I've decided I need to go back to school and get some more of that edu-ma-cation stuff. I just don't think poker is going to be there for me in the long run. I might get to a level where i can make a living, but it's very uncertain how the games will be in 5 yrs and I'm not going to keep spending this much time on something that may or may not be a solution. I'm not quitting poker, but I'm going to be playing a lot less to focus on my job and my school work. It just seems like the best option for me.

I'll most likely be cashing out a large percentage of my roll. Since I can't focus much of my time on poker I won't be able to play at as high a level(or as low? since i only play 50nl). I probably won't be doing too much away from the table either, so i just think it's smart to drop down to 10nl and not really worry about money. Poker is basically being downgraded to a hobby for me, not my life passion.

For the last few months poker has been good, but i just haven't had as much fun as i used to. Perhaps that's b/c i'm winning and moving up to higher levels where I'm getting stressed. I don't know what it is, but if i'm not having fun, or making loads of cash, there's really no reason for me to keep grinding it out. I want to get back to the good 'ol days when i just played when i felt like it, and didn't care as much. I don't expect 10nl to ever catch up to a higher level, so i think it will be beatable forever. Not that i'm looking to "crush" 10nl and be super stoked about it, I just don't want to have to work so hard to win. It's not being lazy, i'm just going in a new direction and poker takes up way too much time.

I'm not even sure how much i'll play, maybe only occasionally on weekends. I'll still be around leggo for sure, might not be posting as much in the strat forums but will still be a presence everywhere. Leggo's been too important and i've made too many friends here to just drop everything. I really enjoy posting here and helping ppl out.

Classes start August 23rd, until then I'm just going to enjoy life and probably take a lil break from poker. A month or two from now i may be writing a new blog on how i can't wait to get back into poker, but right now i just won't have the time or motivation to play much. I get free college through my work, so i figure i'd be a fool not to take it. I've already had 4 classes on them but dropped out to focus more on poker. So it should be interesting to see how this plays out. I'm not overly excited about going back, after all i hated school, but i think in the long run it will benefit me so i'm just going to try and power through.

In other news, i don't know what the f is up with my moving out plans. I called my buddy up when i got back and it kind of sounded like he didn't care if he moved out or not. So i don't know what's going on with that. I really can't stand it here anymore, so if it comes down to it, i might just go find my own place.

So that's bout it i guess. I'm not really "giving up" on poker, just taking an extended break and we'll see how well things go. I'm kind of looking forward to this, i have a little mini challenge in my mind of how i want to build my $300 roll up and turn it into 1k again or something. But we'll see what happens i guess, it won't be easy since i won't have much time. See you guys and few gals around Leggoville! pz