Embracing my manhood...

The room was dark and a thick layer of smoke hung above the heads of the nervous players; Each of them held in their hands their own destiny... The man in the dark shirt rolled a chip through his fingers, staring steadfastly at the banker beside him...who would fall first?

Ok...so my first taste of the boys poker night was not quite as dramatic as that, but it was an experience at least.

I have become an honorary dad.
I thoroughly enjoy my nights with the mums at the school, however I was recently asked if I would like to join the dad's in either poker or quiz night, and I confess I loved the idea...so J organised it, S brought the chips, T the music while I provided them with pizzas and strawberry laces...what a team.

Alas I am beginning to realise that I am truly terrible at Poker. I think I have it and understand it...but then I fail myself. I did have a couple of cracking hands, but was beaten by the luckiest of peeps, S....who was just onto a winner last night.  So when that happens, I doubt myself and then make mistakes...I am hoping with further practice my card bluffing skills will improve, certainly J was a very good teacher.

We also played a game that should have its own copyrights to...as T introduced us to a game called 'Black Jack'....but wasn't actually the black jack, something entirely different. Took me about an hour to get used to that, and then they changed it again...

Nevertheless it was a great evening...every female should do a boys night out at some point. Things are far more straight forward, and the conversation is more direct;
"Beer?"
"Yep."
"Pizza?"
"Yep."
There is no fuss about what is being presented to them on a plate...it is food and beer, they eat and drink it. What could possibly be the issue?

Unless there is a serious disagreement...then a serious competitive debate will ensue...
"I understood the house stayed at 17"
"No, according to casino rules...."
"Fairly sure that I am right...that is how we have always played it."
"No, I am. I have been to Las Vegas and I know about these things."
Not quite the conversation...but you get the drift, and it became quite serious and testosterone driven after five minutes.

...and their best advice and solution to any problem for a female is quite simply, just flash your boobs. That may not get your problem solved ladies, but it will make the man you are talking to feel infinitely better...apparently!!!

So after a week of mowing lawns, making fire on a BBQ and now poker...I feel that embracing my manhood is just really the next step surely?