Changes

So many changes over the last few months... finally some sort of schedule to follow. Off the top of my head, the following is a list of major changes:

1. Moved out of parents' house
2. Acquired "real" job
3. Almost completely stopped playing poker, because of #2
4. Have focused more attention on other hobbies, due to #3
5. I was going to think of something witty and untrue to put here but I'm blanking

Of course, each listed change branches out into many subtopics. Which one to start off with? Hmm, how about #3, to get it out of the way.

Anyone who has known me for a while probably thinks I am a poker nut. To an extent I do agree, but I think most people do not understand my motives for playing. My number one goal when playing poker is to make money. Period. To have a good time while playing is secondary. This mindset is a direct result of playing poker for a job for a few years.

I think most people think that I play mainly for fun and competition, and that if I hear about another good player, I want to sit down with him or her and prove that I am better than them. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, one might say I am disgusted when someone who has heard that I play often and well comes up to me and says something like, "Hey, I heard about you, we should play sometime." I translate this as, "Yo, you think you're good? Let's sit and find out." Sorry, not interested. I will admit that this was my motivation when I first started playing in high school, but things have changed much since then. I am usually reluctant to join a home game with friends nowadays since the stakes they usually play for are petty and honestly not worth my time. This probably sounds cocky, but what I am actually trying to say is that since my main goal when playing poker is to make money, I don't want the money coming out of my friends' pockets, and if I do happen to win, the sum is not nearly what I could be making if at the cardroom or online, if my friends lose then I'm not happy, and if I lose I'm not happy. Yes there have been fun moments, but I would rather be having fun in another setting than at a poker table; more on that later. When playing with strangers, I feel no regret.

Getting back on track to explain #3 from above, I have played hardly at all since obtaining my new job in the beginning of November. I think this helps prove my aforementioned priorities in playing poker -- now that I have a steady source of income, poker playing has become nearly nonexistent.

Okay, enough poker for the no poker blog, just had to get that out. Anything more on poker in the future I will try to enter in the blog entitled, "poker."

Now it's time to pick another number. Hmm, I shall choose #5. Hahahaha

How about #4, other hobbies.

Welllllll, the first one that comes to mind is definitely cooking. I have always been interested in food and everything related. How to prepare it well, presentation, budget, compatibility, health, etc. My interest led me to experiment and invest some time in cooking while in college. The other motivating factor was boredom -- while friends were at full-time summer jobs, I was on Christmas vacation all the time, playing poker only when I wanted.

As my interest has grown the past few years, I have acquired a few accessories, which include the Ronco rotisserie oven you see on TV, a buffet-style electric food-serving thinger (something a caterer would use), a vacuum sealer, the QuickChop as seen on TV, the Ronco knife set as as seen on TV, a book called "On Food and Cooking" which discusses the actual science and some history behind all foods, and a few other smaller items. In addition, I have taught myself food preparation methods and techniques by watching the food channel and through hours of experimentation.

Why do I do all of this for food? Does it taste better? Does it cost less? Wow, I haven't ever really put myself on the spot to answer this question directly and completely. Now that I think about it, I would say that I find cooking is an art form, something I can find happiness in and also something that I can share with others so that they may experience the same. I find myself pleased when I spread a bit of joy into others by sharing something satisfying that I created. I also like the idea of making an everyday necessity (food) extraordinary; if you have to do it, why not enjoy?

So what have I made lately? This weekend I made spaghetti pizza on Friday, and a cayenne quiche and chicken pizza with white sauce on Sunday. A few months ago, much of that time would have been spent on poker. I like this better, and I think my roommates and friends do too.