Catch up and the Carmeli Cue

Well, well. It sure looks like I haven't posted in a while. Where to begin....

League is league. Que Sera Sera. - Team is poised in 4th to make a monster run to the basement, but seem to be holding our own week to week. We will not catch #1 or #2, so the race to hold our position is on. In a 15 team league that is fairly populated with talented shooters, it's good to be doing this well -- given our team is comprised of all 'OPEN' players.

I finished the year ahead of the curve thanks to some good poker luck and ran across a Carmeli cue on AZB that I couldn't resisit - Pics to follow.

Currently, it's in California getting a little spa work done (Complete re-do) by the master (Carmeli) himself. He reports that he didn't make very many of this type of cue and so my good buy may be a rare find and makes it much more interesting to me.

I had planned on the using the option of selling it when my Olney cue is finished, but now may decide to keep it when the time comes up to part ways. The cue played well the three times I played with it prior to sending if off for the work.

Starting to prep for the Atlantic Tournament in February, IOMA in March, and ISPA in April. Hopefully a little luck and a lot of preparation between now and then and my summer work may pay off.

Tut Tut for now.

Pool Boot camp

Last weekend I got to spend ($) time with Randy Goettlicher (sp?) from Cue-Tech pool school. Probably the best stuff that I have learned in my pool 'life'. I just need to get busy on my drills now. I think I liked the ability to have three days to myself to work on pool. Lately my life hasn't been very cooperative to my pool game.

My joint VNEA/BCA league started this week. SHould be a great time and some steep competition. The joint league has done a good job of mixing the teams up and lots of guys are switching and trading. I am glad my group isn't like that. I have really found a great team -- luckily. Hoping I can get my game mechanic'ed enough to keep my proformance up.

Cue update: My new cue has no update, which is sad. I need to go see Jeff and see what's up. I'm not so upset with the wait, but rather lack of progress. I just want to get it sooner rather than later. LOL (no patience, right?)

I now promise to work my drills tonight if I get back from this neolithic Dairy hell in a decent time.

Wish I were in Galviston.

Circus in Town

TAR is in the house. All the players from parts unknown are here. Let the games begin.

Watched Mike Athens play in ring game qualifier last night, shoulda stayed; after I left he got double dipped by Adam Behnke for the chance for free entry into Ring Game tonight.

Probably watch the Stream on TAR tonight and can't wait to go to the three night clash of Frost vs SVB.

Christmas can come in July.

more Kentucky pool

The gang was a little stir crazy Tuesday night and was ready for an outing, so we ended up with a field trip to the pool hall.

I should have known that the Silver Cue would have been packed on a Tuesday night. They had an (appeared to be) in house APA league going on. Luckily, we were able to secure a table in the back and everyone was able to play.

While I watched everyone play some doubles 8-ball, I ended up making a game with a gentleman playing solo two tables over. He had a very nice old Mucci cue and played - or practiced - rather well.

we settled on some 9' table 9-ball and we started off. In the early running, he made several early 9 balls and I was quickly down 6-3. Playing with a little more effort, I made it back to even at 6-6 and tied again at 7-7 before I closed out 10-7. My group was ready to leave at that point, so we ended up not playing any more, but a really good time and some good competition. It's always nice to get out and play some.

Probably the end of my Kentucky pool experiences for a while, as we head for home tomorrow.

My old Kentucky Home

Met up with B. at the Silver Cue on Saturday night after putting my conference compatriots to bed early.

The Silver Cue again was a good place to play and playing on the 8 foot tables on this night proved to be a more ego boosting experience as I played much more like I expect to play. The 8ft Olhausens played very similar to my own 8' at home.

B. was a nice surprise. After chatting on the Internet some, we ended up being able to work out a time to kick some balls around. He was a very skilled and knowledgeable player. Not to mention he has been to the Derby for 3+ years. I sure wish that I lived within 45 minute drive of the Pool/Action extravaganza.

B. also sported a very OLD SCHOOL Schon (?, not 100%) that we talked about for a bit. A very nice old style with some very nice veneers. Heavy too. at 22 oz, B. liked the hit more than any he has had. I agreed it was a very solid cue. A great story on the find and a great player for him.

We kicked them around for a hour or two and had a wonderful time. He played a shade under me and had some real moments of genius. I think given more time, we both would have like to migrate to some 1-hole. I would have been interested in playing some banks also, since this area is known for it's banks. Unfortunately, due to our recreation during the day, I was tuckered out had had to call an early end to the night around 1 am.

Probably all for now, since I am back at the grindstone this week and probably won't run back to Lexington during this week. Can't say never, I may want to wander up there tonight or Tuesday. Sigh.... Two weeks is too long for this event....

I will write more if anything happens. I am contemplating stopping at Louisville at Bank Shot to pick up another t-shirt --- I wish I had time to play but probably need to be getting home.

Looking forward to Scott Frost vs Shane Van Boening at the end of the month at the Big Dog! Definitely jones-ing to play some pool.

Later

Picked up a cue last night for the first time in a week or so. The Silver Cue in Lexington was a good room. Nice tables with good fast cloth. They had a lot of 8' tables and 7' tables with a few 9' tables.

I picked a 9' table and practiced for a while until making a game with a nicer gentleman with a 25+ year old SW cue. It was a nice cue and really made my Olney look sharp in comparison, as it's a SW style cue. Jeff's work compares very favorably with the older SW.

We played and he came up a few games ahead. He was making a return to the game after a longer layoff (almost as old as his cue). He played very sporty for such a long layoff. Very good stroke and play.

I played well enough and started to get the idea on the big table after some of the practice earlier. It is weird how it makes your game so much different for essentially the same shot.

Look forward to returning there soon, as there is much hassle in this stay in Lexington.

Until the next time,

Kentucky Pool

Arrived for my incarceration in Kentucky today after 11 hours on the road. Hopefully some pool can be found someplace. I hate to have to drive all the way into Lexington to find something worth mentioning.

I will post what I find this week, unless my homework keeps us too busy.