Leaving Edmonton

The Fairmont Patio
Originally uploaded by csquard

Some high points from my stay in Edmonton:

>> Your first sign that the body is freezing is when all moisture in your nostrils crystallize
>> Denim makes a strange sound when frozen
>> My surgically repaired knee must have some cartilage as it too froze
>> It's strange how beautiful a city can be when it is covered in a blanket of snow
>> Five blocks is the max you can walk in -10F weather (I walked six, so I'm pretty sure five is the max)
>> I jaywalked several times since I think it is the antithesis of what a good Canadian/en would do
>> People actually incessantly say "Eh?"
>> Trip report from Baccarat Casino: poker there sucks. Forget that I was down $20 due to the ridiculous, made up exchange rate (lady looks at the ceiling, then announces "$90"--she also refused to give me a receipt). Forget that the $4/8 mixed game was comprised of Holdem, Crazy Pineapple, Omaha, and Pineapple (you get three then discard one before the flop). Forget that I was stuck $100 until I won a big pot against Aggro1 on a 7s-8h-9s-2s-Ks board (I had 10s-5s-Jh-Qd). Forget that when Aggro2 lady came, every third hand was a seven-way capped pot pre-flop. Forget that I was up to $400 before finishing +$75 (including the exchange rate debacle), this after not winning a pot for an hour. Forget that I was watching the Super Bowl in this dump. No, I hate this place because with only one $3/6 and two $4/8 games running, they force two players to leave our game and go to the "Main Game," where it was seven handed as well. It was absolutely moronic. The floor's final comment to me: "No sir, I didn't break this game. You did."
>> Best hand of the session: Omaha on a board of A-3-5-4-9 rainbow, it was capped on the turn and river three-way. You can guess the hands (I'll give you a hint; it was scooped)
>> I wish I could have gotten out and explored a bit, but I might have died.

Boarding in ten minutes or so. Next post from Hamilton, Ontario.