I thought I played in the longest running regular home game in Austin. The gang has been getting together almost every week for more than 15 years. But in Friday’s paper, I learned that Austinite Emma Long has been running hers for over 60 years.

Emma was the first woman elected to the Austin City Council back in 1948. Over the years, her game has attracted its fair share of Texas dignitaries, including a drop in by LBJ. And this isn’t a girls’ night out. It’s all about the cards. After numerous questions from the reporter on the story, Emma told him to “Stop talking. We’re playing poker.” Emma is 98. You go girl. You can read more about her here.

Some people have a list of pros or celebs they’d like to play poker with. I have enjoyed playing against pros like Robert Williamson III, David Benyamine, Rafe Furst, Surinder Sunar and Chau Giang. But it was more about the game than the players. Up until now, there had been only one person I really wanted to play with. I wanted to play against the billionaire banker Andy Beal and got my wish in 2006.

But recently, my list has grown. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan plays poker. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is also a player. I’m thinking this has the makings of a fun game. Granted, I don’t think it would be as soft as the judge’s game in Rounders. I suspect both women can trap. But maybe if I kept the beer and scotch flowing, I’d have a chance.

I also have a new book on my short list to read. Pauly’s long-awaited book, Lost Vegas: The Redneck Riviera, Existentialist Conversations with Strippers and the World Series of Poker, is out there in the universe. I’m saving it for my trip to Vegas in the middle of July. Seems like the perfect read for a boyz trip.

I’m looking forward to the annual pilgrimage. While most of the boyz made it to January’s Biloxi extravaganza, I haven’t seen Joel and wildbill in a long, long time. I’m really looking forward to it.

Note: Emma Long’s photo by Rebecca Scoggin McEntee