Category: Black Cat

Full Moon for Miniscus Man

EBMB and the Chairman show up just after dinner at my doorstep, chomping at the bit to get into the cold air, down to the Cat, and on with the shuffling. Roll down the road to get Toona and then point the wheels through Spooky Gulch. Two frat boys on the Galore, so we settle in on the Stiff Kitten and muddle our way through some doubles. Old Guard with honors holds agianst Toona and The Chairman. Foz arrives and the Tower of Power flex theirs in three straight, only to be undone in the fourth by a Captain Miniscus & Chairman combo. The Chairman finally calls out the Pussy hoggers and we get the good table. The Old Guard then wins three to cap a good night for both. Newcomer Mark goes all Mexican Incident on Zulu with a 12-0 shutout in singles. All blame to the knee. The Chairman finishes with a 16-5 dismissal of the newbie. The results mean a changing of the guard at the top of the 2009 table. With four match days left, the chase for the Golden Hammer will likely down to the wire. After a less than clandestine blockwalk, we speed down 12th to Roadside Attraction. Great fire and some Centennial IPA. Chat with the proprietor. Talk of Blue Nob Resort and B*****heart’s tour as ski instructor. Lizza and B*****heart jettison and I follow suit a few ticks later, leaving the EBMB and Miniscus Man to finish up. The moon, the cold, and the fixed arrow down 39th. Home by 11:57. Crackers and cheese and a bowl of cereal before crashing off. Sleep at the top of the heap. At least for a night.

Bars visited: Black Cat, Roadside Attraction
Attendance: DB, MB, SP, DL, LS, OC, MV

God Dan You!

In the beginning there was Dan and the Dan was made flesh. Dan begat Dan whom then begat Dan. All in his own image. The there was a flood or something and Dan built an ark and, contrary to popular belief, refused passage to the animal pairs, preferring to make the voyage alone with his mirror. A million years later, the story continues in large cities, small rural town, seedy rest rooms, and, as was the case on Tuesday, in dilapidated shuffleboard taverns on the south side. Already on a record winning streak, OmniDan had to go and get biblical on us, his all-powerful wrath tumbling down with godly ease on the trembling masses below. The certainty with which he clarified his holy status left even the atheists buckling to bow. Only after the game had fallen into tedium did he relinquish a moment of optimism to the broken heaps of flesh. The wreckage of his vengeful visit to the human world: 6 straight victories, including 3 shutouts, outscoring opponents 87 to 29 in the span. The string was eventually broken, but it seemed result of lack of interest in a game already mastered. After the thundering clouds and lightning flashes dissipated, the crowd, with the deity in tow, biked down through the corridor under beautifully chilly weather to celebrate the second coming at the Roadside Attraction. Zulu and the Leech joined the congregation for beer and pleasantries and the peerless glow of the patio fire. Talk of Manzanita and theater girls felt like vain attempts to reclaim humanity from the recent claims of the divine governing body. A largely necessary visit to the carts and a largely unnecessary visit to the gold dust did little to distract from the superhuman spectacle still fresh in the stunned minds. And so it was written. So shall it be. The Holy One is now 22-3 in his last 25 games. Perhaps more impressive, is his holiness’ 14-1 record in his last 15 single matches. Sure, a sudden rise of secular humanism is always possible, but for now the table is in God’s hands.

Bars visited: Black Cat, Roadside Attraction, Carts, Gold Dust Meridian
Attendance: DB, MB, SP, DL, LS, OC, TL
Cycling: DB (18.9), DL (21.8), MB(9.8), LS(17.4), SP(12), OC & TL (carbon)
Shuffleboard Overall W-L (Singles W-L) Notables:
DB (6-1) 3 Shutouts
LS (3-2) Shutout, Hanger
SP (3-3) 3 Hangers
MB (1-3)
DL (0-4)

Curiosity Killed the Black Cat

Zulu and the EBMB legged it south to my place for the cold, beautiful ride down the dark corridor to the Black Cat. Three old American 22-footers, all looking like people had been dancing on them with sandpaper shoes. Throwing a puck was stiff labor. It felt like hammering a weight up the strongman’s pole at the circus. Steep fall off both rails and a lean to the south trims down play a bit, but there is plenty of excitement to go around. Ample dose of hangers and notables. So, we hadn’t been there and now we have. Curiosity killed. Off to Hal’s. Ride through the Corridor was a cold undertaking. Kong’s stalwart bike effort here, and throughout the night is worth a mention. Rolling into Hal’s after a one year hiatus. Have to wait while tiny dress and the sidearm jenny play slow and easy. The table is just plain aces. “Scrappy has come home.” Smooth. Sade operator smooth. Regular Hal’s tour stop in the TFC rota? Owen departs gracefully. Horsebrass for whiskeys? Yes. Where’s Scott? Halfway there already. Roll in through the tunnel and lock up to wrought iron scroll gate. In through the door next to the meat fan. Table in the corner. Bass ale has been sitting a piece, but the whiskey is just fine. Contemplate the games. The kielbasa rush is over. “Its already early!” said the hat to the gloves. Martin and Scott escape east. Sousley and I head South into the long, peaceful, and very cold. Goodnight, good morning, and good luck.