The house always wins.

Tonight is poker night at my house. I hold it atleast once a month and it's always a good time. I usually invite about 10-12 homies and we all know each other from various things. Plus it's a small Hmong world anyway so we can all poke fun of each other at the poker table while trying to catch the river (Chippy, I'm talking about you).

I won pretty big a few months ago and decided to re-invest in poker night. I built my own poker table top. At first I thought I could skimp a little here and there so I got felt from Michaels. Big mistake because the felt started balling up making it hard to slide cards. Lesson learned. Well, after a few months of procrastination, I finally have it right. Professional-grade material (water-proof FTW!), bottle holders installed, and a comfy arm rest bumper (I'll upload picture later). Can't wait for boys to see it.

There are certain unwritten rules with poker night that have become a tradition. As host, I am responsible for the food. This is one of my favorite things about poker night because I get to pick and choose what to make. If I've never made it before, I usually get a few weeks to perfect it.

In the past I've made steaks, brats and burgers, pizza and chicken wings, pho (I can now open my own restaurant called Pho Shizzle), and Philly cheese steaks (they were the bomb) to name a few. Tonight I am conquering hot dogs... I am having corn dogs, chili dogs, and bacon-wrapped dogs. It's going to be hot dog heaven.

Another unwritten rule is the homies bring the drinks. Beer consumption is a staple and now and then my buddy Gui brings the hard stuff. We started a new tradition at the last poker night. On any random hand, the winner not only wins the main pot, but also a side pot of chips donated from a few guys at the table. Great right? Well, there's a shot of whatever to go with it. I think I donated about $20 to that cause, but it's like buying your buddy a few shots at the bar.

Tonight I'm introducing a new tradition:

It reads "Tonight was duty / to answer / the call of booty." The last part has multiple meanings. The obvious one since we're dudes. Also a few of the guys play Call of Duty. Lastly "booty" as in treasure (aaargh, matey!). I'm thinking that everyone puts in $2 at a chance to win this bad boy. The first to win 10 hands on the night will have the right to proudly hold on to this manly cup until the next poker night. Great right? Well, they're going to have to drink whatever we put in there first.

The World Series of Poker may currently be on ESPN, but I tell you what, there's no better table to go "all in" then the one I'll be siting at tonight. And at the end of the night if I win or lose money, I always come out ahead.

But don't think I'm not going to try to keep the cup with me. I'm going to answer the call...

UPDATE!!!

Like I said, the house always wins.