A "Life" Update

I just realized it's been over a month since I've had any blog pertaining to things happening in my life. I find the substitute blogs more interesting, but I feel like one of this nature is in order. With that being said, here goes:

Just a warning, I wrote this at my local Starbucks and I get distracted really easily, so this blog is all over the place. That being said, I think it's a pretty detailed as far as updates go. I tried to keep it intersting. I might have failed. I'm sure I'll know in the emails.

As many of you know who've read previous blogs, I was planning on doing bartending classes during the month of November. As it turns out, the class is two weeks long totaling 40 hours (Mon – Fri from 2 – 6 pm). I planned to take the class merely for interest (similar to one who likes tennis getting tennis lessons) instead of getting a job. Unfortunately, I quickly realized the only real way to practice bartending (after the completion of the course) is to find a job somewhere and do it! The class was relatively easy and mainly consisted of making drinks with lots of memorization. It probably wasn't worth the $400 I paid for it, especially because in the state of CA, one doesn't need a liscense or certificate to practice bartending. To its credit, the class was pretty fun and we listened to the sounds of Jay – Z while making mojitos. Now that's my idea of school! I did appreciate the "hands on" experience you get from taking the class, which was perhaps its biggest and only benefit. I still haven't memorized the drinks, but that can be done on one's own time. They have actual simulated bars (the only difference being that you pour colored water instead of alcohol) but your bar, back bar and everything else is exactly the same as a typical bar. That's something you can't practice at home. That being said, I opted to not take the test which credits me with a certificate should I pass. My reasoning is as follows;

2) I don't want to study to pass. They make you study retarded things that aren't pertinent to bartending like the origin of whiskey and the filtering or distilling process of burbon. Really? Who Cares? I'm not taking "Alcohol History." Stuff like this tilts me.

So are you getting a job bartending? The answer is…. I'm not sure yet. I'm leaving for a few months in late December for New Zealand and Australia and I figure by the time I get hired and with the holidays and all, I'll barely get to work before quitting. I also really want to try "flair", the form of bartending that involves flipping and spinning bottles and am thinking of taking a class with my good friend Will. That's not to say I can't hold a job and take a class simultaneosly, but knowing myself I'll practice what I learned from flair (most likely unsucessfully especially at the beginning) while at my job, and not only get fired, but run up a huge tab in spoiled liquor. At least I know myself well enough to know that's the most likely outcome. The funny thing is I'll probably look for a job anyway. At least it'll make for a good story.

I also feel stongly (which isn't saying much since I have no experience in the subject matter) that I have some leverage with getting a job bartending. But how is that possible? You've never had a job in your life, let alone one bartending. Right. But remember what I said before about bartending being a hobby (similar to reading, chess, swimming or any hobby one may have). So let's define some general properties or characterists of a hobby.

1) They are a leisure pastime

3) Moreover, they cost money (my triathlon, for example, cost me not only immense time dedication but financial obligations as well. My bike for example was over $1,000.)

With this in mind I don't feel it important to get paid while bartending. I also have extremely flexible hours that I can work which I feel will increase my chances of getting a job. Should the place of my choosing object, I'll offer to work for free for the first month, and if they don't like me, fire me! I mean, I really have nothing to lose and I feel like bartending is a hobby of mine that's a freeroll. By that I mean one I can generate income from while doing something I really enjoy. It definitely doesn't fit the normal description for a hobby, but that really benefits me in this case.

Moving on to other things. Poker. Boring! I'm on a decent upswing the last few weeks but have played a total of 7 days in November totaling 20 hours or so. Economy's busto, why work? I should make a bumper sticker. Makes no sense but kinda has a ring to it.

In other news, I'm also taking Italian lessons. Unfortunately they are only once a week so it makes it very hard to shorten the learning curve. I recently added two private lessons weekly to help me move along quicker and so that I don't forget what I learned from week to week. I really enjoy it and I think it's good to activate a part of your brain that rarely gets exercised with hobbies such as music, art, etc.

So what have you been spending all your time doing if you never play poker and only bartend 4 hours a day? Well TV. And it kills me because I hate TV. I have to say its non educational and a complete waste of life. I recently bought Gears of War 2 and Call of Duty 5 (Worlds at War) which have been occupying the majority of my time. That combined with my new favorite TV show "The Wire." (hands down the best show ever made along with Arrested Development). I also just got my Apple TV setup, a wireless device which syncs everything on your Itunes from music to photos to your TV, as well as the new update for XBOX, which allows you to instantly download everything from Netflix to your XBOX. It's unreal. I will say though that to my credit, I recently purchased an Amazon Kindle. It's a new device which allows you to download books right to a hand held device instantly (think ipod with itunes capability) anywhere in the world and for 1/3 of the cost. They have everything from books, magazines, newspapers to blogs and it's all there in the palm of your hand. I should really be a spokesperson for them although I'm not getting paid to write this. It's absolutely unreal and for anyone who is an avid reader. I highly recommend it. One piece of advice, when purchasing online, type in the code "Oprah Winfrey" to save $50 on your Kindle! I hope that offer didn't expire. Combine this with the fact that my apartment complex has its own market, starbucks, pool, gym (my trainer comes to my place as well), yoga classes and cleaners (not to mention the use of my assistant), and I really never leave my place. I go out at night and what not, but recently, I've been overwhelmed with things to do around my place that I haven't made it that far. When I do leave, I have one of the probably one of the biggest outdoor shopping malls in the whole state, The Irvine Spectrum, 1/4 mile from my place so it compounds the effect.

Well I feel that's a sufficient update for now. I will also add that I am going to SLC, Utah in early December for some sort of business conference with my Dad which I'm really excited about (that wasn't sarcastic btw), followed by Vegas for the 5 Diamond Tournament. I had something else to add but I forgot. Oh yeah, so I should be coming out with a new website soon (my original page www.alectorelli.com) which I'm also really excited about. It's currently getting redone but should look good when its done. I also belong to a video coaching site called PokerSwat (www.pokerswat.com) which features training videos from a variety of players. I just recently came out with a video series on the site that features some six max and heads up play. I am currently working on the sequel to the series that should come out later this month or early next month. If your interested check it out!

Finally, I recently got asked by one of my readers (who happens to be a poker radio talk show host) to do an interveiw via phone. I just did it today and it went pretty well. It is set to air Sunday at 6PM (EST) on 106.7FM WJFK in DC and online stream at WJFK.COM. Check it out if you so wish.

Cheers All,

~ Trah ~