So i was sitting here the other day & i realized - how unusual to have such a chill month here in LA. Cuz very soon, the shit is most definitely about to hit the fan!
December was Bellagio & holiday madness, January & February was non-stop LAPC, UBOC, & Vegas events. March was a flurry of househunting for a new place now that I'm back in Hollywood full time again from Vegas. And now -- what?? A few weeks of relaxation before I actually move, hit a few prelim series in Vegas and LA, and then -- you guessed it -- WSOP, baybee!
Of course, I can never totally stay still for too long. I think I'm hitting Vegas next week for a few Venetian deepstack events (gotta love that HORSE) & am still furiously trying to satellite my way into the 10,000 Euro EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo at the end of the month. Monaco is by far one of my favorite places on earth, but man is it god damn expensive! Been there a few times with my blackjack team back in The Day (remember those days?) & totally understand why people with a billion in their bank acct would relocate there. First i think i need a few more commas in my bank account.... but then i am totally moving!
I guess I've had moving on my mind this month, after the whole house hunt thang. The LA housing market is by far the most ridiculous thing ever. With the amount of money I've made in blackjack & poker, I could own a sick house almost anywhere in the country -- but not LA. You know someone's been smoking crack when they tell you the rent on a 1-bedroom apartment is over $3000/month, but heard that so many times the past month I stopped questioning it. That's a mortgage, people!
Ultimately my girl MB & i found an awesome place right at the base of the Hollywood Hills, really secluded courtyard setting, nice & roomy, with plenty of extra space for the office/ online poker setup. Gotta have somewhere serene to plot my return to the top of the gambling world. Its weird - most people just balance something nice vs something they can afford, but in poker, one's level of income can suddenly make a gigantic leap forward. I've mastered the art of staying ahead of the curve, but honestly feel like I'm getting really good at putting myself in the perfect position to really hit that Big Score. Its been a little while since that's happened for me, but I always feel like I'm really close. A lost flip here, a suckout there, and the dream dies for another day, but tomorrow there will be many more chances.
Back in 2004 I came in 2nd in the World Series of Blackjack, and on the final hand, was actually a favorite to win. Dealer flipped a 15, and if she would have busted, I would have won. Instead, she pulled a 3 (for 18) and I slipped into 2nd place. Still a wonderful achievement, but the biggest takeaway for me was that, regardless of the outcome, I had spent all the years studying, training, and playing -- and had put myself in a spot where the turn of ONE SINGLE CARD meant so much. And years later, I am grateful that thru all the wins and losses, I have consistantly returned to that place -- where I have the opportunity time and again for the turn of a single card to mean so very much.
Because lets face it -- most people never get that chance. Most people would LOVE to be in a spot, win OR lose, where the flip of a single card can have such a huge impact. Now think about how often in poker we get down to the wire, and then -- BAM! One card & we win. One card and we lose. But to have gotten that far, to have worked that hard, and positioned ourselves just to have the chance -- that's the sweet spot, baby. Ideally we'd all like to win as many as those spots as possible, but never forget that it is, in itself, such a huge success to find ourselves even presented with the opportunity as often as we are.
So to wrap up my thoughts on moving -- yes, my new place is awesome. Yes, i love it. But to be honest, I'm still waiting. Not gonna buy into the mortgage just yet, because with the turn of a few cards -- forget about buying the house at the base of the hill. Its gonna be the house at the top. And i'm not gonna stop til I get there.
I gotta tellya, I really like this Hollywood place. Moved here almost 10 years ago from Cleveland with a BFA theater degree to pursue the acting dream, before getting sidelined into blackjack & then inevitably poker, & I love it now just as much as I did when I got here all those years ago.
After the years of traveling when I was on my blackjack team & playing international tournaments more frequently, I spent the last year primarily in Vegas with my new gf MB at her beautiful trip-view condo. But thru it all, I kept my place here in LA, and now the winds of change look like I will be back here again full time, this time with gf & puppy in tow :)
Lately I've been doing a lot of walking around Hollywood, and its cool to see the city from a different perspective. I've driven thru it 1000 times, but you start to notice all the hidden little gems when on foot. Cool new restaurants, shops, and buildings I've never noticed before. Even a new theater or 2 I didn't know existed.
Now that LAPC is in the bag, it doesn't look like there are many big events on the tourney calendar til April, so I'm taking some time to wander LA & get reacquainted. I've also supercharged my food regimen, so I'm doing a lot more vegan food & cut out caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods altogether. I still eat meat on occasion (& obv will still have a drink or 2 on certain occasions) but for the majority of my days, I am really trying to blast out all the impurities & stay as healthy as possible.
I think that in order to be as successful as possible in any endeavor, whether that be poker or any other pursuit in life, we must be completely driven & devoted to succeed. But along with that, must balance that drive with activities that allow ourselves to truly relax & retain a positive & energetic view on life. And I think that sometimes my biggest downfall is that I don't give myself permission to experience this balance, preferring to just push myself until I collapse. Sometimes, going on a walk or doing yoga almost feels like cheating, like I haven't 'earned' the relaxation until I meet bigger career goals (winning a tournament, for instance).
I try each and every day to find that balance, because I know that in order to be as productive as possible, I must make many other healthy choices in life, especially when it comes to food, exercise, and relaxation. So I challenge each and every one of you to get out there and RELAX a little bit more! Try to sneak in a few more moments of calm & enjoyment each day, and see how it impacts the other aspects of your life.
So i was sitting here the other day & i realized - how unusual to have such a chill month here in LA. Cuz very soon, the shit is most definitely about to hit the fan!
I gotta tellya, I really like this Hollywood place. Moved here almost 10 years ago from Cleveland with a BFA theater degree to pursue the acting dream, before getting sidelined into blackjack & then inevitably poker, & I love it now just as much as I did when I got here all those years ago.