These chips need more salt

I spent the day at a casino. Playing poker. Texas hold 'em. What the hell? Certainly not normal for me. Spending 15 bucks on new underwear stresses me the hell out, so how could I sit down with $120 and play some 3-6 limit cards, much less for over 5 hours? There are a few factors that come into play...

• The teacher across the hall, affectionately dubbed "No Hair" by my daughter. He's bald, and plays a lot of poker. At a casino, online, with friends, at the drop of a hat, he will break out his mad poker skillz. He talked me into joining in, and gave me pointers before hand and during lunch to improve my play. Sound advice, from a man who spends as much time playing as I spend chasing my daughter.
  
• Spring break is only spring break if at least one day out of the break I goof off. I hadn't done that yet, and today was the last day. So far the break has consisted of house cleaning, bad spinal news and more physical therapy, and potty training.
  
• I needed to have a sustained, day long control-freak heart attack.

I was shaking like meth addict three days into rehab. I made some beginner blunders, that's for sure. But damn, it was fun. I folded, checked, raised, called, bluffed, got caught bluffing, and had a great time. It has some limitations for me as a lifelong hobby...

• First, it is a solo thing. Sure, you're in a group, but it's not a chatty, friendly bunch of guys. It's a bunch of people trying to trick you into talking your money into their hands.
• Secondly, it's money. Want to know what I stress about? Money. More than anything else in the world. It makes me a little nauseous. I never spend $100 for fun, much less gamble with it.
  
• Last, time. Poker takes time, and frankly, I don't have much. I would have to trade out my bass playing hobby, and I'd rather give up my liver than my bass.

So I will go again, and I will like it. I will even seek out opportunities to play. But I think the folks at 1-800-BETS-OFF won't be hearing from me anytime soon.

Oh, and how did I do? My $120 went back in the bank, I bought lunch, and I have enough left for a trip to the bookstore. It probably would have been better for my financial future if I had lost it all, but coming home with extra cash is great for the ego.