Roll'em If Ya Got'em was at full strength for the Wednesday inter-pool tournament with the return of Clutch and the Herbster from the DL.  Playing with new super subs Danny and Jean has been lots of fun but getting our team back together is awesome.
As the #8 seed we had a preliminary game against #11 seed Late Bloomers and newly retired Tim.  We got off to a fast start with all of us throwing decent except for the Glue and she was on fire.  We kept throwing well, cruising to a 9-2 win and moved on to the next round.
In the second round we played #2 Biotches who are defending league tournament champions.  The first frame showed them that we weren't going down easy with both teams making great throws and going back and forth before we walked away with the first point.  Roll'em was hitting on all four cylinders and the Glue stayed red hot and it was off to the races as we had a couple three pointers and won 9-0 and moving on to the semi finals.
In the semi's we played #3 seed Holy Ballz Batman and ex super sub Fred.  We jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to watch the Hollies come back and take the lead 6-3.  We slowly chipped away and made it a close game before taking the lead.  With us leading 8-6 and us sitting on the pallino, the Batmen made a couple great throws and closed to 8-7.  That was as close as it got as we closed it out with a 9-7 win and it was on to the championship.  In the battle of siblings the Glue was the clear winner over ex-super sub Fred. 
The championship matched #8 seed Roll'em If Ya Got'em against #10 seed Feeder of the Pack.  The game was back and forth with teams trading points to a 3-3 tie and then we got them with a three point frame which seemed to take the wind out of their sails and we cruised to a 9-3 win and a fourth coveted badass towel, 
I threw pretty decent, Herbster was throwing like the Herbster of old, Clutch was clutch but the MVP was the Glue.  She was on fire so often I think we're going to have to call her the Mockingjay.
Afterwards we celebrated in Roll'em style with a couple beers at 17th Street and the almost mandatory towels on the heads picture.
What an awesome night and a remarkable return for Clutch and Herbster, now it's on to fall league.

It became official yesterday when the news came that for the first time in their existence Roll'em If Ya Got'em won't be playing in the league tournament, not that I expected to hear any different.  A variety of problems beset the Roll'em crew in this, the lost season.  Health issues were the number 1 reason with Clutch being on the DL for most of the season.  Other issues included slow starts, not taking advantage of opportunities, leaving too many open opportunities and failure to close out games. 
Hopefully Clutch will be back for inter-pool and we can salvage a towel out of this mess of a season.  The odds are against it but stranger things have happened in single elimination tournaments. 

With Clutch still on the DL and Herbster nursing her back to health Roll'em once again turned to new super subs Danny and Jean to fill in.  To have any chance at making the tournament we needed to win both games against two quality teams.
In the first game we took on Holy Ballz Batman featuring ex-super sub Fred. 
We got off to a very untypical start as we jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to Danny and Jean.  Me and the Glue followed that up with another three point lead and a 6-0 lead.  The Holys then got on the board with a one pointer followed up with a two point frame to cut our lead in half.  Unlike what we'd done most of the season our super subs capitalized on a fairly wide open court and ended the game with another three pointer, keeping alive our slim tournament hopes.
In the second game we took on long time nemesis Squatchy Bocce.  As has been the norm all year we got off to falling behind quickly and watching it grow to a 7-0 deficit.  We then managed a couple of one point frames.  Then with the Glue having a ball close the Squaches Chris made a knock and send the ball deep and on the wall.  I went for a hit on theirs but it was off course from the start.  Then thinking they were on 8 I tried another which was on course but the slope of the court curved it well off course and they got two and the win.  Had I realized they were only on 7 I would have played it different but doubt It would have mattered in the long run.
Most likely our tournament hopes are shot but hopefully next week we'll have Clutch and Herbster back for inter-pool.

With Clutch still on the DL and Herbster stuck at work we again turned to new super subs Danny and Jean to fill in for them on a very hot and humid night.  I got quite the surprise when I showed up and saw my cousin Robert there subbing for another team.
In the first game we took on Boccilism.  The game got off to another of Roll'ems typical slow starts with us down 4-0 after two frames.  We got heated up and pulled to 4-3 before falling back to 6-3.  Danny and Jean got us ahead with a four point frame and and a 7-6 lead.  The lead was short lived as they had a ball on the pallino and I narrowly missed a knocked shot.  The Glue then caught a piece of their ball and opened it up slightly.  Then came the big mistake.  I tried to a more controlled shot to hit theirs but the ball kept moving left and I got our ball instead opening up a wide area for them to score in.  They took advantage and we lost 9-7.  Poor choice by the team captain who should know better.
In the second game we played Big Muddy Rollers.  Once again we got off to a Roll'em start and were down 4-0 before we could score.  We got rolling and moved to a 8-5 lead but the Muddies started coming back closing to 8-7 and then getting a single point to tie the game.  With the ball on the rail and us down to our last throw we got a ball in but they still had two balls left.  Their first throw was short but their second ball hit the first one and it pushed it just inside our ball for the win.  It was a very fun and exciting game to play with lots of good shots but a loss none the less.
The two losses dropped us to 4-6 and with the top two teams in our league left on the schedule it looks like our chances of making the tournament are very slim. 

Independence Day, last day of our trip.  I had most of my stuff already packed so I went to the convenience store by the hotel to pick up another 12 of Spotted Cow but they were sold out.  Sad face. 
We played 18 at The River course before leaving.  We were behind a very slow foursome who luckily let us play through on the 5th hole and it was smooth sailing from there,  My poor play continued until we had five or six holes left and my swing finally came around and I was hitting the ball real well.  We finished the round in a little under three and a half hours which allowed us to get on the road earlier than expected. 
I was worried about traffic on the 4th but other than from Sheboygan to Milwaukee there really wasn't much traffic to contend with.  We pulled off in Elkhardt Wisconsin to get lunch on the road at a Burger King.  Yuck is all I can say, it wasn't very good even by fast food standards.
We then made it to Bloomington where we stopped for gas and a pee break, then it was back on the road.  No more stops until we made it home which made for a long four hour drive.  Total trip was about seven hours which was better than I expected.
I was let off first and since Baileys car was here it was all Kelly could do to stop Mona from coming in and seeing the twins.  There was smoke coming from the backyard so I was thinking chicken wings only to be disappointed with burgers and hot dogs which were good but no chicken wings (sorry Glue). 
I got to stay inside instead of watching fireworks since wonderdog Otis was scared of the noise and then it was to bed after a wonderful trip.
Thanks again Brian and Beth, and also Kelly for including me.

Day 4 was the big day where we get to play the Straits course which has hosted several PGA events and is hosting the Ryder Cup in 2020.  Due to rain outs from yesterday we couldn't get on until noon which meant we'd only play one round. 
Since it was a noon tee time we decided a hot tub session would help with the soreness.  Ted also thought a 9am beer would help so I figured I'd give it a try too.  After leaving the hot tub I caught another very quick nap and then it was off to the course.  I started out playing decent but that quickly changed and it was another struggle.  The caddie would tell me one thing and I'd do the exact opposite which became a running joke.  I did manage to put one ball in Lake Michigan after it hit off the rip rap.  The course is awesome of course with close to 1000 sand traps and numerous elevation changes but the greens were easier than at Blackwolf Run.  With a few holes left I waved another white flag and moved up from the green tees to the white tees which helped some but it was still long.  After the five hour walk around the course we headed to the car and the hotel before going to supper.
After going through several choices we decided on Bourban Street Pub for some cajun.  Beth brought some cheese curds for appetizers which were fresh that morning.  Maybe the best food I had all weekend.  I had a couple of Leinenkugels Anniversary beer which was pretty good but not in the top I'd had up there.  I had the cajun sampler but substituted jambalaya for the cajun mac and cheese.  I also got gumbo as a side not thinking that it was part of the sampler but it ended up real good.  The jambalaya was solid but the blacken fish was just ok, no real blacken flavor but overall really good place.
The streets by the ice cream parlor were blocked off for fireworks so we headed back to the hotel dreading the end of the trip the next day.

Day 3 started with a trip to Whistling Straits to play their Irish course.  What started as a nice sunny day turned cloudy then came rain.  On the fifth hole the horns sounded and we had to head back in due to lightning.  By the time we walked to clubhouse it was raining pretty hard.  They opened the bar there a little early to accommodate all the golfers who wanted a bloody mary and at least one who wanted a Spotted Cow.  We finally were allowed to head back out on the course however Mona opted to stay in the clubhouse.  We managed to play another two holes before the rain came again and we decided to wave the white flag.
We headed in to Sheboygan in search of some place to eat and after driving around for a bit we ran into Pier 17 which is on the banks of the Sheboygan River shortly before it empties into Lake Michigan.  It would have been nice to sit outside but it was still raining.  I had the cuban which was good and all four of us really liked the place and will go back if/when we get to go back up.
After that it was back to the hotel and some hot tub time to warm back up after being soaked.  I headed back up to try and get a quick nap since I don't normally sleep well in hotels.  I got a little bit of one but then Brian called and we could play the River course at 4 so we got ready and headed there.
I was really surprised at how well it drained and that it wasn't cart paths only.  Unfortunately the break didn't help my golf game and I continued to struggle.
After the golf we headed back into Sheboygan to eat at 8th Street Ale Haus which ended up not very far from where we at at noon.  I had the pork schnitzel and cajun tater tots.  The schnitzel was real good but I didn't notice much cajun flavor in the tots.
After leaving the Ale Haus it was decided that we needed some ice cream so we headed back down to the riverfront to South Pier Parlor which was almost directly across the river from Pier 17.  I got one scoop of oreo ice cream in a bowel and it was awesome.  It was a great finish to a somewhat disappointing day.

Day two was 36 holes at Blackwolf Runs Meadow Valley course.  My goal for the day was to not lose seven golf balls as I did the day before.  I didn't think I'd have much problem reaching this goal until I put two tee shots in the lake on the first hole.  Luckily when we came back for the second round the starter had fished one of them out of the lake which he returned along with a few other assorted balls.  Meadow Valley is an old dairy farm and they've kept several of the structures and repurposed them.  The milking shed is an old run down looking structure but when you walk into the bathroom it is a shock to see all the new Kohler fixtures.
After the first round we ate at the clubhouse where I had the perch sandwich and a salad.
Neither round was overly eventful with just the normal cussing, frustration and comedy that is normal for us.  I did reach my goal in that I only lost 5-6 golf balls which was still disappointing.
After the round we went to Legend Larry's Famous Wings in Sheboygan Falls which is Brian and Beth's favorite wing place.  I had the spicy bacon wings which were real good but were a little too spicy for me for which I paid the price the next morning.
After there we went to Brian and Beth's new house for a visit.  They have a really nice place and I really liked the open kitchen living room concept.  The also had a small bar behind the two which was great.
After there it was back to the hotel for a shower and bed.

On Friday I went up to Sheboygan Wisconsin for a golf trip with Mona, Kelly and Ted courtesy of Kelly's nephew Brian and his wife Beth.  We would be playing the two courses at Blackwolf Run, the River and Meadow Valley.  We would also be playing the two courses at Whistling Straits, the Irish and the Straits.  These four course are all top 100 golf courses and are very tough which worried me since I haven't been playing great.
We left Murphysboro around 5:30am and arrived at the Blackwolf Run around 1pm where we met Brian who works there.  We at in the clubhouse restaurant where I had a burger, chips and of course a Spotted Cow beer.  Spotted Cow is one of my favorites, it's made by New Glarus Brewery and is only available in Wisconsin. 
Then it was time for a round of golf at the River course.  I started off hitting the first green in regulation but then three putted it for a bogey.  BTW all four courses greens are very very fast and three putts were common.  On hole four I hit the green and then made the putt of a birdie but it was all down hill from there.  I ended up losing seven golf balls which wasn't what I envisioned for the first day.  Of course a few Spotted Cows and other types of beer were consumed on the course.  The course itself is beautiful as is the case with all four of them.
We left the course and headed to Sheboygan Falls to Firehouse Pizza where me met Beth.  Pizza was good and the Spotted Cow was cold.  After eating and visiting for a while it was time to head to the hotel and check in and then to bed after a long day.