Guest Post: Counting Cards

I (Grant) asked AJ in an email if he wanted to go into detail for his readers about his card counting exploits, and he responded:

I don't remember EXACTLY what we did since memory isn't my forte'.  (Spelling, Leeann...) But, if I quoted my accuracy, my astute friend, Grant, pointed out that I ONLY got 10 out of the displayed 12 cards correct.

If MY memory serves me right, and that's a big IF, several months ago I showed AJ five random playing cards all at once for about ten or fifteen seconds. I took them away and asked him to tell me what cards they were. He got all five correct. Then I remember stepping it up a little to seven or eight cards. Same idea. And AJ got five or six correct. If he remembers getting 10 out of 12 too, I totally believe him. I just don't remember it.
At the time, AJ's joke du jour was that we should take him to Vegas because he would be able to secretly count cards and therefore bankrupt a casino. ...Of course.

As a related aside, AJ astutely (to borrow a word) pointed out that in the movie The Hangover there is a direct "visual quote" (my term) from the movie Rain Man. When Allen––who intends to count cards in Vegas (and does successfully)––descends the escalator to the casino floor, the shot looks exactly like the shot from Rain Man. It's not really subtle, but for those unfamiliar with Rain Man, it's easy to miss.
Thank you, Mr. Movie Man.

See for yourself.

Rain Man

"82 82 82...246" "Ray, what are you doin'?" "Countin'" "Mam, how many matches are in the box?" "250." "That's pretty close, Ray, pretty close." "There's 4 left..."
I feel like a real-life Rain Man. I constantly help staff with math. Also, I, like Raymond Babbitt, am in a type of mental facility. Also again, I have demonstrated that I can count cards--to an extent. Uh oh, more numbers! Pi = 3.141592654

Quotes as to how I'm doin'

I have noticed that my left arm and left leg are moving better. But, I have noticed that many workers here are very, "My rules or go home!" Kinda Nazi-esque..."They were Nazis, Walter?" "They were threatening castration!...'We gonna split hairs?" ..."Care for another Caucasian, Dude?" "Sure, got another White Russian?"
I'm too tired to write anymore...Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out...

The Goods

Hey ladies! Get ready to make yourself at home, because I heard that Grant just got a new house right by da beach... .
TANGENT! This blog is supposed to be about me! Grant, you're Mr. Lebowski. I'm The Dude, so that's what you call me. That, or His Dudeness...or Duder...or El Dude-areeno, if you're not into the whole brevity thing. Thanks for your time.

MORE movie quotes, all from The Big Lebowski

The DUDE abides to all those out there who read my blog. You're Mr. Lebowski. I'm The DUDE, so that's what you call me. That, or His Dudeness, or Dooder,...or el Doodarino, if you're not into the whole brevity thing. I'm kinda thirsty...I could go for a Caucasian/White Russian.
All you readers are collectively referred to as The Stranger.

A Clarification

[Regarding the previous post, I asked AJ to clarify for us what he was perturbed by. This was his response. - Grant]

Dear Special Friend (but NOT in a gay way),

   I was/am perturbed that staff constantly contradict each other!  I'm sorry for my foul language.  I'm better than that...

Hope the 4-1-1 helped,
A.J.

The Movie References Begin...

Dear Blog,

   This wedding (situation) is horse sh--!  --Step-Brothers.  Pardon my language, but I am a little perturbed with how things are handled here [at FINR - Grant].  Good night, Sweet Prince! --Walter Sobchek

AJ's First Post: Booyah!

Here's my first post:  Just wanted to give a shout-out to all my homees in da hood!  That's short for neighborhood for y'all not from da streets (LEEANN, who is MY GIRL, so anyone got beef with her, you bets be steppin'!  Homee don't play!  Alright, enuf gangstah talk.  Here's the 4-1-1 (for those of you not jiggy with the numbahs (Leeann!), Here's da biznass)): I am seeing some improvement.  I have gotten more movement from both my left arm and my left leg.  The staff here have even agreed.  YAWN!  I am a little tired of being an anomaly, because I have to both see and hear about all of the violence that other patients are causing.  Until next post...

The AJ Blog Launches!

Welcome to AJ's blog.

I'm Grant. I'll be administrating and copyediting this blog. [And I may poke my nose into some of AJ's posts with little editorial additions like this one. - Grant]

You can also expect some guest posts from me, Leeann, and Martha. They'll all begin with "Guest Post:" to keep the non-AJ authors clearly separate.

That's right. This is AJ's blog. The content will come straight from him to this blog via email.

The general purpose of this blog is largely To Be Determined, but in any case the point is to allow AJ to voice himself directly to you, his friends and family.