catching up

Geez, I haven't had much time to sit down and write a good blog entry in a few days. That's what happens when it's the weekend I have my son; I get super busy! He's a high energy kid who loves to be involved with things, that's for sure (gee, I wonder where he got that...LOL).

My son is becoming interested in learning how to bowl. His latest thing is to con his mother into starting his weekends with me on Friday, after school of course, as opposed to Saturday morning. When he's able to do this, he gets to accompany Kathleen and me to Airway Lanes. He gets treated like a king! The others in the league love him, and he gets to root his father on. To top it all off, he gets some bowling instruction after I'm finished with my league bowling. Hopefully, I've got myself a little bowler on my hands...I'd love to have him get involved with the candlepin scene.

He had some time with Kathleen on Monday (MLK Day...no school) while I was tutoring my 7th grade student. Matthew told her that his mother "doesn't do anything with [him] and [he's] bored at [his mother's] home." And while I'm not surprised with this as my marriage to his mother ended when she started worshipping the television set, I'm dismayed that she can't get up and do something with him so I can hear all about it when he calls me. Instead, he calls to tell me about school and how much homework he has (and for help on his math when he needs it). Now, I'm not complaining about helping him with his homework...but his mother could lend a hand and pay attention now and again, couldn't she?

I've discovered, I think, an interesting anomaly to my candlepin game. I've chatted with many of you guys about the weight of the ball used, wondering if it made a big difference in the way the pins fly. And I've received a few different responses to my queries. But I experiemented with a 2 lb. 5 oz. ball last Friday, and found that the pins didn't fall quite as well. While I can't explain it here, I can tell you that I wasn't the only one who noticed the difference in my pin action and drops...with a ball that was only 1 ounce lighter than usual. However, I do have a set of 2 lb. 7 oz. balls here (an ounce heavier than usual) that I plan on using tomorrow. I'm expecting better drops. Essentially, I'm beginning to think that the heavier ball gives me an advantage.

My "friend" who went nuts after I called him for a bad shot a couple of weeks ago showed up last Friday. He went at it with the league president, still obsessing about the incident. Would you believe he actually told our league president that the only way he'd consider returning to the league was by having me apologize to him? That comment got him thrown out. Oh well...good riddance to bad rubbish.

My application for substitute teaching is pending in Glastonbury. You'd think they'd be happy to have a certified teacher who wants to sub; apparently not. After reviewing my credentials, the guy who spoke to me told me he wanted references! Had I been told, BY CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATION, that I needed references, I'd have been happy to bring copies. So, I'm sure this man was patently unimpressed with me. But I'm pretty sure Kathleen is going to have something to say...she has some pull in this district and, just like her sisters, is very defensive of her man.

The MSSCT begins Saturday. Yep, should be a good time...but I'm fairly intimdated by the names. Can you imagine me bowling against Lou, Craig, Dick, etc. If the tour were handicapped, I'd have a better shot. But a scratch event puts me in the lower half of the bowlers on this tour. Granted, I've got to start somewhere. Maybe I can do some damage in the 'second division' and win a few bucks (6th place takes home $100).

I just keep bowling and hope to make the cut someday...the Phil Mickelson of the candlepin world.

I'm sure I'll have more to say as time goes along over the course of today and tomorrow; I had a few things I wanted to put in my blog, but they're escaping me right now. Watch this space for more exciting (?) updates!