Dog Racing, Poker, and swimming with dolphins.

I’m trying not to lose my cool with the guy across from me in the poker room at the Orange Park Kennel Club in Jacksonville Florida.  Every time he wins a hand he yells out “I’m a buzzard and I’m going to eat your chicken.” I’m glad I had a medicated breath strip before I walked in or I’d be smarting off.  In addition, the table next to me just won the bad beat jackpot.  They are jumping around ordering shots and massages. Needless to say all eyes in the room are on them.  One woman won $35,000, one guy won $10,000 and everyone else at the table won $3800.  On top of all that the live dog racing is agitating me more than I thought it would. It doesn’t seem humane. I’m thinking about glue factories and the one time I ate dog in China.  “Track to table in three days.” they say and having seen some of the food coming out of the kitchen at this place I’d say it might be track to table in three hours.  I cash in and decide to head over to Orange Park Billiards Bar across the street.  This is our crew hang out this episode and as soon as I walk in I see Tipsy McStumbles talking to a few locals at the bar.  After joining the conversation one of the girls tells us “I’ve been pregnant seven times but only have two kids.”  Leave it to Tipsy to find the local who has as many abortions as DUI’s.  I thought I had heard it all tonight but then I decided to ask the bartender why she was walking around so gingerly.  In what I would say is opening up way too much to a complete stranger Betty goes on to tell me, “I had a miscarriage today and when I came into work to tell my boss I couldn’t work for the next few days he said I couldn’t leave until someone covered my shift and I haven’t been able to reach anyone who is available.” I tell her “that’s why people call in sick and next time I suggest you use your phone.” She replies “Well my cell phone was dead and I don’t have a home phone anymore.”  Check please.  At times like this I appreciate The Lady and can’t wait until I see her in six days.  After socializing with the locals for a bit, I decide to head home because tomorrow I’m filming underwater while one of our talent swims with dolphins.  As a general rule, you’re not supposed to drink too much the night before you scuba so I’m going to call it an early night.  I've broken that rule in horrible ways before but I don't feel like stroking out tomorrow because I stayed out too late talking to these barflies. I’m nervous because dolphins are seen as cute and cuddly pets but in my mind they are gay sharks and I don’t like the idea of swimming in an enclose area with wild animals.  You never know when they might flip the script. I know plenty of stories about people being bumped, bitten, and tossed around by dolphins.  I’m not afraid of much and life is full of risks so I’ll jump in the water calm as can be.  It will be an interesting day and if I get a chance I’m going to grab their fins and race around the tank a few times. 
http://www.jaxpokerroom.com/OrangePark.asp
http://local.yahoo.com/info-58675973-orange-park-billards-pub-orange-park
http://www.marineland.net/index.php