On karma and piso mojado

Ghoulish Delight · 11-07-2007, 11:16 PM

I've had an eventful evening.

Tonight was the season ending individual tournament in my Wednesday night pool league. At stake, $200 for first place and pool cues of similar value for the runners up. I've won the $200 in the past and I was feeling pretty confident going in. All I needed to do was win 2 best-of-three matches.

Match one was a rollercoaster. After sabotaging myself with some unforgivable mistakes, I salvaged a split of the first two racks, making it to the decisive 3rd rack. Then my luck began to change. In a hole and left with no good shot, I was forced to aim for a desperation combo shot...which I miraculously made. Of course I instantly wished I hadn't made the shot though since, not expecting to make it, I didn't bother to leave the cue ball anywhere that left me with a follow up shot. Instead, I was forced to once again make a desperation try at a long, improbably bank shot. And my luck held out once again as I nailed it. Bolstered by those two lucky successes, I went on to win match 1. Hooray!

But my run of luck was not over yet. While waiting for my second match, a raffle was held. During the season there is a weekly "break pot". We can buy raffle tickets for $1, if your number is drawn you get a chance to shoot at a 9 ball rack and if you sink the 9 ball on the break, you win whatever money is in the pot. Come the end of the season, if no one's won the pot, it's raffled off in $100 increments at $5/ticket. Lo and behold, my number was called...twice! So win or lose my next match, I was walking out with $200 prize money. Sweet!

By this point, those that had witnessed my two amazing shots in match 1 were calling me Mr. Lucky. I was starting to feel nervous. As a heat check, on an unused table I set up one of those two shots to see if I could make it a second time. I got down over the shot, took aim...and miscued. Hmm, interesting. Retrieving the errant cue I set the shot up once again...and miscued again. My, that's ominous, no?

Finally it was time to begin match #2. My opponent had wandered off for a moment, so there was a bit of more of a wait. By the time he came back, and I began to set up the rack for him to break, I needed a restroom break.

Now, let me back up for a moment. I had visited the bathroom previously in the evening. The floor was wet. Actually, the floor outside the bathroom as well as inside was wet. I actually lost my footing a bit on my way in the first time. That was about 90 minutes earlier.

On this visit to the restroom, someone had obviously noticed the dampness as there was now a carpet runner on the short stretch of tile outside the bathroom. Unfortunately, that's as far as they got in mitigating the problem. One step inside the actual bathroom....WHOOOPS!, out from under me went my left foot, down went the trashcan, and the next thing I knew I was sitting on the bathroom floor in a bit of a daze.

After a few seconds to gather myself, I let out a very justified, "Oooow!" and began to take stock. Fortunately, I landed pretty squarely on my nicely padded ass (take THAT exercise!), though I was aware that I had stuck my right hand down to brace myself. I felt no immediate major injury, but knew that the adrenaline rush could certainly be masking something. One of the customers, a regular that's there almost every Wednesday that the league is there was the first to come see what happened. After a few more moments of self assessment he helped me to my feet. Then an employee came in. He made sure I was doing okay, then he figured maybe he should pull some cloths out and dry the floor (gee, you think?).

I was definitely not seriously injured. After some time my wrist did begin to ache some, and I felt a slight twinge in my lower back. As you might imagine, this did nothing for my pool playing and match #2 ended poorly. I put up a good fight, but luck was CLEARLY no longer on my side.

I decided it would be prudent to let the establishment know that this wasn't a closed matter. While all signs pointed to no major pain or injury, you never know how the body will respond after a night's sleep, adrenaline worn off and muscles readjusting themselves. So I asked the waiter who had come in to check on me for a manager's contact info. I was very nice about it, I said I doubted I'd have an issue, but to be safe I'd like to have the info. The waiter tried to talk me out of it, which ticked me off. "He's not here right now." I understand that, that's why I asked for his contact info. "He'll be here tomorrow." That's nice, what's his contact info?

Eventually I went behind his back and got the manager's info from the guy who runs the league. So that kinda pissed me off.

So there you go, my evening in a very large nutshell. Top of the world to the floor of the bathroom in 2 easy steps. At least I've got $200 in my pocket.

Motorboat Cruiser · 11-07-2007, 11:27 PM

Ouch! Glad you are (hopefully) OK though.

wendybeth · 11-08-2007, 01:23 AM

Good thing you made a point out of getting that info- I remember when your back went out and something like this can really exacerbate back problems.

innerSpaceman · 11-08-2007, 07:51 AM

I still think you are a very lucky guy. Perhaps the fall was your awaiting and unavoidable destiny, and compensatory luck made sure you had one amazing match and would walk away with the equivalent of top prize money.

As long as you're not hurt .... Congratulations!

Snowflake · 11-08-2007, 08:07 AM

Congrats! And OW!

I absolutely stink at billiards.

Alex · 11-08-2007, 08:13 AM

No comment on your ass luck.

But at my last job I spent five years essentially playing 90 minutes to 2 hours of pool a day so I got to be reasonably competent at it. I played for the first time in two years last Friday.

It is amazing how thoroughly skills can abandon you when unused.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-08-2007, 08:55 AM

Well, no new aches and pains this morning. Wrist is a little stiffer than last night, but nothing a little Advil won't help. I think I'm going to sit soccer out today as a precaution, though. Damn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

It is amazing how thoroughly skills can abandon you when unused.

Shorter term than 2 years, but I swear I end up playing better if I take a couple weeks off. Gets me out of bad habit ruts.

JWBear · 11-08-2007, 09:48 AM

Glad you're ok!

11-07-2007, 11:16 PM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	On karma and piso mojado I've had an eventful evening. Tonight was the season ending individual tournament in my Wednesday night pool league. At stake, $200 for first place and pool cues of similar value for the runners up. I've won the $200 in the past and I was feeling pretty confident going in. All I needed to do was win 2 best-of-three matches. Match one was a rollercoaster. After sabotaging myself with some unforgivable mistakes, I salvaged a split of the first two racks, making it to the decisive 3rd rack. Then my luck began to change. In a hole and left with no good shot, I was forced to aim for a desperation combo shot...which I miraculously made. Of course I instantly wished I hadn't made the shot though since, not expecting to make it, I didn't bother to leave the cue ball anywhere that left me with a follow up shot. Instead, I was forced to once again make a desperation try at a long, improbably bank shot. And my luck held out once again as I nailed it. Bolstered by those two lucky successes, I went on to win match 1. Hooray! But my run of luck was not over yet. While waiting for my second match, a raffle was held. During the season there is a weekly "break pot". We can buy raffle tickets for $1, if your number is drawn you get a chance to shoot at a 9 ball rack and if you sink the 9 ball on the break, you win whatever money is in the pot. Come the end of the season, if no one's won the pot, it's raffled off in $100 increments at $5/ticket. Lo and behold, my number was called...twice! So win or lose my next match, I was walking out with $200 prize money. Sweet! By this point, those that had witnessed my two amazing shots in match 1 were calling me Mr. Lucky. I was starting to feel nervous. As a heat check, on an unused table I set up one of those two shots to see if I could make it a second time. I got down over the shot, took aim...and miscued. Hmm, interesting. Retrieving the errant cue I set the shot up once again...and miscued again. My, that's ominous, no? Finally it was time to begin match #2. My opponent had wandered off for a moment, so there was a bit of more of a wait. By the time he came back, and I began to set up the rack for him to break, I needed a restroom break. Now, let me back up for a moment. I had visited the bathroom previously in the evening. The floor was wet. Actually, the floor outside the bathroom as well as inside was wet. I actually lost my footing a bit on my way in the first time. That was about 90 minutes earlier. On this visit to the restroom, someone had obviously noticed the dampness as there was now a carpet runner on the short stretch of tile outside the bathroom. Unfortunately, that's as far as they got in mitigating the problem. One step inside the actual bathroom....WHOOOPS!, out from under me went my left foot, down went the trashcan, and the next thing I knew I was sitting on the bathroom floor in a bit of a daze. After a few seconds to gather myself, I let out a very justified, "Oooow!" and began to take stock. Fortunately, I landed pretty squarely on my nicely padded ass (take THAT exercise!), though I was aware that I had stuck my right hand down to brace myself. I felt no immediate major injury, but knew that the adrenaline rush could certainly be masking something. One of the customers, a regular that's there almost every Wednesday that the league is there was the first to come see what happened. After a few more moments of self assessment he helped me to my feet. Then an employee came in. He made sure I was doing okay, then he figured maybe he should pull some cloths out and dry the floor (gee, you think?). I was definitely not seriously injured. After some time my wrist did begin to ache some, and I felt a slight twinge in my lower back. As you might imagine, this did nothing for my pool playing and match #2 ended poorly. I put up a good fight, but luck was CLEARLY no longer on my side. I decided it would be prudent to let the establishment know that this wasn't a closed matter. While all signs pointed to no major pain or injury, you never know how the body will respond after a night's sleep, adrenaline worn off and muscles readjusting themselves. So I asked the waiter who had come in to check on me for a manager's contact info. I was very nice about it, I said I doubted I'd have an issue, but to be safe I'd like to have the info. The waiter tried to talk me out of it, which ticked me off. "He's not here right now." I understand that, that's why I asked for his contact info. "He'll be here tomorrow." That's nice, what's his contact info? Eventually I went behind his back and got the manager's info from the guy who runs the league. So that kinda pissed me off. So there you go, my evening in a very large nutshell. Top of the world to the floor of the bathroom in 2 easy steps. At least I've got $200 in my pocket. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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11-08-2007, 01:23 AM	#3
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Good thing you made a point out of getting that info- I remember when your back went out and something like this can really exacerbate back problems. __________________
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11-08-2007, 07:51 AM	#4
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I still think you are a very lucky guy. Perhaps the fall was your awaiting and unavoidable destiny, and compensatory luck made sure you had one amazing match and would walk away with the equivalent of top prize money. As long as you're not hurt .... Congratulations!
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11-08-2007, 08:07 AM	#5
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	Congrats! And OW! I absolutely stink at billiards. __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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11-08-2007, 08:13 AM	#6
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	No comment on your ass luck. But at my last job I spent five years essentially playing 90 minutes to 2 hours of pool a day so I got to be reasonably competent at it. I played for the first time in two years last Friday. It is amazing how thoroughly skills can abandon you when unused.
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11-07-2007, 11:27 PM	#2
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	Ouch! Glad you are (hopefully) OK though.
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11-08-2007, 09:48 AM	#8
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	Glad you're ok! __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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