I finished 25th.

As always in these situations it’ll take me a few days to fully appreciate that finishing 25th out of 855 entrants is pretty good.

And two thousand American dollars is OK, too.

But right now, who gives a shit about “perspective”. As my kids would say… perspective is for losers. Perspective is a social construct, anyway. You know what? It’s worse. Perspective is bullshit. I wanted more!

With about 15 big blinds left I shoved 44 from the button and got called by JJ. I can’t scream bad luck on that one. I didn’t have to do it. I chose to do it. Not every good poker player would have taken that course of action. But I did. And I lost in 25th place. Where’s the perspective in that, I ask you?

Here’s something… I’m waiting to cash out my two thousand dollars and the young pit boss guy (who started yesterday) couldn’t find my name in the computer. He searched everywhere. Six guys were waiting impatiently behind us also looking to cash out. Then he asked me if i was sure i played in this tournament. In no mood for this noise, I silently gave him “The Caplan Stare” and I think he got the message as a large dollop of sweat slowly made it’s way past his ear and down his chin.

Panicked, he called over the assistant manager who took another ten minutes to not solve the problem.

She called over the big boss who seemed to have all the answers.

Except this one.

They tried spelling my name with a K. Nope. They tried looking under Richard instead of Rich. Nope. They tried spelling my name backwards. In Sanskrit. In Pig Latin. Nope. Nope Nope. My Buddhist patience was wearing thin, you can imagine.

Finally, he asked to see the MGM Players Card that I signed into the tournament with. I practically threw it at him.

And that’s when he looked up at me and said, and I’m quoting here, “Who’s Ruth Marshall?”

Uhhhh, I guess I grabbed the wrong card at home when I was leaving for the airport at 5 in the morning. Ummmm, sorry everybody!

Turns out RUTH finished 25th.

Good job, Babe!

You shouldn’t have shoved those fours, though.

I wouldn’t have, anyway.