Once there was a poker blog

May 14, 2007 | 06:44PM  | maudie dot b - gmail d c | |

Every so often and, unfortunately, expectedly, I enter a phase of hibernation worthy of a Canadian grizzly. It was a rough winter. I'm not referring to the weather, although ol' man winter did smack us upside the head a few times.

No, work troubles and, more seriously, the long good bye with my father propelled me to the shuttered confines of casa de Maudie. The curtains were drawn, shades pulled and a nest fashioned on the sofa with remote in easy reach and a coupla hundred cable channels offering me solace.

I've struggled to pull myself out of it, emerging for weekly brunches with my family of friends here, occasional treks to the casino, and one special time for a road-trip east which took me to the warm company of distant friends. All but withdrawing completely from this community of bloggers, I put this blog on hiatus and have barely been able to squeeze out posts for the paid gig.

Experience has taught me that these periods do pass, that all that is needed is to keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually I'll make it out of the cave. What helps tremendously is the closeness of friends who, with no more than a gesture or a look, let me know they are there for me and who refuse to let me get lost. You know who you are, and I shudder to think where I'd be without you.

The long good-bye is nearing completion. Half-way through this post I got the call I've been expecting. Within forty-eight hours I'll be winging west.

For the time being, however, I'll keep the flood gates closed and just focus on now and not the inevitable. This post was not intended for that.

This post was intended to let you know two things. The first - I'm not able to go to the gathering in Vegas in June. That fact was feeding all kinds of nasty fuel to my angst and compounding my winter blues. But, the second thing I want to tell you about is fueling a fire of excitement.

While I was wrapped in my own self-pitying blanket of gloom, plans were being made for another gathering, and one that I will have no problem attending. After catching up with a backlog of un-read blog posts, I discovered that Okie-Vegas is happening. This July.

July 18-22 to be exact and I want to take this moment to extend a personal invitation to my internet family to come to Oklahoma in the middle of July, typically the hottest time of year, and engage in some sweaty card playing, backyard burgers, beer, tequila and whatever else may be thrown into the agenda. I extended a helping hand to Gary to get this some-what organized, so stay tuned there or here for further details.

It would mean more to me than words can express to be able to donk around with my pals in my own back yard - both literally and figuratively. I'm done with the cave and ready to dance around a bonfire.

Shoot me an email (maudie dot b at gmail dc) or one to Gary (gcox at kirby-smith dc) or leave a comment if you think you can come. We'll keep updating as details get firm, as well as give the scoop on airport, lodging and logistics.

And, yes. I am. I will be. I am OK.

OKIE-VEGAS JULY 18-22 OKC / NORMAN OKLAHOMA