Who wants to go SKIING THIS SUNDAY!!! Check the webcam, we have snow! Tyrol is looking very probably to be open! And I should get my new skis back from getting the bindings mounted today. This is very welcome news to me because...

The practical final exam for the class that I run is tomorrow. I'm sure all the candidates in the class think that they've been working their butts off, but I can almost guarantee that I've worked triple what any of them have to get this menagerie organized. I have 50 evaluators, patients, and assistants to coordinate, a trailer full of equipment, hell even lunch is taking some big efforts. Oh, and I just found out last night that the two oxygen tanks that I thought were full got emptied in practice session Wednesday night, so now I have to come up with more O2 tanks in less than 22 hours from now. I love working with this class, but wow am I ready for a break!

One very nice thing is that last night I said screw everything, I'm having a night for me to relax, and went out to play some poker. Lots of good stories and bad beat stories (most having me on the giving end!) . Only one I have to mention. What are the chances of getting knocked out of the main even twice in a row to identical hands? On monday, I had an inside straight draw and then made it for a 10 high straight, only to lose to a guy holding JQ. Last night, I get a cheap look at a flop with my 6d7d, and the flop came 10d 8d 10s, so I floped an inside straight flush draw. Lots of betting ensues, with me eventually going all in when I made the straight with a 9h on the river...only to lose to a guy with JQ. I nearly flipped out when I saw the red 9, and it was a bit of a letdown to then realize it was a heart and not a diamond, but it still felt good, right up until we flipped the cards over. Oh, well. At least I made $30 at a $5 buy in side game. Making money at a free event always makes me feel better 8-)