[7/27/23] #34 - What it's meant to me

[7/27/23] What it's meant to me

I began this blog in a hotel room in Downey, CA. I was back and forth with my father who had a emergency heart stint replaced.

I was very much hurting and mostly lonely. I would spend all day at a hospital and then at 4 it was NBA time where I would watch 6-8 hours of games on my laptop.

Im a bit of a extrovert by nature who's work keep him introverted but during that time I missed so many friends and the deep conversations that sometimes occur.

I remember asking Ed if I could do a blog and he immediately responded, "about what?" and me not having a terrific answer but Ed being the good friend and partner he is, had the channel created the next day.

I remember there was a poker player Matt Moore who had a blog for awhile in the height of his poker career and it was so refreshing to get a real report on the struggles mentally, financially and how that resonated with me.

I wanted to create something that felt genuine and authentic in the space. This industry if you read Twitter or listen to podcasts, no one loses and it's just all a walk in the park.

I didn't know in the beginning I'd share so much of my life, thoughts, fears, adventures and shed light on professional gambling in the regard that I have been able to.

This blog has been the best release therapeutically for me that I could have never fathomed it'd still be here and I would still yearn to write just about every week 2 years later.

I wanted to give a life update for the every week reader or the person who dms me occasionally to tell me how much something they read relates to their own life.

I'm madly in love in year 3 with the lady of the house who is my rock and vice versa. She has become obsessed with becoming a pastry chef and opening a food truck with a friend of hers. She specializes in cookies, cakes and tarts. I specialize in treadmills and hiking small trails to remain just a little overweight. Date night every Tuesday hopefully for life.

Chan my assistant from 17-22 quit mid October after being threatened and called racial slurs at Ballys in Blackhawk. Security didn't do much and she lost all desire to make the trek in the winters up the mountain and was petrified to carry large amounts of cash.

She adopted her nephews in May and bought a larger home after receiving a promotion at Cigna. She still doordashes every Friday night to make sure her mom has more than necessary and she still has dinner at our house with the new kids every Wednesday.

Dad is on year 19 of working as head rehab specialist in a clinic in Anaheim, CA. He has 210 and counting people who have gotten 5 years or more of sobriety and he celebrates his 21st birthday of sobriety in September.

Wally my stepdad is doing well. Has a physical therapist that's teaching him to walk with his walker and he's back on oxygen and refuses to give up.

Diana my cousin is now the founder of a dungeon and dragon YouTube channel and started a magic the gathering group which is apparently huge in the bay area. Still lives with her ex wife who is terminally ill but they spend their days laughing and playing games online.

Mom is still garage saling and has become a bit of a bee keeper with maintained hives. She will be in year 34 as a school social worker and still hikes pikes peak incline every weekend with her dogs and a friend.

Bret is still married, living in Aspen and recently bought a cesna plane so he could do jumps with his friends and not have to pay anyone. He has 350 jumps under his belt. He comes to Denver once a month for us to have pho.

Someone asked me about my friends who were my first betting group.

Jeff is a real estate agent in Cherry Creek very wealthy and very much a player, single for life pretty sure.

Cory I talk to weekly. Bought a truck and drives independent beers across country as a distributor. Loves it.

Matt I gave him his own blog. A DFS owner/partnership and became very wealthy a few years ago and still works very hard but vacations more than anyone I've ever heard of with a large family. We speak or eat together once a month.

Jason drives Uber and started a dance studio. He comes over on Wednesdays at least once a month and his partner and him just bought a townhome. He is in GA for a few years now and we have a rule of no sports talk.

This blog has been the best release for me. It's been a open book to the world. There are many weeks I can't wait to write about something or relive a time in my life that I get to put into words. Its my safe place and at has times been essential to keep things in perspective.

With that said I can't be the only one. I've discussed it with the guys and I want to give anyone who wants to share their story with this discord that opportunity.

Blogs are what made 2p2 special at one time. We want to give people the option to start their own. It can be about anything you would like.

This will still be my space but I want to share it with others. All I ask is this...

Please send me a Direct message here or on Twitter and tell me in a sentence or 3 what you are going to blog about.

Try to keep it about betting/gambling as much as possible. If you want to discuss something else please direct message me with what and why.

Be authentic, be yourself, say what you want to say.

I have loved some of these entries. I often go back and can't believe I wrote them. I want you to have this same revelation and possibility.

I'll be back with new entries when it's necessary but for now I believe it's time we hear some new voices.

I can't thank you properly enough for the space.

Also thank you Ed, Jeff, Mike and Parker for this channel and for the opportunity, Eddie