On the Mend

Hey guys! I've been wanting to write a blog about this last couple of weeks. I was getting ready to leave for my Black Widow Experience clinic that I hold here in Indy. I love teaching. I love sharing my knowledge of the fundamentals, the perfect stroke, the strategies of 9ball and 8ball, and most of all, the mental game. I started doing it so that I can do what I love, right from my home town. On this last Monday, I was heading down the stairs with a load of laundry and somehow slipped. I landed right on my tailbone and basically bumped my tailbone over and over again down the stairs. I even had to cancel an APA Black Widow Tour exhibition in Tulsa that we had been promoting for months! Horrible feeling! The only time I can remember this much pain at one given time was giving birth to Savannah. I really thought I broke it. It turns out that it was simply bruised. I'm still sore, but in much better condition, physically but also, mentally. In my exhibitions, I always start off talking about my life, my history and my lessons learned. One of the main lessons is what I learned about how to overcome obstacles and how to be brave. I am considered a very strong person. I can tell you, I rarely feel strong. What you are doesn't always match what you feel. Even in this last week, it was a real struggle to stay positive. Being strong doesn't mean you go through life unafraid or without doubts or sadness. It means getting up each day, even when you don't feel like it, and set goals in your mind and doing a little bit each day towards your dreams, whether or not, you even know that they can be accomplished. I want to be a great mom, a better Christian, a good wife to my husband and win more championships and get on top again. I'm near the top, but I'm not where I want to be. I want to work towards it every day. I want to be productive each day. Sometimes, I just don't feel like it....and that's ok. It's human. It's normal to go through your ups and downs. But even more normal than that, is to let those emotions get the best of you, put you in a stand still, focusing on what you don't have, what you can't do and why it probably won't happen for you. Well, I'm not normal. I'm special and you can be too. All you need to do, is not give up. Just keep going forward, regardless of the bad days. Believe in yourself, even if no one else does. Do things for you and ENJOY the journey. Don't just be result oriented. Know that you are headed in a positive direction and praise yourself for each step you cross. I've been pretty tired this week. I try to see the positive in things when I feel bad. NOT easy to do. I'm fortunate to have friends and fans that help me up when I feel down. But it wasn't always that way and it might not be that way for you. Everything I say won't guarantee you'll be a lot happier but I can guarantee that if you live your life feeling sorry for yourself and doing things according to what others think you can or can't do, I can GUARANTEE you'll be unhappy! This week, I'm grateful for this unexpected time that I have to rest more than I usually rest, spend more focused time with my kids, organized my house more and study more about my pool game than I would normally sit still enough to do. I'm grateful to see how many friends and fans who love me, my family at the APA that love me and sent me flowers, my mother in law who came over to take care of me, and that, in the end, my body looks like it'll be ok. I have a chance to take a better look at my goals this year and make sure I'm really spending time to put towards them while also taking care of my responsibilities. I lost a lot of practice time this week and time at the gym. I cried feeling sorry for myself twice. But I keep going. I had to be more careful about my diet and my schedule the next couple of weeks since I have a tournament in 12 days. I have had to depend on others even more. But you know what? It's all going to be ok bc I'm going to keep on moving forward through the rain....knowing that there's sunshine in my very near future....after all, I can guarantee it! Love you....Jeanette

WPBA Nationals

I've been thinking about pool so much lately. I try to squeeze in time every day to play pool. It is...really....squeezing it in. It's sad but the most of my time is spent at the computer working, marketing, etc and the rest of the time is spent with my kids. Last night I took Chey dress shopping. Tonight, we made beaded necklaces! You should see the ones they made me! One of a kind, for sure!!!

I've been doing some drills that Mark Wilson in St Louis gave me. They are called Power Drills. Hi, low, center, with a very hard hit/speed. I think it really shows any flaws you might have but it also is easy enough to pocket that you can concentrate on your preshot and post shot routine.

Outside of that, I'm playing different friends 9ball mostly. I prefer to play straight pool but it eliminates the break and I really need that practice so, oh well. I'll definitely try to post blogs or twitter/facebook while I'm at the tournament next week. Mostly, I'm working out to get stronger. I think my legs and back got really weak during my last pregnancy and now, it's painful and I get worn out quickly. That's ok, as long as I do something about it.....for now, making time to swim is essential! Love you, Jeanette

Bass Pro on Saturday

Hey Everyone! I'm going to be on Fox and Friends this Saturday morning so tune in. I've had a great relationship with Bass Pro for some years now and developed a friendship with founder Johnny Morris that I'm lucky to have. He is an amazing inspiring person who notices the details, is extremely down to earth while never thinking within a box. He gives back to every community he comes near and inspires others to do the same. He humbles me to think that I could have done a lot more for my sport. I still can I suppose! :)

This Saturday, we're going to talk about Santa's Winter Wonderland at Bass Pro this holiday season. Super cool events going on at Bass Pros nationwide! You should check it out! Also check on APA Black Widow tour to see how I can come to your area!!! Love, J

Black Widow starts teaching in INDY

Something I've always loved to do is teach. I have always considered myself a student of the game and I've been fascinated by how well my coaches Mark Wilson and Jerry Briesath teach. I also the love the way my carom billiards coach and friend Ira Lee teaches. There's definitely an art to it. Some people just have a sincere passion for the game and know how to reach people, teach people in their own language. I mean, the students language. They know how to make things easier to understand. I've taught in the past and always enjoyed it but never seemed to have the time. There is so much I've learned and so much I want to share! There were always too many tournaments and special events to attend to and if I had any free time, I spent it with my family. Now, as my kids get older, I see so much more value in being home. I can't stand the idea of being away from home. So finally, I think it's time, it's worth me creating a program that allows me to spend quality time with my fans, teaching them how to become better players and I can still be home to have dinner with my kids and tuck them in at night! I hope this make you all happy because it surely makes me happy. I'm excited about it, I really am!! Now, this doesn't mean that I have quite competing. I still plan to play in ALL the WPBA Pro events, and travel to all the international events that make financial sense, but between events, I want to be able to grow pool from home while I'm growing my family! Well, raising my family. I really don't need to it grow in numbers! :) BTW, did I tell you? Our oldest Morgan and her hubby Jason are expecting! I can't wait!!! The future looks bright! I love you all, Thanks for being there!

Ahh, I guess I should give you info.

I plan to teach group lessons in Indy at a local pool room, have lunch, teach some more, play pool and sign autographs...The dates will be posted on my site and on my facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/jeanetteleetheblackwidow.

So far, we have Nov 2 and Nov 22nd. First come, first serve, $300 per person for a day of pool, conversation and fun! with ME!!! Yay! To sign up or for more info, email indyblackwidowexperience@gmail.com

These days

These days, things have been pretty busy at home. My husband gets up with the girls and helps Chey get ready for school. I used to have the baby girls all day but recently we got a full time daycare person to help with the little ones. I have a very very tough time in the morning from arthritis and degenerative disc disease. I'm very stiff, in a lot of pain and in a rush to get food in my stomach so I can take my Celebrex. Once I've had a good cup of coffee, I sit in front of the computer for a few hours, returning calls, making plans, answering emails....about once a week, I sneak off to Cheyenne's school to have lunch with her in her cafeteria....good ol cafeteria food is nothing compared to mom's yummy PB and J, carrots, apple sauce! Hehe! I've been going to my new gym, LA Fitness, it's very nice, but I'd really like to get out there five days a week. Not so easy. Every excuse in the book. I'm better off to go in the morning but my body doesn't want to go anywhere in the morning. In the afternoon, I rush to get work done in the office, grocery shop for dinner, pick up all the toys that I can't do in the morning or late at night from stiffness, and be free for Chey when she gets off the school bus. I spend a little time with her snacktime, homework, and play time before I start dinner and my babies are screaming for my attention....I've got the best babies in the world. By the end of the evening, there's no chance I have the energy to play pool. Problem is, deep inside, I'm still a world Champion and I'm screaming to play pool. My mind aches for it....I just need my body to...

So what's the plan? Get my swimming time to the top of my priority list. Get stronger physically so I can stand to play more pool. Create a stricter schedule. No more wasted time. I spent a little time with my coach Mark Wilson and my old coach Bob Carman is coming back this week. I'm not going to think about anything else. Just do it. Of course, I have to make a living and I need to work and spend time with my family, but my game won't be ignored any longer. I'm going to start playing hard again, whether or not it kills my back....because if I don't, it'll kill my soul......

Party!

Hey all. I had an Easter RockStar party this last week for my daughter Cheyenne and an Egg Hunt for all the girls.....and during this time, I wonder what I've done to impact my daughter on what Easter is all about for a Christian. It is a time for fun, family, egg hunts, cute bunnies...but it's also about the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sad thing is that instead of being happy, sometime, I just feel like a failure as a mother and a Christian....The good thing is...it's ok to fall, as long as you get back up each day and do your best with what you have. Even if you guys out there don't all share my beliefs, I encourage you to live your life according to yours, don't forget the things you stand for. Life can be pretty rough....we get caught up in day to day upsets and we don't make that time for ourselves or we settle for things that we KNOW don't follow our beliefs.. Be Strong, be Brave, and Stand by your values....one of my favorite quotes by Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Enjoy your Easter! Love you Jesus!

Mommy and Pool Champion

So now I've had plenty of time to get adjusted to being a mom of 7.....not really. Although my stepdaughter Morgan and her husband Jason are in South Dakota, and Olivia and John are in college, I still have three little girls at home. Every day, I wake up and spend time with the little ones. Potty training and breakfast for Chloe and bottles and learning to eat solids for little Savannah. I play with them a while and then into the office. Head to the gym to strengthen my still weak body from giving birth to Savannah! Hurry back home to play pool by myself or with an opponent. Then I have to pick up my little Cheyenne from school, help with homework, occasionally add in girl scouts and karate and grocery shopping, cooking dinner, play time, bath time, bedtime and then finally, my husband gets some attention or I play some pool! Whew!!! And I love it.....but deep inside, I still know, I can be number 1 again and I know I can't do it with a part time effort! I need to play a lot more pool....period! So where do I sacrifice? Working and making money, or quality time with my family and all their precious moments, my health and fitness? At the end of the day, I know I am blessed. I have the best friends a girl can have, a loving family, a fairly healthy body, and a decent game of pool! Well, my "Rack Boy" just arrived! Hehe! Gonna beat him to a pulp! Talk to ya soon!