THE LIVE WIRE

hanging at the house

2010-06-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Debbie and I went out last night, kids went to Mom and Dad's. We at ate the IHOP on Cox road,insert joke here. We then saw Sean up at Cav's. We had a great time.

Today, hanging with the girls, watching movies (edward scissorhands) and chilling. Debbie is off tomorrow, I'm working all week. Vacation in about 7 weeks. Mom and Dad moved their exercise bike out here for us to use. Going to start that up on Monday...heading to the beach in late August,time to get in shape.

I don't think i've ever really tried to get in shape. I've dabbled with watching the diet and occasional exercise, but I've never really said it's time to get it together. I'm "down" to 305 from an all time high of 226 (still miss Grandpa).

Hoping that a little diet/exercise jump starts my energy level a bit. Still just not myself just yet.....

oh yeah, the big news is the oil spill in the gulf. Really terrible.

Erin is in Florida, at Disney World.

what a great day

2010-06-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

Work was...eh. Work. Beautiful day outside, got out a little early. When I got home, dad had cut the grass and the kids and mom were just hanging out. They were outside all day, having a good time. I took an hour nap, perfect. Dad came out and we grilled out, nathan's hot dogs, salad and i baked some fish. We ate outside and then dad went to play cards in Milford. Erin came over later and we all hung out and talked. Just a really great day.

another day

2010-06-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

Long day today for some reason...work was fine, but just a lond day in general. Got some stuff to do this weekend, truthfully a lot of stuff to get done, but that comes with the house...everyday stuff plus a few things extra to do around the house.

Mom and Dad just got back from their Vegas road trip.. Looks like they had a good time. Three days out, ten there, three days back. They have both lost quite a bit of weight..they look good.

We have a trip to South Carollina coming up in August. Trying to save up a bit for that, which will be a blast.

The Cortes crew is heading to South Carolina tomorrow. We have a lot of fun together.

Time for bed....maybe more insightful next time....

the journey is always just that, a journey

2010-06-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

Very bizarre work day, felt like I was trapped in a coal mine all day and I really do like my job. Just felt odd all day, compelled to do something different today. So, come home, clean up and start making dinner...kids are helping out and just hanging out. Fire up the laptop and for some reason come here for the first time in a year and a half....Barbie.

I'm not doing our dog Bella justice with what I said...she does look like her little sister, but she's so much more. She's been the glue that has kept us smiling the last year and a half.

So, it's time to motivate and do something different. I'm going to do this a little more often and see if that helps me work out my inactive brain.

Losing my best friend one year ago today

2008-12-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

One year ago Saturday, I lost my best friend. Barbie, my beloved Scottish Terrier, passed away last December and I can say I've missed her every day since. She was the first dog I had owned on my own. I had childhood dogs (Skipper, Poppy and Spanks & Stella), all wonderful, all Scotties, all awesome dogs. Barbie slept next to me every night. She waited up for me...my wife swore we shared a brain. I could just look at her and we would take off in the same direction. She loved the kids, loved my wife and was loved back in kind. We lost a family member and I wear her dog tag every day close to my heart. We got a dog last February...Scottish Terrier, looks like her little sister and is a wonderful dog.

I miss you Barbs, every day. Watch over my girls.

It's that time again..2008

2008-12-07T18:12:00.000-08:00

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This PokerStars tournament is a No Limit Texas Hold’em event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 756463

Life in the fast lane

2008-12-07T17:57:00.001-08:00

PT, PT and more PT. Snow everywhere today, plenty for everyone. Kids are great, wife is great. Been doing well at the tables, but super busy at work. Hoping this is the year of the summer vacation with the family. Wish I could say these are good times, but we are definitely in a family slump. Miss my dog.

New sites

2008-11-30T23:22:00.000-08:00

I now have a facebook page and a myspace page...lookout, I'm all over the web.

LOL.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=429524395

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1436790599&ref=profile

Gobble Gobble

2008-11-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to the time off, that's for sure. Off day before and Turkey day, work all day the next day and then off the weekend. Hoping to wrap around some PTO around Christmas and New Years. Family...super. Kids are doing great in school. Debbie is painting at the Argosy Hotel and Casino...quick casino report. Love the Argosy. Their poker room looks great and I hope to get a chance to play there in 2009. Work is work. Been super busy, getting the hang of things.

Mini Rush

2008-11-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

I enjoy playing, but I really enjoy winning. The monthly home game has been great to me the past 3 months. I have two wins and a second, to which my wife won first….and yes, I made sure to put that in there. It's always nice when you feel like your making good quality decisions. In the future, I'll have more of a hand by hand takedown to better understand my own game. I had a big stack with 5 left and was pushing everyone else hard. My reputation there is a bluffer, which I have no idea why. I'm tight aggressive, I play my big cards big. I'll stab at the pot when I hit or when I don't, but rarely do I make the true bluff….espescially there. There are several calling stations, so bluffing consistantly is a bad play.

It's all in the numbers……

2008-11-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

Played a little today. My life is hectic to say the least. My wife has her own career plus my girls being in school, life comes at you fast at the Schlotterbeck house. So, when I get the opportunity to play I take it. The thing I notice more and more is how terrible the play is and how you have to forget what you see on TV. When Phil Hellmuth makes a pot size bet on the turn and a pot sized bet on the river with 99 to a Q 8 6 2 10 board, he's not playing low limit tourneys. Rule number one, people love their cards. Can't get enough of them. So, the joker that had the J 10 and of course it's SOOOOOOOTED. Phil would bet the flop and the turn and get rid of the J 10. Low limit, rule number two…you can't bet enough. Ever.

Trust everyone……..but always cut the cards.

2008-10-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

Interesting article on msnbc http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21381022/ . Looks like someone had their hand in the cookie jar.

Happy Anniversary

2008-06-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

Nine years....and it's been a while since I've posted. You can chalk that up to a car accident. Was driving to work couple weeks ago and get knocked on 75. Guy came right in to my land and smacked my right side, almost shooting me in to a semi or the fast lane...guy was going at a high rate of speed......so it's been a long month. Bella and Blue have been keeping me company.

New Years Day

2008-01-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

A quiet day, a day of reflection and hope. I hope this year is better than the last. Happy New Year.

Born to play

2007-10-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

That ace could not have helped you" Teddy KGB, Rounders.

I am a poker/gaming enthusiast. That's not even the right term, I love gaming, virtually every form. Vegas, Tahoe or a riverboat in Indiana……I'm in. A home game with friends or playing online at am……I'm in. I follow all gaming stories, the people and the WSOP/WPT. I follow gaming of all sorts and I am one of the luckiest men you could ever meet. I've been blessed with a wonderful wife and three beautiful daughters. I don't play above my head, I'm a low limit hero. If you're waiting for me to tell you I won $100k in Vegas, I'm waiting too. This blog is about poker, gaming, stories from the people you see on TV and the people you work next to. Local events and national TV and everything in-between.

Mark "the bear" Schlotterbeck

home game

2007-10-03T05:33:00.001-07:00

Matt's home game has been great. It's always great when you win, but it's a good game. Goes at a good pace....nice to see everyone out.

It's that time again

2007-10-03T05:31:00.001-07:00

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 8349868

videos

2007-07-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

Summer Vacation

2007-02-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

We are going on a vacation this year with the kids. It'll be the first excursion for the family south. Not sure where to go, we saw a Sea World show on the Travel Channel and that looks like fun. I'd rather hit the beach.

IF ONLY MY GRAM WAS HERE

2006-12-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

She loved to play cards. All the time. I grew up playing cards with my family, my gram loved to play. She was good too. We spent summers playing gin and she would cook the whole time. We'd stay up til 4 in the morning play cards. One more game. I think she would've loved to have the opportunity to play now.

Thanksgiving and stuff

2006-11-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was at our house this year and was a very good time. Plenty of food and family. We don't all hang out that much anymore (since our grandfathers untimely death). It's nice to see everyone, all the kids had a good time.

My girls are as big as ever and have been playing video games today. Nice to see sweet little girls playing fighting games. They really like the games.

Neck is still an issue, don't want to have any more neck injections. The last one was extremely painfulllllllllllllll.

Looking forward to a great 2007.

Did I mention the Buckeyes beat Michigan......m

OCTOBER....A NEW DAY

2006-10-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Just happy to still be alive...not that anything tragic has happened, just happy to be breathing. Debbie has been painting quite a bit and I hope she only has sixty days left at her "normal" job. She needs to paint and be a mom full time. She's awesome at both.

As for me, the job is great. I had a bad month, but I have a lot of loans in the pipeline. The neck is still giving me fits and it bothers me more than I say. PT has helped some, but it hurts RIGHT NOW. Saps my energy, constant pain...what more can I say? I'll have this for the rest of my life. I've resigned myself to that.

Mark

three times in three days

2006-06-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

I'm not even sure I have much to say. Deb is painting a church today and my kids are engrossed in the Spongebob game they just got. Looking forward to getting some productive things accomplished.......is that vague enough?

Extremely rainy in the Cincy area. My cousin is looking for a home so I've been searching the web looking at area homes. I have a couple of "insider" tricks that I use to help him search.

Dentist appointment at 2pm on thursday.....hate the dentist. My dentist is awesome, I just don't like the dentist.

and there you have it.

If I could only figure out how to put it on the mantle

2006-06-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

ONE FOR THE ROAD

2006-06-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

I just logged my biggest victory to date. What a great fathers day present to my dad and myself. I finished third in the blogger tourney listed below on POKERSTARS. It was a lot of fun and I almost didn't make it out of the first hour. I didn't log in til 45mins after it started. Then I doubled up twice and then the first of many key hands. I'm no play by play guy, but dude to right raises minimum. I go over the top with 16k (on a pure steal), everyone drops. He thinks, calls with 18k with A9o. I had the most powerful hand in poker 27o (HAMMER). I spike a duece on the turn and I've doubled up...and I get to type in HAMMER. Cool thing is, my man I got with the hammer was at the final table and busted me out in third. He finished 2nd, for the exact same prize. I was a little card dead when we got down to 6 and 4. Hard to bust a move with 28. Lost three races to bust out in third, but very happy with my play. My dad was a HUGE help, sitting right there with me. I guess I'll be in Vegas late July, early August....and in the immortal words..........VEGAS BABY VEGAS.

and once again......

2006-05-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 7330476

another day in the life

2006-05-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

GRIND...that's what it is all about. Grinding out small victories, so in the end the whole game is a much larger victory.

Went to a friend of ours wedding last night, what a great time. Bride and Groom have know each other for ten years (I've known them for five) and they are such a nice couple. It's about time they got it together. They looked extremely happy and I hope that they remember how happy they really are.

I wish them the best.

Another month in the books

2006-02-22T14:08:00.000-08:00

Here we go, another month in the books. The girls are both sick, wiht Maddy getting the worst of it. She has been up til after two am the last two days. Deb has been painting a mural at a church with one of the top painters in Cincinnati. What a blast for her, that is absolutely fantastic.

Life is, well, life has been extremely challenging. The family aspect of my life is great, as always. The stress level around Deb and I has been increasing. My job is good, not constistent. I have to find a way to break through. I am very good at what I do, just need find more sources. I treat everyone very fairly and help everyone I work with. I sleep at night knowing I help people out.

I need to fix this problem (in Madison's Voice).

I need to do 7-11 loans a month and build my referral base.

Started playing limit poker, I seem to do better at it.

PAINTING THE KIDS ROOMS

2006-01-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

Deb spent yesterday painting a block pattern on Cassidy's wall. It looks very good, with different colors and the blocks are perfect. No drips or feathering. The kids love it, I think it looks great. She alwasy finds a way to do something for the girls....I think that they will grow up and remember all the things that she did for them and ........well, that I was a funny guy.

Went to bed early, got up late for the second day in a row. No consistant schedule for rising is killing me. I can't seem to get in to any sort of schedule.

Came home late last night from work, brutal day at work. Had a closing scheduled and it didn't happen....not sure why either. Frustratig to do good work, make things happen, get a bank to make exceptions to get better rate, to get the loan done in the first place and it doesn't happen. The life of a LO.

Had a good appointment yesterday, so that is something to be positive about. Nice people.

Haven't had a chance to play any poker lately, but I'm sure I squeeze in a game or two this weekend....could care less about the Superbowl, I hate the Steelers. Cheaters.

The kids were so cute in their robes this morning, and the dogs were barking and rolling around with the kids.

Life is beautiful.

Should I have bought a gift?

2006-01-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

I just "celebrated" the one year anniversary of the worst car accident I've ever been in. I counted ten car accidents in 22 years of driving. From the minor, fender bender to the time a totalled my car in Minnesota (bad day, worse story).

I am still in PT, just got my second injection into my spine (that was just fabulous). I guess nothing has really changed since the last post on the accident front.

Work is still good....trying to hit my stride. The difference between success and not success is one phone call, one letter, one follow up with a client. Every day you have to be picture perfect.

The kids are absolutely fantastic and I truely have the greatest wife in the world. The kids are getting so big it is amazing. Deb has an opportunity to paint with a leading painter in Cincinnati and possibly something even BIGGER THAN THAT. She is amazing.

I'm adding this to my favorites at work in an effort to post more.

This is for me and me alone. My take on my life and my snapshots of my family.

Poker is therapy

2005-10-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

I guess. It gives me a little quiet time. My life goes fast and it's nice to spend a few hours just playing cards. Looking to play another site or two.

every time I try to leave

2005-10-14T19:19:00.001-07:00

I have registered to play in the
Online Poker Blogger Championship!

This event is powered by PokerStars.

Registration code: 6496439

So much for an every day thing

2005-10-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

It's only been six months, should I light the candles for the party?

I guess I should admit that starting a new job, getting in two car accidents within three months of each other, having a beautiful wife with two careers, two beautiful kids at home starting school, one beautiful daughter that comes over on the weekends.....life is full, beautiful and busy.

No more excuses. This was meant to be a peek at my wonderful life, not a reminder of things that I don't accomplish.

Three times a week, no excuses.

Are you kidding me?

2005-04-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Has it actually been almost two months since a post. I have been seriously slacking. What's new?

My new job is great. Work with great people, great owners and love the work. It's interesting going to one hundred percent commision, but I like it.

This past Friday, while sitting in traffic, I was rearended by another car. I repeat, rearended for the second time this freaking year. UNBELIEVABLE.

we are trying to get our house ready to put on the market. If finished twenty third in a tourney yester day on PartyPoker and won seventy five bucks. Should've lasted longer.

Kids are great, Deb is great and I will definitely be back sooner.

M

Such is life

2005-02-28T16:32:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't had much of a chance to log in lately. I've been extremely busy contemplating my next move at work. It's definitely time for a new career. I have had the same job for over three years and the thrill is definitely gone.

Deb has had a good month at work. She loves her job, hates the hours. Loves the people and the interaction, hates the hours. Love the design apects of her job, hates the hours.

Poker has been the same, treading water. I'm not good enough to consistanly win or lose. I don't have the time to improve my game to the level i'd like it to get to.

Gotta run.

M

Poker has been very very good to me

2005-02-05T07:01:00.000-08:00

My dad is totally hooked on poker online. I remember when I told him that BODOG had opened a poker site. He was extremely skeptical, then he played and now it's his full time job. He plays sng tourneys and a money table at the same time. It's a lot of fun, every day we recap the hands of the day. Bad beats, great plays and money won/lost. It's a lot of fun.

M

What the blog?

2005-02-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

So why am i doing this? I'm not a frustrated writer, I don't feel the need to have someone read my diary.......This is a record/journal of the events of my life, my wife's life and my kid's early years. They are four and five. I want them to be able to look at something from this time period and say "wow, was my dad a clown".

On to the crash site, my car is getting fixed and should be done in two weeks. I'm having a hard time believing that she was only going ten miles an hour. Her car BENT THE FRAME ON MY CAR....the shop estimates her going forty to forty five miles an hour.

Went to physical therapy, weird and wacky stuff. Interesting concept, wetting electrodes, attaching them to my neck and back and then plugging it in. I am so sore today.

Kids update: My girls are running around the basement playing dollys right now. It's hilarious, the different voices and somehou I get involved in the whole process. They are awesome. I love my girls and the only silver lining to the whole accident is getting to watch them play dollys.

Work update: nothing new. I'm more than disatisfied with the way this is being handled by my work. I'm getting rivered.

Wife update: she's getting ready for work. We really do have a lot of fun together. Our life is one big laugh.

Dog update: still living the good life.

I will update this site at least twice a week.

M

My wonderful wife, Debbie

2005-01-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

I have an amazing wife. I got smacked by another car last week, see previous post. My wife has really taken charge and I couldn't be more grateful. She takes care of me, I don't think many people understand this concept. She does more than say, what do you want, she TAKES CARE OF ME. She has been unbelievable the past few days. She goes to work, comes home TAKES CARE OF ME, takes care of the kids, the house and the dogs. She doesn't get five minutes to herself and she does it all with a big smile.

I'm sure I'll spend some time talking about how lucky I am, she amazess me.

M

CRASH

2005-01-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

Haven't been able to post for awhile, was in a car accident last Thursday. Sitting in traffic, trying to decide which way to get back to my office........freeway or back roads?....Did I mention it was snowing?..and not just any kind of snow, the big fluffy flakes that make people drive like idiots. To top it off, was heading back at about four forty five pm, rush hour traffic. Anyway, sitting in traffic, talking to my mom and trying to decide the best course of action. I'm hanging up with my mom when I hear this big BOOM and get thrown forward. I grab on to the wheel, the phone goes flying out of my hands and my seat belt holds me in place.

Fast forward to today, my neck and back are still in pain. I'm on medication that makes me so mellow and sleepy. My car has around seven grand in damages, i've had xrays, my neck had a MRI and i' m starting PT for my back and neck. What a wonderful way to start the new year.

M

More of the same

2005-01-18T07:35:00.000-08:00

Had a good day at the tables yesterday, pulling the account up about fifty bucks. Hit some really good cards, played really well. I tend to be a little aggressive with really good cards (AA,AKs,KK,QQ), but I unfortunately tend to be a little too agressive with the second tier of good cards. Always leads to trouble. I spent my time trying to be patient, but still maintain aggressiveness. It's extremely hard to switch gears, as they say. I find myself overplaying especailly when playing against clowns (timelimit freaks), but I love playing against the "allin" players, who think that any two cards that are the same color are the favorite.

I play at Bodog. I think that it is a great site. The game moves pretty quick, usually, and there are just the right number of people playing. Not too many, so It's tough to find a good table and not so few that your choices are limited. I love playing the sng table tourneys. Good fishing.

The girls are heading back to preschool today, I think that they have been sick off/on since Thanksgiving. Deb's got to run to work to complete a sale and I'm heading over to my cousin's to help him out with a delivery. I don't go back to work until Thursday, the time off has been great.

Resolutions not lost

2005-01-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

ALL,

I have recently taken up the "hobby" of poker. I have always played cards, since I was three, or watched my parents play cards. I love to play, but I'm not ultracompetitive. I don't always have to win, I play to win, but no at all costs....and now I play poker online. I first started online about 6-7 months ago and I was terrible. Understanding the rules and understanding the game are two different animals all together. I'm much better than I was six months ago, but have a long way to go.

I have a wonderful wife. I've been married for over six years and she is fantastic. I won't go on and on about her (I'll try not too), but she's the best. I have three daughters, Erin, Madison and Cassidy (who's spending some time on the time out chair right now.)

I don't know who will end up reading this, don't know why it's something I want to do........I just do. I want to get somethings out here I guess.

Hopefully it won't turn into I had chicken for lunch and lost ten bucks on line. Hopefully it will be more.

THE LIVE WIRE

hanging at the house

what a great day

another day

the journey is always just that, a journey

Losing my best friend one year ago today

It's that time again..2008

Life in the fast lane

New sites

Gobble Gobble

Mini Rush

It's all in the numbers……

Trust everyone……..but always cut the cards.

Happy Anniversary

New Years Day

Born to play

home game

It's that time again

more videos

videos

Summer Vacation

IF ONLY MY GRAM WAS HERE

Thanksgiving and stuff

OCTOBER....A NEW DAY

three times in three days

If I could only figure out how to put it on the mantle

ONE FOR THE ROAD

and once again......

another day in the life

Another month in the books

PAINTING THE KIDS ROOMS

Should I have bought a gift?

Poker is therapy

every time I try to leave

So much for an every day thing

Are you kidding me?

Such is life

Poker has been very very good to me

What the blog?

My wonderful wife, Debbie

CRASH

More of the same

Resolutions not lost