in 6 years.

Am I doing the right thing? Of course nobody can see what the future holds. And even if it doesn't work out, does that automatically make it wrong to have tried? Is it ever wrong to try?

Everything is scary in today's Las Vegas. A new property means uncertain success, 90 days of probation, fear of overhiring...
Staying where I am means the fear of the room closing (business is very slow) and new people in upper management (they are already closing Keno in December.)

So...I don't know.

The Card Fairy

When playing poker, it's very VERY important to protect your hand. What better way than with The Card Fairy?

Food For Thought

August 28 Blog Carnival

1) Your favorite food. What is it and why? If it's something you make please share the recipe.

2) Back to school. What does it mean to you?

Since back to school only means I have to drive 15mph on Gowan on my way to work I will choose option #1.

I have many favourite foods so this is a toughy. I love and collect recipes for Sugar Pie, a Canadian treat that is as sweet as the name implies, and Shoo Fly Pie, an Amish delight I discovered whilst visiting a small town in Pennsylvania when I was 16. (On a side note, I also discovered what a taco was on that trip and I love those too!)

I also thought to share a couple of recipes that have been made by my mom (and now by me) my whole life. A lovely banana cake (not bread, cake) and a scrumptious coffee cake. Then there are my grandmother's Butterscotch Curls (drool) and my aunt's Cherry Wonders (which I can't make because the dough must be refrigerated overnight and I really cannot be left alone in the house with raw cookie dough ALL night.)

But you know what? Soup season is approaching, carrots are cheap and healthy, and would it kill us to talk about something that is actually good for us?? So here's a simple carrot soup I make that is delicious, easy and I've discovered, also good cold (in case soup season drags it's feet.)

FRESH CARROT SOUP WITH HERB MIX

1/2 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
Nonstick cooking spray
4 cups nonfat low sodium chicken broth (I just use powdered usually.)
1 lb carrots, sliced
1 teaspoon lemond juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chopped cilantro (I DO NOT use this. Cilantro....blech.)
Chopped basil (dried works fine for me.)
Crushed red pepper flakes

Saute onions and garlic in medium saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in broth and carrots and heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until carrots are tender 25-30 minutes.

Puree carrots and broth in blender (I use Magic Bullet) until smooth. Blend in lemon juice and salt.

Spoon into serving bowls (I eat it straight out of the pot) and sprinkle each with a little chopped cilantro (again, blech) and basil. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes for spice before serving.

4 SERVINGS, EACH SERVING:

152 calories;475 mg sodium;5mg cholesterol;1 gram fat;26 grams carbohydrates;11 grams protein;1.16 grams fiber.

DEAR HUNTING

From time to time, I gather small thoughts for my blog. They are too small to warrant their own post, so I put them all together in one crazy, mixed up blog. This is that blog.

1. This title came to me in a dream. Since I have Anthony, I’m not dear hunting (unless you know someone really rich?) and could not come up with anything to go with it. But I really really wanted to use it anyway. (I suppose if I Googled it, I’d find it’s been used, but I don’t even want to know. For now, it’s all mine.)

2. I worked with someone who, every Sunday, would go to the gift shop and buy a newspaper. At the time, I had a subscription so I started bringing in my paper so she’d save a few bucks. Eventually my subscription ended and I did not renew, so I could save a few bucks. Then, I noticed she went back to buying the newspaper on Sundays, and I would find it in the garbage. She’d never even ask if I’d like to read it. So what is that? Inconsideration? Selfishness? Self-centeredness? What???

3. It’s 10 steps to the garbage. Why, poker player, must you throw your trash under the table???

4. Corporations have RUINED Vegas! ‘Nuff said.

5. Sun City, please build in Reno.

7 WONDERS

1. Why does Bam Bam poop overboard everytime? He’s 13 yrs old, shouldn’t he know where his back end is by now?

2. Why would a 2/4 limit Hold’Em player, who constantly mutters grumbles and swears under his breath, and throws his cards when he loses, continue to play day after day?

3. How does one get cat hair off a hot glue gun?

4. Why do my blinds open from the middle while my windows open from the side?

5. Why is my hair getting all knotty this winter?

6. Why do miserable people choose misery?

7. Why can’t I burn wood in my gas fireplace?

.....What are YOUR 7 wonders today? .....

Catching Up

Finally made my first Julie Ann Smith designed bracelet. Took a long time and was not easy to do but I think it was worth it. I just love her colourful fun designs. I have 3 more to try. Minor adjustments must be made as the patterns are in odd count Peyote and I prefer to do even count (want to know why...inquire within.)

Anthony and I went to see the tiger cubs again at The Secret Garden. They are out of the nursery and have a lovely area of the garden. We were lucky to catch all 5 of them out there. They were getting their bottles when we arrived. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think there is anything cuter than a tiger cub.

I guess the jury is still out on the success of the e-poker tables at the Excalibur. I have not gone over there yet, I get most of my info on the message board at twoplustwo. We did go to opening night of the Eastside Cannery. First new casino in that area in ten years I believe. They did a very nice job, I wish it much success. The poker room is in a premium location, right by the front door. Cannery North, take notes. We didn't play because the players cards from the old Cannery didn't work there and the line was too long for new cards.

There is hope that the temperatures will drop out of the hundreds soon. Not soon enough for me.

Electronic Poker Tables in Vegas?????

I started a long winded blog about this issue and then I deleted it. Let’s just summarize with, electronic tables may have their place in this world. Cruises, small casinos in small towns that might otherwise not have poker, maybe even Sit’n’Goes, Satellites or Heads Up tables, my rumpus room (if such a room existed.) Might even be a place for people to fool around while waiting for a seat in a real poker game.

People do not come to Vegas to play poker this way. Tourists love to talk to dealers (I spent a lot of time dealing to tourists.) Tourists don’t care about the speed of the game (I was a tourist myself and if I lost my buy-in too early I had to go to bed. Faster game = faster loss.) Tourists don’t care about the rake (ask a tourist about the rake and a likely answer will be “what’s a rake?”) Even locals are paying $4.00 rake plus $1.00 jackpot rake instead of flocking to the casinos with the $3.00 rake or El Cortez which is still at an amazing $2.50.

I was at the gym yesterday and one old man says to the other old man “Have you heard about the Excalibur? I hope it catches on, save me on dealer tokes.” Other old man does not respond. (I’m guessing he didn’t agree but didn’t want to argue. Otherwise he’d have agreed, right?) This is for you old man, over 40 people lost their jobs but you can save a couple of bucks. Hey, life is grand. Here’s a crazy idea, just don’t tip you cheap _________. I’m sure the dealer won’t miss the two bucks you probably put out in a session.

And while I’m ranting about poker games and tables and dealers, why aren’t more dealers wearing cute ChezChani hand beaded rings?