Texting, Driving and Poker

I must be the only person in the Western world that doesn't have a cell phone. Really I don't own a cell phone. I had one once. Lasted for like 6 months and I threw it in a drawer never to be seen again. It's not that I can't afford a cell phone its just that I don't want to be that available. My oldest actually sells them for a living and does really well doing that so he thought a few years ago a great gift for good old dad would be a cell phone. Imagine my surprise when I opened up my gift at Christmas and there it was.

Okay so then he had to give me lesson on how to use it, he got it all set up for me to use and away I go. Then a couple days later I am driving in the car and the phone rings. I panicked how the heck am I supposed to answer this while driving. So I didn't. Then the kids started phoning me all the time. Where are you?? Umm I am the insert(gas station, grocery store, mall) here. They phoned me all the time. I always asked why they were calling. Oh we just wanted to know what you were doing. It was at this point I realized I didn't ever want a phone and it went into a dark place never to be seen again. I honestly cannot understand the fascination with talking on them. It's not that I am anti social or unfriendly but really at 7 AM in the morning while driving to work who the heck are you talking to?? Most people at 7 AM don't want to talk to anybody but are happy to chat away on their cell phone.

Why I brought all this up is it seems everyone at my live poker games has one. They are always ringing, vibrating or whatever they do. Then the texting starts. How the heck can they see the letters to text?? They text while betting, they text before the game, during the game and after the game. I wonder what they do when they are sleeping. Do they text in their dreams??

Here in B.C. it's still legal to drive and talk on your cellphone. Now that is scary. Most people have enough problems driving without having only one hand on the wheel. Oh and add texting to that. Well we have had our first confirmed fatality to someone who was texting while he was driving. He evidently was texting on his Blackberry while driving his truck, crossed the centre line and smashed into another vehicle. He didn't survive. He was 27 years old. Fortunately the other driver is okay. They evidently checked his cellphone records and this was confirmed by his mom who has come forward to let everyone know how dangerous it is.

I know on at least 3 occasions that I was nearly hit while I was out running by people talking on their phones. It's a good thing I am alert and run defensively. I always make sure drivers see me and I make eye contact even if I am in the crosswalk. I know there are hands free models that can be set up in your car. You would think people would care enough to get one of these if they really needed to talk while driving.

If anything can come out of this tragedy I hope our elected peeps get their crap together and follow the lead of a couple other provinces in Canada and a few states in the U.S. and ban them while driving. Nothing is that important that you have to chat while driving.

As for poker carry on using them. Hopefully you distracted enough that I can take your chips.

Last night was an utter disaster at my Tuesday night live game. 5 hands and I was out. Yep 5. That's it!! I won't go into any long detail but let's say I played horrible. Really bad!! Totally over played my hand and got caught..........

I have to be in Richmond next week for 3 nights so if time permits looking forward to playing again at the River Rock Casino. Try and catch a tournament and hopefully a few hours of 1-2.