guess who's back.....

Back again!!! So it’s been almost a year since I’ve been here….I know, I know, I’m a slacker. But 2010 brought some ‘interesting’ challenges into my life and things got in the way. One of my resolutions for this year, are to write more so here I am. The 5^th of January and my first attempt at being better at my blog.

I made a mental note a few months back and realized that writing really was a great release for me. Not only so I can vent, bitch, and complain about my game (oh and life in general), but I also could re-read and reflect on points in what was happening with my game and life. Hopefully I’ll keep this resolution and not bore the hell outta my virtual friends out there. Just let me know when I do ;)

Another goal for this year: PRACTICE! My game is improving in small bits and pieces but I want more! Selfish sounding? I don’t care. Only I can improve and destroy my game – so bring it on! I’ve decided to start small and shoot (no pun intended) for 7 hours of practice a week. That’s an hour a day if you break it down, but since I can’t always get to practice on some days but can play for 3 on another, it’s just going to be 7 hours total in a week.

I won’t bother with going into all the other little goals I have for 2011, like painting more, exercising more, blah, blah, blah – but I will tell you my number 1 goal is to get my life organized. Like really organized. Like being better with my finances, keeping an organized schedule, making ME time, and maybe even keeping the house a little cleaner (the later being not so important). I find that sometimes I do SO much for others , that my own life falls to the way-side and it starts to spiral out of control. And then I feel like I’m playing catch up……forever. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYMORE! I’m hoping this will make for a better Me. A happier, less-stressed, free soul, not broke, Me!

So cheers to a new year! Leagues all start back up this week, my website tour stops are beginning this month, and weekly tournaments are back after the holidays. So let the games begin. I wish you all a happy, healthy, safe, ass-kicking, great food eating year! miSsoN begin……..

moving right along..........

It never seems to amaze me that time goes by so quickly when you don't stop to smell the roses. How we are already into February is beyond me........but so is life!

Recap: The "mini" tour we began last week was a HUGE success. We nearly doubled our expected show of faces and players and the day turned into a 12 hour event. WOW! We had huge support from our friends and can't wait to do the next one. Thank you to all! Now on the pool playing side of it for me - I sucked @$$. This event was scotch-doubles and my partner and I hardly saw the table. I guess not seeing the table as much is an ok result in losing, but what is NOT okay is the fact the I was not taking the best shots possible. I was making them, but the cue ball positions were horrid. I must refocus on strategy and defense as well as my offense. Otherwise I'm in for a LONG season of pool.

A few days later - on my league night with 9' tables, it really hit me that my game is off. I'm still loving the big tables, but hot dang I got smoked. S M O K E D!!!!!!! I feel like I've taken a step backwards with my game. I'm back to a mind set that if I'm down in my match, then I immediately go into "make every ball" mode. No thought process, no defense, no chalk. Just shoot. UGH.....this is NOT a good thing. I was discussing this process with my other half who "politely" told me he had been noticing this with me for awhile. What?!?! Awhile?!?!? WTF?! And you couldn't have said anything sooner. Geeze!!!!!! Now in his defense I have asked to be left alone for awhile. I want no comments, no help, no discussions on my games.....nada! So to be fair - he was just following the rules ;)

Well this has got me in a funk. I absolutely still DO NOT want advice, help, discussions from anyone other than those who I've already let in a bit and have coached me. Which means yes you - drunk guy in the bar who has been playing for shots all night. You - opponent on the team I'm playing against who jumps up at every possibility to give timeouts to his team yet can't win his own game. Yes - you stranger who wonders in and randomly starts spittin' out how you'd take on anyone in here for money. (In fact you can leave and never come back). All of you can "politely" leave me the F alone! Thanks! For all of you that have helped in one way or another.... I'll be back for some slaps up side the head when I F up!!!


my friend's bf proposed to me..........

Hahaha! Not really! He proposed that we play BCA scotch doubles together at Nationals. Hhhmm, while I'm thrilled that he thought of me, little ole me, to play with him - I'm just not that sure. For one, I really don't care for scotch doubles. I don't like the pressure of letting others down.....letting myself down is hard enough. Two, I've never competed in BCA Nationals. Other nationals - yes. But this one always conflicts with something else going on in my life that makes me miss it. (Yes - I do have a life outside of pool, as hard as that is to believe and believe me it is definitely not as important as pool, but it does pay the bills.) I'm still debating and I need to hurry up and make up my mind. If I say yes......I'm running out of time to get some serious practice in.

back to work.......

A new year, new league sessions, and a bright future.......2010 better not suck! ;)

Actually, so far so good. Leagues have been in session about 4 weeks now. I'm happy to be back to the normal routine of pool. The holidays always seem to get in the way of my playing time. LOL, but I suppose it's okay. I wholeheartedly decided that I did not want to burn myself out this session and was only going to be playing one night a week. WAS should've been your key to the fact that I couldn't keep that resolution. Resolutions are for the weak anyway right?! I'm up to 2 nights and 1 day of league play. I will say that the great thing is that all 3 days are different leagues. This is really opening my eyes to all the different caliber of play out there, what people really know about pool and how much they don't! It's been interesting so far...........

One of these 3 leagues is completely new to me. New in the fact of handicaps, scoring, and level of players. Oh, and it's on 9 foots. I'm in heaven. I completely dislike the way the scoring goes, but am absolutely in love with playing on the big tables again. **Flashback - when I first began playing pool - for real, for real, pool - it was an in-house league on 9' s. I had no clue back then what the game was really all about, so I had no opinion on the tables, the game, anything** Back to present........... ah, 9's - it really is the best. I now know why I get so frustrated with bar box tables and how I'm completely re-learning the way I shoot. It's like learning the game all over almost. And I'm back to being EXCITED to play every week. Also, because of this new excitement, I actually look forward to playing on the bar box nights, just to see how I handle the adjustments in play. Hopefully this all keeps up and I'm not bitching mid season ;)

This weekend is going to be the first of many long ones. I've gone in with someone to begin a mini tournament session here in town. It will go all year , with about 9 stops. Earn points and play for big $$ in the finals. A "mini-tour" if you will............... Registration is nearly full, so we're excited. Hopefully this all goes well! How I keep taking more and more on in my world is beyond me.....its a wonder my laundry is never done!

Anyways.......here's to a new year - full of laughs, love, pool, and good food! I'll be back with updates on how this miSsoN is playing out!

another year gone......

WOW! Talk about MIA...... I apologize for my absence - it's been a whirlwind end of year. A crap load of personal issues, drama, and emotions. And a few highs to keep me in check and remind me I'm still human and life is just an adventure......we choose the next ride!

Let's see - where to begin........I'll try to recap as short and as sweet as I can.

November
November had it is ups and downs. My new business venture, the website, (along side my real job) completely took over my world. Busier than I could've ever imagined, but I loved every moment of it. My business partner and I made more connections than we really knew what to do with but we established ourselves and now business is booming!

A small break for Thanksgiving had my bf and I out of town to visit his family. A wonderful weekend of food, family, and fun. The drive home - no so! Our truck broke down, we spent two extra days there, ended up having to fly home and I was just trying not to breakdown. I have no clue on when and how I'll be able to come up with the money to fix it and how we're gonna get around..........UGH!!! AND I was dying to play some pool. (Yes - our truck is still there)

December
Work is crazy, outta control, busy!!! I'm an event planner by day and January is slammed, so that means TONS of pre-event work in December. This is the part of my job I can't stand. In my personal life my best friend's father passed and it was an emotional week of memories! (RIP R.B. - I love you!) Holiday parties, pool league end of sessions, work, practice........I'm not sure how much sleep I actually got in the first three weeks of December, but I do know that I was beat. Dead beat tired! I was so emotionally drained about so many personal issues that I didn't actually think about Christmas until I had looked at a calendar on the 18th and realized it was a week away! During that week, a family member ended up in the hospital. UGH, this wasn't turning out to be a very merry christmas. By the 24th (yes - christmas eve) I realized I HAD to get myself together. Positive thoughts and life ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Christmas day was spent with family and my bf. A nice day - mellow and calm.....and I vowed to not let all the bad in my life haunt me. Early the next day, my bf was off to visit his sister and I have now been alone for almost a week. And as much as I've missed him - this has been a week of solitude that I needed. For the most part, I've slept. Really slept. I think that I've been in bed more in 5 days than I have all month. Literally.

AND, I'm back on point with pool ;) All of the above has left my game in some much desperate need of some TLC. My game had completely gone down the drain and I'm just now getting back to where I know I should be. And it feels good. REALLY good.

Present
Last night a friend convinced my to go play with her in weekly tournament here in town. I had been in the house too long she said (I actually was enjoying my quiet time thank you very much). But I tagged along since I really did want to hit some balls. This was what I call a "Big Boy" Tournament - like a tournament with REALLY good players. Handicapped 9-Ball, 9' tables, and handicaps ranging from 3-10. Like I said earlier "big boys" - so most of these players fell on the 7-10 side of the handicapped range.

Um, I'm not sure if the hiatus of not playing on a regular basis was the trick or what - but I played. WELL. On 9foots. I never play 9foots. I came back to win a game after being down 0-8 and he was on the hill. No winnings, but did make it to one outta the money. I played well. And was STOKED.


So after this shitty ending to a crazy year.......Cheers to a NEW one. I'm vowing to take life ONE DAY AT A TIME. To practice hard and improve my game. To stay healthy, spend quality time with the people in my life who matter, and enjoy the ride.

Enjoy the new year......I'm oN a miSsion to do just that.

so the story goes.....

This past Sunday, a league here in town held an "open" 8ball tournament which held 3 different handicapped brackets. "Open" meant that even if you didn't play in that particular league, you could pay the same entry and play in one of the brackets so long you had an updated score or handicapped sheet to say where you ranked. Since this tournament brought out a lot of different skilled players who had to merge in to the particular "league rules" and handicaps, races were shortened. Overall it made for a nice day of Sunday of pool.

My bracket was one of the smaller filled ones, which I didn't mind so much. I didn't play as well as I know I could have (or maybe my game is less than what I think it is). Here's the quick run down, I have a race to 2:

match 1
I won 2-0

match 2
I won 2-0

match 3
I came across someone who I had seen play before.....a new player in the league but he's a good shot. I missed an easy safe and gave up my first game of the day. (0-1) So now he's on the hill. UGH! He gets a good break, and drops two balls. As he's bearing down to win....I'm thinking I'm going to the one-loss side. I got a lucky break when he rattled a ball in the side. With only two clear shots for position I end up playing safe to leave him bad instead of going for it. And it worked. I got ball in hand and ran the table. Hill - hill and I take it.
2-1

match 4
I take game one. In a really bad second rack I get up to shoot after he misses and realize I'm lined up for a 2 ball and the 8. As I walk to the table, I notice the score sheet says I have to to go to 3 games, my opponent to 2. Um, I'm sorry?!?!?! WHAT???? So I ask before I shoot and sure as hell, this guy is one skill lower. The race is 3-2. I'm gonna have to play another rack. I'm not sure if I let this get to me or if I just played really poor. I let him get this game and I'm pissed. Score is 2-1 and hill-hill. I decide to not let it bother me. I play fierce and capitalized on each mistake he made. I think this frustrated him because he started missing - bad. Really bad. I'not sure if he was nervous or what, but his game changed, not for the better.
I won 3-1

Now, I still haven't looked at the board all day, but I'm figuring I've gotten pretty far. As they announce the next match for my bracket, I hear them call my last opponent to play for 2nd and 3rd....and I know I've made it to the hot seat!!!

match 5
In true double elimination, my opponent must beat me twice....race to 2 each match. He breaks and begins to run out the table. Hhhhmmmm - not fun. As I watch him shoot, I get the impression he's not "focused to win", but has the attitude of "Oh, I got this"........... He's shooting quickly, not paying attention to the layout of the table, and pretty much firing away. With two balls left and the 8, he calls a kick shot to move the 14 ball 3 rails. Wow! Okay! Now I'm not your smartest player, or the most talented, but this ball does NOT go. Maybe he knows something I don't.....but with all my balls near the 14 I can't imagine what he's gonna do. He fires away - It doesn't go.

I immediately look at all of my balls. No real good shot, I've got most of them up near the top rail, so I take the open shot and play safe. He has to kick and misses. I play safe. H goes for a cut and misses. I play safe. He's no longer firing away (what a concept!). Through out all this I slowly clear my balls since I've gotten them in front of pockets with all my safes. I have the 1 and 8 left. I have a pretty steep cut down the rail and the 8 is hanging. I f'n hang the one. HANG the one!!!!!!!!! I could've sneezed and it would've fell. UGH. He wins 1-0

He breaks and scratches. I continue my play, in not such a slow play, but focused, concentrated, and smart. As a group of his friends near the table to watch, he gets into conversation. Annoyed at the laughing hyenas, I stay focused. I'm down to 2 balls and the 8 and say SAFE, this gets his attention and he realizes if he doesn't make his next ball, I'm out. He cannot play safe and he stares at me. Hmph!. I end up winning and we're 1-1.

I'm on the hill...he needs this to stay in. I break, two balls fall, and I begin to layout my path. He has now moved away from his friends, and is watching closely. We go back and forth and he's on the 8. He has to cut and misses. I have two balls near the top rail, one I can cut, but one on the rail. I'm gonna have to slow roll the hell outta the cue ball because I can't hold it at that angle. He smirks, mumbles to his friends, and my horn come out. It's ON!!!!! I execute perfectly and I'm out! 2-1 and a few dollars richer!!! ;)

miSsoN complete!


Just for laughs.........3 days later.........

My bf had league so I tag along. We're get there a little early so we're practicing on our own tables. The other team starts to trickle in. I start to over here two guys talking:

Guy A: "How was that tournament?"

Guy B: "Oh, good! I took 2nd. I should've had the last one too, but some chick beat me. She got so lucky. I played so good and she was just firing away make balls fall. I felt bad for her, she really didn't know what she was doing so I'm okay that I let her win"

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????????????????????????????

I seriously wanted to laugh out loud.....but didn't. I did however have a HUGE smile on my face. Just as he was about to break, he looked over at my table. I smiled bigger than I think I ever have. He looked at me with such a blank stare, you would've thought he'd seen a ghost.

Guy A: "What's up man? Break already"

Guy B: "That's her. And, uh, she plays a good game........mumble, studder, muble......

Not only did I have no clue who my bf's team played that night, I was more than happy I came. Overhearing that, was probably sweeter than my victory as I got to sit quiet, smile, and know that I KICKED HIS ASS!!!!

slow and steady

Well it's been a few interesting weeks of HORRIBLE pool play and a shit load of hours to try and correct it all. I'm FINALLY back to playing well (well, decent at least) and it feels good.

Over the course of all this bad play, I knew what I was doing wrong (for the most part). And the more I tried to correct it all, the worse it got. The question became: Why was I doing it? I would get down, see the shot, line up correctly, and change at the last minute. The bf and I had endless arguments about what I was doing, why and how. I could've ripped his head off on many occasions, but I really don't have time for jail right now.

I already have a hell of a time listening to unwanted advice. There are times (most all the time actually) I really just want to hit balls, be left alone, and talk to no one! Please just let me be!!! I mean can't we just play and you not criticize my every shot. I'll figure it out - and when I can't, I'll ask. And I know he really is just trying to help.....i just don't need to be talked to like I'm 5 and don't understand you. Thanks for your understanding!!!

I took a little time off....a little. But those days really did make a difference. Last Sunday, the bf and I went to practice (which we do often on Sundays, because we can play our little hearts out with no interruptions). I finally felt like I was back to my old ways. Hitting what I knew, practicing what I didn't, making good shot selection, and getting out of not so great table layouts. I 100% think, that because I was getting good outs, I felt confident in my play again and automatically didn't think of all the negative thoughts I was having. I didn't once focus on the "what if's' and 'maybe's" and just PLAYED. It was a good feeling again. And now he was the quiet frustrated one, as I silently kicked his ass ;)

moving on...

I got a new tip put on last night!!! I play so much that my tip actually gets down to about the width of a dime sometimes before I actually decide to fork out the effort to change it. I know it sounds crazy, but I do think half the time I don't even realize it and have become so used to it that even shaping it some changes my game. Crazy - i know!

Anyhow, I put a LePro on for the first time. When I first started playing (really playing) I had Triangles. It's all I knew and I could've cared less and not known the difference if it was anything else. Then of course, the more I learned about pool - and all the equipment to go with - I was told to find what works for me. Liking the medium-hard tip I was used to, my last change was to a hard. (Water Buffalo, I believe). Just to see if I liked something new........... For the first two or threes weeks I wasn't comfortable. It was like hitting rocks across a parking with a bat. Then with slight adjustments, I got used to it and was fine. I decided to change again, to maybe just see what else was out there - and the fact I was playing so bad (event though I got back on track) I was looking for anything to fix my game - and that didn't help my mental decision. So I went LePro on ya! Now I've heard there isn't anything different between this tip than a Triangle, the LePro could actually be worse. One person told me it's the worst out there. But I've heard good things as well and so we shall see. I mean seriously it's just a tip and can always be replaced. Are there any suggestions for any other good tips for your average, run-of-the-mill, player???

yes - i'm still around......

I know, I know....it's been over a month since I've touched this blog - but hey, I've been busy okay?!?!

It has been a crazy few weeks in my world. CRAZY! But I'm still here - hangin' on by a thread. As work and life keep moving along, my pool world has been.......eh - okay. I seem to be kind of just trucking along. Playing when I have to, practicing when I can....it's all just been so-so. THIS HAS TO CHANGE.

I got asked to play in a three-man tournament. Handicap 9-Ball. Two out of three matches wins. I'm honored that these two individuals would consider me to play, they both are slightly above my level. Needless to say, I have to get some serious practice in. The tournament is 1 month away. Lately, when I do jump on a table for practice, I find myself hitting solid shots too softly, and light shots with way too much stroke. I know I'm doing this and as I try to compensate for it, I'm over or under hitting on the wrong stroke. I've also been finding myself getting some decent runs.....and then I'm on the last ball. I STARE at this ball FOREVER. Even when its dead in the whole. I have no clue why, but I have this fear lately of "what if it doesn't go? What if I over do this or that? Why I'm scared?" A hundred and sixty-nine things start running through my head and I can't control it. And if it's league night, I then have a whole team staring at me saying "What are you doing?" Its all really frustrating. Really, really, frustrating. So I definitely need to figure out what in the hell is going on with that.

On a lighter, happy, much less depressing, whoa is me note - I'm taking on a new task with a good friend of mine. We've decided to start a website for our local players. We cover our local tournaments, have a calendar that you can view weekly tournaments around town and upcoming larger events, photos, stories, feature local players, some miscellaneous all around pool news, and more. You can also sign up for a weekly e-newsletter to get your "quick" news which is sent out every Thursday. It's been a LOT of work. But as both of our passions are pool, it has all been worth it. We've got great support from friends and players around town. We want to promote and support this game we love so much.

If you get the time, check it out vegasbilliardsbuzz.com