September 19 - "You've gotta do the hard thing. That little voice in the back of your head right now... it's not your conscience. It's fear."

I quit my job - my last day will be sometime in early October, we're still working that out. I'm hoping for 10/3.

First of all, this had very little to do with my upswing. It had a lot to do with the clear lack of future opportunities on the scale I had hoped for with this particular station, and with the feeling that waking up at 4am three times a week was wreaking havoc on my health. Inconsistent sleep schedules are terrible.

As I consulted friends with the idea, it became increasingly clear to me it was the right move to make. Somewhat surprisingly, my family backed it 100%. That made me even more sure.

Never the less, I had that nagging little thought in the back of my mind. Was I making a mistake? Was I being unfair to a place that had hired me somewhat recently? Was I giving up on a career I loved? I overcame it with logic, and that quote from Runner, Runner really addressed it well. That wasn't anything logical in my mind, it was just fear of the uncertain.

So where does my broadcasting career stand? I started the year with four gigs, working an estimated 290 days per year. I dropped one job and replaced it with another, dropping that to about 190. One gig I don't expect to be offered this year, which drops it a little more to about 185.

Today's news removes another 150 days per year. Basically I'll expect to have 32 days a year of broadcasting work. Eight of those days are covering Eagles games, which I'd be watching anyway. In addition, none of the work falls from early April through the end of August. That obviously opens up TONS of travel options for me, which is really exciting.

I'll now be shooting for 200 hours a month in October and November, then things will slow a bit in December with the holidays and some basketball games to cover. I'm fired up to be able to focus so much more on poker and on being so much more well rested and healthy when I hit the tables.

I think you are well equipped to being the plunge. I am sure you are super excited to have much more time to play and can sleep on a regular schedule. 200hrs/mo is ambitious even though Duke pulled it off in less than 3 weeks. Play well, this is a new chapter in your poker journey, seize the moment.

Good stuff, good luck hunting the elusive 200! It's a common goal of mine, and extremely difficult to achieve while surrounded by complete freedom, women, friends, and adventure

Thanks pure! The sleeping on a regular schedule is going to be huge for playing more, too. I definitely don't plan on cranking out 200 hours every month, but hopefully I can get a couple of strong months in here and get things off and running.

Yeah it's one of those things that's easy to plan into your schedule and tough to execute, but I'm excited to gun for it. If the things keeping me from it are friends, women and adventure, though, that's a good way to fall short...

In the spirit of my excitement for upcoming travel opportunities, if you could travel for anywhere from 3 to 5 months playing poker, what would your top three destinations be?

Please don't include Las Vegas, as it's basically a given for the WSOP. I have a few spots in mind but I don't want to influence responses. Also please throw in one less conventional locale... it's less fun if everyone says LA, Florida and Maryland, etc.

I'll be doing lots of research on this in the coming weeks and months but this seems like a fun way to start...

There are some A+ home games in Rupert, Idaho

Well that settles it! Great potatoes too.

This is awesome to hear. I really think you will make it, heck you are already doing much better than most people that already play exclusively. Just keep making good decisions on and off the felt and you will have everything you want.

Need more details. What time of year will it be? How long are you planning to stay at each locale? What are some non-poker interests or activities you'd like to partake in? My initial advice would be don't make it about poker. When it comes down to it, a casino is a casino is a casino. You can play poker just about everywhere these days. Pick some places you'd like to go for non-poker reasons then see if poker is an option there.

Btw one of my favorite less conventional places for poker is Black Hawk, CO, mostly because Colorado is pretty awesome. They had some awkward betting rules last time I was there but that was over 2 years ago so things might be different now.

Duke, you've been around the country playing poker. How would you rate the Philadelphia / Atlantic city circuit? Harrah's, Borgata, Parx, Delaware Park, compared to other areas of the country?

It'd be between April and August... As for non poker interests I love seeing new places, trying local foods and drinks, and whatever cool things there are locally. If I was in a spot with cool trails I'd hike, if I'm in a city with a cool bar scene I'll go out... So no huge preferences in that regard...

Haha, LA/LV/Florida really should be integral to your travel plans. April-May I'd do Florida, new orleans, wind your way across the country however you like, then LA and the cali coast, ending up in Vegas for all of June and July. Excited for you man, and I'll be doing a lot of road tripping in the spring so perhaps we'll meet up somewhere in the grand old USA

NOLA Baby!!

Thackerville, Ok

If it's January-March, Florida is clearly the best choice.

If for some reason you find yourself in Columbus/Ohio let me know. They get some soft 2/5+ games on weekends but not that consistently during the week.

I'll certainly be looking for good spots between poker destinations that I just want to see/experience. Houston and Austin will be on the list, even though they don't have poker as far as I know.

I think it's still that way, but I'll look into it. I've never been to Colorado and would love to see it... But it may be hard to fit into this trip as the early barebones are Florida, New Orleans, Texas, Vegas. It might fit on the return trip.

If nothing else, we'll definitely cross paths back in Vegas for the WSOP.

For multiple stops perhaps??

Is that the town that has Winstar?

Yeah, it won't be then, though. For those months Florida in January, New Orleans in February and Florida in March would be a nice little back and forth.

OK, cool. I could see passing through there if I took a northern route back to pass through Chicago, then shot down to Indy and across from there.

Yeah that is Winstar. I think Duke is onto something. From what I can tell it is in the middle of nowhere and the games are great. It might be a good option for a month or so right before Vegas/Cali. That way you can get a bunch of grind time in before there are a bunch of distractions.

If you're taking the southern route, one option would be to go south from Austin to Eagle Pass, Texas, which has the only legal casino in the state. I've played there three or four times and the games are excellent. Then you could swing west along the border to Big Bend National Park and some cool, remote Texas border towns (esp Marfa).

If you pass through Nola let me know, I'll be there.

I'm interested to hear what Duke says about the games there... It should garner at least a short stop. I'm planning on Vegas being all about the grind and eliminating distractions during the WSOP, then having fun afterward.

Interesting - do they get 2/5+ games? Do the small border towns have any issues with cartels or anything? How far out of the way is Eagle Pass if I were to do Houston -> Dallas/Winstar -> Austin -> Eagle Pass -> Phoenix/LA/Vegas? Are they roads I can do like 70-80mph safely on? I know some Texas roads don't have speed limits, right?

New Orleans is definitely happening, probably more than once this year, so just remind me in here when I post I'm going there!

Eagle pass doesn't get any no limit above 1/2 running

The games tend to suck due to rake and shortstackers. If you do end up at a deep game, tho, it will be the bomb dot com because everyone there sucks at nlhe.

If you are interested in playing with Mexican cartel whales, home games and club games in big cities such as Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas are better than going to a casino in bum**** Texas. Can confirm the home game scene in Houston is disgusting. Have no experience with the other cities.

Eagle pass is quite a bit out of the way. I would highly recommend not stopping there.

Winstar is probably your best poker destination between MD and AZ. Definitely worth stopping at for at least a few days to grind. If you're set on those cities listed above then NO->Houston->Austin->Dallas->Winstar->westward would be the route.

Games are actually tuffer in this area than most other big cities

Maryland, LA, phoenix, Winstar all notably softer than philly. Most people who have only played in philly and ac don't really know what they're missing

This isn't consistent with my (limited) experience. Games were good and 2/5 ran every time that I was there.

FWIW I wrote a trip report a while back: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/27...asino-1142893/

Having lived in Htown for almost ten years, I'd say Duke's right. Home games can be epic in terms of whales/rake/filth/shadiness. I'm not a fan.

+1...unless your traveling route involves more than poker. You'd have to choose between the northern route (Austin --> Dallas --> Winstar) and the southern route. The real question is if Big Bend and remote Texas towns appeal to you. I've driven all over the country and there's something unique about West Texas--it's one of the only places that seems truly remote and untamed. But to some people West Texas is the nut low.

regardless, I'm excited for ya! I'll be following along for sure and will touch base re Nola.

I haven't been there in a few years, but they had some pretty good games in Bend, OR. Nothing bigger than 2-5 though.