I've always managed to squeeze in time for fun in what has been a very busy schedule for me the past several years. Working in St. Louis, despite 12 to 15 hours at the office on some days, I found time for a workout every day, the occasional St. Louis Cardinals baseball game or sightseeing in downtown St. Louis. Back in Mississippi, despite working full time at Southern Miss as well as staying in the restaurant business, I still find time for the occasional trip to casinos, New Orleans Saints games and a daily (usually) workout. Yet, there is one aspect of my traveling that I miss dearly, the random drive to anywhere.
After finishing coursework for my Master's Degree, I began my thesis research and writing full time. It was not the best idea in the world to not start my thesis work until finishing course requirements, but it was the path I chose. 12 hours a semester of graduate work was enough. Anyways, when I started doing the research, I had no other academic obligations and on days when I did not work at the restaurant, the entire day was mine to conquer. Most of the time, I would park myself in the library doing research. I loved what I was writing about and therefore it didn't feel like work. But occasionally, I would say to hell with it and just take off. When I say occasionally, I may be understating it a little. I did this a lot. If I had met my goals for the week and had a free day, I took it. I would just go.
Where would I go? Honestly, it didn't matter. I had gone to Southern Miss for both my B.S and my M.A degrees, yet I felt like I had never properly explored MS. Being from a big city, there is an interesting appeal that small Southern towns have. One day I drove to Roxie, MS, the childhood home of one of my best friends from college. This small town, literally in the middle of the woods, was interesting to me. Seeing a City Hall no bigger than a McDonalds, or the town's newspaper which had a smaller office than our Student Printz office on campus was a bit of a culture shock for a man from a big city, but also fascinating in its own way. I ate lunch at a local place nearby. I forget the name of the place, just a Mom and Pop type of cafe. The food was marvelous. I visited a crafts store, then headed onto Natchez, only about 40 minutes up the road.
Another time, another day trip, I went to Vicksburg. Just said screw it, jumped in the car and off I went. Long drive, indeed a very boring drive. Hwy 49 and I-59 are two of the dullest roads one can ever drive. But Vicksburg, a "Southern" town if ever there was one, was a great destination. I had been to the battlefield several times, so I passed on that. Instead I drove through the neighborhoods checking out some of the best looking homes i had ever seen. Many were antebellum homes, some famous, others their stories lost to history. As always, the food in Vicksburg was fantastic. After a great day of sight-seeing, I headed back home.
I miss the freedom to be able to do that now. Working two jobs, approximately 65-70 hours a week between the two, it is much harder to get a day just for yourself. There is a great feeling of freedom when you are driving, the day is yours, and you have absolutely no plan or expectations except to fill the day. That's one thing I will look forward to most when I no longer have to work the second job and I have my weekends back! Not all the time, for that defeats the purpose. But just sometimes, waking up with no obligations and no plan....and just take off somewhere just to see what there is to see. Maybe nothing, but maybe a new restaurant, a museum or park that you didn't know was there. Who knows what one can discover if we just take the time to notice our surroundings and explore our communities? Where I live, we are close to New Orleans, LA, Jackson, MS, Mobile, AL and the MS/AL/FL Gulf Coast. Beaches and casinos are easily accessible.
However, we are also close to the Natchez Trace Pkwy, a major Civil War Battlefield, Honey Island Swamp, and many state parks, National Forests, countless restaurants, museums, monuments and places to take in. It's a neat feeling when you realize that you don't have to travel far to find fun things to do. They are all around us. We just have to take the time, when we have it, to look!!
"There's magic in fighting battles beyond endurance. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you." - Million Dollar Baby
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Gambler? Damn Right I Am
The whole back and forth I had with myself a while back about being a gambler came from a discussion I had with a customer at the Restaurant I worked at several months ago. An elderly couple had been sat at one of my tables. They were on their way to the MS Gulf Coast. We had gotten to talking about the various casinos down there and the woman asks me "So, are you a gambler?" I told her that I occasionally play poker. She asked, "well how often is occasionally?" I managed to get out of the conversation shortly after. Her tone was disapproving and I needed their tip. I rationalized that they wouldn't be tipping me if they thought I was going to be putting it in a slot machine at the Beau Rivage.
The woman's question intrigued me and, judging by her responses to my answer, she and her husband clearly had both a narrow and negative definition of what a gambler is. The answer is far more complicated than the question and, in my case, quite the reverse of what people might actually think. It is true that I go to the Casinos quite often. However, in a casino, I am no gambler. What do I mean? I rarely, if ever, play a game in which the odds are stacked against me. I don't put my money on the line in any situation where I am reliant on chance (such as slots or roulette) or someone else's performance (sports betting). To torture a cliche, I don't risk my money on a roll of the dice. I play live poker, the one game in which the House has no vested interest in who wins. I play against other players, not against the House like the games mentioned above and other games such as Blackjack, Let it Ride, Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow and a host of others. The House doesn't play, others do, therefore what I do with my money is MY choice. And I don't put my money at risk unless the odds say I have the best chance to win. That isn't gambling!
Outside the casino, I am the complete opposite. When it comes to life, I am a gambler. Life is about risk, about taking chances, and being a gambler has paid off well for me in some areas (and, to be fair, not so well in others). Whenever you hear someone say, "well that's life," you are talking to a gambler.
I "gambled" on Southern Miss. I knew one person when I arrived at USM in the fall of 1999. He was my roommate and was so miserable, he'd leave at the end of his first semester. I wanted to stay, but I also wanted a college experience. I took a chance. I went to fraternity parties and was offered a chance to pledge. I wound up with one hell of a Greek Life experience with some of the best men I have ever known! From there, I ended up joining the Catholic Student Association, Eagle Connection (where I was President one semster), became an Intramural referee and a community volunteer. All b/c I decided to take a chance, risk rejection, GAMBLE, and it paid off quite nicely.
I "gambled" on Catholicism. I went to USM's CSA with little more than a gut feeling. I had rarely attended church and did not truly believe in God until I was 17 and at Southern Miss. I came out with a new sense of self, new confidence, new friends and a Church that I truly enjoyed and gave me the spiritual experience I was after. CSA was very patient with me. No laughing, no bible-thumping, no mocking of other churches, etc.. Just friendly college students and church leaders who welcomed the chance to teach a new college kid about their faith. Once again, gambling worked out.
And professionally, gambling has paid off nicely for me. It was a gamble to fly to South Dakota to work for people I had never met, on behalf of a candidate I had barely heard of, for 6 weeks. But it led to some fun times, and more importantly, another job. It started a fun run for me in being a paid political operative. 4 months later, I was in Missouri, as a campaign manager, b/c someone was willing to take a chance on me. And had I been no gambler, I would not have gotten on that plane. So gambling worked out for all of us!!
The point is not to provide you with a history of my college and professional experiences. It's to make the point that none of them would have occurred if I hadn't been willing to gamble. To take a chance. To risk rejection, embarassment, defeat, whatever. Just like casino gamblers risk their money. I was simply risking something different.
As in any gambling situation, it doesn't always work out. For example, after South Dakota, I drove from Ogden, UT to Philadelphia, PA, for another spot on a political campaign. Turns out I lasted only 5 days. I was MISERABLE...possibly the most miserable I have ever been. I hated it from the word go, and left after only 5 days. Looking back, it seems like a waste. Spending about $1000 to drive cross country and stay less than a week, then drive away. But, that's the chance I took, it didn't pay off. When you gamble, you sometimes lose. That time I did, but I wouldn't change my decision. Another time, I drove to DC from Hattiesburg, just to attend a political job fair at Democratic Gain Headquarters. As I learned, those jobs fairs are mostly a joke, as very few actual jobs were available...it was mostly people seeking interns and fellows. 3 days and a few hundred $$$ wasted, but that's the chance one takes.
Are you a gambler? I urge you to become one. Gambling is all about risk and reward. In casinos, all things being equal, you will likely lose. In life, all things being equal, you will rarely lose. That's the difference. Life is about seizing opportunities and taking chances. Don't let that next good job, good b/f or g/f, big event, etc...pass you by b/c you were unwilling to take a chance. Outside the casino, when you bet with your hopes and your passions, rather than your money, the reward ALWAYS beats out the risk.
For me, that's how I live my life. I don't know any other way!
"There's magic in fighting battles beyond endurance. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you." - Million Dollar Baby
The woman's question intrigued me and, judging by her responses to my answer, she and her husband clearly had both a narrow and negative definition of what a gambler is. The answer is far more complicated than the question and, in my case, quite the reverse of what people might actually think. It is true that I go to the Casinos quite often. However, in a casino, I am no gambler. What do I mean? I rarely, if ever, play a game in which the odds are stacked against me. I don't put my money on the line in any situation where I am reliant on chance (such as slots or roulette) or someone else's performance (sports betting). To torture a cliche, I don't risk my money on a roll of the dice. I play live poker, the one game in which the House has no vested interest in who wins. I play against other players, not against the House like the games mentioned above and other games such as Blackjack, Let it Ride, Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow and a host of others. The House doesn't play, others do, therefore what I do with my money is MY choice. And I don't put my money at risk unless the odds say I have the best chance to win. That isn't gambling!
Outside the casino, I am the complete opposite. When it comes to life, I am a gambler. Life is about risk, about taking chances, and being a gambler has paid off well for me in some areas (and, to be fair, not so well in others). Whenever you hear someone say, "well that's life," you are talking to a gambler.
I "gambled" on Southern Miss. I knew one person when I arrived at USM in the fall of 1999. He was my roommate and was so miserable, he'd leave at the end of his first semester. I wanted to stay, but I also wanted a college experience. I took a chance. I went to fraternity parties and was offered a chance to pledge. I wound up with one hell of a Greek Life experience with some of the best men I have ever known! From there, I ended up joining the Catholic Student Association, Eagle Connection (where I was President one semster), became an Intramural referee and a community volunteer. All b/c I decided to take a chance, risk rejection, GAMBLE, and it paid off quite nicely.
I "gambled" on Catholicism. I went to USM's CSA with little more than a gut feeling. I had rarely attended church and did not truly believe in God until I was 17 and at Southern Miss. I came out with a new sense of self, new confidence, new friends and a Church that I truly enjoyed and gave me the spiritual experience I was after. CSA was very patient with me. No laughing, no bible-thumping, no mocking of other churches, etc.. Just friendly college students and church leaders who welcomed the chance to teach a new college kid about their faith. Once again, gambling worked out.
And professionally, gambling has paid off nicely for me. It was a gamble to fly to South Dakota to work for people I had never met, on behalf of a candidate I had barely heard of, for 6 weeks. But it led to some fun times, and more importantly, another job. It started a fun run for me in being a paid political operative. 4 months later, I was in Missouri, as a campaign manager, b/c someone was willing to take a chance on me. And had I been no gambler, I would not have gotten on that plane. So gambling worked out for all of us!!
The point is not to provide you with a history of my college and professional experiences. It's to make the point that none of them would have occurred if I hadn't been willing to gamble. To take a chance. To risk rejection, embarassment, defeat, whatever. Just like casino gamblers risk their money. I was simply risking something different.
As in any gambling situation, it doesn't always work out. For example, after South Dakota, I drove from Ogden, UT to Philadelphia, PA, for another spot on a political campaign. Turns out I lasted only 5 days. I was MISERABLE...possibly the most miserable I have ever been. I hated it from the word go, and left after only 5 days. Looking back, it seems like a waste. Spending about $1000 to drive cross country and stay less than a week, then drive away. But, that's the chance I took, it didn't pay off. When you gamble, you sometimes lose. That time I did, but I wouldn't change my decision. Another time, I drove to DC from Hattiesburg, just to attend a political job fair at Democratic Gain Headquarters. As I learned, those jobs fairs are mostly a joke, as very few actual jobs were available...it was mostly people seeking interns and fellows. 3 days and a few hundred $$$ wasted, but that's the chance one takes.
Are you a gambler? I urge you to become one. Gambling is all about risk and reward. In casinos, all things being equal, you will likely lose. In life, all things being equal, you will rarely lose. That's the difference. Life is about seizing opportunities and taking chances. Don't let that next good job, good b/f or g/f, big event, etc...pass you by b/c you were unwilling to take a chance. Outside the casino, when you bet with your hopes and your passions, rather than your money, the reward ALWAYS beats out the risk.
For me, that's how I live my life. I don't know any other way!
"There's magic in fighting battles beyond endurance. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you." - Million Dollar Baby
Hello From the Deep South
I've always been a few years behind the times. I never had a cell phone in college, I still don't own a laptop. While everyone started flipping out over the N-64 and the Wii, I've gotten by with my good ol SNES!! And for years, I have watched friends start blogs and commented on political blogs, but never did I start one of my own. Took me a while to decide what the focus of this blog would be. The easiest would be politics. Those that know me certainly are aware that I am not shy when it comes to my political beliefs. To me, however, that's not enough. I thought back to a post I wrote a while ago, on being a gambler. I will touch more on this in my next post, but the meat of my argument was that I am a gambler when it comes to life, and not so much a gambler when it comes to casinos, sports betting and other areas commonly associated with "gambling." I decided that blogging on life as a Gambler would make for a much more interesting read than simply seeing my rants about Politics.
So who am I? It would be easy to say that I am your typical 29 year old, living his life as best he can. If I did, I would be wrong. Everyone has a story, and everyone's story, I believe, is interesting, b/c each one is unique. There are over 300 million people living in the United States and no two people have exactly the same story. My life has certainly not been outstanding in terms of accomplishment (in the eyes of others I mean). I've done nothing (so far) to merit fame, popularity or loads of money to be thrown my way. Despite that, (since none of those 3 things are important to me) I feel my life and my views on aspects of life are fun to talk about and this blog was created for that purpose as I continue towards my 30th year.
"There's magic in fighting battles beyond endurance. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees, but you." - Million Dollar Baby
So who am I? It would be easy to say that I am your typical 29 year old, living his life as best he can. If I did, I would be wrong. Everyone has a story, and everyone's story, I believe, is interesting, b/c each one is unique. There are over 300 million people living in the United States and no two people have exactly the same story. My life has certainly not been outstanding in terms of accomplishment (in the eyes of others I mean). I've done nothing (so far) to merit fame, popularity or loads of money to be thrown my way. Despite that, (since none of those 3 things are important to me) I feel my life and my views on aspects of life are fun to talk about and this blog was created for that purpose as I continue towards my 30th year.
"There's magic in fighting battles beyond endurance. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees, but you." - Million Dollar Baby
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