I believe one of the most fantastical elements of this show is that a woman stays married to a man able to read her thoughts. Impossible. I neither want my thoughts read nor do I wish to read other thoughts. People disappoint and appall enough with what they opt to share via written or spoken word. We’d never survive in a world of thought-readers.

reason to fear me.

Last year during the whole 6-06-06 (or 666) phenomenon I was introduced to the concept of the “mark of the beast”. As a horror movie fan, I had heard this term used, but never knew its origin. Wondering why some people feared a string of numbers, 666, I started reading up on it and came to discover it stems from some Bible (a collection of short stories written many years ago by various authors) passages.

“He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666 (Rev. 13:16–18).

Instead of “or”, I have marks on both my forehead and right hand. He really got me good.

My right hand scar came when I was about four or five. I know I was quite young because while I was learning my right from left I would use the scar on my right hand as a tool to distinguish my right from my left. Actually, I still use it sometimes. Say I need to give directions and I know we need to turn “this” way, but can’t think of right or left, I will glance down at my hand and say “right, we need to turn right.”

My forehead scar came second, when I was six. It’s a heady reminder of the sad stitching skills of some ER doctor working in the middle ages. He probably earned his degree at some off-shore school where they practiced sewing up gutted fishes. What the hell did he care he was forever disfiguring a little girl wearing aqua blue, cookie monster pants. I can’t recall if the 6-inch cookie monster embroidery was on my left pant leg or right; I guess I must have forgotten to consult my hand scar to clarify. Thusly, the devil completed his marking of me at age six. He’s so poetic.

But wait, there’s more.

I have been seeing promos for Jim Carrey’s new movie and it looks good. But what actually caught my attention, was its title, The Number 23. 23 happens to be one of my favorite numbers. Sometimes numbers can even promote a light, pleasant feeling within. Odd, I know (odd numbers are so preferred over even numbers. Even numbers suck usually.) In any case, I decided to view the trailer for this movie and was introduced to a new concept. The number 23, divide 2/3 and the result is .666 (infinity). I happened to be born on the 23rd. So, what chance did I have as I bore the mark of the beast at birth?

Other signs:

- Not only is “evil” a part of my name, but so is “eviler”. “Valerie” possesses more evil than evil. (v-a -l-e-r-i-e)
- when I think of more I will add them.

Upon learning of my newly discovered poker obsession, a friend recommended Positively Fifth Street by James McManus. (This friend is an attorney and well-rounded individual. If he had his business site up I would provide the link. He could greatly help you in planning for your demise and ensuring that the proper people inherit your hard-earned cash. )

A quote on the book’s back states that “in writing about Poker Jim McManus has written about everything else…” I agree wholeheartedly. As I read this book, I felt as if I was ready to win it all on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. I learned trivial and interesting things, such as what the “burking” method of suffocation involves and that David Sedaris, the author of that book jacket quote, attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

During the read, I also kept thinking of the sheer amount of research he conducted in writing this book. I couldn’t help but compare the $$ celebrities get for their undoubtedly ghost-written bios, while biographers and non-fiction authors earn pittances when comparing the hours spent on each of the works. This then led me to learn that other than the Franches and Filipskis, intelligent White Sox fans do exist as the seemingly intelligent author not only wore a Sox hat during his second marriage ceremony, but mentioned his allegiance a few times.

I remain interested in poker. As I learn more, I feel as if there is so much more I need to learn. And because of this fact - the realization that I do not understand everything - I have not yet lost interest. Knowing it all can be so boring

–Off to watch “Poker After Dark”, yeah.