An Update, An Alteration and an Announcement Walk Into a Blog...

An Update:

"Me? I'm very well, thank-you."

I think it's only fitting that I begin with that very impersonal, non-descriptive and utterly vague sentence because it's the exact line I've been reading back to myself while sitting in bed or at my desk for just about every day of the last few months. I have a lot to say, with no easy way of getting it into text as I have discovered. Life has changed wildly for me recently. Make no mistake, it certainly didn't change over night, but at this point it is considerably different from when I began this blog three years ago.

After the passing of my father in 2007, I decided to act upon a long standing dream that he had inspired in me. A common link we always shared was card games and poker was at the center of it. I heard stories growing up and witnessed the skill and talent he had first-hand as I grew older. On more than one occasion I even had the opportunity to show him my own skills; thankfully he was present at every tournament I won up to the point of his death. Soon after this, I chose to leave my full-time "real world" job, despite the pleasure I took in it and the success I achieved. For me, acting with my heart was the right thing to do and as luck would have it, I was led on a fantastic journey of wins & loses, people & places and the opportunity to create Quad Seven Poker. As I progressed with Q7P, I met many other players and bloggers, built some unforgettable friendships and continued to learn, live and breathe the best game on earth.

My interest in poker and writing then led me to create my Gambler Chronicles website...


An Alteration:

Throughout 2009 I had great fun creating and posting chronicles about my character, Greyson Slate, on my Gambler Chronicles website. I felt immediately that this served as a wonderful creative and literary outlet for me to present an examination of the poker world and the people I have met and heard tales about over the years; the feedback I received is still very much appreciated. As my ownership of the website came to a close this year, I chose to rescind my claim over it and focus on a new project that would fulfill a concept I've had for a very long time. With regards to the current state of the Gambler Chronicles .com variation - it appears to be an online casino strategy page; I have no current ownership or affiliation with it and I can no longer vouch for its contents.

That being said, I have begun a new and entirely different project that I have been developing over many years. I hope you'll take a few moments to have a look and delve into a world very different from poker, though not lacking in any excitement or mystery...

The Announcement:

As I said, prior to my decision to enter the world of poker on a full-time basis, I had a successful career in the "real world." I worked in the same industry from my teenage years into adulthood and realized over time that there were some very compelling stories to be told about the people I've met and events I've witnessed. After leaving it all behind, I could not have known if I would ever re-enter the field however, and go back to what I put aside for poker.

On a whim and a dash of curiosity, I put my resume out for available positions to see if there was still room for me. To my surprise, I landed a few interviews and for whatever reason - I attended them and accepted a relatively small position to feed the craving. Within a few months an offer of promotion and advancement presented itself and I took it, then a couple more months and another advancement offer came. At this point, the real world had already begun to impede on my poker and I had to decide if I was prepared to commit to a change.

After careful consideration, patience and calculation, I decided there was room for expansion in my life, so jumped in with both feet. The best part of this development is that I also took the leap creatively and launched my newest venture:

ConfessInns: The Innkeeper Chronicles.

After Thought:

The meaning of that impersonal, non-descriptive and vague first sentence has changed for me now as I complete this entry. I've found a nice balance and I remain optimistic. Me? Oh I'm very well, thank-you.



Wishing Big Flops and Bigger Pots,

Delik

Lingering Thoughts Of Absurdity

So I'm still reeling over Annie Duke's loss on Celebrity Apprentice.

I'd expect at this point, slightly more than 24 hours after the final termination ensued, that I would have returned from planet Trump and his kingdom of celebrity scuffles back to the actual reality of the world. Unfortunately, this is not case, primarily due to Annie's treatment in the second half of the season, which I see as undeniably vicious.

What respect and admiration I once had for the legendary Joan Rivers dissolved with each disturbing personal attack, leg-kicking tantrum and raving tirade that amounted only to verbal diarrhea. She continuously berated an accomplished, self-made, and intelligent mother of four who just so happens to have earned a WSOP bracelet.

I kept hearing from Rivers that the show was supposed to be about the charities, in fact this might be the only thing the two would agree on, so why would hatred towards a fellow successful woman, albeit in a very different field, though none-the-less equal in her display of determination and hard-work benefit charity? (Let's not forget that Joan managed to squeeze in the time to alienate an entire demographic of people, of which did nothing to deserve or provoke such nauseating disrespect.)

The Duchess of Poker held her own throughout though; real poker royalty. She showed true dignity and self worth, she defended her friends loyally and raised a crap load of money for her charity: Refugees International.

I think the poker world had some luck in having Annie Duke represent us in such a major way. The loss may be a thorn in my side, but she did her very best. Next season we should give Joan and her fans what they want, two words: Mike Matusow.

Del

P.S. Annie makes a very interesting point in her latest blog regarding her firing dished out by Trump and its deviating design as compared to past seasons.

Best Bet

There's not a whole lot of consistency in life is there?

For the most part, things can change at any moment. Beyond this, there are few consistently loyal people in the world as well. You might have heard the old adage: If you can count the number of truly close and loyal friends on one hand you should consider yourself very lucky.

As a gambler I often yearn for any sort of consistency...and frankly, anyone that won't lie to my face for sport. For this, I need look no further than my mother: my biggest fan, my emotional support system, my devoted friend forever. Like any good son, I often declare mine as the best. Yep, I know that she'll love me the same after a major win or a major loss. She'll kick me back in line when I need it, build my confidence when it wavers and remind me that she's got the best son a Mom could ask for.

To my Mom and all the other mothers out there: Happy Mother's Day!

When all else fails and the skies darken with clouds of doom, you can always count on Mom. She's the best bet you'll ever make.

Del

Delik Strikes Back

The calendar may say spring, but from the door step of my home in North Carolina, the air feels like mid-summer. The grass simply will not stop growing; I’m thinking of laying cement in my yard to cut down on mounting lawn-scaping costs.

After a busy few months I feel settled enough to commit myself again to my passion of poker and writing. During my recent sabbatical from my blogs: Quad Seven Poker and Gambler Chronicles, I was able to regain my creative juices and arouse some passion…not to mention play a lot of poker and discover my new favorite obsession: Twitter.

So I present to you a “re-launch” of sorts. Have a look around and you will discover updates to every area of Quad Seven Poker, which serves as my news/editorial/fun and games haven. Beginning today, this site will return to daily updates and postings with the addition of being linked to Twitter and therefore my own personal microcosm in the world. I invite you follow along and join in - after all, poker is the best game in the world and despite Joan River’s thoughts on the matter, poker players are some of the best, brightest, most funny and interesting people on the face of the earth.

I’d like to close with a great thanks to my dedicated readers and new discoverers alike. You all rock and I wish every last one of you Big Flops and Bigger Pots.

Delik James

Last Days 2008

The last few months of this very long year have flown by with such cat-like speed that I have even refrained from sleep at times in an effort to avoid missing a moment of it. But the inevitable has come now: We have a newly elected President (woo-hoo!), made it through the annual turkey holocaust and Christmas is now behind us too...kind and joyful holiday sentiments stuffed away like decorations for another year to become dusty and forgotten until the next go-around and the days before New Years can be counted on one hand.

As 2009 nears I have positive expectations for what's to come: I look forward to new experiences, new casinos, new people, new people's money, new strategies, lots of blogging, travel, plenty of tournaments, saftey and health.

Thanks for visiting me here at Quad Seven Poker and over at Gambler Chronicles.

Wishing you Big Flops, Bigger Pots and a Happy New Year!

Delik

New Site On The Block

I'm pleased to announce the arrival of Gambler Chronicles **

My new website is officially up, running, and expanding more each day.

With the intent of funneling my energy into a single project, I've launched the chronicle of a semi-fictional gambler on a journey through life and the places, people and bets he comes across. Greyson Slate is in a world of endless wagers and a life of unknown outcomes.

What does this mean for Quad Seven Poker?

I will still post at Q7P and update news and features often. Lots of updates are made and will continue to be made in the Grease the Rail Section and poker tools will remain active!


And Don't Forget!

I will have a weekly post at Poker Bankroll Blog with an eye towards Poker News!!


Thanks for all of your continued support.

Wishing you Big Pots and Bigger Flops,

Delik James

Special Reminder

Hey Poker Lovers! Just want to remind you that I have a new Blog Post today at Poker Bankroll Blog. You can find a link to the site with my "A Man, A Spider, and a Question of Ethics" post in my Quad Seven Top 7 Links in the sidebar!

Also, don't forget to stop by my 'Grease the Rail' section for lots of fun stuff to kill some time while avoiding work or between porn downloads - much has been added and all is updated often.

Wishing you Big Flops and Bigger Pots!
Del