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An explanation

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  1. seal seal is offline

    Posts: 2,786
    Joined: Jan 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 10:16am)

    hey:

    In response to the flood of pms, emails, and aims I have gotten lately I offer the following. I appreciate all the kind words and I understand the frustration of those who are patiently waiting for an ending to ESPoker. I also completely understand those who said they wouldn’t vote for my work for p5s article of the year unless I post more.

    I first found pocketfives.com about a year ago. At the time I had a lot of free time. My schoolteaching job combined with my wife’s corporate job gave us enough income to pay the bills and live almost debt free. My poker winnings and earnings from teaching poker were mostly mine to do with as I saw fit. Life was good and I could spend a lot of quality time with the kids, play and teach poker, and still have plenty of time to write articles and post often on p5s.

    There was always the problem that schoolteachers don’t get paid over the summers, but my wife’s salary plus a higher contribution from my poker money always got us through without incurring too much debt. This September however, that all changed when my wife was laid off. Suddenly the lion’s share of our income was cut off.

    To pick up the slack I picked up the pace. I stopped doing most of the pro bono work I had gladly done before – no more cheap or free poker students, no more free articles, and no more free time. Except for the free math tutoring and charity work I do for underprivileged children, almost all my time started to be focused on earning.

    I selfishly missed the time I used to have for writing poker articles and making serious and silly posts on p5s. Even more so I still miss having more time with my kids.

    In October, realpokertraining.com hired me to write and teach for them and I also got a gig writing for Washington Technology, a high-tech trade journal. I remain very grateful to both of them for allowing me to earn money for my writing.

    Now in January my wife is still looking for work. My private poker students, rpt, and other paid writing assignments take most of my time and I am so thankful that I am able to provide a good enough service to earn some extra money. Over half of my poker winnings now also go to household expenses and I mostly play to try to earn a few thousand average per month while keeping my variance as low as possible.

    I am still optimistic that things will turn around for my wife and my life can slowly go back to the way it was. I even hold out hope that this will happen long enough before the summer that I can still go to vegas and play a few events in this year’s wsop. My family and I are fine, we don’t need any help,and things can only get better. I like to think positively :o)

    seal
  2. Lenny Lenny is offline lail henny!

    Nashville, TN
    United States

    Posts: 8,790
    Joined: Nov 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 10:23am) in reply to seal

    I just want to say that despite all of the shifts and changes in your life this year Seal you have remained an active and VERY valued member of this site. You can still find him in the Q&A forum on a regular basis giving out top notch advice for free.

    So, we do miss you when you're not around, but keep up the good work and sign on when you can!

    Thanks,

    Lenny
  3. murderer murderer is offline PM me

    Southampton
    United Kingdom

    Posts: 8,538
    Joined: Feb 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 10:27am) in reply to seal

    "I also completely understand those who said they wouldn’t vote for my work for p5s article of the year unless I post more."

    Wow - people really said that to you? That's some cold shit and I hope that whoever said it meant it tongue in cheek if they didn't, may god F them in the ass with a holy dildo....

    Seal Owns, end of....
     
  4. Artiecat Artiecat is offline

    Togo

    Posts: 5,639
    Joined: Jan 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 10:40am) in reply to murderer

    1279 posts aren't enough? Unbelievable! Who would say that? Identify yourself!
     
  5. stewartkev stewartkev is offline

    Posts: 14
    Joined: Oct 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 10:50am) in reply to murderer

    Well said murderer
  6. johnd13 johnd13 is offline

    Posts: 191
    Joined: Aug 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 10:55am) in reply to seal

    Well if you'd just charge $1000 up front and 50% of your students winnings over the next 6 mths you'd have plenty of time to finish it ......LOL

    Very fortunate to get to talk with you and know you seal. Looking forward to seeing you in LV later this year...
  7. core42 core42 is offline

    Portage, MI
    United States

    Posts: 727
    Joined: Aug 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 11:05am) in reply to seal

    I don't think you owe anyone an apology and it's incredible that you balance everything that you have going on in your life to be able to post here at all. I have a 3yr old daughter, full time job and a needy girlfriend and have a hard time finding enough time to learn about, much less play poker so I am amazed at everything you have going on.

    F haters......seal owns

    core42
  8. Adam Adam is offline Emperor

    Atlanta, GA
    United States

    Posts: 12,629
    Joined: Dec 04

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 12:06pm) in reply to murderer

    I agree with that general sentiment (though not all of the wording!)

    Seal, you're the man, and we appreciate everything you've done for this community. I really hope things turn around for your wife as well. 2006 will be a great year.
     
  9. headhunter01 headhunter01 is offline

    United States

    Posts: 206
    Joined: May 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 12:23pm) in reply to seal

    Seal,

    Not sure if I can help but I am always willing to try. I can PM you with my details but if your wife is in the corporate world involved with Technology I would be willing to look at her resume to see if I can help her with her job search.

    Plus you're from Freehold, the county seat of Monmouth County, - boy do I miss that area! It has been a long time but I grew up not too far from there.

    Headhunter
  10. Dark_Shadows Dark_Shadows is offline

    Chicago, IL
    United States

    Posts: 884
    Joined: May 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 1:48pm) in reply to seal

    Seal,

    No worries, you are the man around here and F what ever the other idiots are saying if they won't vote for you.

    Keep it up man, and GL
    DS
  11. seal seal is offline

    Posts: 2,786
    Joined: Jan 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 4:51pm) in reply to headhunter01

    hey:

    tyvm man - that would be great. After all, you never know.

    pm away :o)
    Thread Starter
  12. Peeig Peeig is offline

    Chicago, IL
    United States

    Posts: 912
    Joined: Apr 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 5:43pm) in reply to Dark_Shadows

    Seal is the bomb diggity.........everyone knows it.............the haters can go f themselves in the A!
  13. fiberslalom fiberslalom is offline

    Saint Louis, MO
    United States

    Posts: 461
    Joined: Apr 05

    Jan 13th, 2006 (1/13/2006 6:45pm) in reply to seal

    Seal you don't need to explain anything to anyone. You've been one of the best posters/writers on this site, and if you need to take care of your own, do so without feeling bad about it one bit.

    -cheers
    fs.
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