Feb's March toward April

2/3 - I got mentioned by name on this week's episode of the Ante Up Poker Podcast with praise for my monthly articles that I contribute to the Ante Up Online Magazine.  The positive recognition makes up somewhat for the zero pay I get for doing it.  Oh well, like this blog, it's a nice writing exercise that I enjoy doing.  

 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ante-up-poker-magazine/id283834552?i=1000747429261

2/6 - I had a remote day at work today, so I was finally able to get back over to 3rd and Lindsley for another "Finally Friday" show and broadcast.   First performer up was the soulful husband-and-wife duo, The Waymores.  Next was the clever lyrics and clear voice of singer/songwriter, Susan Werner.  And to close the show (and my favorite performer of the day) was the outlaw country crooning of Chris Canterbury.  With my tasty chicken finger basket lunch, I also had a bottle of the magnificent Bell's Brewing (MI) Two Hearted IPA (2026).

Afterwards, I was finally able to stop by the new Stoke Haus Brewing and Barbecue in East Nashville (where Crazy Knome Brewing used to be) and try a couple of their beers.  They were both outstanding!  First up was their West Coast IPA called Reserve. I finished with their German-style pilsner called Pilsmatic.  I will definitely be back and with an appetite because the barbecue smelled awesome! 

2/7 - It was another classic matchup between Duke and UNC today at The Dean Dome.  My Duke boys held the lead the whole game right until the end and then got cold shooting while any prayer the Tarholes threw up seemed to go in.  Tough loss, but probably good for their egos going into the second half of the season.  We'll get 'em in Cameron!!  I enjoyed an appropriately named Billy Goat Tavern IPA based on the opponent during the game.  It's made by Miskatonic Brewing (IL) and is an ode to the famous and historic Chicago-based bar.  It came from my last BeerBox.com order.  

2/8 - Well, at least the right team won tonight.  My old favorite NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks, dominated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl with a game that wasn't as close as the score of 29-13.  We watched the game at a party at the home of our friends, Todd and Kelly.  I brought some brews to the party including a couple new-to-me ones that finished up the last BeerBox.com order I received a pretty good while back.  First up was the very nice lager called All Time by Middle Brow Brewing (Chicago) and then the pleasant Wandawega Lemon Radler from Solemn Oath Brewing (IL).   I also won $22 by have be most correct prop-bet picks! 

2/9 - I went to see tonight's Regal Monday Mystery Movie at the Regal Theaters at Providence which was not Crime 101 as I was hoping, but turned out to be the rather lame comedy, Nirvanna the Band, The Show, The Movie.  I guess it's based on a popular TV show out of Canada, but just like most Canadian comedies, in my opinion, it's a laugh maybe every 10 minutes or so, and otherwise kind of dumb.  At least it was only cost me the $5 discounted ticket price.  And the beer I snuck in, the Winter Lager from Johnson City Brewing, was excellent.  I picked up a sixer of them at Providence Wine and Spirits near the theater.  

2/12 - Work perk!! It's always nice to catch a few innings of CU Baseball on the clock.  Our boys split a double-header at home today vs. the University of St. Francis out of Illinois in some pretty mild weather for mid-February.  

2/13 - I had a remote workday today and also began a dog-sitting long weekend with my favorite pit bulls in Watertown again.  I've really missed those lug-heads! 

And tonight, I finally got an out-and-out win on Club WPT Gold with a $5 NLHE turbo sit-n-go vs. 7 other players to garner me 400% ROI!  Of course, that's just about what I paid in today, so no real profit.  But I may have finally found my beatable game on here since the MTT's are loaded with crazy players and the variance is awful.

2/14 - Happy V-Day!  I got another 8-handed SNG win today on Club WPT Gold (but only after blanking in the three others beforehand, so good ROI, but no real profit), but still noteworthy since I got into the money (top 3) with the least amount of chips and battled to first place.  I also got 13th out of 734 players in a freeroll turbo NLHE tournament on there that earned me over 1,400% ROI.   

Later in the afternoon, however, I got two more SNG wins! I went ahead and cashed out $20 just to see it if would work and it looks smooth so far.  I am really starting to "heart" this site a little! 

I took a break from the SNG action to go to Valentine's dinner back in Lebanon with my wifey-poo and we joined our friends, Todd and Kelly, at the Lebanon Public House on The Square where I had a Lebanon Public House Ale with my tasty dinner.  The LPHA is really just the kolsch made by Cedar City Brewing around the corner, but I entered into UNTAPPD as is since it's on their menu that way.  XOXO and cheers! 

A little more late-night SNG action when I got back to Watertown included a 3rd and a 2nd place finish for about 210% ROI.  And then another win!!  So, make that $40 cashed out instead of $20!! 

2/17 - I am on the road for work in the Knoxville area tomorrow and the next day, so I headed out after work in the office in a nice, new Nissan Altima rental car and drove to a decent Fairfield Inn in Kodak, TN, near Sevierville.  I bought a new audiobook for the drive from one of my favorite Southern authors, Ron Rash, called "The World Made Straight."  He captures the mountains of North Carolina so eloquently in his stories and they areas big a character as the people in it.   Two hours in and I am loving it!  

2/18 - After knocking out my one fair of the day this morning, I had the afternoon to myself, and it turned out to be a fun and interesting one.  I started with the famous burger at Chubby's Restaurant in Sevierville.  This heart attack on a plate has two beef patties, pulled pork and bacon!  And it was awesome!  I couldn't even finish all the pulled pork that was piled on it.  

I was touring through The Great Smokey Mountains National Park after lunch and happened upon Mannis Branch Falls without even knowing it existed! It's technically roadside, but across from the Little River which it cascades into.  Maybe on a warmer day I can wade across and scramble up for a better view of its 30' drop that's obscured by vegetation.  Still a pretty site and a great accident to stumble upon! 

This was another interesting stop.  This roadside waterfall is for sale!  What a perfect place to put a brewery!  If I just had that extra $500K laying around, I could do it up right! They had it walled off pretty well from site, but I glimpsed it through the trees.  It's a nice little 15 or 20' cascade on Cove Creek just outside Pigeon Forge.   

My next stop was a new-to-me brewery (they've only been around a year so) called Mountain Brothers Brewing Company in Sevierville.  It's nice little nano-brewery added on to a popular general store also ran by the "mountain brothers."  I tried their very good IPA called Jolene.  Next was their brand new Eye-Witness Dunkle that I thought was top notch.  Note the CU sticker going in to the brewery!  I shall return!! 

I finished off the fun afternoon with a great matinee price for a 5 PM showing of Crime 101 at The Forge Theaters in Sevierville.  I thought it was a solid flick, although the ending was a little goofy IMO.  The theaters were great and look pretty new too. 

Beforehand, I had a medal-winning pint of the outstanding brown ale called Don't Feed the Bears from Gatlinburg Brewing.  I had it their Sevierville location which I have not been to before.  And, yes, I will be back!  

2/19 - On the drive back from Knoxville, I stopped at Father's Tom Pub for a couple of pints.  First up was the solid Vienna lager from Xul Beer Company (Knoxville) called Till Death Do We Riot and finished with the nice Mardi Gras Pils from Urban South Brewing (New Orleans).  

When I got home, I promptly won another $5 SNG on ClubWPT Gold.

This month's issue of Ante Up Online Magazine 

Page 2 for review! 

Even got a nice mention in the table of contents! 

2/20 - We flew up to NYC today to see Jason Isbell perform at Radio City Music Hall tonight. The show was fantastic and RCMH is amazing!  We stayed at the very nice Grayson Hotel nearby and when we arrived, I had a nice Pilsner from The Bronx Brewery in the lobby bar called Harta.  Before the show at dinner at the Irish bar, Pig 'N' Whistle, I had their decent (house made?) Pig 'N' Whistle Lager.

After the show, we went for late night pizza at Roma which was decent on the way for some more brews as well.  

We found late night craft brews just around the corner from the hotel at the very nice Clinton Beer Hall where I started with the excellent Double Something Citra IPA from Finback Brewing over in Queens.  I finished with the solid NEIPA called HEX from Upward Brewing (NY).

2/21 - We had a full day in NYC today and enjoyed being back on the streets of The Big Apple.  After a cool Gilded Age-themed tour, we stopped in the swanky Cafe Sabarsky inside one of the former mansions from that era for a snack and a brew for me.  This Vienna-style cafe had a nice beer selection, and I have to say I had one of the best German beers I've ever had there (and I am rather hard on German beer seeming to all taste the same to me).  It was a bottle of the Rothaus Pils/Tennen Zapfle from the Badische Statsbrauerei Rotahus in Grafenhausen, Germany.  It went great with sinfully good pistachio and chocolate cream cake! 

The Yard House at Times Square was busy as hell, but we managed to squeeze in at the bar for a couple pre-Broadway show libations.  I started with the so-so German IPA from BRLO Brewing (Berlin) and then finished with the much better Space Camper Juice Nova Superstellar DIPA from Boulevard Brewing (St. Louis).   

Being just two rows from Ray Ramano on stage on Broadway was pretty freakin' cool.  The show was called All Out! and it was wacky and fun with some great music too.  

2/23 - I was back on the road for work today with stops in my old stomping grounds inside the Sequatchie Valley tomorrow and Wednesday.  I had a chance to stop at Sequatchie Valley Brewing in Dunlap (thanks for being open on a Monday!) where I had their excellent Cartwright Kickers Black IPA and their equally good 1858 Brown Ale.  It was slow today and I got to talk with the brewer, Eric, who was very cool.  He's a one-man operation here, but he's putting out some quality stuff.  I also bought a very nice SVBC-patched flannel shirt with some recent poker winnings.  

2/24 - I had an easy workday back in The Valley today with just a lunch visit to Bledsoe County HS.  Afterwards, I had a late lunch and libations at Monkey Town Brewing in Dayton.  I had their solid pilsner called Coastline Crusher and their excellent oatmeal stout called Black Magic.  This is still one of my favorite regional breweries with great beer, outstanding food (my club sandwich and corn nuggets were killer) and a great name honoring the history of the town and the Scopes Monkey Trial that took place in the beautiful and historic Rhea County Courthouse pictured above. 

2/25 - It was a long workday inside Marion County with three school fairs that started with t the ol' alma mater, WHS, and then a long drive to Johnson City afterwards for a rescheduled two-day fair there to close out the week.  I was able to have lunch with my old pal since kindergarten, Veen, who was the sitting judge today at the Marion County Justice Center in Jasper.  We met at the nice Redpoint Inn in Jasper where I had a pretty good Philly cheesesteak sandwich and a bottle of their house Redpoint Bock.  I am not sure who makes it for them.  

I got to JC without any issues and am staying at a nice Fairfield Inn (points!). 

2/26 - After a shorter than scheduled morning fair in Johnson City, I had the rest of the day free and scouted out a couple waterfalls in the area.  First up was the pretty and delicate Little Laurel Branch Falls (photo above).  The reflection in Wilbur Lake was a nice bonus since this across-the-way shot was the best I could get today and had to briefly trespass onto a construction site to get it.  This one would be nice to come back to with the kayaks and explore from the other shore.  

Next up was the surprisingly beautiful Millstone Creek Falls just outside Jonesborough, TN.  It just off the road and drops about 30' on its way to the Nolichucky River on the other side of the road.  It looks to be privately-owned with a house perched above it on left side of the creek with a sweet viewing deck and stairs down to the base.  On the right side where I was there's a short trail with no nasty signs saying to go away.  Thanks for the access, folks.  She's a beauty! 

I continued south and on into North Carolina to meet my best friend, Craig, for dinner and brews at the Homeplace Beer Company in Burnsville, NC.    Cool town and a cool brewery with the dining room on the second floor and an open view of the brewery down on the first floor (photo above).  Along with our interesting and tasty chicken marsala pizza that we split I had excellent session IPA called Faith Healer.  I had a flight next and was surprised to see I had already had a couple of them on some previous trips to NC. That's what UNTAPPD is for!  The new-to-me tasters were the decent Bag of Bones Scotch ale, the very nice French Saison and the solid IPA called Natural Traveler.  I finished the evening with a half pint of their very good Port in Storm porter.

When I got back to Tennessee and my hotel, I won a $5 SNG on ClubWPT Gold again.   

2/27 - It was a long drive back home from Johnson City today, but it was just too pretty a day, and the streamflow was so good, I just couldn't pass up hitting a waterfall in the area before heading west.    I chose the very interesting Laurel Run Falls inside Laurel Run Park which is a county-owned park near tiny Church Hill, Tennessee, situated on the shores of the Holston River.  It was a rather tough, muddy trek to the small 12' falls, but still a good one to check off the list.  There's actually another waterfall beyond this one, but I was running out time and wasn't really prepared for it.  Next time!  

Such a beautiful area!  I will be back - maybe with better shoes and my hiking stick!! 

2/28 - I just barely got my monthly free beer club flight today at Cedar City Brewing along with their kick-ass dry-rub wings for lunch!  They had two new-to-be beers (top right and top middle).  The Emerald Raspberry Riot sour was a little more tart than sour and was actually a little too sweet to my pallet, but not awful.  The Oak Aged Rye IPA was very good, and I will definitely be having that one again!  The rest were just a few faves of mine that were repeats. 

3/2 - I was back on the road for work today, and after an early fair at Rhea County, I was able sneak in a quick hike nearby.  I thought this black and white video of Upper Piney Creek Falls in Grandview is pretty cool.  This is a revisit from years and years ago, but I sure don't remember much about it the first time I came here, so it's a like a brand new visit and waterfall!    

I am staying in Cookeville at a nice Fairfield Inn for a couple nights (points!) and I had a great chef's salad with grilled salmon at Father Tom's Pub for dinner along with a couple brews (on my dime).  First up was the solid wheat ale from Green Man Brewing (Asheville) called White Beard.  I finished with the decent Centennial IPA from Founder's Brewing (MI), but I was honestly expecting more hops.  

Back at the hotel I watched Duke win the regular season ACC title by destroying NC State.  This really may be their year!  I also chopped our little PokerStars local game vs. 5 other players.  I had to rebuy twice, so it was nice to get something back which turned out to be double my total buy-in including rebuys and add-on.  On ClubWPT Gold I broke even with a second place and then a DNC in two sit-n-goes.  And I did cash out $20 from other recent success on there. 

3/3 - After an early fair in Cumberland County, I had the afternoon free to slip up into Kentucky for a look-see at a couple of small waterfalls and a natural bridge that I had researched.  Plus, how was I supposed to compete with this cutey pictured above on the TWRA's table.  He's a little screech owl being fostered for release back into the wild after he and his siblings lost their mama.  And he's plenty wild, the handler had to use a glove to get near him and said he had a hunk taken out of his hand by him earlier in the day! 

First up was pretty Town Creek Falls near the city limits of Monticello, Kentucky.  Despite being roadside, it was a tricky hike down to the stream for this shot.  Evidently there's another drop farther downstream, but I wasn't dressed for it, nor did I have the time.  It's a tremendous, little canyon this stream flows through and I wonder why the city hasn't developed into a park of some kind.  There's evidence of mill activity here and at a smaller drop upstream, so the history probably pretty interesting too. Some litter from being roadside, but not bad, but it sure seems neglected otherwise.  

Another cataract near Monticello is Meadow Creek Falls that I learned about kind of last-minute.  It's on the site of a Civil War park and thus protected looks like although the falls are kind of an afterthought in terms of park attractions.  The stream rushes toward Lake Cumberland in a series of drops with this one being the biggest.  

Next up was Little Lily Creek Falls near Jamestown, KY.  Obviously from the shot above, this is a roadside waterfall and ever since going to northern Ohio and the Cuyahoga Valley NP region, I've come to appreciate a road or bridge above a waterfall sometimes since they have so many like this up there.  With no obvious trail to the streambed or base of the falls, I had to basically bushwhack my way down.  Very odd.  It seems this place would be kind of popular with the locals.  It does seem to be somewhat protected but not developed as a park or recreation area.  

 
Just around the bend in the road is Big Lily Creek Falls which is also roadside but doesn't have a place to pull off to get a picture.  I had to road hike a short distance for this shot which turned out to be one of my favorites of the day.    
This area of Kentucky looks to have several more falls to research and seek out in the future.  I am looking forward to the challenge! 

Wow!  I was not expecting the Creelsboro Arch/Natural Bridge to be this large!  Like the waterfalls nearby, this incredible area is not really developed at all.  There is a monument to some of its colorful history (used by Native Americans and early settlers alike, churchgoers, plus even moonshiners later on) and the fact that it was saved from being flooded from the plan of damming the Wolf River on the other side of the arch in the photo above, but otherwise no designated parking area or trail really.  The sign says enjoy the privately-owned area and basically don't be a dick.  My daylight was waning fast here, so again I would like to return for a closer look and to explore some more.  

Kentucky granted me one more gift on my way south with an incredible rising blood moon that only lasted a few minutes before going back to yellow.  And also, thanks to all the Kentucky deer for not running out in front of my car (more on that below).   

3/4 - I had a fair this morning at Sweetwater High School and I was so close to The Lost Sea, I just had to go check it out (sorry, Ashlee).  I had been here as a kid, but remember very little about it, so I was excited for the revisit.  It did not disappoint!  So very cool.  What an amazing place!  The largest underground lake in the U.S. (that we know of).  I am glad I came without Ashlee actually because I don't remember it being such a steep walk in and then out which could be rough on her wanky knee.  The lake is amazing and there's even a natural spring trickling waterfall they call Crystal Falls.   What's not to love!  I will come back anytime with you, honey! 

3/5 - As I headed back home from some Knoxville area fairs today, I stopped by Orange Hat Brewing for a couple quick pints.  First up was their tasty NEIPA called J-Hazy (photo above), and then their solid IPA called West Coast State of Mind.  

3/6 - Chalk up another $5 SNG win on ClubWPT Gold! 

3/7 - It was a good day on the virtual felt and on TV today with another $5 SNG win on ClubWPT Gold and wins for the USWNT (She Believes Cup winners!), Duke beating the snot out of UNC (payback, bitches!!) and NSC manhandling Minnesota at home which ties us for first place in the MLS East in the early season!  

3/8 - I headed up to Franklin, Kentucky, today to take part in Event # 11 of The Barrel Tournament Series since I missed out on the seniors' event that I was targeting last weekend.   The place was packed with the last day of their main event going on, a lady's tournament, plus some cash games.  

And I made the final table!! Ten players cashed out of 77 entries and while I limped into the final table with a low chip stack, I was able to double up but then ran my pair of kings into a turned straight to still go out in ninth.  But, hey, I will take it!  After tips to the dealers and staff, I came out with double my buy-in and more confidence in my live play including an amazing all in bluff with a four-to-the-flush river and me holding nothing.  I came to find out I did that against the eventual winner (holding two pair) seated in front of me in the picture above borrowed from The Barrel's Facebook page.  

And then... the real BAD BEAT happened.  I was ALMOST HOME from the tournament and made a point not to go down Academy Road because of deer (we hit one on that curvy two-lane road several years ago after dark), and instead I drove, down big, wide 4-lane Hwy. 70 which turns into West Main in Lebanon and out comes this big deer out of nowhere right into the side of my car causing all kind of damage including tearing the rear-view mirror completely off.  WHAT THE HELL!!  WEST MAIN GOT ME AND THE SUE-BEE AGAIN!!  I feel bad about the dumb deer, but come on already!!   She's already at the body shop on her way to getting fixed at least.  Deal the next hand, please...  

3/9 - I was back in Chattanooga for work today and got another $5 SNG win on ClubWPT Gold at the nice TowneSuites Hotel (points!) that I am staying at.  

3/10 - After work today in Chattanooga, I swung by Sigler's Beer and Cigar Shop which happens to be home to the new-to-me AlphaBrews Brewing also.  I had their new NEIPA called Who Ya Gonna Call? which was decent.  Their red ale called Alpha Red was better.  Cool little place.  I'm happy to have added it to the collection. 

3/11 - After work today while still in Chattanooga, I went to see Marty Supreme at the AMC Northgate 14. They have re-released it in theaters (at a discounted price) since it got nominated for Best Picture at The Oscars.  I gotta be honest, I wasn't crazy about it.  I thought the lead character was an asshole for most of the film.  Maybe that was the point.  Not sure.   But it was a bit of an eye-rolling ending when he suddenly was this greater person after shitting on everyone in his life before that.  

I went over to the Miller's Ale House near my hotel tonight in hopes of finding the NSC game against Miami in Leg One of the Concacaf Champions Cup Tournament at Geodis Park in Nashville.  Their craft beer list was pretty predictably dull as I was anticipating, but I did find a couple new-to-me pints and they got the game on for me, plus a killer Cobb salad with grilled chicken and shrimp for dinner.  I had the nice Hazy IPA from Lagunitas Brewing (CA) and the equally good House Hazy IPA from New Belgium Brewing (CO).  The game ended in a frustrating 0-0 tie.  Seven corners to their zero really shows how frustrating it was not to get the W there tonight.  

3/12 - After driving back from Chattanooga today for work, I started a long-weekend dog-sitting gig in Watertown tonight.  Not my favorite pit bulls, just the three goobers out on Neal Road who are pretty good bubbas too.  

3/13 - I worked remote today from my Watertown dog-sitting gig.  

3/15 Project Hail Mary movie in IMAX 70mm (poster pic at 2/8 on phone) 

3/16 - Another remote day at work! 

3/19 - Night fair (overtime!) at Franklin High School 

3/21 - NSC game 

3/23 - In Chattanooga for work 

3/26 - Dog-sitting gig on Hwy. 109 

3/30 - In Chattanooga for work again

"Christmas and New Year's, will find you home" - The Eagles

 

That's right, boys, keep betting into me!! 
#ROB'SHANDSTOREMEMBER

12/11 - I got home to find the newest issue of the Ante Up Online Poker Magazine was out and my column featuring Will Hoge was there and looking pretty good! 

Page 2 - See I can be serious about poker.

I also got home in time to finish this UNTAPPD challenge with an appropriately named can of Only Tourists, a session IPA from Short's Brewing Company (MI), that came in my last BeerBox.com order.  Cheers to 18 hours of flying and getting home safe!    

12/12 - We somehow skipped a day of jet lag, and I actually went into work today, mainly, so I didn't feel guilty about going to our CU office Christmas party at Beyond the Edge in East Nashville.  They had a surprisingly good craft beer list, and I was able to enjoy the nice BTE House Lager.  I'm not sure who makes this for them.  I also enjoyed a can of Donna's Pickle Beer, a flavored lager from another mysterious "contract brewery in the U.S." 

12/14 - Jet lag hit us both hard on Saturday, so I had to put off meeting my pal, Curtis, for a welcome home beer at Cedar City Brewing Company until today.  That had the new-to-me Strawberries and Creem Hazy IPA that I really liked.  I also signed up for another Mug Club year here at CCBC.  

12/18 - I was back at CCBC a few days later for the End of the Year Mug Club Party.  No new-to-me beers but some excellent smoked wings and some good company.  

12/19 - I started a week-long-plus pet-setting Christmas gig out off of Hwy. 109 today.  I've sat with Izzy and Lili before, but the brown puppy, Ivy, was a late addition which I reluctantly agreed to.  She's actually really sweet and hopefully not much of issue.  

Ashlee and I met tonight for dinner and libations across the road from where I'm dog sitting at East Nashville Beer Works - Wilson County.  I had a couple new-to-me beers of theirs including the excellent New England pale ale called Dorothy's Revenge, and the equally good Fresh Hopped Tropical Daydream NEIPA.  

12/20 - Seems appropriate on this final weekend playing with real money on Global Poker (see bullshit update below) that I should win what is sadly maybe my final NLCP tournament on there. It was vs. 16 other players for an ROI of right at 700%.  

12/22 - Hi, Global Poker, Go Eff Yourselves.  Just kidding.  Thanks for all the fun over the years.  It's probably not even their fault really.  It's this stupid backasswards state of Tennessee where I can bet on sports and play the lottery all damn day.  Idiots. 

Today was the last day to play for real money in Tennessee on Global Poker.  I hope to still compete in play money for trophies and swag, but we shall see since they screwed me out of my last trophy win on there. 

12/23 - I had some double-duty doggy care today as I ran up to Watertown a couple times to check on and feed the three rascals on Neal Road.  

12/24 - Whitney, my client and dog-owner off Hwy. 109, gave me some beautiful (and tasty) Christmas cake balls with butter frosting that she made while sitting for her and her hubby over the holidays.  And some great fudge too! 

12/25 - Merry Christmas!  The only craft beer I got for Christmas was a repeat (for me) from my brother-in-law, Andy, but still a good one.  A 4-pack of the excellent IPA from Edmund's Oast Brewing (SC) called Bound by Time.  

12/27 - I completed my longest pet-sitting gig ever today at nine full days.  It netted me just over a $1,000 which was much needed after our expensive trip to Asia recently.   Izzie's my girl and I am going to miss her and her shy sis, Lili.  Their poop-eating cousin, Ivy, maybe not so much!  

12/28 - While at a tasty dinner at Noko in East Nashville tonight, I had a pint of the crisp and refreshing Orion Draft Beer (The Draft) Japanese-style lager from Orion Brewing, a macro in Japan, that went great with our Asian-fusion meal.    

12/29 - I went to see Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX 3D today at the Streets of Indian Lake Theaters in Hendersonville.  I thought it was another good installment and this storyline was actually the most emotional I've felt toward this series so far.  I am just not sure where they are going to go for two more films with this story that's now seems pretty played out.  
Afterwards, I stopped by Yazoo Brewing in Madison and had their very nice Pilot Series: Druncle's Lager, an interesting Vienna-style brew.  I also had an awesome cheeseburger and fries from The Grill Shack there on site.  

My friend, Curtis, brought me back a four-pack of the high-ABV but tasty Belgian strong ale called Death Letter from Olde Salem Brewing (VA) from a recent trip to Virginia recently.  Thanks, C-Dog!! 

12/31 - After dropping some friends off at the airport this morning, I stopped by Homegrown Taproom and had a few half-pints of note.  First up was the solid porter from New Heights Brewing here in town called Porter Disorder.  The Nut Brown Ale from local Yazoo Brewing was next and was tasty.  I ended on a sour note, almost literally, with the Pub Ale from Flytes Brewhouse over in Pleasant View, TN.  It was a bit soapy tasting to me and definitely too much malt for my taste.  

1/1 - Happy New Year!! I started 2026 in bachelor mode with Ashlee gone on a girl's cruise for a few days.  I got an almost-free deal to go see the new zombie flick, We Bury the Dead, tonight at the Providence Theaters in Mt. Juliet.  I thought it was pretty good, nothing great.  I did have a private showing of the film since I was the only one in the theater.   This also made it easy to enjoy my snuck-in beer, the very nice Blueberry Wheat ale from Hinterland Brewing (WI).  This can was from my last BeerBox.com order a month or so ago.  

1/3 - Bachelor Mode Engaged continued today with a visit to Cedar Cedar Brewing for some lunch with friends and their new excellent Coffee Stout served up in my new 2026 Mug Club mug!! Cheers to a new year at CCBC!! 

I celebrated the belated 20th anniversary of the theatrical release of Batman Begins which I actually didn't see in the theaters with a re-release showing tonight at the Providence Theaters in Mt. Juliet.  So epic!  Nolan is the man!! I can't wait for the release of his take on The Odessey later this summer!  

1/4 - I had an airport pickup of some friends today, so beforehand, I stopped by Homegrown Taproom again and had a couple of half-pints with brunch.  They were the quite strong Christmas Ale from (Belgium); and then the decent Are You 'Wit Me witbier from New Heights Brewing here in Nashville.  To eat, I had the Chef's Choice Omelet that was pretty good. 

1/10 - It was Murfreesboro poker night tonight and I got second place along with five bounties!!  After my entry fee, tips to the dealer and the house, I cleared well over 500% ROI vs. over 20 players including rebuys which I did not have to do!

It's a great feeling especially with the fact that I've lost Global Poker for real money and have taken some rough bad beats and coolers last week on PokerStars. 

(With some of my winnings I was also able to give a $50 Grub Hub gift card to my boss, Kari, as she recovers at home from surgery that will hopefully help in her fight against cancer. ) 

Beforehand, Ashlee met me at the Murfreesboro location of BoomBozz Craft Pizza and Taphouse where we had a delicious pie and toasted ravioli along with three new-to-me pints that included the so-so Summit lager from Blackhorse Brewing over in Alcoa, TN; then the spice-laden but enjoyable Christmas Ale from Mill Creek Brewing over in Nolensville; and finally, the decent Kentucky Common from Blackhorse Brewing also.  With still some time to kill before the poker tournament, I also stopped by Deep South Growlers and had the tasty Vanilla Wafer cream ale from O'Fallon Brewing (MO).    

1/11 - I went to see Avatar: Fire and Ash again, but this time at the Roxy Theaters (recliners!) here in town with my friend, Toney, who hadn't seen it yet.   It was worth a second watch.  It's probably the best one of the series so far. 

1/13 - With some recent poker winnings, I got a cheap $25 upper-level ticket to the Preds game tonight vs. the Edmonton Oilers since I was in bachelor mode with Ashlee traveling for work.   Beforehand, I grabbed a brew at New Heights Brewing where I can still park for free on the street and took an Uber to the game (bye, bye ML Rose Capitol View free garage parking).  I had their sleek and refreshing Mexican-style lager called (appropriately for the Preds) Gold Skull.  I stuck with the Preds theme at the game with a repeat - a stovepipe can of the tasty TENN Golden Lager from Tailgate Brewing here in Nashville.  The Preds were winning 2-1 when I cut out in the second period to get back for pet duties.  They wound up winning in OT 4-3.  Dang, sorry I missed that, but they sure needed that win! 

1/14 - The newest issue of the online Ante Up Magazine came out today and my monthly column looked pretty good I thought.  

Page 2 of this month's Ante Up Online Magazine column 

1/15 - Take it down, Mike!!  Despite losing the real money option to play on Global Poker recently, I still found success on there tonight with a NLHE bounty tournament win in their annual GPC Grizzly Series - Event # 04-H vs. 146 other players.  I had ten knockouts along the way also.  It was just gold coins (play money), but I should get another trophy (this would be my second piece of Grizzly hardware) and some swag for the win.  I vow to stay on their ass about it, however, since I got screwed out of my last trophy/swag win on here by waiting too long to contact them.  Allegedly, they say they sent out notice for obtaining that trophy, but I never received it, but somebody did, and then falsely claimed it by the time I reached out to them.  

 I also had a couple dog-watching drop-ins today in Watertown for a little real $$. 

1/16 - I made another couple final tables in the GC Grizzly Series on Global Poker tonight with a fourth-place finish vs. 175 other players, and then a 3rd place finish (aces cracked) vs. 167 other players.

1/18 - Instead of a holiday weekend of hiking and exploring in Kentucky as planned, the frigid-ass weather had me opt for a $130 NLHE bounty poker tournament today at The Barrel Social Club in Franklin, KY, instead.  It was a freeroll for me since I used some of my winnings from my recent Murfreesboro tournament 2nd-place cash to buy in to this one.  You also have to pay $10 to a be a "member" that day.  

Well, I wound up only making $10 but was happy with my play.  My JJ got cracked by AK to send me to the rail in 7th (out of 40 total players with several rebuys which I did not need), but luckily, we had made a deal when it got to seven players and only paying six (and I wasn't the shortest stack then) that we would all let the bubble get their buy-in back.   I also had one $25 bounty, so after tipping the dealers $5 and the cage $5, I came home with $150.  Almost better than the small profit was the fact that I REALLY like the place!  They are in a much nicer building now than the first time I went there a good while back.  It's clean, smoke-free, secure, free snacks and unlimited Diet Mt. Dews!!  No alcohol, so less jerks at the tables.  What's not to love! It sure beats driving to Tunica or Louisville for casino-style tournaments!!  The plan will now be to go there at least once a month or so and hopefully build my bankroll for bigger tournaments elsewhere.  

I also got home in time to "win" a satellite NLHE tournament on Global Poker vs. 40 other tough players with a deep stack format where the top 5 gained entry into the GPC Grizzly Hydra Final next weekend, a GC tournament that you can't buy into.  Hopefully, some swag will come from it, but the confidence building it gives helps too. 

1/20 - I went to see the fairly quickly released sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, tonight at our local Roxy Theaters (recliners and discount Tuesdays!!).  I thought it was excellent.  It's started out a bit rough but turned out to be a satisfying second part of a new trilogy that I can't wait to finish!  

The early 5 PM movie start time got me home in time to win a 3-way chop the local NLHE tourney on PokerStars vs. 10 other players.  I barely got into the final three and the money but then roared back to take a slight chip lead and suggest the chop which was agreed upon and got me right at 330% ROI!  

1/24 - It was a snowed-in Saturday without any luck on the Global Poker GC tables, but then I more than doubled my buy-in on PokerStars in the little local NLHE game vs. 6 other players and a couple of rebuys which I didn't have to partake in.  It was an almost 3-way chop that I suggested as the chip leader probably a bit prematurely, but I wanted to assure myself some dough since only two were getting paid, and my luck has not been the best of late.  Plus, that kind of karma can only be for the good, I hope.  

Tonight's poker winnings will pay for another year's membership in The Mixtape 615 Soccer Club to support our boys in gold, the NSC.  Whether I get this particular hat pictured above is still a wait and see, but if the scarf I receive for membership has this same logo, that would be pretty cool.  

1/29 - ATTACK!!  Well, I had my first-ever really serious credit card fraud situation today, but thanks to the team at Truist for shutting it down quick and getting me a new card issued.  I had another fraud alert on my debit card yesterday also.  That's some scary shit!! 

 

1/31 - We met up with some friends today at Cedar City Brewing where I was able to cash in my monthly free beer flight for being in their mug club.  They actually had three new-to-me brews which I included in my flight.   First up was the decent fruit sour called Tiger's Blood (right side front), next was their fruit beer called Supply Run that I wasn't much of a fan of (left side front), and finally my favorite of the bunch, their East Coast IPA which was exceptionally hoppy (left side back), even more so than their West Coast IPA (a repeat, left side back).  I finished the flight with a repeat of their excellent Coffee Stout.