So I finished February strong as far as poker goes. With that $100 win at a friends house and a few dollars made on-line, I easily made my monthly goal for Feb and even made up for Jan. March is starting off well also - I just finished 1st place in an 18-man tournament on-line for $21.
Days worked to days off ratio also looking good and I will be taking 3 weeks off in April, so that is solid.
I have decided on my 3rd goal for the year - to be in the same physical shape that I was when I tore up my knee and before surgery. The months before that I was in the best shape I had been for many years, and it really stunk to get hurt and lose that. So, by the end of the year, I intend to be back to where I was, just as fast and just as strong.
Good to have goals, don't you think?
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
1st Place & Valentine's Day
Last night I played in a Texas Hold-em poker tournament at a friend's home and crushed the competition to take 1st place, for a tidy profit of $100. We started with 11 players buying in for $20 each and a little over two hours later I brought home my Valentine's Day present for my wifey - mo' money! Now that is love...Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
2010 GOAL RESET
Although I hate to change goals once they have been set, if the goals are no longer realistic, then there is no point in keeping them as they are.
I had set goals for 2010 of having 182 days off, 6 college classes, and making $50 a month from on-line Texas Hold-Em poker.
When I got selected for promotion to Master Sergeant, I also received orders to a helo squadron deploying this time next year. What that means is that I will not have time the second half of this year to take much time off at all, and that after my one planned spring class, I will not have time for any more this year.
I am currently taking two classes, so that will make three for the year after my spring class. Nothing else to add there.
I think I could easily not work for 140 days this year, so I will shoot for 155. That means 210 days of work. Terrible, but realistic.
As far as poker goes, January can be marked as a FAIL. I didn't get to play much and ended up down a couple of dollars. I don't think I have the time (I hate even writing it) to play enough $1 games to make $50 per month. I am going to adjust this to $25 per month. Still a tough goal, but more realistic.
So, to summarize:
I had set goals for 2010 of having 182 days off, 6 college classes, and making $50 a month from on-line Texas Hold-Em poker.
When I got selected for promotion to Master Sergeant, I also received orders to a helo squadron deploying this time next year. What that means is that I will not have time the second half of this year to take much time off at all, and that after my one planned spring class, I will not have time for any more this year.
I am currently taking two classes, so that will make three for the year after my spring class. Nothing else to add there.
I think I could easily not work for 140 days this year, so I will shoot for 155. That means 210 days of work. Terrible, but realistic.
As far as poker goes, January can be marked as a FAIL. I didn't get to play much and ended up down a couple of dollars. I don't think I have the time (I hate even writing it) to play enough $1 games to make $50 per month. I am going to adjust this to $25 per month. Still a tough goal, but more realistic.
So, to summarize:
- $25/month from poker
- 155 days off
That is only two goals, soI need another challenge. I will think on it and let you know.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
-----Original Message-----
From: Carpenter SgtMaj Kiplyn (USF-W SGTMAJ)
Cc: Tryon MajGen Richard T (USF-W CG)
Subject: FAREWELL OF THE MARINES FROM IRAQ
UNCLASSIFIED
Please pass on,
SgtsMaj, MGySgts, CMDCMs, Marines and Sailors, Saturday, 23 January at 1100 will mark the end of the Marines in Iraq as an organization. II MEF (fwd) will conduct a Transfer of Authority Ceremony with the First Armored Division without a Relief in Place from any incoming unit. USF-W (formally MNF-W) will merge with USD-C (formally MND-Baghdad) and will cease to exist.
After 6 years, over 850 Marines and Sailors killed in combat and another 8800 wounded we have completed our mission. At our peak, we had almost 26,000 Marines and Sailors on deck, close to 200 aircraft, over 380,000 pieces of ground equipment, and were averaging close to 2000 significant events a month. We have added a whole new generation of Heros; and names like Al Nasiriyah, Fallujah and Ramadi will be added to our History books.
Words can't begin to explain the magnitude of effort and sacrifice our Marines and Sailors have gone through to help the Iraqi people. Each year since the initial invasion, Marines and Sailors from all over the Corps have been a part of the revolving I MEF (fwd) and II MEF (Fwd)Commands. Each year has been different with its own sets of unique challenges and each successive year, the incoming organization has built upon the successes of the outgoing organization.
This year was no different, we didn't have anywhere near the level of fighting that previous MEFs have done. However, we did conduct many operations, maintained security, continue to professionalize the Iraqi Security Forces, develop good governance and economics, assisted with the continued establishment of the Rule of Law and oversaw the peaceful transition of the provincial government. We also had one unique mission that we can call our own. That was to finally bring the Marine Corps home. Over the past year, we have simultaneously conducted the responsible drawdown of 24,000 Personnel, over 34 COPs and FOBs, including Baharia, Rawah, and TQ and sent six years worth of equipment out of theater.
For those of you who served with me this year, thank you. It was long and difficult at times, with our own set of challenges, but we did it. It has been an honor to serve with you.
For those of you who have left your boot prints over here at least once during the last six years; thanks to you too. You set the stage for us to finish the job. It has been costly, it has been challenging, it has taken a while with quite a few dark days. But, in the end, it was worth it.
All Marines and Sailors, including those who remained stateside have contributed to the overall success of the Marines and Sailors in Iraq and; all of us have known someone who didn't make it back alive or has permanent injuries. It is up to us to ensure that those who follow never forgot their sacrifice or what we did here.
Collectively, we have added another illustrious chapter to the successful story of our Marine Corps. One that all of us can be proud of.
Semper Fidelis,
K. Carpenter
Sergeant Major
United States Force - West, Iraq
(Previously Multi National Force - West) II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd)
21 January 2010
UNCLASSIFIED
From: Carpenter SgtMaj Kiplyn (USF-W SGTMAJ)
Cc: Tryon MajGen Richard T (USF-W CG)
Subject: FAREWELL OF THE MARINES FROM IRAQ
UNCLASSIFIED
Please pass on,
SgtsMaj, MGySgts, CMDCMs, Marines and Sailors, Saturday, 23 January at 1100 will mark the end of the Marines in Iraq as an organization. II MEF (fwd) will conduct a Transfer of Authority Ceremony with the First Armored Division without a Relief in Place from any incoming unit. USF-W (formally MNF-W) will merge with USD-C (formally MND-Baghdad) and will cease to exist.
After 6 years, over 850 Marines and Sailors killed in combat and another 8800 wounded we have completed our mission. At our peak, we had almost 26,000 Marines and Sailors on deck, close to 200 aircraft, over 380,000 pieces of ground equipment, and were averaging close to 2000 significant events a month. We have added a whole new generation of Heros; and names like Al Nasiriyah, Fallujah and Ramadi will be added to our History books.
Words can't begin to explain the magnitude of effort and sacrifice our Marines and Sailors have gone through to help the Iraqi people. Each year since the initial invasion, Marines and Sailors from all over the Corps have been a part of the revolving I MEF (fwd) and II MEF (Fwd)Commands. Each year has been different with its own sets of unique challenges and each successive year, the incoming organization has built upon the successes of the outgoing organization.
This year was no different, we didn't have anywhere near the level of fighting that previous MEFs have done. However, we did conduct many operations, maintained security, continue to professionalize the Iraqi Security Forces, develop good governance and economics, assisted with the continued establishment of the Rule of Law and oversaw the peaceful transition of the provincial government. We also had one unique mission that we can call our own. That was to finally bring the Marine Corps home. Over the past year, we have simultaneously conducted the responsible drawdown of 24,000 Personnel, over 34 COPs and FOBs, including Baharia, Rawah, and TQ and sent six years worth of equipment out of theater.
For those of you who served with me this year, thank you. It was long and difficult at times, with our own set of challenges, but we did it. It has been an honor to serve with you.
For those of you who have left your boot prints over here at least once during the last six years; thanks to you too. You set the stage for us to finish the job. It has been costly, it has been challenging, it has taken a while with quite a few dark days. But, in the end, it was worth it.
All Marines and Sailors, including those who remained stateside have contributed to the overall success of the Marines and Sailors in Iraq and; all of us have known someone who didn't make it back alive or has permanent injuries. It is up to us to ensure that those who follow never forgot their sacrifice or what we did here.
Collectively, we have added another illustrious chapter to the successful story of our Marine Corps. One that all of us can be proud of.
Semper Fidelis,
K. Carpenter
Sergeant Major
United States Force - West, Iraq
(Previously Multi National Force - West) II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd)
21 January 2010
UNCLASSIFIED
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
REACHING THE GOAL
Good news! I had 193 days off this year while working 172. My goal was to just break even, but my surgery and Faithy's hospital stay put me several days over. In addition, I got selected for Master Sergeant!
All of this validates my philosophy of "work less, delegate more, but when you do work, make it focused and efficient - no wasting time" that I have adapted at work.
In addition, I finished 5 college classes with 4 A's and 1 B (algebra-ugh!).
I have also taken up Texas No-Limit Hold-Em Poker online and played in several live tournaments at Pechanga Casino. I made it to the final table my very first time and made $220. Since then I have played 4 more times, each time getting knocked out with about 40-50 people left (each tournament has an average of 180-220 players.
Online, I am playing $0.25 and $1 tournaments and scraping a small profit. I was averaging about $2 profit per game for a couple of months, but had a bit of a downswing (called variance) at the beginning of December. Looks as though I have played through that now, and have made $13.71 over the last 6 games in the past few days.
Goals for 2010
All of this validates my philosophy of "work less, delegate more, but when you do work, make it focused and efficient - no wasting time" that I have adapted at work.
In addition, I finished 5 college classes with 4 A's and 1 B (algebra-ugh!).
I have also taken up Texas No-Limit Hold-Em Poker online and played in several live tournaments at Pechanga Casino. I made it to the final table my very first time and made $220. Since then I have played 4 more times, each time getting knocked out with about 40-50 people left (each tournament has an average of 180-220 players.
Online, I am playing $0.25 and $1 tournaments and scraping a small profit. I was averaging about $2 profit per game for a couple of months, but had a bit of a downswing (called variance) at the beginning of December. Looks as though I have played through that now, and have made $13.71 over the last 6 games in the past few days.
Goals for 2010
- Make $50 per month from online poker
- Work days/Off days 183/182
- 6 College classes
Happy New Year!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
OUR DYING MEN NEED SOME ATTENTION
- In the past month, the president has found the time to play golf – four times.
- He’s had links legend Arnold Palmer and other top golfers over to the White House.
- He’s shot some hoops with friends and yukked it up with hockey’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
- He’s celebrated Ramadan at the White House
- Eulogized newsman Walter Cronkite in New York City
- Attended several fundraisers (including Thursday afternoon’s luncheon)
- Appeared on David Letterman’s late-night show (one of eight interviews)
- Delivered two speeches to AFL-CIO rallies
- And the brief jaunt to Copenhagen to buttonhole members of the International Olympic Committee on behalf of Chicago’s 2016 Olympics bid was Mr. Obama’s seventh trip out of town since Sept. 1.
- Yet still no decision on strategy for the war in Afghanistan.
- The rest of the establishment press constantly bellyached about George W. Bush’s “vacations” in Crawford. No such general noise is present now.
- SINCE BECOMING PRESIDENT, HE HAS MET WITH THE GENERAL FIGHTING THE WAR ONCE - FOR 20 MINUTES ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE. AND THAT WAS ONLY AFTER THE GENERAL MADE PUBLIC HIS NEED FOR MORE TROOPS TO GET THE JOB DONE.
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