International Man of Mystery

Yesterday I was at the Oaks Club. I played some other games for a while, and eventually was called to a seat in the $15-$30 hold'em game.

Apparently I'm the subject of some discussion in the game. As I approached the table, Denny Dahlgren, one of the day-shift prop players, said to me, "We need your help here. Give us a multiple-choice question, with three or five choices, of what it is that you do."

Very interesting! My stock answer to the question of what I do for a living has been for some time "freelance editor," but it's actually been a while since I've had any billable hours to charge. Are some of the regulars trying to get a line on me? I would think they'd already have done so by now. I come to the Oaks to play sometimes during afternoons, sometimes in the evening, and very occasionally stay there overnight for a marathon session trying to recoup losses in a good-seeming game.

I've never heard anyone else asked quite in that manner what they do for a living anywhere, let alone at the Oaks. Evidently I am something of an enigma to some people there. Then again, Denny is the sort of opponent I like to see in the game, tough though he is, because he is skilled at connecting with the other players and making the game enjoyable to play. Perhaps I was just the topic of the moment, with which he was jollying up the other players.

I sat down and posted to get a hand. Naturally someone ahead of me raised, and I had to get out.

A few moments thought provided me with the following: "One: Internet security consultant. Two: Big game hunter. Three: Student. Four: Professional poker player. Five: Accountant."

Denny and a couple of other players all picked "student." Denny said, "That was on my list of guesses when we were talking about it."

"Student" is of course the correct answer right now. The regulars who pay attention know that I'm not a poker pro, for the simple reason that they don't see me logging enough hours at the table to make a living.

But that didn't stop me from making the faux complaint, "So nobody thinks I'm a poker pro, huh? When am I ever going to get any respect from you guys?"