Garth McQueen  02/21/2003 08:40 AM

Well George: I should let you know there was great concern amongst the 
team as to your health and  the size of your afflicted area. I think Mauro 
was little concerned that you might be taking over his record. He so likes 
his page 87 placement in the Guinness Book of Records for multiples. I 
hope the Doctor was gentle to you and yours.  How did you like the peas?? 
(inside joke for all the sopranos).

Ok...on to the game.  I am finding it hard to reflect upon the game this 
morning. Having Pioli involved always brings a different perspective to 
the game....curling is about drinking beer!!! (this explains why it is 
hard to reflect..the game is somewhat of a haze this morning...Bruce even 
had an extra one!!)

Conclusion:   we lost. - score was I think 8-5 (not reflective and keeps 
us further from A)

Again consistent to our year long pattern we were in this one all the way 
through. One bad end where we gave up 4 was the nail in the foot ( beers 
before the game was the nail in the head!!). At the end of 4 we were tied 
2-2. We stole the first 2 ends and they stole the fourth. Once the horses 
were out the gate in the fifth we didn't have time to come back. The team 
played well, and Mauro actually drew to the house (without any backing).  
We are prepared for the play-offs and I can see Saturday in our schedules 
(of course that could be the banquet but let's think positive). 

Now to our opposition.....the FAT Boys (must be from all the cash sticking 
out of their pockets from bonspiels)...

First off, one of their players was from another team who happened to beat 
us plus he was a member.  As for the rest here is how best to define their calibre....

Post game I was getting the customary peanuts, so while standing at the 
bar I was reading the board upon which a picture of 4 curlers were 
displayed with the following heading: Welland team goes to the Provincial 
Finals for SECOND year in a row.  Many of these people looked familiar so 
when I returned to the table I inquired as to how it felt to go to the big 
show. Our opposition let us know how great it was and in fact... on Monday 
nights their Team is undefeated. Well lucky F%%$$#ing Them.   

In my mind that makes 3 Club Members (if not 4) playing Industrial and I 
would expect our Skip to log a complaint (but only if we can get free beer)

In summary, we were good, we got cheated, Mark played well and we drank 
beer.  Good luck in your recovery..... with every bag we devoured, we all 
hoped yours were not as crushed.



Mark Pioli  02/24/2003 09:06:02 AM

Talk about getting called up and getting thrown into the fire. First of 
all playing a team with no females and no physical handicaps was the first 
sign I was in trouble.  I then found out that all the cash in the kitty 
was used up and I would have to pay $10 for the privilege of getting my 
ass kicked. I had no where else to turn so I had a few beers to relax me a 
bit.  We started well stealing the first 2 ends and then it was downhill, 
as we started to lose ends I pinpointed our problem, I tried to rally the 
team by  hiding his broom but he found it and returned to the team.
Overall I had fun, let the team down a bit by not curling very well , and 
learned the proper way to open a bag of peanuts.