Hi ppl

First of all don't worry this is not a bad beat story!!

I just signed up today, because I lost a tourny last night in such a way it's really eating me up, and I thought getting some comments from experienced players might help me get some perspective.

Only been playing for about 4 months now, but I like to think I'm not a total mug, and I feel I'm getting better all the time. I do well in 0.50/1 NL and low limit cash games, but my favourite is MTT's, with re-buys, both B&M and online. My best finish in B&M was 5th from 119. Online I feel I'm really getting the hang of em - in the last week I've had a second and a fifth, and several annoying bubble finishes.

Last night in a 110 player online tourny I made the final table with a HUGE stack. 148K, over three times the amount of chips anyone else had. I was playing great poker, smart and aggressive, with a touch of luck here and there. We got down to 5 people....and my girlfriend rang with some drama she was having at her mum's.

Now it's NOT an excuse....but while trying to talk to her and be sympathetic, I played two hands thus:

Called an all-in with AQ suited. Other guy had AK, hit a king and duly doubled up.
Made a min raise with A9 on the BB (don't know why, I barely remember the hand, think it was a weak attempt at a steal). SB calls, flop comes A-10-10, SB goes all in, I call.....and one thing I do remember about the hand was the f**ker had a 10. Oh and that he was in second, and I doubled him up.

Well I got rid of my girlfriend pronto, but by then, in two hands, I had lost over 2 thirds of my chips and I was one of the short stacks. I was then guilty of tilting a bit and the end came a few hands later...went all in with A7 off , got called by KJ suited, jack on the board, I was out in 5th place.

I should have won. I should have just sat out while on the phone. I was very close to putting my head through my monitor, then jumping out the window.

So really, I would like to warn people, do not take your eye off the ball for 1 second. And I would be grateful for some experienced comments. Am I the only person in the world to lose after having 3 times the chips of anyone with 5 left? Is it as disgraceful as I think it is? Should I just give up? Will I ever get such a good chance to win a MTT again? Should I shoot my girlfriend? Should I shoot myself?

Thanks

PS: Please don't flame me, there is nothing you can say that will come close to the abuse I have given myself.

There is a clear lesson to take away from this story .... girlfriends, wives, and kids are clearly incompatable with quality poker!

A little thing that some people (myself included) like to do in tournies is when they have a monster stack at the final table just play really tight, blinds and pp's. Every time somebody gets knocked out you make more money you don't have to make a move because you have plenty of $$ so you won't get blinded out, worst case scenario you go heads up for first a little short stacked but then you can start playing poker again. Its something I like to do to keep myself out of trouble.