BANKROLL MANAGEMENT

First, if you're reading this on Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas you miserable fool. If you're reading it after Christmas, I hope you had a great one. Poker should be put on hold on Christmas.

I've had a great Christmas. Incredible Christmas.

First, I did a dumb thing this year. I followed a "dream" - sort of like me dreaming that I am going to win at Poker....thats funny.

I've been following my dream of being an NHL hockey coach since I was 15. Most Canadians dream of playing in the NHL - but not me. I was captivated by Roger Nielson when he coached the Leafs, Red Kelly vs. Kate Smith and the Pyramids under the bench was a turning point.

Most of all I got so much out of coaching - I got to travel the world, lets see, eight years in California, working for the Disney Company, Mexico coaching the National Team, up and down the East Coast in every small hockey town from Stamford to Florida. All of it. Winning Championships, graduating players to the NHL and university careers. Money - lots of it, (more teaching then coaching) but its taken a toll. Lots of failure when winning a hockey game is your only solace. When you lose you feel guilty - responsible - punched in the gut. Anyways back to the story. So I left town this year...

I decided to chase my dream to Saginaw Michigan. Why - it was my last chance. My career upended...fired by my so called "best friends" in the game...so I took a job 6 hours away from my wife and 1 year old daughter. And my god what an Angel she is.

She is everything to me. So beautiful...So precious. So back to why I tell you all this story. Because missing her as I have has made me so thankful for every minute I spend with my family.

I spent the last 90 days away from her - on and off. And will spend the next 90 away - on and off. I might see her once or twice a month. My wife is pregnant. So this Christmas break was the most incredible in my life.

To spend those warm precious moments with my Angel was incredible. It made me appreciate all she is to me. And my wife too - she was so amazing. They support me and I hope to support them.

So this Christmas was special for so many reasons. My mom on her death bed. My dad on his death bed. To see them one last time before they expire.

To read, to relax, and to play poker.

Poker is very much an escape, I love it so much. When they go to bed I play. I love how it makes me think. I love the challenge and the intricacies. I love reading about it - I live it. This next 90 days while I have some freedom otherwise not afforded. I can attack the game. Learn from it - studied it. And master it.

I will master it. I have the make up. I always win -sooner or later. I am committed to getting back my money (about 2k with all the books, buyins and poker table I built:-))

But its more than that. Its being on top of the game. Mastering something that has been baffling. Winning back to back 4$ SNG and then finishing dead last 10 straight times.

So I am pumped. I am focused. I am willing. I am obsessed. The next year will be pretty incredible for me....and you.

I hope you had a Great Christmas.