I didn’t sleep last night. After finishing up the last lesson of the Boot Camp Nick Brancato, Lee Childs, Rick Fuller and I went to the steak house for a nice dinner, a glass of wine and some laughs. Lee’s a great guy and I’m glad I got to know him a little better on this trip and am looking forward to doing more teaching with him.

Afterwards we all headed down to the poker room for a friendly $2-5 NL game with some of our students. Of course Rick planted himself on my left and I knew he was looking to relive me of a few green backs. There was a max buy-in of $500 so I let him have the position on me and sure enough the first three hands we played he came right over the top of me like a squirrel looking for a nut. My lack of discipline got the better of me after I limped into the pot and he raised me a fourth time and I made the call with the 5/3 of spades.

The flop fell 6/6/2 with two spades and I check-called looking to either make my flush or pretend I was slow playing a 6 and take it away from him on down the board. The turn was an off-suit ace and I check-raised all-in only to find Rick quickly call me with 9/6! The river was a blank and I shipped my five hundred to him. This took any profit I was looking to make for the night but after sticking it our for a couple of hours I had worked my way back in front enough to pay my cab fare and said my goodbyes to my friends.

I got back to my room about one in the morning and I had a car picking me up at 6 in the morning to take me to the airport so I decided to just stay up and do some work. Election results and the commentaries were on the TV as I paced the room and packed. I was on my way to Michigan for a few days to visit with my brother and sisters. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve visited the place where I grew up. A small town of about 10,000 people called Albion.

As the plane lands in Detroit my mind is racing with different thoughts and am looking forward to getting some rest while I am here. I find myself reflecting to the day I threw everything in the trunk of my car and headed west. I was young, shy and naïve and had dreams of being a movie star. There were no lap tops or internet poker back then and it would be more then ten years before I saw my first flop.

I’m snapped out of my daydream when a brisk Michigan winter breeze hits me in the face. The temperature is 1 degree F. and suddenly it’s not so surprising why I left. My sister Grace is there to rescue me from the icy curb and after I thaw out I’m happy to be back home for a few days.

The following night we went to my friend David MacGregor’s play, “Vino Veritas.” What a great production that had all the elements of a great show. It made me laugh, cry and think while being very entertaining. This new play premiered at Jeff Daniels’ The Purple Rose Theatre. The production was first class and a testament to the quality of the productions put on by this company. The story revolved around two couples who after drinking a special type of “truth serum” wine from South America, struggle with the truths that it reveals about themselves and each other. If your anywhere around Chelsea, Michigan over the next couple of weeks I highly recommend it.

My next report will be from the felt at the Commerce Casino and the LA Poker Classic. It’s time for me to head back to the winner’s circle. Hope to see you there.

Enjoy the journey,

Kenna James