[blutarski]

Two (hopefully) insightful, interesting stories:

1. I was able to kinda sorta get a taste of the pro poker life last December. I had to have some neck surgery and the recouperation time was like two months. So I thought "hayell yeah, I'm gonna play some poker all effing day."

That lasted for two weeks. I couldn't stand poker anymore and I eventually blew my 'roll in a bout of boredom and tilt. I can't see how anyone can be profitable if poker turns into a boring slog. You'll unconsciously sabotage your play just to get away from it.

2. I had a real chance to 'live my dream.' I oh-so wanted to be a brewer! This was the mid-nineties and craftbrewing was so hip, and 'now.' I had been home brewing for a while and I was looking for an excuse to get away from the job I'd burned out on.

People had told me "there's no money in it, it's [censored] work, it ain't that great." Yada yada.

When I finally got a brewing job, I knew within a week it wasn't for me. I stuck it out for three years, even became half way decent at it, but, when my current job became available, I jumped at.

On the one hand, I think "Damn, I lost three years of my life when I should have been making more money." On the other I feel pretty good about following a dream of mine- many people don't have the guts to do this.