Texas Hold-Um!

My last few blogs have been rather depressing. So, I figured I would talk about something very positive!

Tonight was the Sedona Palms Casino Night Fundraising Event.

For those of you who do not know what Sedona Palms is, let me explain it to you. Sedona Palms is a Community minded, doctor monitored, and professionally staffed weight loss and fitness center. Founded by Dr. Troy Anderson a Neurologist and Sleep Medicine doctor (as well as retired Navy Officer). Dr. Anderson found that so many of his patients were dying from strokes and heart attacks because of obesity, and no one was willing to help these people. After much research on the subject of obesity and learning the truth behind the disease. Dr. Anderson with the compassion that is not found very often in the medical community went on a mission to help those who are suffering from the disease of obesity.

Now, I've blogged a lot about obesity, because I suffer from the disease. I was at one time at my highest weight 300lbs. Now I'm down to a svelte 150lbs, but I still consider myself in "recovery" because weight loss and having a healthy diet is a life long commitment that to many people is nearly impossible to achieve. Why? Because food addiction is the most deadliest addiction out there, and there is no where for people to get help.

Until Now.

If you are in the Phoenix, AZ area and you suffer from obesity and you feel you have come to the end of your rope, there is help. Sedona Palms is a loving, compassionate, caring, and spiritual centered organization. Also, it is ran 100% by donations. Yep. Technically there is no fee. Athletes are asked to raise money to help with the day to day costs of running the business, but this is a 501(c)3 Not for Profit organization, and it WORKS!

www.sedonapalms.com

Okay, so getting back to the fun stuff. :-)

Tonight was the foundation's Casino Night Fundraising Event. You paid $25 per ticket and you got $500 in chips. You have the option to purchase more chips if you want. So, I got $1000 worth of chips for $50.

Now, I have never considered myself much of a gambler. In fact, I try to avoid it as much as possible, because I NEVER win!

But, tonight was different. I was there for the foundation that I love and it was for a cause that I support, so I figured the heck with it. It is just play money, and the only thing I'd lose was a chance for a prize at the end of the night.

So, there were several choices: Blackjack, roulette, slots, craps, and Texas Hold-um. Looking over my options and actually knowing something about Casinos. One because besides going to Florida every summer when I was a kid, we also use to go to Atlantic City, and when you go as often as I did, you start to pick up on which games have the best odds and two I live 6 hours from Las Vegas. Really??!!

So, I know the odds were in my favor if I played Texas Hold-um, well for one you don't play against the House like you do in Blackjack.

At 5:30pm I sat at the table, had my drink and some snacks with me and with a cheeky grin stated that while I know how to play poker I'm not very good at the betting. That got me some tutoring on how to play this game effectively.

Now, something you need to know about me. I'm highly intelligent and I pick up on things rather quickly. So, after a few little blunders I picked up game and started getting serious. Well, I'll tell you, I understand the rush that gamblers get when they play, especially when they are winning.

See, I wasn't playing with my money, so dropping $100 raises was nothing.

I did learn a few things about myself. I have SEVERAL Tells.

If you don't know what a "Tell" is, it is simply a subtle non-verbal action that a person does that gives away their hand. So, here are my "tells"

When I have a "Good" hand...I play with my hair
When I have a "Bad" hand...I bite my bottom lip

hehe...so now that you know these, next time I play I need to be very conscience of them.

Anyway, 3 hours, 3 beers, and yummy food later...I walk away from the table with "$5400" Yep! Okay, it wasn't a REAL $5400 but, it put me in first place, and in the end I won a $100 Visa Gift Card! Sweet!

It was a really fun night. Especially since I was the only woman at the table, all the other players were men, and I found that flirting tends to be a good way to get someone distracted. LOL.... :-)

So, good times.

The foundation decided that this was something we would do every few months. It is open to anyone who wants to come!

Please take a minute to visit the Sedona Palms website, and even if you are not in Arizona, contact us and support our athletes and maybe if your community is serious we can come and establish a Sedona Palms in your community. :-)

Namaste