WBCOOP First Round

I'm going to give periodic updates for as long as I last tonight in this tournament.

We're starting with 1704 players for no limit hold 'em. 10 minutes in and we're already down to 1589 players! I've had pocket J's and K's so far, but my K's got musted by - pocket J's! Must be the good luck hand of the night.

Winter Blues

Well, this time of year is good for re-organizing your office and doing small project around the house, but not for much else if you don't ski.

I'm trying to hit a bucket of balls every week, but there were two weeks that I didn't do that, even with covered and heated tees. So what's a guy to do? I joined on online poker league. Once a week, $5.50, usually 25-35 guys playing. So far my competition views me as less than illustrious, I'm sure, but I hope to change that soon. I've actually been playing pretty decent in the tournaments, not so much in the small stakes cash games. And a guy's got to stick to his budget.

Once golf season starts, poker will go on the back burner for the rest of the good weather. Speaking of golf, rumor has it that Chemung Hills has been sold. Hopefully they will open for golf in the Spring. It's such a nice course, I'd hate to see its loss.

'Crazy Stella' - Rest In Peace

I was sad to see an item in today's Detroit News about Greektown's former standout personality, Stella Paris, who recently passed on.

As a North Cass Corridor resident for a good part of the 70's and into the early 80's, Greektown was beacon to me. Back then, Trapper's Alley really had an alley, King's used books was the dominant store, and many interesting restaurants that have since closed or sold out were a second home for me.

Lamb chops at Grecian Gardens (the absolute best) and the excitement of the persistent rumors that it was a mafia hangout led me there when I had a little extra money. They were more expensive than most of the restaurants but the food was very good. The old International was a great and friendly place, even if you weren't greek. A couple of times I wandered into the coffee shop on Monroe where euchre was game and there was no pretense in furnishings or menu offerings.

Almost every visit, all year long, you would run into Stella, her crazy nurses attire intermized with other articles, ranting, yelling, at you or at nobody in particular. Sometimes I'd see her inside the old bakery. Over the years she just became part of the fabric of Greektown to me. In some ways, I miss that old Greektown. It's so much more commercial now.

The old Greektown had the Bouzouki Lounge - then a fairly classy place with *real* belly dancers. It has since transitioned into a 'Gentlemen's Club'. Of course, that was all before the casinos opened, not that casinos are bad. It was just a different time.

I've been aware of Stella's absence on Monroe for a while now, even though my visits to Greektown have become much less frequent. The story said that she's been living in a nursing facility for the last few years, that she had calmed down some, and that she seemed at peace. I'm happy for that because I don't think she had a lot of peace in her life.

For those of us that remember the 'old' Greektown, it just isn't the same without Hella's, Grecian Gardens or Stella.

Winter - but for how long?

A second in a row winter! Starts early, stays cold, fair amount of snow. This year, you can't even escape by flying to Florida since they are having record low temps, too. We're supposed to get above freezing by the end of the week, so I'll likely go to the driving range that has heated tees. I'm tired of swinging my clubs in the living room, but my wife is thankful that our vaulted ceiling allows me to at least do that with no danger to her knick knacks.

A good number of ugly early morning commutes so far this year. I hope at least the snow removal guys are making some money after many years of spotty snowfall and too warm winter temperatures. Every cloud has a silver lining for somebody!

Speaking of silver linings, Livingston County is getting a battery recycling company, Recupyl Battery Solutions, which will start with 10-12 machinists in a 14,000 sq ft facility in Brighton Township. Every little bit helps with getting people back to work.

Hooray for the students at Maltby Intermediate School in Brighton. They collected 7600 lns of food in a two week period for the Gleaners Food Bank! What an outstanding effort. I know that the food pantry struggles with keeping enough food on the shelf at times, so this is a great accomplishment. We should all follow their lead and pick up something for Gleaners the next time we're shopping.

Things I've Been Thinking About

(but not *too* hard)

If local municipalities want us to use potassium salt in our water softeners, why are they still using sodium salt on the roads? All that stuff gets into the water shed and our drinking water supply anyway, doesn't it? I guess it's OK for us to buy salt that's four times more expensive, but not the government. Hmm.

Isn't it funny that most people in the State know who Don Cherry is, but have no idea about John Cherry. Maybe John needs to take some hints on haberdashery from Don - people would certainly remember him! He might have even been able to make that run for Governor.

Loving the fact that on May 1, 2010 I'll be able to have a beer without smoke in my eyes, and nose, and on my clothes. To my smoking friends - sorry. I respect your right to smoke, just not within a closed public space. Boos (and hisses) to the State Legislature for not having the balls to stand up to the casino lobbyists and giving them an exemption.

Pretty slick move by the banks. Repay the TARP money quick to get the government oversight off their backs, then the bonuses can fly again. That's enough for now, I have a headache.

Support Gleaners Food Bank

Here's a group that really does a lot, especially in Livingston County. We don't take in enough donations to send food out, so food comes into the County from other Gleaners sites.

If you golf, Nov 22nd gives you an opportunity to play for the donation of a 15 lb or larger frozen turkey. You can golf at some of the area's nicest courses, Mystic Creek, Majestic, Timber Trace, Whispering Pines, or Hartland Glens - just bring a turkey (no, not your golfing buddy type of turkey). If you don't have time to shop, pay $25 and have at it on the links.

For more info see: http://www.gcfb.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pg_birdieday&AddInterest=1063

Election Day Thoughts

The good news is that most of the productive Detroit City Council members kept their seats and the newly elected will have a chance to turn things around. Not that it'll be easy in this economy. I was also glad to see the Detroit Public School funding issue pass. We can never give up on our youth.

Mayor Bing is still largely an unknown entity, but he has been earnest with his duties, unwavering in his vision and steadfast in his efforts thus far. I'm glad he'll get a chance to continue what he has begun, especially with a more civilized and mature City Council. (Thank god we can say, "Monica who"?)

Now for the important and hard work to be started by the new City Charter Commission. This may be the single most important work that will affect Detroit in the long haul. If this group does its job and resists political 'tampering' and meddling, it will position the 'D' for a real move forward. If they do it with too many concessions to the powers that be, it could be even worse than it is now. Citizens, get involved. Stay up to date with what is being proposed and what it will mean to you. And for goodness sake, get more than 22% of the electorate out to vote!

Did the UAW rank and file blow it with their refusal to ratify the recent negotiations with Ford? The CAW seemed OK with it. One black ink quarter does not a successful company make. I understand that everybody wants to make a statement and to stop being squeezed, but I have a very bad feeling about what will follow. Could Mexico be in line for more manufacturing jobs? I hope I'm wrong.

Republicans are starry-eyed over winning two gubernatorial contests. Democrats are over-thinking the results. How about just doing what is best for your constituents regardless of party planks? Personally, I don't give a basket of berries about your political party. Show me what you're doing and tell me why you did it. I will always vote for whom I consider best qualified for the job. You can score big points with me by working more than 3 days a week in D.C., to start.

It seems everyone is looking for 'their' handout - cash for clunker, first-time home buyer credit (hey, let's give it to everyone!). Still too many systemic problems with a too large government bureaucracy - nationally and at the state level. The bigger it gets, the slower it moves and the more diluted its actions. Everybody must be satisfied. I'm still waiting to see more reforms in the banking and insurance industries - especially those that got the big fat bailouts. What are the chances?

I'll save comments about Michigan's legislative and executive branches for later. I need to give my fingers a rest first.