After work (although I check my email even after "work hours"), 5-5-straddle PLO went well. Got a seat before the whale busted and the game broke, up $650 there in 30 minutes. B/E or so at mediocre 2/5 (lots of 5/10 regs), then down $100 at 1/3 after getting back from dinner list. I value-owned myself with 88 on T-9-3-6-2 against V's QQ. V opened to $30 and I flatted $350 eff. and I bet flop and turn (granted, small) when checked to HU IP. I joked with V at showdown that he didn't have to worry, I didn't have kings.
5/10 opened where I got stacked with KcKd on Ah-Qh-3s-4d-Ac against V's AK in 3! pot. This V had just shown down 64hh in a srp for $125 which he bet with bottom pair otf. Couldn't bring myself to fold KK unblocking hh and AK right after seeing that hand. Flop checked through, V started barreling turn and jammed river. I had to call $350 to win $1,500. Oh wellz.
Interesting character soon arrived full of $100s rolled up ostentatiously, drinking Macallan and sporting gucci gear, tipping everyone very generously. Apparently recently got out early of a long prison stint stemming from a case tainted by a corrupt FBI agent. We got along well until I 3! his blind raise for the fifth time (I was to his immediate left) and he got annoyed and said we wouldn't be talking anymore.
Joke's really on me because I lost 4/5 of those pots; once he bluffed me off the winner, but the rest he simply improved and I did not where I was dominating or a 65 fav against him pre. Ended down $1,200 at 5/10 (really more like 25/50+ given V's blind raises to $50 and $100 that I 3!), a $700 loss on the night. Still sitting on my best month ever, just not as good as it was a week or so ago.
New job is going well, getting into a flow and getting things done. The initial anxiety and stress is subsiding.