A quick update!

(And apology for the silent treatment)

Hello, lovely readers! I’m so sorry for the radio silence these past few weeks. First, I was on a much-needed vacation, to the wilds of Northern California. It was beautiful, peaceful—and a complete digital detox. Other than for taking photographs, naturally, one of which I’m sharing with you here.

A slice of NorCal coast.

It’s a beautiful part of the world, and as you know, I feel strongly about the need to step away from the chaos and demands of digital life every so often, to recharge your mental and emotional batteries in a world that will certainly never pause long enough to allow you to do so on its own terms.

I emerged well-rested and ready to go, just in time for the start of the World Series of Poker, my busiest poker time of the year. A time where I have to remember to simply breathe—and where things like book-writing and Substack-planning and podcast-making take a six-week backseat to a whirlwind schedule of tournaments and competition.

A photo from my first event, courtesy of the lovely photography team at PokerNews (this one is from Eloy Cabacas). It’s a nice enough photo, but I’m committing a sin of concentration: that’s a phone in my hands. No distractions at the poker table!!

The WSOP began last week, and I entered the first—well, technically second—event on the schedule, the $5,000 NLH. While I did not make a final table, I did manage to secure my first cash of the series, finishing in 73rd place out of 570 players, for $9,947. With that cash, I am still in the black for the series, despite a disheartening attempt to make day two of the $550 Mystery Millions. Readers, I entered that event not one, not two, not three, but SEVEN times. Seven. It did not feel good, and I am never doing that again. You read it here first.

Today is one of my biggest events of the summer, the $10,000 GG Millions. I hope it’s a good one—and thank you to everyone who bought pieces on PokerStake and StakeKings. While I will not be giving away 1% of that particular event, I will be giving paid subscribers 1% of the next one on the calendar, the famed Monster Stack. Good luck, us!

A proper post from me will be coming soon, but in the meantime, this week you’re going to get a treat from one of my friends and creative inspirations, Austin Kleon, whose new book, Don’t Call it Art, is out tomorrow.

I was delighted to receive an early copy. It’s an amazing read—I blew through it—and such a needed reminder on how to think, how to be creative, and how to just be. I’ll be running an excerpt after the book release, and I think you’ll really enjoy it.

On that note, I am off to (hopefully) think well and clearly at the poker tables — and I’ll be back in your inboxes soon with some Kleonian creative insights. (And then soon after, with some insights of my own.)

Thank you, as ever, for following along on the journey.