I love holiday traditions... like playing pool with my family for money. Our family has been doing this for years. I got my start when I was only 10 or 11, and the tradition goes back much farther. This year there was a twist. Some drunk took out a few telephone poles, robbing my Aunt's neighborhood of electricity. That wasn't going to deter us though. We gathered candles and duct taped a small lantern over the pool table... just enough light to keep playing. For some reason the stakes jumped considerably... normally it's $.25 a game when we play elimination pool (make a shot, you're in... miss and your out. Keep playing until there is only one player left.) This year were playing for a $1 a game. The regulars play tough for quarters, a whole dollar was sure to bring out their A-games. My wife decided to play too... to the delight of the other players (she's easy money) and making it considerably harder for me to break even (I was paying for her.) I forgot my good cue at home too. Still I managed to walk away $5 richer for the second year in a row. Not to shabby since I haven't played since last year.