When I came into this business, the only things I knew about league bowlers were the things I learned from The Big Lebowski. My goodness, was I in for a surprise. There are a few different kinds of league bowler.
The Old School League Bowler
This LB will forever live in the past memories of bowling's hayday, when you could still smoke inside, the menu consisted of 10 items of the greasy variety, leagues ruled 90% of the business and a league bowler was held at the utmost authority and respect. Due to the downfall of the business, especially in our corporate setting with 2 private centers in town, corporate has done anything and everything to bring in open bowlers to cover the loss. The Old School Bowler HATES the everyday open bowler. They believe open bowlers have no business being even 2 lanes away from them. The Old School Bowler also fails to remember that the center is a BUSINESS. They want free stuff, deep discounts, and for their lineage (fees for league lane rental) to always stay at the same price year to year. These bowlers are great when it comes to reliability of returning year to year in the same league. They however will always be grumpy complainers about everything. And they know it ALL. Don't believe me? Just ask them. You can spot them with a handful of quarters for the missed spare bank and a bowling bag from the fifties stored in a center locker they have rented since the center opened.
The "In it for the fun" League Bowler
This LB could care less about handicaps, winning points or oil patterns. They just want to have fun and drink beer. These bowlers are more concerned with their social conversation during leagues than if their teammate picked up their spare. This LB will only join a league if their friends are in it, and very rarely want to sanction with the USBC. You can spot them with house shoes and a house ball. However, these LBs can very quickly convert to a hardcore league bowler from the moment they decide to buy thier own bowling shoes.
The Hardcore League Bowler
Leagues 3 nights a week at 2 different centers, practice sessions twice a week, and a tournament almost every weekend. This is normal for what I like to call a hardcore league bowler. You can spot them right away with their Storm shirts, wristguard or glove, shoe bottom coverlets and bag with 5 custom fitted bowling balls... which they will use everytime they bowl-one for every situation. These bowlers go where the competition and money is. You can usually find them hanging out with Chad in the Pro Shop, or at any USBC Local Association meeting.
The Characters
These LBs are one of a kind. They are vocal, weird, hilarious, ridiculous and/or mind boggling in their behavior. These are the LBs I have the most interesting stories about. But that is for later blogging....
Now don't get me wrong. I love my league bowlers. They give my business consistent, dependable business week to week. This blog is for my own release of frustration, annoyance and dumbfoundedness. LBs arent the only ones who cause these feelings. I came into this business with no previous bowling experience or knowledge. I had to learn about the special species that frequent my business. And I have witnessed some truly intriguing stories, situations and gossip rampantly encompass this business more so than any other experience of my life. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it....
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
How did I get here?
Many years and failed dreams ago, I was an overachieving honor roll high school graduate moving into my dorm at the University of Florida. My aspiration was to earn my degree in Telecommunications and eventually become an anchorwoman on Headline News, then in my older years use my minor in secondary education to teach TV productions and Journalism at a high school until I died. That was the dream. But through the years I have learned that dreams evolve, become unattainable, or become realized as ridiculous. Or life just pulls you in a completely opposite direction... like mine did.
Let me make this a quick rundown. Sheltered girl moving away from home for the first time. Boyfriend of 7 years moving back from NC to be with me. Realize how awesome freedom is. Realize how much I liked partying and staying up all hours of the night. Failed typing test to get into news track by 5 wpm. Devastated. Lose interest in school due to being lost without news track .Overpredicted my ability to pass a class without really going to class. Failed classes. Begged for forgiveness. Get first job at a sandwich shop to cover lost scholarship money. Loved working more than school. Tried balancing school and work. Began working a second job as a hostess at Bennigan's. Took a "break" from school to work. Went fulltime at Bennigan's as a server. Became a shift leader within two months. Overachiever mindset resurfaces. Work. Work. Work. Toxic relationship with boyfriend gets worse. MUCH worse. Work to stay away from home. Feel listened to and intrigued by the new bartender Dave. Get the courage to leave abusive boyfriend. Dave offers a place to stay with the best intentions. Intentions change when we realize our feelings. Move in with Dave. Get promotion to Bar and Service Manager. Love every stressful minute. Get taken advantage of by my lazy liar of a GM. Do the work anyhow. Find out I am pregnant. Get engaged. Get married three months later. Daddy passes away and a half months later. GM lies to DM about me. Get fired while 8 months pregnant. Scurry for a new job. Work at a car dealership for the next month. Go on foodstamps to survive. Alana Skye is born. Get hired as an Assistant Manager at Sonny's BBQ. Realize I love managing. Work at Sonny's for a year and a half. Find out I pregnant with Noah. Quit Sonny's to avoid pregnancy complications due to physical demands of job. Hired at LifeSouth as training coordinator for Donor Scheduling. Noah David is born. Get reassigned to Team Leader. Decide I miss managing. Find a job opening for Food and Beverage Manager at my favorite karaoke hangout,a bowling alley. Hired.
I have worked here for the past two years. I am now the Assistant Manager. One thing I have learned through my experience at the bowling alley is that people are selfish and insane. This is one thing that lead me to start this blog. I have gained lifelong friends here, but also witness the craziest actions of humans. I will use this blog to tell the stories of insane league bowlers, drunk open bowlers and the battles of working in a corporate setting. I hope my ramblings will entertain and enlighten. Let's do it.
Let me make this a quick rundown. Sheltered girl moving away from home for the first time. Boyfriend of 7 years moving back from NC to be with me. Realize how awesome freedom is. Realize how much I liked partying and staying up all hours of the night. Failed typing test to get into news track by 5 wpm. Devastated. Lose interest in school due to being lost without news track .Overpredicted my ability to pass a class without really going to class. Failed classes. Begged for forgiveness. Get first job at a sandwich shop to cover lost scholarship money. Loved working more than school. Tried balancing school and work. Began working a second job as a hostess at Bennigan's. Took a "break" from school to work. Went fulltime at Bennigan's as a server. Became a shift leader within two months. Overachiever mindset resurfaces. Work. Work. Work. Toxic relationship with boyfriend gets worse. MUCH worse. Work to stay away from home. Feel listened to and intrigued by the new bartender Dave. Get the courage to leave abusive boyfriend. Dave offers a place to stay with the best intentions. Intentions change when we realize our feelings. Move in with Dave. Get promotion to Bar and Service Manager. Love every stressful minute. Get taken advantage of by my lazy liar of a GM. Do the work anyhow. Find out I am pregnant. Get engaged. Get married three months later. Daddy passes away and a half months later. GM lies to DM about me. Get fired while 8 months pregnant. Scurry for a new job. Work at a car dealership for the next month. Go on foodstamps to survive. Alana Skye is born. Get hired as an Assistant Manager at Sonny's BBQ. Realize I love managing. Work at Sonny's for a year and a half. Find out I pregnant with Noah. Quit Sonny's to avoid pregnancy complications due to physical demands of job. Hired at LifeSouth as training coordinator for Donor Scheduling. Noah David is born. Get reassigned to Team Leader. Decide I miss managing. Find a job opening for Food and Beverage Manager at my favorite karaoke hangout,a bowling alley. Hired.
I have worked here for the past two years. I am now the Assistant Manager. One thing I have learned through my experience at the bowling alley is that people are selfish and insane. This is one thing that lead me to start this blog. I have gained lifelong friends here, but also witness the craziest actions of humans. I will use this blog to tell the stories of insane league bowlers, drunk open bowlers and the battles of working in a corporate setting. I hope my ramblings will entertain and enlighten. Let's do it.
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