2009

So here we are. One week into the "next" year. I was thinking about putting resolutions down on the first but was sceptical because of the word. Re-solution. "So, you didn't get it correct the first time huh?", one of the little voices in my mind responds. "Do you possibly think you have the answer this time?". What a queer little voice that is, I think to myself. After the week has past and to much weighing of information, I believe I have come up with some simple changes for this year which may help this hobby along. They are as follows:

1) Stop thinking in terms of $$ gained as the reference point for poker skill.
2) Create/join a small group of poker degenerates.
3) Use a minimum of 10 hrs/wk for study (vids,reading,etc)
4) Use a minimum of 10 hrs/wk for hand analysis
5) Learn how to make this blog more interesting
6) Write more- twice a week sounds right
7) Stop drinking for one year
8) Exercise for 1 hr 4 times a week

Wow, 8 solutions seems like a lot, doesn't it? Maybe this is a mistake and I should cut back so as to set myself up for success and not create an atmosphere heading to failure? Rubbish!!!!!! One of the things I see wrong in this world today is people will actually strive to avoid being successful. At the first sign of some form of resistance to their hopes and dreams, they curl up and whine about the world not being fair. The worst part is the modern psychological community is agreeing with this pattern. If you don't have discipline or patience, they diagnose you as ADD. If your scared to get out and change your life, they diagnose you with Chronic Fatigue Disorder so you have an excuse not to do anything about it. If you think the world is unfair and that makes you unhappy, they give you a bottle of Xanax(a depressant) to make you "feel" better. Let's face some reality here. If life was supposed to be easy, why do you shed tears at the birth of your child? Why do you feel so alone when God doesn't hear your prayer? Why do you feel remorse when your plans fall through? Any clues?

We didn't listen to our parents when they said something was hot for the first time. We had to touch it and find out for ourselves. "Damn, that hurt!!", we think in our dismay. As we get older, the lessons become more subtle and complicated but the basic answers all remain the same. We do not learn anything without experience and we do not receive fruits without the labors to show for it! Don't get me wrong here. There are people who are born gifted and don't "seem" to have to work as hard. The other side of their coin is what lessons they have to learn. People that struggle can appreciate the benefits of their labor because they understand the cost. What of the gifted? I'll leave that for you to decide. Sorry for the rant. I do have a very spartan way of looking at things which may seem unsympathetic but I'm weary of people demanding excess solely on the basis that they are capable of drawing air into their lungs. I refuse to be that naive and I've enjoyed the work that is life. Let's get back to the topic at hand.

Solutions for my poker hobby. I hope by sustaining this rather rigorous training plan, by the end of the year, my mistakes at the tables will be few. That may or may not be as profitable as I may hope, but the "pros" that I communicate with seem to confirm that $$ does follow proper decision making. I will just have to try it out for myself. As to the difficulty of this plan, I really don't see it as such. 20 hours in a weeks time really isn't a lot when compared to the normal waste of time used in other activities like watching mundane drama on the television so you have some imaginary comparison that makes you feel better about your own life. And let's face it folks, would you rather watch Phil Hellmuth blow up on Poker After Dark or play well enough to sit down and be the reason that he's blowing up? I prefer the latter.

As to items 5 & 6 on the list, I've had some really nice feedback about this blog. So I'd like to take the time and hopefully make it more interesting, if not at least more appealing to the eye. It really helps when there is some interest from other people. This is also something I hadn't thought about before I started it. Throughout my entire life, I've made attempts of recording things of interest in words. This one has lasted the longest and is by far my favorite endeavour. I would just like to make it more enjoyable for those of you that read it, so any input would also be appreciated.

As to 7 & 8, these are topics that have needed to be addressed for a while. Because of my position at my day job, I don't get the exercise that I should and alcohol obviously ( for those of you who don't drink) "relieves" the stresses of my day. Well, I quit smoking almost two years ago and have put on about 40 pounds and don't really "feel" any better for it. In my mind, that would mean that I am still contaminating myself with something that isn't good for me. Let's see. My usual week consisted of about 4-6 cases of Budlight/Budweiser for mental "medicinal" purposes. When written out that way, it sounds sort of sick/sad doesn't it? Although there are people in this world that wouldn't understand, the heavy construction industry is full of people that have this preoccupation. It had never stopped me from being to work on time or from taking care of my responsibilities. I just feel at this stage of my life, it should be left behind for now to see if my physical aspects can start aiding my mental aspects in being a better player. I believe a years time with periodic reviews should be able to determine if this approach is helpful.
So far this year, sobriety for a week and some form of cardio/weight lifting every other day has at least got my spirit saying thank you but the joints are a little upset(creaky, snap, crackle!)

This seems to have been a bit long for a blog post but I think very necessary. I hope everyone is having a grand new year and may all be blessed with aces in the big blind!! (utg raiser w/ AKo of course!!!) Until next time,

Rodney