Sink or Swim

At a poker table there are only 2 options. Win money, or lose money. Nobody is mad at the winner for winning money and nobody feels sorry for the loser. It just is what it is. In fact, poker should be the microcosm of our country. Play the game, there are a few winners and a whole lot of losers. I mean, we all cant win right?
Lets apply this to life. Do you homework, study and be in the right place at the right time = you win!!!!!!!! Don't do your homework, don't study, don't try to put yourself in the path of success = you don't win. Makes sense right?
Unfortunately the government thinks otherwise. Lets apply through the governments eyes. Do your homework, study, be in the right place at the right time = punishment (higher taxes). Don't do your homework, don't study, don't put yourself in the path of success = reward (government handouts)

Seems simple to me, right?

Could you imagine a poker game where nobody was big winners and there were no losers? I mean, what the hell is the point of even playing.

I am just venting about this whole Socialism thing that is in the news today. I keep hearing the president and all of his minions saying "redistribute wealth".

Could you imagine playing poker and you are winning big and the dealer says, "OK, you have reached your limit, you must now redistribute any additional winnings".

Why the hell even play?

Why even live life if you must live like an ant in a colony. Which is how I perceive socialism.

I will sum this up in poker terms..

I would much rather have the chance to win a huge pot and occasionally go broke, rather than being told I will always win a very small amount every time with no chance of ever losing.

Thank God men dont give birth!!!

I dont know how she does it. I could not immagine functioning on a daily basis with a little being in my tummy, only to have to push it out of my body at the end. She is so strong. We have decided on a name, Olivia Fiore Mancuso. It took us a while, but we finally found a name we agree on. Fiore, is "flower" in Italian. April is possibly the month, however the due date is 1st week of May. Arabella was born 2 weeks early, so who knows. The crib is ready, and me and uncle Ricky custom painted the nursery.




Anyway, the bottom line here is, she cant sleep, has chronic heartburn, achy, bloaty, and still is a great mom and wife. I could never be such a trooper. While I would love for her to have been a Genuine Woman of Leisure, it just did not work out that way.

Watches.... Who needs a stinking watch?

Well, I had it. I had enough $ to buy a top teir watch. (For those of you that think Rolex is top tier, it is far from it) I looked at my wife one day, she was 7 mos pregnant, about to turn 30, mothersday is approaching, so I decided to get the more deserving person a watch. I purchased a Patek Phillipe 4905 in white gold for her.















Well it decimated my watch fund. It will be a while before a Patek Phillipe graces my wrist now. I felt that i still needed some wrist candy, so I got some real bling.

How I lost $400 in 1 hour playing poker

This was 2-3 weeks ago and I have not played since. I only played 3 hands in the hour and these are the results.

Hand 1: I had 4-5 of diamonds, guy to my left raises to 10, 3 people call, pot odds in my favor so i call also. Flops 36J, 6 & J were diamonds. He bet 20, everyone folds to me, I push all in for 100 more. He took a while then called. He had QJ. The turn and river were JJ. He hit quads and I lose.

Hand 2: I had JJ, flopped a set, I was betting hard, but they rivered a flush and I lose 75

Hand 3: I raise with pocket 88, 3 callers. Flopps 823. I bet 30, and am called by one person, turn is a 10, I go all in, he calls. He has pocket 1010. I lose.

Obviously bad luck had me that day. I am just about ready to get back in the saddle again. I really prefer 100+ trnys, but will play chash when there is no trny.

Arabella is my SWEET-ZA

For my 1st post, I am including something that brings me great joy. Why she finds this funny, I will never know. She is much older today, but this video always makes me smile. It is also important to point out that this blog will not be primarily a "family" blog, I will occasionally post important "family" info here. The thing is, I would not be able to live a Life Of Leisure without my lovely wife. So my family, unlike many Men Of Leisure, is the reason I am a Man Of Leisure, so to not include them would illegitimize my claim.