This show is going to be a thousand times better than last year's show. The set is open, clean well-lighted and very elegant in Caesar's Roman Collisium style. Faux marble pillars, marble floor, with the main table in a "pit" for great viewing. Caesar's used their tournament room for the production area so it was separated from the main room and seemed to work out well.

I got there on Friday night. The show was hosting their big party and the seat drawings for the next day. All the "big dogs" were there. Jesus, Greenstein, Raymer, Huck Seed, Lindgren, Hellmuth, Matusow, etc. It looked like Caesar's put on a good party.

On Saturday I got in line at 7:30 am to get a good seat. I hooked up with a great group of people and we had a ball in line talking about poker, players, etc. The time went fast. We got seated in front of Huck Seed and the taping started at about 11:30. I can tell you that watching poker on TV and watching live is completely different. I was BORED to death!!! I lasted about 20 minutes and decided I needed to play rather than watch. So I left the taping and played the cash games all day on Saturday and Sunday.

I will say that I asked Ted Forrest for his autograph on Saturday. I've never asked for an autograph before in my life and I felt like a complete DORK. I told him I felt like dork and he was so sweet. Super nice guy (yes I have a crush). Most of the pro's were great. Talking to Eric Lindgren was like talking to someone I went to school with. Very easy-going and nice (we're from the same area of Norther California). Raymer's bracelet was beautiful and Sammy Farha invited my friends to his room for drinks on Saturday night ( I was playing and didn't go).

Played all day Saturday and Sunday and played hookie from work on Monday. Went to the finals of the tournament and I'm going to be ALL OVER TV. I was a corporate grunt for 20 years and have just recently left the rat race to finally have some fun. This was the best time I've had in a long, long time. For those of you watching the show. I'm the brown-haired girl in black.

Quarterfinals....Sammy Farha vs. Ted Forrest...I'm seated right behind Sammy in the second row, literally 6 feet away. NBC camera guys told us that when someone pushed all-in, we could rush the stage and stand at the table. There were 14 all-in pushes and I'm right behind the dealer in about 10 of them. FRONT AND CENTER BABY!!! It's going to be hilarious!!!! Their match lasted 3 1/2 hours...the longest in the show's history.

Semi-finals....Sean Sheikan vs. Ted Forrest...I'm seated in the front row...3 feet behind Ted (hubba hubba). Everytime you see a shot of Ted, you'll see me behind him. I tried really hard not to "pick my nose" or do anything stupid. I was a nervous wreck just sitting there, but to make matters worse...Howard Lederer sat RIGHT NEXT TO ME!!!! For an hour I was sitting next to Howard and Ted!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!! I'm standing next to Howard during the all-in pushes...actually....Howard is TOWERING over me the whole time. He's a really big man.

I got tired during the finals so I moved to the back row and left before it was over. I'm so glad Ted won. He's a sweetheart and I hope I'll see more of him in the future.

It was a great weekend!!!! The show is going to be awesome and kudo's to Caesar's for a great weekend.

See you on the Boob-tube!