When I got off the airplane and saw a woman in butt-thong blue jeans, I knew I had to be in Los Angeles. Afterall, it isn't every day a person runs across an outfit like that, especially a mid-westerner in Dockers and weejuns. On the casino shuttle to the Crystal Park, we spied a huge billboard ad for the NewYork NewYork casino on Vegas and the caption said: PERMISSION GRANTED TO MISBEHAVE, so we decided to take that literally and enjoy the 6 days in SoCal.

The fine folk at Crystal Park welcomed us with open arms, and the first day we played some low limit Hold'em to get our feet wet before tackling the big boys. BIG MISTAKE. Seems I had forgotten since February that the low limit HE in California is a BIT LOOSE, and after I caught my breath, I was down $280. NOT GOOD. Sharla was about in the shape I was, so we decided from then on, we had to play catch up poker. A game I have perfected. :)

Most of the poker we played was in the glorious 10-20 HE game at the Hollywood Park. I can't begin to tell you how much fun we had. I still don't understand why that game isn't going 24/7, and more tables than one. ( One night, I think it was Monday, there was a second game that was a must move table...and both tables went until the wee hours of the morning.) It was nice to see familiar faces again...Hi BARB, STEVE BIA, Ron and Amber ( Mr45and33)), John Reeves, Steve G. ....and all my new friends. Thanks for making us feel so welcome again.

I ventured over to the 15-30 HE game once, and rapidly filled up a rack of yellow chips, said my goodbyes and left. Something told me that if I sat there long enough, I might put that money back into someone's pocket, so I decided not to mess with success. I think that game could be a tough game to beat for someone like me who calls too often. Just my opinion.

I want to take a minute to talk about the wonderful people who work at Hollywood Park. In Feb., Phyllis Caro had BRIEFLY introduced me to Mo, the daytime floorperson, and he actually remembered my name. I was most impressed. Also, about the third day we were there, and approached the board to sign up for games, the board lady even remembered our initials. Now THAT is good customer relations. To all the floorpeople who helped us to feel at home, I send a heartfelt thank you. In all my poker travels, I have never met such friendly and helpful people. I am your biggest fan, and will always talk in especially warm terms of all of you.

A little about the 10-20 game and the fine folk who frequent it: WOOHOOO. What a fun game to be in. It is what I consider the perfect Hold'em game...lots of chips on the table, lots of table chatter ( of course, I take some credit for that.. haha). Just overall a wonderful experience. And of course winning in most all of our sessions helped to make it so.

One of the things that makes poker fun for me is the people I meet across the felt. And while a good majority of the ones I played with on this trip seemed to be mad about something most of the time, the ones I remember the most are the ones who seemed to be enjoyin playing. To them I say thank you, to the mad people, I say I am sorry. Life is just too short.

Let's see: I had quads twice, sharla had quads four times and a straight flush. We ended up the trip WAY ahead after our somewhat shakey start.

The last night, not being very interested in going to our rooms, we decided to spend the majority of the evening playing the 3-6 Omaha 8 game w/kill at the Crystal Park. HAHAHAHAHAHAH. I hadn't played O8 in ages, and had forgotten how much I hated it. BUT< I did pull four racks out, so I felt I held my own. So did Sharla. We cashed out a bit tired at 6 am, but feelig pretty successful for the trip as a whole.

Let me say this about that: I CAN"T WAIT TO GO BACK.

NewJane

A follow up by TahoeBabe

LA or Bust!!! My new motto!!!! Or, perhaps PERMISSION TO MISBEHAVE shall be my new life goal, oh, oops, forgot,,,,,, it already is. But just to know that the good people of LA knew we were coming and offered their full permission to do just that, well, needless to say, i was in hog heaven. I am 48 going on 17, and that was all i needed to make my next 6 days the best ever.

Someday I hope to actually see some of LA, but for now, the casinos have my attention. Is there more???? We had the opportunity to go do some sight seeing on Monday, however, I decided to take the 10 step flight of stairs at Hollywood Park head first, so, I now had a wonderful excuse to skip a sightseeing trip and plant my aching, bruised bod right back in the 4 seat at the 10/20 game. I could see no reason to drag myself out into the real world of LA, perhaps only to find another flight of stairs waiting to makes its claim on my lack of coordination. So, HOLDEM it is....sightseeing is for tourists...not avid poker players anyway.

My good friend, Newjane, stood firmly at the top of the stairs while I tumbled ever so gracefully to the bottom. The entire time I was falling, which seemed to be in complete slo mo.....I could only hear a familiar voice saying with such concern......."Can I have your chips if you dont make it??????????????" That of course was the loving, concerned voice of POKERJANE...alias NewJane1, hoping to pick up a few yellow chips if they were going to lie idle. But, I fooled her. Afer a brief sit down at the bottom of the stairs, I jumped up, brushed my toushe off, espoused to have done that on purpose, smiled, stopped the bleeding and marched right back in to claim my chips. Friends....are they not the greatest????

Regarding poker in LA. Well, what is different in LA is this, in my humble oppinion. They need more sugar in their water. It seems that the majority of players have a personality disorder which causes acute saddness, and anger. I have learned in LA, that when you hear that big ole wind kickin' up somewhere around the river card......there is an axiom to be learned........"Tis acceptable to suck...but not to be sucked" Read what ye shall regarding this.....and know that if you intend to be sucking.........prepare for flying cards, grumbling, and general dismay. One way ticket.....for locals only.

I would like to thank Newjane for a most enjoyable trip. The laughter, the card playing, the general commaraderie was superb. The food was great, the coffee hot and cards unbelievable. Im ready to go again. Anyone game????

NewJane1 replied

I am there, babe!!

TahoeBabe responded

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