New City, New Pool - with a Caveat

One of my friends, who I met about 20 years ago when we joined the same team, has not been playing pool lately.  She might occasionally play at a local jaunt on a Friday night to show the big ego guys a chick can play, lol, but she hasn't played league in a few years.  Mostly because of the drama associated with the leagues she was on - either between players or how the leagues were run.

My friend is moving to a new city, and I mentioned to her that maybe because she was moving to a new location, did she happen to have interest to join a league in the new area?  She is very talented and really enjoys playing.  I told her there are some good pool rooms around her, and she wouldn't really know everyone, and it would be a change of scenery, change-of-pace, new league operators, and away from the previous drama that she had been around in her home town.

I honestly thought she was going to say no.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised when she said she had actually thought of this also! However, with a caveat - she made it a point to say she wouldn't join any leagues at pool rooms.  

I was intrigued!  

So, even though I'm super shy and never one to press or ask prodding questions (yeah, right Melinda, lol!), I asked her what she meant.  And of course you all know what that means next - I want to write about it!  

My friend had played in some leagues that didn't care about the players. She was burned by them, and it has stuck with her. Also, she has had some bad luck dating career pool players. Hmm, I can attest to that, also, so you can throw me into that club, too, lol.

So, therefore, she doesn't want to play in big leagues or be around career players. Being a single, pretty, female who can play pool, the career pool players hit on her a lot, but they aren't the type of guys she is interested in. She explained that it's less stressful, less drama, and honestly a lot more fun to play pool out of bars instead of leagues in pool rooms. She expanded, "I would rather meet real people who happen to enjoy pool...and that happens in the bars that don't cater to [certain leagues]."

It was a different and interesting perspective, one I hadn't thought of.

Support as We Improve

I think one of the coolest things I've witnessed in my 20-plus years of playing pool is when a league captain or league teammates understand that at times their high caliber player(s) may be picked up to play in state or national tournaments.

Obviously I'm not talking about stealing you away, lol, but if your current league team isn't going to state or nationals, and you get picked up by a strong team, that's a pretty cool honor! And when captains and teammates see this as an amazing opportunity for their top shooter, it means the world to that player to have their support! And when I see this type of support, it warms my heart full.

Let me be more specific.

This means their teammates not only understand, but are genuinely happy they were picked for a high-caliber team, because it means they either play that good or have improved so much they are now sought-after for big events.

What am I trying to say?

I am trying to say that yes it's normal to be jealous of a teammate who excels, and obviously this wouldn't happen if your a team was already going to state or nationals, but when captains or teammates are unhappy, jealous, and/or vocal to a teammate who gets picked up for a national or state team, it's actually not very fun for that player. They get hurt, upset, and the words can increase their anxiety when "friends" make crappy comments (instead of being understanding and supporting).

It's so cool when our game has improved so much that other teams are seeking us out to join them for state and national tournaments!  We go to sleep with a smile on our face because we are so elated people have noticed our game has improved, and we get to play with that team who's teammates we always looked up to. We share with our loved ones and closest friends how excited we are about the new opportunities and we can't believe it!

But then our happiness is squashed like a bug when our captain or teammates make rude comments about us "leaving them" or "we didn't get asked to go" or "why did they ask you?"  They make us feel bad; they really don't understand. And instead of seeing this as a great reward for us improving, they only rain on our parade!

It kind of reminds me how a great leader would never stop their employees from getting promotions. They might have been the perfect fit for your group at work, but a good leader will let them go, will let them succeed, will let them prosper, and happy for them to be moving up.

So, when I hear that captains and teammates aren't supportive, it makes me feel bad for that player.

I went through it; most players who have improved have experienced this lack of support and jealousy. And that's what's kind of crazy, right?  We work on our game to improve, people notice, and then our own teammates get upset at us.   

wth?!  lol.

Here's a little secret - it's actually not an easy decision to step away from our current league team to play in a state or national tournament with others. Sure, it's a natural progression to our game, but the first few times we do this, it's actually a little uncomfy. So, it would be helpful if we had people that supported us, instead of getting upset with us. 

That's why I think it's so wonderful when a captain or teammates are supportive! I'm proud and happy for those who have worked on their game and improved. Aren't you? 

League Players and Tournaments

Katniss sent me a message the other day, "I have a quick question for you."

Being who I am, I got all excited!

I replied, "I love questions!"

She asked, "Do you believe that players get comfortable with league play and not so comfortable competing in big tournaments?"

Wow, what a question!

"It really depends on who you are asking about.  Some league players stay league players and never really improve, and therefore don't do well in big tournaments.  They are perfectly fine with that - they love playing in league with their friends and they have a lot of fun.  While other league players want to work on their game and improve, and when they do that, they become better competitors in tournaments.

So, the answer is really yes and no."

Katniss replied, "I was asking because of a certain player who is in the top spot of my Tuesday league...he did not place well in singles at the State tournament this past year. I mean, we can all have bad days, so maybe he just didn't do well this year. But the top players on my Tuesday league never miss - either against me or my teammates. So, I think highly of their game and expect top performance at all times, so that is why I was surprised of their finish. Or maybe they do not do well in big tournaments with "other" top ranking players? Hmmm."

I told her I had wondered that exact same thing before about top players in league who don't finish well at the state tournaments. I never really understood it, either.

But.... then I did.

She is exactly correct.  You see, many of the top league players get super comfortable and quite content in their weekly leagues.  But if they don't work on their game, don't want to, or don't play in more non-league events, then they wont be competitive in tournaments.

"For some people, it's a natural progression to go from league play to big tournaments and/or playing on tours.  For others, they only stick to league (or only have the skills or means to do league play) and aren't interested in playing in other types of tournaments.  Or, they might want to improve, but they haven't really done anything about it for years.

So, again, the answer is yes and no."

I shared further my opinion (I know, you are all surprised, lol!):  "The top league players that only play in league will always be a league player.  If they would play in bigger tournaments more often, their game would improve from all those experiences and they would be more than just top league players (if that's what they want)."

She said she understood and also defended them saying, "Oh well, everyone has their own feelings and reasons as to why they do what they do."

And she has a good point!  Some people are perfectly fine with only playing in league; there is nothing wrong with that at all.

This is a good time to share something I witnessed when I ran the Omega Tour.  A couple of good friends of mine who were top league players finally wanted to play on the Omega Tour when it was being hosted by one of their local pool rooms that they were used to playing in.  It was close to their house, they felt "at home," and it was a comfortable setting.  So, they took the plunge to play on a Tour stop!

Although these two guys were extremely successful on their league teams and the type of player we all feared at league, they quickly discovered they were a fish out of water playing on the Tour.  They were no longer the top player in the room.  And the feelings and pressure they experienced were pretty rough on them.  Neither lasted until Sunday, and they were very disappointed and disheartened.  But, they simply didn't have enough experience away from league.  One of the two guys played in another stop, but by the end of Saturday night he was out of the tournament and then he wanted his money back for the events he had paid for in the future; he recognized he just wasn't competitive.  He was so deflated - I felt very bad for him.

Sharing this story is not to deter anyone, it's to share with you that we all start out this way and it just takes time and experience playing in different types of tournaments often to become competitive.  It doesn't happen overnight.  I truly believe if they would have kept playing on the tour, the next year or two they would have been lasting until Sunday.  But, while one was interested, his schedule didn't allow for that and the other was just too frustrated to keep trying.

But her question leads to the EXACT tip I have stated over and over in my blog that one of my all time greatest pieces of advice to improve is to play in as many tournaments as you can. 

"In order to do well in tournaments, you must play in as many as you can. Please hear these words. You cannot learn to handle pressure or learn mental toughness with only a couple of tournaments a year. You need conditioning over and over in a tournament environment to give yourself the best chance to gain experience."

Enjoying League Again

A few friends of mine have confided in me that they are dreading league because there is some drama going on.  Whether that's from players arriving late consistently, people not getting along, players getting jealous and acting up, or people not agreeing with the captain - the pulse is the same:  they aren't having fun at league and dreading going.

Every time my friends vent to me, I just smile inside and am grateful I don't have to deal with all that anymore.  It kinda reinforces my decision to not play pool.

HOWEVER!

"Oh, here comes the howevers…." you are thinking lol

However, there have been a couple of recent instances where some friends have shared they are actually enjoying pool again.

Wait, what?

Turns out, they are no longer feeling pressure and therefore they are having fun again!  They have joined teams that are about having fun, and not about trying to be in first place.  Further (and most importantly), they no longer HAVE to show up to play league, no longer feel pressure to win, and no longer have teammates that are getting on to them if they happen to lose a match.

I admit, it was a nice change of pace to hear some GOOD news about leagues and my friends renewed joy again in playing the game we all love.  :)

League and Fun and Friends

A friend of mine recently hadn't been playing league.  Either due to choice of not playing on certain leagues anymore, and/or because another one of her leagues was in between sessions.  So, she just wasn't playing league right now.

Well, one of her friends convinced her to play on their team.

And what she found was - she REALLY needed the time with friends and time away from the "real world" for awhile.

I think a lot of people look at league as something they have to do - their team needs you or you need to put in weeks to qualify for State or Nationals or the team is short and you have to play (no matter what!).

But league becomes more fun when you can play on your terms.  

And my friend actually needed a break.  She wondered at first, "Do I even have time to go to league tonight?  I have so much to do."  But what she found was she enjoyed the break, enjoyed playing the game she loves, and enjoyed being around her friends.

When league because a "I have to go" (for whatever the reason) to "I am just going to go play," it becomes fun again!

So happy she said "yes" to the new team.  :)

Top Players Have Pressure, Too

Katniss of Project Hunger Games has already, in just two weeks of being part of the blog, has cross-pollinated with The Danielson Series!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Danielson's confidence increasing because he's found himself in a new position lately - as one of the best players on his new league.

Katniss read the blog entry and shared she really liked the topic. I told her, "I thought of you too, actually.  Because you help some of your teammates and also because you are a top player in your league - so you have the same feelings of confidence because of those things, right?"

She said, "Yes ma'am." (she's so polite lol), but also shared, "But in my case I feel pressure at times, also.  Because everyone thinks so highly of my game, I feel pressure sometimes keeping up my performance at that level all the time.  That's not possible, though, and so I looked at that as a failure and take it harder than anyone else."

I shared with her I used to also have the same feelings of positiveness and pressure at the same.  Although we gain confidence, being a top player can definitely lead to pressure, too.

It is actually really weird dynamics to have confidence, but also feel all on eyes are on us which adds pressure, lol.

Katniss added, though, something really awesome: "But over time, I have learned that with each bad performance is an opportunity for a great come back to show my peers that I too am human and can have bad days.  It's all part of the learning process.  :)  "

I was so pleased and happy to hear she sees some of the tough times as a learning experience because that is one of the best tools in our toolbox!

I'm so glad she's a great learner and see's such positiveness out of it all.  :)

Jealous? Good!

Jealous has such a negative connotation in the world.

But what I have learned over the years that jealousy in pool is actually a good thing.  Why?  Because it makes you work harder!  Practice more.  Compete more.

To see your friends rise on the league standings while you go down or if they pass you up, gives you that twinge of jealous feeling in your heart.

That's actually a really good thing!  It lit a fire under me and made me try harder, practice more, and do additional things to help my game.

Use those jealousy feelings to your advantage.  Make it push you to work harder on your game and improve.

Just as a friend recently told me, "Competition is good for business."

And if you start to work on your game, the benefits will be placing higher in league, being sought-after by other teams, placing further in tournaments, etc.  So, if that jealousy feeling gets you to play better because you are working harder on your game, other teams will recognize you are improving.

And when someone builds a new team (for example), who are they going to want?  You.

Don't let it be the other guy!

If you think about it, what if we all stayed the same ranking in the stats?  That's not even fun, huh?  lol.  And, it doesn't give us much incentive to do better if we all just stay in the same ranking spot.  But if you see a friend pass your ass up, you take notice.  Or a friend who has never been in the top 10 get there, makes you want to be in the top 10, too.  Or someone who remains always in first place, makes you want to work harder to replace them.

Jealousy is a gem to our game.

To League Or Not to League

...That is the Question.

While I have enjoyed not playing league for the last year or so, when I watched a whole day's worth of league playoffs, it did hit me I might want to get back in.

This particular league has a lot of benefits to me personally.  The most important one is it is NOT a traveling league and it is fairly close to my house.

However, I just don't know what to do.

I should write a list of pros and cons to help my un-decisiveness lol.  

I do think it would be good for me to get out more.  And I have the itch to play again and when I do, I can tell my game is off from the lack of play.

However, I still adore the non-committalness since I don't play any leagues.

What seems like a tough decision is really not an easy one for me.  Do I play again, or do I not?  Do I be around smoke?  Or do not worry about that and be around friends?   Why do I want to play?

Decisions, decisions.

Sleep and Pool

For me, the number one key thing for me to play at my absolute best is to GET SLEEP.

It just helps me so much to be rested and feel refreshed.  It helps me physically (of course) feel better and it also helps me mentally.  Getting a good nights' rest has been proven to help our decision-making processes.  And hey!  That's what's important in pool, right?

I haven't slept well in YEARS.  At least, not consistently.

I either wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep for a couple of hours, or can't fall asleep right away and toss and turn for hours.

When I had league several times a week, this would really cause me anxiety.  My teams needed me to show up with 100% dedication and be ready to play well.  But if I was tired, I didn't perform my absolute best.  And, I didn't feel excited to be there because I was exhausted (and thinking about how I needed sleep for work).

So, not getting good rest for a few nights in a row, I was already worried I wouldn't perform up to par for the team.  Actually, I did still play well, but I could have played BETTER and been in a better mood, more smiling, having more fun, playing stronger, etc.  Instead, I would be tired.  And we all know when we are tired to get a little grumpy, too. 

And not getting a good nights' rest even with league once a week, say just Thursday, was still getting to me because I knew it was a domino effect.  By the time Thursday came, I'd be exhausted.

Now, though, I have no worries since I don't play any leagues!  If I don't sleep, I just get it the next night.  I don't fret over it at all, and I just kinda accept it when I can't go to sleep or can't go back to sleep.

I actually now have a feeling of relief when I don't get enough sleep.  Sounds silly, I know, but because I know there's no pressure anymore, it's all just acceptance with no worry.  And, normally I had no choice but to go to league tired.  Now if I'm tired, I just, well, come home after work to rest instead of being out til midnight.

There is benefits to not playing league.  This is a big one for me because of my bad sleep habits.

No Leagues and Tax Benefit

As I mentioned several times already I have quit all my leagues.  I have also already stated how much I really enjoy not going to league, not having that commitment, and being able to do what I want to do any night of the week whenever I want to!

There's less drama, I'm spending less money, not staying out late, not around smoke all night.... I could go on and on.

And then I got reminded of another great reason why I'm glad I'm no longer in league: I got two MISC-1099's in the mail at the end of January for my cute little tax return for this year.

I have to say it's going to be super nice next year not having to worry about if I make over $600 at a big tournament and get a MISC-1099 later they will affect my tax return amount.

I'm actually really, really looking forward to not having that count against my return.  :)

Ahhh, more benefits.  :)

(And yes, I know you can claim the hotels and airfares and entry fees, but not for as many years as I have been doing so as an amateur)

Leagues Are GREAT!

Leagues really are good for your game and I am where I am today because of them. 

So, please don't mistake my complaints yesterday about the payouts, or me wanting to take a break from league as a sign that leagues aren't good.  Because, leagues ARE GOOD.

The learning experiences you will gain will WAY out-measure the amount of money you make. 

Leagues have helped me become a State Champion and a National Champion!  Leagues help you get out of the house, get you around friends, help you develop great friendships, give you a lot of practice under pressure, allow you to take trips to state tourneys and national tourneys, etc.

And most importantly, the experience you gain from playing in leagues helps you become a better player!

I am a HUGE advocate for leagues.  It's one of the main reasons our pool game get better.

ENJOY those leagues and all those learning experiences and memories you are making!  One of the most memorable parts of a pool players life revolves around league events and the people in them.  :) 

League Payouts

I never played league for the money.  I honestly only played league to qualify for the State and National tourneys.  I found myself enjoying the MANY playoffs I have found myself in the finals of the league season with my teams, but overall, I was just trying to get my weeks in.

So, to see the payouts of the two leagues I was on last year still makes me disappointed.  Again - I don't play league for the money, but look how pitiful:

And the worst part of this is one team we WON the playoffs and another we got SECOND.  And still, the payouts were not that much.  Especially since we pay about $6 every single week.

#justsharing

/vent off/

Happiness With Freedom

I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in over a year.  We saw each other at a local monthly tournament.

I asked her how she was and she smiled back and said, "fabulous" with the biggest grin on her face.

I was very curious, "oh, okay, what's been going on?" 

She said, "I quit league last season."

I shared, "Hey, that's what I'm doing! "

She smiled some more, "Yep, drama-free, baby.  I am SO much happier, I can't even explain it.  AND, I get to do whatever I want, whenever I want and don't have to be committed to be somewhere certain nights of the week.  I feel FREE!"

I was so elated to hear these words from her and to see how happy she was is! 

I shared with her how I have been hurt at league and disappointed with some things, and that I LOVED how the last two months I could go to dinner with any of my girlfriends on any night and not HAVE to play league. I even shared I was still bitter I had to play league the week my Dad passed.

It was refreshing to see how much happier she was than I'd seen her in the past, and that the biggest reason was her not playing league anymore.

There's something to be said for non-routine and to be able to play pool when you WANT to, instead of when you HAVE to.

I decided after yearning to play pool (oh the irony) back in late October, that I would continue to play in tournaments I was interested in, but STILL not play in leagues.  Yes, I do miss seeing some of my friends at league, but I am more relaxed without that weekly commitment twice or more a week. 

It's funny the timing of this:  For whatever reason, I am getting asked more and more lately to play in leagues and in league events coming up.

But, I am so much more happier right now, just like my friend experienced this WHOLE last year for her.  I can't wait to have non-league play in 2016 - what a wonderful break this will be! 

No More Separation of Coinage

Now that I am not re-joining any of my previous leagues or new leagues, I no longer have to do this:

I had to separate my quarters from the rest of my change for years so I would have quarters available at league nights for the bar tables.

NO MORE!

I actually feel like a guilty rebel what I'm about to do - mix them all together!

Pool School During a Match

Tuesday night at league, my team and I were playing in a very tough match. 

This league makes it simple and goes by WINS during the season - there are no weekend playoffs like other leagues.

We had beat this top-ranked team last week and because so, that meant we were both tied for first place, so there needed to be a tie breaker!  So, we had to play this tiebreaker match just this past Tuesday for all the marbles.

Now, as you can imagine - each team wants to win the top dog, the first place, the bragging rights.  Me, I just hope I play decent enough, lol.

During my very first game, my opponent, who is a nice guy who shoots JAM up (I'm pretty nervous to play him), plays a safety.  He shoots it PERFECTLY.... until... he accidentally doesn't move his cue away fast enough and hits an object ball that he was playing safe with.  We all kinda stand there.  Oh shit, it's ball in hand for me!

However, I have a ball tied up and I don't get out. 

He comes back to the table and says out loud (but to himself) because he's pretty embarrassed and upset with himself, "Let's go back to pool school now."  He's a funny guy and he makes jokes like this.

He shoots a couple of shots then misses.  I get up to the table, but I don't have a shot.  I play safe.  He gets back to the table and one of my teammates jokes on the sidelines, something like "okay, let's go to pool school," something relating to what this guy had just said to himself earlier.  So, my teammate is trying to be funny, too.

But as we all know, during competition things like this just aren't taken as 'funny.'

My opponent misses again and I walk up to the table and I can't believe it:  again, I don't have a shot.  LOL.  It was almost comical I again had no shot, lol.  As I'm standing there trying to figure out what to do, HERE THEY COME....

The two guys are talking to their OWN teammates, but loud enough for each other to hear (and on opposite sides of our pool table).  One is upset, the other trying to defend himself.  Me?  I'm trying to figure out what shot to shoot to win, lol.

My opponent is upset that my teammate said something to him.  Or about him.  He assumes my teammate was being rude, so now my opponent is upset. 

So, my opponent is saying things like, "but you don't have to talk like that during a match."

He's absolutely right. 

But, he's behind me.

While I'm at the table.

While I'm trying to shoot.

I listen to them banter for only about a minute and say out loud to point out, "well, I'm in a match, too" as I'm standing at the table in the middle of this, lol.

I think they were surprised I said something?  I don't know.  But, luckily, they had no other words and stopped "joking" for the rest of the night and we all were able to focus on pool.

And, yes, I lost that game.  Because I had no shot again!  lol.

Timing of Comments

I mentioned the other day that I broke and ran my first rack at league. But what I didn't share was that it wasn't easy.

What's crazy is my captain has been playing bad and he recognized that I was playing good, so he actually switched us up in the lineup so that I would have more breaks than himself.

So, for some reason, my 8-ball breaks on a bar table are working really well for me. Seems like I've been struggling with them for 2 years and now that I want to step away from the game, it's coincidental that I'm not scratching, making a ball every time, and the cue ball is sitting itself right in the center of the table.  It's really quite comical that my breaks are working out now - and by the way I don't recall changing anything except moving the cue ball a tad to the left when I break now (which didn't seem to help last year when I tried this change).

Back to my story - so I make a ball on the break and I see that stripes are much better than solids.  I have to make one risky shot but I know it's the right shot for the out, otherwise I won't be able to get up and down the table for a good leave on the 8ball.

I'm staying down well, I'm breathing well, and I feel like all eyes are on me.  I then leave myself a tricky 8 ball shot in the side.  It was really the only available pocket I had and I felt good I was able to get shape for it in the side, even if it wasn't an easy shot.

So, you're probably wondering, "well what part of this rack was tough?"  Well, it was my opponent!  You see, as soon as I made my last ball before the 8ball, my opponent says to me, "Come on Melinda, really?"

At this point I'm a little more than annoyed because number one, I still haven't run out.  Number two, this is the case ball.  Number 3, why would you possibly ever think that it would be okay to say something before I'm about to shoot the final ball?

I realize he was saying it because I was about to run out on him and he not get even one shot.  But, I was not very happy because it was a tough shot AND it wasn't over yet.  He couldn't wait til after I made the 8ball to say something?  Luckily I did make the 8ball to run out for the win.  But I had to really re-focus and bear down, as he definitely distracted me. 

I'm suggesting that even in league, it is still important to be aware of your words and timing.  I think it's actually unsportsmanlike, even though he was probably trying to be funny, the timing was hideous.

And I can tell you that if I would have missed the tough 8 ball, the tone of this blog post would have been much different!  

Getting Closer

Well, I had league again last night.  Still debating whether to play next season or not.

I broke and ran the first rack.  Again everyone was like, "You can't quit!  See?  You're playing great!"

Uh, that's not the point.

The loudest thing I'm hearing that is making me second guess this is this one fact:  After you step away, your game is never as good as it was if you come back.

But yet I don't want to come back.

At least right now I have no desire to come back to league play.

Then they say, "I thought I didn't want to either."  Or, "You may never know."

Well, deep in my heart, I know I would rather not pick up my cue ever again.

Someone said last night, "What, are you going to stay at home and make babies?"  Uh, no.

People seem to think I will be staying at home every single night if I don't play pool anymore.  How about doing more outdoor things?  How about taking classes?  Or reading (which I do NOT do at all).  Things that improve myself so I can be a better friend and coworker, and to be happier?  I WANT to come to work refreshed after a good nights' sleep.  Not up late b/c of league. 

I tried to express that there is too much drama in pool.  Someone pointed out, "Well, there's drama with the Omega Tour (that you run)."  Well, that is different.  That drama is not against me personally.  There is drama between players that I like to handle with my leadership skills.  That doesn't bother me and I welcome those challenges.

But drama on league, or in the pool room, or at tournaments, THAT I'm tired of.  And I simply feel like I don't have to be around it anymore.  It's a choice.  Just last night someone got mad at me for playing a safe.  Literally said something to me about it during the game and raised his voice at me because he was mad at me.  I want to be around people who make me feel good, who make me laugh, who provide me peace when I'm around them.  I'm not feeling that at tournaments anymore or in league, either.

I reached out to a friend of mine that I look up to as I noticed through facebook that she no longer plays pool.  She said, "I found that the unhealthier affects of competition on my personality were bringing me down and that I was sacrificing other parts of my life in pursuit of something that was no longer making me happy.  I also felt like most of the people in the competitive pool crowd weren't that upstanding to be around."

She understands.  And boy can I relate!  (And damn she has an amazing way with words!)

The bottom line for me is this:   I have been very successful the last few years and feel very proud to have accomplished all that I did in a short time period.  And, I feel very lucky and also very fulfilled!  It's now time to focus on other aspects of my life than a smokey pool room that I have lived in for 20-25 years.  Not one person has said to me, "I support you."  All I get is, "you can't step away"  or "don't go, you are playing too good," or "we need you on the team" or "you will be back."  So it was VERY refreshing when I reached out to my friend who has already gone through this "retirement" (successfully, I might add).  And I spoke with another friend today who said, "Of all of the reasons someone could have to step away from pool for a time, that sounds like the best one. "

Maybe I will or maybe I wont play again, but there is more to this life than to come home late smelling like smoke.  How about hiking?  Golfing?  Visiting new beautiful outdoor locations?  Going out to dinner and having a great convo with successful girlfriends?  Making those type of memories.  I am chalk full of GREAT pool memories, moments, trips, locations, and friends of pool that I will NEVER take for granted and will always appreciate.  AND I wouldn't change A THING!  But it's time to move on now.  And playing pool even twice a week limits doing other more productive and successful things in my life, currently.

My friend also said, "the last goal that I set was to hit the top 16 in the WPBA. I played a bit without a new goal and wasn't focused. I knew it was time to quit when I no longer had any desire to set new goals."  I hadn't really thought of the feelings I'm having about retiring related to my goals, but after reading her comments, she made me realize that indeed once I achieved my overarching goal for the last 11 years or so to win BCA Texas State (which I did last year), my heart seemed "fulfilled."  And then after winning ACS Nationals 9-ball Singles just a month later, I felt shocked.  And I didn't set any new goals or can even think of any I WANT to set.  Been a great ride!

I will be very honest and say it takes A LOT to have mental toughness and focus for an entire tournament.  It's also very emotional dealing with all that can come with competition.  Not competing all the time will provide more peace in my life.  I know I sound extremely selfish, but it's actually NOT easy to be selfish, so I hope others can appreciate that this really is not a very easy decision for me at all. 

As I said before I will still be around pool because of the Omega Tour.  And I will actually be writing more in the future (for other pool-related opportunities).  I will still find items to write about in my blog, too, which I dearly love - my little heart-to-heart online diary!

But it's time for a change - a positive change that brings more peace in my life!

Decisions Decisions

I had league on Tuesday night.  The captain texted me during the day and asked if I could play and I was honest and said I had had a bad previous night and really bad day and could really use the night off.

He said they really needed me because we were playing a good team.

I told him I would be there.

But, I admit I wasn't happy about it.   I hate that I HAVE to go to league sometimes.  That I am committed and can't take the night off when I want to.

SO READY for my leagues to be over with.

Ready to put that cue in the closet and never even touch it again (as you may recall, I'm not going to play leagues or big tourneys anymore).

But, they needed me, so I sucked it up and went.  They asked that night if I was going to play next season and I gave them the bad news, "nope."

Then they called me up to play my first match.

I broke and ran, came back for the high fives and almost every single one of them said, "really, gonna quit?"

As the night went on, I realized I was glad I went.  Better than being home moping in my own little misery of the CRAPPY day I had.  I was having fun at league.  They were making me laugh.  I was having a good time. 

I lost my next two matches, but the next two matches my opponents broke dry each time and I ran out.  Again from my team "you can't quit - look how good you are playing."

We finished the night at 9:15pm!  I love this league how early they finish!

So, now I am torn.  People are telling me not to quit.  I'm still playing well.  But I don't even care about that.

My deepest concern is if I stop this league too (because I'm not going to be playing on Thursday nights after the season in my other league), will I even go out?  What will I do?  Go home and do nothing and never see anyone and never laugh with friends or see my pool friends anymore?  I do plan on doing more outdoor activities.  Maybe also take some classes.  But will I?

I am SO torn right now.

I really DON'T want to play league, but I think it might be good for my soul, if that makes sense.

Others are saying to just take a break.  Man, I don't want a break from playing, I just don't want to play league anymore.  Been there; done that.  And I ONLY played league to qualify for state and national tourneys.  Does this mean the page has turned and I would actually play league because it's fun on Tuesdays and gets me out of the house??

I don't know what to do.

I will still be around pool as I run the Omega Billiards Tour, but I just don't want to play league.  But do I want to be able to see a few friends once a week?  OR is seeing my friends at the Omega stops enough?  Or, if I REALLY want to get out I could go to a local tourney and not be committed to league?

I just really don't know what to do...

League is Costing Me Money

I'm one of those people that does not like to waste time.

So, I always find things to do with my time;  I am never just sitting around doing nothing.

So, on Tuesdays and Thursday when I get off of work at 6pm, I have to kill about an hour an a half before league starts at 7:30pm.

That leaves me about an hour or so to find something to do.  (because it takes about 30 minutes to get to league).

So, what does a female do?  Yep - she shops or eats!

Therefore, league is costing me MONEY!  More money than just the $6-a-night fee.  Sometimes much more.  Just last night I ventured into Walmart and then Ross to kill time.  $89 later, I finally show up at league.  :-/

If I'm not shopping, do you think I'm grabbing a bite to eat at a fast food place?  Heck no - I'm going to Olive Garden for the soup and salad, or Carrabbas for their juicy sirloin steak or maybe even On The Border to get my tex-mex fix.  Either way, I'm spending my time spending money before I even set foot into the pool room that night for little 'ole league, lol.

Time For League

When I play on my Tuesday league, we get down in about two hours.

When I play on my Thursday league, I get home 2 hours later.

WHY?!?!?

I suppose it IS because on Thursdays it's an all women's league.  I guess women really do play slower. 

Not all women, but some. 

Sure, we play safe like anyone else, but for some reason it takes much longer on Thursdays to play league, and both nights start at 7:30pm.

*yawn*

I'm too old now to be staying out so dang late on a work night!