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.

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

Exciting News...Potentially

Ready... set... let those salivary glands go!

Word from the grapevine is that Party Poker might soon be bought out by one of many traditional casino gaming institutions! This could be the answer to many of our freedom-loving, poker playing prayers - whereas it would make it a private company and open to US players looking to gamble in cyberspace. I personally have the fingers on one hand crossed and one on the other hand ready to stand up high to the previous Republican 109th US Congress who put into effect some earth shattering online gambling laws!

Delik