In the last couple of years Ive tried not to make too many mistakes, personal or financial.  Ive learned about bankroll management. ( Ive learned about it-I didnt say I always practice it) I tried to start taking better care of my body, less drinking, no drugs( never was really into drugs) tried to be a better friend and partner to whatever girl I was seeing at the time.  But sometimes ya cant keep the past from biteing you in the ass.  Carmas a motherfucker.  Im turning 28 in september but why do I feel soo old??  Wtf have I been up to these past 27 years?

Ive been through a alot during my gambling career, broke more times than I can remember, robbed, arrested, frowned upon by friends or family.  But one thing is for sure I cant complain.  I wouldnt change a thing.  The lessons you learn while gambling arent something you can read in a book, find at cardrunners, or ask your guidence counselor.  The only pure way to recieve the full effect mentally and physically is to live it.  _2wan and I had a pretty good conversation the other day about bankroll management and I told him a story about my first trip to Vegas.

I was 20 years old and had about 20 thousand to my name.  Well I decided to take a little trip to Vegas, staying at the MGM under my cousin Chuckie Alias.  chuckie and I looked alot alike so the id scam worked perfectly, he gave me an old debit card for a 2nd id so it worked like a charm.  My initial thought was I would stay for around 5 days and leave Vegas with about 100k, bang a couple strippers, drink a few beers and live it up.  Little did I know I would blow all the money I had in my pocket 24 hours later.  A total of 11k in 24 hours and im not even 21.  Well no biggie I thought, I called my dad in the a.m. and had him wire me another 6k.  Astonished at first he asks me how I got to Vegas? ( i told him i was going to the casino, not the mgm) How much ive blown? and if i was out of my fucking mind?  Well with a little convincing, he ended up sending me the 6k and i was good to go!  I took it easy for the first couple of hours, played a little poker, roulette, bj and before I knew it.... I was calling my dad collect because I was dead broke (didnt even have a quarter for the pay phone) 6 hours after him transferring me 6k.  Ah who cares I still had 3k at home to get me through the next 2 days.  Well to make this long story a little shorter, it was a long walk that night from the MGM Grand, down the Strip, Past Fremont St. into North Vegas to the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter.  My father refused to send me another dollar, or pay for a hotel room.  He wanted me to feel the pain of being broke, the feeling of having noone there to help me.  He promised that if I made it through the night he would help me out tomorrow.  Which he did and its a lesson I'll never forget. 

I kept thinking today why I told this story to _2wan, but as we agreed upon earlier theres a certain bond between gamblers.  A respectful bond telling stories like this because we realize ( maybe not to the extent ) but we've all been there.  We know the pain of going broke, the pain of having to deposit again, we know how it feels not being able to buy the christmas or birthday presents you wanted to buy because you ran bad for a while.  Everything happens for a reason.  Just know that as a gambler your not alone.

Lifes a gamble,

bobboslice