AQo: re-raise pre-flop or fold the flop. 44: you know better. How to keep from making mistakes at the beginning of a session: I like to read my constantly evolving list of reminders before every session ("Patience." "Don't stack off with TPTK to an unknown." "Don't limp crap in EP." "Don't take phone calls, check e-mail, read FTR while playing." etc.).

Re: your gf. It sounds like you're doing as well as you can with the situation. If she's heard you explain why poker's a game of skill and seen that you've made money over the long-term and still disapproves, she's probably not going to change her mind. But it sounds like she's willing to let you play a fair amount, as long as you still acknowledge that she comes before poker, which is reasonable. My gf has never complained about my poker addiction, er, hobby, but I'm aware that it could become an issue, so I'm careful. The main thing I try to avoid is staying up to play after she's gone to bed because then it looks like I'm choosing poker over sex.