Finding out whats going on

I guess its not all about me.......but at this point I am being very selfish......and making it all about me. I am going to a cardiologist tomorrow, trying to figure out what is going on with my body. I have not felt well since cancer struck me in 2004. Yes, the surgery was successful........yes, the chemo worked......yes, I married my sweetheart.....yes, I had one daughter marry her best friend.....yes, I have a daughter who has been successful in education, working and guiding others and being successful in my first union...802.....yes, I have a stepdaughter who will never be a stepdaughter.......she is a very determined, courageous woman who is not afraid to be who she is!........2 step sons who will never be stepsons.....both as different as night and day, but both searching for their rainbow.........my stepdaughter who will never be a stepdaughter.....who is the mother of 3 of the greatest grandchildren a person could ask for!

...Yes......I make it all about me. I am scared of what I don't know........ a doctor I don't know........feeling that at almost 63, how vulnerable I really am....... a desire to be out of a 2 room mess into a home with the woman I love.......feeling heat rather than cold.....an oasis where all of our kids can stay and hang out......cooking in a real kitchen on a real stove and a real barbecue. I want to grow old with Marti........watch our kids sort out their lives and be who and what they want to be.......watch our grandchildren grow and flourish.

.....Yes.....I make it all about me. I am scared!

No Gloom and Doom

As I re-read my blog, I realize that no matter how much appears to be changing, nothing changes! I'm such a "Drama KING".....lol

So, I bowled last night......... 289, 255, 258.........802. Just so happened to be the highest series I have bowled in 32 years.......thats right, I said 32 years!
Went to the doctor today......blood pressure is perfect......no weird crap happening.
Practiced this afternoon......a continuation of last night......as I said to my friends last night.......I'm just going to enjoy the ride!

Discoveries if a cancer survivor

As I get to know other cancer survivors, we discover that we share other thoughts beside survival.When we get a belly ache, its cancer of the small intestine, cough and a cold, lung cancer, gas pains under and around your heart, coronary artery disease.It is a vicious cycle that disallowed me to hold my 4 day old grandaughter because I was afraid I would lose my balance and drop her (she is such a little peanut.....all I want to do is hold her.And hold her I will because most of my symptoms are exaggerated just making me weak.

I may not even bowl tomorrow night if I feel like I did all weekend. On a positive note, I ate food each of he past 4 days. I will get my appetite back. I really want to move to Arizona healthy.....not 3 months and dirtnap. I want to live at least another 30 years and negotiate from there 1 year contracts with options to renew.Marti and I deserve the happiness young love promises.
So I'm making an appointment with the recommended cardiologist to go ove tmy EKG and eCHO AND carotid artery and plan our attack. We'll just have to see which treatment will give me my energy back.

Whats happening in your shop?

Its been a rather early start to the holiday season at deer park. Lots of walk ins pricing everything from resin bags to HR professional 4 to 6 ball bags, newest bowling balls to closeout of last year's weapons.Selling between 2 and4 balls daily 3 cases a week. Some lessons scheduled with the Deer Park HS and the North Babylon HS and 1 with Copiague. Bowling on Mondays in East Islip, arguably, the highest scoring house in Long Island/Been dizzy a lot, chest pains of a minor non threatening manner. Got to step away from the fear and put it in a locked box,........I want to win a banner in the region and the national tour.That is my goal for the upcoming season.Those who know me, can figure out why this year.Of course at this age (62), its logical that I do not have a whole lot of time to become a major force on tour.....so its one shot at a time,matching up with the best equipment (in my case Track, Columbia, Ebonite and Hammer) As long as I can breathe and walk and repeat shots, I'll play what is there. I also intend to renew friendships, really hanging out with my fellow competitors, discussing bowling, equipment, and what golf clubs seem to work best in windy conditions.....lol.Either way, see all of you in
April in
Dayton. Staying at the Studio6 if its still there......great prices,quiet place and super clean! Speak to y'all after the cardiologists office next Tuesday. Enjoy the weekend ......stay warm.
Gary

Sometimes, you got to step back and take in the beauty

I know that its been over a month since my last entry.......its been a month that included Atlantic City a few times, 2 bowling disappointing tournaments, "Midnight Madness" shopping Thanksgiving Night out in Riverhead at the Tanger Outlets (it was a blast), taking medication and worrying over every heart beat and uncomfortable feeling near my heart after eating. Going to see a cardiologist on Monday in order to get on the road to clearing up what is and putting to rest what isn't. I have been very worried, unable to eat at the hours we are accustomed and scared that I have some serious work ahead of me, Thank God I stopped smoking 3 years ago.......I can't imagine how bad this would be!

If all my tests come out okay, or I need an angioplasty, we will plan to go to Phoenix around January 12-January 21 to look for our dream home in the desert of the sun. Naturally, if I need bypass surgery, the trip and purchase will be delayed until I finish rehabbing.......we'll just have to see.

My customers are doing well with the equipment i have chosen for them along with the first lesson thats included in their purchase. 2 different bowlers of mine shot 2 300s and 1 300 respectively.......Great publicity for the shop!

My game is still coming around, using primarily Ebocoltracker equipment.
especially love the Track 715A and 505A, the Columbia 300 Full Swing and Bedlam and Freeze and the Ebonite Magic series and the Evolve. It seems that Track and Ebonite respond best to my limited rev rate and lower speed.Great stuff coming out of Hopkinsville.........thanks Mr. Gallagher, Mr.Figliomieni, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Ussery. You guys along with your r and d staff, chemists, pourers.....you are all doing a great job and getting the product out there. Its an easy sell at all price points: something good for everyone!

Getting a bit tired.....its almost 3:30 AM........will blog later next week.
Thanks and love to all!

October 20.....York, PA, high blood pressure et al

This is the color my faced turned when the MD told me that my constant (25 years) 130/80 blood pressure was 161/102 in both arms. This is a problem that was never present and has scared the living daylughts out of me. On the other hand, I feel great......lots of energy, good appetite, trips to AC every 3 weeks and working as much as possible........along with practicing at least 6 games a day.......does that sound like someone with a heart and/or vascular problem?
Started taking a blood pressure med Monday and already there is a slight movement downward on my pressure..........maybe it spiked because of the stress of Marti's house, her Mother's house, us looking for a house in AZ, my defaulted loans on credit cards (2) 50 k, .......no wonder my pressure is high......lol.

I had originally planned to bowl the York senior regional since the schedule came out, along with the tournament 2 weeks later in Brookville. If my practice today goes well, and I feel good......York, PA.....heeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeeeeesssss Gary!
Pressure was 145/92 this morning compared to 160/105 last night. I'll be fine!

October 1 and all is what it is

Being a pro bowler who has lost the heart to compete is like being a man without a country. After 5 years of disappointment and dissolution, I have pretty much forced myself to find other things to do rather than shoeing up and bowling. I continue to be the greatest practice bowler in the history of the sport.....lol.....but I still cannot make that translate into the greatness I need to compete on the PBA level. It is such an enigma!!!!!!

I still plan on visiting Lou in Michigan and with his expertise and help, evaluate where I am at......and what I need to do to be where I want to be.

I will keep my few followers appraised of my progress or lack thereof.

PS.....yes, I am very depressed about having this dream turn into a nightmare.
Thank God for a wife who STILL believes in me! I love her with all that I am!

Explanation of previous post

I spent the past 3 weeks since leaving Decatur, agonizing over what the hell went wrong with Mr.Super-Senior Pro. Itwas a major struggle in both Hammond and Decatur. So much so, that instead of picking up Marti and trudging up to Lansing, MI, I canceled out of those tournaments,and spent 2 weeks traveling to Reading PA and the Amish country, Atlantic City and the slots, Cooperstown: The Shrine of Baseball along woth the Farmer's Museum, and, oh yes, amregional tournament in Pottstown PA where I finished 3 from the bottom, but actually bowled better than I had all summer.At the very least, Marti and I had a fun vacation with shopping and education being the focal points, along woth some decision making regarding how to break throug on tour.
1. I plan to see the best Gold-rated coach in the world : Lou Marquez, and come up witn a physical solution to the problem that would cause a mental solution to the same.
2. No league play, just practice and local tournaments.
3. Seiously and realistically looking at a substitution activity for the time andeffort I put in to bowling, just in case I never return to required competitive skill set that I possessed for many years and lost 5 years ago (along with part of my esophogus and part of my stomach and all of my confidence!
I will keep you all informed.

regrouping is NOT another word for quitting!]

From Agony to ????????

Last week was definitely a re-learning experience. As much as I work and practice on Long Island, it is virtually impossible for a pro bowler to experience and be prepared for the tour patterns, transition and necessary adjustments we have on tour.(which is one of the reasons I am so impressed by Mike Fagan, and his ability to compete on the "kids" tour).
I had an extremely disappointing week, finishing tied for 105th out of a field of 119. On a positive note, I didn't quit......and I used the 2nd block as a real learning experience......lots of experimentation.

I left Hammond for Decatur on Tuesday with a committment to work on the necessary elements missing from my game.........bowled approximately 45 games between Tues and Friday. Official practice session for the tournament was this afternoon......it all came together! I see it continuing to come together tomorrow afternoon/evening in the tournament proper. Its simply a matter of practicing what I teach......Less is More.
More to follow after the first block......thinking and feeling positive thoughts!
PS.....Jeanine and Craig are having a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!What Great News!

"The Long and Winding Road"

I shall be leaving Long Island at 7 PM with an ETA of between 9 and 10 AM. I-80 is probably one of the most boring roads in the Interstate Highway System......especially Pennsylvania......nothing personal but from Bartonsville to Dubois is BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRing.

I am looking forward to enjoying each and every moment while I'm on tour..........especially the last 2 weeks in Michigan when Marti is with me.

Not much more to say........getting in the van within 15 minutes....sleep well whilst I travel.

G

Why I Hate Packing and traveling

I always pack too much of what I don't need; and not enough of what I do need.

No matter how neatly I pack, anything I want to wear winds up needing to be ironed.

No matter how much I love competing on tour, I am already lonely, being away from the few hours I spend with Marti each day.

No matter how much I move things or throw things out, the van ALWAYS is a mess.

No matter how much I like to drive (its a control issue) I wish I could push a button and be in my chosen destination, van, clothing and bowlingballs included.

So many people would love to do what I do..........and I sometimes question what is it that I do?

Leave it to me to complain about doing what I love to do!......(what is it I love to do?.....lol)

Now that I got all this off of my chest, I'll pack, load the van (if I can find room in there), and leave tomorrow morning for a 13 hour drive to Hammond, Indiana, where I will continue to chase the dream!

Even with all this bitching, I'm a damn good bowler and will handle the process while the outcome will be what the outcome is!

Speak to you from Indiana.
G

Ready of Not, Here I Come!

Of course, I'm ready......lol. Physically and mentally, I am probably in the best shape of my bowling career......I say this why?

1. All of the bowling balls react the way they were mapped out and planned......which in layman sense means, I am able to repeat shots no matter what I am using,which makes the unique qualities and attributes of each ball present.

2. A "deep inside"excitement and anticipation of what is to come......looking forward and truly feeling "NOW IS MY TIME".

3. Truly understanding that I am only responsible for the process and whatever it entails; I cannot control the outcome, although positive thinking and visualization certainly helps.

4. There is no pressure on me to succeed; I am already a success for winning by competing rather than quitting.......you don't have to win a tournament to be a winner; positive steps forward are significant wins.

5. I have nothing to prove.....other than proving to myself I have made it all the way back. As far as the rest of the bowling world, there are some that have made it back with serious illnesses and injuries, and, unfortunately, those who could not. I have been in that area betwixt and between and am finally stepping out of the darkness, into the light! My making it back and getting a title will be the penultimate comeback from 2 bouts with major cancer, emotional and financial upheaval, lots of personal doubt and all of the emotional baggage that goes with it.

So, my readers, I will get in my loaded van on Thursday and drive the long night's journey into day (apologies to Eugene O'Neill") and enjoy the career I have chosen in retirement.....and compete with the Greatest Senior Professional Bowlers in the World, who also happen to be comprised of the greatest, coolest friends in the world.

I will be in touch throughout the tournament play and the sightseeing because, after all, we only bowl 5 hours a day.........lots of time to fill. Hammond and Decatur.....2 of my favorite tournaments.

Speak to you from Indiana.

Changes in Lattitude, Changes in Attitude

Its been a month since my last confession. It has been an eventful,exciting month as I am whipping myself in shape for the tour which begins in a week and 2 days in Hammond, Indiana. In past seasons, I had dreaded the 4-6 week break in the middle of the senior tour. This year I needed the 6 weeks to re-evaluate and re-train and re-tool in order to succeed in the last 4 tournaments......which I plan to achieve. An example of the "new"standards occured Saturday in a senior regional in Turnersville,NJ ; a center that is high scoring no matter what the pattern as long as the humidity is below 30 . This weekend it was 70 to 80% causing intermittent inconsistent approaches that bothered at least 1/2 the field......even a few guys in the top 1/2 had sliding and leverage problems on certain pairs. They really didn't bother me as I shot 162 (strikes only on the left, chopped 6 10 and missed 9 pin) 198 clean....couldn't carry the left lane,,,,,and then it happened.Out stepped the big stopper......the mother of all games lost......with 4 splits and 2 1pin misses a 135. Up until last week, my mental game would have allowed me to accept this as a negative repeat of history, one that I never was able to recover from. I sat myself down after that game and started to laugh.....not a nervous laugh or laugh of desperation......it was a funny laugh when I questioned myself as to what the fQXK happened........my choice was continue thinking to myself what would happen.......or take control of the process and let the outcome happen..........which was the choice I chose. 236, 216,189,203, 202........... from -105 to -74. It doesn't seem like much , but to me it was acting on a decison...an excercise in not letting outcome ruin process. I belong out on the senior tour,,,,,,,and thats where I'll be throughout the month of August.

From Homesick to HOME, SICK!!!

Last Thursday was an interesting day: left Las Vegas at 10:00 AM, sunny and 80+ degrees, through the beautiful mountains and canyons of Utah, through rainy and SNOWY Rockies, Denver and finally some Ramada Inn in Colorado......temperature change of 50 degrees with all my winter clothing back in NY.......Friday and Saturday were consistently in the 60's as I traveled I-80, one of the longest and most boring roads in this beautiful country. I finally got in the apartment at about 3:00 pm on Sunday........hungry, cold, exhausted, nose running, aches in parts of my body I did not know existed.......yes, I was Home, Sick!

Well, its Wednesday......still a tickle in my throat, still achy, nose still running....going to the doctor tomorrow.....of course doctors do not work on Wednesday.....I believe that its an official AMA holiday! I am sure its nothing but allergies or a cold or virus.....just that this hypochondriac does not want it to turn into bronchitis or pneumonia. Ah....the perils of being a professional senior bowler.

My van has 6000 more miles on it than it did on May 25.......it came through the trip no worse for wear, except an AC that was fixed so well that it crapped out worse than the most unlucky craps player in vegas history!(Not any different than my trip to Vegas 2 years ago in the same van).

I finally attempted to bowl again yesterday.......either Deer Park's house shot is simple or the US OPEN and SENIOR MASTERS patterns were impossible for a Long Island house hack (a name that a jealous "fan" of mine once coined and has stuck in my throat like an apple in a suckling pig)......yes I was able to strike from all angles with any piece of equipment at DPB.

After the doctor, I will try to bowl again tomorrow, maybe even bothering my wife at Wantagh lanes, where she works on thursday nights........I will not give in to the negative.....all I need is a breakthrough tournament to loosen my armswing and return ME to being ME!

I will hopefully see both Liz and Marisa on tuesday evening........

The Long Drive Home

I will leave Las Vegas sometime later today........its almost midnight here. I am beaten, but not defeated.....YET! The past two weeks were an eye opener for me; I have never been so disappointed with myself...... I have become a house hack, bowling only in DPB and Wantagh. I do not bowl tournaments......other than PBA Senior National events and some PBA East Regionals (1 last year, 2 so far this year). For the record......I did not shoot +161 Tuesday nor did I do that today......I remained in the red, although there were guys that finished quite a bit worse than I did.........but I'm sure that they do not have the experience I have, nor the success I achieved before I got sick.

My beautiful wife/life partner has totally encouraged me; supporting my bowling "habit", believing in my reaching for my dream. I will continue to work on what needs to be "fixed"; bowl the senior regional in July at Turnersville, and bowl 4 of the 5 remaining PBA senior events in August. I am very competition rusty and need to compete in order to compete (if that makes sense).

Although I'm sad and disappointed, I am looking forward to having my arms around my wife......I love her so much and need her so much.

Like it our not I"M A HACK!

After the first 5 games of the USBC Senior Masters, I am -161 for 5 games, bowling on the mess that everyone before me left......oil wherever it is not expected. I left 31 one pin spares.....made 29 and still couldn't average over 170. A gun wouldn't have helped (except for putting yours truly out of his misery).

I bowl at 11 AM today (2 EDT) and considering only one group bowls ahead of us, have a better chance at finding what I couldn't find yesterday. I am sooooooo disappointed and finally beginning to realize that i may not achieve my dream........what a bummer!

All kidding aside, I miss my Martha so much,it hurts! I am so sick of traveling alone without the woman who means EVERYTHING to me........I hope that she really knows that and gets rid of the albatross in Bethpage yesterday rather than tomorrow, stops having to work to pay taxes, and gets out here on the road with me. Reality says it all.....I have not bowled respectably on tour since I have been traveling alone for the past 5 of 6 years......I need to run back and kiss her with each strike with friends saying, "......get a room". (The good old days)!

Sorry for the rant, Marti.......but its true.......I am lost without you!

That being said, finally........I am prepared to go +161 today and get back in the hunt.....may the Bowling Gods be generous and help me return to past glory.......AMEN

DISAPPOINTMENT SUCKS!!!!!!!!

Blue is the perfect color for the text of this post. I just bowled the worst 3 days of my professional career that spans 35+ years as a PBA member! My performance was totally unacceptable.....as tough as the pattern played, my cross partner made the cut, as did a guy next to me on either side......... the shot was playable.....I sucked!

I feel like a prize fighter who has just been beat up for 12 rounds.......everything hurts.....including muscles that I didn't know I had......lol.

I will regroup and recover over the next 3 1/2 days.......lookat new equipment at Cashman center, get into the whirlpool in Laughlin Friday and Saturday and bowl the Masters with the confidence I had when I came out here.........I will be fine..but it really hurts.

I cannot accept that I'm a hack!

2600 miles ...... a long way from NY

Here I sit in my hotel room at the Suncoast in Vegas anxiously awaiting a return to national professional competition after almost 2 years hiatus. I bowl in 6 hours(the ungodly hour of 7 am)and for the first time, I feel that my health is not in the way of success! I already slept 3 1/2 hours......and anticipating getting up in time.

Its very difficult being without Martha for this leg of the senior tour.........she is my love, my sponsor, and the greatest support system anyone could ever ask for. I was very lucky that I finally followed through on the ad at Love@aol so many years ago!

Marisa moves into her new apartment tomorrow......as she said to me today on the phone, she is returning to her roots in Jamaica area of Queens. I hope that she makes it a place of peace, tranquility, and good Karma. She deserves a good break.........I'm optimistic that everything will work out for her (from my lips to God's ears). Liz sounds like all is going well in her and Scott's life in the UK......I am proud of ALL my children......... whether i've known them all of their lives, or only for the past 7 years.

Sorry I haven't kept up with my posts......but its very hard to drive cross country and type a blog at the same time,,,,,,although I'm sure that i have seen some motorists do even more than that. Time to get a few hours more sleep before roll call at 6:30 am........aaargh.

I'll write more as the tournament progresses.

4 Days to the Valley of the Sun

Getting more and more excited as our trip west is coming this wednesday.........but it is bittersweet as my daughter Liz is coming home from England during the trip's time frame. Hopefully we will be able to get together when we return on the 5th since Liz doesn't go back to London until the 12th.

With Jeanine and Craig being pregnant, needless to say, we are excited at the pending arrival of our 3rd grandchild........(Think Pink, everybody.......we need a little girl to spoil). Of course the baby is due in January.........when we had planned to be in AZ in a new home......I guess that wanting is not necessarily having.........glad I haven't quit my pro shop job!.....lol.

Marti has been busy all day with her sisters going through and dividing the items of their Mom's house. It is a tedious process for those who have never been through it.It was easier for me as an only child; anything relating to sibling dynamics is alien to me.

There is a part of me that wishes that I was not bowling the USBC nationals with my best mate......the timing has given me a pass on the first 4 tournaments of the senior tour........and a return trip to vegas 3 weeks after getting home from this one. I honestly did not think that I would ever be able to compete on tour as I had hoped....surprised the hell out of me that everything I have worked on over the past 10 years are now in place......AMAZING.......I can compete, once again.This could be the beginning of a wonderful friendship......me and winning!

I will report on our adventures in the valley and in Vegas and Laughlin. No matter what, we will have fun.......my wife has been working doubles for the past 2 years between the theater and the bowling center.........that stops when we get back from vacation. I am so looking forward to evenings together,dinners together, sleeping at a semi normal time and enjoying our love and life together.

Speak to you all from Mesa, AZ.

Doing the AZ 3 step (2 forward, 1 back)

I chose red for today's entry because its so pretty..........(inside joke)!

This past week has been interesting as we prepare mentally and physically
for the many changes that are expected to occur within a year.........selling, buying, moving, bowling, traveling, enjoying life etc. The first offer on the house in Forest Hills fell through, but we are optimistic that its a desired commodity in a less than desirous economy......we'll find out soon. Yes, the house not selling does tie up our plans on buying our "dream house" in AZ, but once again, my optimism totally outweighs any past pessimism!

Back to a more soothing color for those of our readers getting headaches from reading red (man past pessimism, reading red........welcome to the world of aliteration.......see, I do remember something from 9th grade poetry). My bowling practice this week consisted of repetition, using a non-reactive ball(plastic) as a reactive strike ball, changing angles......and going through my arsenal, deciding what I am sending out to Nationals next week. It looks like a Cell(lightly polished), Radical Inferno (500 abralon rough buff shine), a plastic spare ball, and............? Its a toss up between 2 entirely different ball reactions.....smooth strong hooking (Mega Friction) or angular sharp hooking (Cell Pearl).........I have a few more days to decide or drill up something else. For the casual bowler, this has got to be confusing, considering it can be confusing for a professional.......lol. SORRY!

I discovered in my league session this week that when I commit to a ball change for a change in reaction, I have to commit 100%. First game thursday, I had a strike, ringing 10, strike, 2 week 10s.......knew that I needed stronger midlane reaction......switched to a Cell.....7-10 in the pocket....double, spinning 8 pin, 5 strikes to finish at 215. Began game 2 with 9 strikes in a row, weak 10, solid 7 for 278, followed by a 238......all pocket hits, 3 10 pins. What I am saying is that I cannot be stubborn when it comes to changing balls during a game, league session, tournament block, certain pairs during tournaments.......and for the first time in quite a while, I WASN"T A MULE!

I discovered Twitter this week......for someone as verbose as I tend to be, being limited to 140 characters is an exercise in being succinct.......a discipline that I am not exactly good at. But if you wish to be one of my followers, Twitter.com.....my name.....etc.

I will be missing the first 4 tournaments on the senior tour, as it starts up next week when we will be going west. I am looking forward to seeing all my friends on the senior tour.......really missed it last year. Hopefully, this is the last season I will be traveling alone.......my happiest times on tour (although I was dealing with chemo and uncertainty as to whether I would be around for the next season) was the year that my sweetheart/best friend was on the road with me. The guys and fans used to get a kick when I used to go back and give/get a kiss with each strike.....and yes,there were quite a few strikes then! Ah..........those were the days.......5 years can sometimes seem like an eternity, other times , a blink of an eye!

Be well, my friends........Happy Passover, Happy Easter. Enjoy the day......its all we have till tomorrow.

Gary

Fear of winning+ Fear of Losing = I am no longer afraid!

I have spent the past 5 years bowling in fear. Fear of success is sometimes a stronger emotion than failure. I have basically paralyzed myself for the past 2 years......watching others succeed where I once experienced that very same feeling.........sitting at home, watching ESPN, realizing, finally, that I have allowed myself to wish and hope, without doing anything about it. Poor Poor Gary.....instead of pushing myself to where I should be, its a Pity Party at Gary's..........LOL

NO MORE PITY PARTY! Time to get my ass off the couch, get in shape, and make a run at the last 7 stops on the Senior Tour this season. US Senior Open and USBC Senior Masters in Las Vegas from May 30 - June 13, and 5 tournaments including the PBA Senior World Open in August 1 - September7. I am really getting tired of wishing without doing!

As my friend Jeff Morin says, "....Enjoy the Moment......its the only way to fly." Well,I've been grounded for a while......time to get back on the road. I am mad at myself for letting this happen.....but its not to late to remedy the situation.

And, the most wonderful thing in the world.......my beautiful wife BELIEVES IN ME AND KNOWS THAT I CAN DO IT. I WILL NOT LET US DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Confessions of a Senior Tour Wannabe who was a Usedtobe

Its April 3, 2009. My wife and I will be arriving in Phoenix on the 22nd. Our trip is three-fold....house hunting for the home of our dreams in the Valley of the Sun and the DBacks, the Cardinals, the Suns and the Coyotes.; Bowling the USBC Nationals at the Cashman Center in Vegas from the 29th to May 2, a night in Laughlin, a return to Phoenix and, unfortunately, a return to NY on my wife's and London daughter's birthdays.And , saving the best for last, hanging out with Lora.......and devising a plan to get Viacom and Cablevision to transfer Jeanine and Craig to Cox Telecommunications, Local 802 in NY transfering Marisa to Phoenix musicians union and Best Buy placing Liz and Scott in charge of sales for the southwest.......centering in Phoenix (as I sit here sinisterly twirling my mustache and diabolicaly laughing at my master plan)

My dearest Martha just called me sick........well......you gotta have a plan, along with hopes and dreams.

I have been bowling inconsistently; sometimes excellent, sometimes as if the round thing in my hand was a marble not a 15 lb. orb of destruction. More often than not, my scores have been good........at the nationals this year, I have the good fortune of both of my squads being on fresh oiled lanes........before anyone else messes up the shot that the tournament lane management created for the tournament. I expect that to be a real help, especially on Saturday May 2 at
7 AM for singles and doubles. The pattern will breakdown to our team plan......at least thats what we plan to do.

We will be looking at homes in Gilbert, Chandler, Ahwatukie and Fountain Hills. Prices are excellently affordable: tremendous value for the prices. You are all invited to comment on our plans, as we send links to the properties that interest us the most........with pictures, you'll all be able to see "your room" when you come and stay with us.

Getting tired as its almost 3 AM ........but I do my best thinking and writing after midnight.

We will follow up weekly with our adventures in the beautiful southwest.......that is until my diabolical, sinister plan brings you all here.....FOREVER..........hahahahahahahahahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa