I decided to take some time off of poker after the 2007 WSOP, partly because my work schedule was very hectic, and partly because it was summer and I was trying to enjoy getting out golfing, the weather, and being with friends. Work sent me to Windsor, Washington D.C. (twice), Minneapolis, and Denver in a short span of about 7 weeks. I managed to add a couple more glasses to the Hard Rock collection. If you are unaware of it I do collect them as I get to the locations.
As the 2007 year started to wrap up my work load didn't really decrease all that much. I was sent to several more locations, including Boston in early October, Denver in later October, Atlanta in November, and Manhattan in December. The weather in Boston was great for that time of year, and I was able to get out and do a few things that I hadn't in prior trips. The Red Sox had made the playoffs, and I was going to be in town when Game 1 of the Divisional Series was taking place. Everyone knows how fanatic the Red Sox fans are, so I didn't even consider trying to get a ticket since I guessed that scalpers would be selling them for ridiculous prices. Some of the people I was working with that week had suggested that I go to a pub near Fenway called the Cask 'n Flagon to get involved in the atmosphere of the playoff game. I hopped on the subway and made my way over to the Cask 'n Flagon. It turns out the pub is right next to Fenway Park. After exiting the subway I was approaching Fenway and the pub when I heard someone trying to sell a single ticket. I figured it wouldn't hurt to inquire about it, and the guy was selling the ticket for $80! I was really expecting it cost more, and I didn't even try to haggle with the guy. I paid the $80 and made my way in to the ballpark. What a game, too! Josh Beckett threw a shutout that night! It was really cool hanging out with Red Sox Nation for the game. Everyone getting in to it, singing “Sweet Caroline” in the 8th inning, the whole experience was great. I had never been to Fenway Park and I really wanted to do this at some point, and it turned out I picked a great game to go to for my first time there. On my last day in Boston, I was able to walk the Freedom Trail, where I went by historical locations such as Paul Revere's house, the Old North Church, and the Bunker Hill monument. I really enjoy history and hitting those places and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market were all neat places to visit.
After Boston, I was sent to Denver, and with the timing of that trip I happened to be out there for Games 3 and 4 of the National League Championship Series that the Colorado Rockies were participating in. I arrived too late to make it over to Coors Field for Game 3, and when I looked in to going to Game 4 the tickets were really expensive for the Tuesday game. As it turns out it's probably a good thing that I didn't go because the Rockies won the game, clinching a spot in the World Series, and the town went nuts! The news was reporting people in the streets partying late in to the night/early in to the morning, and there were severe delays in the train getting from Coors Field to outlying areas, like where I was staying. I did have the opportunity to make it over to the U.S. Mint and take a tour. It was really interesting seeing how the different coins are minted. I also made it up in to the mountains in to a ghost town called Central City and was able to walk around and see some of the historical things. The town was founded in 1859, and several of the buildings still look like they could be originals.
Atlanta in November was a decent trip, too. I had the opportunity to see a friend of mine who lives in the Atlanta area. We were able to get out for a little drinking and it was good to catch up.
In December I got the opportunity to work in New York City. One of the neat things about this trip was the fact that the facility I was working at was located in the Empire State Building! Because the cost of all the hotels in the nearby area during the holiday shopping season, I stayed across the river in Seacaucus, New Jersey. I was really impressed with the public transportation while I was out there. I was able to get from Seacaucus to the Empire State Building using the New Jersey bus, New York subway, and walking, all in about 40 minutes in prime rush hour! Being out there for the holiday shopping season was really neat, too. I was able to get over to Rockefeller Center and saw the Christmas tree. Times Square lit up at night is always a neat experience, and the experience was no different during the holiday season. I got up to the top of the Empire State Building, and that was truly exceptional. First of all, the snow appeared to be flying upward at the 86th floor. The first thing you'll notice though no matter when you're up there is how quiet it is. With all the traffic over a thousand feet below you won't hear any of the traffic below. While I was up there I could faintly hear an outdoor Christmas concert playing in the distance, and with the snow falling it made for a really neat experience. I only wish that my camera could take better pictures at night time!
I know that there's not a whole lot of poker in this blog (none at all to this point), but you can tell I was kind of busy later in the year for 2007. I'll have some more poker in the next posting, as I've got some tournaments to tell you about including my best cash ever.
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