The Speed No Limit Tournament

Hey everyone. Well, I played in the no limit speed tournament today (or yesterday now technically). It was really intense. They had this music playing and they timed you if you didn't act immediately they started saying 5 4 3 2.. and if you didn't act by 1 you folded automatically. It was intense. There were 204 people in the tournament and they split us into 2 groups of 102. I played and played and kept making it to the next blind level. I was almost out and then I doubled up 4 times. The big stack kept raising my big blind every time for 3 hours. I kept folding. Then, there were only 31 people left and I was the big blind and the short stack and I had a pair of 8s. He once again raised me and I raised over the top of him. He put me all in. If I didn't call, I would only just over what I would need to call the next round of blinds. So I called. He had AQ of clubs. The flop came 992. I was fine. Then 7. Still going good. Then the stupid queen came on the river and I was out of the tournament. If I had doubled up I would have made it into the top 18 and been in the finals, which is on TV. I was disappointed. It was fun, though. There were tons of people watching (and Sarah said a bunch of guys were talking about how I was a hot poker player and debating whether I was married). The announcer kept coming over and announcing things when I was in a big hand "Jennifer from America, folks, there's a lot of fight in that one." I was the last woman in the tournament and people recognize me even more now since so many were watching. it was a blast. I can't believe I came so close to being in the finals. Maybe my luck will hold up more for the big tournament. It starts on the 18th and I heard it will be broadcasted live on an internet channel. I'll try to get the details of that in case anyone wants to watch. I'm having fun and meeting tons of people. All the pros busted out before me like Scotty Nguyen and this girl Rosa that they call "the Princess of Poker" and this other pro named Marcel, and the big players locally were busting out as well. You need luck in this game too. Wish me luck for the main event, I'd love to go home a millionaire!