On Tribal Grounds

What day is it? Oh yea, tuesday. Last post I mentioned that I hadn't been home since thursday. Well, I still haven't been home. I've spent most of my time in Cherokee and I'm still here. I'm currently taking advantage of 3 free hotel stays. The offer was for an area hotel as opposed to the main Harra's hotel, and I've been shuffled back and forth between the Econo Lodge and the Best Western, but the rooms are clean and very nice.

I'm just continuing to play in the poker room and I haven't had a losing session yet. Since I started on thursday, my four days have finished with wins of $136, $44, $307, and $238. I really need it to continue moving in this direction. Sure, I got it in behind three times yesterday and pulled through, but that's all part of the game.

I am still undecided about the drive to Vegas but after checking my offers at Harrah's online, I realize that I have plenty of free room offers over the next month, so I really don't have to be in a hurry. Right now, the plan is to keep milking the teet of the Cherokee electro-poker room. There are some real fish to be had up here, and I'm grabbing my share.

I just found a coffee house in Cherokee by the way. It's called Tribal Grounds Coffee and I have to say, I'm impressed. It takes a lot to impress me these days and it hasn't happened in quite awhile. These guys roast their own beans, and they handle the espresso in a more traditional manner than the modern, Starbucks-esque, fully automatic machines. I like to see a barista grinding and tamping espresso by hand. I have experience in this field and I worked hard to perfect my techniques, and I recognize when others are striving for excellence. The menu is creative, and on the bottom line, my drink tastes great. I feel like a certain level of care is being taken to create a coffee just for me, and that is worth as much as flavor. It presents a certain feel of quality. Until the day I own a coffee house or at least live in a town with a similar house to this one, I'll likely always be a Starbucks customer, drinking their industrialised version of what should be a special coffee drink, individualy handmade, one by one. But at least now, when I'm in cherokee, I can enjoy what originally made me so passionate about coffee.

So now, I'll order a brewed coffee and head over to the poker room to do my noble work, relieving poker players and gamblers alike of there disposable cash. I intend to play hard today and after the best sleep I've had in weeks, I feel ready. I actually feel empowered by the coffee experience I just had as well. I can't wait to visit this place in winter. Wish me luck kids.