Lately things have been so busy between working and bowling....and now I have the pleasure of having a cold. I am almost over it but it's really kicking my butt. 

I have been bowling  on the Monday Sportsman league and have a 186 average. They have VERY tough conditions and struggling my way thru that one but overall, I really enjoy the competition.

My Tuesday league I have a 197 average right now but seem to be losing focus.  I am not sure I should be there anymore.  The league has lost about 6 teams from last season and most of the high rollers are gone.  It is a shame because I really liked the fact it gave me something to shoot for. Don't get me wrong there are still some very good bowlers there, but it just sort of took the edge off and now it is a social hour.

Wednesdays working....yeah...it's going pretty well. It's good to see the firmiliar faces and some new ones, the lanes seem to be running well for the most part so overall...that is going pretty well.

Thursdays I have been trying to go practice on the Sportsman shot but lately since I have been sick...that has turned into just a relax after work day.

Fridays I was called in to "Substitute" for a Womans Classic league. I guess almost more of a premanent sub which is still pretty cool.  The team is great, and we are in first place! I have sub-ed for them twice now.  I have about a 196+ average and rising. It's 4 games per night and last week I ended up with a 201, 160, 234, 239...so not too shabby. It's fun and gives me something to do on a Friday night!

The everyother Saturday league is going well also. Just a bummer that everything seems to fall on those Saturdays...It is a really fun league with a lot of great people.  I sofar should have a 201 average on that league. We lost all 3 games due to a pre-bowl from the other team of 760 from a 186 average bowler.  I know that is possible...but it just makes you think that maybe they have the right idea outlawing the pre-bowls. 

Last Sunday I went to bowl an "8 Game Marathon" it was pretty cool! I honestly didn't know what I  was getting myself into. I was told it was just a tournment, then while I was sitting there before it starts...I start seeing some firmiliar faces.  Faces I recognized from some of the Pro/Ams I have bowled...but not the amatures!! I kind of started freaking out a bit realizing that I was bowling a tournament against some of the same pro's that I bowled with in the Pro/Am but I feel that I did rather well.  I only placed #29 out of 63 bowlers but that is the lower half of the upper half but still the upper half! -58 Final with a 196 entering. I know that sounds bad but seriously...when I went to the sheets I would start at the bottom thinking that's where I was at and just get more excited as I kept going higher!! I ended up getting High Womans Scratch for $50 so I was only out $35 in total, and just such an experience!! It really made me feel great to get comments like "it's good to see you bowling here...it's about time!"

On that note...go for your dreams, reach for the stars and you never know where you will land.

I still think it's kinda sad that I actually feel that I bowled well when I shoot a 529 on league when on a regular house shot I get upset if I don't bowl over a 600 series.

195, 172, 162.  It felt really good the first game.  The release, the timing, everything.  Then not sure what happened...I just started falling apart.  I can't even say the shot changed all that much.  It was me.  My mental game started wondering, and then from there everything started falling apart.  The team we bowled against was a great fun team.  We were all laughing and high fiving, it was fun, but inside I just kept thinking way too hard which just threw everything else off. 

My goal for next week is to start a new mental work book called "The Inner Game of Tennis" noo...I don't play tennis but it was highly recommended by "the coach" and also in the last book. Supposed to be a very good book about getting your brain to be where it should in order to compete better.  Should be interesting. 

I am still working on that new release.  It really is working pretty well. A lot of people noticed a difference in my ball.  (Even though my feet were not working with everything else) Oh well...I guess I just have to keep working on it all.

To Everyone have a great weekend! And a Happy and SAFE 4th of July if I don't get back here before then!

So my friend Amy saw my sad pathetic blog, called me right away and said we were going bowling.  That was Sunday, not too bad, actually pulled a couple 230's out.  It really helped.  It felt good to go and just...bowl.  Which in turn made me go practice Monday and tonight also.

Funny how I have been bowling since I could push the ball halfway down the lane and there is soooo much that I am not aware of.  Different things to look for like the breaking point of the ball, hand positions and to figure out that it is possible to mentally slow myself down. (I know I know!!) I'm still not slow enough, But I'm still working on that one. ;)

I have never played with my hand position really.  I usually just kept my hand straight under that ball in my starting position, just straight the whole time. After shifting  my hand position in towards the center makes me actualy lift on the ball alot more.  No...I have not yet figured out how to get that ball from all the way left, ride the 1 board and smash right into the pocket like some people...Which I was told was because I was a girl..ahem....but it already helped me improve. To think, I am still working that one in there! That has been something that I sort of...forget I guess you could say, yes, I know, how can you forget to lift the ball...I am lazy! I admit it!

I figured after all those tips and having to bowl league on Wednesday, I should try to get a little more comfortable with them so I will actually use them.  I hate looking like I don't know what I am doing and when the going gets tough....Jamie goes back to what she knows. Right up 2nd arrow.  I wasn't really practicing where I was laying the ball down so much, more just the release and the speed.  By the end of the night, my thumb was getting sore,  10+ games on Sunday, 10 games yesterday and 4 games today... and I really did feel alot better. I am actually excited to bowl tomorrow.  Cause now...even if I bowl bad...my excuse is that I am trying to better my bowling and sometimes you have to take a step down to get 2 steps higher. 

Thank you for your encouraging words while I sulked in my slump of bowling.  I usually try to stay so high spirited here. It was appreciated though. Also thak you Mr Mike for all of your bowling expertise.  It was very much appreciated.

Good luck and good bowling to you all!

Yeah...so this is the summer.  I feel so lost right now.  This PBA League is kicking my a**. I am so bored and don't know what to do with myself.  I keep getting so irritated so quickly and can't seem to drag my lazy but out of the house.   

I think Cookie was right...I should have joined both leagues.  I should have joined a regular league and the PBA league and I might not feel soo...not like a bowler.  I just realize that now I am a lot farther away for the fabulous stardome of being a PBA Member than I thought. 

I told my coach/friend that I really wanted to get serious about this.  I am sooo unbelievably down on my bowling right now....I still have the high woman's average at a whopping 174, but still....it hurts.  I just feel that I am so much better than what I am doing. 

 My friend Amy and myself are going to go bowl in the Pro/Am in Peru just to get away for the weekend.  That sould be fun but...I don't know. It will be god to get away for the weekend.  We booked a hotel with a pool so even if the bowling part sux hopefully we can still catch a few rays.

Hope all is well for all of you. And I hope your summer is going better than mine.

Tonight was a good night. I went to a new house to practice with Dar who is going to the Nationals next weekend- Good Luck Dar!! We bowled 5 games. I had my Toxic with me . (the only ball I use) & shot a 201, 204, 215, 231, and a 277! 30 strikes, 19 spares, and 2 splits. It looks sooo awesome!

9/ s81 X X X X 9-X 6/ 9/8    201

9/ 9/ 9/ 7/ X 9/ X 7/ X X9/   204

X X X 8/ 7/ X 9/ X 8/ X7/      215

9/ 9/ s8- 7/ X X X X X X72    231

X X X X X X X X X 9/8   ......  277

TOTAL                              1128

My new high game. It sounds so sweet....277....I was just so excited.  I had to tell someone and the great part about being here is I can tell everyone!!!(at least anyone that takes the time to read it)  ;). It really feels so cool knowing that was the first step towards my 300 game.  I know it was just practice but it didn't matter...it is still a personal accomplishment!  I have had my high game title as 269 for almost...what?! 7-10 years now?! (On my behalf..I stopped bowling for about 4 years in between though)

 The ball just seemed to roll so smoothly. I was pretty much over the 2nd arrow all night.  The lanes had different shaded wood all over, different patterns,  and it made it easier to pick the board I was standing at last on that lane. I could actually breath this time...granted it wasn't on league and I didn't want it probably as much as I should have, but I accepted the idea and tried for it.  Normally I try to psych myself out early so my 1st 300 dosn't happen during practice, but I did try, right in the pocket and left a solid 7 pin. It just wasn't my time.  That's fine also.  At least this time that 9 in a row sticks and so does the new score. Like when they score at the ball game and the old score comes down...new one goes up, higher than the last one. What a sweet night to practice...I will wait for that 300 game, but another step closer feels awesome! I will get it...soon.

I have a Pro/Am Tournament next Friday , Grand Handicap Tournament Saturday (at the house I practiced at), Bowling Banquet this Saturday night, Wednesday the PBA Experience league starts and I decided to work on Tuesday nights...At least give it a try. Summers at that place are hard on my patience. Maybe I need the practice though. Oh well...we shall see!

Good luck and Great bowling to you all!