Birthday Casino Trip

I so rarely get a chance these days to go and play a tournament at the casino. It was my birthday yesterday and decided it was time to go and play a real tournament at Milacs casino. Normally on a Wednesday I would go to Hinckley and play their tournament, but was online checking out my options when I noticed Milacs had an $80 buy in with what seemed like a decent structure. I got there about 20 minutes before tournament started and sign up. I was the 4th person to sign up. Went to sit at my table when it was time and they were up to 8. Wow I am thinking what did I get myself into. I asked the dealer if this was normal and he said yes and that they would end up around 20 people. Which they did. In the early rounds things didn't go to well. Turned a straight on a hand that someone had flopped a full house and later flopped top pair top kicker and other player flopped two pair and rivered a full house, but did manage to stay in as s short stack. Finally won a few hand in a row to get a nice size stack back and then hit the jackpot. I was big blind with Q-9 suited and was able to check. Flop came 9-7-5 two of my suited. Made a pot size bet and got a caller. Turn was a Q. Caller makes a pot size bet. I move all in. He instantly calls and I am sure I am done. He turns over K-J and has a gut shot. The table can't believe that he called off almost all his chips on a gut shot. He says I thought I had K-Q. I end up winning a big pot and become chip leader. I think I would have made sure of my hand before pushing most of my chips in. Thank you! I was pretty card dead for most of the rest of the night, but managed to win enough pots to get me in the money. Had A-K in mid position and raised. Got reraised by under the gun limper. He didn't have much left, so I pushed all in. He had AA and I lost. Now, I am short stack. A few hands later, I an the BB. Under the gun player, a weaker player, doubles my BB. I have 2-4 of clubs. I am pretty sure based an his past betting that he has a big A. I decide to call. Flop is Q-6-4. He makes a small bet. I decide to call and see one more card. Turn is a 3. He bets just under enough to put me all in. I am already in the money and too far invested to fold. I am sure now that he has an over pair, but I have several outs. I move all in. He turns over jacks. I say well I got a few outs anyway and hit a 4 on the river. All guy had to do was bet more preflop and I am gone. Blinds come around a couple of more times and I am know getting short stacked and need an all in hand. The other two have big stacks and I am sure that they are waiting for me to go out so they can chop money. I am big blind with A-4 with under the gun guy calling. That is how he played all night. I push in. He calls with AA and I am out in 3rd. Next time on a Wednesday I will drive to Hinckley for more players.