Sunday, November 30, 2014

Half A Million

I apologize in advance for what will will be the most self-indulgent post I've ever done.

I know, you're saying they're all self-indulgent, and that's technically true.  Doing a blog gives you the freedom to do it anyway you want.  I don't answer to anyone.  I write what I write and I write when I want to.  Every post I do pleases me, first and foremost.  When I write for someone else, like my Ante Up columns, I have guidelines to follow.  For example, I don't think they want me writing about hookers, or talking about how (not) to play pocket Kings.

But this one is more self-indulgent than usual.  You see, I just reached 500,000 pageviews on this here blog.  That's half a million.  A half a million times in the past 3+ years, someone has landed on my tiny corner of the internet.

It's very flattering and not a little bit humbling.  I want to thank all of you, all of my loyal readers, for coming back post after post to see what I'm babbling about this time.  Even if you don't read every post.  Even if you skim through the longer posts and don't read every single word.  Thanks to all of you for making it possible for me to do a post celebrating such a milestone.



To celebrate the occasion, I made a little video. This is the self-indulgent part.  It's a video of Hitler reacting to the news that I reached this particular landmark. It's the famous "Hitler reacts" meme that you're all familiar with. In fact, I posted one already, that my pal Woody made for me (see here). 

I guess maybe I should give you some context.  As I explained in the post here, where I was celebrating 50,000 pageviews (wow, now I've hit ten times that!), a lot of the early posts here were rewritten from emails I had sent my friends about my Vegas adventures.  Two of those friends Luv Malts & Woody, were the two who encouraged me to do something more with those emails, which led to this blog.

Another friend of mine saw these emails too.  I thought he was enjoying them as well.  However, as sometimes happens, the two of us had a tiff. Instead of things getting resolved, it escalated.  Harsh words were exchanged.  It got to the point where words were thrown back and forth that had nothing to do with the original quarrel, as I'm sure you can all relate to.

And so at one point, this friend of mine referenced the lengthy emails I was sending him and my other friends.  He said they were too long (imagine that?) and pointless. And at one point he said to me, "No one is interested in your silly stories."

To be fair to him, I really am not sure if he really meant, or if it was just something he said in the heat of an argument, when one tends the just throw everything including the kitchen sink at the other party.

This happened some time before I started the blog.  He didn't know about the blog when it started, and he never, ever suggested that I shouldn't do a blog.

Still, whenever I reach some sort of blog milestone, whenever I do a really popular post, whenever someone comes up to me out of the blue and tells me that they enjoy the blog, I can't help thinking of what he said to me.  And that amuses me no small amount.

And now, achieving half a million pageviews, all I have to do to make myself smile is replay those words in my mind, "No one is interested in your silly stories."

Oh, and just to save you some Googling, the word "ficken" I use in the video is, as best as I can tell, the German word for the f-bomb.  I hope I've used it properly.

I hope you enjoy this.



22 comments:

  1. Rob,
    I was one of those "out of the blue" peeps, about 2 yrs ago at a Rio deepstack event. Still enjoying your posts. Big Congrats on 500k views.

    Big L

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Big L.....I do remember that very well, it was great meeting you then. Glad you keep coming back.

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  2. Hi Rob. We have never meet, but i started reading your posts at AVP and have enjoyed your stories. i look for them on a regular basis. Congrats and keep on keeping on.

    Swag

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  3. I have read your blog for several years because I have an affinity for intellectual honesty and logic. You have an abundance of both, couched in a self-deprecating demeanor, enhanced by a charming sense of humor, and presented in a well-honed display of written word skills.

    Your video is a brilliant display of all of the above.
    As an amateur 1-2 poker player I look forward to meeting you.

    Pybop

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    Replies
    1. Thanks very much, Dick. Nice to meet you. "Intellectual honesty and logic" huh? Wow.

      Look forward to meeting you too.

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  4. Congratulations on a commendable milestone.

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    1. Sorry, anger. I just have a personal policy that I have adopted. Either Hitler or boobies in a post, but never both.

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    2. Yes....as I alluded to in the video.

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  6. Way too funny Rob. Love your blog!

    Kenny the Snake

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    Replies
    1. Thank very much, Kenny! Appreciate it.

      Kenny the Snake, huih? As in the old Oakland Raiders QB, Kenny "Snake" Stabler?

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    2. Yes sir, and also because I'm famous for slow playing monster hands into over zealous donks.

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  7. You have a loyal readership mister, keep up the good work.
    I do have a slight recommendation for future blog content: how about 50% Boobs, 50% Poker, and 50 % Hooker encounters? I'm not too good with math but really share a hearty fondness for these subjects..
    Hope Lighting ain't too jelly of your #s.

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    1. Thanks, Anony.....the only way I can make your math work is if I only discussed one boob at a time. Then the math works, right?

      Trouble is, I prefer pairs. Big, pocket pairs.

      "Lighting"? I used to make that typo all the time, too. ha ha. Do you think he' likes peanut butter with his jelly?

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  8. I've never made it all the way through any of your posts, but congrats on the milestone... :)

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    1. Thanks, Coach. I think you jest. I should hire you as a proof reader!

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  9. I just wanted to say congrats on your 500k views. Pls keep writing, as I enjoy reading each and every one of your blogs. Keep up!

    Shouting out from Chicago!

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