Took the gators to Sunday School. When they got out I say (as I do every day they are learning somewhere) “what did you learn today?” Lincoln says “well first off I don’t know why they call it Sunday School?” then he says “and second we learned God made every single thing on this whole earth except plastic spoons and Lego persons.” I laugh, hard, out loud and he says “I don’t know why you’re laughing Mom cause he did it all in six days.” More laughter from me. We have fun …

Sierra was in math and Lincoln and I were headed to pick her up. I say “Lincoln you’re now 7 and a half years old, do you think you could go in the grocery story and get some orange juice and some eggs by yourself?” He thinks and says “no, I don’t think that will work.” Why I ask. “Because I will look lost and they have cameras and then the police will come to ask me questions.” I diffuse all this. A moment later he says .. “I still don’t think it will work Mom.” Why I say again. He says “because I probably wouldn’t be able to find my way back to the car .. but if you were to put marks on the tires I could find it then.” I laugh and say “Why don’t you just drop bread crumbs like Hansel and Gretel?” He says “Handsome and who? ….” Peals of laughter on my side and I tell him I’m sorry he’s missed such a great story. We will read it over the weekend.

One of the things I enjoy about being on the road, i.e. being in L.A. is I have a chance to think. My life is clearly in a transition, a good one. I did a lengthy on-camera interview where I was asked things no one in my life has ever has asked me. On point: “It’s clear why you started to play poker, (theraputic after loss of Hayden) but why did you stay with it?” No one has ever asked me that and it’s insightful as hell. The answer is because poker teaches me more about me than anything else I’ve ever done in my life. For me to do what it is I want to do, and to do it well, and at the best and at the top levels of the world, I have to get to my very core. And I haven’t seen my core in a long long time. This poker gig is making me a better person as the more I get to know about myself the more I like, and that is good. Good all the way around.

One thing I learned a long, long time ago about myself … no knowledge is ever wasted on me. Might have a wait a while to implement it or incorporate it into my gig .. but it isn’t lost. It’s in there and gets used in ways no one, including me, can even imagine. Interesting stuff.

Its nice to be home again with my little gators. Their world is so uncomplicated and easy. Conversations revolve around Science Night at school and whose turn it is to go to the mailbox. Nice.

Well I am out of the tournament. The whole two days was a struggle, just a struggle. Think I played good, solid poker just had trouble getting any traction. Having said that I am glad I played, played well and am glad for the experience. None of it is wasted on me, that much I know.

Won my seat yesterday in a cliff hanger of an event. When we got down to 22 or so discussions were started about a chop. As usual, a few didn’t want to as there were some short stacks. Two hours laters all the short stacks had doubled up and we were all pretty even in chips. Better restart those chop discussions Queen said and lo and behold the earlier holdouts were much more ameanable at ths stage. Saved a few hours that way too.

Survived Day 1 of the L A Poker Classic, 745 started and 477 finished. Just had one of those days you have to endure .. second best, lost 5k or so with JJ on a low board to run into QQ. Super aggressive table and little to work with. Finally call a pre flop raise with A K of spades, loose player reraises, I move all in, he insta calls with Jacks and I catch a king to double up to 24k. Almost the next hand he moves all in pre flop and I get KK for the first time in the entire tournament. Call, of course, and he has A Q offsuit and catches an ace to cost me $7,650. Had the hands happened in a different order, the kings first I would have been out so am grateful for that. Ended the day with $15k in chips, not great but a testament to surviving. Return tomorrow at noon.