Bobostonepony

Bobostonepony.com is proud to present you with our own version of Dear Abby. We call it Ask Tommy Simmons, and we encourage you to ask Tommy anything. Tommy Simmon’s expertise spans much more than just Texas Hold’em.

Tommy Simmons is a poker player and advice columnist from Austin, TX. Tommy has written several books including YOU Have to Love YOU First! and his 1997 best seller Screaming is OK. Tommy currently tours middle schools and low income factories discussing a wide range of topics including love, pain, facing fears, prison love, no-limit poker strategies, physical fitness and long term erectile disfunction. As mandated by the State of Texas, Tommy must complete 970 hours of lecturing around the country. In 1985 Tommy began what would end up to be a 4 year stay at the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, TX. This was a result of an incident that occured at the Busy Beez Afterschool Child Daycare center where he was working as a volunteer yoga instructor. The details of this incident have been sealed by the State of Texas. While in prison, Tommy faced much adversity. Horrible and devistating adversity. However, with the help of a plastic surgeon and many prison psychiatrists Tommy overcame this adversity and faced his fears.

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by Bobostonepony

My best friend from high school flys helicopters now for the US Army. This is what he gets to do while I sit at my desk and get fatter. These are pictures of him and his buddies flying into the Grand Canyon.

Congrats on the upcoming baby boy! I know you will name him after me!

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By Bobostonepony

What drives us to love this game? Was it Chris Moneymaker’s rags to riches story? Is it the lure of possible fame and fortune? Is it the competition? Is it the camaraderie? Or is it something else, something chemical perhaps?

For me, I think it is a combination of all these things. EVERYBODY loves to watch an underdog win. When I first saw the ESPN coverage of the WSOP and saw Moneymaker win it, I was immediately drawn in. Where else can a nobody become a champion at the highest level? It won’t happen in basketball, football or golf. (But then again, I REFUSE to call this game a sport. It’s a game people!). This caused me to watch the newly produced poker shows as often as possible. Next, I wanted to try some live action so I asked Spadebeats to host a game. One thing led to another and the next thing you know I was spending money on poker chips, tables, and book after book. That was a year ago.

Now here I am. I’ve had varying degrees of success. I’ve won a couple 500 player tournies online and made a few bucks. But in the long run, I’m definitely down. Can I afford to keep playing? Yes. I don’t play for more than my wallet allows. Am I just as into this game as I was a year ago? Yes.

But………

What happens if something in the everyday routine changes? What if your job or working hours change? What happens if you enter into a new relationship or have a child?

Recently, something else has demanded a large portion of my free time. Poker has been moved down a bit on my list of important things to do. I am a bit relieved. For awhile there I truly thought I had a problem. I played poker A LOT. Several hours, each and every day. However, I haven’t recently had the urge to play all the time because of this new addition to my everyday routine. Maybe it wasn’t that I was addicted to the game but it was that I truly enjoyed it and had nothing better to do with my spare time. Not playing as often will definitely effect my game, but what it really does is put things in perspective.

I love poker. I still have those dreams of someday winning a huge major tournament and getting my ugly picture in some magazine. I still day dream about being a millionaire. I will still play poker. Just not every free moment of every day like before.

Poker is a competitive outlet. It is me wanting to feel the exhilaration of winning, of being a champion. Poker is my present day high school football. I am Al Bundy.

Perspective. It IS just a game for most of us. With the exception of the handful that get to do it for a living, the rest of us need to continue to balance life, family, work, love, rent, etc. etc. etc. Poker can fit in there somewhere. It’s easy to be completely consumed by this game. Just remember who and what is really important in your life. Make sure those people know it.

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By Bobostonepony

For 30 years I’ve lived my life without the knowledge of the value of a dollar. For the past several years I have been fortunate enough to have great “Techie-type” jobs that pay too much and require I do too little. Now, I’m in no way saying I make a million bucks, but I do ok for a single guy with no degree.

I know people who work 50 times harder than I ever will and do not make near the salary that I do. However, they have much more to show for their earnings than I do. Why? Because I throw it away. I don’t save anything. I don’t work hard enough for it, and therefore I take it for granted.

Recently, it has come to my attention that I MUST start to budget. This will effect my online poker playing, but hopefully in a postive manner. I’ve decided to set aside a pre-determined amount each week. If I lose that amount, then I cannot re-deposit until the next week. If I win, I will not withdraw the money so that I may build up my investment. Eventually I can raise the stakes as my play improves. I must be strict and it will probably suck at first. However, I think this will help me in the long run. Many great poker players say that Poker is a long term game. It doesn’t end when you get up from the table on a particular night. This game lasts a lifetime.

Therefore, If I consider my deposits and winnings an investment I will over time have so much more to show for it.

Wish me luck!

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by Bobostonepony

I started the day out like I do every morning by checking my web tracker to see how many hits I had so far in the day. Today I noticed a bit more than usual so I checked the referrer link. I noticed that someone was referred to the site by realpokertraining.com. I clicked on that stat and saw that they have listed me on their links page AND the front page! To date, this is probably the greatest publicity we could ever ask for.

It is truly an honor. Thanks Todd Arnold and RealPokerTraining.com. Do yourself a favor and check out the site. Currently, they have a video interview on their front page with Todd Arnold (NSXT2) and CardPlayer.com magazine at the World Series of Poker.
Real Poker Training is VITAL to any hold’em player. Todd Arnold (NSXT1 and NSXT2 depending on which site he is playing on) gives you an inside look at being an uber-successful online poker player. Todd has won numerous big money online tournies and he lets you watch at his site as he plays them. There is a fee to be a member of his site, but I assure you I recouped that fee within hours of watching his videos. Nowhere else will you get to watch along as a pro player wins a big money tourny. As you are watching he is commenting on his plays and his strategy. As much as I want to keep this site a secret, I know it will benefit you if you become a member.

Also see the 5 Questions With Todd Arnold interview we did a couple months ago. RealPokerTraining is also mentioned in the very first issue of Deal Magazine.

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By Bobostonepony

I’ve gotten quite a spike in traffic after posting the review of the L’Auberge Du Lac casino in Lake Charles, LA. It seems that quite a few people are interested in this casino and are doing searches on Yahoo and Google to find reviews.

I think the greatest contributor to the spike in traffic was my review which appeared on About.com.

It’s a little disconcerting that there has been no real effort from the management of LDL to make things better for my friend’s and I after the poor service we received at their establishment. After all, we are willing to give the LDL a second chance. But… a buffet in exchange for 2 days of horrible service and some major inconveniences doesn’t really make us square. I did actually receive a voice mail from the Director of Hotel Operations. I returned the call, left a voice mail, and haven’t heard anything in over a week.

I’m excited in the web presence of my reviews as well. If you go to Google and search for LDL CASINO REVIEW, my review from About.com is the first listed. And… if you go to Yahoo and search for
LDL CASINO LAKE CHARLES my site is the third listed.

I’m happy to see that people are using technology to research their vacations these days. Had we done the same thing, we could have avoided a disappointing weekend.

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By Bobostonepony

First of all, I hope everyone had a GREAT holiday weekend. Luckily, I had 4 days off and feel refreshed and better than ever. This was probably the best weekend I’ve had in 3 years. I attended a friend’s wedding on Saturday and it was fantastic. Congratulations Darren and Courtney! Later, I met up with an old friend that I hadn’t seen in many years and we reminisced for hours! It’s funny how quickly you can re-meet someone you haven’t seen in 10 years and start right back up like no time has passed at all.

Sunday I went to the lake with a group of friends… we spent the day on Spadebeat’s boat (say that 10 times fast.. GO!) and ended up watching the Bob Schneider show from the water. It was really a great time.

Until recently, I was working overnight on the weekends. A.K.A - the worst shift imaginable. I did this for a couple years. Working that type of shift is the equivallent of living on a desert island that never gets sunlight. No going out, no seeing your friends on the weekend, no FOOTBALL!, no nada! So, I’ve really learned to appreciate things like goin to the lake with my homies….

Pokerwise however, It wasn’t such a great weekend. After the Austin Bloggers put it on me on Thursday, my old Cisco Systems buddies put it on me on Friday. I made a couple mistakes but also got screwed outta some pots by the ever present rookie All-In-With-Crap. That probably happened at least 3 times. It sucks when you call an all-in with the best hand and get killed. That being said, I think it’s time to take a 2 week poker break. I’m gonna use this time to read up on some of the poker books I haven’t finished yet. I am currently reading Dan Harrington’s tourny book and the Tao Of Poker.

Anywho, I’ll still add stuff to the blog, but I won’t be playing poker of any kind for 2 weeks. Starting…………………………………….NOW!

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BE SAFE! HAVE FUN! OH HOW I WOULD SPANK HER!

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at this rate, I’ll be able to buy a new car in 13 years! 2018 here I come!

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Now I can pee. And…. get some errands taken care of. Anybody wanna clean my room?

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