Follow You, Follow Me

Mentioned a couple of weeks ago how that Twitter thing had stealthily crept onto my radar. Was sitting there in the back of my mind last night as I read Otis opining about it. Otis is smart.

Then I decided, sure, why not. So I got me an account: @hardboiledpoker. “Shamus” was taken, and “Short-Stacked Shamus” too many characters, apparently.

I’m starting to think I myself am too many characters.

Has been an especially busy time over the last few weeks balancing the pokery stuff -- a little bit of playing, a lot of writing, and a lot more writing -- with everything else. By which I mean the “real” life which continues apace, that non-pokery stuff which includes a full-time job. The noggin’ is getting crowded.

One other thing squeezing its way into my ever-addled cranium is the fact that Vera Valmore and I will be making a quick trip to Vegas next week, during which time I’m hoping to connect with a number of folks. The World Poker Tour Championship -- the Five Star World Poker Classic -- is cranking up at the end of next week at the Bellagio, too, and so I imagine I’ll probably head over there some to see what I can see.

While there I am hoping to attend a meeting of one of those Wednesday Poker Discussion Groups over at Binion’s Horseshoe and Casino next week. If you’ve read any of Dr. Al Schoonmaker’s books (or listened to his old podcast), you remember he talks about the WPDG from time to time. I think it would be neat to sit in on one of the meetings and see what folks are discussing.

This Vegas trip, which will only last for a few days, of course brings to mind the last one, which lasted a couple of months. Still unsure about whether or not I’ll be back out in Vegas this summer to cover the WSOP, although it could happen. Everyone is still in the planning stages as far as media goes, I think, and so there are a lot of people who still don’t know for sure what exactly they’ll be doing come the end of May.

I’ve written before here about how positive the experience was for me last summer helping cover the WSOP for PokerNews. During those last days in mid-July, my sense was it was definitely something I could stand to do again. So we’ll see. I’ll definitely let you know here what I end up doing. Heck, I might even send out a tweet about it.

Between now and then are more SCOOP recaps for the PokerStars blog. That continues through next Monday (April 13), when we’ll be live blogging Day 2 of the big no-limit hold’em Main Event. I’ll be helping with the “high” stakes version of that one, the $10,000+$300 event.

Wonder how many will come out for that, actually. The WCOOP Main Event last September was a $5,000+$200 buy-in, and attracted 2,185 entrants. So perhaps 1,200 for this one? Maybe a few more?

Some of these SCOOP recaps have meant late nights for yr humble gumshoe, although I think overall I’ve gotten a lucky draw compared to some of my colleagues. Haven’t had to stay up past 2 or 3 a.m., which has been good considering I generally have to get up early.

Am also hoping to post another episode of the Hard-Boiled Poker Radio Show very soon, perhaps this weekend. I think I might should just call it a monthly show so as not to tease folks into thinking I can manage it more frequently. April 1 was actually the one-year anniversary of the show, during which time 14 episodes were produced. So, yeah, it’s a monthly.

Okay, am ready to post. Do I send a “tweet” saying I have posted something? Do people do that? I think I won’t. If you wanna read, you’ll read. (And as always, thanks for doing so!)

Many months ago, Michele Lewis had invited me to follow her on Twitter, but since I didn’t have an account I didn’t. I added her soon after creating my account. And yes, today’s post title was written with Michele in mind. (Explanation here.)

Have a good weekend, all.