Today, I put Lily on the scale to find that she weighed 34.3 pounds. I was surprised. To be honest, I thought she weighed more! (I would have guess she was more like 37-38 pounds). No reason for posting this other than for my own records in the future (which is the reason for most of my uninteresting posts!)
(via text from Las Vegas)
“Your dad’s drink orders (Starbucks) are borderline unreasonable… and fully incomprehensible.”
So, my California trip ended like so:
Monday, July 5: Andy and Dad fly to Las Vegas
July 5 – July 9: Hang out with Mom and Lily in San Francisco
Friday, July 9: Put Mom and Lily on a flight in Oakland back to Eugene for the weekend, as I stay in San Fran
Later that Friday: Pick up Ann and Isabella at the Oakland Airport
Friday Evening: Go with Ann and Isabella (and another friend) to the Idina Menzel concert — who was performing with the San Francisco Symphony
Saturday: Spend the day in the city / Chinatown / shopping / walking / eating
Sunday: Drive home with Ann and Isabella (12 hours of travel)
This all worked out better than anyone could have imagined. Smooth transitions all the way.
Putting Lily on a plane with my mom was very hard. Friday afternoon — Sunday night is the longest that I have been away from Lily! I was very nervous until I had heard that they had landed safely. I ended up doing ok and enjoying my time as a “free woman”, but it was very hard to leave my little girl. I missed her tremendously and thought about her constantly. I was so distraught from putting her on the plane that I had to get a manicure, pedicure and a haircut 
The Idina Menzel concert was fabulously fun, and the San Francisco Symphony was incredible. And, waiting outside by the musicians entrance for who-knows-how-long was worth getting the autographs in the end, right Isabella? (Sunday, the day we drove home was Isabella’s 15th birthday — so we had a fun birthday weekend in the city).
While searching San Francisco for Bubble Tea (my latest addiction), I stumbled across and huge mall. And, in that mall, I found:
‘wichcraft is a restaurant owned by chef Tom Colicchio (judge on Top Chef). I was super excited when I found this. Words really cannot explain. Andy and I have always wanted to eat here — and there it was. I was only bummed because I would not get to eat there with Andy.
I went there that evening for dinner (this was just a handful of nights ago — last Thursday, to be exact).
It was very hard for me to order. What should I get? I didn’t want something “plain and simple” like a turkey sandwich… I wanted something more inspiring, and something that could really “wow” me. (Andy is always good at ordering the chef’s best).
So, here is what I ordered:
From the “warm sandwich” part of the menu:
So, how was it you wonder? It took me a long time to come to a fair and final decision. Not overly impressed. It was good, no doubt. However, it was not really “warm”. My final thought was that this was a good sandwich. Very tasty, enjoyable and expensive ($10). But, it was one that I could re-create at home. I was not “wow-ed.”
We are home! We are home! Nearly 3 weeks in California. Well, some of us are home. My dad and Andy are still in Las Vegas (they both just broke out of the WSOP Main Event — Day 3). They both had a great run.
Anyway, I was going to share some more on California. We saw many friends and family members in California.
We visited Andy’s dad, grandma and sister while in Fort Bragg. According to Lily, Grandpa Terry is known as “Hot Tee”, Aunt Chelsea is either “Chelsea” or “Cha Cha” and Great Grandma Lily is “Nama Lily”. Lily seemed to warm up to them all very quickly. Pictures with them will have to come later when we get some from Andy’s dad.
We also had a dinner with my good childhood friend, Margaret. She lives in San Francisco and Lily, my mom and I had dinner with her one night in the city. It was great to see her (it has been years) — this was her first time meeting Lily:
My mom and I (and Lily too of course) also had dinner with my cousin, Celina, who also lives in the city.
Today started Day 3 of the WSOP Main Event. All of the 2,557 remaining players are playing today. (There are no more multiple day starts).
Andy started the day with roughly 15K in chips and Dad with 98K.
Here are the “live text message” updates that I have received throughout the day from Andy:
{Keep in mind, they started at Noon}
12:24pm: 19800. Q10, flop came Q1010. Ace turn bet it no calls.
12:27pm: Playing with Erik Seidel (multiple time champion, world class pro)
12:30pm: 24,200
12:33pm: Reraised preflop w/ AQ
12:42pm: 20,500. Round of blinds and one raise.
12:55pm: Mucked deuces. Would have flopped set
1:10pm: 46,600 doubled up w 1010 vs 66
1:25pm: Seidel knocked out
1:30pm: 39,500. Saw a raised flop w eights. No dice. Playing winning poker.
1:42pm: Two black eights again. Ace on flop again. 36K
1:49pm: 39900. Raised w kings, no calls
1:59pm: 80,600
1:59pm: Doubled up w 6h2h, flop two pair. AQ pushed on flop.
2:08pm: 77,300 on break
2:15pm: Dad is at 117,400
2:52pm: About 75K, flopped set fours after dropping 10 w/ AK. Playing well
3:05pm: 82,500
3:32pm: Blinds raised: 800/1600, ante 100. 76K
3:57pm: 73,600 blinds, no hands
4:06pm: Big pots I am staying clear of
4:16pm: 69K, blinds & 2 raised pot w As2s, no hit
4:29pm: On break 64900, no hands
4:40pm: Dad is 117K but has 3 guys w 400+K at his table
5:17pm: 74K, won raised pot with A10dd, flop AK3
5:21pm: I am playing well honey. You be proud
5:36pm: 79700 reraised pre flop w 66, against button raise & sb call
5:49pm: 1K/2k, 300 ante. 78K
{I just got a phone call from my dad. He is out. He was all in pre-flop with AK vs. 88. Flopped both an A and an 8. He had a really great run and I am extremely proud!}
5:55pm: Dad is out
5:59pm: Insane action already this level at my table
6:02pm: Pro just dropped 80K pre flop w 1010 vs AQ
Andy and Dad went to Las Vegas on Monday (July 5) to play in the World Series of Poker Main Event (Event #57) — for those that don’t know, this is just the “World Championship Poker Tournament.” It cost $10,000 to enter and anyone can enter — the majority of players probably have sponsors or win their way into the tournament through a qualifying tournament or something.
As aside: My mom, Lily and I stayed in San Francisco when they took off to Las Vegas (and we are still here).
Continuing on poker… Andy and my dad attempted to play in a couple of Satellite Tournaments (cheaper qualifiers) to avoid paying the full price. They both did reasonably well, but were unable to win seats. So, they were going to have to get into the tournament to old fashioned way: cold hard cash.
When you register for the tournament, which they did this morning (Wednesday, July 7), you are randomly assigned to table and a seat. Andy was assigned to Table 188, Seat 4.
Backtrack: This tournament is huge: usually about 6,000 players. There are so many players, that not everyone starts on the same day. There are four “Day 1s”: Day 1A (Monday, July 5), Day 1B (Tuesday, July 6), Day 1C (Wednesday, July 7) and Day 1D (Thursday, July 8). Every who registers can generally pick which day they want to start and everyone starts with $30,000 worth of chips. Again, this is a tournament so the goal is to win all of the chips. Once you lose all of your chips, you are out. Usually in a tournament, the top 10% of the field will make money (1st place will make 6 million or so?? I am just guessing). So, start with 6,000 players and once you get down to 600, you start making money.
Back to the main story line: Keep in mind, I am telling this second hand through with information gathered through a series of hurried phone calls and text messages.
As Andy walks in and gets ready to sit down for a long day of poker, he notices that there is something odd about his table: lots of young guys in fancy clothes, no dealer, hmmmm…. Something is up. Long story short: Table 188 is also the table that the current world champion drew. So, everyone on table 188 is on the ESPN Featured Table — guaranteed TV time as well as….. a sponsorship?!?!?! Andy gets offered to partner with some agency and Full Tilt Poker. He just has to wear a hat (I think they made him wear it backwards) and a badge. BAM. They essentially pay his entry fee, as well as give him bonuses if he goes really far in the tournament.
Needless to say, he has had a whirl-wind day. Through all of this hype, he is expected concentrate on poker?!!??! YIKES!
Currently (9pm): Andy and Dad just finished dinner break. They started playing again and will play a few more hours tonight. Andy has 25K in chips and I think Dad has 44K or so. Both of them are doing great!
The schedule, as far as I know: Finish Today (Day 1). Thursday is a break day (since it is Day 1D for the other starting players). Friday is Day 2A, which Andy and Dad will play. Saturday they get a break since it is Day 2B. Sunday is a break for all players. Monday is Day 3 and Dad and Andy will be playing again that day (provided everything goes as planned!)
So, with Andy’s permission, I will post the series of text messages that I received throughout the day:
The tournament started at Noon. He and Dad started with 30K in chips. I will leave out all of the love you / miss you texts
Texts from Andy:
12:47pm: Down in chips a bit. Playing a bit nervously.
12:53pm: Ok gained some back. I love you
1:11pm: Relaxing. About 23K
1:30pm: Bad call big pot down to 11K
2:13pm: Doing VIP stuff now (during break)
2:14pm: Signing forms
3:15pm: 11K staying out of action
3:28pm: Table broke. 10K. Going to regular table. Relieved after 3.5 hrs on TV
4:00pm: Yes. Just won scary pot with Js10s vs 77
4:15pm: No idea about Dad. Different area. I have like 12K
4:16pm: Playing snug. Pro to my left
4:26pm: Won pot with AK. 17200
5:36pm: Just busted set of kings with 7h8h
5:37pm: 20K
5:48pm: Moved tables.
5:49pm: Not playing many hands. Getting filmed lots cause of pro and guy next to me with Netherlands hat
5:50pm: New pro at this table. Playing cautiously well-defined range
5:58pm: Won another pot with 99. 21K
6:01pm: Playing with one of the Mizrachi brothers
6:10pm: Just won 3K pot off Robert Mizrachi
6:11pm: About 22K now
6:27pm: Thanks honey. A bit rocky today. Just lost an unnecessary 5K. At like 16K
6:42pm: Won a 3K pot with KJ top two
6:44pm: 19K
6:52pm: 25525 won big pot with tens
6:53pm: Break
8:34pm: Yes. Lost one w/ 55, won one with 3d4d, about the sake 25K
8:52pm: Mostly folding. Blinds and antes down to 23K
Lily’s words are really exploding. She is speaking in 3-5 word sentences now and is a great communicator. She will repeat any word that you ask her too (not always coherent, but she attempts). This is an incredible age. I love witnessing her growth and learning processes. She amazes Andy and I every day. We could not be more proud.
Also funny: before Lily falls asleep, she has to flip her pillow over. She ALWAYS has to get up to flip her pillow. Then, all is right and she can fall asleep.
(during his D&D game)
Erik: “At the end of the hall you see a noose.”
Andy: “Whose a noose?”