When I totaled my travel miles for 2008, the astonishing 46,315 miles blew my mind! Over the past twelve months, I was gone 186 days (51.67% of the year) and either drove or flew roughly 3,860 miles a month. Yikes! That tops 2007′s 41,285 miles and 136 days.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been living a dream. ’07 and ’08 have been the two most amazing years; full of adventure and excitement. Unfortunately, not many wins.
Though the traveling, interviewing, writing, and playing have all been great fun, I’ve been spreading myself way too thin and my pool game has taken the biggest toll for it.
So, this year, in 2009, the year of the OX, I vow to devote more time to the things that are most important to me. I’ve busted my tail over the past couple years to build relationships and lay the groundwork so that I can focus on my performance at the table, because without that nothing else matters.
The year ahead:
The OX year is a conservative year, one of traditions and values. This is not a year to be outrageous. A slow but steady year.
This OX year will bring stability and growth where patience and diligence pays off.
This is a year of Harvest – when we reap what we have sown. “Take care of business this year, do not let things slide”
My horoscope for this year:
If you were born in the year of the Dragon (which I am):
In business and in romance your word for this year is integrity. Keep your head down and you will make steady progress this year. Established relationships will be comfortable and easy during this year of the OX. A slow but sure progress will be made.
Interesting predictions…
I’m not (that) superstitious. I was just curious. Basically, I plan to travel to less tournaments and focus more on my health, training, and my family this year. I’ll be working on my 2009 tournament calendar this month and unless something is really super special, I think I will just pass.
My actions are mostly inspired by this month’s atrocious display at the Olympia Open II in Oconomowoc, WI where after not hitting a ball in the month of December, I played some of the worst pool since 2002. I missed countless key balls, money shots, and a few ball-in-hands. It was embarrassing. That’s the kind of thing that makes you either want to quit pool forever or suck it up and get back to work so it doesn’t happen again.
We’ll try the ladder and see what happens.
I returned home from my holiday trip to MN on Tuesday night and had a surprisingly outstanding practice last night at Rack ‘Em which left my fingers and back sore. Tonight, I’m heading to practice at the Skylark where I can bring Vegas along. I hate leaving him home alone right now, even if it is for only a few hours. He likes it there.
