Life of a Low Stakes Grinder

Do I think New Years' resolutions are rediculous?  Oh yeah, big time.   Do I make them?  Oh yeah, big time! lol 

On a serious note, in this overdue blog post I'll outline my plan to wrap up 2010 and set out my plan (*cough* resolution) for 2011.

I'll have 102 credit hours (of 120) completed of my B.comm in finance in April of 2011.   This leaves me with 18 credit hours which I need to do in the spring/summer term.  Taking a 3/3 accelerated course load makes it very very difficult to work full time in the spring/summer.  I currently work part time (15-20hrs/week) for the Nova Scotia government in Dep of Finance (mortgages and loans) but my year long term ends in April.  I would really like to take the pressure off summer employment by having a strong first 4 months in poker in 2011.  It sucks to put a monetary goal on things but I need at least $10,000 for summer living.  Luckily I'm all scholarshipped up and only pay about $2,200 per school term of my own money (this year is already taken care of) but I need about $3,000 for the spring/summer + $5,000-$7,000 to have some fun and live in the summer.  My gf and I travel a lot (and pay too much rent) but usually it is a lot of camping so its relatively inexpensive. 

So Plan:

After a short stint playing some HUSNGs (with what I can say ended up being a pretty solid failure due to an honest lack of hard work during a busy time in my life) I am back to 'old faithful' 8-10 tabling 6max nlhe.  I'm a low stakes guy, playing b/w $20-100NL USD-GBP.  I don't see it being that likely I'll move to 200nl within the next 6 months due to nitty BRM and a high commitment to school.  For the rest of this year I'll just be grinding out about 30,000 hands at low stakes and trying to build confidence up to take on next year. 

The volume goal for 2011 is 700,000 hands with anything over that just over acheiving haha.  I'd like to get to 200nl by September 11' but it isn't a priority as I know this will take a very large shift in my game and will cut my volume in half. 

The way I do things is have 2, 4 to 5 table stacks.  This method works for me because I find the tables do not pop-up too quickly and I can still take notes but at the same time, I can't see the results of most hands.  I'll stick to this goal on a 2,000 hands per day, +/- hands basis and keep this blog updated weekly.  I'll probably end up getting super motivated and play 80,000-100,000 hands in January and then drop off a bit. 

As for non-poker related goals:

1. Gym-it 4 times per week along with my weekly friday basketball session (we play 4 on 4 with no subs at work which is sick cardio and super-fun because I think I'm the only one there that played any high school ball).  Anyone who plays poker should be going to the gym, no questions asked.

2. Maintain my GPA

3.  Write the first of three CFA exams by the end of 2011.  There is one in June which unfortunatly I can't write and I believe the next one is offered in December which I think will be go time.  

4.  Live stress free.  No worries.  Life is too short!