The first half is FINALLY over.

Here are the results for the two team sidebets:

ALMOST THERE finished with a 33.5 - 30.5 record. Good enough for 14th place out of 33 teams in the entire CBC!

Their team average of 483 comprised of:

Da Cheeze's 163 over 45 games.
Bush Baby's 156 over 42 games.
Humphrey's 164 over 36 games.

DeWayne's 161 over 6 games was not used in the calculation of the team average competition.

SIKNESS finished with a 25.5 - 38.5 record. Good enough for 28th place out of 33 teams in the entire CBC!

Their team average of 492 comprised of:

Super's 142 over 33 games.
Judgie's 180 over 45 games.
Puba's 170 over 42 games.

She-Fiend's 166 over 18 games was not used in the calculation of the team average competition.

While ALMOST THERE decimated SIKNESS in overall record, SIKNESS managed to cling onto the overall team average.

What to look for (storylines) in the second half:

Humphrey of ALMOST THERE once again promises to "carry" his team to the promised land. While there is a possibility of that happening, will his promise be futile as he looks up in the stands during his team's darkest hour and realizes again that there is nothing he can do to win the love, adoration, and respect of his CBC colleagues? QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "Man, I didn't know all these people hated us..." - (May 2008, 2nd half playoffs)

Bush Baby of ALMOST THERE will have to keep her emotions in check as Humphrey's occasional annoyances will badger her from time to time. Does she have the control to keep her team grounded and their eyes on the prize? QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "Look at the f'en scoreboard! His name is not Humphrey!" - (last week)

Da Cheeze of ALMOST THERE continues his reign as potentially the fastest bowler in the league. Will he be able to harness the extra "HP's" and continue his semi-hot streak, or will he crash and burn and be overthrown amidst the delight of the other CBC speed demons? QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "This might be my final year (ride) with #3 coming..." - (beginning of the 2008/2009 season, during team drawing)

DeWayne of ALMOST THERE has been stuck in Gaut, CA. With only a periodic appearance from time to time, DeWayne has been relegated to the boonies of CA to becomes a full-fledged peace officer. Little does the State of CA know that DeWayne and "peace" have nothing much in common. On the shelf for much of the 1st half, with DeWayne reemerge to be key contributor to ALMOST THERE's 2nd half charge? QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "Wanna go to Gaut?" (September 2008, haven't heard from him since.)

Super of SIKNESS has shown little to no improvement as his velocity continues to rival only that of Jan Jew, and the once despicable and former arch-nemesis of the Puba, Dolores aka The OBB. His barely 10 mile per hour speed ball counters and plays foil to Da Cheeze's lightning fast ball. Will the Super prove his worth, or will his lame efforts continue and lead to a second half of pummelling for SIKNESS? QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "I can fill in for you tonite...albeit I am rusty and most likely will bowl like crap..." - (April 2008, although lately, it can applied weekly)

Judgie of SIKNESS continues to show little emotion on the lane. Paired for the first time with the Puba in over 8 years, their partnership has generated little results. Despite showing at times, potential to be a silent and deadly force in the CBC, Judgie has often taken the role of a silent and helpless sidekick to an already lame Puba. Will the Judgie lay down the law and elevate to be the whole f'en show in the second half? QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "Son of a b*tch can't throw the ball faster than 11 mph!" - (Weekly, about Super's lack of ball speed)

Puba of SIKNESS displayed little grit and fire that has fueled him for much of his CBC career. Once a hated and feared antagonist in the CBC that was able to claim glory in even the most dire of circumstances, the Puba is now a semi recluse and disspirited fighter with little ability to lead his team out of its current state of patheticness. Will the Puba rise up "one more time" and unleash the fury and hatred that once made him the "Most Hated Man in the Chinese Bowling Club," or will he fall victim to his once, former victims? QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "Put a fork in me, it's over..." - (October 2008)

She-Fiend of SIKNESS has been rather powerful when she wants to be. Motivated by sidepots and the opportunity to make an easy $20, the She-Fiend has milked the CBC for what its worth by taking advantage of her lower average. With SIKNESS's current disappointing state, the She-Fiend claims to have little to bowl for as the team does not warrant the once-a-week drive across the bay and has quit. QUOTE OF THE YEAR: "Are you going to bowl next week, cause if not, I'm going to tell Check that I quit..." - (January 10, 2009)

Monday, 12/8

I wake up feeling like sh*t. I've been battling the flu since Thanksgiving. While I should have continued resting instead of hitting the gym at the first sign of recovery (last Thursday and Sunday), it didn't dawn on me until the first day of the work week that I had not fully recovered, and that quite possibly, I was impeding my recovery.

After work (around 6 p.m.), I head straight to bed. Woke up around 8:30, took down a cup of soup, drank some nasty NyQuil and went back to the sack.

Apparently, during the night, Dave, that dishonorable band-wagon b*tch as Judgie so eloquently calls him, texts me to bowl for him.

The text goes:

Can u bowl for me tomorrow? I think I have the flu, liquid is coming out from both ends!

My initial response on Tuesday when I read his text:

Too bad I had already promised the She-Fiend that I would sub for her.

She-Fiend's response when I told her that Dave asked me to sub:

Why would any of us sub for him when he specifically stated that he would not allow his precious sub (Wayne) to sub for any of us?

Tuesday, 12/9

Woke up and felt extremely woozy from the NyQuil. Sorta felt like I had a hangover for a better part of the day.

After a kick-ass day at work, I went home and prepared some of the tea that my mom offered me as a way to help "cool" down my body. Drank a cup of that and I was ready to pounce on the poor team that was to be my opponent at the CBC.

The truth of the matter is, I was already starting to feel a lot better.

This week in the CBC, we faced the 300 Club.

Little background on the 300 Club. These guys apparently all bowled 300 once. Nowadays, they are but a shell of their former selves.

1st Game

Right away, it was going to be a rough night. Judge prances in late as usual. Super can't hit a spare if his life depended on it.

T: Dood, are you going to hit anything tonite?
Super:
Judge:

I felt bad for verbally abusing the Super, but I have seen him bowled better and it pissed me off that he has not picked up his performance level after all these weeks of bowling.

Super: 125
Judgie: 180
T: 190
Handicap: 50

Total 545

Allen: 203
Daniel: 133
Jason: 193

Total: 529

We win our first game... barely.

2nd Game

Same ol' sh*t from the Super. His spare game is nonexistent.

T: Sh*t, this guy is singlehandedly going to lose this game for us.
Judgie: What do you expect from a guy who bowls 10 miles per hour?
T:

The verbal attacks continue. I felt particularly strong tonight as my ball was travelling down the lane a whole mile faster (17 to 18 mph) down the lane. Perhaps I am near full recovery.

10th frame, we're neck and neck.

Super shoots a 7 on his first ball and follows with a 1.

T: F*ck! (smashes cup on the counter) F*ck! F*ck! F*ck! (Everyone turns around to look at the inferno resonating from my head).

Almost immediately, I think to myself, that it has been a long time since I've exploded at the CBC.

Super walks back, dejected.

T: You f'en costs us this game.

Super: 113
Judge: 191
T: 180
Handicap: 50

Total: 535

Allen: 211
Daniel 148
Jason: 195

Total: 554

We lose this game... barely.

Game 3

I was not going to let Super f*ck this night up for me. The 300 Club was just relieved that they snuck a victory against us. Their confidence was building. I knew I had to crush it before they completely overtook us.

In the 4th, 5th, and 6th frames, I unleashed a wicked flurry of strikes. The fate of the 300 Club was sealed. After the 5th frame, I yelled at the Super just as he was about to bowl:

T: F'en visualize it!
Super:

Conversation during the 7th frame:

T: Michael Jordan doesn't just close his eyes and make free-throws. He visualizes it first. He sees himself in the act of shooting and making the free throw. Then he does it. You need to do that before every spare shot.
Super: (as he starts connecting on his spares)

Super: 132
Judge: 193 (60 of those pins happened in the last two frames, when they were not needed).
T: 180 (Eased off the throttle on the last two frames).
Handicap: 50

Total: 555

Allen: 174
Daniel: 157
Jason: 117

Total: 448

We win the third game by 107 and take the overall as well.

By the end of the night, the Bush Baby had sauntered over, looking defeated. Apparently, Dennis (with a bad back) delivered for once. Good ol' Brokeback, the sh*ttalker, finally delivered.

The Bush Baby was upset and felt bad that she let her teammates down. Da Cheeze, who apparently had to see his contractor, and Tylon's Brother, who had the Hershey squirts.

I looked at her scoresheet and told her that there was probably nothin' much they could of done anyways to change the outcome.

As we headed out, I thanked Brokeback for sweeping them. Brokeback, of course, nonchalantly says, "It was the lanes. I could throw it out and it would come back in. Throw it in, and it would hit the same."

I laughed, but inside, the fire burned... "There might not be a next time, Brokeback. But if there is and I decide to bowl again, you will be one of many I will take pleasure in destroying!"

It is amazing that people hurt these wonderful creatures.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/12/07/2008-12-07_puppies_save_threeyearold_boy_lost_in_fr.html

Poster boy, Michael Vick, I mean you! You f'en, decripid piece of rat turd.

I don't know where I caught my latest bout of the flu... perhaps it was from Da Cheeze's house or from my brother-in-law's son (he had snot running down his nose).

But I is one sick puppy/puba. Bones aching, incessant sneezing, and extremely fatigued.

Still, it did not stop me from hitting 3 Thanksgiving parties and a wedding through the 4 day weekend. Nor did it stop me from volunteering to pass out meals for the San Francisco Chinatown Rotary Club and bowl a 586 afterwards for the Judgie, who apparently had to put in some extra hours at work.

This Thanksgivings get-together occurred at Da Cheeze's new remodeled home. It was nice seeing everyone. It almost feels like ages that all of us get together for a fun occasion. Having attended a funeral for a coworker recently and seeing the deceased's friends and family all in one place, it made me realize how precious these get-together opportunities are... especially when it is a joyous occasion.

Apparently, I have a new ghostwriter who will be chronicling the daily misdeeds that occur every Tuesday night at the CBC since I have stepped aside.

In his latest blog, he states the dire state of my team (SIKNESS) in which I left in the "capable" hands of the Judgie... much like the Cannons. It will be the Judgie's "Matrix" of leadership that will carry SIKNESS in their darkest hour, when all hope is gone...

To read more from the ghostwriter... go to www.emaginations.com/blogs

I think I've finally hit an impasse in my life... in particularly, my interests.

First off, no longer am I interested in bowling. My lack of interest was in full display last night at the CBC.

After gaining a 100 point lead against the Young's and Art in the first game, our team completely collapsed. Worst of all, I didn't really care.

Sure, as usual, I tried to pick up the team. But, last night, I didn't feel it nor did I care.

We eventually lost the second game by 98 pins and the third game by 50. During the night, I told the Super (who was subbing for the She-Fiend) my thoughts:

Puba: I think I'm done. (transforms back to Tommy) -->
Super:
Tommy: No longer want it. You can sub for me the rest of the way.
Super:

I go to sleep no later than 10 p.m. these days and I've been waking up at 5:30 a.m. to hit the gym. The gym is nearly empty and I like it that way. After I get in an hour + of cardio and weights, I hit the sauna for 15-20 minutes before showering and heading to work. I am finding that I am really enjoying this part of my day as it is the only time I have to focus on myself. I highly encourage everyone to spend some time alone once in a while.

Perhaps a part-time job or hobby will help with this transition. But more so, a long-term goal is what I'm looking and shooting for.

Perhaps I need a road trip to just get away from it all. Maybe during this time, I will rediscover what it is that drives me.

All I know is, the CBC evenings and Cannons softball just doesn't do it for me anymore.