Maudie at PokerWorks

Poker Perks

I’ve have returned from the great northwest and have a couple of pics for pal Pauly and anyone else who may be interested.

By the way - kudos to Pauly for the ESPN gig. I wasn’t surprised when he told me. He’s been on that path since the beginning and I’m damned proud of him. Gosh, I remember when he was just a tyke, taking his first tokes from his Tommy Tippy Bong and pretending to type on his high-chair tray… so cute… seems like it was just yesterday. My, how time flies… nice goin’ kiddo.

Friday in Seaside we had a bit of a storm come through. I snapped the above pic of a roiling ocean about an hour before it hit. The one below is of my brother Saturday evening. My brother, me, my sister, nephew, niece, grand-niece and grand-nephew hit the beach after a family picnic in my Dad’s little apartment.

It’s becoming the family joke that Ant (sic - another family joke) Maudie is on the road to hell, doomed to gamble away house and home because of her gambling habit. This is all due to my Dad’s concern after I told him about my hobby. He hasn’t missed a chance to bring it up.

One of the first questions out of his mouth after we arrived was “Are you still going to Las Vegas?”

“No. I’m not. I’ve stopped going to Vegas. I’ve given up gambling,” I told him, completely straight faced. My nephew, sitting in the corner, practically choked trying not to laugh.

“Good,” Dad replied. Hey - it gave him peace of mind and keeps me in the will. No idiot me.

I also resisted telling him that my nasty gambling habit allowed me to make a nice purchase while I was there. Just south of Seaside is Cannon Beach, a little village filled with art galleries and shops. It took all of five minutes to decide to buy a serigraph after entering a new gallery.

I’m sure most, if not all, of my readers have read Dr. Seuss - Cat in the Hat, et al. They were my favorite books as a wee one. Now what you may not be aware of is that Dr. Seuss illustrated all of his books. He was quite the imaginative artist.

His books weren’t the only publications that carried his art. In fact, after he died, 60 years worth of his “secret” art was revealed and shared with the world. Three-D works, surrealistic, whimsical pieces that remind one to not take life so serious.

Many of his paintings and illustrations have been reproduced in serigraphs and prints along with his 3-D “Unorthodox Taxidermy” sculptures and other sculptures. It took all of five minutes to decide to purchase a serigraph that was hanging in this gallery.

And thanks to my “habit,” I was able to buy it without a second thought, other than “where will I hang it?” Other than my laptop, it’s the only other purchase I’ve made with my “poker” money. Most of my winnings go right back into the bankroll.

But this was a treat I had to have. A pure impulse buy. Folks who know me will understand why.