I'm back. It is just that simple. I wobbled around the non-poker world for a while, lost my way with the game, got frustrated and come back full circle to where I started a year and change ago. I recently moved into my first house, so it had been taking up a lot of time, giving me some much needed distance from the game for a while to clear my head. After Black Friday like a lot of US players I struggled to come to grips with things. I was really starting to hit my stride in the game right around Black Friday and I felt cheated and deflated after it went down. I took a little time off, started playing free and eventually found my way back to Merge. I have dabbled there for a while. Not really doing anything of note, just wobbled unceremoniously. I went with my wife for our annual trip to Las Vegas to visit my in-laws and played one tourney at the Venitian where i almost cashed. I was starting to feel a little more inspired, but couldn't get over the hump. When I got home we got to the task of finishing unpacking and I ran across a little shot from the past, my "Knock Out a Pro" T-Shirt from Full Tilt Poker. I know, writing that name puts such a bad taste in my mouth, but when I grabbed the shirt, I was surprised that there was no ill will, I actually laughed. Its a collectors item now. I actually framed it. I'll post a picture in the next few days. It got me thinking. 2 years ago I was playing my first Mini-FTOPs and cashed for almost a grand, it was like nothing I had ever experienced before and I was thrilled. Over the course of the 18 months that followed I made great friends and learned more about the game than I knew possible. I started to miss it. I went back on the site and started grabbing vids and watching again. I realized that I'm a poker guy. I love the game and the people that I connected with through it. So I kicked myself in the ass and said, I gotta go back. So here I am, back from the peverbial dead. The Gman has returned. It feels good. I have decided that I am going to build a roll on Merge, start getting myself back into shape. I have had some success, I scored a ticket to the Merge 100k which I will be playing on Sunday 10/30. I'll be in chat during it so I look forward to meeting folks and chatting while I play.
Its exciting to be back. I am looking forward to re-learning all I have forgotten and getting my skills back up to where they were. I am headed to Atlantic City in December to play Event #2 (I'm booked down there from Friday night 12/3 through Sunday 12/5) which i'm excited about. Can't wait to meet members and hang out. I am especially excited to finally meet Killingbird. We have tangled and tussled in member tourneys until BF and have had a great time across the virtual space, time to grab a beer and meet in life. Well stay tuned for more from me. I'm getting back in the groove. Be sure I will be posting hands that I am making big ole screw ups, but I look forward to getting back to where I belong, TPE.
This is the Gman signing out!