This weekend was such a blast! Saturday was the Bowl Like the Pro's clinic and Sunday was the Masters Qualifier.

I have never been to a bowling clinic and haven't watched a video of myself bowling in quite a while! That was rather interesting and gave me quite a bit to work with. The only problem is, the next day was the Qualifier and after bowling for so long on Saturday and learning new things. Mostly was my timing and letting the ball go with a lot less human error spots but the qualifier was definatly not the place to apply them!

The Qualifier was excelent!! The first squad I bombed out and place like 70th or so for 5 games..It just wasn't a pretty thing at all trying to bowl how I normally do and trying to apply and not apply the things that were drilled in my head from the clinic! I found myself using both techniques and that is just not good at all.  Plus I am sooo not a morning person and didn't wake up till the 2nd squad.

What a rush!  I bowled 206, 221, 200, 237...which brought me to +64!! Totally a shoe in for the position...which in turn I followed with a 181...what a bummer! for a total of +45  I placed 9th of 96 bowlers and actually...if I would have bowled a 210...I would have had it.  What an emotional rollercoaster! I go from thinking that I was just there for the experience, to thinking that I might have a chance, to blowing it, and being dissapointed for being so close.

Oh well...for my first big tournament I felt I did rather well.  Actually 2nd cause I bowled the qualifier last weekend also.

Life is great though overall.

Good luck and good bowling.

Last night I bowled in the Pro/Am tournament in Joliet.  I really enjoy bowling in those.  It is really neat to see all these great pro bowlers and get to bowl with them and talk with them.  Makes you realize that they too are human.  Plus it was for a good cause. 

9-pin no-tap format. I bowled a 221, 246, and 231 = 698 scratch.  I am not sure what my entering average was.  Either 180 or 190 something.  One guy that bowled with us bowled 2 -  300 games.  The pro's bowled 300, 264, and 262.  I find out the standings on Sunday.  I ended up winning a gift certificate to the pro shop where I bowl, and bought a new bowling ball also.  I can't wait till I can pick that up.

I decided since I became way to intoxicated at the last Pro/Am that I would actually try at this one.  It really was a lot of fun!  One pro- Tom Hess was bowling with us and I left a 6/7 split and he went to help me pick it up, I went for the 6 and he went for the 7. It almost looked like I actually slid the pin over & hit the 7 pin before his ball did.  It was kind of funny. Poor guy.  I was applauded and he was kind of laughed at. It really was very funny though and he was such a great sport.  I also bowled with Chad Maas and Tony Caracker. They were all really great guys. 

I still kind of kick my own self for not going to bowl when the "Ladies & Legends" came out to Rockford.  It is a ways away, but it would have been fun to be able to bowl with the lady pros. Next time I guess.

Good luck to all of you out there!

Friday night I bowled in the Pro/Am Tournament.  It was quite an...uh...interesting time.  I only say that because I became slightly intoxicated the 2nd squad I bowled.  Slightly intoxicated...being the understatement of the year.

1st squad: 182, 236, & 213= 631  2nd squad: 216, 132, & 234(opened the last frame)=582. 

We bowled with Pete Weber in both squads, and many other great bowlers.  They only bowled 5 frames a piece and moved onto the next set.  I spoke with and went to dinner with Jeff Carter, Derek Sapp, & Mandy the lovely little lady that runs all the scores and paperwork and a couple other pro bowlers. 

I feel slightly sheepish because I remember actually talking some trash to a couple pros after they made the comment that I won't be able to strike since I can't walk a straight line...Then BAM! Right in the pocket! STEEERIKE!!! Then something along the lines of "Oh yeah baby!!!"  and a reference about how I should hold their pro cards for them for talking  trash and pointing out that I was beating 2 pro's scores put together.  

It was all in fun and I could tell when I showed up to watch the Regionals the next morning...well afternoon...after the hangover was gone, and um, well...everyone that was around me the night before just laughed or smiled and I was told I was quite entertaining.  It was kind of funny.  Honestly...I do remember a lot of the night.  I did behave myself...but overall...yes..had too much to drink, didn't drive though, and bowled pretty well.  I went for the fun anyway.  Pete Weber said it was good I found my smile...when I bowled 1st squad with him...I was thinking too much and still sober, so he pointed out how I need to smile. The 2nd squad....yeah, smiling wasn't an issue...at all. I bowled the 132 due to sobering up and starting to think again. Go figure. I decided to fix that I should have another shot of Jack, or Doctors, or Rumplemintz, or...whatever.

I was informed that it should be a requirement that I get that smashed on my PBA League...WHICH WILL NOT HAPPEN. I double checked with a couple people that I bowled around and asked if I was a really horrible person and if I was too loud and obnoxious...and got no's accross the board.  Thank Goodness...I really just had fun with it.  I said if I drank that much on the league they would boot me off! I asked if I made anyone mad...and was told no, just very entertaining...and happy! Not the quiet and reserved person I try to come off as.  Told it was great to know that I too...am human.

My name was Jack that night anyway...It wasn't really Jamie out there Drunk as a Skunk, Jamie doesn't do stuff like that...Everyone just called me Jack- Daniels that is.

As far as the Pro/Am goes...It was a great time, and so neat to watch the regionals the next day.  So many great bowlers all in the same place.

Never made it to the other tournaments this weekend. Never got a call back for the Saturday one and just decided to not go to the 9-pin no-tap tournament.

Well...good luck and good bowlling to you all... Thanks for reading!

So Saturday was the Grand Handicap tournament.  I didn't to so great...181, 167, 166, 187, 202. Entering in with a 186 average...I wasn't too happy with myself but at the same time, it was great practice.  Then that night I had my bowling banquet.  That was pretty nice.  Pot luck buffet, every team brought 2 dishes.  It turned out really nice, Ended up getting drunk and closing the place down...finally made it home by 3am to go to a nine pin-no-tap tourny today - Mothers Day, but because noone really showed up they said they will do it next Sunday.  I still practiced 3 games with my father, he was actually beating me! I was a little taken back by that but it was good for him also.  1st game..173 to his 185, 2nd game we were just shot practicing, then the 3rd game my 218 to his 221.  It was a lot of fun bowling with him till he tried giving me pointers...then he kind of lost me.  Especially seeing as yesterday we were talking about how I hate when people try to give me unsolicited advise.  Especially when I am standing there with a hang over @ noon.  No good.  It's okay though. 

So Monday is the banquet for Willow Torches league, then Tuesday I will be working at the Bowling alley, then Wednesday I start the PBA Experience league. Thursday prabably practice, Dar thought her Nationals were this weekend, but realized it is next weekend.  So we will probably get one more day of practice in for her. Then Friday is te Pro/Am at Willowbrook Lanes. I am bowling both squads.  Should be fun, I will know a lot of people there.  Busy Busy Busy.

 Happy Mothers Day out there to all the mom's and all the people that are celebrating that they are not a mother yet...like myself!

So I bowled in 2 tournaments this weekend that helped make me feel better that my mental blocks when it comes to bowling may hopefully be gone!! This could be a very good thing!

It just seemed that everythime I would bowl in a tournamanet, even a house tournament where I work & bowl normally, my brain would freeze up, all the thoughts would flood my brain and I would forget every basic to bowling, where do I stand, how do I throw the ball, I would litterally have to double check if I was using the correct fingers! It was very sad seeing as I have always wanted to go pro, and yet couldn't stand up to the pressure of the dreaded T. 

I stopped bowling tournaments and went strictly to leagues with that negative attitude of "I can't do it" I know, very bad to get into.  Lately though, a bunch of people in Lockport decided to sign me up for some tournaments with a big group, about 20-30 people strong, all bowlers I knew, and reassured me we werent going to bowl, we were going to drink!! I can handle that! I made the travel to Peoria and bowled really well, cashed in the side pots, not sure where I placed.  I just did another in Valpo, cashed the side pots on that one also.  Again all firmiliar faces.  It was like bowling league but in a different house. 

This weekend was the true test for me though.  I was invited to bowl in the S&D Doubles in Wooddale.  I knew this would be a good test because I wouldn't know anyone there but my partner.  I bowled a 193, 225, & a 222!! We took 4th place!

Hopefully hopefully my mental block has finally dissapeared and I can now move on further with my bowling.  Yippee!!

P.S. the iPod helped me zone in a little also