More than lucky

I'll blatantly tell you I have an obsession with poker. (I'm playing a tournament as I'm posting this blog) And not just Texas hold'em...I'm talking about every version of poker there is known to man. And if I don't know how to play it, teach me; because I LOVE to gamble. I'd flip a coin any day of the week.

Due to the amount of poker I play, I'm constantly seeing ULTIMATE hands. Hands that most people don't even witness in a lifetime. And I hit these "ultimate nut" hands weekly, if not daily. Occasionally, I've hit these hands in multiples while sitting at the same table...for example, I once sat at a table where I had quads a total of three times in the session.(**Poker Trivia** - The term "the nuts" originated from gamblers of the wild west who would bet their wagons and throw the lugnuts on the table to ensure the bet.)

The truth of it is, I create my own luck.

I once read an article about one of my favorite players, Stu Ungar. Upon reading, it was quite clear to me the author and I agreed that there are two key elements for success in any game of skill. Raw talent, and iron will. Without will, talent goes unexplored. Without some degree of ability, will is merely misplaced ambition. The two go hand in hand and poker becomes poetry and art all in one.

Now here's where I can boast as an artist of a poker player. It's one thing to have a SUPREME hand...and it's another to have a SUPREME hand and get paid off.


see you at the river...

Procrastinators Suck!

Today, I'm a little discouraged...

Sometime about a week or so ago, Amanda called me from work, and she was excited. I could hear the anticipation in her voice as she told me the details. As it was, the local newspaper was running a photo contest. The winner would get dinner for two at a very nice restaurant downtown. The theme was "Romance."

Now, I literally have over 10,000 photos on my hard drive that I've taken over the years. (Most of which--in due time, I plan on sharing with my readers.) I had the ambition of submitting a total of 5, as that's how many entries were allowed.

I'm a procrastinator, so naturally I only submitted one. However, I knew this one is a great photo. I'm proud of it. (However, I did originally plan to completely run the original through the digital darkroom, and give it a complete new overhaul. But again, I'm a procrastinator.)

So today's the day that the top ten photos have been selected, and web viewers are allowed to vote for their favorite one. I eagerly load the website where finalists are to be displayed...only to find out my picture never made the cut. I honestly felt like the photo of Amanda and I kissing at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, (in Alabama) was at least the absolute essence of "Romance." It was on that day, I believe our relationship embodied the deep root of love that we still have for one another to this day.

We have this picture printed up in two spots in the house. One in black and white in our bedroom, and one in color in the living room, which is the very heart of our home. Daily I see this picture and am reminded of the love that Amanda and I share for one another.

I'll try and post some other photos that I considered submitting for the "romance" theme as I find them.

three little words

I love you.

as simple as that. if not said every so often it should be implemented within our daily activities. simple, yet random acts of love. the making of a bed, or somehow magically fitting the extra 2 coffee cups you found on the coffee table into the dishwasher...well.

if it isn't said:

into my hard drive

Well...

I did it. I digitally vomited and a blog was born. I guess it was an accident, or perhaps out of curiosity; but what better way to share my thoughts and art could there possibly be? I tried deviantart, and we all have a myspace hell, even my photography has a myspace
...but now I guess the gloves come off and my boredom allows you to see some of my creativity.

For starters, I tend to be a nice guy. And if I may be of any assistance, I'll try and educate myself so that I may teach you how to respectively deal with your own shit. For accomplishment is empowerment...and maybe we all need a little bit of that.

I do apologize in advance as you'll occasionally have to put up with my antics of hold'em poker. And by "occasionally" I mean like, every other day...and sometimes twice a day.

~Enjoy~