Not All Gowns and Sunshine

When I'm at the table, I always make sure my iPod is charged so I can hear different songs.

Sadly, I'm hearing the same song now: another favorite tournament, another miss from me. The WPT World Championship is under way at Bellagio without me.

Yes, I'm still sick. I left Monte Carlo early, just desperate to get back to the States to try and get better.

On my flight, I couldn't sleep and didn't have any medication. I was miserable, but I finally fell asleep for three hours.

When I woke up, I was soaking wet. My blanket, my bed, my body - all drenched in sweat. The flight attendants told me they would have a wheelchair for me when we landed.

Let me assure you, I have a great deal of sympathy for anyone who has to live their life in a wheelchair. Having seen people in Vietnam who can't walk and can't afford a wheelchair, I always take a second look when I see someone in a wheelchair and wish them well.

But if you are just very sick, a wheelchair taking you off of an airplane is the best!

I was wheeled into the first-class lounge, wheeled to my gate, wheeled to my luggage, wheeled to my car. The airline was so great. They really made me feel like a VIP, and it was very comforting to finally have someone take care of me.

Not always gowns and sunshine when you lie in bed all day. Unless you're David Bowie.

When I got to the doctor in Las Vegas, they told me that I did have food poisoning and that I was going to be very weak for a while.

I've been lying in bed for the past four days, and let me tell you - it hasn't been the glamorous scene of beautiful gowns and sunshine. It's been just dark, dreary sleep, the kind where you wake up tired and have no idea what time it is.

Again, Alex from Chilipoker has been great the entire time. As you know, Chilipoker sponsors me. The site is small and growing, and I feel a big responsibility to play well and represent them in these tournaments.

I love the Bellagio, so I was really looking forward to playing in it, especially with the great structure and $50k in chips. Alex told me it was up to me whether I played in the $25k or not.

"I receive money from you, and I have to deliver," I told him. He repeated that he wanted whatever was best for me and mainly wanted me to be healthy.

"OK, I'm not going to play because I don't feel 100%," I told him.

"Good!" he said with a laugh.

You know, when you're faced with big decisions in life, sometimes you have to work hard first to determine what is really important to you. It is easy to choose the thing that will give you the most money or is the most popular.

Back in Las Vegas through the end of the World Series and focused on getting better.

I'm so glad that I chose Chilipoker as my partner. I know there are many great sites, and I have the utmost respect for PokerStars and FullTilt and all my friends who are there. But the team at Chilipoker truly cares about me, and they've shown it in spades while I've been sick.

So no more traveling for a while. I'll be here in Las Vegas through the end of the World Series, and I'm just focused on getting better now. I'm planning on getting back to my cash games as soon as I have the strength, and I'll have more to report then.

I wish I was up on that leaderboard at the Bellagio WPT Championship, but I'm just glad I'm getting better.

Thanks to everyone for encouraging me here on PokerListings. It's really a big help as I've been sick, as well as on www.lizlieu.net.

And drop by www.Chilipoker.com this week as well. I'm sure I'll have my laptop going, and who knows? I might fall asleep during a monster hand with you!

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu
Pro Poker Player - Poker Diva

More Blogs from Liz Lieu:

• Submarined by Fish in Monte Carlo
• High Hopes in the Lap of Luxury
• One of the Biggest Mistakes I've Ever Made
• Five Simple Rules to Play My Best