I glance up, trying to determine which table has the issue. I finally see one of the players in the daily tournament spin around towards the front of the room and yell, "Floor!" He adds a frantic wave of his hand - you know, just in case I didn't hear the ruckus. I drop everything and start weaving through the tables to see how I can help.
As I walk past the other two tables in the tournament, I count empty seats. The reason I get called the most is because I haven't balanced the tables the instant someone busts out of the tournament. I reach the player who called for me. "Yes, sir," I ask, "what can I do for you?"
"We need to balance these tables."
"I just counted seats, sir. We're good for the moment."
"No, we're not. We have six players."
"Yes, sir. You have six and each of the other tables has eight. Our policy is to balance within two, so we're OK for now."
"But it's six, eight, and eight."
"Yes, sir. We balance to within two players. Six players is within two players."
"Even with three tables? It's six, eight, and eight."
"Yes, sir. We have always balanced within two, at least as long as I can remember."
"But it's six, eight, and eight."
"Yes, sir. Eight minus six is two, so the tables are balanced within two. Actually, while we've been speaking, one of the other tables lost a player. Now we're at six, seven, and eight. We're one away from combining tables."
"So, you're not going to balance them, even though they're six, eight, and eight?"
"No, sir. As soon as we lose one more player, though, I'll be glad to balance the tables so that there are two tables of ten each."
As he turned back to focus on playing the tournament, I walked away. He was still muttering to whomever he could get to listen that the tables weren't balanced.
***
We seem to have a lot of interest in qualifying for the $500k event next summer. Many people expressed interest in the 1000 hours of play to qualify, but nearly 100% thought the 1000 number a bit out of reach. We're toying with a different approach, which we were trying to get approved this week (it may already be approved, but I won't know until Saturday).
The new gig would go something along these lines:
It would take 700 hours of play Dec 1 through mid-June, an average of 22 hours a week. There would be no double hours or any other foolery, strictly playing an average of 22 hours a week. Interested players would have to sign up for the program, express their interest to complete the 700 hours as it were. To stay in the program, they'd have to accumulate 200 hours of play by the end of February - reason being is that we will have to reserve some seats.
Yes, seats for the $500k have already started selling, which seems a good thing ;)
***
I started hiking again after a nearly sixteen month lapse. Other things commanded my attention. Monkey Boy busied himself with getting married and moving out of town. I could likely come up with a dozen reasons. I finally managed to get everything settled so I can get out and clear my head on a regular basis again.
That's the upside. The downside is the knee seems about to explode. I've had medial plica problems for years, but this time around, the pain seems worse than I remember it ever being before. I doubt that it keeps me from hiking unless the knee becomes impossible to move. After icing it and taking it easy the last couple days, the pain and swelling disappeared. I'm left only with the sensation of someone plucking something in my knee like a banjo string each time I take a step.
I'm sure it will go away ;)
***
The wife turned a year older the other day, which means that we're off to the Yardhouse to hang out with some friends. Time for an adult beverage!
8 comments:
Great story about the guy who plays poker and yet can't seem to grasp that 8 minus 6 is TWO. Bet he calculates outs and pot odds very well too (or is that, TWO)!
When you have to do the arithmetic for him, too funny, but I wonder how you keep from screaming as you run out of the room before you jump off the top of a tall building.
Many of my close friends wonder the same thing - I'm not known as a patient person. Still, somehow at work, I manage to smile and be as patient as a buddhist monk ;)
Love the Yardhouse! Get a Stone Pale Ale for me.
I still love the Yardhouse, too. I just wish they'd find a beer or two I've never had. I remember when they first opened and I could always find at least two I'd never had. Not so much these days ;)
Oh well, still a great place for those of us who like beer!
S , I KNOW UR A SMART GUY, INFACT A VERY SMART GUY, BUT WHO U KIDDING ABOUT UR ROOM & FUTURE PROMOS. TAKE THE SHORT DRIVE TO VISIT THE OTHER LOCAL ROOMS IN UR AREA. YOU WILL KNOW MOST OF THE PLAYERS ( THEY ALL CAME FROM N ) & ASK THEM WHY THEY ALL LEFT & NOT RETURNING. I DON'T THINK U WILL BE SURPRISED. TAKE CARE & BE WELL.
I've heard a few things, none of which surprise me as you hinted at. A lot of players I talk to won't tell me why they won't come back now that I'm working the floor. Seems I fit the role of a confidant better when I was pitching cards ;)
Still, some players have come back already. More haven't. I have no doubt that, as things stand, we will never reach the level of play we saw in the halcyon days of the room. Kind of sucks, but not much I can do about that except keep doing my job as best I can.
The thing that irks me most is that when I walk through either of the competition's poker rooms, I get no less than five or six people walk up and tell me they'd rather play in our room but don't because there's no game. Of course, if all six came and sat down, there'd be a game. Catch 22.
Some day, the powers that be above my pay grade will find the answer. If not, I'll be jobless once again :-/
that is some enormously impressive patience, but i guess that's what's required for your job.
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