2006 has been a very good year for me, in virtually every aspect I can think of. In fact, looking back it looks almost ridiculously good - perhaps I should spend more time thinking about how lucky I am. Check this out:

1. I got engaged.
2. Career wise, this has been the best year so far, by far. I got to travel to Beijing, I got to lead two different international projects (with team members from Malaysia, Sweden, Finland and China). Difficult, challenging and awesome.
3. We bought a house. Although it’s not ready to move into yet, it’s now “ours.”
4. Lori got a job, meaning that we now operate on two incomes. Quite a difference in the household finances, let me tell you.
5. I moved up from $1/$2 in the beginning of the year to $5/$10 at the end of it, as was my plan.

I could go on for quite awhile. The basic summary of it all is that I’m truly fortunate to get to do the things I do, and live the life I live. I’m not sure what I did to deserve it, though, but I won’t let that worry me right now.

I’m currently at my parents’, staying here until Christmas day, when we’ll drive up to Stockholm and take the morning flight the day after to Chicago. From there, we fly on to St Paul, where we’ll spend new year’s with Lori’s parents. If I get the chance, I might take Xandit’s tip to visit Canterbury Park, a race track/card room. If I go there, it will be the first time I play poker in a casino which is going to be pretty cool. I’ve played poker live before and I’ve been in casinos before… I’ve just never combined the two.

I don’t have any new year’s resolutions planned this year. The more ambitious of you may go back and see what I set out to do last year. Note that I at least got one of the three down pat (playing $5/$10) and that one of the three started out well but ended badly (going to gym), whereas one was more of a rollercoaster (tobacco; I’m currently in “quit” mode though, so that’s a positive). I do, however, have a leak in my poker game that I’ll focus entirely on for awhile so I can finally get rid of it. It’s a form of tilt that occurs when I’m betting a non-made, ace-high hand. Here’s an example:

I’m in late position, limit hold ‘em 6-max, with A-8o. It’s folded to me and I raise. The typical (slightly too loose) small blind calls and the big blind folds.

The flop comes Ks - Ts - 2h. Small blind checks, I bet, he calls.

The turn comes 2d. Small blind checks, I bet, he calls.

River brings a trey. Small blind checks.

I really need to stop betting here. But a lot of the time, I 3-barrell it on habit, usually almost closing my eyes and thinking “please don’t call me please don’t call me please don’t call me.” Why do I think that? Because I know that when I’m called, I’m toast. I also know that there’s no worse hand than mine that he’ll call with (what, he’s going to call with QJ?) and he’s not folding any pair now that he’s gone to the river. He MIGHT fold a hand like Q3 of spades, but that’s a real long shot.

I need to stop betting here. I know this. I just need to stop betting here. Say it with me now:

I need to stop betting here.

…

Alright. That’s what I’m going to do. This leak will be plugged in a month’s time, promise. That’s the closest thing to a new year’s resolution that I have right now, so that’s all you’re getting.

Merry christmas, all. It’s time to wrap some gifts while the rest of the family is off to church for the children’s service (very young children, they get to “build” the crib, complete with Josef and Maria, and goats, and sheep, and the three wise men, and everything - it’s kinda cute to watch, but I have a cold so I’m staying behind this year). I’m sure it may seem anti-social of me to be blogging on Christmas Eve, but you’ll have to forgive me for it. I’m done now, either way.