An update on my poker career:

-I played no more then 40,000 hands from August to December. 40K.. Made money when I played, but I am on one of the most challenging career paths that exists (in North America, at least.) It requires an enormous amount of my time, but that's the dedication I have to put towards it.

-I should probably be taking shots at 200nl by now, but with my withdrawal and just ridiculously low volume, there isn't really anything I could do about it. I'm well-rolled for 100NL, and should be moving up very soon for good. I guess I am disappointed, but I can't really be. I have made lots of money without much effort, and that's pretty rewarding.

-I love to play the game, and want to get in more volume, but I'm just not sure I have the time. I have perhaps the most important three months of my life thus far coming up, in which I have 5 auditions, two competitions and a solo performance with my college orchestra, and that's a tremendous amount of pressure to rise to. Given this, it's difficult for me to clearly delineate a goal for the year. I know I want to 5x my bankroll by July, which really isn't that much of an accomplishment, but I must find the time to play the hands. I think it's something like 400K hands at a measly 2ptbbs at 100nl to do it, which I know I am more than capable of.

-I don't plan to overload myself, so here's some simple goals:

-20K hands in January. I have 5K already, so this should be attainable.
-15K hands in February. This is the month from hell, but this should be attainable.
-40K hands in March. I have done this w/no effort before.
-80K hands in May. School ends early in the month, hit it hard.
-120K hands in June. This will be a giant test.
-60K hands the first two weeks of July, before my big move to whatever school I'm attending next...

Well, there's a general plan. Who knows wtf will happen!