Don't Go Like That!

Once should possibly never visit a chiropractor before bowling. While she straighted ME out; she did NOT straighten my ball out. I was all over the place. Partly because of my recent adjustment, I think, and partly because I saw three people (3!) fall on the approaches last night and did NOT want to be the fourth! So I was cautious with my approaches. Tentative with my ball. And it showed. I did make a spare and a strike in the first game, two strikes in the second, and a spare in the third. I never broke 100.

09/09/10 Skipped
09/16/10 90, 97, 90

I think I need a tutor.

A New Season!

Bowling! A new season started last week. And I am back at it... Beginning my fifth year. I missed the first week of bowling due to extreme stress and strain on my backside, but I made it to the alley last night! First time I'd picked up a bowling ball in 4 months. They seem much heavier than I remember. All things considered, I did fairly well.

08/26/10 Absent
09/02/10 87, 122, 136

Yeah, you could say I was warming up in that first game. And I was. I believe I threw three gutters all night, one for each game, if I recall correctly. The second game started off beautifully with a spare in each of the first five frames. I even picked up two splits. Total of six spares. The third game I had two spares (picking up a split) and a double (two strikes). Looking forward to next week!

Bowling

Last night marked my second week of bowling after a very long hiatus. I have missed my bowling friends. I have missed the feeling that comes with knocking the pins into next week. I have missed the feeling that comes with picking up a tricky spare. I have not missed the feeling of finding myself with repeated splits. I have not missed the feeling of scoring 9 one frame after another. Last week's games were pretty good. Last night's games, not so much. ;-)

02/04/10 107, 92, 100
01/28/10 127, 110, 116

Best part of bowling? There's always next week!

Ugh!

So this evening's bowling was not nearly as stellar as last week's, much to my chagrin. I must admit, however, that this week has been a trial. From technical issues Monday during class, to sick family members and rude billing folks at the doctor's office. Include a week's worth of insufficient sleep and today's wardrobe malfunction (Dark tea all over my white blouse before I had to observe student teachers for five hours!) combined with a house that is in such desperate need of a good cleaning that it smells funky!

Am I making excuses? Perhaps. But here are this week's scores. You know the motto: "Bloggin' my pain; bloggin' my shame!

Last week's game raised my average to a 108. Tonights games were:
09/17/09 117 101 89

Gobble, Gobble!

It's that time of year again. The bowling season began three weeks ago and each night I have berated myself for not once going to the alley to practice over the summer. I have also found a plethora of new bits and pieces that seem to ache just for the helluvit.

Last season I finished with an average of 106. The first two games this season weren't so promising with scores of:

August 27 100, 105, & 67 (shameful!)
September 8 99, 111, & 97

But I am quite excited to say that I bowled my highest game so far last night (as did a good friend, Ruth, with her score of 193 (!)). My scores for last night were:

September 10 106, 182, & 107 (Holy smokes!)

I like to think that I have been steadily getting better. Most of the time the ball goes where I want it to. Sometimes pins seem to have a force field surrounding them making them impervious to the 11 weight hurling at them at roughly 13 m.p.h. Ultimately, my throws are more consistent. Last night's second game was awesome! I had six strikes (!) and three of them aligned for a turkey. (My turkey dance and gobbles of excitement alternately delighted and frightened my teammates and friends.)

Last night was actually the second time I bowled this week. Tuesday I bowled fora make-up game. Perhaps it was a good thing... I am looking forward to bowling next week and I am actually considering practicing!

Hooray!

Last night was our Bowling Banquet and my predictions were correct! Several patches, awards, medals, and good natured heckling rounded out the evening. I had the honor of having the highest handicap series- I am not sure exactly what that meant, save that when they combined my handicap with my actual scores from a game I scored like a "real bowler!" Additionally I earned second place among the women for having one of the lowest games of the season; Sal earned first place! Go Sally!

But the biggest honor, at least to my thinking, Most Improved Woman Bowler went to both Sal and me! Sally, having bowled for only a year, earned Most Improved New Bowler by raising her average 10 points! Go Sally, Go! I raised my average a mere 4 points this year (I had a fall slump, and my averaged dropped down to 99 or so! It was February before I got my average back up to where it was last spring when we ended (102) and I believe those last two big games in April bumped me to a 106! All that aside, those 4 pins were just enough to get me Most Improved Veteran Bowler for 2008-2009! Hooray!

After two weeks of play offs it was good to see everyone and enjoy a meal together. We had dinner at Nathan's Grill in the 'Burg. This ends my third year of bowling! And there's still so much to learn! I've decided I might need to buy my own bowling shoes and maybe even a bowling ball for the next season! Unfortunately I'm having trouble finding a scary bowling ball with skulls and crossbones! I know that would be key to intimidating my opponents AND raising my average!

Last Scores of the Season

Well my friends, the bowling season ended last Thursday, on April 16th. Due to an exhausting schedule, an unknown virus or infection, perhaps the African Sleeping Sickness, and the struggle of day to day chores, I found that I was absent almost as often as I attended bowling this spring, missing nearly three weeks straight in March! Despite my unanticipated hiatus, I returned for the last two weeks and duly left my mark!

March 5 118, 110, 120

Sadly, I cannot find my scores from April 9 and April 16! I do remember I had an outstanding game each evening, an average game each evening, and an abysmal game each evening. The high score on the 9th was 160 (!) and there was a 149 on April 16th!

May 7th we will gather for our awards ceremony. I hope to add a few patches to my collection. Perhaps my gal pal, Sal will earn most improved new bowler! I hope so!

Bowling - Bowling

Last week I had a blast bowling. I feel it was one of my better nights. While my scores were only slightly above my new average of 104: 104, 105, & 118, I felt that I was consistently rolling some solid, straight balls. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a force field around the seven pin (and occasionally the ten pin) as I left them more times than I care to count! At least I can say my balls were straight! I'm looking forward to Thursday! I need to bowl off some steam! (I made a funny!)

Bowling Update

Can you believe it? We're entering the last third of the bowling season. I will have a chance to play teams I've played twice before over the next nine weeks. It's been a good season- despite my average and the several days I missed in November and January. Below are my most recent scores

01/15 122 90 105
01/22 Missed
01/29 116 98 122
02/05 Missed
02/12 107 117 127

With a new average of 102!

Bowling Update

It seems like forever since I've been bowling! What with being sick last week and missing FUN night (where strikes are gutter balls and 9s are considered strikes!) and Thanksgiving. I think it has been nigh unto forever since I've bowled. And longer still since I've blogged my shame (i.e. bowling scores!).

That doesn't mean I've not been keeping up with them. And for my dozens of readers out there who have been clamoring for those scores, here they are!

10/09 89 125 107
10/23 100 102 119
11/13 100 114 121
11/20 124 140 93

115, 85, 100

I had a great game last night. Followed by a cruddy game. And and okay game. Okay for me that is.

I'm on the verge of a bigger ball. I've been using an 11 pounder. At first it was too heavy. But I had no control with the 10 pounder. Now that I seem to be more consistent, I seem to leave ONE pin. Three suggestions were made: throw the ball harder, begin your approach one step up (or back), and use a heavier ball. I've given up on the first two. And seemed to have good luck with the 12 pounder. But lord I was hurting...

Let's see what next week looks like.

Got Game?

So I am told by others that my form is improving- that I am consistent. They see the changes over the past several years. Then why do I ask is my average dropping?

This week's games: 92, 112, 96. All things considered, roughly 12 pins over my current average.

I cannot find last week's averages. I wrote them on paper instead of my arm. They were pretty horrible. I think I had a game in the 70s.

Ah well. It's all good. I have fun with my buds.

Bowling Blues

First week back I raised my average by a pin. Second week back I lowered it by 10! Last night, who knows... But I can say, my averages were slightly better. Unfortunately I was still missing pins. 101, 108, and 88 were my offerings to the bowling gods (despite their obvious abandonment of me). I had some beautiful balls. Great approaches, smooth releases, and then blamo (!) all were done except one! I was plagued by "nines" all night. It was frustrating and depressing. Perhaps I should immolate a freshman (for the bowling gods, of course!).

103, 89, 89

Last week was a good week compared to this week. My average was 103 and some change. A good point and a half above last spring's average. Tonight I didn't do so well. By the grace of the bowling gods, I hit my average on the first game, but the last two were bummers.

It has been a weird day overall. My seniors were in a dither about student teaching in the spring and PDS this fall. I worked hard all day and accomplished nothing. And tonight, things just didn't seem to fit. The bowling shoes at the lanes are icky. The 9 1/2 shoes are tight and hurt. The 10's are inches too big and cause me to slip and slide throwing my ball every which way. I tried several things to improve my game. I changed shoes. I emptied my bladder. I rearranged by brassiere (Even out the load...). I don't know what was going on. I do know that I was preoccupied with my students, concerned about finances (Orion's glasses broke today, I need a new washer, and I have more money going out than in right now ~ Essentially I need a second job!), not feeling well (Fighting allergies for three weeks and it feels like some horrid cold!), thinking about all the work I have left on my desk, and to top it off, I hadn't had dinner!

How's that for a line of excuses? Next week I am going to hit my average! As my bowling mentor would say, "Remember... this is fun!"

Bowling Begins

Hey folks! Schools back in session and the Faculty Staff League started tonight with a flumpwehph. Everyone was happy to be back and delighted to see one another. It was good fun. Regardless of our averages or handicaps, we all seemed to have one thing in common: stamina, rather our lack there of. By the second game several of us noted the balls seemed heavier this year. By the beginning of the third game I knew my right arm was at least four inches longer than my left. I also started weaving on the approach! We were all plum tuckered out by the end of the evening.

My friend and Fairy Godmother (Orion's name for her) subbed for Darryl this evening. She was tearing it up with some super high scores! Spare Time (our team name!) welcomed Sally to the team. I might have some competition there! And one of our new hires from the department joined an opposing team. Looks like we're going to have a fabulous season!

My scores this evening: 115, 103, and 95. A straight shot down. I was not sand bagging (purposely playing poorly at the beginning of the season to ensure a higher handicap and lower average, making it easier to raise one's average). Although I should have considered this tactic. I am pleased to say that last year's average was 102 and tonight's games averaged to 104. Woot!

Bowling Booty

This evening was spent rubbing elbows (literally and figuratively) at the Dinner Bell with my fellow bowlers on the Faculty & Staff League. It was our annual awards banquet. We had a good time laughing at each other. Of course, I must admit that a great deal of that laughter was directed at me! I received a couple of honors this evening. I am tickled pink and just had to share. I received a couple of patches: 140 Game and 70 Pins Above My Average. I was duly heckled by fellow players for having THE lowest game, a whopping 55 pins. Spare Time, the team I bowl with, was in 10th place out of 10 teams! Instead of receiving toilet seats (thank goodness!) we earned a nifty bowling themed dry erase pad for the fridge. But the best part of the night (besides the fried chicken livers) was receiving the "Most Improved New Woman Bowler." I raised my average five points, from 97 to 102. A got a nifty little plaque and another patch! Woot!

I have to be honest. I had given up on Most Improved. Last year I missed Most Improved New Player by one pin. ONE PIN! So when I started in the fall I had high hopes. But when Terry sat me down and explained how averages are figured, I had pretty much given up hope (as noted by my not mentioning it for the past several bowling entries). As the season progresses, one has to bowl dozens and dozens of pins above their average to raise their average by a point! It's nearly as convoluted as Bistro Math.

Last Night Bowling

Tonight was my last night to bowl for the season. Next week is our last night, however I'll be on my way out of town for my first official consulting gig. I did very well this evening, so I am feeling pretty darn good about it being my last game. My average is 101 and I bowled 110, 132, and 108. All three games were above my average. Not too shabby.

This summer there will be two leagues. Thursday night they'll play for money and the league is called just that, "Show me the Money." Everyone pays a little extra and the winners will get a share of the pot. I am considering joining the Tuesday night league, "Have a Ball." I'll pay a little extra each week to bowl, but at the end of the summer I'll have my own bowling ball! It would also be a great way for me to continue practicing. Who knows, I might get that average up to 105!

Blogging My Shame ~ Feeling My Pain

To bowl or not to bowl. That was the question at hand this evening. I gave in and bowled. Much to my pain and much to my shame!

It seems that I over exerted myself on several occasions this past week during the move and my left hip has been nothing short of testy. Last night it was really hurting and I promised myself to take it easy today, which I did, and I just fiddle farted around the kitchen. So I decided I might just have a few frames in me after all.

Tonight's scores: 125, 87, and 106. While these are not nearly as shameful as last week's bowling scores, I really felt I should have done better. My average has slipped from a 102 to a 101. Sharon, my boss and team mate, would point out that I scored above my average on two out of three games and that over all, I was 15 pins over my average.

It's just after 10:00 p.m. and I cannot find a comfortable way to sit (ouch!) and I am waiting for the dishwasher to finish so I can run another load before I head to bed.

Having a dishwasher is heaven. Having a laundry room on the main floor is paradise. But what is that funky smell? It seems to be getting stronger!

93-116-100

Bowling was interesting last night. The approaches were terribly slippery (imagine- hippo on ice skates). My knee was sore. My back ached. But I made it through three games. My new average is 102! So technically I bowled above my average (just barely!) last night. So I've not given up on most improved player! I want that bowling trophy!

W00T!!!

Hey there bowling fans! Despite the amazing cold and my six week hiatus from bowling I did very well! My scores were: 130, 112, and 107. Yes, I was getting tired. My average is up to 101. So I was just about 45 pins over my average.