More Docs Outtakes

Wow, the title of that last post "Skirting the Edges of Burnout" sounds pretty heavy now. I think I've definitely bounced back the past week or so. I played third this past Tuesday night, beating a SL3 4-0 to stave off the other team from reaching a 3-0 lead in the match. Right from the opening lag I felt great. But I wasn't without some errors. In one game I missed a shot on the 8 by not moving the stance-hindering bar stools on one side of the table. But it all worked out in my favor and I felt calm, focused and totally in control of everything. With the score now at 2-1 we put up our star SL3 player, Grace, who went on to slay yet another SL5 2-3 to tie the match 2-2 and get us to the rubber match. (For those not in the know, you can check out the APA's "games must win" chart that explains all this.) We ended up losing, laughably, 2-3 thanks to one of our senior members who I think has the APA's worst win/loss record when it comes to playing last. In the end, it was good to have Captain Caveman back from the hospital. I could tell he was just happy to be in his usual seat watching everybody play. He played damn well himself, especially for not having played in a month. His match went hill-hill before his opponent won on an 8-on-the-break earlier in the night.

Most Wednesdays I try to take a night off from pool, which is exactly what I did last night. But then Thursday rolls around and I'm getting the itch to play again. My usual Thursday night pool circuit would be getting underway right about now. Invariably I would head out in the direction of Doc Holliday's but poke my head into a few places along the way. Eventually I'd get to Doc's, take a few moments to acclimate my nostrils to the strong doghair-esque odor, and work my way toward the bar during the last hour of happy hour. The fun part about Doc's is seeing who I know and who all I don't: there always seems to be a good mix of knowns and unknowns there. I am itching to get back to Doc's but I'll save my cash tonight and do Pitt Street instead. Here are a few more outtakes from Doc's. The couple in the top photo you may recognize from a post I wrote a couple months ago here. Below is a woman I've played before at Doc's and at Sophie's, her name is Marian.