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If you could attend any concert, what would it be?

BB King, Clapton and The Dead all played the same show at the Fillmore once -- that would be pretty epic and I don't even like TGD much.

Ask me to find out whatever you want at tournaments, of your favorite players or just random questions!

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Pretty slow day here until the LAPC Celeb Invitational - cash game questions today?

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Pretty slow day here until the LAPC Celeb Invitational - cash game questions today?

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What's the meaning of life?

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of the women. So says Conan the Cimerean.

Ask me to find out whatever you want at tournaments, of your favorite players or just random questions!

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Here is a questions. Is this thing working? ;) WhoJedi

It is now! I'm paying attending to details and clicking the right 'send to' boxes.

Ask me to find out whatever you want at tournaments, of your favorite players or just random questions!

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Live at the LAPC!! Ask me anything http://formspring.me/MattCWaldron

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Live at the LAPC!! Ask me anything http://formspring.me/MattCWaldron

The lack of posts...post.


Just a quick note to everyone out there that stops by to read this blog and wonders -- where is all the poker stuff? or why isn't he updating?

Quick answers:

This was a personal blog started before I got a bit more hooked on Facebook and Twitter for updates. No excuse really, but when you feel you are communicating, a rewrite isn't always something I have time to do now-a-days.

My "poker stuff" can be found at http://www.lifesabluff.com/ and http://www.wptmag.com/ as well as several other freelance spots that I'll point out from time to time. I've landed some nice freelance deals lately that are letting me get a lot more out there, but since I am still employeed full time, they are not letting me get back to the blog that often. If you know me and this bothers you, feel free to email me to vent, but don't get to bent if I don't write back.

THE GOOD NEWS:

Thanks for the widgets/gadgets here in good 'ol blogger, you can follow my adventures through the photos in the Flickr viewer and the recent YouTube posts on the right! See, all interactive an updating all the time...you just need to look right. ...your other right. There you go.

For up to the second, 140 character blurbs about what I am doing, seeing and thinking, follow me on Twitter @mattcwaldron.

As a note to all of you...I appologize for the lack of updates on the Blog. It appears that the world of Facebook and Twitter are a bit more absorbing than I thought.

Anyway, I hope to fix this as I begin posting about the WSOP this year and the interviews and events that go with it.

Cheers!

Post 101!! Hey hey! Missed a reason to celebrate on my last post, I've made it to 100 updates. Seemed to be running out of steam lately, but oh...don't you worry, I'm not quitting anytime soon. Some folks might be disappointed. ;)

Anyway, this weekends travel (and I was NOT going very far away after the LAPC, etc. the last several weekends.) was to Wondercon! (the San Fran version of Comicon) where piggy and I gawked at the Cos-players (folks in costume) met some legends and heroes and saw some generally fun stuff. Mainly, its all pretext to show you some photos!

Speaking of which, be sure and go to your right for the pictures on Flickr of the LAPC 10k Main Event, 10k Heads Up Event, 10k HORSE event and some smaller events including a 5k NLHE, 5k PLO w/rebuys and some of the smaller NLHE events.

Awesome this statue was.

You might know him as the Giant Mute from Superman 2.

JAWS!!

Not one of THOSE Baldwins, but that is why he's in all the good shows.

Greg "The Hammer" or "Spagetthi Head" as he was called by the Waldo Brothers.

Well he's the Honkey Tonk Man. And he likes Clamato.

Cobra Commander and The Baroness from GI Joe.

Lady "Sweeny Todd"

I fanboyed up pretty hard here, this is one of my MOST favorite artists and he can be yours two, Phil Foglio of GirlGenius.net and many, many other awesome projects.

Blade let himself go, but he's still badass.

Marie and her favorite super heroe -- Wonder Woman! (sing it!!)

And I am not making this up "Jedi Professors Holms and Watson, Private Investigators."

The Fairy Godmothers Redux.

The Changling Bounty Hunter from Starwars.

Nintendo's Paid Cosplayers.

Street Fighter 4. 15 years after the last great arcade standup...its back.

This is a very telling picture you see. I felt like a little kid here, I would have been dressed as Indy and the Darth/Storm Trooper Combo would have been awesome. Also, kid looks like my brother Charles.

Long overdue Christmas photos!! Yes, I know it has been a long, long time. Ima be sorry now, a'ight? Anyway, its been busy since South Beach. Flew back to San Fran just to hop a plane to the UK and ran from city to city almost every night for work over the first two weeks there. Managed to avoid being sick (and I was terribly clobbered by a cold at the end of the year) during the trip, only to get home and almost keel over. I missed my work holiday party (a Bond themed Fancy Dress party) so I don't have any interesting pictures of myself or piggy in Bond-themed costume wear. I was going to be Jaws and I was to be accompanied by a very sexy 70s Bond Girl, but, alas, I couldn't get up from a one hour power nap to try to rally the strength to go on. From there, I recuperated a bit and then shortly thereafter it was off to Missouri for Christmas. We had a great time staying at the Lil' Otter's house in the new room in the basement and spending Christmas with her family and friends. Piggy got delayed on the way in and ended up in Salt Lake City overnight (of all places) and I myself was delayed getting in till almost 1 am. We danced around weather issues but ended up making it through fairly well with only a short period of good 'ol Missouri "ohmygawd" icy coatings. Even that could not tamp down the Christmas spirit and we had a heck of a night with good food, great people and much shared love. Truly a time to realize how blessed I am to have these people in my life and things working out for me the way they have. And now what you've all been waiting for...the photos!!

Cute, cuddly and fuzzy is always welcome.

The new art studio is all set up!

Dad all wrapped up for Christmas.

Two heart breakers!

Pawpaw and MaeMae

Proud of the finished tree!

You must be THIS intense to play the Wii.

World Series of Poker, State of Poker, PokrPokr.net and missing poker in Miami.

Hello! I'm alive. Really. Hiding in the very tip of Florida. Came down for a conference, stayed for a nice weekend with Piggy in the South Beach side of Miami Beach (DUCK TOUR 2 Successful!), ate WAY to much Cuban and Italian food (after one year on the diet, thought I'd take the holidays off), partied at MANGOS last night, got up and peeled myself awake to post this and make sure you guys knew I was alive.

What have I been up to? Well, I covered the World Series of Poker final table this year for www.lifesabluff.com, Flush Magazine UK, as well as some photo journalism for Sky Poker (part of the SKY Satellite Network in Europe.) Don't ask me how I get into all of these things, I just don't say no when the opportunity arises. Well, as part of the festivities, Hoyt Corkings and the folks from DoylesRoom.net were sponsoring a very high end charity poker tournament for the JDRF (Juvenille Diabeties Research Foundation) at the brand new, MASSIVE (and good lord it is bigger than a Sear...a back-in-the-day Sears) Red Rock Harley Davidson in Las Vegas. A ton of pros showed up to lay down some cash for a great cause and play for a $20000 signature Harley. I did not win. Meh. Check out the photos to the right on my Flickr site for more notes. One below of Doyle, Hoyt and Me at the Life's A Bluff autograph booth signing prints by Mr. Ryan Estrada.
From there is was on to cover the Final Table as the November Nine battled for the WSOP Main Event Bracelet and 9.1 MILLION US Samolians. It was ESPN and Harrah's first run at doing a delay to build up the Final Table and show it mostly live. It was a huge feat and they should be commended. Again, photos and notes to the right...hope you enjoy them. Also did a lot more Random Questions interviews that you will see there soon as well as some follow up videos with Tiffany Michelle after her rather controversial behaviour at the 2008 WSOP. Again, right column folks...I don't put this stuff up for Skittles and Giggles.

Was recently interviewed on podcast by Duke over at PokrPokr.net about the SuperMix Game played with www.pokerroad.com forum members, my Random Questions and general this and that at the WSOP this year. It was fun and the podcast will be up soon. It hits some real highlights from the trip, so be sure and give it a listen and save me some typing. If nothing else, here how a 4/8 limit Razz game ended up with a pot of over $800.

While we are on the subject of Poker...I have a sin to confess. While I was in Miami I did NOT make it to the GulfStream or HardRock Casinos to play some poker and thus fulfill my traveling poker requirement. Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa. Lo Siento. Oh! And with a brave new world via the US election, come a note from the PPA (Poker Player's Alliance), a lobbying group myself andthe crew at Life's A Bluff have had a go-around with in the past but has now changed its ways and charged forth to just do what it really started out to do...and that is lobby to get online poker regulated and legalized so we can make some money off it in this country and stop shipping profits abroad. And here is that closing note, anti-poker nutjob politicians beware, there are more than a million of us now, and we vote!

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) played an important role in the national elections this year by supporting pro-poker candidates for Congress all across the nation. While the voters casted their votes based on a number of important issues it is clear that poker players made a significant difference in several key races.

The PPA was successful in helping to unseat a number of anti-poker U.S. Representatives; we also achieved our goal of electing many pro-poker candidates. Of the 54 candidates PokerPAC, the political action committee of the PPA, endorsed (12 of which were challengers) 46 won their elections on November 4, 2008. Moreover, we are pleased to announce that more than 40 of our lowest rated Members of Congress will not be returning to Washington next year.

Some quick shots from the APE! (Alternative Press Expo) in San Francisco. Some great folks from web comics were there as well as some fun alternative art and publishing.

Jeenie Breeden poses with her illustrated self at her booth. Read Devil's Panties damn it.

J. Jacques of of Questionable Content. I am sooooo jealous of his clean line work.
Sam Logan of Sam & Fuzzy and J. Jacques shared a booth at APE. Great Gear, get to their store.YES! The game is here soooooon. Home Star Runner.Bob the Angry Flower Creator as Bob the Angry Flower.SKULLBUNNY!Chainsaw-Baseball bat. Enough said.

Some pictures from this Halloween! We actually got 6 trick-or-treaters. Up from 1 last year. Overall, it was sitting in and watching some scary movies whilst waiting for the bell to ring. And now the photos.

The Queen of Halloween!

Pumpkins carved and unlit.

Franken-pumpkin through the grate.

Panda Pumpkin through the grate.

Just a couple of updates from the world of interviews!! Two new Random Questions Videos up now: I give you Polar Opposites in teh world of Professional Poker.

Clonie Gowen:


Todd Brunson:

Wow...what has been going on huh? Its been a bit, but here I am again.

FOOTBALL WEEKEND!! One game in and things are blowing up already. Brady hurt so my big Fantasy Football weapon is screwed, hopefully that won't be a long lasting one. Got Farve as a backup and apparently...NOT having a kicker is the best way to squeeze extra love out of your new-to-the-team QB. However, sometimes you do things like trade a prime Defense and running back to you end up getting your ass kicked by the woman you love. Willie Parker and the Eagles defense somehow cleared up all those questions people had about them. Big time.

Poker Update: Back from the Legends of Poker and paid for the trip on the felt and got some GREAT interviews and photos to boot. All in all, it was quite the success. Some photos below from the event. Pardon the odd formatting, I don't feel like wrestling it at the moment. Sometimes free, cheap and easy has its drawbacks. Thanks Blogspot. Anyway, met some great people this time and hooked up with old buds from Cardplayer, PokerPages, PokerListings, PokerNews, and PocketFives as well as the WPT crew. (Hang on gang, things will work out.) Mo Faithipour did a great job taking care of the high limit section at the Bike even though, like some fall-back Frat house, the big games and players went down the road (a scary, dark, east-Los Industrial road...) to the Commerce. My nights went long and I did not join them however so no stories from the big game(s) that were all over there. Reports state that it was one of the Commerce's best weeks in a while however, even with the pros scattered all over for big tournaments coming up in Maccau, Cannes, London and then the Borgata next week. Whew. How much money do people think is IN poker? Above is 10K US, 20K Euros, 10K Pounds, and then 10K US. So, a total of about 70k in 3 weeks for JUST the main events...assuming you are capable of getting to all of them. We are getting dangerously close to butchering the "sheep" of poker we are sheering it so close. Come on folks, lets get organized.

VACATION UPDATE!!: Well, Piggy and I made it to Seattle and then drove up to Vancouver on the long weekend. Wow, I am really pleased to have got to see both these cities as a tourist. Vancouver is like the incarnation of what San Francisco TRIES to be. They are obviously liberal, green and progressive but they are actually friendly, helpful and enacting a lot of the things that folks in Frisco are still just getting off the ground. Weather was cool but bright for most of the trip so we got lucky there. Seattle was grundge incarnate in many places, but they were in the middle of Bumbershoot, so that might have said something to do with it. In the end it was saved by the Duck Tour and dinner at Fado. Vancouver gets an A and Seattle gets a B on the "weekend vacation" report card. Gotta get the pictures off the other PC folks....give me a bit.

Creepy, no? Well, old Waldo hit a snag last week and was forced to take a break from poker for a while. ('bout a week, fret not.) Felt like everything was going well and I was playing solid and then the deck got as cold as the backside of a drunken polar bear's chain mail cod piece body surfing the snow dunes of the North Pole. I mean...brrrr. Online was not only worse, it was maddeningly, statistically, mind blowingly painful. So, rather than break anything or plow off into funds not earmarked for the felt, yours truly took a break.

Actually, this is all an excuse to repost this pic from icanhazcheezburger.net which, next to the fail blog, is the most logical place to go in a day to see some mindless, 5th grade humor and some semi-clever work with photoshop. Most are cute...this one...well...god help whoever owns that cat. Or whatever the heck it is.

Heading up to Canadaland...Canukistan...Our Northern Invasion Threat, er, I mean Neighbor at the end of the month for a long weekend in Vancover from a cheap flight booked months ago. Piggy and I are fairly excited as this is the first time she gets to use her new passport and we both get to see the gem of the Canadian West (via Seattle). I'm sure pictures will be forthcoming. Oddly, this comes at a time when I've really, really been trying to find a reasonable flight back to Missouri. Best case that actually lets me do anything is $450 bucks. Its disgusting, no?

LOOK MA!! I'M ON TV!!

For those of you that care to watch the WPT events, this weeks episode was at the Bay 101 Casino for the Tour's only bounty event, the Shooting Star. (Basically, if you knock out specific players, typically high-profile pros, you get $5000.) This makes for one of the best tournaments of the year and marks the the first full event where I was there as a reporter for www.lifesabluff.com and pulling in more Random Questions interviews than ever before. One of those was Jennifer Harmon (yes, you silly person, stop now and click the video links on the right to find it.) who did a GREAT interview and then finished the event third to the eventual winner SteamRoller/Bounty Hunter, Brandon Cantu and Steve "Mugglylicious" Sung. While I thought the coverage of this event was really quick and bang, bang it was a lopsided final table with Cantu running the table with the chiplead from start to finish...and by no small margin either. Anyway, you can see me on TV decrying the shot that knocked Jen out 1 hr. 41 mins into the show. Shaggy brown hair and a goatee in a checkered black n' white short sleeved button-up and a long sleeved black undershirt in the second row. Much to the WPT crew's credit, they kept me hidden behind the Pot Size graphic or in the "fuzzy" space in the shadows. Still, it was a great time. Should I find something...I'll post it here.

I got one of the new Sprint/Samsung Instinct 'iPhone killers' since my work perk was removed...so look forward to grainy 2 MP photos and videos send from your favorite shutter-bug otter-man/boy.

The chins are feeling better after some meds to clear them up. They are gaining energy at a rapid pace. Its possible they might spontaneously burst into plasma energy at any moment.

Lil' Otter starts school in less than a month and her Grandmother starts another Nanny tenure in Dallas very soon. Wow...where does time go, and what did I do with it? Its hard to believe she just turned 5 in April. Its hard to believe "SuperMom" is on her last gig before retirement (maybe). I just can't stand it some days...I really need a break to make it out of here or up in the world here. In the mean time, pray I just keep it together. Thank God Piggy is here with me, I'd be a complete basket case/degenerate otherwise.

Doh!! I'm THAT guy!! Posting pet pics on his blog!! Aw man...well, can you blame me? The following are from today's "exercise run" out back of the Casa where the guys can run free outside and stretch out. Something I am sure a lot of cage critters don't get the chance to do. The names appear to be officially Rosco and Sully. Sully is the fluffier one with bigger eyes and a patch of fur regrowing on his right side and Rosco is the shyer, mildly lighter one with a bigger head.

And the Rodents have Landed!

The two new arrivals at the Casa de Piggy and Otter steal the spotlight for now. I finally...FINALLY...has a pet at home. I have never gotten one due to my travel schedule and lack of budget/time to actually take care of a pet well. I spent a lot of my youth raising and training animals and it gets to be a big part of you, like it or not. Its hard to be a dog person without a dog, but these little guys seem to fill the void a little and can make it on their own at home for a day or so without having to be crated, kenneled or left outside to the elements. They are very bright and were picked up from the California Chinchilla Rescue in Menlo Park. (www.chinchillarescue.org) The boys are 12 years old (they can live to be 25-28 yrs old but have a typical life expectancy of around 18) and used to belong to a very nice gal that had to move away but could not take her childhood pets with her. In steps Lani and then in come Marie and I to take these fellas home. We went looking for one, but felt for the pair and outside of pelleting on us (actually quite clean, considering) they were very well adjusted and happy and seemed to be the best choice from over a dozen. Marie shot this little video (ignore my babbling) and I'm sticking up a couple of pictures too.





I final tabled the $300 Super Saturday tournament at the Oak's this week coming in a technical 6th though we had $2k stashed for everyone. With the entry fee tucked back and tips and a donation to PAL animal rescue (it was also a memorial tournament for a long-time friend of the Card Club and tournament who's love was pet rescue and bringing the team chocolate.) it tucked home enough to get some running money back under the bankroll since the WSOP fiasco. Final two hands were AJs against a short stack on the button who shoved when no-one raised and I called in the big blind for 35k more. Blinds were 5k/10k with a 1k ante and I had about 80k at the time so it was cut and dried really, except he woke up with jacks there. A few hands later I picked up Ten-Ten on the button (after eating a round of blinds and antes being card dead with action in front of me) and saw the other short stack (who had more than me by a bit) turn over KJo. He caught the king on the turn and I went out a lot further back than I thought I would...but hey, crap happens and it was a nice profit anyway.

Last week Piggy and I packed off to the Zoo in San Francisco! We had a great time and I went on photo safari. Working on getting those up on Flickr where you can see them or a "best of" on here but I really went nuts, so it is taking a while.

What may have brought on the missing-pet solution could have been the great time that we had going out with a friend of mine from work to Fort Funston beach just down the road on Skyline Blvd. two weekends ago. We took her highly energetic Golden out for a beach run/retrieving session and saw folks up there hang gliding (its a pretty sheer cliff face drop to the beach) and kite flying but almost no-one but the recently defunct jellyfish on the beach. Sadly, it was the first time we'd made it down the road to the beach that is practically in my back yard...but its not like we are in SoCal or Florida weather to enjoy it. No photos there but cheers to our new buddy and her canine pal for spending the afternoon with us!

Just heard that the lil' otter and her mom made it out for a long day at Six Flags and had just come back from some camping the week before. I hope that I get some photos, but if not, they tell me they had a blast!!

Prayers out to: My Mom as she looks for a new Nanny position (email me if you know anyone.), Piggy as she copes with my craziness, the players dealing with the end of the WSOP and their Main Event bust outs, my Dad as his election for a civic position, and my brothers as they both head into new parts of their careers (or in one case...trying to get one going).