I don't know if this is the right forum to post it, so I do apologize in advance if isn't, but I just realized that although I registered in the forum a while ago I never introduced myself.
And although my story isn't grandiloquent, I thought it'd be cool to share it with everyone. So here I go...

I knew about Blackjack for the first time during Christmas of 2016 through a friend while we were on a trip to Vegas. After a brief introduction to the rules I somehow managed to win 400 dollars playing at Bally's in a 3 hour span on a $15 minimum table (I don't even remember the rules and surely I didn't even care by that time). But of course, the first thing I thought after my session was: "well this is easy money, why nobody told me about this before!".

Anyways, I'm not stupid and deep inside I knew it was just pure luck (beginner's luck?), but what I also knew is that I liked the game. I really enjoyed playing it and I was decided to learn as much as I could...

One month after that I purchased several books on the subject: "Beat the Dealer", "Playing BJ as a Business", "Blackjack Attack 2nd edition" (I ordered today the 3rd one), "Professional Blackjack", "Blackbelt in Blackjack", "Million Dollar Blackjack", "Turning the tables in Las Vegas", "Burning the tables in Las Vegas", "Big book of blackjack" and "The theory of Blackjack".

I read all of them, highlighted whatever I found most interesting and re-read those paragraphs frequently to refresh the most valuable information. I learned BS and diligently worked on HI-LO count and deviations (I18+FAB 4).
My initial goal wasn't really to make big money, but to have fun while learning how to play with an edge.

So little time after that I got in the road and hit some tables around my area.... and when I think about how I played those days I'm fairly certain that I was probably the most obvious card counter at a table ever.
My sessions were extremely long, I didn't play with any type of cover and I even explained to others why you split 9s against a 9 while pulling my BS card out of my pocket...

And the inevitable happened: I got backed off playing at Barona after a super long session and also at Sycuan after just 30 minutes at the table. Was I proud of it? not at all, but I was definitely mad at myself for being so naive and for the fact that I couldn't go back to play on those places. So I put the game aside, discouraged and decide to take a long break from it..

Recently, the game piqued my curiosity again. So I pulled out the books once again, read them (once more), refreshed BS and polished my count speed. I also purchased cvcx and CV, practicing daily whenever I have some free time for it (I have a 9/5 job), and getting more familiar with terms like EV, ROR and N0.

I'm now trying to digest and absorb as much information as I can by also reading some new books, listening to podcasts from GWAE and even attended a BJ bootcamp organized by Colin Jones (although I'm sure some of you will disagree with that last decision). The main reason I attended the bootcamp is because I felt alone on this journey. I needed to meet and greet other players and ask a lot of questions that aren't always written in the books. I was in need of some networking, in need of meeting APs face to face. Could I saved that money for a BR? Yes I could. Do I regret it? Not at all. I think this bootcamp has giving me the push and encouragement I needed to take this seriously and to believe that it can be done if you really dedicate time and work hard on it. Again, probably lots of you will disagree with it, but it's ok to disagree right

And here I am as of today. My goals? I'm not in a rush. I want to keep learning, perfect my counting and deviations. Once that's done I'll go play low stakes and perfect my game in a casino environment. And then? Well, as I like to say, you need to crawl before you walk and learn to walk before you run, but I'm definitely excited about whatever might come.

So that's pretty much it (for now!). Hope you enjoy the reading and please please please, don't hesitate to throw in any piece of advice you might have.

Btw, I live in SoCal and would love to get in touch with players in the area via PM or anything. I'm sure I have tons of things to learn and I'm eager to do it!

Peace!