Poker at MGM Grand

The morning began with hot coffee, toast and a look at the Record-Eagle web site to see the snow hitting the Traverse City area. Here the Las Vegas locals are complaining how cold it is - highs only in the 50s, brrrrrr.

But I was determined to spend much of the day indoors at the MGM Grand poker room. I arrived about 9:30 a.m. and quickly got a seat at a $1-2 No Limit table. It was a pretty tight table with few raises and fewer big pots. I won the third hand I played and was up about $30 early. Then I lost a few hands, leaking chips when I'd miss the flop.

But one big hand helped. I was dealt A-5 offsuit and called the $2 blind. The flop came K-2-3 in mixed suits. A Cowboy in a black hat bet $10 and got three callers, including me. The National Finals Rodeo is in town and the place is crawling with ol' boys in Stetsons and sporting belt buckles the size of hubcaps. The turn card was a 4, giving me a straight A-5, called a Wheel.

The Cowboy bet $25 and the other two players folded. I raised him to $75, hoping he had a pair of Kings or maybe two pair. I knew by his early raise that it was unlikely he was holding 5-6 which would have given him a bigger straight. He called my raise and the river card came - a 10 which didn't seem to help him.

He bet $50 and I went all in - about $80 worth. He called and nearly spewed his Coors when I showed him the Wheel. He mucked his cards without showing, so I guessed he had Kings or maybe two pair. It was a sweet pot and the highlight of my day. I played a while longer, then had a chicken salad sandwich for lunch and left about 3 p.m. up $125.

On the way home I picked up our mail and it was ALL for Helen. She got a beautiful birthday card from Anna and a couple of books from our niece Katie. Helen was really touched by both Anna's card and Katie's thoughtful gift.

Tonight we celebrated my poker success with takeout from the Cheesecake Factory - Helen's favorite BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad and I opted for a 10-piece order of their hot wings.

Now we're watching CMU play Ohio U for the MAC Championship - go Chips!!! I have CMU in a $10 7-team teaser bet that will pay me $100 when it wins. While I'm monitoring the game, Helen is on the phone thanking Katie for the books she got today. All is right with our world!