Everything has been shipped or packed into my car, except the two items (suitcase and computer case) that I'll be living out of until I get settled in my Asheville apartment. I expect to turn in my keys and hit the road in about two hours, arriving at my new home sometime Monday--which, by happy coincidence, will be the fourth anniversary of the day I first met Cardgrrl, in the poker room at Harrah's. (I think if you go back and reread the post I wrote about that first meeting, you'll see that I liked her right off the bat.) My goal is to have a home office setup sufficient to allow me to resume work by Friday, a week from today.
Cardgrrl's house, meanwhile, is showing real progress. The foundation is nearly finished, despite lousy weather for construction through most of January. Three or four more months, and it will be ready for her. Then we'll both be settled in our new places, and poised to see what we can make of our lives in North Carolina. (We're not quite ready to actually share the same zip code--that would be too scary--but we will move to the next level of relationship, which is adjacent zip codes.) You can, as always, follow both her house progress and her photographic adventures in her blog, "Something Beautiful."
I am equal parts sad, nervous, and excited about this transition. This past 6 1/2 years has been fun and challenging, and I've learned a lot about myself and the world. I've grown in important, interesting, and unexpected ways. It's time to see if Asheville can reshape me as profoundly as Las Vegas has.
I am immensely grateful that so many people have found my meandering thoughts worth reading. Your enthusiastic reception has made the hours of writing and rewriting a rewarding pursuit. I cannot sufficiently thank you for your support.
I'm sure I'll pipe up here once in a while with a thought, rant, story, or joke. Plus, I expect that occasional trips back to the Land of Many Poker Rooms are inevitable, and you'll read all about them right here.
But for now, take good care of yourselves, play good poker, and don't be grumpy. That's my job.
Photo credit: Terry Hassan
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19 comments:
I promised myself I wouldn't cry. And I'm not. But thanks for all the great poker posts!
Excited & wishing the best of luck for you as you start your new adventure. I pass through Asheville a couple of times a year and it is indeed a pretty awesome place. Gotta admit, though, that I teared up reading this. Thanks for being bestest grump ever.
Safe journey. Much joy.
SO looking forward to your arrival. Travel safely, sweetheart.
Welcome to NC, from a long time follower. Asheville is a wonderful place, but quite different from anyplace in the state.
Safe travels, and hopefully you'll find the pace of life in NC a pleasant change from Sin City.
I will miss your regular, insightful posts, and I will miss the opportunities you will have to bluff me off hands in person.
But thanks for all the great posts, and thanks for the many times you've referenced my silly little blog, not to mention the great comments you've left there, not to mention all the "Grumps Notes" versions of my posts.
Have a great trip, and have a great next chapter to your life, my friend.
Have a safe trip. Sounds like this will be an exciting new adventure for you. Best o' luck.
There came and went a poker boom.
There came and went a poker grump.
Now where are the poker blogs to read?
Tony Bigcharles is not enough for me.
safe travels grump
Even if this blog does not get updated frequently as you won't be playing much poker I hope you continue your writing endeavors somehow, somewhere!
Keep in touch!
Wishing you all the best in your new world! Change is good Grump. Thank you for the great posts and stories over the years. Be well...
Travel safely!
Vegas and Poker won't be the same. I find I'm feeling the same way I did when VegasRex left for Seattle: Selfishly sad, but realizing the inevitability of change and hope of good things for those who are going on a new adventure.
Peace.
Safe travels, friend. Looking forward to seeing you in NC.
Traveling across the continent to be with your beloved to live in separate apartments. Totally absurd.Just how frightened of living and sharing are you? oooh, scary, so scary.
So why bother going?
Grump, wtf you didn't post my comment. Dick?
Uh, Anonymous at 10am and 6:50… make a dick comment, then complain about the dick comment not being posted while the blogger is DRIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, then see that the comment is posted despite its dickishness.
Congratulations: you have made yourself look like a… what's the word?
Fortunately, the only opinion that matters about our relationship and plans is ours, although kind words and well-wishes are always appreciated.
Perhaps I missed it, but what line of work are you getting into?
Play nice, children
You don't have to think Grumpy is making a smart decision to wish him the best on it. Defensiveness just exacerbates things. Best to all.
I've been reading your blog for a few years now but I have never commented till now. Sad to see you go, I always enjoyed reading all your posts about poker and just random things in or about Vegas.
Hope everything goes great with the move, it's been fun following this blog. Thanks for that.
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