Post by hurltomato on Apr 28, 2004 6:42:14 GMT -5
Austin Eight-Ball - First Tournament Round..
It has been a work week filled with daily problems and frustrations enough to make me want to tear my hair or return to a favorite, substitute stress reliever...my billiard table. When life's strictures weigh heavy on me, those 15 balls blazing across the burgundy felt will break, crack, snick, split and skid my negative thoughts into a positive nirvana. How convenient that this nirvana has a name. Texas- a US treasure with jewels known as Dallas, Austin, Fredericksburg and Padre Island. How wonderful that those precious stones are strung together on a chain of roadway studded with the spring bloom of multi-hued wildflowers. A necklace of priceless vision and free for the taking. Stay with me as this pool play progresses along the paths of two games, billiards and a Texas journey; both challenging and both worthy of repetition for pleasure, adventure, and the sense of connection to our favorite Wilson family. This trip began as a Wilson longing, was planned with a Luke Wilson agenda, www.americanwaymag.com/travel/celebrated.asp?archive_date=6/15/2003
and salted with a wealth of Wilson reminders along the way. Come on gals, it's our moment to rack those balls with the best of expectations and let's play...
Just where is my graphite pool cue? That magic wand of gaming success? And which of those boys used it last? Where is the blinkin' chalk... as I hear a crunch under my foot and see the splintered mess spread all over the Berber white carpet in the game room. When I find them I will...
Getting ready to leave was like that. I looked for my favorite travel journal to write in, packed two copies of Luke's American Way article and looked for my favorite snaps of Owen and Luke to tape into said journal for inspiration and found...only Owen. Twelve hours till we depart and I am compulsively wasting time searching in every novel stacked around the house for a favorite, laminated Luke bookmark that cannot be found. Insane? Yes, but planning a vacation based on a celebrity crush already calls my sanity into to question. I finally give it a rest and offer up a frustrated blessing to the individual I loaned that book to. I decided to make my last trip to the store for forgotten extras and a great idea came to me... Pick up the new Luke- Serengeti Ad in a magazine. Nice try!- No Esquire, No Vogue, No Vanity Fair, No GQ, No Men's Journal and No picture. I live in the hinterland where north woods and lake country farmers tune into Popular Mechanics, In-Fisherman, Snowtechmobile, Gun Digest, and Sportsman Outdoor News. Luke Wilson would need to enter a contest turkey shoot vs. a photo shoot to get adequate press in my stomping ground...
Finding that magic wand hiding in a corner, I rack those 15 miserable work problems into that triangular frame, ready for the initial "break." If done well, there is an electric moment when they snap and spread like a glorious, colorful fan of sparks. Bouncing off cushions and sending their colors in vectors of motion across the table.
Leaving home and begining the 20-hour journey is like seasonal birth. A labor from white snow, to brown-gray, to first bud and full seasonal bloom. With the dawn, we cross that beloved Texas border with a toast of lukewarm coffee, and the first of many firework stands is waiting there to greet me like a Bottle Rocket landmark. In my thinking, Bottle Rocket represents the first great step for Wes & the Wilsons and perhaps, in my mind it is an omen that bodes well of good things for the trip ahead. Light that rocket boys, let those colors fan, and let the sparks fly- Texas, we are here...
Corralled by the felt covered oak, the cushions contain the play as I line up the ivory cue ball to drive up the center to strike the solid dark-red 7 on the right of the ball. Error- it hits to the left and the 7 sends the black 8-ball into motion toward the corner pocket. POOL NOVICES NOTE: Although the 8-ball is neutral, it must be the last to drop or the game IS OVER. I watch in mock horror as the ivory buzzes past the mark and the eighter heads toward the corner cushion right behind the "little pumpkin." The solid orange 5-ball gets nudged by the black 8 and drops into a cozy pocket...
About this time we are flying past Gainesville and the horse pastures around that area. In one paddock, the pastoral scene includes one red-brown horse (7) standing stoic in the center of the paddock, while an ivory stallion (cue ball) runs to and fro with a freedom that is envied by everybody in our car after sitting for the past 16 hours. A black stallion (8) ambles toward the adjacent paddock, sniffing where a palomino mare (5) stands at the gate. I watch this metaphoric scene with casual interest until the brain cells click, like the tumblers in a slot machine. Yes, people- Andrew is like that that solid 7 standing firm in his life while Owen's "cue ball" career bounces him from rail to rail and Luke (8) is supervising this game till the very end. How hilarious that the last post I read before leaving was the Norma Perez interview on the Old School website. That choice graphic even nudges Luke behind Norma (5) to make several pointed glances and a comment about "a thong?..." I suggest that in similar circumstances, anyone of us might willingly drop into our hero's cozy pocket...
We amble south toward Plano passing over one "Wilson Creek," find our Marriott hotel and connect with our Texas friends, Emme and Jay. My husband sends our boys to the pool and he drops his bomb. "The boys aren't sure they want to spend a lot of time in Austin, they want to go to Padre Island!" And again the black 8-ball heads in a line toward the pocket and I can visualize the end of my Austin holiday... I lapse into a stunned state and put Luke's Austin Planner away and just mentally "adjust." Enter Emme- Emme brims with classic Texas charm, beautiful with blonde hair, chunky classy jewelry and a "y'all" that every Texan brings to the table. We eat Tex-Mex in Plano's newest yupville sector called Townshops at Legacy, right next to the Perot complex. It includes fine dining for all tastes, eclectic shops that surround a reflecting pool and fountain that gives meaning to true romance- Bellagio style. As we dine alfresco on the sidewalk, watching an array of forked lightning race across the sky, it is Emme who short circuits everyone. She has brought her own Austin Planner which amazingly dovetails "all things Luke." I watch in total fascination as she tantalizes all three of my men into thinking this Austin trip was their idea. What a sweet partner to advance the pool play and neatly drop three successive shots into MY pocket... She volunteers with the Austin Film Festival organizers and actually met Eric Stoltz during the last festival. At this time, lightning does strike and she mentions Matthew McConaughey, Owen and Luke Wilson and I choke on the spicy salsa. Emme just gives me that speculative look that says, "y'all might run into any one of 'em..."
Just keep those smiles for a few more miles...HurlT
It has been a work week filled with daily problems and frustrations enough to make me want to tear my hair or return to a favorite, substitute stress reliever...my billiard table. When life's strictures weigh heavy on me, those 15 balls blazing across the burgundy felt will break, crack, snick, split and skid my negative thoughts into a positive nirvana. How convenient that this nirvana has a name. Texas- a US treasure with jewels known as Dallas, Austin, Fredericksburg and Padre Island. How wonderful that those precious stones are strung together on a chain of roadway studded with the spring bloom of multi-hued wildflowers. A necklace of priceless vision and free for the taking. Stay with me as this pool play progresses along the paths of two games, billiards and a Texas journey; both challenging and both worthy of repetition for pleasure, adventure, and the sense of connection to our favorite Wilson family. This trip began as a Wilson longing, was planned with a Luke Wilson agenda, www.americanwaymag.com/travel/celebrated.asp?archive_date=6/15/2003
and salted with a wealth of Wilson reminders along the way. Come on gals, it's our moment to rack those balls with the best of expectations and let's play...
Just where is my graphite pool cue? That magic wand of gaming success? And which of those boys used it last? Where is the blinkin' chalk... as I hear a crunch under my foot and see the splintered mess spread all over the Berber white carpet in the game room. When I find them I will...
Getting ready to leave was like that. I looked for my favorite travel journal to write in, packed two copies of Luke's American Way article and looked for my favorite snaps of Owen and Luke to tape into said journal for inspiration and found...only Owen. Twelve hours till we depart and I am compulsively wasting time searching in every novel stacked around the house for a favorite, laminated Luke bookmark that cannot be found. Insane? Yes, but planning a vacation based on a celebrity crush already calls my sanity into to question. I finally give it a rest and offer up a frustrated blessing to the individual I loaned that book to. I decided to make my last trip to the store for forgotten extras and a great idea came to me... Pick up the new Luke- Serengeti Ad in a magazine. Nice try!- No Esquire, No Vogue, No Vanity Fair, No GQ, No Men's Journal and No picture. I live in the hinterland where north woods and lake country farmers tune into Popular Mechanics, In-Fisherman, Snowtechmobile, Gun Digest, and Sportsman Outdoor News. Luke Wilson would need to enter a contest turkey shoot vs. a photo shoot to get adequate press in my stomping ground...
Finding that magic wand hiding in a corner, I rack those 15 miserable work problems into that triangular frame, ready for the initial "break." If done well, there is an electric moment when they snap and spread like a glorious, colorful fan of sparks. Bouncing off cushions and sending their colors in vectors of motion across the table.
Leaving home and begining the 20-hour journey is like seasonal birth. A labor from white snow, to brown-gray, to first bud and full seasonal bloom. With the dawn, we cross that beloved Texas border with a toast of lukewarm coffee, and the first of many firework stands is waiting there to greet me like a Bottle Rocket landmark. In my thinking, Bottle Rocket represents the first great step for Wes & the Wilsons and perhaps, in my mind it is an omen that bodes well of good things for the trip ahead. Light that rocket boys, let those colors fan, and let the sparks fly- Texas, we are here...
Corralled by the felt covered oak, the cushions contain the play as I line up the ivory cue ball to drive up the center to strike the solid dark-red 7 on the right of the ball. Error- it hits to the left and the 7 sends the black 8-ball into motion toward the corner pocket. POOL NOVICES NOTE: Although the 8-ball is neutral, it must be the last to drop or the game IS OVER. I watch in mock horror as the ivory buzzes past the mark and the eighter heads toward the corner cushion right behind the "little pumpkin." The solid orange 5-ball gets nudged by the black 8 and drops into a cozy pocket...
About this time we are flying past Gainesville and the horse pastures around that area. In one paddock, the pastoral scene includes one red-brown horse (7) standing stoic in the center of the paddock, while an ivory stallion (cue ball) runs to and fro with a freedom that is envied by everybody in our car after sitting for the past 16 hours. A black stallion (8) ambles toward the adjacent paddock, sniffing where a palomino mare (5) stands at the gate. I watch this metaphoric scene with casual interest until the brain cells click, like the tumblers in a slot machine. Yes, people- Andrew is like that that solid 7 standing firm in his life while Owen's "cue ball" career bounces him from rail to rail and Luke (8) is supervising this game till the very end. How hilarious that the last post I read before leaving was the Norma Perez interview on the Old School website. That choice graphic even nudges Luke behind Norma (5) to make several pointed glances and a comment about "a thong?..." I suggest that in similar circumstances, anyone of us might willingly drop into our hero's cozy pocket...
We amble south toward Plano passing over one "Wilson Creek," find our Marriott hotel and connect with our Texas friends, Emme and Jay. My husband sends our boys to the pool and he drops his bomb. "The boys aren't sure they want to spend a lot of time in Austin, they want to go to Padre Island!" And again the black 8-ball heads in a line toward the pocket and I can visualize the end of my Austin holiday... I lapse into a stunned state and put Luke's Austin Planner away and just mentally "adjust." Enter Emme- Emme brims with classic Texas charm, beautiful with blonde hair, chunky classy jewelry and a "y'all" that every Texan brings to the table. We eat Tex-Mex in Plano's newest yupville sector called Townshops at Legacy, right next to the Perot complex. It includes fine dining for all tastes, eclectic shops that surround a reflecting pool and fountain that gives meaning to true romance- Bellagio style. As we dine alfresco on the sidewalk, watching an array of forked lightning race across the sky, it is Emme who short circuits everyone. She has brought her own Austin Planner which amazingly dovetails "all things Luke." I watch in total fascination as she tantalizes all three of my men into thinking this Austin trip was their idea. What a sweet partner to advance the pool play and neatly drop three successive shots into MY pocket... She volunteers with the Austin Film Festival organizers and actually met Eric Stoltz during the last festival. At this time, lightning does strike and she mentions Matthew McConaughey, Owen and Luke Wilson and I choke on the spicy salsa. Emme just gives me that speculative look that says, "y'all might run into any one of 'em..."
Just keep those smiles for a few more miles...HurlT