Poker Face

Last night a bunch of us in the hostel decided to go sign up for the free poker tournament at the Brass Monkey bar. There was no monetary element, just beer and chips (the poker kind, not the salty kind). Having only played Texas hold 'em about twice, I had a very vague grasp of what was going on and was out on my 5th hand. This was fine because it freed me up to drink some well deserved libations. Later on in the night, we were all out and the game was down to the one fancy table in the middle. Names were being drawn all night from the registration computer for various prizes, including a bar tab or a hat or a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon. I was really hoping to win the bourbon, but my name was drawn for a spot at the final table and 10000 worth of chips. I would have much preferred the bourbon, but what the hell. The minimum bet was all the chips I had so I didn't last long and got out when an ace high card beat my king high card. All in good fun, and thank god there was no real money involved. After that we went to hang out in another hostel and I once again lost miserably, but this time at pool. We moved on to an Irish pub called Rosie O'Grady's and I ended the night eating ham and cheese sandwiches at 2 am with my German friend Andre.

Today I am slightly hung over and it is ungodly hot (29 degrees without a cloud to be seen). I think I am going to go hide in the movie theater... oops, I mean cinema, and watch the new James Bond flick. Other than the dehydration I am also rather bummed to day about my job prospects. Of the 14 or so applications I sent out, I have only had two somewhat neutral replies and I think one is from a coal mine, which sucks. My new plan is to take a bus to Kalgoorlie on Monday and see what I can see over their. It is a boom town out in the desert, about 6 hours from here but it is pretty much the working center of the mining industry out here in Western Australia. Perth has all the head offices, but maybe if I poke my head around in some of the regional sites, someone might take an interest. Andre has bet me a case of beer that I will find a job if I go out there- if it works out I think I'll buy him two.

-A.