So, I see my new friend again.  (Refer to previous blog, please.) 

We are getting more than a little excited about our upcoming visit to the dog track's poker room.  After all, the Florida state Legislature has recently raised the table stakes. 

Can I hear a "Hallelujah!!"

We get to chatting and he reminds me of another reason he does not play poker online - The Withdrawal Curse.  OMG.  I was unaware people still actually believe in The Curse.  I had assumed, if you are still playing the game today, you have long ago put this particular fear behind you.  Guess not.

For those of you who might be unaware of The Curse, it goes like this:  If you take money out of your account, that particular site will punish you with repeated bad beats.

The word ludicrous comes to mind.

Typically, we lose at poker for three reasons.  1. We play badly.  2.  We get unlucky.  3.  We are being cheated.  The first explanation is remediable.  The second explanation is routine and expected.  The third is too rare to worry about.

Then my new friend loans me a book which he says he has found particularly helpful...Tournament Poker And The Art of War by David Apostolico.  Sub-titled How The Classic Strategies of Sun-Tzu Can Transform Your Game.  I unreservedly recommend this book, by the way.

Let me cut to the chase here.  Before I even start reading the actual text, in the foreword written by Andy Bloch, I find this quote by Sun-Tzu: "Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious quotes."  That's on page xi.  Before page one, for goodness sakes.

I am thinking that would just about cover the Withdrawal Curse.

Check out the thinking of my friend Jennifear.

http://www.pocketfives.com/articles/truth-about-withdrawal-curse-224759/

I canceled my trip to Vegas and the WSOP this year when I was offered a position - indoors, air-conditioned - with the U.S. Census.  I was confident this opportunity would not come about again for, I'm just guessing here, at least ten years.  I took the bird in the hand.

Playing the Seniors MTT and living not-so-large, I estimated a week in Sin City could possibly result in a minus $3,000 result.  (I am old and happily married.)

Working for the Census, I am about plus $4,000.  Seems like a $7K swing to me.  I type this blog on my new 8GB computer, reading the words on my new 23-inch monitor.  I glance to my right to view my new big screen TV.  Tomorrow I might clean with my new Dyson vacuum, which is so good my wall-to-wall carpet is a different color.  I am guessing, the original color. 

No bracelet, no WSOP memories.  But new friends.  And an amazing sense of renewal.

One of my new friends is a poker player.  A live poker player who wants me to join him at the local casino.  I'm so there. 

(I'll let you know how it goes.  I expect it will go well.  I am spooky lucky, as Ted Forrest once said.  And, if I'm not, I choose to believe I am.  You know, spooky lucky.)

But, I find most interesting my new friend's opinions about poker. 

He doesn't play online because of gnarly bad beats.

Here's an anecdote.  "I tell my wife, when I have AA vs. a pair of threes, you watch, he'll hit a three.  And a three hits.  GG me.  Or soon thereafter he'll need a club and I'll tell my wife, watch this, watch, a club will hit on the river.  And, of course, there's a club and I lose."

My new friend believes - at least suspects -  online poker is not legit.  Then there's the Absolute/Ultimate Bet cheating scandal.  Which is nothing, if not proof.

I like this guy.  He's a good guy, a nice man.  I did not argue.  I have been there.  Many, many beginners go down that road.  The Road of Bad Beats.  But to be successful as a poker player, you must take a different path.  The path less traveled.  The path of a confident winner.

 I prefer to predict the cards I need to win rather than the cards that will cause me to lose.  Trust me.  Try it.  Your bankroll will grow.  At the very least, you'll feel much better about the game.

Something else.  My new friend doesn't play cash games, because he fears collusion.  I did not argue.  Collusion happens live, just as Russ Hamilton happens on-line.

My new friend only plays live tournaments or low stakes home games.  At his own house. 

He trusts no other poker venues.

As I am sitting there, listening to my new friend, I can't help thinking how difficult it is to play winning poker when you are afraid.  I can't help thinking how difficult it must to be afraid to leave the house or take a chance, a risk, a gamble.  Of course, most accidents happen at home.

I also can't help thinking how difficult life can be when you are afraid.  Remember:  life is a metaphor for poker.

I am convinced many of the keys to being a winning poker player have nothing to do with cards or tells or luck or strategy.  Adopt some of the suggestions from Lisah at Getting To Zen and watch your bankroll grow.  -  JDW

What does it mean to live a healthy lifestyle? It is a way of living that allows you to enjoy more aspects of your life in a more fulfilling way. It is not just about trying to avoid one illness after another, or trying to just not feel as bad as you normally do. It is about feeling and being well physically, mentally and socially. It is about making specific choices that give you the opportunity to feel your best for as long as you can. Living a healthy lifestyle is about saying YES to life.

Three Essential Ways to Live Healthy

Do you want to have a body that can support you well into your old age? Do you wish to have mental clarity, quality relationships, good working internal functions, or even an overall feeling of well being? Well, living a healthy lifestyle is what can get you there, or at least improve your condition. There are three specific things that you should do:

1. Exercise

You shouldn’t be surprised that this one is on the list. It is unavoidable. Physical activity is essential to healthy living. The body was meant to move, and when it does not, it can become unhappy and ill. Physical activity stimulates the body’s natural maintenance and repair systems that keep it going. It improves circulation to our heart and lungs. It gives us strength to stave off injuries, and it increases the mobility in our muscles and joints. Physical activity also releases endorphins; the feel good hormones that create a sense of general well being. Physical activity is good for the body and the mind.

Exercises include brisk walking, cycling, dancing, swimming, rowing, elliptical workouts and jogging. Yoga, and pilates are also good exercise workouts; however, they should be performed in conjunction with the cardiovascular-type workouts mentioned above.

2. Eating healthy

Have you ever heard of the saying “you are what you eat” or “garbage in garbage out”? Well, it is true. What you put into your body directly affects how you feel physically, your mood, your mental clarity, your internal workings, and even your skin. Eating healthy does not mean eating expensive foods with little taste. As a matter of fact, there are some fantastic health recipes online and in cookbooks that are very healthy. Basically, you want to aim for a diet that is low in salt, fat and unprocessed foods and is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids. It is also good to take a multi vitamin to ensure you are meeting your nutrient requirements.

3. Reduce stress

We have got to get rid of all of this stress. Stress happens when your life becomes out of balance physically, mentally or emotionally. This imbalance can be caused by internal stress like worrying too much, environmental stress like pressure from work, family or friends, or by stress from being fatigued or overworked. Being stressed out has the potential to affect your health in a variety of ways. You can become tired, sick, tense, irritable, and unable to think clearly. If you want to live a healthy lifestyle, you will need to manage the stress in your life so that it does not overtake you. This means taking charge of your thoughts, emotions, tasks, and environment to get your body back in balance.

Action Items

Here are some specific action items for living a healthy lifestyle:

1. Use the food pyramid as a guide to how much of what to eat
2. Eat less processed foods
3. Reduce your sugar intake
4. Grill, boil, or bake foods rather than frying them
5. Reduce the amount of meat you eat
6. Eat a lot of fresh locally produced vegetables and fruits
7. Avoid adding salt to your meals after they have been cooked
8. Regulate your portion sizes (a portion is about the size of your fist)
9. Reduce your alcohol consumption
10. Reduce caffeine consumption
11. Don’t eat foods that have a lifetime warranty (unless we have some sort of disaster and you have been storing them in your basement for just that case)
12. Stop smoking
13. Laugh a lot
14. Exercise at a moderate intensity, for at least a half an hour three to five times per week.
15. Find ways to eliminate stress (meditate, exercise, guided imagery, music)
16. Give to others with no strings attached
17. Smile at strangers
18. Learn to say no
19. Avoid people who put their stress on you
20. Take control of your life
21. Always say please and thank you