Had a rough poker day yesterday with KK losing to 55 and AA losing to 22, it happens I know but sort of brutal. Last night friends who are teaching the WPT Boot Camp text and asked me if I was in town. They have a lady there attending who is there because of me. Said I’ve been her inspiration. They asked me if I could come by and say Hi. I told them I was playing today at Venetian but if bumped out, I would try to go by. I was bumped out, ran my chips up then got tired of a guy pushing on my left. Finally I reraise my 66 only to run into 77. Oh well, I could have played that better.

My mood was one of berating me for letting him get under my skin. I get my car and decide I might as well stop downtown at the Nugget. I don’t go to downtown Las Vegas much, don’t know my way around and don’t feel especially safe. Both valets were full so I am reduced to self parking. I don’t like nor do I do parking garages. I had to talk myself into going in there, parking and trying to find where everyone was at the Bootcamp. When I walked in the tournament was in full force. My friends took me straight over to a very nice lady who had her back to me. I tap her on the shoulder and say Hi I’m Nancy Todd. She said meeting me had been on her bucket list. Now that my friends turned a rough day into a beautiful one. I dare say that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I’ve never been on anyone’s bucket list, but boy am I flattered. Talk about changing my mood … sweet

I consider myself very lucky that things are so busy I do not know if I am coming or going. I don’t get a chance to play much. I did play the Stations Casino series and qualified for their Main Event, which was yesterday. 115 players. I went out 19th late in the night with money at 12. I played well, very well in fact, but made a few errors I think were crucial. I am definitely a work in progress but I like that. I continue to learn about me and my game, and that is all cool. Meeting with two young poker players who have a business venture idea they want to run by me … you never know which gate the winning horse is going to emerge … so listen I shall.

Leaving for school yesterday morning I saw a bird in the street. It didn’t fly away as they always do when cars approach so I went around it and parked the car. Come on kiddos, let’s see what is happening here. It was a baby bird, beautiful with a little bitty chirp. Obviously it had flown from its nest and didn’t know what to do then. I used a towel and put it up safely on the grass, Sierra located the nest and we prayed for the best. “Good job Mom” Sierra said when we got in the car. I said “We are all God’s creatures guys and it’s our job to watch out for each other.” Lincoln was still wide-eyed over the experience and said “God is going to give you like a million dollars and a … a motorhome.” I don’t know yet if I should be worried about Lincoln’s constant translation of the world into dollars but I will continue to work on him. Ha.

The Main Event didn’t go well, so frustrating. The structure at Stations is so fast and I got caught last week by not adjusting to it. This week I think I overadjusted and went too fast, maybe, maybe not, but I didn’t make it. Will try at Red Rock this weekend, maybe I can get to the right tempo.

Been much happening work wise and personally too. Not sure if there is much distinction between the two as I get older. I was on a roll this week at Bellagio winning four out of four single table satellites at Bellagio, which generated a nice sum of playing cash. Then I spent Thursday with friends and their friends who were in from Canada and had a blast. Poker at Aria and a great dinner. Got up Friday and headed back to Bellagio. Decided not to play the mega for the big one today as must travel this week and the mindset which is needed to do a huge, week long tournament just isn’t there. So no reason to start it. I did this event last year but this a different set of circumstances.

Went instead to stations out in Henderson and did a mega for their main event today. Won that at midnight and will return to play at 6 pm tonight. I’m okay with all of that …

I love being a mother, just love it. All aspects of it, the late nights, in sickness and in health I love being a mom. Took me a while to get there as I knew I didn’t want to be the same kind of mother as the one who raised me, and it took me a while to prove to myself unequivocably that I wouldn’t be. I had the strength to break the mold.

The children couldn’t wait to present me with what they had been working on in school for Mother’s Day. They both gave me coupon books I can redeem at any time. Sierra gave me a coupon for 10,000 kisses and Lincoln a coupon for one kiss (typical). Sierra offered to bring me breakfast in bed and Lincoln offered to wash my car.

Sierra wrote me the nicest most heartfelt letter, in her perfect handwriting which said: Mom, I love you because you are helpful, kind and beautiful. You try your hardest. You are very smart and you think a lot. You have very beautiful clothing and you are sweet and kind.

Now that makes me feel good. That my daughter recognizes I do try my hardest every single day AND that I do think a lot. Not many believe that to be true, but the ones that do see it are the ones that count to me.