Hi Mary, I haven't been playing much pool the past 2 months. I'm living in LA and the pool room is a 30 minutes away so I don't get there much. I'm not happy living here, I have to stay for a while, I have to sell my fix my house(its too small for a table) and finish up some biz in Vegas, I dont want to live in Vegas ever again, the last 5-6 years since around the time my mom died I have been tired of Vegas. Her passing has nothig to do with me wanting to move it was just a coincidence. Vegas isnt what it was and the new version of Vegas is horrible.
So i'm circling up my wagons and then going to make a plan, I might stay in LA and get a different house that can hold a table, and has a garage that a car can fit into(my house the garage is so small a car wont fit in it and cant be re-built to fit a car, it was for model T car's 80 yrs ago). I might move to Fl or a whole new country. I really dont know yet. I'd like to play pool hard for 5-6 more years and see how much more i improve, I am playing the best I ever played in my life right now when i'm in stroke. In 2-3 weeks from today I could be at 90-95% and in 4 weeks at my top speed-If I played in action 6-7 days a week. I really want to do that until i'm 50, i'm 44 now.
I just know I'm not real happy right now with where I'm living, I'm also board with LA, its got its good points-the food is good, weather. But for pool its bad, 20,000,000 and maybe 6-7 good rooms, Like Sal's room but thats a 90minute drive for me. Hardtimes takes me 30-40 with no traffic. It can take over a hour in traffic.
The action aint action in LA, low $$$ nut huggers. They wont flip a coin for $50 here. I was in a room the other day some guy I never saw comes over and says his friend will play me some 3C for $1000/game. First off I never seen billiards played for $$$, those guys are great players but not into it for action. Where as 1P is awalys played for $$. My best run in 3C is 4(with a coach) I have ran 4 a few times in my life. two is the best on my own, came close to 3 a few times. I suck at billiards, love it but havent paid my dues. So how bad do I have it at that game for $1000/game??? I asked if they wanted to flip coins for $1000 a toss, they wouldnt flip coins for $100. Thats the action scene in LA. you beat some once and they will never play again without a HUGE adjustment, and these guys have $$$.
So even with a house with a table and being in dead stroke where there are 20,000,000 people and no action is kinda pointless. There is more to life than pool, thats for sure. Forget about work, thats for other people-with my back problems I can only work from home, that also is a problem for my pool game-right now just the drive to the pool room sets off a back ache, if I had a table at home I can just play and play longer before my back becomes a problem.
Soon as I get my biz wrapped up in Vegas, And my house in LA sold I'm going shopping for a new spot. I may stay in LA, I might live in Thailand. I'm not sure yet what i'm doing-I just know it wont be what it is now.
best
eric
PS: Mary is among my very very closest friends in the pool world, I met he in Reno one night hitching a ride to Key Stone Cue and Cushion from the Sands. That was in 86 or 87. Then I got to know her real good at her room in Vegas, her house man David Lee and I were good friends too. Then when I got permanently moved to Vegas-for a few years we were all family real tight. sadly that chapter in the book of life came to a end. Mary and I were very good friends and played hard against each other, She brought the best out in me, And I believe I brought the best out her game-Playing Mary I remember it like it was this morning. I have played many people over the years and of all the people I played Mary was some of the best times I ever spent playing pool. we didnt gamble yet I felt like I was playing for a million $, we played hard. I will never forget those days-they were great. I hope in the future I can find some times I enjoyed like I did those days, and I hope everyone here can do the same.
Its pretty strong to remember playing for free(not action) 20 years later, the $$$ are easy to remember. To remember all the practice sessions is impossible. Thanks Mary, Love Eric I told Kelly all about you and I want you to meet her. We will be down your way sooner than later. Kelly and I will be 12 years next month and still aint had a argument.
