Zagnut31, a PC admin, mentioned that he would be interested in reading some of the highlights from my CardRunners blogs.  So before I start posting some of the more interesting stories, I thought I would start with the first blog I ever wrote over two years ago.  I'll mix in the *Archive highlights between my current Poker Curious entries.

Tales from the Middle Ages

Confession no. 1 - I have never wanted to have a blog.
Confession no. 2 - I have never written a single entry in a diary in my life.
Confession no. 3 - I have never enjoyed being in the spotlight.

So what in the world would possess me to want to start a blog? I'm not sure exactly why.

Maybe I can blame it on the fact that I turned 40 last month. I am officially middle aged. As further proof of my lack of desire for any attention on myself, I had my wife promise me there would be no big celebration that is typical of my family where surprises, family members flying in from all over the country and a big production is typical of such occasions.

Maybe its the fact that my eldest child turned 10 this week. She will develop into an amazing young woman in a few years and be gone in a flash to tackle the world on her own terms. I spend too many hours in front of my computer screens pouring myself into CardRunners. Maybe in her youthful curiousity she will seek out the blog in coming years and look back on my thoughts with some pride.

Maybe reading every single blog on CardRunners regularly the past year has stirred my juices. In the background, I am often nudging our youthful bloggers in various ways. Ultimately in life, as a worker, teammate or parent, your best choice is to lead by example. I don't want my blog to be like anyone else's or anyone's to be like mine. I will infuse my blog with the same passion and commitment that I have shown CardRunners in my operations manager role.

My wife grew up in a household where as a child, you didnt speak unless you were spoken to by adults. Words were precious and verbiage was minimal unless you had something important to say. On the other hand, I grew up in a household where all kinds of talking was encouraged with an emphasis on introspection. We were always questioning things and their meaning in your life. I have come to value both perspectives.

I can anticipate times when my blog will contain entries about philosophical concepts or fatherly reflections as well as others where I muse about CardRunners developments or running into poker celebrities on my travels in Las Vegas this summer covering the WSOP ME. I am very excited about this year's trip to Vegas. I secured a WSOP press pass which will allow me inside the velvet ropes during the Main Event to report on all CardRunners participating in the event. I will stay as long as a CardRunners' member is still playing, hopefully through the final table.

I have been fortunate to have travelled to over 33 countries around the world. I've been a teacher, ice cream maker, art gallery owner and world traveller. I am a husband and father to two kids. Now I ply my trade in front of monitors in my suburban home in Oregon. My life isn't really about 'ballin' and you won't hear a lot of poker strategy unless I find some time to play my 50nl hobby game. But I am working with some of the best poker players anywhere and privy to a lot of poker information that I'll share judiciously. My first hint of things to come is that CR will introduce new blogging software amongst other changes, in August most likely, that will vastly improve how the blogs are presented and set up and which will get many more people involved. Until then I'll share my thoughts in this simpler format.

Zimba

"Always remember that life is a matter of perspective. If you change yours, you can see the world change before your very eyes."