2008 was an interesting year. In national news, our country is about to have a black president, Spencer and Heidi got married, and the stock market plummeted losing big money to lots of people (myself included). In personal news, I'll talk about what happened in my life in each month of 2008

January

I was dating Marnier and living in the Pritchard house with Bakeshow, Panic, Biggie Smalls, and D-Bo. I was interning at the NCDOJ, making the 45 commute to Raleigh every day. I didn't play much poker, but when I did I was breakeven at best. Got drunk a lot.

February

I broke up with Marnier. My favorite part about February was Valentine's Day. Since 4 of the 5 roommates were single (Panic was with Ladypanic, a whackjob of a g/f), we decided to cook a nice dinner at our house. I went out and bought each roommate a different wine, Biggie Smalls handled the majority of the cooking, and D-Bo and Bakeshow probably were working out or drinking I can't remember. We ate crab cakes, asparagus, mashed potatoes, spinach salad and drank good wine until we were drunk and fatter. We will be doing this again this year, regardless of anyone having a g/f (right now it looks like Biggie Smalls and D-Bo will have g/fs with me, Panic, Bakeshow riding the solo train). I also turned 24 on February 28, but I don't recall what I did to celebrate. Poker was also breakeven.

March

I made a deep run in the Sunday Million, eventually busting in 45th. I was doubting my tournament play for a while, thinking I was kind of a one hit wonder. So this was good for me to start getting confidence in my game again. I started talking to X2 again, nothing serious at first just hooking up and hanging out. I also got promoted at the DOJ, becoming the Director of the Address Confidentiality Program helping domestic violence and sexual assault victims-humanitarian Tree.

April

April brought on my best poker month of the year. I finished 3rd in the big Sunday $50 tournament for $8000. I started grinding cash games playing 2/4, 3/6, and 5/10 with the occasional 10/20 NLHE and PLO. I felt the NLHE games were much harder than the PLO so I ended up logging in more hands playing PLO. All in all I finished March up close $15,000, and I felt I like I was a good poker player again. I began seeing X2 more seriously, and I guess you could say we were dating.

May

I lost roughly $2000 playing poker mainly in tournaments. I broke even in cash games, but didn't log in too many hands. The worst part about May was moving out of the Pritchard house. I knew I wasn't going to live with the guys anymore b/c I needed to move closer to work, and I had to get more serious about getting into law school. I lived in Pritchard for a year, and I enhanced my friendship with these guys even further. I was already best friends with Panic and D-Bo before moving in, but I know we became even tighter. With Biggie Smalls and Bakeshow, I can include them into my closest friends list. I can go to any of these guys with anything, and I will have their back to the very end-Sappy Tree.

June

Again close to a $2500 loss in poker. I was very frustrated with my game and thought my game selection was very poor. I moved back home, which made the commute only 20 minutes to Raleigh. I received another promotion at the DOJ, this time becoming a Specialist in Prepaid Entertainment contracts. I thought everything was falling into place as far as me erasing my poor academic record at Carolina. I was doing everything I could to build my resume up enough so that I could get into school.

July

I had a winning month in poker, about $4000. I cut back on my playing and only played on Sundays. I was doing really well at work, and I didn't want to do anything to screw it up (not that playing poker would screw it up, but it was more of I didn't want to be tired the next day after playing all night). It looks like I paid about $4500 in tournament buy-ins and cashed for $3500. But I had a good run in 2/4 and 3/6 PLO, winning $6500. I see I logged in a session of 100/200 Razz at 4:00 in the morning and won $3000, nice job Tree. I didn't do well in 5/10 PLO, thus bringing me down to a profit of 4k. I started looking for apartments to move into as I didn't want to be at my parents place much longer. I also took a trip to Fort Lauderdale and had a blast with Rocket and Rewdy (I know I promised a trip report of this, but I cannot remember a fucking thing that happened other than Rubensol faux-puking onI-95).

August

I did well in cash games again, but my tournament game struggled. I probably just shouldn't play tourneys anymore, even though it is where you can get rich relatively quick. I turned a small profit, but I know my game is leaking. I moved into my new apartment at Brier Creek. It's a 1BR/1 bath with a poolside view. I've hooked it up with a nice 42" flat screen, a very comfy couch, and the standard PS3 and Nintendo Wii/Rockband setup. The NFL season kicked off and my three fantasy football teams seemed pretty promising. I left the DOJ to study for the LSAT, which I planned on taking in October (there's a ridiculously long story about this that I cannot go into detail about. I will tell anyone the story privately, and honestly it's pretty fucked up what happened. I wish I could put it out there, and I probably will once I have heard back from all the schools).

September

The downswing begins and hurts. I lose $5500 in one week and about $6500 for the month. I have no idea what went wrong other than I feel myself not having much interest in the game anymore. I spend almost everyday studying for the LSAT, taking countless practice tests and figuring out pointless logical reasoning questions that I will not have to do once I'm in school. I start going to all the UNC football games with X2 and crew, and the Heels actually look pretty promising to have a good year.

October

I hit rock bottom in poker. I stop the bleeding at $10,000 and vow to not go back to those stakes until I know I am good and ready to play again. I attribute my loss to a lack of desire to play. I used to go to sleep thinking about how well I played hands during the day or what I could have done better. But now I don't even want to think about the game. I am completely sick to my stomach about how much I suck at poker, and I convince myself I'm a one hit wonder (ok ok I'm too hard on myself, two hit wonder). I take the LSAT on the 4th, and I end up doing so much better than what I did before. I walked out of the testing room confident that I will be going to law school next year, one of the best feelings I ever had.

November

I play next to no poker at all. The only times I play were at smaller stakes games to see if I can stand the game anymore. I can't. I think I'm done with it. Fuck it, I guess I'm not a degenerate. I end things with X2, you can read about it here http://www.uncpeej.com/2008/11/stop-and-stare.html. Emotional Tree.

December

I played a grand total of two days, on Xmas Eve and on the 30th losing $500. It was good to play again, but I suck so I'm glad it's not my profession anymore. I try picturing myself grinding again, but I can't see it. I'm done, and it's really hard saying that. I have earned over $200,000 to date since I turned pro in January 2007. I had a great ride going to tournaments across the country, pouring in countless sessions in front of my computer/s, and meeting a lot of great people along the way. I started this blog right after I final tabled the Sunday Million in May 2007 and thought I would continue playing and chronicling my rollercoaster ride as a professional. But that ride has stopped at the top because it just cannot continue. I am tired, and I don't have what it takes to take my game to the next level. I'm sure I'll play every now and again, but overall I'm done. I quit.

I also got into two law schools, the only two I've heard from so far. I am currently single and enjoying my time before I start school in eight months. As 2008 ends, I welcome 2009 with open arms. This year will be a turning point in my life, as I grow up and am forced to become a professional not in poker but as an adult. I'm a 24 year old kid, who still gets drunk and chases tail partaking in absurd debaucherous shit no 24 year old should be doing. Those days need to stop as I have got to focus on what is best for me as a 24 year old man, not a kid. I need to find something to do in my downtime, probably take another legal job. I need to get in better shape and set a goal of getting down to my playing weight in college. I need to be a better person to my friends, future g/f, family letting them know I'm only a phone call away for anything. I need to be a better Godfather to Savannah, taking her to church as much as possible so that she knows there is always a higher Being watching over her at all times. And finally I need to be more fair to myself and give myself credit for just being here. I have lived my life to the fullest for 24 years and seen a lot of shit thus far. I'm lucky to be standing on my own two feet, and I will continue appreciating life for what it has given me so far.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year's to everyone.

-Tree

I debated with myself for days about whether or not I should blog about what happened last week. On one hand I could reveal too much information and possibly hurt X2's feelings. On the other hand it could be cathartic to write out the whole situation to discuss the good and the bad times. I have nothing offensive to say about her; she's been in my life for three years now for Christ's sake. Anyway here goes............

X2 and I started dating again for the third time about eight months ago. Our personalities are one in the same as we both enjoy the same things and share the same views for the most part. We discussed how this was going to be our last shot at making this thing work, dedicating an all or nothing approach to each other.

But the all or nothing approach was greatly called into question throughout the relationship. I feel that I never fully committed myself to being the kind of a person that I needed to be to make it work. I never expressed my feelings/emotions to her. I never did the right things a normal boyfriend would do. I don't know what it was with me, but I just didn't have it in me to completely open myself up to her. I tried and tried, but the old Tree could never come back. I used to be loving, compassionate, sensitive, and always willing to listen to my significant other. I think that b/c of this new me, X2 wasn't able to deal with it.

She began to push me away (she admitted to this the day we ended it) by constantly picking fights with me, and just giving off the aura of, "I really don't want to be here." This greatly affected me as it became forceful to see her, call her, text her, etc. The natural desires to be around her were gone, a problem I never had with her before.

The fateful day came on Thursday when she came over unannounced. She and I both didn't think anything was going to end that day, but it just happened. I just sat down with her and told her my feelings. I loved her, yes, but that wasn't enough for me to want to stay around and make this work. When I was telling her that it wasn't going to work, only one thing went through my head, "I'm sorry." I'm sorry that it has to be this way for us to be happy. I'm sorry that we couldn't fulfill our commitment of being together and always being in each other's lives. I'm sorry that I am making you feel this way at this moment, but please know how much it hurts me. I'm sorry that you're gone.

She walked out of my apartment probably for the last time on Thursday. I know her well enough to know that she won't want to be friends with me, it'll just be too hard. All I can say to you now is thank you for a great three years. As much of a rollercoaster relationship I had with you, I will only dwell on the good times we had together. From being in Key West to Charlotte to Four Corners and to where we first met at Kenan Stadium, thank you for being my best friend. There won't be a day that goes by that I don't think of you.

-Tree

Friday

5:07 Waking up has never been this difficult. I'm thinking to myself how could this morning be any better than last night?

5:09 After pouring my coffee, I glance at my fantasy football teams. What started off as three great teams early on in the season, has depleted to be second tier babies such as Plaxico Burress, Larry Johnson (wife beater), and Peyton Manning. There's $300 down the drain.

5:28 My shower sucks. No matter what I do I just cannot make it hotter. I guess I could call our maintenance people, but that takes a lot of work.

5:50 After putting on my best outfit that Roy will be sure to notice, I leave for Chapel Hill.

6:15 I show up at the Smith Center, semi-anxiously awaiting my duties for the day. People I know working this event are Turkey Leg, X2, and Bombay.

6:23 Turkey Leg meets a cute girl named Laura. She is a dential hygeniest. He has been through 6 Laura's, two of which were dental hygeniests. Turkey Leg needs Bailey's in his coffee to overcome this.

6:28 Turkey Leg starts to get me fired up for Roy and Mia Hamm coming. He tells of his plan to try and get our Ol Ball Coach to come to Sutton's with us after this is over.

6:44 I stand on the floor of the Smith Center looking at all the banners waving in the rafters. A brief history of Tree: when I was living in Tampa, I played basketball, football, and tennis. I was always best at basketball and loved it the most. I was recruited by many Division 3 schools and a handful of Division 1 (to be exact Princeton, Bucknell, and Brown Universities). I always followed Carolina basketball with a passion and like most kids I dreamed of being a Tar Heel. It is amazing to think of myself back then and realize that there would be no possible way for me to ever be a Tar Heel. For me to come full circle and actually wear a uniform for a sports team at the greatest university in the world is remarkable. In just those few seconds of glancing upward and seeing "Jordan, Worthy, Ford" and national championship banners, I realized that I have taken so many things for granted in my life, but one thing that I have not is being a Tar Heel athlete.

6:58 We assume our positions. Basically what I do is escort rich old people into the Carolina basketball museum and have their pictures taken with Roy and Bill Guthridge (former assistant to Dean Smith and former head coach of my favorite Tar Heel basketball team of all time, the 2000 team).

7:10 My first group shows up. It's this older couple from Oklahoma, who bring in this framed picture of Roy from when he was coaching at Kansas. After debating breaking the picture, I ultimately let them go in and have Roy sign it. I get them out of there in the five minutes they have to chill with Roy.

7:31 It begins to rain pretty hard. I'm inside the lobby with Bombay when Turkey Leg comes in to tell me a funny story. This girl that was greeting everyone as they came in asked this one lady which group she was supposed to be in. After the lady said that she was not with a group, the worker told her that she needed to just go to the Smith Center where the general public is supposed to go. When Turkey Leg sees all this happening, he immediately runs up to the lady and says, "It's ok. Right this way, everyone's waiting on you." It was Mia Hamm, and the worker had no idea.

7:39 The last group goes in to have their pic with Roy. I follow behind with Turkey Leg and X2 hoping to get a picture with Roy when everyone's done.

7:44 The last group finishes. I start to get nervous/excited that I'm about to take a picture with Roy.

7:46 I shake the legend's hand. When I introduced myself to him, I literally stared at his hand when he shook mine. That is how much in awe I am of this man. You could tell how nice of a guy he was when he literally looked genuinely delighted to meet me. Great moment.

7:48 Snapshot of me, Roy, Turkey Leg, and X2. Link here, gotta be signed in to Facebook I believe.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...856&ref=mf

7:50 We stand around for a little while wating to go back to the Smith Center. I see Mia Hamm marveling at some of the phenomenal memorabilia in the museum.

7:51 Mia looks down at footprint impressions made by Michael Jordan. She and I are away from everyone else, so I thought it was the perfect icebreaker to say this, "Hey Mia we have your impression set up over there, just waiting for you to put your cleats on." Mia stares at me in amazement as if I just saw her naked. This stare lasts for two seconds before she realizes that I am a threat to Nomar and moves on.

8:09 We're back in the Smith Center and the rich people are eyeing which auction item they feel like bidding on. The top prizes include: a signed Michael Jordan jersey, signed Mia Hamm jersey (Nomar's jersey would go for way more), and the opportunity to sit on the bench, go into the locker room and media room during one of the UNC basketball games (sweet).

8:28 Woody Durham (Carolina's play-by-play announcer) is MC'ing the event.

8:31 Everyone is eating, and Woody is starting to talk about Roy and Mia.

8:33 I am seated at one of the middle tables in the Smith Center. There are about 500 people here.

8:34 Woody then says he would like all former Carolina athletes, excluding Mia, to please stand and be recognized. I immediately throw my fork down on the plate and stand up. I look around, and there is NOBODY else standing!!! With all eyes on me for only a few more seconds I did what any other confident, pompous guy would do, I waived. I waived to everyone there with both hands, making sure one hand went into Roy's direction. As my 5 seconds of recognition was about to end, I slowly sat back down so that everyone could see what table I was sitting at (just in case anyone wanted an autograph). Everyone at the table curiously wanted to know what sport I played, and if I was on any kind of level as the people hanging in the rafters. I can officially pencil this moment as one of the top 10 moments of my life. On that note here are Tree's Top 10 Greatest Moments of My Life:
10) Being recognized as a Carolina athlete by Woody Durham. Roy smiled at me.
9) Being Godfather to my niece. Yeah I'm a softy.
8) Winning my first collegiate match. I only won like 4 so this was a big deal.
7) Hitting the Badbeat Jackpot in AC. Ship $72K to me.
6) Bluffing the 2002 WSOP Champion. Varkonyi got owned.
5) 2 chicks in one night. Nuff' said.
4) Beating Rocket in ping pong. I am 1 for 184 versus him.
3) Final tabling the Sunday Million. Probably will never happen again, ship 35K.
2) Graduating college. I am the second Petrides to do this.
1) Losing my virginity. This story will make for a good blog entry so I'll save it, but it's classic.

8:59 The live auction begins. Our job here is to make sure the people put in their bids correctly (in other words make sure the old people know they just bid $10,000 for a shitty Mia Hamm jersey).

9:02 Fat middle-aged man bids $5000 for Mia Hamm jersey. Let me tell you how this bidding actually went down. It started at $300. Fat middle-aged man leans over to his son and asks if he wants that jersey. Son says, "Yes daddy." Fat middle-aged man leans backward and raises his hand to say, "$5000." So the bidding went from $300 to $5000 with the raising of a stubby-fingered hand. Congratulations.

9:21 The featured item is auctioned, sitting on the bench during the game. This old lady is seated with Turkey Leg as her spotter. He keeps leaning over her to find out if she wants to up her bid. Turkey Leg is panicking, unable to comprehend the complexity of raising a bid by $1000 (just kidding bud). When old lady reaches her limit of $25,000, Turkey Leg has a moment of reflection thinking he just bid $25,000 for himself. After Woody Durham clarifies everything, old lady stops bidding. Not much point to this little tidbit, just saying.

9:29 Roy closes the ceremony.

9:51 The volunteers learn that they will be attending a closed practice with the Carolina basketball team. I don't believe what I hear.

9:52 My penis erects.

9:52 I think about how incredible the news I just heard really is. I speak to Turkey Leg about what we are going to do for this practice. He says we'll discuss it at Sutton's.

10:47 Arrive at Sutton's. After patiently awaiting discussing the plans for the practice, our ideas begin to come out. I declare I want to take a charge from Tyler Hansbrough. Turkey Leg says he wants to shoot a 3. X2 is saying how she wants to take pictures of all of us.

10:53 I almost fall off my barstool at Sutton's I am laughing so hard. We figure out what we're going to do for the practice. Turkey Leg is going to get his name on the back of a jersey and the #67 (best score he ever shot on the golf course). I'm putting DJ Treejay on the back of mine as well as the #125 (just to see if they can actually put a 3 digit number on a jersey). We're both wearing the shortest shorts possible, high socks, and red white and blue headbands. This day will probably enter the top 10 greatest moments of my life when it does happen.

11:45 End of our day. In less than 24 hours I saw a great concert, shook hands with Roy Williams, and was recognized for being a Carolina athlete. It doesn't get much better than this.

-Tree