Yes, we've been waiting!

Happy, Thanksgiving to everyone!

I just came back from a WPBA Amateur Championship in Denver, CO- finishing in whopping 3rd.  Along with the plaque & cash, I also unwillingly picked up sinusitis which has laid me up in bed for 3 days straight.

I woke up today somewhat coherent and feeling better, thanks to Amoxicillin and lots of fluid. I dashed to the grocery store to make side dishes to go along with the Smoked Turkey our friend Phil has prepared for us 3rd year in a row :)

During our dinner I thanked many blessings I have and thanked Mark for being himself... added "I think..."  and we all laughed.

I suggested after our meal for us to go catch a movie.  Mark says, "sure if there is anything worth watching?".

I replied, "Are you crazy?  WE'VE been waiting the whole year to watch the Harry Potter!"

"Oh, we have?"

"Yes, we have! Maybe, you didn't know, but we have!". 

We're going to see the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part - I.

Am I really this weird?

What is it about color coordinating and organizing my closet makes me feel so good but yet, I hate hanging up cloths? 

Sometimes, I can't make up my mind on what to wear out and end up having to try on several items of clothes and yes, they end up being shoved in a corner of shelves...

So, I spend hours hanging things up separated by type of clothes and color group... T-shirts here, jeans there, dress clothes on the other side, brown and brown, only boots on this shelve...

I am too slob to have that kind of OCD... I must have split personality as well?  OH-MY-GOSH!!!

We should learn to play like them...

I've been bit by a tennis bug this year and have been in LOVE!  2 Jan 2010 is the exact date I picked up the racket!

Immediately, I've joined a tennis league that competes week with other teams in the city limits.  When the season ends teams with top winning stats go to next round, the ddistrict, state and all the way to the Nationals.  The Spanish Oak team was my first league experience and was full of 2.5 but we were competing in 3.0.  Needless to say, we finished dead last in the city- hahaha.

However, I new friends and really enjoying the experience all together and especially the fact that tennis is an active sport and helps me maintain the physical fitness.

When the fall season started, my original team fail apart, largely due to the fact the Spanish Oak (the resident court) didn't want league people coming and abusing their courts and said we disturbed the peace of their neighborhood...  Which I can't blame them entirely for.  We were bunch of beginners and some people Jason -the coach brought were less than polite.

So I get a call from my tennis friend Merle who tells me she joined a Flamingo team and if I want to, then there is a spot for me as well...

Me:  Oh, really?  But I don't know anyone else there...

Merle:  I don't either, but you know they finished 2nd last season.  I want to learn to play like them.  They must be pretty good!

Me:  Yeah, I remember, they were full of older ladies but played real well... Spanish Oaks got crushed when we played them..

Merle:  Yeah, and it's not like you really don't know anyone there.  I'm playing~  Don't let me go there by myself?  Besides, if not them, who you going to play with?

Me:  OK, OK, you got me.  I guess there is a benefit to find out how they play.

So began a journey of this Flamingo nightmare...

Oh, so much more to come :)

What's it got to do with the price of tea in China?

At times, I post on a billiard forum, some silly, some serious and some down right ugly!

When there are anonymous people hiding behind their handle/ log in names, some people don't hold back and get down right ridiculous.  Most similarity I can compare this to is out of control sports fanatics.  They just loose control and cross the boundaries.

I was in a disagreement with someone on the forum and we both knew each other.

He decided to reply with near insult my opinion and throws in at the last sentence, "You do realize that I am a HUGE supporter of Mark and everything he does, don't you?"

What the ...?  What is that supposed to mean?  What is him supporting Mark (my hubby) has to do with the fact that we disagree on a public forum? Why, should I just roll over and say, "oh, sorry, I didn't know better and you're right?"

Most people support certain cause with different agendas.  Some for personal gain, financial gain, or just to agree... whatever the reason.  I hate when people confuse 'support' as 'loyalty' and expect things to be different...

Get REAL!

Thank God - I'm not crazy...

I've been lazy, busy or just having too much fun.  It's summer time and I've been spending lots of time just wondering around aimlessly and loving it.

We've been remodeling our 'New House' for last two years to give the 'Home' feel and I am convinced that this will be an on-going project for a long time.  I was so wrong when I said I was going to take 6 months off to decorate the house....

I'm still playing lots of tennis and it lifts my spirit.  Although my borderline OCD had pushed me to the point where I caused inflammation on my shoulder by practicing too much over heads and First Serve.  I was trying to serve like Andy Roddick and obviously has strained my shoulder.  When the discomfort didn't go away in a month, my doc put me on some steroids to help heal and ordered me to 'lighten' my activities.  I can't stress enough how much I hate taking steroids because it makes me extremely irritable at the slightest.  But the doc assured me that is the only way.

About a week into my "Steroid" treatment, I was competing in Women's Regional Tour and I was playing very well.  I returned on the Sunday as 4 on the winner's side and was playing like I could not be stopped.  I was running out from everywhere and my safeties were deadly!  My opponent could feel the pressure and it was getting harder and harder for her to put up a fight and soon, she couldn't make a ball.  It was Sunny's show and I was up 4-1 at race to 7.

My opponent took a break - in hope to gather her thoughts.  Which any competitor in right mind would do. 

As we resumed our match, bunch of people walked right next to my match table carrying a large table and some chairs, which they proceeded to sat up less than 4 ft from where I was playing.  A little confused by the situation, I turned to the tournament director and asked.  "Are they seriously going to sat here?"  The tournament director threw her hands up in the air and said, "They are having a Dart Tournament and they have to sat up there..." Pointing the Dart Machines on that side of wall.  Of course, my match is the first table directly in front of rows of Dart machine.

I thought to myself, 'why can they wait until I finish my match? It' almost over!'

Oh, well.  I was upset and disappointed, but I figure I just try to finish my match.  However, it wasn't that simple.  These people could careless or didn't know the importance of my match and was simply focused on setting up for their Dart Match.  As I was running out, they dragged a large table only couple feet from me scrapping across the floor making the annoying noise.  Some one followed and carrying a chair over head while I was shooting... I got up many times from down position because I thought someone was going to bump me while I release my shot.  So, it was inevitable with each shot, I was getting out of line from loosing focus and building up frustration... 

I got a little weird on the 8 but I knew exactly what I needed to get back in line for the 9.  I got up once, twice... to dodge the Darters and shot the 8.  But I poked at it cause I felt someone walking by in a quick pace and made me jump.  I didn't get there for the 9 and was left with a long 90 degrees cut or a bank.

I was furious!

Thinking back, I should had gone for the safety, but my gasket had blown and couldn't think straight.  I probably didn't even have to come up with a great safety, just something for my opponent to have to work for, but I was impatient wanting to get that game over with.  And I was making great shots all day so I went for the bank... came up short and was headed back for two rails, except it ran out of gas and stopped right in the middle of side pocket with the cue ball 2 ft in front of the side pocket.... I was wrong... my gasket didn't blow earlier... it was just leaking steam from the crack... THIS TIME IT BLEW!

Looking back, I totally lost it and I couldn't control my anger and emotion.  It wasn't about the game anymore... I took a break but it didn't help. 

I don't need to go into a great detail, but I lost that match.  I ended up missing few more key shots, 7, 8, 9... and gave my opponent every advantage to regain her confidence and the table had turned.  I was so furious it got to the point where I couldn't see the contact point.  It was just all blurr... the whole table was blurr... my head was burning up from madness and I couldn't explain or regroup.

I was immediately called to the one loss match.  I didn't have time try to figure out but I was desperate to try something.  I don't drink when I play completive pool but I thought maybe one beer could relax me... so I had a beer... didn't help, another one no...

So I was out of the tourney where I felt like it was supposed to be mine and was left with a throbbing headache...

What disappointed me the most was how I could not regain composure and take back my match.  I didn't even put up a fight in the one loss round.  I was too grossed out.

After the tourney, even though it was early in the evening, I was exhausted and took a nap.  When I awoke, I felt a little better and thought about the tournament little more.  It really bothered me that I was not able to control my anger ... like never before...  Why was I soooooo angry?

CRAP!!!  F$#&^&^%^!!!!!

I was on that crap STEROID for a week!!!

OK, now I don't feel like I'm crazy - thank God :)

My on again, off again relationship with pool...

Yeah... I really can't seem to make up my mind. 

This weekend, 17-18 April I flew to Phoenix, AZ to compete in Arizona Women's Billiard Tour (AZBT). A recognized regional semi pro tour in order to compete if anyone wants to open an opportunity to join the Women's Professional Billiard Tour (WPBA).

I haven't been practicing  much, especially when I spent all of my free time on the tennis court...So, I was playing very inconsistent, but I got by my first day and returned on the winner's side on Sunday.  However, this is when my lack of practice and inconsistency will punish me brutally!  All the weak players had been weeded out.

I had chocked couple times when I played descent players and finished out on 4th.  Maybe, this was the humility I needed in order to get myself into practicing on the table, but we will see. I, myself at times don't know exactly what I want to do.

I lied...

OK, I tried and tried to psych myself into believing that I am back to playing serious pool, but I am either not ready or never will.  However, I found out that I can be completely happy without having to compete in pool. 

It is funny, though... I always though when I retire from the Navy that I will pursue pool full time with goals of making into pro's.  But now that time is here, it really isn't in my heart nor is it enjoyable.  I found myself getting more involved with promotion and behind the scene of tournament. 

I was over in LA last weekend for the Swanee Memorial Tournament with full intention to compete, but I changed my mind last minute to help out with running the tournament instead.  One of the reason being is that the field  was full and there were people in the waiting list for someone to not show.  I looked at their faces and could see that they were much more eager to play than myself.  Giving up the spot was more than easy and almost too easy...

So, I lied.  I am not back to playing pool.  I will figure out one day but for now, I am content and spending more time playing and learning tennis.