So after lurking around for a ridiculous amount of time in the Pokerstrategy shadows - yes that was me you thought you saw out of the corner of your eye the other day - I thought it's about time that I said hello. Especially after shoving a ridiculously long post onto the end of Barry Carter's unsuspecting blog.
As I say, I have been around for over a year but I would still regard myself as very much a beginner. At least in ability and knowledge. In fact, if anything as time goes by I feel like I know and understand less. So that what I thought I got 6 months ago, I now marvel at how I was just chipping at the top of the proverbial iceberg.
It reminds me of a conversation I had with a PhD student a few years back who told me - with a slightly unhinged tremor in his voice and a shaking hand - that there comes a moment when you look down at your chosen field of study and realise that rather than it all being nicely within estimable limits, there is a whole continent of knowledge which you may never even grasp. And that potentially it may require more than a lifetime to even come close to understanding....
He would have told me more but at that point, he looked like he was about to burst into tears so I rapidly changed the subject in a very British way and asked him what flavour crisps he fancied or something suitably inane....
Anyway, my point being that that is how I often end up feeling when I look out at the great vista that is poker. This being said, fear not, I am not close to tears...well, as long as you ignore that unfortunate encounter last night with J2o that is but that - as every bad beater already knows - is another story.
No, rather, I look out at the acres of undiscovered country and never cease to feel excited, stimulated and yes at times, utterly overawed. Which are all feelings that I experience just looking down at the wealth of knowledge displayed just here at Pokerstrategy never mind elsewhere on the internet and in books.
And that's why we can continue to say that we live in a golden age of poker...just as we could say that we live in a golden age of ukulele or any other interest you care to mention. The ability to share so much knowledge and explore so many questions together in this unlimited way is truly wonderful. I can't imagine what my poker would look like - not to mention my bankroll - if I hadn't had access to this amount of resources.
Oh and for the record, my poker playing is a whole lot better than my ukulele. That was one interest which even with lots of practise, never did quite reach the desired heights...or lows for that matter 
So where I am at in terms of skill, I think the best way of describing it is to quote the other wise Dolly....Parton as opposed to Brunson, who famously said that she is "too good to be bad, and too bad to be good"
In a weird way, I sometimes think that describes perfectly the state of my game. Somewhere between the really bad fishy recreational player and nowhere near the serious grinder. Either way, on the whole, I am enjoying where I am at. And surely that is the whole point - to enjoy the process and in a very Zen way, recognise that in this great poker session of life, it's the journey that we must focus on. Showdown will come whether we like it or not.
Ok, so inspite of the fact that I was supposed to be introducing myself, I actually haven't really said anything have I? Well, how about this factoid....I tend to be very verbose and write far too much. Oh, you knew that already? Sheesh, uncanny....
Apart from that, I live in London and one day would love to work up the courage to check out real life living breathing poker. But for now, I hide behind my screen 
Oh and I work in the media, in the really old fashioned world of print. Yes, do you remember those things? Newspapers? Yeah, I know, old school. So depending on your point of view - and how you wear your tin foil hat - working in the mainstream media means that I am part of a manipulative wicked controlling nefarious empire that wishes to establish the New World Order. Oh and yes, Pokerstars is rigged so that I can see you now via your webcam. Nice underwear btw. I never knew you could get it in that size and colour....
Or, if you are jaded and cynical, I work for a dying industry that is desperately trying to convince young hip things that news on paper is a really great idea. And if you agree, please drop a penny into our ink stained grubby hands...
On that note, I think I better stop there. You can see why they never ask me to write anything in the newspaper...paper is not cheap 
Charlie
