March 2025 - Big-n-Easy

Cheers to Hoppy Old Men!! (RIP, fellas) 

3/2 - Well, this was a new experience.  I got asked by my work pal, Todd, today to help pick up the Cumberland U Track Team at the airport in one of two university passenger vans.  I was a little nervous since I had not driven this type of vehicle before, but it handled really well and was not a problem.  And the OT pay ain't bad either! 

When I got home this evening, I closed out the night with a NLHE turbo bounty tournament win on Global Poker vs. 17 other players with four knockouts for a total ROI of around 530%! 

3/3 - I went to see the $5 Monday Night Regal Mystery Movie at Providence Theaters in Mt. Juliet tonight with my friend, Toney.  It turned out to be the mildly entertaining, but overall, pretty dumb, action film, Novocain, which surprised me since it comes out next week instead of a month or so from now like previous mystery movies I've been too.  

I would have rather just watched the Andor Season 2 trailer over and over... 

Andor | Season 2 Trailer | Streaming April 22 on Disney+ - YouTube

Andor AND Steve Earle???  That's the greatest trailer ever made!! 

3/5 - Despite the typo of my last name (used to it), it was nice to get another shout-out on Facebook about my column and this month's article by Ante Up Magazine.

(Editor's note:  I noticed someone had fixed my last name's spelling the next time I saw this post.  Thanks, whomever!)

3/6 - I had to go to Brentwood for work today and I got side-tracked a bit afterwards at Curio Brewing in Franklin where I had their very good NEIPA called Eddy and finished with their strawberry wheat beer called Jolene. 

3/7 - 3/9 - I got a last-minute pet-sitting gig down in Smyrna this weekend with Super Cooper (photo above) and his feline friend, Chunky.  It was a nice, easy payday. 

3/10 - I stopped by East Nashville Beer Works - Wilson County after work today for a few pints and some dinner with my beer pal, Nate.   The new metallic ENBW beer club membership cards are in, and they look and  feel great!  I also earned a free pint with some loyalty points.  I started with their tasty, but high ABV, imperial stout called East Side Hippie.  Next up was their thick and bready Kold Style kolsch, and then I finished with their solid porter called Luna.   Dinner was an excellent sriracha chicken pizza with enough left over for lunch tomorrow. 

3/11 - It's Regal discount night, so I went to see the new sci-fi flick, Mickey 17 in IMAX at the Opry Mills Theaters in Nashville tonight.  Unlike most of the world, I hated director Bong Joon Ho's last movie, Parasite, even though it won best picture.  But I did like his previous sci-fi pic, Snowpiercer, so I figured that it was a wash.  I also really like Robert Pattison as an actor which was a plus.  I thought the film was pretty good overall, nothing great.  Great set design and a decent story.  But for truly visionary sci-fi I will take Neil Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium) as a better director/film-maker any time. 

I also got to enjoy some CU Baseball this afternoon while on the clock.  Take those work perks wherever and whenever you can!! 

3/14 - FINALLY! I finally got back to Finally Friday at 3rd and Lindsley today after a long hiatus and was able to work remote from here this afternoon.   Today's performers were Tom Hampton who I thought was very good.  Amanda Grace was scheduled next, but filling in instead was Korby Lenker who I really enjoyed.  I've bought two of his songs already, and even got to say hello to him briefly after his set.   I had a tasty chicken finger basket for lunch as well and enjoyed a cold Shiner Bock beer. 

Muriel Anderson and her beautiful 20-string harp-guitar concluded the show, and she was fantastic.  I stopped at the M.L. Rose in Mt. Juliet on the way home for a couple of pints including The Method, a decent DIPA from Marble Fox Brewing here in Nashville.  I concluded with the Pub Ale ESB from Black Abbey Brewing here in Nashville also.  

I got home tonight to take down a massive second-place finish on Global Poker in a small buy-in turbo NLHE mystery bounty tournament vs. 279 other players.  With my seven knockouts I cleared an ROI of a whopping 6,500%.  And, yes, I had a chance at the win if not for an awful call preflop by my heads-up opponent and a sickening suck-out.  But, hey, I had a couple of miracles to get this far also, so no biggie.  

3/15 - I watched my Duke boys wrap up the 2025 ACC Tournament Championship tonight (also Regular Season Champs) without superstar, Cooper Flagg, which made it even more impressive.  On to The Big Dance!! I also had a good day/night on the virtual felt on Global Poker with two outright small buy-in tournament wins and cashing in two other larger buy-in tournaments - both of which I satellited into.  It was enough collective ROI to cash in $100 profit.  The info on the two wins is as follows:

NLCP turbo vs. 18 other players for an ROI of 800%

NLHE turbo bounty with 14 knockouts vs. 136 other players for a total ROI of 3,200%

(Editor's note:  with the winnings I bought Ashlee and myself tickets to see Tom Hanks live with his daughter and her new book.  And also, I bought a new CU hat.)

3/16 - I had to run up to Gallatin today for a dog-sitting meet and greet so I stopped by for a cold one or two at Half Batch Brewing over in Hendersonville since I was up that way.  I started with their Banzai New Zealand-style pale ale that was decent.  I finished with their very nice high-ABV Scotch ale called The Big Fulkin (photo above).  

I got home tonight to become another double tournament winner on Global Poker.  Both were small buy-ins, but they all count!  First was a NLHE super bounty turbo with just ten other players, but with five knockouts it gave me a total ROI of right at 600%!  Second was a NLCP turbo tourney with 23 other players and an ROI of just at 900%!  

3/17 - Man, that came fast!  My signed and personalized copy of "Blood Game" by Jeffe Boats came today.  It's a spy action thriller with a twist of poker as well.  Recommended by the guys on the "Poker in the Ears" podcast, I figured I would grab a copy with a little discount as well.  Since it came straight from the author, I also got two cool poker chips in the shipment as well.  Thanks, Jeffe!!  Looking forward to reading this one! 

Speaking of poker, I got another small buy-in NLCP tournament win tonight on Global vs. 16 other players for an ROI of right at 700%!  That's a third of the book cost right there! 

3/18 - I had a multi-day pet-sitting gig in Gallatin that started today with this little goober named Pippen and his two feline roommates.   Another easy side hustle in a very nice home with some awesome pets! 

 

3/19 - When in Gallatin, you eat Prince Street Pizza!! And since they have a Philly cheesesteak pie called the Always Sunny, it becomes even more of a must-devour!  

I got a very small (only 8 other players) NLCP turbo tournament win tonight for an ROI of over 400%.  That, along with some deep runs/cashes in some higher buy-in tourneys tonight, got my suffering bankroll back up to where it should be on Global Poker.  

3/20 - I had to run over to Watertown today to get my hair cut and I always stop in Three Forks Market while I am there to grab lunch (excellent fried chicken tenders) and peruse their craft beer section.  If I see something I haven't had I usually get a sixer of it to support them having craft beer in such a small town and store.  Today it was the Friday Beers Tasty Light lager from Almost Friday Brewing (NY).  And since it was "almost Friday" I cracked a couple back at my house-sitting abode in Gallatin this afternoon.  They were pretty good for a light beer. 

I got another very small (only 8 other players again) NLCP turbo tournament win tonight on Global Poker for an ROI of over 400%.  

3/21 - I see a pattern here...I got another very small (only 8 other players again) NLHE super bounty turbo tournament win tonight on Global Poker.  Along with my two knockouts it was an ROI of just under 300%. 

3/22 - We drove down to Chattanooga today to celebrate our niece and nephew's separate birthdays coming up this week. After a great brunch, we stopped by the Play, Wash, Pint dog park (and bar) where I had a few new-to-me libations including a decent NEIPA from Naked River Brewing there in Chatty called Slick and Hazy.  I also had a sip of Ashlee's Pina Colada cider from Austin Eastciders (TX) that wasn't too bad.  I finished with two much better NEIPAs from Oskar Blues Brewing (CO, NC, TX) called Hazy Blues and then Imperial Hazy Blues (photo above).  It was a perfect day for some early spring outdoor beers and doggie shenanigans! 

I actually got to see this incredible play live on Friday at work (3/21) and then it made #1 on the ESPN Play of the Day!!  Go CU!! 

3/23 - It was a bittersweet day on the couch today as I watched my Duke boys absolutely dismantle Baylor to advance to the Sweet 16.  But it was also tough seeing former Duke player who I've met and was one of my favorites, Jeremy Roach, suited up in green and yellow and taking the loss to his former team.  This screen-grab pic was a nice moment after the game with Tyrese Proctor (who had seven 3-pointers) being a good dude to his former teammate.  Man, I still love my Duke program so much!  So classy! 

During the game I also enjoyed a pint can of the Parched Pig Pumpkin ale which my awesome wife brought me back from a recent girls cruise she went on aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras that evidently has its own floating craft brewery (damn it! why wasn't I invited!! - next time for sure!!).  UNTAPPD says it's made by the Pig and Anchor Brewhouse in Miami, but it does look like they've brokered a deal with several Carnival ships actually to have working breweries onboard.  Very cool! 

I won a low buy-in turbo bounty NLHE tournament on Global Poker tonight vs. 94 other players.  With just four knockouts, I still managed an ROI of over 2,000%!!
I took some of those winnings and entered a larger buy-in NLCP tournament where I cashed in third place and was able to cash out $75 profit!! 

3/24 - Look what arrived today!  More Global Poker hardware and swag for winning Event # 8-H of the Grizzly Games VIII GC Poker Tournament Series back in early February!!  And I didn't even have to wait a month of Sundays to get it.  Way to be on the ball there, GP!! 

3/25 - I was on the road today for work today and had to blow off a transfer fair in Harriman after an hour due to it being held stupidly outside in windy-ass March.  But that also gave me time to stop by the incredible Stinging Fork Falls outside Spring City.  It's been over 30 years since I've been here and it was well worth the visit again.  I forgot what a stunner it is.  It was a good (and steep) three-mile roundtrip, but I handled it pretty well I'm proud to say.  

 My day continued to improve with a stop for lunch and libations at Monkey Town Brewing in Dayton.  With my tasty smashburger sliders and corn nuggets I had their really good wheat ale called Hefelumps and Woozles, and finished with their fine West Coast (yay! hops!!) IPA called Ma! The Powers Back!  These guys are a clubhouse leader in great beer names.  That's for sure.  

I stayed overnight at the very nice Indigo Hotel in downtown Chattanooga.  I walked to dinner at Taco Mac (another blast from the past - been a while since I darked that door) where I had some tasty shrimp tacos for dinner and a couple of new-to-me brews including the excellent Blackberry Smoke American Lager from New Realm Brewing (Atlanta) and finished with another Georgia product, the fantastic Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout from Terrapin Brewing in Athens. 

While at Taco Mac, I proudly watched my alma mater, the Chattanooga Mocs, come from 16 down on the road at favored Bradley University to win a berth into the NIT semi-finals.  GO MOCS!!! 

3/26 - On my drive back from Chattanooga for work today, the new March issue of Ante Up Magazine arrived in my inbox and this month's article looks good despite the change of artwork by the editor.  No biggie.   

I did a little bit of waterfall scouting and a quick stop at Happy Trials Brewing in Sparta also.  I had a couple of their new ones including the tasty cream ale called Easy Hike, and their solid Rock Hop IPA as well. 

3/27 - We flew down to New Orleans tonight for a long weekend with friends in The Big Easy.  Out on Bourbon Street tonight at a bar we picked to go in because of the name - The Cat's Meow - I got gouged ($10!) for a bottle of the very decent kolsch called The Boot from nearby Abita Brewing.  Later, at the awesome Carousel Bar and Lounge in the Hotel Monteleone, I had another Abita product, a draft pint of their classic Amber (2024) red ale. Beforehand, at the airport in Nashville I had the solid Nelson West Coast IPA from Tailgate Brewing's Terminal C taproom.  

3/28- A NOLA beer stroll is truly one of the great things in life!  This was my only purchase while strolling through the giant French Market: a draft pour of the tasty Blood Orange Saison from Second Line Brewing here in New Orleans.  

My first official NOLA brewery visit this trip was to Brieux Carre' Brewing down near The French Market.  It's a small place but had a good selection of drafts and some tasty finger food as well.  I started with a sip of Ashlee's Malcolm in the Mittelfruh German-style pilsner that was solid.   I had their IPA called Nank Dugs (photo above) that I thought was excellent.  I finished with The Bamburgler - a decent rauchbier that could have used a bit more smoke IMO.   

We stopped in a jazz bar because again, we liked the name - The Spotted Cat Music Club.  Turns out they have a good beer list too.  I had can of the Baltic-style Korova Milk Porter (photo above - now, that is one gnarly beer can wrap!) from Gnarly Barley Brewing over in Hammond, LA.   It was tasty! 

3/29 - Today, we headed out of New Orleans for an awesome swamp tour where we got seriously close to some good-sized gators!!  I snuck a can of beer on the bus for the ride over.  It was the solid Double Dry-Hopped Commotion pale ale from Great Raft Brewing over in Shreveport, LA.  Cheers, big fella!!  

After the swamp, we had an awesome dinner and beers at Brewery Saint X in downtown New Orleans.  Along with my savory two-meat BBQ plate (brisket and sausage) I started with their excellent doppelbock called Misty Blue.  Next was their rauchbier called Rauchhaus which again left me wanting more smoke.   

3/30 - It was time to fly home from NOLA today, but before heading to the airport, we snagged a front-porch table at Port Orleans Brewing for lunch and libations.  My street tacos and corn on the cob were excellent.   I had a taste of Ashlee's Bacchus Blonde Ale that I thought was decent.  My first pint was their Roll With It Juicy IPA that was pretty great.  Next was a 10 oz. pour of their boozy Porty (2025) - 4 yr. Barrel-Aged Chocolate Porter that was a little much for me.  Probably needed another year in that barrel.  I finished with their interesting and tasty RoyalTea Pale Ale which is infused with Earl Grey tea after fermentation.  
Thanks for all the good times, NOLA, as usual.  We will return!! 

3/31 - I closed out the month back on the road for work again.  I stayed overnight in Cleveland, TN, at a nice, new Courtyard by Marriott hotel on the company dime. For lunch, I stopped at Father Tom's Pub in Cookeville where I had a nice Seasonal Cerveza Lime Lager from Highland Brewing (Asheville) with my burger and fries.   

A trophy, a big check and making some coin

Completing my Mt. Rushmore of favorite Hollywood babes
is the stunning and talented Marisa Tomei. Still "gettin' it done" at 50+!

2/1 - The month of February opened in fine fashion today with a total stomp-down on the UNC Tar Holes by my beloved Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Never was close and I watched every second of it happily on the couch!! 

The winning continued tonight as I took down Event # 8-H of the Grizzly Games VIII Poker Tournament Series on Global Poker.  I bested 182 other players with rebuys and add-ons also.  While it was only for play-money, it still should earn me another trophy on the bookshelf and some more GP swag.  And it helps keep me in the hunt for the Top 10 on the series points leaderboard.  

2/2- I entered the Nashville Charity Poker Challenge at Fat Bottom Brewing over in West Nashville today for four good reasons:  First, it's a poker tournament!  Second, it's held at a brewery!  Third, it's for a good cause!! And, last, the tournament director was none other than my friend and Poker Barn host, Zack.  You could choose the charity you played for, so I represented our own beloved Mighty Miracles Kitten Rescue.   From FBBC I had their 

Big check time!! I got second place in the tournament vs. 70 other people and lots of rebuys.  I even knocked out the mayor of Nashville (and defending champion of this tournament), Freddie O'Connell.   With one rebuy and an add-on, my ROI was just over 1,100%!! That's $3,500+ for the kitties!!! 

2/3 - I was back on the road for work this week and took my nice Chevy Malibu rental car east a little way today to Gordonsville and Carthage for school meetings.  Not much to do in my down time between meetings, but I did spy the "Carthage Lighthouse" down by the Cumberland River there in town.  It was actually built as a pumping station back in the 40's or 50's and has no light in it and never has.  It stands at 36' and I guess it's better than nothing this far from the ocean.  

Speaking of poker winnings, I finally got some swag today for a Gold Coin (play money) tournament win and another final table a good while back.  I had to email Global Poker to remind them of these finishes and told them what's the point of playing in their GC tournaments if they aren't going to honor the winners with what was promised.  So, a week later, two hats, a hoodie, a sticker, a pair of socks, a T-shirt, a pin and a banner flag show up at my door.  That's more like it!  I already have a note in my calendar to bitch at them if I don't have my trophy and swag that I won the other night sent to me within a couple months.  Slackers!! 

Ashlee and I met our friends, Curtis and Kate, out at East Nashville Beer Works tonight over off Hwy. 109 and had a few brews and a very tasty batch of beer cheese nachos for dinner.  With my meal and comradery, I had their new and excellent Another Beer on the Wall pale ale (see photo of cool Pink Floyd inspired beer label artwork above).  I finished with the also new Tear Down This Pils German pilsner which was solid as well. 

2/4 - Not a lot of fun places are open on Tuesdays, but Calfkiller Brewing in Sparta surprisingly is!! I killed some time in between school meetings in Cannon and DeKalb County with a stop not too far out of the way there today.   Outside in the warm sunshine I enjoyed their Schwarzbier called The Blackened Calf (photo above) which was excellent.  I finished up with their very nice Pear Harvest Smokey Treat which I had a taste of before, but not a whole pint. ($4 pints BTW!!)  Smoked and fruity.  Nice combo! 

2/5 - Work took me to my alma mater, Whitwell High School, today.  It was cool to finally see my personalized brick in The Tiger Wall that was paid for by poker winnings a couple years ago.   I stopped at the new and nice Redpoint Inn Restaurant in Jasper for a tasty lunch with my friend since kindergarten, Mick. 
Like Thoreau said "live deep" every day!! 

On the way home, I swung through Beersheba Springs to catch a look at the circa 1908 stone arch bridge over Firescald Creek.  It's in pretty good shape despite being pretty much neglected now.  My next stop was down off the plateau to Manchester at Common John Brewing where I had their very nice lager called The Rice is Right!  I finished with their excellent NEIPA called Slow Down, Easy (Chapter XVI).   It was a great mild evening to sit out on their spacious patio.  

2/6 - I had my last day of TN Promise meetings today and in between visits to Van Buren and White County schools, I did a little waterfall scouting in the Spencer area and marked a good roadside wet-weather one to keep in mind this spring hopefully.  I also stopped at Happy Trails Brewing in Sparta and had a couple brews including their very good I Think I Pecan brown ale, and then a full pint of a guest tap from nearby Calfkiller Brewing: their excellent smoked beer called The Beacon which I have only had a sample of before today. 

2/7 thru 2/9 - I was back on the lake house/dog-sitting this weekend.  The neighbors seem unconcerned (photo above).  

2/7  - I played in a $99 tournament on Global Poker tonight that I won entry into per a Facebook giveaway by the site.  No way I would ever risk that much of my own dough (even won on here) on this crazy site.  And nothing great to report from the tournament itself
 unfortunately.   Womp, womp.  

BUT - I continue to do pretty darn good in the baby tournaments with a win tonight on Global Poker in a small buy-in NLHE bounty tournament vs. 146 other players.  With my 11 knockouts, I got a grand total of 3,400% ROI!! 

2/8 - I "won" a NLHE satellite tournament on Global Poker today.  I did finish first out of 56 players, but all of the top ten finishers got tickets to a larger buy-in tournament worth an ROI of right at 800%.   The other tournament went about as bad as usual for bigger buy-ins for me lately on this site.  Oh, well...

2/9 - I "won" another satellite today on Global Poker by finishing first vs. 38 other players in PLO for a micro buy-in amount, but the ticket which went to the top six players was worth a 1,000% ROI!! The target tournament did not go well...what a surprise.  I also was able to snag a satellite ticket into another larger tournament with a huge field that I almost made the money in... progress, progress! 

2/10 - I got another small buy-in NLCP tournament win tonight on Global Poker vs. just 18 other players.  First place gave me an ROI of right at 900%!   Then, weirdly, I won the same exact tournament a few hours later with same exact number of people in it again for the same exact payout.  Damn poker is weird sometimes! 

2/11 - I was back on the road with work again today.  This time NE up to Clay County.  On the way I did some waterfall scouting in Monterey at the Spacious Skies RV Park at Belle Ridge which has a cataract on their property called Bridal Veil Falls.  The office was closed for the season, but I was able to poke around a bit and took a look at this great overlook into the Collins River Valley (Bee Rock Overlook is over to the left).  Definitely worth coming back and at least getting a day pass, if not staying the night in their awesome North Star Guesthouse with this view.  

I spied this little beauty on the way between Monterey and Celina on Hwy. 84 in what looks to be Walker Hollow on the map.   

On the way back I had just enough time to stop at Cookeville Pizza and Pub to grab a pizza to go (thanks CU!) and a couple of pints while I waited thanks to a Two-fer Tuesday promotion going on.  I started with the decent, albeit a bit too sweet, Soul Craft Coffee Cream Ale from Red Silo Brewing there in Cookeville.   I finished with another RSBC pint called MIA Bock that was a little better.  This was my first visit here, but it won't be the last!  Great beer selection and the pizza was on point!! 

I won the same NLCP tournament tonight that I won twice last night on Global Poker with a few more people in it (22 other players) and just under 1,000% ROI.  

2/12 - Oops, I did it again!  I won the same NLCP tournament tonight that I won twice the night before and once last night on Global Poker with 18 other players this time and just over 900% ROI! 

Later on, I got another win in a small NLHE bounty tournament with 5 knockouts vs. 19 other players for an ROI of over 700%

2/13 thru 2/16 - I was Watertown dog-sitting again this weekend and had to come in for the first time to the house without the owners here, and I was a little worried, but big boy Sampson pictured here remembered me (and that I had treats) for him and his little sis, Stella.  I love these guys a lot, surprisingly, since I've never been around pit bulls, but they have the sweetest natural dispositions.  It's only asshole humans who make them mean and ruin their reputations.    They are also the easiest of the regulars that I sit with.  Zero maintenance or annoyances.  Easiest $150 I've ever made! 

2/14 - Happy Valentine's Day!  Ashlee and I celebrated Heart Day in downtown Nashville tonight along with our friends, Curtis and Kate.  We had a great dinner at Bricktops/The River House and then went to see a production of the hit Broadway musical "And Juliet" at TPAC.  We had great seats just a few rows from the stage (thanks, Ashlee), and the show was a lot of fun.  And I was also able to enjoy a pint can of the Marquee Crisp pilsner from Southern Grist Brewing here in Nashville that was made in conjunction with TPAC itself.  Kinda cool! 

2/16 - After a weekend of bad beats, coolers and other sorts of Global Poker voodoo, I finally got a win tonight in a small buy-in NLHE bounty tournament vs. 155 other players with an ROI of a whopping 3,000%!!  I also got third in a little larger buy-in PLO tournament that doubled my bankroll, and my screen name got a shout-out on Twitch by the tournament's GP streamer.  And then I completed the evening with another NLCP small buy-in tournament win vs. 30 other players for an ROI of right at 1100%.  I promptly cashed out $75.00.  A nice night's work! 

2/18 - Despite a lot of lukewarm reviews, I went to see Captain America: Brave New World (not in IMAX) at our local Roxy Theaters (recliners!) with my pal, Toney, tonight. We at least waited until $6 Discount Night to see it just in case it sucked.  But I thought the film was pretty darn good.  Great story and a fresh take on the whole Captain America/Avengers theme with more vulnerable, more human, characters this go around.  

2/19 - I was selected to participate in the Superfan Challenge on the "Poker in the Ears" podcast today with hosts Joe Stapleton and James Hartigan of PokerStars.  I challenged Joe to a movie trivia contest with the topic being one of my favorite movies ever, Good Morning Vietnam.  It was conducted via Zoom and was a lot of fun.  I did very well, getting all my answers correct, and beating Joe by one point when he had to use the multiple-choice option on one of his questions.  The guys looked nothing like I thought they would!  The broadcast should come out later this week or the next.  

(Editor's note:  The podcast dropped the very next day actually (# 331) and I thought I sounded pretty good.  They even kept in my Guam joke! LOL) 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/poker-in-the-ears/id970248920?i=1000694306136

Speaking of poker notoriety: my February 2025 Ante-Up Poker Magazine column came out yesterday and it's one of my favorites so far since it involves one of my favorite bands, Lucero.  And it's grown to a full page now!  My column also got mentioned on the Ante Up Poker Podcast recently in the editor's "One Outer" section that closes the show.  And then, Joe, the editor, sucked out on me heads up in the Ante Up Patreon game or I would have won $100 and his bounty.  Dang it!!  He did acknowledge that he got lucky on the podcast the following day against me per my screen name, DecadeofDuke.  
I went ahead and bought a year's subscription to the magazine with some of the poker winnings I cashed in earlier in the week. 

2/20 - Despite the super cold temps and still some snow and ice lurking around, I went to see and hear some bluegrass in Smithville this evening with my work buddy, Todd.  I paid for my ticket with poker winnings from earlier in the week.  I got there in time to catch most of the set of the Po' Ramblin' Boys who were great.  East Nash Grass closed out the night with a shorter, but still very good, set.  And we got to meet the band after the show.  There were great Calfkiller Brewing beers on tap and I had their classic Brown Recluse brown ale and their tasty J. Henry Original Mild dark ale.  I also had a great burger and fries combo from a food truck on site called Dave's Old-Fashioned Burgers.  The new Harvester Event Center is a great venue, and I hope to see more shows here in the future.  

2/22 - I had another night of dog-sitting out on the lake tonight along with Sunny who was having a sleepover with her friend, Maggie.   I took the last of my recently won poker winnings and rented September 5 since I didn't get to see it in theaters like I wanted to.  It's a powerful film about such a sad event in history.  

2/23 - I went to see Uncle Lucious again tonight at The Basement East (again) and stayed overnight at The Waymore Guest House (again) thanks to a great rate off the Hotel Tonight app.  Beforehand, I stopped by Living Waters Brewing for a couple belts including their new Czech-style pilsner called Tepla.  And I finished with their solid IPA called Conrad. From there I moved on to Monday Night Preservation/Brewing Company where I started with their Chef Series: Ford Fry pilsner that was smooth and zesty.  I finished with their boozy, but light, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Drafty Kilt Scotch ale.  
Just before the show I stopped by Smith and Lentz Brewing for a couple more including their excellent IPA called Burnout.  I finished with their light and refreshing Czech pilsner called Little Hearts Club.   
The show was great with a pretty good opener, Cole Phillips.  The crowd was a little less than last time being it was a Sunday night, but still a nice turnout.  

2/24 - Remote Day! at The Waymore!  I enjoyed sleeping in today and then walked up to the Snooze Eatery for breakfast (fried rice!!).  The rooftop at The Waymore is now open.  The bar up there is called Tall Tales, and it is huge!  Definitely gotta come back here when the weather's a bit warmer.  

2/25 - Another tough day on the job at CU. Batter up!! 

I got a first place "win" tonight in a satellite tournament for a ticket worth about 500%+ ROI vs. 29 other players where the top seven got paid.  The larger tournament came down to a sad case of bad beat fever unfortunately.  

2/26 - Well, the trailer for the upcoming Amazon original movie, Holland, that I was supposed to be in dropped today.  Here's a screen grab from the restaurant scene filmed in Nashville that I was selected for, but that I wound up not being in after being sat at a nearby table as a background player, but then the scene got changed before shooting began.  I got moved out and never got a chance to be in on the shot again.  Never saw Nicole Kidman that day either. Bummer.  But I did get paid!! 

2/27 - I had to drive to Johnson City today for work and took a little detour to Sill Branch Falls near Erwin, TN, in the Cherokee National Forest.  She is a little beauty and a fairly easy hike off a forest service gravel road that my rental car, a Chrysler Pacifica minivan handled well. I also had this little slice of heaven all to myself thanks to it being a weekday. 

I stayed overnight again on the company dime at the nice Carnegie Hotel across from ETSU.  I took a much-needed hiatus from poker tonight and decided to go see the new true story flick, Last Breath, and the AMC Theaters in Johnson City (recliners!). What an amazing story.  A true modern miracle.   Beforehand, I had a couple tasty tacos for dinner at Yee Haw Brewery where I also imbibed in their solid Strawberry Wheat and their nice NEIPA called Astral Glow.  

2/28 - The drive back from Johnson City for work left me no time for any fun stops today unfortunately.  I got back home in time to at least win a small buy-in NLHE bounty turbo tournament on Global Poker defeating 134 other players with nine knockouts for a total ROI of about 2,800%!!  A good way to close out the month.