From: "Don Rieck"
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 22:38:52 -0500
Subject: [BARGE] Bingo's Barge 9

I love BARGE.

I look forward to it all year, and it never fails to please.

First, thanks to Chuck and Peter for all their hard work; to Patrick and
Randy and the rest of the BCC for the great chips and pins (and the CLOCK
!); to the Shoe staff for 'getting' us, to Paradise for sending a check, to
Pokerstars for sending money, a suite, a rep, and Dan & Sharon
'Binglaholics' Goldman :); and to everyone else who volunteers at the
Symposium, organizes the unofficial events, welcomes virgins, gives me
rides, and otherwise makes me laugh so damn hard for the whole week.

I won't do a blow by blow, but some highlights:

.  Sitting in a 1-2 NLHE game on Wednesday about 1 hour after arrival, and
having Greg Raymer sit in the newly opened seat to my left.  About 5 minutes
later some BARGER (Foldem I think ?) walks by, looks, and says 'Great game
selection skills Bingo'.

.  In the same game, getting to chat with Greg 'Fossilman' Raymer for a few
hours.  What a great guy, and a great player.  We ended up at the same table
in the TOC tourney the next day as well.  The poker world could not ask for
a better ambassador.  Humble, smart as hell, and a general all around nice
guy.  Totally forgot to get a picture or autograph all weekend dang it.  But
watching Greg play and talking to him was just a blast.  Nice job on the
banquet address as well.

.  Meeting all the CHORSE teammates from team deadhead, some of whom were
new to me.  Lots of fun, and got really cool album cover magnet/card
protector.  Thanks guys !  I suck at Crazy Pineapple tho :)  After round one
when I found out it was played high-low I did better - DOH !

.  Going to the Nugget to go crash on Wednesday night, and having Ploink and
I convince each other that we needed a free beer.  $200 later at the craps
table we STILL have no beer.  We then logically decide $25 blackjack is the
best way to get even :)  Works for me - +$700 in about 2 hours plus MANY
beer units after we complained about the waitress who told two drunks
betting $50-100 a hand that she 'was too busy to deal with us right now'.
OOOH did she look humble after the pit boss talked with her :)  Ploink
avoided the AC chill by lighting money on fire.

Plus that let me get to know Ploink's 'peg' (since she had to find out who
kept Chris out till 4:30 am that night) who was just a joy to talk with all
BARGE long.  Amy r00ls !


.  Had my 'every 3 or 4 BARGE' total loss of self control Thursday night
after losing the crowd at the Craps crawl.  Went to MSS with Kubey and lost
there.  He had the sense to wait for the crowd.  I decided to repeat $25
blackjack success of prior night.  Ooops.  Some comments:  Martingale
strategies don't work.  Playing 3 card poker and roulette in desperate
attempt to win at something doesn't work either.  The ATM card should NOT be
on ones person during the craps crawl.  To bed at about 5:00 am, MUCH broker
and humbler and unfortunately hungover ALL damn day on Friday.

Patti made me swear a blood oath NEVER to lose more than $100 in a session
of pit silliness again, under penalty of a beating AND her revoking my ADB
hat.  Gotta stick to that one - can't lose the hat :)  Seriously, Patti is
just such a great friend that she actually CARES when she scolds me.

.  Starting up the Binglaha game and having Dan and Sharon Goldman just
light the game up.  Then Paul Phillips sits down with 6k in chips.  Nolan
gets rooled, and then r00ls the game right back many times over.  Binglaha
was a blast.  I think it's great that so many seem to really like it - not
so much like Chowaha for fun, but for a real gamble.  It's pretty much Omaha
high with some low probability backdoor lows.  It *is* fun.  Well, Lenny
might not think so :)  (Watching him shatter a $25 chip after a particularly
nasty beat was amusing.  I toked about a .003 gram chip-dust segment on his
behalf).

.  The Chicago contingent r00led !  Congrats to Peter 'Taki' Caldes for
winning the Stud, and to Frank 'Nut-Z' Brabec for 2nd in the NLHE against
Gavin 'Most likely to have entire final table at WSOP bleeped' Smith :)

.  Watching the NLHE final table was fun - Frank made a GREAT comeback.
Favorite line:  Gavin has some big pair (Aces ?) and Frank flips over 55 and
says 'Well, I'm ahead'.  ROFL.  Gavin has a unique style, and is a hell of a
player.  Having his Mom sweat him was kinda cool too.  When he introduced me
to her on Thursday I just said 'We're sorry' on behalf of her having to
raise Gavin :)  Seriously though - congrats to Gavin.  He's gonna go deep at
a big event this year I predict.

.  The reindeer games section seemed much tamer this year.  There was a
Chow-aha table that wasn't even STRADDLING !  Shame shame shame.  And no
chips seemed to be available for castles, although Jesus' entry from last
year won't be beat soon.  Strange to see this section so much quieter
though - perhaps we're just getting older ?

.  Blast from the past - seeing Sweettone !  Wow - I remember her attending
her first BARGE when she was just barely 21.  She hasn't aged, and looks
GORGEOUS !  Good thing I'm still the same as I was 8 years ago too :)
Speaking of gorgeous, there were LOTS of girl Bargers dressed up to KILL
this year.  I'll piss someone off if I mention names, but I think I told you
all how great you looked.  Wowza.  Oh, and did you see that great white
dress that Patti had on ?  Killer !  Kinda formal for BARGE though...

.  Great meals with many BARGERS, but the highlight for me was dinner with
Peter and Nolan and a virgin whos name I unfortunately forgot (sorry !).
The virgin was unsure he'd be at BARGE since he JUST HAD A FUCKING HEART
ATTACK THREE WEEKS EARLIER.  Good heavens - that's commitment ! Great
conversation and lots of laughs and stories.

Nolan and Peter have become really good friends, and I feel incredibly lucky
to know them.

.  Got to catch up with ALL the great people I see far too seldom.  Ploink,
and Patti, and Fich, and MPH, and Deadhead, and Barry T, and Betty T, and
Dan, and Sharon, and Barry K, and Al, and Russ, and Northshore, and Warren,
and the list just goes on and on.  And I still don't feel like I talked to
as many people as I wanted to.  We should work the first week of August, and
BARGE the rest.

.  Met a virgin named Jim (have his card upstairs, but forgot his last name)
who lives about 20 minutes from me !  New home game prospect, and a really
nice guy.  Cashed in his first BARGE NLHE event too !  WTG Jim !  And great
job with the Virgins Asya !  I tried to say hi to as many new faces as I
could.  Hope y'all come back now !

Why BARGE is special part 1:

Sitting at a tripple play VP machine Sunday morning getting ready to eat and
head to the airport, Gillian and Gerdog and Gillian's sister stop by, join
in, and teach me how to play.  I still lose, but what fun rooting each other
on (especially when Gillian went all in and hit quads ! :)  We then all had
breakfast together, and I made some new friends who I hadn't really known
that well before.  BARGE r00ls.

Why BARGE is special part II:

Running through the poker room to say one last round of goodbyes I bump into
Warren Sander, who graciously offers me a ride to the airport even though he
has no need or plans to go there.  Thanks Warren !

So I made money overall if you don't count the four figure pit-disaster :)

But as always I had an absolute blast.  I heard someone describe the BARGE
experience as working because of the 'birds of a feather' concept.  And
essentially that's right.  Despite all the trashtalk list destruction
pre-BARGE, when you're there it's all just fun.  Interesting, smart people
who like to have a good time.  What could be better than that ?

See everyone next year !

Don 'ADBBingo' Rieck