[mikehildebrand]

Hank, I had an interesting start to B&M poker. I had played for years for fun, but then my wife got a job in Phoenix Arizona and we had to move. I gave up my jobs, packed up the house and made the run.

I was 30, two boys (from a previous marriage) and alone in Phoenix. I decided to focus on my advanced degree while there. We had a small condo and were meeting our expenses, but we were eating ramen more than I had been accustomed to.

I had always done relatively well at BlackJack, playing correct at least. I started out playing blackjack and winning about 100-200 weekly playing $5.00 blackjack, but my stake was always at test. A man there realized I was playing great black jack and realized I had a knack for knowing what cards should be coming.

He introduced me to casino hold em games and I was hooked. Interestingly, I had no idea the forums or books were out there at the time and I learned a lot of rough lessons (increasing the ramen dinners again) but ended up making more that year than I had while working in Salt Lake, where we lived prior.

Well, we have moved back to Salt Lake and there are no casino's here, so I am making the first foray into online poker as well. I am trying to find the right "balance" between family, job and poker. I am VERY fortunate becasue my wife is so supportive of my poker play. she managed our finances while down in Phoenix and kept me on a pretty tight bakroll, knowing what others are playing with now.

I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you accross the felt sometime.