What I learned during May's VBT bowling

[Stormed1]

Thanks Bunny

[Aslan]

I learned I bowl better when MWhite is around. Whether it's trouncing and embarrassing him in competition...or just having him stand and watch (in awe)...I bowl better. He's like a muse or something.

[Mudpuppy]

First off, let me start by saying that my May was extremely busier than I had anticipated. The first of the month is always busy for me, so it rarely allows for any extra bowling or practice. Then we went on a much needed vacation from the 18th - 25th. Thus, leaving me only 6 days to "catch-up" and bowl/practice. The one day I anticipated having time it turned out a meeting went quite longer than it should have, and I neglected to stop on my way home as I would have been out past dinnertime. Now timing is running out and I MUST bowl on Friday unless I want to forfeit. So I decide in my questionable wisdom to bowl Friday afternoon. Here's some things I learned....

1. Never bowl less than an hour after you have just had a minor surgical procedure done. You're still numb and you really can't feel if you are experiencing any discomfort or pain.

2. I had already bowled Friday morning in my league, made some work deliveries, gone to the doctor (see #1) and still wanted to get home at a decent hour, so I skipped any type of warm up and just started in bowling - for score. First game, lousy. Second game, so-so. Third game, decent-not great. Wish I would have felt better, not been so hot or rushed.

3. I bowl way to fast when it is only me and I'm thinking of my limited time frame. I just couldn't seem to get my timing slowed down. I was too hot, due to the pace, just couldn't seem not to bowl fast, as I was there to bowl. I either need to take someone with me - to bowl with, or talk to, in between frames.

4. Since I hadn't practiced in a very long time (or met with my coach) I wanted to try a few things so I did. This is not conducive to scoring well (for the VBT). And there were way TOO MANY things to have to concentrate on.

5. Since it was a new alley, I had to adjust a few things. Couldn't line up as normal as their approach had different lines/markings-so I kept playing around with what I thought was "normal". (Now I need to go to BZ and figure out what I need to do if this happens again.) The lane boards were very much the same color, so targeting down lane was near impossible. Another adjustment. I'm still having a bit of trouble with my release (which I am thinking is more a problem with my timing) so I had to concentrate hard on that.

6. Then, I had decided that I wanted to shoot all my non-double wood spares with my spare ball. Could have used a bit more practice with this, prior to attempting to score well.

7. This alley has all different scoring devices and they show some data on them I was not use to seeing. One being the ball speed. I found myself playing around with the speed to see what some differences were. Again, a very good learning experience - not good for scoring.

8. In hindsight, I wish I could have gone and taken my time, felt good, and not attempted to concentrate on so many things.

This was a really good experience for me, as I will be bowling in a few tournaments this summer and now I am aware of some of the differences I may encounter. Also, I really need to spend some time with my coach. Haven't been able to since last October.

Hopefully, June will be better. See that I'm bowling at an AMF that is easy to get to/from.

Oh, and another note - when I went to check the open times for the AMF as I knew they were limited. I notice a note for their summer hours. They all have more hours now - based on the school year, so this one opens at noon - every day. At least the kids will have something to do when it is so hot outside since most are opening before 4 pm.

Sorry for the length, just venting over my own stupidity...

Cliff notes: Practice and bowling for VBT shouldn't be at the same time. AND new bowling alleys sometimes take concentrating on things you never consider at your home houses.

This right here is AWESOME. I nominate for post of the year. Informative, well written AND she cliff noted it herself.

[Mudpuppy]

1. A 45 mile radius covers a lot of area. Some areas are not so nice. I live in a bubble!

2. Make sure that ALL the centers you pick have air conditioning. Westminster Lanes does not. Sweaty bowling not good!

3. 30 days goes by really quick. Or I'm busier than I thought!

All good thoughts - # 3 especially. I don't know where the time goes. Too much to do so little time. I am seriously looking at how I can cut out some things from my life and focus on just a few. Like cutting the lawn - I could pay someone $20 to cut it once a week while I am at work. And then enjoy my entire weekend or evenings or do projects on the weekend. I honestly spend 1/2 a day on the lawn and the other 1/2 I don't want to do anything - so a day wasted. So when I cut the lawn myself I make about $0.30 an hour. So I told my wife I am going to quit my good paying job and go get a job at a hot dog stand for $0.30 an hour. She didn't like that idea and she is too cheap to pay a service - and she doesn't have to sweat her nu.... off out there cutting the lawn - something I HATE to do - I hate ALL YARDWORK. Just not my thing. Seems pointless to me. Especially when hiring it is so cheap.

[Aslan]

This right here is AWESOME. I nominate for post of the year. Informative, well written AND she cliff noted it herself.

She's married dude. Settle down. Flattery will get you nowhere.

something I HATE to do - I hate ALL YARDWORK

When I was in Michigan and had a "yard"...I used to hate it as well. Because, when you have 1 or more "kids"...they tend to leave all kinds of stuff in the yard. So, phase ONE of yardwork is going around and picking up junk left in the yard. Then phase 2, you have to move around all the things like picnic tables and lawn chairs and trampolines, etc...

And then there was the annoyance of my wife having a little "garden" she claimed she was growing...yet whatever she was growing looked exactly like yard grass so half the time I'd just mow it. And then there was the dumb *** giant tree in the front yard where the roots were coming up so I had to spray paint the roots or else I'd hit the roots with the blade, bend the shaft, and have to pay $87 to get it repaired.

The only "positives" of yardwork in the summer is it beats raking leaves in the fall and shoveling snow in the winter.

[Mudpuppy]

She's married dude. Settle down. Flattery will get you nowhere.



When I was in Michigan and had a "yard"...I used to hate it as well. Because, when you have 1 or more "kids"...they tend to leave all kinds of stuff in the yard. So, phase ONE of yardwork is going around and picking up junk left in the yard. Then phase 2, you have to move around all the things like picnic tables and lawn chairs and trampolines, etc...

And then there was the annoyance of my wife having a little "garden" she claimed she was growing...yet whatever she was growing looked exactly like yard grass so half the time I'd just mow it. And then there was the dumb *** giant tree in the front yard where the roots were coming up so I had to spray paint the roots or else I'd hit the roots with the blade, bend the shaft, and have to pay $87 to get it repaired.

The only "positives" of yardwork in the summer is it beats raking leaves in the fall and shoveling snow in the winter.

Dood - I was just admiring her post. It was truly awesome. The cliff notes at the end made me laugh. A trend has begun - I saw it in another thread as well. All thanks to the ALMIGHTY ASLAN. You should legally change your name to "The Foundation of All Things Awesome".

I hear you on all of that about yard work except I cut all my trees down so I don't have to rake and if I do I send the kids out to do that mindless job or they get beat severely and I really don't mind shoveling in the winter - it actually doesn't bother me. Probably because in the summer I am cutting lawn thinking man I could be out riding my cycle right now instead of doing this inane mind numbing task that I could get done in 20 seconds by a company with 50 mowers and they would only charge me $20 and it would be done when I got home and look 10x better than I do it. I wouldn't be out there all tangled up in the weed whipper stinking of feces from the dog crap I walked in and the gasoline I spilled all over myself trying to fill the lawn mower mixed with that ever so not fresh locker room sweat smell. I'm surprised they don't make a storm bowling balled with a scent called "yardwork". Personally I'd like to pour concrete and paint it green. Pretty soon though I am moving to about 5-10 acres and I'm going to get a big a$$ tractor and then I can sit in the shade and sip beers while I cut lawn and listen to death metal at obnoxious volumes. Then I won't mind so much.

[classygranny]

Thanks Mudpuppy...I was just venting and trying to stay positive. Is that possible?

One way to justify paying for services you just don't want to do yourself....Let's say it takes you 6 hours a week for yard work and recovery time. Someone will do it for $30. You make $15 hr working. It only takes you 2 hours to earn the money that you pay to save 4 hours. Sold on the idea. I use this all the time with my husband. That's how we got a housekeeper! Yeah!!!!

[mc_runner]

Pretty soon though I am moving to about 5-10 acres and I'm going to get a big a$$ tractor and then I can sit in the shade and sip beers while I cut lawn and listen to death metal at obnoxious volumes. Then I won't mind so much.

This sounds amazing. We are entering the housing market as well and that is basically what I'm looking for!

[Aslan]

All thanks to the ALMIGHTY ASLAN. You should legally change your name to "The Foundation of All Things Awesome".

Obviously I'm awesome…but in "fairness"…it was BBoards.com that encouraged me to move forward with the virtual tour. AND…had I moved forward with it the way I wanted to…before compromising…most of the people probably would have quit by now.

But, whatever. If you must praise someone…it might as well be me.

[MICHAEL]

Obviously I'm awesome…but in "fairness"…it was BBoards.com that encouraged me to move forward with the virtual tour. AND…had I moved forward with it the way I wanted to…before compromising…most of the people probably would have quit by now.

But, whatever. If you must praise someone…it might as well be me.

I don't think any of US NEED TO PRAISE you..... YOU do a SUPER JOB YOURSELF!!