I'm BAAAAACK~ to playin pool, that is

TV4U is a Vegas based Production Company which recently took an interest in pool matches. So to tape a pilot show and to get their feet wet, they decided to come and film the final matches at Putter’s 1st Annual Fall Classic.  It was a full line production featuring a local TV sports announcer and Jim Blakeman (a stong player who we were all glad didn't sign up) as commentators, multiple cameras/ crew and a stage.  Mark Estes with help of Adam Pfeifer spent many back breaking hours building the stage from the scratch and hung all the banners.

It featured 9 ball scotch doubles and 8 ball singles. Both events enforcing a well established local handicap system.  Criterias for the Scotch was that combined handicap of the players could not exceed 17 and the individual's handicap score set their race to on the 8 ball singles.  The event was alternate break through out and played on beautiful and awesome Diamond Smart Tables.  This event received quite the buzz, (haha- buzz. check out the http://www.vegasbilliardsbuzz.com/) and many sponsors stepped up.  Along with a leading billiard company, CSI (CueSports International) and USAPL (USA Pool League), it was refreshing - ahhh - to have Chrome Soda as one of sponsors.

Mark Estes coordinated the tournament along with tv4u and decided to throw in a women’s invitation event called “Queen of the Hill”.  This was discussed in their meeting many times before and they agreed it was a perfect time and place to get a demo shot to present it to possible sponsors.  And so Mark Estes was the sole barrer of deciding whom to choose for the part.  Decisions... decisions.

It wasn't too hard for Mark to choose Amy Encinias as his first choice.  After all, Amy had just wont the ACS National Women Standard 8 Ball Champion 2009 and becoming a fierce player of her own.  And I was thrown in the mix and soon we were billed as ‘two of Vegas’ top female players’. I laughed my ass off when I read that. Granted that I did win a BCAPL National title in 08, but I had hardly been competing or playing ‘quality’ pool for over a year. I was officially on a break.

However, this forced me to start practicing and gave me a push to get back in pool. It was sink or swim time, literally! So I took the deep plunge and signed up to compete in the whole sh-bang!

As for the Scotch Double… umm me and my partner went out in two. Race to 4 alternate break 9 ball can be quite brutal – to say the least.

8 Ball? I did ok enough to win the 2nd highest women finisher pot.  Holly Ryan nabbed the top women spot.  Way to go Holly :)

On the Sunday for the tv4u filming, Amy and I was up first! And we were both so nervous, we couldn’t even breathe!

The race was real short and once again alternate break it was impossible for neither of us to settle into the match. I could see my finger tips shake as I place my hand to bridge every time and it didn’t make it easy knowing that a camera followed my every move to catch my disappointment whenever I missed a shot or made an error.

If I wasn’t so lucky rest of the week, then the rolls finally turned for me. I got lucky couple times and it was enough to win the Challenge. So, if this thing gets picked up, there will be more of me and Amy :)

I know I put more pressure on myself and therefor, everyone else around me suffered greatly that weekend.  Especially Mark - poor guy.  If to change the billiard industry and be the savior of US Pro pool isn't overwheming enough, he married me with all my dramas, LOL.

This is great. It's not enough that I already talk to myself constantly, but I get to blog mobil?

It's over, my lover - you will always, always in my heart!

It's Over Benging, I'm calling end to our love affair!
OK, I have been thinking about this for a long time and gave it a serious thought. I feel it’s time to break off my love affair with food. My metabolism has finally reached its retiring years and cannot keep up with all my intakes…

I broke down and ordered the Nutrisystem Plan yesterday… Because, I am not equiped to do it on my own. I've tried many fad diets own my own but most seemed too restricted and often too complicating to follow with all the researching, counting and adding! Crap, how do I figure out the calories for a homemade sauce, that I don't know what its made up of? It started to feel like I was back in school and struggling with homeworks everyday. So many times, I screwed up without realizing or wanting and the results were slow or not even noticeble. So, maybe this way, I only have to stick to the planed meals and approved addatives and snacks.

I envy the people who eat food as a necessity, not as a pleasure like myself. Such a person is my husband, Mark. If he didn’t absolutely have to, he rather not eat and not waist time while doing so. He eats only because he knows he cannot function without at least one meal a day… Errr..

Me, on the other hand, I love food with a passion to the point of borderlining an obsession! I don’t even have to be hungry. I can be easily enticed just by it's aroma, color and presentation! I will eat just because someone next to me is eating…

Friends and acquiantances throughout my life's been amazed by the speed of my metabolism I once had and many seriously believed that I probably had belly full of tape worms from all the sushi and raw food I loved to consume. They always taunted me that one day, when my age catches up that I will ballon up like a Zeppelin...

How I wished they were wrong, but I start to notice the numbers on my scale increasing, along with little extra handle here and little giggles there. I hoped it would somehow magically disappear, because my clothes confiremed the reality. It was one gloomy day when I put on one of my favorite jeans and saw my reflection in a mirror. Long and behold...I had a “Muffin top”!

That was it! I went out and joined a gym and hired a personal trainer. It has been two months with a personal trainer, working out with weights and cardio, but I still have not lost much weight. It was apparent to me, but I kept looking away from the inevitable truth…

I have to eat healthier along with the excercise. No more binging, no more 5 plates at a buffet and no more eating until the bed time. And certainly, no more frequent alcohol intake.

I have to really keep myself motivated to stick with my meal plans.

I really have to get back in shape.

I want to feel good about myself again!

So, good bye, Lover, All you can eat,...I will always long for you...

Why do I worry non-sense?

I have been waking up with tingling numbness in my finger tips and at times with some pain.  My left hand was worse than my right.  I would wake up with my fingers so swollen, at times I couldn't take my ring off even with soap to lubricate.  I now take my ring off before going to sleep.

My doctor says it appears be an early stage of carpal tunnel syndrome and ordered me to use one of those soft braces to secure my wriste when I sleep.  It's been better, but only if I use the brace to go to sleep...and it's a pain in a neck...

Things like this really got into my head when I was having issues.  I wondered if I got out of Navy without taking care of my hand(s) and if this could ultimately eliminate me from playing pool altogether...

Silly me...

Alien Fresh Jerky - best jerky on earth!

Whenever a road trip is made from Vegas to LA, I find myself aways stopping at a small town of Baker, CA. The city of Backer is practically of two blocks in out of nowhere. Baker's main and only attraction is that it's home of world's largest thermometer, which stands 134 ft tall.

So, why do I stop at Baker? Not because I need a break or to re-fuel, but because I HAVE TO stop by the Alien Fresh Jerky store! I look forward to the road trip just thinking about all the yummy flavors of beef jerky and special olives:)

The whole store is decked out with the alien theme and I don't mean by just packaging, key chains and T - shirts.

As you drive up a mechanical alien sitting on the roof waves you in. Most people don't notice that. So check it out!

Although it was very last days of September, the temperature sored up around 110 degrees in Baker, CA.

As you walk into the store, you are greeted by every hottest sauce you can imagine. There are no medium grade hot sauce here. These are all insanely hot ones that each comes with their special warning label and deleting instruction. I must had spent hours of checking out each bottle and reading it's label. Some are just outrageously hilarious and some are just stupid hot!

Some sauce comes with it's little dropper because it says on the bottle to "use one drop at a time". Some just call themselves "THE HOTTEST FUCKING SAUCE", "Satan's Blood" and "Pain".

Even though I love hot sauce, but these sauce are worthy of my "Respect" to the point I will only use it for large pot of soup or stew, but never on my daily food. That's how how these suckers are!

These are their famous Alien Fresh Jerky. Along with the most popular style or flavors of jerkeythey also boost their trade marked flavors. Few that stuck in my head are, Abducted Cow, BBQ on the Moon and of course my favorite Colon Cleaner Hot jerky. The Colon Cleaner Hot got me in trouble few times and is not recommended to consume on an empty stomach! Trust me, 4 Peptic acids, 2 zantac and a gallon of water later, my stomach still was kicking me from inside out!

There are also trail mixes and other nick knacks but it's main attraction is their Jerky and the neighbors:)

There were some locals?!? In the parking lot. I guess they ran out of jerky as well:)

It was good to know that both babies were safely strapped in their baby sit.

It looked like they were expanding to a sandwich shop, next door. I could see there were new kitchen equipments being installed along with one of those sandwich/ pizza grill.

I will know more on my next road trip to LA:)

25 Chevy

Over the weekend, me and Mark went over to the Hard Time Billiards, Bellflower to sweat the action of Morra and Dominguez TAR Challenge 16. It was great match, production and overall fantastic time:)

On our way back we stopped over to see how the BUS was doing. During our last road trip, there were little things acted up that needed looking over.

While Mark and the mechanics were doing their chat, I looked over the shop and found some interesting vehicles... some were very, very old.

Here is a 1925 Chevy... Which I fell head over heels in love with:)




I asked Mark that I want it as a Christmas present and Mark just snorted - that means no! Not even "I will think about it", LOL. I don't know what it was about it that I found it so amusing but I just could not get enough of it. The owner was gracious enough to let me check it out. He says they take it out like once a year for a car show or a parade.

Wow, check out the engine ... I wonder if you can find those parts still. Mark joked, "what you got in there? A lawn mower?" Haha, funny.

Speedometer goes only to 80mph:) far less than my AMG, but I was surprised to know that it still runs and is drivable.

I really want this little Ol'Chevy:)

I should have went shopping instead...

Yes, it has been a while, but I too was ridiculously busy.

I've finally moved out to Vegas and somewhat got situated.

One of my immediate goal was to join a gym and I did so.

I've created a temporary schedule which is to work out mando (mendatory) on Mon, Wed and Friday and go to the office on Tues and Thursday. Believe it or not, Mark has been assigning me special projects and he wants me at the office at regular time to keep up with the "politics".

So, today was my first day showing up at the office and Mark greeted me with a new project as soon as I stepped my foot into the office. I certainly was not surprised, after all I live with the man and we talk about work everyday. However, it was news to some crew that were there.

"Don't you wish you went shopping instead?"

I've heard something similar to that statement before... more like over and over. Most people assume I just sit around make a shopping list and spend - spend - spend. But the funny thing is my designer shopping days pretty much came to a halt when I got married... now I shop at the grocery shop!

What happened?

Mark keeps reminding me I don't need any more shoes or purses, LOL.

Visting Country:)

After packing up from Indianapolis, we headed down south to visit some friends and family along with a vacation. Well it gets a little complicated, and confusing... in actuality, they're sort of Mark’s distant – divorced - step family. Mark’s step grand son from his first marriage had a son and Mark wanted to make a visit.

So… that makes me ... a step - great – grand – ma?!? When I told this to Justin, one of my good friends, he busted out into laughter so hard, I thought I had gone def in one ear… err!

First stop was Cedartown, GA a quick visit to Mark’s long time good friend, Jerry Forsyth – out in middle of nowhere, literally. Our 3 GPS system could not locate Jerry’s home so he met us from a main road and guided us to his paradise. Was it a good thing that he did! Our Bus needed extra trimming of branches from trees on each side of barely two lane road to get through.

Jerry whipped over to grab his chain saw from his house and Mark pulled out the expandable ladder and cutter from the storage belly of the bus. Jerry was definitely an outdoor boy, he had no problem climbing to the top of the bus to trim the branches as Mark drove forward, working his chain saw expertly. I guess a picture is worth a thousand words here.

Fran, Jerry’s wife was an extraordinary woman, who was cute as a button and had more energy than most 20 year old! She greeted us in her straw hat, rubber boots and layers of clothes while tending to her organic garden and didn’t even break a sweat.

Once we got in, boys talked about what’s going on in the billiard industry, mostly going wrong and Fran gave me a quick brief on Organic Harvesting for Dummies – 101. She had natural herbs and seasoning for everything, including a natural sweetening leaf that she used for cooking to coffee and tea - Fascinating!

Next morning, I crushed couple of leaves of this plant to sweaten my morning cofee:)

She was so vibrant and full of “good” energy, I felt good just to be in her kitchen and smell all the natural organic herbs. It really relaxed me to no end.

Me and Mark agree that we’re both “city folks” and couldn’t adapt to permanent country living, but we both certainly enjoyed the short stay. It really was beautiful and calming out there.

Thanks Jerry and Fran for the hospitality and sorry Jerry for almost giving you a heart attach when I took off into a long nature jog by myself without a cell phone. Who knew there were 3 bulls running wild out there in your neighborhood? Who just leave thier bulls to roam around?

I just thought all of your neighbor rised cute donkeys like the ones who live a mile away from you:)

Dumb city girl, right?

Cougar? Really?

I am starting to notice that more and more boys at a drive through and at the register is looking more and more.... not like they used to make when I was 20 some...



Here is a proof. One time I was flying, I sat at the window and a middle aged man at the isle. Soon we realize that we weren't so lucky and a young beauty joins the middle seat heading to Las Vegas. She sits down and I can see her curves filled every bit of her torn and tattered jeans. She is every bit of a woman.



Our guest to the isle asks. "Is this your first time to Vegas? I know the perfect party spot!"



The young and hot middle seat answers. "I don't party, I'm only 15 and traveling with family friends!"




How awkward!!!! But I could had never guessed she was only 15!!! It was so unbelievable, I asked her if I could take her pix. Here she is ....Yeah, and the Mr. Pink shirt - I know where to party, LOL.


They just don't look the way they used to when we were 15. Oh and it gets worse... later she tells me that she's almost 15, arrrgh!!!!

Tid Bits

This is one of my favorite pix of Mark-taken in Indianapolis, one chilly night out with me:)

Not that I love shopping that much, it just happened to capture his real smile that many don't get to appreciate. I love me some Mark.

The "BUS"

During an early stage of our very short existted "courtship", Mark mentioned that he owns a "BUS" which he kept at a RV lot and how much he enjoyed the RV'ing. Then he proceeded to tell me how much "I" would enjoy it as well! The ability to travel without set schedules, boundaries and limitation, all the freedom and so on...This got me a little wherry, no actually quite terrified!

My eyes almost popped out of my socket as I snapped "RV Park? I don't think so! I don't think I can live on limited supplies and amenities!" Well... my actual words were little more R rated:)

In my mind, I pictured this tiny RV camper (similar to photo on the left) with limited water supply to go along with tiny shower stall...where I couldn't bend over to pick up the shampoo bottle and a fold out couch to sleep on! No way...I protested over and over. I wasn't having it!

"No, no, honey, you'll really like the BUS, it's 45 ft long, very roomy and it's got everything you need. Plus, it's not just on a regular RV park, it's at one of the top RV Resort in the US! It's hard to get a lot there!" He said 45 ft, but for someone who have no dept perception or with limited mental dimension ability 45 ft didn't sound much different from 4.5ft. I am extremely visual creature with hyperactive imagination. Not a very good combo at this time because it filled my mind with images of fear and frustration. I saw myself stuck in some wooded area being eaten alive by swarm of mosquitoes while Mark enjoyed the outdoor scenery without a bother!

Yes, I'm one of those people who are allergic to all insect bites and swell all over. If that isn't enough, my blood is more enticing to mosquitoes than average jo's. To simply put, my blood to mosquito is like a Fillet Mignon to a steak lover. So having me around in a mosquito infested area is as good as wearing a mosquito repellent because they will get fill on me and leave others alone. Some fortunate gift I have!

Mark went on and on about this BUS and his RV Resort and I suspected a hint of irritation, probably because he could tell my mind was closed off to the idea. I could see his face cringe with frustration as he was left to wonder why he even had to convince me to like the BUS. I think he was even offended even how I had no interest it at all.

Well, one day we had to go to the "BUS" cause Mark needed to get something from there.

We pulled up to a gated community with 24 hour security guard and the gate was opened when the gate guard noticed the decal on our car. I thought, 'hmm, maybe not that bad...at least I don't have to worry about waking up all tied up in someone else's basement...YES, I watch too many scarry movies and would be afraid to ever spend a night in a tent, camp ground or even on a secluded neighborhood...

As we drove around I was pleasantly surprised that Mark wasn't just pulling my chain:) about the RV Resort. It was truly beautiful and relaxing palm trees and every where and each lot boasted professional land escaping, water fountains tropical style huts. It was as each lot owners tried to out do each other! Some lots were so extravagant that just the upgrades and land escaping alone was more expensive than some houses in Indiana! Resorts amenities included 3 swimming pools, jacuzzi, a giant club house with gym and 3 Diamond Pool Tables. (Yeah, pool table, LOL)

OK, maybe... just maybe I can be comfortable here... but what about the BUS? I will still be cramped in there...As I looked around, I noticed some of the RVs were more "over the top" than others. I mean, like the ones you see rock stars and athletes travel around in - and there were many of them...but I held my breath...

Finally, we pulled up to our and there it was!

OK, now I got the visual of 45 ft and yes, I think I can, just maybe big enough for me. Holly Batman, it was HUGE! But still skeptical... I need to see the inside... what was in there? bunch of seats? it looks like a huge bus from outside and me being never in one of those monster BUS, for all I know, it maybe full of bunk beds... Right? It's possible...



OK... here goes.



OH-MY-GOSH!!!



OHHHH----MY……………..


I was greeted by 2 beige leather recliners, one each for the driver and a passenger. I looked at the steps, and I thought to myself 'what is this? marble steps?' Yes, the entire BUS is decked with white marble floor and granite counter tops! Full kitchen with large fridge and every appliance to cook and play with! In the back was the bed room... Not to shabby, huh?





Of course, separate bathroom and shower definately passed my seal of approval. The shower was large enough that I could do yoga even if I wanted to, LOL. And the best part? The walk in closet, baby!

OK, I think I played it off well enough to hide my excitement from Mark but I thought, I just might... maybe... possibly like this RV living:) thing after all.

...

...

Leaving the Navy

Yes! I am no longer bound by the laws of UCMJ, the military Uniform Code of Justice. As if today, I am free to voice my opinion in a honest way and I have waited a long time for today...

I have had learned and experienced great deal from the Navy and it's a rewarding experience that will benefit me for the rest of my life. I know I will be more able to adapt to changes and stressful events rather quickly than most - face the challenges and seek for solution! List goes on and on. I can't really thank the Navy enough.

Some people never get out of their comfort zone and spend their entire life being surrounded by same people, same job and same culture. Nothing wrong with that, but the Navy has given me the opportunity to interact with people from all sorts of back ground and from many corners of the states and even the world. It truly opened my eyes to look beyond their appearance, body language and any distraction to truly listen to people and see their quality or purpose.

I am by nature an intuitive person and thought that I was a very good judge of character. Many times, I made my decisions within seconds and new if I like that person or not - done deal, just like that! Well, with the teachings of Navy and diverse interaction has awakened a more observant side of me and now I am more careful and wiser.

If you're a fan of personality tests, you can say that being in the Navy has slowly changed me from totally intuitive to intuitive and analytical.

So, here goes why I left the wonderful Navy that has made me a better person through and through.

When I married Mark, it became a challenge to balance our life style and my Navy career. Mark wasn't an ideal military spouse - dependent is a military term for family and I would be a sponsor. Military spouses, usually have to give up their career to support their sponsor's military career. Be able to pick up and move to every continent of the world or face a long separation if not allowed to accompany - such as hostile location, can you say Iraq? or on a ship. Many military spouse pick up part time jobs, work at home or become a stay at home parent..


However, Mark is a successful businessman based out of Los Vegas and with many employees that depend on him. Plus, his business required frequent travel and he is actively involved in many other projects. So, began the long distance marriage me flying all over the coasts, about twice a month to be with Mark as much as possible. In the beginning everything was fine and exciting but soon, the tolls of travel and odd working hours start to get the best of me.

My basic routine were: Get caught up, travel, work while and during leave (burning vacation time) in Los Vegas home, travel, work late to get caught up with no overtime pay and travel... I was seriously getting burnt out!

After about a year of this ... I carefully weighed out my options. I could request for next duty station to be in Las Vegas or in Cali - Navy's presence is predominant in CA. Me and Mark had many serious conversation to not just through away the 15 years of service and not receive the retirement pension for it.

But then the deal breaker came.

As I advanced in the ranks of Navy, more and more I see people playing manipulative games to get over on people. I got stabbed and stepped on because I refused to play the game and up hold what I believe in. It was a dog it dog world times 10!

Plus, I was in the era of clashing of Old and New Navy!

The Old Navy was that the Rank meant everything! You just don't stand up or correct anyone who is ranked higher than you. And how do you achieve higher ranks? Connection and time served! Education, managing, communication and leadership skills had nothing to do with it. Needless to say, there are lots of people sitting in leadership position collecting their high paychecks and DEMAND respect by the color of their uniform.

Well, that's where my problem gets thicker... I just cannot eat shit with a smile on my face. I really had hard time respecting someone who just didn't have a clue, abused their authority and couldn't adapt to the changing Navy. They thought they had special rules for them that didn't apply to others and it made my skin craw every time I heard, "if you made the paycheck like he/she did, then you can do the same!"

The New Navy is more relaxed and are trying to run more like a corporate. Training and selecting deserving people for certain roles with more credibility and quality. Many benefit to encourage further education to obtain a degree. In the New Navy, an enlisted member with a Doctorate Degree is not un heard of and even becoming a trend.

However, the phasing of Old to New hasn't yet had it's full revolution and still some are getting by the influence of Old.

This was the life I dealt with before Mark and would had completed my 20 to retire, but when looking at all the options, it was best that I left the Navy to be at Mark's side. We would be much more happy and and able to truly enjoy each other.

Closing a Chapter...

14 yrs 05 mos and 22 days is how long I lived under the rules of UCMJ, the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It is today that my current enlistment to US Navy is expired and I voluntarily separated without completing 20 years to retire. That is a small price to pay to enjoy few good years of happiness with the love of my life while he is still healthy and able to enjoy the traveling.

Today, I cleaned off my desk and I had to rub it into my ex coworkers that I was going to go to sleep tonight with all of my 5 alarm clocks turned off:) I have been suffering from insomnia and haven't been able to go to sleep without some sort of aid for a long time.

I had mixed reviews of my retirement as expected. Some were happy and wished me well for the future and some were just sour grapes-which didn't bother my at all.

Today is end of my Navy life and tomorrow embarks a new beginning.

Let the adventure begin!

Till Samen E Himlin... Together in Heaven

In the mid 60s, Mark read a book called Days of Wine and Roses, which was later made into a movie. In the book there was a phrase in a foreign language, "Till Samen E Himlin". It translated to English as "Together in Heaven".

For some reason, it struck a cord with Mark, so he wrote it down on a piece of paper and put it into his wallet...He carried it around - forever...

2008 January, over 40 years later, it is inscribed into my ring which was to promise his love to me. There was no hesitation on him as he pulled out that piece of paper - when the jeweler asked if there was a personal inscription he wanted for my ring - that it was I who completed him. It struck a different cord with me...forever!

Till Samen E Himlin...

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