I will never drive when I get sleepy. I wrecked a Corvette by falling asleep when I was still a teenager. So when I get sleepy, I pull over and find a place to rest.
Last week I went down to Temecula to play in a poker tournament. It was a thousand dollar buy-in with a $250,000 guarantee. They ended up with 390 players and a $390,000 purse, 130K for first. Sweet!
I played until about Midnite and busted out about 85th. No money though. I got in my car and headed home, 90 miles away. After driving a short distance I realized I was too sleepy to drive. I pulled off the freeway in Lake Elsinore and looked for a quiet spot to rest. I drove into town and parked on the main drag next to other cars. It was about 12:30 AM. I put my seat back and fell sound asleep.
About 1:15 AM there is a loud knock on my window. I'm startled awake and see a young hispanic kid at the window. He asks me if I have a cigarette, and I tell him I don't smoke. He then asks me for $5, and I realize I have a problem. I look out the other window and see two more young kids. They must have been about 18 or 19. They immediately start trying to get in my locked doors.
My first reaction is to reach for my .22 derringer in the ashtray. It holds five shots, revolver style. The first kids head is about two feet from mine, as he plays with the door, trying to get it open. I can't miss from that close, but think better of it, and try to start the car. He is now simulating a weapon under his shirt. Why I didn't shoot him I don't know. I was afraid, and there were three of them. If they had gotten in the car (actually a Ford Bronco II), I would have been in a very bad spot.
Anyway, I got the truck started, and backed up fast. Two of the kids disappeared, but the first one hung onto my door. My little truck is cold blooded and it died. He is banging on the window hard now, trying to break it. Somehow I get the truck started again and slowly pull away with him running alongside, yelling at me and simulating something under his shirt. I got away. No harm, no foul. Just a good scare.
When I got a few blocks down the street I became very mad, and thought of going back for a moment. I ended up back on the freeway and drove on home. I told Tang and Kim about my experince but not my family. They would be too worried.
Now I know that pulling off the freeway to sleep may not be such a good idea late at night. Maybe parking in an all night gas station would be better, but there is so much light it is hard to sleep. And maybe next time, I will take my .38, so I can handle three guys. And there will probably never be a next time like that. I'm getting too old for this kind of stuff. Maybe it's time for me to retire from gambling.
Sorry gang. I just realized that this should be in non pool related section. Maybe Mike can move it over.
Last week I went down to Temecula to play in a poker tournament. It was a thousand dollar buy-in with a $250,000 guarantee. They ended up with 390 players and a $390,000 purse, 130K for first. Sweet!
I played until about Midnite and busted out about 85th. No money though. I got in my car and headed home, 90 miles away. After driving a short distance I realized I was too sleepy to drive. I pulled off the freeway in Lake Elsinore and looked for a quiet spot to rest. I drove into town and parked on the main drag next to other cars. It was about 12:30 AM. I put my seat back and fell sound asleep.
About 1:15 AM there is a loud knock on my window. I'm startled awake and see a young hispanic kid at the window. He asks me if I have a cigarette, and I tell him I don't smoke. He then asks me for $5, and I realize I have a problem. I look out the other window and see two more young kids. They must have been about 18 or 19. They immediately start trying to get in my locked doors.
My first reaction is to reach for my .22 derringer in the ashtray. It holds five shots, revolver style. The first kids head is about two feet from mine, as he plays with the door, trying to get it open. I can't miss from that close, but think better of it, and try to start the car. He is now simulating a weapon under his shirt. Why I didn't shoot him I don't know. I was afraid, and there were three of them. If they had gotten in the car (actually a Ford Bronco II), I would have been in a very bad spot.
Anyway, I got the truck started, and backed up fast. Two of the kids disappeared, but the first one hung onto my door. My little truck is cold blooded and it died. He is banging on the window hard now, trying to break it. Somehow I get the truck started again and slowly pull away with him running alongside, yelling at me and simulating something under his shirt. I got away. No harm, no foul. Just a good scare.
When I got a few blocks down the street I became very mad, and thought of going back for a moment. I ended up back on the freeway and drove on home. I told Tang and Kim about my experince but not my family. They would be too worried.
Now I know that pulling off the freeway to sleep may not be such a good idea late at night. Maybe parking in an all night gas station would be better, but there is so much light it is hard to sleep. And maybe next time, I will take my .38, so I can handle three guys. And there will probably never be a next time like that. I'm getting too old for this kind of stuff. Maybe it's time for me to retire from gambling.
Sorry gang. I just realized that this should be in non pool related section. Maybe Mike can move it over.
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