My 4,000th post, and..........

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
..........putting my past 6 1/2 years on AZBilliards in perspective:

I'm getting on into what is probably the last quarter of my life and I've done so much in my (almost) 60 years of living that some things have faded from my memory. I do not recall what brought me to AZB back in August of '06, but I'm sure glad I got here! I came here to try and learn more about the game I had been playing off-and-on for years, but had just begun to take seriously. And boy did I learn! I soon found out the game is a lot more complicated than it appears to be, at least if you want to become proficient at it. I am a better player now than I was those 6+ years ago, but due to starting too late (as I seem to do with a lot of things), and coupling that with a semi-worn out body and eyes, I have pretty much gotten about as good as I ever will be. Other loves/hobbies keep me from putting in the time it takes to steadily improve. I have gone from an APA SL3 up to a SL6 (8-ball) and SL7 (9-ball) in the time I have been here. I've gone from never running a rack to getting a break-and-run often enough that it doesn't excite me anymore (I am still looking for my first 3-pack though). So, I'm totally okay with where I'm at and realize that I am never going to be a world-beater. I know my place on the pool food-chain, and I don't try to act like something I'm not.

Now I want to talk a bit about AZB. Best pool website out there, by far imo. Tons of great information from noted experts in the field, lots of really good and entertaining pool stories, great equipment for sale/trade, and the best part about AZB is that it is almost like going to a large family reunion every time I login to it. Some really great people here. MANY I'd love to meet (way too many to list without leaving someone out, so I'll not name names). I read some posts sometimes that so closely mimics my own personal feelings, I thought that I could have wrote that post myself. I've seen everything from donations to someone in need, to outpouring of prayers for ailing/mourning members, to people GIVING equipment to someone needing it for a good cause, to just people sharing a good 'ol keyboard pat-on-the-back with other members. I'ts a very heart-warming place to be at times.............then there's the other side :sorry:. The trollers, the know-it-alls, the name-droppers, the name-CALLERS the cue snobs, the members that cannot respect others opinions or their right to post what THEY believe. It can get a little frustrating here at times. Thank goodness there are so few of them. Way, WAY more good people on here!!! Heck, I've probably been guilty of a few violations myself, though never intentionally or with any malice. I have always tried to interject a little humor into my posts, especially in those threads that seem to be taking a downhill turn.

Overall, the experience here on AZB has been wonderful. If I have access to a computer, I'm usually logging on 4, sometimes 5 times a day. It's become a part of my daily routine. I hope I can stay around long enough to post another 4,000 times. Thanks to all of you for putting up with my short-on-knowledge, toungue-in-cheek posts I have submitted. You people are like family. God bless you all and keep shootin'-'em-straight!!!

EDIT: I just wanted to give kudos to Mike H., Mr. Wison, Jerry, and anyone else on the great staff at AZBilliards!!!

And of course.........sorry for the rambling, it's a slow day here at the house. Guess I'll go hit a few :smile:!!!

Maniac
 
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Maniac,

I'm 9 months from 60 myself so I can empathize with you & where you are in life.

I stumbled onto AZB when buying a shaft 6 months ago. I got off to a bit of a bad start & am still getting into hot water at times. However I recieved some good info through a PM. There are many, many more on AZB that only read than those that post. We all should keep that in mind.

You, like some others, seem to be a voice of reason & civility. I enjoy your posts even if I am not in total 100% agreement at times.

If everyone was in total agreement there would be no need for discussion & no need for this forum.

I am glad you have enjoyed your time here & I hope my level of enjoyment can equal yours when I have 4,000 posts which I beieve I will get to quicker than you.

I was a salesman for about ten years & salesmen have to know when to be quiet so I have a lot of words stored up. (I'm no longer trying to 'sell' anything so I can speak up.)

Good post as usual.

Best Regards to You &
 
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I stumbled onto AZB when buying a shaft 6 months ago. I got off to a bit of a bad start & am still getting into hot water at times.

Ha! You think YOU got off to a bad start on here? Let me tell you the bone-headed mistake I made on one of my VERY FIRST THREADS..............

I had just come home from an out-patient surgery on my shoulder where I was put under an anesthetic. I was given morphine for pain during the surgery. My wife told me later that I showed signs (the surgeon told her this) of being in great pain during the procedure, so I was then given a SECOND dose of morphine. Anyway, to be sure, I was in LA-LA LAND by the time it was over.

So after I get home later that evening I get on AZB and notice all the attention the thread about Steve Mizerak's passing has been getting, although it has been quite some time now since he passed, and I wondered why, in my thread title and it's contents, not one single thing had been said of the very recent passing of CJ Wiley. Of course CJ had NOT passed away, and I got reamed out fairly good by more than a few posters, IIRC.

The only thing I could figure out of it all was that while I was under the influence of the double dose of morphine, I had a dream/vision/thought of reading about CJ's passing in the obits of my local newspaper. But to ME, it seemed so real, as if I actually HAD read of it. I would have bet the house on it if I had not researched it and found out that it totally did not happen. I felt like a complete fool (when everybody knows that I am actually an incomplete fool :grin:).

I later related this story to CJ and apologized to him here on AZB. He told me what I wanted to hear, and that was "It's okay. Don't worry about it", in so many words.

I still feel like a bonehead after all these years when I relate this story.

Maniac
 
Ha! You think YOU got off to a bad start on here? Let me tell you the bone-headed mistake I made on one of my VERY FIRST THREADS..............

I had just come home from an out-patient surgery on my shoulder where I was put under an anesthetic. I was given morphine for pain during the surgery. My wife told me later that I showed signs (the surgeon told her this) of being in great pain during the procedure, so I was then given a SECOND dose of morphine. Anyway, to be sure, I was in LA-LA LAND by the time it was over.

So after I get home later that evening I get on AZB and notice all the attention the thread about Steve Mizerak's passing has been getting, although it has been quite some time now since he passed, and I wondered why, in my thread title and it's contents, not one single thing had been said of the very recent passing of CJ Wiley. Of course CJ had NOT passed away, and I got reamed out fairly good by more than a few posters, IIRC.

The only thing I could figure out of it all was that while I was under the influence of the double dose of morphine, I had a dream/vision/thought of reading about CJ's passing in the obits of my local newspaper. But to ME, it seemed so real, as if I actually HAD read of it. I would have bet the house on it if I had not researched it and found out that it totally did not happen. I felt like a complete fool (when everybody knows that I am actually an incomplete fool :grin:).

I later related this story to CJ and apologized to him here on AZB. He told me what I wanted to hear, and that was "It's okay. Don't worry about it", in so many words.

I still feel like a bonehead after all these years when I relate this story.

Maniac

Where in Texas are you located?

I was laughing so hard at that.. I was like CJ isnt dead I see him post all the time.. LOL That is a great first impression.
 
Maniac,

Thanks for the story.

At least you can say you were on drugs.:wink:

Well, we both added to our post count.:wink:

Have a great one, &
 
Ha! You think YOU got off to a bad start on here? Let me tell you the bone-headed mistake I made on one of my VERY FIRST THREADS..............

I had just come home from an out-patient surgery on my shoulder where I was put under an anesthetic. I was given morphine for pain during the surgery. My wife told me later that I showed signs (the surgeon told her this) of being in great pain during the procedure, so I was then given a SECOND dose of morphine. Anyway, to be sure, I was in LA-LA LAND by the time it was over.

So after I get home later that evening I get on AZB and notice all the attention the thread about Steve Mizerak's passing has been getting, although it has been quite some time now since he passed, and I wondered why, in my thread title and it's contents, not one single thing had been said of the very recent passing of CJ Wiley. Of course CJ had NOT passed away, and I got reamed out fairly good by more than a few posters, IIRC.

The only thing I could figure out of it all was that while I was under the influence of the double dose of morphine, I had a dream/vision/thought of reading about CJ's passing in the obits of my local newspaper. But to ME, it seemed so real, as if I actually HAD read of it. I would have bet the house on it if I had not researched it and found out that it totally did not happen. I felt like a complete fool (when everybody knows that I am actually an incomplete fool :grin:).

I later related this story to CJ and apologized to him here on AZB. He told me what I wanted to hear, and that was "It's okay. Don't worry about it", in so many words.

I still feel like a bonehead after all these years when I relate this story.

Maniac

Great story! CJ really is a pretty laid back guy. He has a nice philosophical outlook on life.
 
Where in Texas are you located?

I was laughing so hard at that.. I was like CJ isnt dead I see him post all the time.. LOL That is a great first impression.

I live in Mansfield, just south of Arlington.

Maniac
 
This was a GREAT 4,000 post and the other one about CJ made me laugh and hope that you weren't writing from the Sundance Center in Arlington. :D
 
This was a GREAT 4,000 post and the other one about CJ made me laugh and hope that you weren't writing from the Sundance Center in Arlington. :D

I agree. You're a good man, Maniac Brown!

You're one of the ones whose posts I never fail to read when I notice 'em. If I see it stamped "Maniac," I know I'm in for several things: 1.) well-written; 2.) lucid; 3.) entertainment / good nostalgia / relay of experience; 4.) funny as hell.

Keep on keeping on, my friend!
-Sean
 
..........putting my past 6 1/2 years on AZBilliards in perspective:

I'm getting on into what is probably the last quarter of my life and I've done so much in my (almost) 60 years of living that some things have faded from my memory. I do not recall what brought me to AZB back in August of '06, but I'm sure glad I got here! I came here to try and learn more about the game I had been playing off-and-on for years, but had just begun to take seriously. And boy did I learn! I soon found out the game is a lot more complicated than it appears to be, at least if you want to become proficient at it. I am a better player now than I was those 6+ years ago, but due to starting too late (as I seem to do with a lot of things), and coupling that with a semi-worn out body and eyes, I have pretty much gotten about as good as I ever will be. Other loves/hobbies keep me from putting in the time it takes to steadily improve. I have gone from an APA SL3 up to a SL6 (8-ball) and SL7 (9-ball) in the time I have been here. I've gone from never running a rack to getting a break-and-run often enough that it doesn't excite me anymore (I am still looking for my first 3-pack though). So, I'm totally okay with where I'm at and realize that I am never going to be a world-beater. I know my place on the pool food-chain, and I don't try to act like something I'm not.

Now I want to talk a bit about AZB. Best pool website out there, by far imo. Tons of great information from noted experts in the field, lots of really good and entertaining pool stories, great equipment for sale/trade, and the best part about AZB is that it is almost like going to a large family reunion every time I login to it. Some really great people here. MANY I'd love to meet (way too many to list without leaving someone out, so I'll not name names). I read some posts sometimes that so closely mimics my own personal feelings, I thought that I could have wrote that post myself. I've seen everything from donations to someone in need, to outpouring of prayers for ailing/mourning members, to people GIVING equipment to someone needing it for a good cause, to just people sharing a good 'ol keyboard pat-on-the-back with other members. I'ts a very heart-warming place to be at times.............then there's the other side :sorry:. The trollers, the know-it-alls, the name-droppers, the name-CALLERS the cue snobs, the members that cannot respect others opinions or their right to post what THEY believe. It can get a little frustrating here at times. Thank goodness there are so few of them. Way, WAY more good people on here!!! Heck, I've probably been guilty of a few violations myself, though never intentionally or with any malice. I have always tried to interject a little humor into my posts, especially in those threads that seem to be taking a downhill turn.

Overall, the experience here on AZB has been wonderful. If I have access to a computer, I'm usually logging on 4, sometimes 5 times a day. It's become a part of my daily routine. I hope I can stay around long enough to post another 4,000 times. Thanks to all of you for putting up with my short-on-knowledge, toungue-in-cheek posts I have submitted. You people are like family. God bless you all and keep shootin'-'em-straight!!!

EDIT: I just wanted to give kudos to Mike H., Mr. Wison, Jerry, and anyone else on the great staff at AZBilliards!!!

And of course.........sorry for the rambling, it's a slow day here at the house. Guess I'll go hit a few :smile:!!!

Maniac

Hello Mr. Maniac,
Happy New Year to you and the family. I have to tell you about this great thread of yours. It went way down deep within me. I like it a lot. I wish to thank you for it too. Congratulations on your 4K post. Keep up the good work, and hang in there!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
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