Racing? Or Blackjack?

The Race for the Cure 5K is this Saturday... I am debating running it for fun just to see how super slow I have gotten from marathon training. My time last year was 28:30 but I am betting my time this year will be more like 1:28:30.

Or I could just go up and hit the gambling boat in Myrtle Beach that morning.

Blackjack.... and I don't feel good :(

Let me start with my good news... I hit the gambling boat down in Savannah on Friday night and won $500!!! Yipppee!!

Blackjack has always been one of my favorite games... hours spent at the tables glaring at the cards, doubling down, hoping for the bust. I immediately started winning so I was able to play with winnings for most of the night, therefore making more risky bets. I socked away $200 fairly quickly, keeping about $50 out to continue playing. I got on a hot streak and before I knew it, I was betting $50, $75, even up to $100 a hand! I normally am a $10-$20 a hand player so this even shocked me, especially when my friend came over and yelled, "Are you playing $75 a hand?!??!"

Things were going great- soon I had $600 in chips in front of me from that $50 seed money. I knew the casino was closing soon so I started to play a little riskier. I doubled down on a $50 bet (dealer showing a 7 and I had an 11).... and the gal in front of me had two 9's and SPLIT them... getting two 10's!! AUGH!! Of course, I got a 3. And lost $100. And she was playing $5 a hand. The funny thing is... I would have kissed her if she would have taken my 3 and I got a ten... but I will just blame her anyway.

F*&^^&**K!!!!!!!

OK, last call for blackjack... casino closing. I throw down $100 on my last hand. And I lost.

Oh well... $500 ahead is not bad- although I could've been up $800 if I hadn't lost the last two hands. I will take the win... and definitely be back on the boat!

The bad news? I have felt sick ever since. My friend I was hanging with (and drinking after) informed me of his "bug" yesterday afternoon and now I feel like crap. Clammy, sweaty, loss of appetite, running to bathroom every 10 minutes, etc.

Needless to say, I did NOT make it on my scheduled 12 miler this morning. I am shooting for tomorrow.

Bleccccchhh.

Hot hot hot!

No, I am not talking about Sanjaya from American Idol... I am talking about this HOT weather out in Phoenix! There was a quick cold spell that hit Chicago right before I left last night (dipped into 50's at night) and then I land in 100 degree weather here.

I have been working myself ragged lately so I will guiltily admit I never made it out running in Chicago as I barely made time to get 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night while preparing for a big demo. This morning I woke up to dial into a teleconference call at 8:30 AM EST which equated to 5:30 AM local and me getting about 3.5 hours of sleep. Yipppeee!!

So, I got off the call and had had ENOUGH! I threw on my running shorts, tank top, shoes and shoved the local trail map down my sports bra and I was off! I am staying a little outside the city at this fabulous desert oasis- the Squaw Peak Hilton Resort. Because I am insane and travel so much, I have the highest tier status with Hilton and they upgraded me to a 2 level casita with a full kitchen, 2 bathroom, balcony, garage, etc. It is super sweet! I have already planned the after-game fiesta tonight in my casita.... yes we are going to see the Diamondbacks play the Giants!

OK, back to my running story. There are miles upon miles of trails in the Dreamy Draw Park- all pretty much in the desert. It was hot by the time I got out there and I could instantly feel the effects of not drinking enough water lately and I felt dehydrated. I followed my marathon training program which called for only a 3 mile run. I am definitely going back tomorrow and trying a different trail and going earlier to get a longer run in. It rocks!!!

The scenery was amazing- part of the beauty of traveling so much is the opportunity to run in different cities, in different terrains, and just explore. Glancing at the clock now... I think I even have enough time to jump in the pool and take a float down the lazy river...

Awwww....

Snow, hills, and running… oh my!!!!

3 miles is better than nothing, right?

I woke up after only sleeping 4 hours or so on my aunt’s couch and a long night of throwing back the homemade vintage, playing Texas Hold Em, filling Easter eggs with candy and silver dollars (I didn't steal any, OK? It's for the kids), and getting physically assaulted by the 84 kids in the house… and looked outside.

Snow, ice, 20 degree weather. Welcome to beautiful northeast Ohio, folks!!

So, I did what any sane Southern gal would do. I laced up my running shoes and did an easy 3 miles, stepping gingerly around patches of ice and moving out of the way while snow plows came through.

Go TIFF!!!

P.S. I think it was a wise move to save my 9 mile long run for tomorrow… when I am back in good ole’ Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarleston. Word.

Sorry guys... Amateur Hour is OVER!!!

Damn, it feels good to be in first place right now in the BlogLand Bracket Contest. See the standings here. Even better is the fact that Sh*t Talkin' Brownie is in LAST place....

Step aside boys.... let the professionals through.... It's MARCH MADNESS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Because this is a running blog and all... I have a 10K race tomorrow morning. Wooohoooooooooo!!!!!!

Get ready, BEE-YOTCHES!!!!!!!!!!

Get in where you fit in with my NCAA tourney pool... do you want to lose to Brownie this year? NO! Fill out some brackets and try to beat Tiff although she will most probably kick your sorry butt. Yes, I have had many mint juleps tonight. Yes, I am drink. But who cares? I will kick your sorry butt. And your little dog too.

Don't be lame after the tournament and say, "Whaaaaa I wanted XYZ team to win blah blah blah!" and "I knew ABC team would win yadda yadda yadda!!"

Why don't you BRING it and fill out a pool?

YEAH.

Here is the link- sign up.
Password: basketball

It all went downhill from there

There once was a 16 year old girl named Tiffany. She went on summer vacation with her parents and 17 year old brother to Las Vegas.

The lights. The glitter. The blackjack tables.

She dressed up in her finest black dress, teased her hair a little bit, and put on heavy eyeliner and bright lipstick. She carried one of her mother's purses. Her brother dressed in a suit. They agreed to stick together as a team so the over 21 cover would work. Fake IDs were not an option.

They walked across the street from their hotel, New York New York to the Excalibur.

Tiffany took a deep breath and sat down at a $10 blackjack table. The dealer asked if her "husband" would like a seat too. (Tiffany grew up in KY and this husband/brother comment still haunts her to this day)

Tiffany slides her hard earned $50 bill across the felt. Dealer does not even look at her and slides 10 beautiful red chips across to her. The rush Tiffany feels is indescribable.

Tiffany is dealt 2 tens. Not knowing what she was doing, she splits them. The horror! Everyone at the table looks at her in disbelief. What is she doing? Why? Is she drunk?

Dealer is showing a 4.

Dealer splits the cards and Tiffany doubles her bet.

First card on the first play- an ace. 21 on this hand!

Second hand- a 3... giving her 13. Tiffany takes the hit. An 8... 21 AGAIN!

Everyone at the table scoffs at her seemingly good luck.

Dealer's hole card is a 7. Dealer showing 11...must take a card.... pulls a 10.... dealer has 21!

Tiffany's hands push.

The table completely clears out.

And hence the fact Tiffany will never, ever, ever, ever split tens again.

Ever.

Runnin', gunnin', and gamblin' woman

Couple weeks ago, I was at a casino in Albuquerque.

I ran up to the roulette wheel and threw $50 on red at the end of the night while walking out.

I yelled, “It’s gotta hit red or black- 50/50 shot…blahahhahahaa!”

It hit double-zero- which is green.

Damn.

I should stick with hustlin' 7 year-olds at the Bimini Ring Game.

Charleston Area Woman Reportedly has, “The Best Day of Her Life”

AP- CHARLESTON, South Carolina

A local 26 year old woman, known to her friends as “T-FAN", reportedly had the best day of her life on Friday, December 29, 2006. Said T-FAN, “I usually just assume that Fridays are going to be pretty damn good, but I just had a special feeling this morning… like the sun was shining a little brighter, birds chirping with more gusto, that this might be the day I hit the Tiffany Trifecta.”

For those unfamiliar with the Tiffany Trifecta, it includes a USC Gamecocks win, a Clemson loss, and Tiffany beating everyone at the Bimimi Ring game out by the beach. The ring game is just that, you hook a ring on a string on a hook by swinging it. T-FAN has spent many hours perfecting her form at home and training with professionals.

Lo and behold, T-FAN got her Trifecta on Friday. She excitedly watched Clemson fall to Kentucky, the Gamecocks beat Houston, and got her ring game title, earning the name Mutha of the Ringmaster among the locals. T-FAN quipped, “I was not sure I could beat that last opponent, those 7 year olds really have the height advantage for the ring game. Good thing I practiced those extra hours before the competition. Can I get another beer, please?”

Eyewitnesses state that T-FAN was spotted jumping into the ocean later in the evening and then apparently she took a short recess to shower and appeared downtown at Tommy Condon’s, dancing the shag with a man in a kilt and then buying the entire bar a round of $1 PBRs at Big John’s. Her final stops of the evening included Henry’s and the bar at Oak Steakhouse for a Woodford Reserve Manhattan.

Sources say that traditionally, someone’s best day of their life is often followed by a not-so-good day.

In an effort to follow up on T-FAN’s wonderful day, we caught up with her this morning at Martha’s Beauty Salon. Vickie, T-FAN’s regular stylist, spent several hours this morning with the local celebrity. Said Vickie, “For some reason, T-FAN is especially quiet when she has early Saturday morning appointments. This morning was the worst we have ever seen. She worn an eye mask the entire time, sunglasses on top of that, and chugged several bottles of Gatorade. When I asked what she wanted done to her hair, she just murmured, ‘Jetaukuninckkoffff’. I could not comprehend what she was saying and she just waved her hand at me when I asked her to clarify. Oh well. Hopefully she will appreciate the new sideswept bang I gave her.”

And there you have it, folks.

bowl games bowl games bowl games bowl games bowl games bowl games bowl games

C...A...R...O...L...I...N...A...

Less than four hours til the GAMECOCKS play- I am pumped! GOOOOO GAMECOCKS!!!!!!!!

It's a beautiful 71 degree day and we are gearing up to go watch the game out at Off the Hook on Sullivan's Island. Yayy...I love it out there. And OTH is right across the street from Dunleavy's Pub, the site of our Polar Plunge on New Year's Day. Amazingly, weather.com states the ocean water on our coast is about 72 degrees? Doesn't seem right... but we may have to practice our plunge today if the Cocks win!!!

And as a special bonus feature today (mostly, because I am 3 beers deep already), here are my words of wisdom:

1. Just say NO to Clemson fans, they wear orange overalls. Hell, I grew up in Kentucky and they are just as red as the best of the Clemson fans. But Clemson SUCKS. Go Cats! Come to think of it... how did UK even get a bowl game? Oh yeah. They beat Georgia! Ha!

2. Beer is good.
3. I am packing my running shoes in the case of an impromptu Sullivan's Island pub run after our victory today. Yeah, we are winning. Yeah.
4. Beer is gooder in the afternoon.

5. OMG- UK has not won a bowl game since 1984. Geeezzz
6. Beer is gooderest in the morning.