[NeonAges]

So a co-worker of mine recently asked me what my hobbies were.  He was just interested in hearing what everyone else liked to do for fun.  I gave him the standard answer of  "well, you know, watch movies, play video games, hang out with friends" but another thing that came out of my mouth that I never really considered a hobby until I said it was "Bowling". 

That's right, bowling.

Now, I've been bowling quite frequently for just over a year now and I'm really not that good.  My average sits at about a 130 and my highest game ever is a 184 (I'm going to get 200 one day, damnit!)  It all started with the class at Armstrong.  I'm in college, I have to take a bowling class, right? It's almost like a duty that must be fulfilled.  If your school has a bowling class, it must be taken.  The class required a certain average for a grade which I thought completely unfair.  I think the grade should be based on improvement and effort but, I digress.  I thought the class would be a great way to satisfy one of my three required Physical Education classes, and it was.  What I didn't know was how much I was going to like it or how obsessed I would become with the game.

During the run of the class I went to the lanes very frequently to get in some extra credit games and before long, the people at the lanes started to know me by name, not because I was great or anything but because of my frequency at the lanes.  After the class was finished I thought I wouldn't really have a need to go so often and, really, I didn't.  ...until I started to feel the itch.

The itch to bowl.  It was like a foreboding force telling me that I needed to bowl (only it wasn't really "evil" per se so, not foreboding in the least).  Because of the itch I continued to visit my lanes and bowl; All the while, getting better at the game.  Whenever my friends and I were bored and sitting around, whenever "so what does everyone want to do" came up, my answer was, "bowl, stupid!"



Eventually, I got my own ball (yellow and chrome swirled...it's badass trust me), I got a bag to match my blue-flamed shoes, I got the works.  I was a full-fledged bowler.

One day while at work, I saw a note up on the bulletin board in the back room asking for sign ups for the "Restaurant Challenge" league.  I wanted so badly to join but thought, "a league?  I'm not good enough to bowl in a league" but I figured, why the hell not?  I'll give it a try.  Turns out, this league was intended just for that: fun.  Everyone gets a handicap added to their score based on their average minus a set number so even if your average, casual team bowled against a team who's members consistently get above 200, you still have a chance of beating them (hey, communism was good for something, right?).

So this league meets at midnight every monday night and goes until around 2:30 and it's so incredibly fun.  It's all teams from different restaurants and the community is great, we all hang out and talk while we bowl and get to know one another. 

My team (The O.G. Mafia) came in third place last season and got a trophy for it and as of right now, we're in third place this season too.  I've become so involved that I've taken over team captain responsibilities for this season.  I even took the time to design a logo for us to put on T-shirts which I still haven't gotten around to screen printing yet. 

Armed with itailian sass, an assortment of bowling balls, and cheese graters, The O.G. Mafia will give you a run for your money but, more importantly, we'll show you a good time.
I've developed a bond with my treammates, I've met lots of new people, and I've had something to look foward to where I know once a week I can relax and have a great time.

I've gone on far too long about this and now it's time to get to the point of this article:  If you have a hobby, hold onto it.  Keep collecting those magic cards, finish your collection of rare scandinavian butterflies, drive your car to absolutely nowhere.  If you like doing something and look foward to doing it, keep doing it as long as you can.  It will improve the quality of your life and give you something to look foward to as you sift through everyday stuff like school or work.

Enjoy your life the best you can by doing the things that make you happy.  Embrace them for the things they provide you with and never let anyone try to tell you differently.  We all have different interests and enjoy different things so, if your friend doesn't approve of your building model houses out of old fingernail clippings, forget 'em and keep on trucking.

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