DUBLIN BELLYBUSTERS

_ I’m all out of whack this week. A back spasm on Saturday night sent me to the hospital on Sunday where I got ultrasound and was told I had probably damaged a facet joint and the muscular spasm was my body’s way of protecting the injured area. Consequently, I haven’t been able to sleep well and have spent most of the last three days in a daze. Standing and walking is more comfortable than lying or sitting so I been strolling around Dublin in daylight, something I haven’t done in months. Painkillers haven’t made much of a difference but tonight, the pain became more of a dull ache so I think I’m on the mend.

I napped this evening between 5 and 8, waking up hungry and grumpy. I have been on a healthier food kick since new year but last night I needed some Crackbird (posh KFC… but not even that posh) to cheer myself up. The guilt of that prompted me to ditch take-away plans tonight and instead buy some soup and guacamole with crudités. Tasty enough and good brain food for a long session at the tables. I played 29 tourneys, cashed in 6, made 4 final tables and took 2 2nds, banking almost $1600 profit. While I certainly haven’t found my best form yet, I have been playing pretty damn well and I certainly can’t complain with how my return to poker has gone so far. I’m up almost $14K in 15 days and last week, to my surprise, I came 5th in a Weekly PokerStars SNG promotion called Battle of the Planets – Uranus (the $60 level). On top of a $275 cash prize, I have been entered into a $50K Triple Shootout at the end of the month.