Losing streaks

So, from a mental toughness perspective, its probably wrong to even utter those two words. But, I can't deny that those words have floated around in my head. My record in 8-ball is 0-4. I have yet to win a match for my new team. I'm sure that my performance has been affected by what's going on inside my head....pressure to perform and then just general anxiety that I've been facing at work, apartment hunting and you know, life.

So, I should probably redub my losing streak, as a "learning streak." Afterall, when you come right down to it, I'm not a pro, I'm not a pro in training. Really, I'm a hack. But I love pool, and I love learning. I have to get back into it. Into the process. Into the moment of what I'm doing and not really worry about the winning and losing so much.

But winning is fun and to lose too often can be discouraging. (Although, not shooting well and making stupid mistakes is actually much, much worse.)

So here is my question for the day, can I still be completely in love with the art of pool if I were to never win again?

Over so fast

So, there was no official ending to my fast. I definitely felt that I successfully broke my pool habit, and came to a point where I wanted to play again. But, it is a slippery slope and I need to make sure that I am spending quality time at the pool table and not simply killing time. Killing time sucks life out of my game, and game out of my life...uh or something like that. You know what I mean.

Stats this week:
Squeaker in 9-ball. Lost to a 5 by 2 points
8-ball heartbreaker. Went hill-hill with a five. I played some good strategy but was disappointed in my shotmaking.
Practice: 3 Lunch time sessions. Mostly just hitting balls. Intermittently trying to focus on my pre-shot routine.

Stats last week:
Won a squeker in 9-ball. Won by 2 points against a 5.
8-ball: didn't play. went to a movie instead.
Practice: Didn't keep track.

Breaking up is hard to cue

Okay, okay. Yes, I did it. I cheated on my pool fast. On day 5, I snuck in a few racks at lunch. I had some time to kill....What can it hurt? Just a few balls....I think it was because the other day I read something about muscle memory lasting only 3 days before eroding. Not that casually shooting at lunch is going to help maintain muscle memory of a quality stroke....

What's probably worse is I've been cruising eBay for a new cue. I cancelled my snipe bid on a Coker that went for a great price. I've always wanted to try a coker, but at the last minute, it somehow didn't seem right, since my gut is telling me that both my game and my life will benefit from cutting back on the pool obsession. So, like a new cue is going to help me play less. Yeah, right. But it might be fun.

Vinho Verde

So, I forgot to mention that in addition to my desire to take a break from pool, I am trying to drink less. Playing pool has definitely increased my alchohol consumption. I drop into my local bar for one game and one beer....and then I lose and want to play just one more....someone buys me a drink and before I know it 700 calories and half a liver later, my intended moderation is a laughable and distant non-memory.

But, one of my many non-pool activities that I will be resuming is cooking. And, well, cooking drives my wine consuption...so I guess there's a devil around every corner.

I have to say that I don't often visit my ultra-gourmet neighborhood mart. Mostly I'm a Trader Joe's kind of gal. But everytime I buy a wine from this place--especially if I buy it from the promotional area close to the register--its pretty damn superb. I had a Malbec last week that was so rich, velvety and fruity, my companion and I could not stop drinking it, in spite of the fact that we both had early mornings the next day and should have known better.

So, I stopped in for another bottle, but I was really in the mood for a white, and I was drawn in by the Encostas Do Lima "Vinho Verde" from Portugal. The sign warned that this was "eminently drinkable." And they were right. Yum.I've been drinking it at room temperature, and its still delightful. Light effervescence, medium dry. Lots of green apple. Reminds me of Dry Reisling and Gewurtz. Its the wine version of Magner's Cider (which I prefer to beer).

Enough writing, I need to return to the kitchen because my glass is empty.