!@#$% It Dude, Let's Go Bowling

I've been anxiously awaiting the re-opening of the bowling alley on base since we got here in July.  I know....bowling?  All I can say is hell yes.  It's been closed for renovations, and as of a few weeks ago it's finally back in business.  Wa-hoo!

I have a bit of a thing with bowling.  I don't know if it's just a nostalgic throw-back from when I was in high school and used to play for fun, or if I just have an unhealthy fixation with the fact that it's the only sport that I'm better at than the hubby.

I can count on one hand how many times I've bowled since I was about 15, but now that it's so easily accessible, you can bet your ass we'll be bowling more often now.  Although, I don't even know if bowling is really a sport.  I'm sure plenty of people would debate that point, but it's definitely on a lower rung of the "sports" ladder in my mind. It's kind of in the same realm as darts and pool for me.  Bar "sports" you can play with a beer in hand.  My kind of sports.

Old habits die hard - we
always used coozies in
Florida because the beer
would inevitably get warm.
Here, it's to keep my hand
warm!

So we had our inaugural bowling night last weekend, and it was a lot of fun.  I love that I overheard other bowlers quoting Lebowski while we were playing, and the beer selection was top notch.  A good variety of Alaskan beers and some non-wimpy beers like Stella Artois, Bass, Sierra Nevada and Longboard Lager.  Works for me!

It's blurry, so I have to tell you it's 106 to 82

There was a party that had reserved all of the lanes, so we were only able to play for about an hour and a half before we had to vacate, but it was still a fun way to spend the evening.  Did I mention that I kick the hubby's butt in bowling?

I try not to gloat too much, but it really is one of the only sports-like activities I'm actually better at than he is.  For now, anyway.  It doesn't happen very often, so I can't resist latching on to feeling overly effing triumphant every time I win!  I already know that bowling is going to become a part of our regular routine as far as entertainment goes, because YES.

You have to admit, he does have good form

Any activity where it's completely acceptable (and expected) to bust out with:  "Yeah well, you know, that's just, like, you're opinion man" is right up my alley.  Or the classic:  "I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos."  And of course, the end all be all:  "Ever thus to deadbeats, Lebowski."  For those of you who are asking yourselves what the hell I'm talking about, I'm quoting from the Coen brothers late 90's bowling-centric masterpiece, The Big Lebowski.

The funny thing is, The Big Lebowski did terribly when it was released in theaters in 1998.  Then, as years went by it took on its own momentum and became a cult classic.  There are LebowskiFests nationwide every year.  It's become quite the event, if you're a fan anyway.  And for my Tampa friends, LebowskiFest this year is in your fine city on January 31 through February 1, 2014.

The hubby and I have plans to go to a LebowskiFest at some point, probably after the Alaska tour is over.  I'm a big fan of almost any kind of "Fest."  JazzFest, RibFest, FantasyFest, BrewFest, SeafoodFest - I'll go to them all!  Slap a Fest on the end of any food, booze or entertainment event and I'm in.

If you've never seen The Big Lebowski, you need to check it out.  It's one of those movies you have to watch a few times before you really get on board.  But once you're on board, there's no getting off.  You'll never call a White Russian a White Russian again.  So, I suspect this will be the first of many Alaskan winters of bowling.  "!@#$% it Dude, let's go bowling."

Ta-ta for now. 

"OVER THE LINE!!"                          Photo credit:  Gramercy Pictures