I never thought the day would come when my friend Misty would ask me to teach her how to play poker. I tried to get her into the game last year by inviting her to play with us at Fingers (now closed) a few times, but she didn’t seem interested at all. Today, out of nowhere, she asks me to teach her. I think there’s an event on Sunday that she wants to participate in because she was pretty adamant in getting a crash course in poker before then. I invited her to Loft 150, our usual Thursday night poker hang out, tonight but she has to pick Whiskey (her dog) up from the vet. I told her about Friday night poker but I think he has plans that night also. She’s single, after all. Friday night is usually getting shit-faced and possibly having a one-night-stand night for single folks around these parts (except for Jason who seems to engage in this sort of activity almost every night). I told her that I wouldn’t be playing poker again until next week because our regular poker nights are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (with ocassional poker games on the weekends except this time) but she was quite adamant about learning before Sunday. I forgot to ask what the event was.. I would’ve been more curious if I were free but I have school work to do. I told her I’m not playing on Saturday because we have the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake thing in the afternoon and then I think we’re going to a hockey game (Wichita Thunder) in the evening. She must be really desperate because she wants me to teach her during bowling. I said sure, no problem. I’m going to be doing two of my favorite things (poker and bowling) at the same time so I wasn’t about to say no. Except, I was really going to try for a 300 game this year (don’t laugh; it’s 9-pin no tap so it’s not that farfetched; I actually bowled a 297 game last year). Furthermore, I have extra motivation this year because Robert (one of my poker buddies) actually pledged .30 cents per pin to me. A 300 game will mean $90 for Big Brothers Big Sisters! So anyway, I don’t know how teaching Misty how to play poker in between frames will affect my performance. Don’t think that this is an advanced excuse for not bowling well, either. I’m just typing the thoughts that come into my head. I think I’ll be able to do both well. I am not that great at multitasking but I’m an excellent at both poker and bowling. Ha! Ha! Ha! Conceited much? I think Misty will do really well at poker. Women always tend to do well (except for me, lately). Especially cute ones. I’ll have to remind her to use her feminine wiles (a technique I’ve yet to employ myself). Plus, beginners’ luck always helps. Speaking of poker, Brian and Jason should be here to pick me up any minute. Jason just bought a new car so we’re going to be rolling in his Durango tonight. Let’s hope he hasn’t baptized the back seat; otherwise, I may just have to pass. Just kidding. It’s okay. People ride in our car and we’ve desecrated it quite badly. Kidding aside, I really hope that my normal kick ass poker player self will be back tonight. I’m tired of this poker rut.