Trigger Caught Trigger

I went to Destin, Florida in early June for a short vaca after a work trip and went on my first EVER Charter boat fishing trip!

Had A LOT of fun!

Caught LOTS of snapper!

After the ten of us on the boat caught a lot of snapper and met our limit (each boat as a limit), then we went to another areas to catch additional/more fish.

We all weren't catching as much fish as before (the red snapper were biting constantly and we were catching them EASY!), but every once in a while someone would catch something in this new area.  We threw most back, including one I caught.

I asked the shipmate, "What is that I just caught?"

"A trigger fish," he replied, as he took it off my hook and threw it back in Gulf of Mexico. 

WHAT?  OMG!  I caught a triggerfish!  Trigger caught a trigger!

I didn't snap a pic of it, but here is what the little fella looked like:

How I Wait to Shoot

I never thought about having a logo before.

But someone saw how I was waiting patiently in my chair, waiting to shoot when it was my turn.

I always lean my cue on me.  I learned to always be ready to shoot and one way to accomplish this is to NOT put your cue down in between shots (I wrote about this before).  Always look like you are ready to shoot; always be prepared.   I was taught that when you put your cue up, it can be a symbol of defeat.

While I was taught to hold my cue, I lean it on me so my hands stay clean and my cue doesn't get sticky or dirty by holding it a long time.

It actually bothers me when I see a friend out their cue on their cue clip, instead if taking it with them to their chair.   As I said, it kinda looks like a defeated action (even tho I know they aren't thinking that way).

But, imagine the players who keep holding their cue and what that reflects as:  confidence.

Anyway, so this is what they saw, and said I should make it my logo, lol:

"Easy Trigger"

So I mentioned I watched football on a Sunday with a few friends at a local place that happened to have two pool tables.  Well, one of the girls there I had never met before, but my friend Teri talked about her all the time.

We watched the football games for about 4 hours or so and her friend would say every once in a while "Easy Trigger."

I kept thinking, "did Teri tell her my nickname?  Heck, does Teri even know I have a nickname?"

After the 3rd or 4th time, I finally asked her, "Why do you keep saying 'Easy Trigger'?"

She replies, "I don't know, just something I've always said."

"Do you say it because of Roy Rogers and his horse?" I asked.

"Nope, just a saying I say a lot," she shared.

Then she would drink more and say it louder, "Easy Trigger!"

And I would turn and look at her every time, thinking she was saying it to me, lol.

Kinda freaked me out hearing my nickname all afternoon because I hardly ever hear it, honestly, lol.

Fun times!

First Time For Everything... Getting the Line

At the small tourney I wrote about before that I went to out of state in late November, even though I signed up as "Melinda," my b/f would say out loud, "Nice shot, Trigger!" after some good shots.  People at the tourney were confused - was my name Melinda or Trigger?  lol.  But I shared that "Trigger" was just my nickname.

Anyway, the guy I played for 3rd said if his wife wasn't sick at home, that he and her would like to play scotch doubles with my boyfriend and I.

Wow, Really?  Bring it!

After how well I played in the tourney, I was surprised he would even offer that, lol, but that told me maybe his wife played well, also.  But, I also knew that we would still win.  lol.  How's that for confidence!?

We had to leave the next morning, so my b/f got their phone #.

My b/f contacted them during the week to coordinate the discussion and all of a sudden they guy tells us he and his wife won't play us after all.

What??

He says, "I was drunk when I said that."

So he counters, "well, then just play my girl some." 

"No, can't do that either."

"Why not?"

"We looked her up.  She plays good!  Trigger/Melinda/From Texas."

I couldn't believe it - my first time someone looked me up to get a line on me!!  LMAO.

The Horse Could Have Made That Shot

So, most people know that my nickname is AkaTrigger, or Trigger (click here to find out why).

If you are over a certain age, then you know that Trigger is a horse of cowboy star Roy Rogers.  If you are younger, you prolly never even heard of Roy Rogers.

When I was given the nickname, I didn't know who Roy Rogers was, lol.

So, I'm at the Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas in early December, and many of the people I know there who also came to watch the USA pros versus the European pros, know me from the AB forums as "Trigger."

So as I walk down the hallways in Vegas, people say, "Hey Trigger, how are you?" not "Hey Melinda, what's up?"

On the first day of the tourney, Mark Griffin (CEO of BCAPL and CSI) is sitting right behind me in the stands. 

One of the pro players misses a shot, and Mark says, "Even Trigger could have made that shot."

I laughed out loud and turn to look at him with amusement. 

And the guy next to him says, "Uh, you mean the horse?"

LMAO!!

My First Trigger Namesake!

I am SO excited!  I have my first-ever Trigger namesake!  I have wanted one for soooo long and finally got it.

My friend Noel Torres mentioned to me at a pool tourney one day that he engraved words into metal for key chains, chalk holders, whatever you wanted.  "Personalized Tags" he called them.  They are awesome!  He showed me his own engraved chalk holder that he made - it has his AZB "handle" engraved, "pooljunkie4ever."  It's the kind of chalk holder where you put the long end in your pocket and the chalk hangs out:

I don't put my chalk in my pocket, but I was so excited he could make me a key chain that was engraved with 'whatever I wanted.'  I knew immediately I'd hang it from my pool case!  Of course, he knows me as akaTrigger on the forums so he suggested it before I stated my same thoughts out loud to him, lol, but I was already WAY ahead of him as I have been wanting something like this for a long time.

I thought it would take a while... but less than one week later he sends me a note, "hey, what's your address?" 

Already?  Wow!

Then less than two days later, it was in my mailbox.  I immediately opened it, put it on my pool case, and took photos (being the person I am, lol) so I could share this with you all.

Check out my first Trigger key chain!

Noel does such an awesome job!  Obviously, right?  If you are interested, let me know or contact him via the forums. It takes less than a week and the price is perfect-o.

You wont be disappointed, just like I wasn't.  :)

Thank you, Noel!

Why Trigger?

My "handle" on the AZB Forums is "akaTrigger." When you sign up, you get to pick a name! I know, it's exciting, right?! I picked "Melinda" (well, that IS my name) back in March of 2003 and went on my merry way until Nov 2007 when I changed it to akaTrigger.

Many have asked me why I'm called "Trigger." So, here is the background:

I had been looking for a nickname for many years. In the late 90s, Tracie Hines' husband called me "The Quiet Storm" and it was PERFECT. I loved it! I am a meteorologist and was looking for a weather-related nickname, but eventually Jeannie Seaver was also being called that b/c she was from Florida. Her and I are friends and she was turning pro (I was no where close), so I went back to the drawing board.

Little did I know it would take almost 8 years to find a new one I liked.

Like everyone said, the good nicknames usually came someone else, usually spur of the moment type of thing in a pool hall. My experience was no different.

I went to a new tournament in Oct 2007 and the Tournament Director (Dennis) yells across the room during my first match, "Way to go, Trigger!" He had bought me in the calcutta and was happy for my win. I was like, "oh my - I love that!" He didn't know I was looking for a nickname, but I liked it!  I also had no idea at the time it had anything to do with Roy Rogers and his horse, lol.

I thought about it for a few weeks and decided I really did want that as my nickname. Now some may ask, "why do you need a nickname, who the hell are you?" And while I didn't need one, nor had I won any major titles, the idea of a nickname was cool to me.

I then went to the fine folks on the forums to ask them what I should change my handle to because there was already a "Trigger" signed up. Well, one of my AZB forum friends, Pinocchio, replies simply, "akaTrigger!!"

There were many other replies/suggestions:

The Trigger,
Melinda the Trigger,
Trigger Happy,
Trigga,
The Texas Trigger,
Trig,

and of course many suggestions for weather-related nicknames were offered, but none hit home with me like Trigger (even though many remind me that Trigger was actually a stuffed horse!).

So, there you have it - the story behind the story of akaTrigger. :)