It has been over 13 yrs. Glad to be back

[ftgokie]

I have not been around the pool scene for over 13yrs. I was living in Ft Gibson Okla. and just recently bought a new home on 3.75 acres and the additional 80 acres that was offered to me here just south of Ft Mitchell, AL which is just across the river from Ft Benning GA. I have been a self-taught watchmaker since 1994 and I have been working for the VA since 2004...I woke up one morning about a month ago and said...screw it, so I put in my retirement paperwork a few weeks ago with my official retirement date is Oct 31, 2025. I am really looking forward to retiring and doing whatever I want. I had a lot of medical issues is why I stopped playing and I have periodically thought about playing pool and just felt something was missing. I had a small stroke in March of this year and did not even realize it until I went to Martin Army Hospital to be checked out. After a few test...surprise....small stroke. I remember when it happened, I was mowing and it honestly felt like I was drunk even though I may drink 1 beer a year. I have been recovering from that and just working but have not bothered with repairing or restoring any watches. So, I picked up my old Joss sneaky pete cue I bought back in 1991 and went to a small pool hall in Phenix City and played for a couple of hours and got the bug back.

So, after I retire, I am going to buy a nice bar table, probably a Diamond and put downstairs and practice, practice, practice. My son is stationed at Ft Carson CO in Colorado Springs and we were flying up there every 6-8 weeks and spending some time with him for a few days and he recently deployed to Kuwait last week and he is now with a unit in Iraq...this will be a 3 month deployment so I need to do something to keep my mind busy..so pool it is!

So I will be on the lookout for a new cue and a lathe so I can put on new tips and ferrules if I have to. I am just glad to be back and cant wait to get back into playing and hopefully can manage to get back to the level I was at when I quit.

Thanks for having me back,

Shawn

 

[David in FL]

I have not been around the pool scene for over 13yrs. I was living in Ft Gibson Okla. and just recently bought a new home on 3.75 acres and the additional 80 acres that was offered to me here just south of Ft Mitchell, AL which is just across the river from Ft Benning GA. I have been a self-taught watchmaker since 1994 and I have been working for the VA since 2004...I woke up one morning about a month ago and said...screw it, so I put in my retirement paperwork a few weeks ago with my official retirement date is Oct 31, 2025. I am really looking forward to retiring and doing whatever I want. I had a lot of medical issues is why I stopped playing and I have periodically thought about playing pool and just felt something was missing. I had a small stroke in March of this year and did not even realize it until I went to Martin Army Hospital to be checked out. After a few test...surprise....small stroke. I remember when it happened, I was mowing and it honestly felt like I was drunk even though I may drink 1 beer a year. I have been recovering from that and just working but have not bothered with repairing or restoring any watches. So, I picked up my old Joss sneaky pete cue I bought back in 1991 and went to a small pool hall in Phenix City and played for a couple of hours and got the bug back.

So, after I retire, I am going to buy a nice bar table, probably a Diamond and put downstairs and practice, practice, practice. My son is stationed at Ft Carson CO in Colorado Springs and we were flying up there every 6-8 weeks and spending some time with him for a few days and he recently deployed to Kuwait last week and he is now with a unit in Iraq...this will be a 3 month deployment so I need to do something to keep my mind busy..so pool it is!

So I will be on the lookout for a new cue and a lathe so I can put on new tips and ferrules if I have to. I am just glad to be back and cant wait to get back into playing and hopefully can manage to get back to the level I was at when I quit.

Thanks for having me back,

Shawn

Welcome back to the madness, and as a vet who loves the VA, please accept my thanks for what you did there.

 

[ftgokie]

Welcome back to the madness, and as a vet who loves the VA, please accept my thanks for what you did there.

Man, I appreciate that! I have been super anxious about retiring. I gave it 110% every day for my vets and their dependents. I processed a lot of CH35 claims then went back to the GI Bill call center and absolutely loved the job....its just time for me to move on and start doing life for me.

Alot has changed since I last played. Carbon fiber shafts, new tips. I guess my 13yr old Le Pro tip is way outdated..lol

 

[Cuebuddy]

Man, I appreciate that! I have been super anxious about retiring. I gave it 110% every day for my vets and their dependents. I processed a lot of CH35 claims then went back to the GI Bill call center and absolutely loved the job....its just time for me to move on and start doing life for me.

I am also retiring with in two months. I have a three week vacation and a minor surgery then a month of sick time to recover. So...I basically have three more days, been running a crew of 30 and from this point forward I will only need to keep myself busy.
Welcome back, I live in Colorado and the Springs has a strong pool culture as does Denver.

 

[Maxx]

Ahh, just retirement, enjoy! I retired in May of this year, but seems like I’ve kept pretty busy outside this summer. Hopefully I can play a lot more pool this winter.
When I read the thread title my first thought was someone just got out of prison.

 

[ftgokie]

I am also retiring with in two months. I have a three week vacation and a minor surgery then a month of sick time to recover. So...I basically have three more days, been running a crew of 30 and from this point forward I will only need to keep myself busy.
Welcome back, I live in Colorado and the Springs has a strong pool culture as does Denver.

Thanks! I am actually on furlough (vacation) right now. After I get to hit a few balls and get my stroke back I will be visiting the Springs and plan on playing some up there too.

 

[ftgokie]

Ahh, just retirement, enjoy! I retired in May of this year, but seems like I’ve kept pretty busy outside this summer. Hopefully I can play a lot more pool this winter.
When I read the thread title my first thought was someone just got out of prison.

Well....work/prison....its all the same...sorta!

 

[Rusty in Montana]

Welcome back to the nut house ha ha I wouldn't get to worried about you're old Le Pro tips they're probably better than the new one's being sold today as far as that goes I still haven't found the 2 full boxes of them that I bought before I took some time off from pool.

 

[ftgokie]

Welcome back to the nut house ha ha I wouldn't get to worried about you're old Le Pro tips they're probably better than the new one's being sold today as far as that goes I still haven't found the 2 full boxes of them that I bought before I took some time off from pool.

I used to put on a lot of tips, ferrules and irish linen wrap for quite a few people back in Oklahoma. Quite a bit of stuff is still in my storage and I had 6 or 8 boxes of diff sized Lepro, Triangle, Kamui and a couple other brands of tips. Im heading back to Okla on Nov 1st because I have to turn in all my computer equipment to the VA....I will also pick up a load of stuff and bring back down here to AL ...I plan on getting all my cue stuff to bring back down as well.

 

[Rusty in Montana]

Until I find those boxes of Le Pro tips I'm really enjoying the G2 med tips just some food for thought .

 

[ftgokie]

Until I find those boxes of Le Pro tips I'm really enjoying the G2 med tips just some food for thought .

Thanks Rusty! I think I am gonna just order a few different name brand of tips and start trying them all out, I will definitely order some G2 tips and give those a spin around the table to see if I like them! I used to like the hard tips, not sure if I will still like those or a medium tip.

 

[white1]

I have not been around the pool scene for over 13yrs. I was living in Ft Gibson Okla. and just recently bought a new home on 3.75 acres and the additional 80 acres that was offered to me here just south of Ft Mitchell, AL which is just across the river from Ft Benning GA. I have been a self-taught watchmaker since 1994 and I have been working for the VA since 2004...I woke up one morning about a month ago and said...screw it, so I put in my retirement paperwork a few weeks ago with my official retirement date is Oct 31, 2025. I am really looking forward to retiring and doing whatever I want. I had a lot of medical issues is why I stopped playing and I have periodically thought about playing pool and just felt something was missing. I had a small stroke in March of this year and did not even realize it until I went to Martin Army Hospital to be checked out. After a few test...surprise....small stroke. I remember when it happened, I was mowing and it honestly felt like I was drunk even though I may drink 1 beer a year. I have been recovering from that and just working but have not bothered with repairing or restoring any watches. So, I picked up my old Joss sneaky pete cue I bought back in 1991 and went to a small pool hall in Phenix City and played for a couple of hours and got the bug back.

So, after I retire, I am going to buy a nice bar table, probably a Diamond and put downstairs and practice, practice, practice. My son is stationed at Ft Carson CO in Colorado Springs and we were flying up there every 6-8 weeks and spending some time with him for a few days and he recently deployed to Kuwait last week and he is now with a unit in Iraq...this will be a 3 month deployment so I need to do something to keep my mind busy..so pool it is!

So I will be on the lookout for a new cue and a lathe so I can put on new tips and ferrules if I have to. I am just glad to be back and cant wait to get back into playing and hopefully can manage to get back to the level I was at when I quit.

Thanks for having me back,

Shawn

Welcome back. I think most of us take time off then want to be involved again. Congratulations on your retirement. I’m down to less than 100 working days then plan to hobby play a couple days a week in my local room. Thx for your service.

 

[white1]

I am also retiring with in two months. I have a three week vacation and a minor surgery then a month of sick time to recover. So...I basically have three more days, been running a crew of 30 and from this point forward I will only need to keep myself busy.
Welcome back, I live in Colorado and the Springs has a strong pool culture as does Denver.

Congratulations. I’m down to under 100 days to work. 44 years. Bad eye and never played great either but I’m gonna play some a couple nights a week then. My apartment is walking distance to a kinda old school 15 table room.

 

[7stud]

Thanks! I am actually on furlough (vacation) right now. After I get to hit a few balls and get my stroke back I will be visiting the Springs and plan on playing some up there too.

Check out:

7

Thread 'New pool room: The Crooked Cue, Colorado Springs, CO'

Dec 28, 2024

Over Christmas, I was in Colorado Springs, CO for a couple of days, and I was surprised to find a pool room in the downtown (?) area called The Crooked Cue. It's a couple of blocks east of I25 which runs North-South through the city. The bartender said the tables were five months old:

7 x 9' blue label Diamonds with Tournament Blue cloth, black rails.
1 x 10' CraftMaster with Tournament Blue cloth, skinny rails made of tan wood. Probably a used table when installed.
11 x 7' Diamonds with Tournament Blue cloth, black rails.

New style rectangular lights overhead.
Aramith...

• 7stud
• Replies: 35
• Forum: Main Forum

• 

 

[ftgokie]

Check out:

7

Thread 'New pool room: The Crooked Cue, Colorado Springs, CO'

Dec 28, 2024

Over Christmas, I was in Colorado Springs, CO for a couple of days, and I was surprised to find a pool room in the downtown (?) area called The Crooked Cue. It's a couple of blocks east of I25 which runs North-South through the city. The bartender said the tables were five months old:

7 x 9' blue label Diamonds with Tournament Blue cloth, black rails.
1 x 10' CraftMaster with Tournament Blue cloth, skinny rails made of tan wood. Probably a used table when installed.
11 x 7' Diamonds with Tournament Blue cloth, black rails.

New style rectangular lights overhead.
Aramith...

• 7stud
• Replies: 35
• Forum: Main Forum

• 

I appreciate that! Nice looking place and I will definitely check the place out when I am there in December. Not 100% for sure if I will go with a Diamond bar table or a Predator...but I will definitely get me once of those nice perimeter lights!

 

[7stud]

...but I will definitely get me once of those nice perimeter lights!

They are really nice. However, they light up the whole room, and they are really expensive. If instead you like a bright light shining on the table, but you want the rest of the room dark, then check out Littman Lights:

The 1x5 Aluminum Light

littmanlights.com

or similar:

FiN – Lite Systems

lite-systems.com

Some people make their own:

Post in thread 'DIY Pool Table Light'

Nov 1, 2024

I have a homemade LED light consisting of 3 2'x2' led sq panels into a frame about 2'x6 1/2'. Works fantastic on my Diamond 8' table and would assume would work on a 9' also. Perimeters are nice, and fairly easy and inexpensive to make. One of our leagues, just switched from the old style 3 lights over the table some perimeter lighting. They are a lot nicer than before, but I can't say it is better than my light with it's 3 2x2 panels and my light is brighter also. Also, I'm not sure how I feel about that rectangle glow on the balls, but some say they like it to help with aiming.
I think...

• muskyed

• 

Because Predator, who I think came out with the original perimeter light, charged so much for their light, one member here started making them himself and selling them for 1/2 the price. See here:

Thread 'Pool Table Light for 7' and 9''

Feb 17, 2021

Hello everyone,

I believe here is the GREAT NEWS for all of you guys who have pool tables or who own a pool hall.

I am custom making PREDATOR ARENA style light for 7' and 9' tables, with less than half its price and better dimension. Also it is ULTRA LIGHT, around only 10-15lbs (black aluminum body with premium LED light source). Brightness will be 18000lm for 9' and 14500lm for 7'. It can be remote controled as well.

Please let me know who is interested in getting one.

-Tony

• songj2096
• Replies: 22
• Forum: Main Forum

• 

I don't know if songj2096 is still selling them, but I can vouch for his honesty.

 

[skor]

Welcome back to the game, enjoy it.
I just got back to it myself about six months ago after being away from it for about 15 years.
It feels good to be back.

 

[Rusty in Montana]

Thanks Rusty! I think I am gonna just order a few different name brand of tips and start trying them all out, I will definitely order some G2 tips and give those a spin around the table to see if I like them! I used to like the hard tips, not sure if I will still like those or a medium tip.

I feel that the G2 medium tips hit like a hard tip but act more forgiving than a hard tip if that makes sense .

A couple of other tips I really enjoy are Techno Duds and the pool dawg's milk duds I've still got a techno dud on my one playing cue for over 4 years and granted I don't play as often as I'd like they also hit a ball very well !
I've also broke with that cue with no mushrooming what so ever !

 

[jay helfert]

I have not been around the pool scene for over 13yrs. I was living in Ft Gibson Okla. and just recently bought a new home on 3.75 acres and the additional 80 acres that was offered to me here just south of Ft Mitchell, AL which is just across the river from Ft Benning GA. I have been a self-taught watchmaker since 1994 and I have been working for the VA since 2004...I woke up one morning about a month ago and said...screw it, so I put in my retirement paperwork a few weeks ago with my official retirement date is Oct 31, 2025. I am really looking forward to retiring and doing whatever I want. I had a lot of medical issues is why I stopped playing and I have periodically thought about playing pool and just felt something was missing. I had a small stroke in March of this year and did not even realize it until I went to Martin Army Hospital to be checked out. After a few test...surprise....small stroke. I remember when it happened, I was mowing and it honestly felt like I was drunk even though I may drink 1 beer a year. I have been recovering from that and just working but have not bothered with repairing or restoring any watches. So, I picked up my old Joss sneaky pete cue I bought back in 1991 and went to a small pool hall in Phenix City and played for a couple of hours and got the bug back.

So, after I retire, I am going to buy a nice bar table, probably a Diamond and put downstairs and practice, practice, practice. My son is stationed at Ft Carson CO in Colorado Springs and we were flying up there every 6-8 weeks and spending some time with him for a few days and he recently deployed to Kuwait last week and he is now with a unit in Iraq...this will be a 3 month deployment so I need to do something to keep my mind busy..so pool it is!

So I will be on the lookout for a new cue and a lathe so I can put on new tips and ferrules if I have to. I am just glad to be back and cant wait to get back into playing and hopefully can manage to get back to the level I was at when I quit.

Thanks for having me back,

Shawn

Good for you Shawn. Even after I "quit" playing pool (no more money games) I realized that just getting on the table and hitting balls was good therapy for me, physically and mentally.

 

[Bavafongoul]

The most fundamental need to find satisfaction in playing the game of pool is to align your expectations at the outset.

The higher you reach, or wish to attain in skill level, demands more of your time and discipline than you may be willing
to dedicate. Retirement was meant to be leisurely, enjoyable so don’t take pool so seriously it stops being fun again.