Birthday Golf

Tory and I went out to Jimmy Clay Golf Course here in Austin yesterday for some birthday golf. Mine, not his. Worked myself a 76 - very enjoyable. Very hot again. We started about 2 pm and staggered in about 3 and half hours later.

 

Of note, as we're playing the 8th hole, an oriental man on the 3rd hole, which runs the opposite way to the 8th, I see is waving at me. After getting my attention he points towards the 3rd green where his ball is teetering on or near the hole. He is playing alone and wanted someone to see his shot - from about 160 yards out or so. I golf- applauded, smiled, and he gives himself a high-five.

 

Tory is struggling still. Altho on one tee box on the back, we're trying to find something he can latch onto, and he busts one that rockets squarely down the middle and then ever so slightly turns over to the left. It out drives me by a good ten yards. I know he's capable now and needs LOTS of good repetitions. Putting is an adventure too. I am trying to get him to keep club head closer to the ground, eyes over the ball, but he creeps back away from the ball from stroke to stroke.

 

I began much like my last round bogeying first two holes from easy par positions, and then getting up and down from 100yds out for par on 3. Then everything more or less clicked, birdied the 2 par 5's on the front, and should've shot a 36 on the front, but on 9 I turned back into a pumpkin, missing the green with a 9 iron and failing to make par from just off the green.  Overall very pleasing tho.

 

The Cobra clubs Eric got for me have been terrific. I am finding I am about 1 club longer than before which throws all my old calculations out the window. Plus my confidence to hit a 9 iron 135 has yet to be established, but I have done so several times.

 

 

Golf update

As if to prove that my 79 two weeks ago was no fluke, I went out this past Saturday with Tory and shot an 87. Total frustration because I was hitting the ball extremely well off the tee. Oddly enough the only hole I teed badly on, I made birdie knocking a 9 iron about 6 inches from the cup. Of particular note, in my complete exhaustion on the back nine, I must've started doing something right because I hit some drives that I've not hit my entire life. On a par 4 that I usually hit 3,4,or 5 iron into, I hit a 9 iron over. It was amazing.

On the dark side, everything else was atrocious. Putting was a struggle, short game was tense, and shots to the green were frustating, always near but off. And all this happening within 120 yards and in from the greens in regulation. I could not score. 3 doubles did not help.

Tory made his first birdie ever I believe. He hit a par 3 about 155 yards, and made a 30 footer. He alternated crushing shots and near misses - and some of those were on the putting greens.

Golfing Again

I shot a 79 back on the 16th at Morris Williams GC here in Austin. 11 pars, 7 bogeys, 30 putts. It was about 100 degrees out. I drank 4 twenty ounce bottles of water in the first four holes. Tory played the front nine with me before quitting - he had been out of town at a mission trip all week and had returned that afternoon and he looked tired. Evan and girlfriend Allison played 7 holes before calling it a day. Probably her first trip to a golf course I am guessing. Maybe the last because it was brutal out there.

Recent book reading

I recently enjoyed reading the C.S. Lewis' book "The Screwtape Letters." Its a Christian apologetic of fiction written in epistolary form. In general its advice given from a Senior Tempter in Hell to his nephew, a junior tempter, in the ways of separating his patient from God. A unique approach to be sure. Lewis said it was painfully easy to write and thoroughly distasteful. I latched onto the book originally by listening to a few of the letters read aloud by John Cleese. Depending on your level of Christian faith I say check it out. It's a nice little eye opener.

BTW If you remember Calvin and Hobbs, Calvin's teacher is named Mrs. Wormwood. The junior tempter in the Letters is named Wormwood, and its from here that the teacher got her name.

COMBAT! On DVD!

 

We've been watching the great Vic Morrow and others in the second season of Combat! The black and white episodes of seasons 1 and 2 have been much more enjoyable that the color of season 5. Maybe I will try for Rat Patrol next. 

Tory On Defense

 

Tory clearing the front of the net in his initial try out for the new Spring 2006 season. 

Back to the Blog?

 

Its been a long time. Perhaps I will try to get this going again. 

Lake Charles American Press

Lake Charles American Press has a blog started with Hurricane Rita news. Looks like may old home town will take a beating.

Skating the Cup

My hockey season ended last night with a victory in the Finals. We are the Summer 2005 C-League Champions. A 2-1 decision over the dreaded Green Team - I was on the dreaded Red Team. What could be better? Well I'll tell you. I scored both our goals! The first off an offensive zone faceoff in the first period - from the drop the puck squirted up in the air towards me about two feet in the air. I whacked it midair over the goalie's right shoulder into corner of goal. He told me after game he never saw it, probably screened by his defenseman who was opposite me. We had 1-0 lead. Next goal was early in the 3rd period off a rush. Our center had chased puck in behind left side of the goal and flung it back towards the center. Puck somehow caromed off a few of the Greenies and skidded out in front of me. I was skating in from the right and tried to pop puck toward the goal. I didn't see it go in but I saw it end up in the left upper corner as I skated behind net after the shot. 2-0 lead at that point. Green Team scored an equally flukey goal a few minutes later, but we held on to win.


Not a bad game to go out on. The kidney stones have made me rethink my hockey playing. I will opt for more golf instead. Retire #43 from Round Rock Roller Rink.

New vehicle

BTW we recently traded in the van and bought a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. I hope we all fit on that first long trip out of town.

Golf? Yes!

Tory and I played a round on the 20th (July) here in Austin at Morris Williams GC, a local muni. I had an 83, but more importantly I hit some outstanding shots (for me anyway) and had no double bogeys. I am still using those horrible irons and my old wooden Wilson Staff driver, which I hit very well, probably 230 to 240 at least. Tory is just getting started so we'll spare him disclosure.

We're not ready for the KFC but at least it was enjoyable.

ER Notes

Mental notes made during my first visit to the ER on Father's Day:
While enduring the wait in the waiting room, I was unable to sit in the chairs. I found it less uncomfortable to put my knees in the seat of a chair and lean over the back, supporting myself with another chair. Since almost no other patients were in there I didn't care about how goofy this appeared.

I managed to peek up periodically at the TV screen before I was treated a few times. The US Open was on and I had to see that Tiger Woods was not going to win. I am proud that I was able to monitor the golf tourney in such circumstances.

A nurse that was passing through while my temp and blood pressure was being taken in the ER triage room looked at me briefly and said, "sounds like kidney stones to me." I remember thinking, "what do you know????"

In the midst of the greatest surge of pain, my RN, a male nurse, is trying to put in the IV. I am totally unable to be still. He misses twice, once left arm, then the right, before getting the IV started. This is maddening. Then he has to leave again to go get the meds.

The meds though are sweet relief. ER visit #2 not so tramatic, just chaotic.

Doctor visit

I went back to see the urologist this a.m. He is having an IVP test done on me tomorrow. Basically this means some iodine will be injected into me thru an IV and later they will take pictures of my kidneys as illuminated by the iodine. Should provide a better read of what is going on in there. I will see the doc again Weds a.m.

Father's Day

Sorry, I wrote this a while back but forgot to hit the Publish button, so it has been a Draft for the past weeks.

Tory and I rode in the 3rd annual Urban Assault Race this past Father's Day weekend. As part of my Biketown essay I said I wanted to get my kids more involved with bicycling as well as myself. This race appeared to be fun. The basic gist of the Assault was to go to each of the 11 checkpoints, do a task (or sit a time penalty), collect your beads, and head for the finish in as little time as possible. Look for the team Lefty's Hounds in the Fathers Day division.

We planned our route the day before and decided to take a slight figure 8 tour with more of the uphill check points early in the day. I decided to use my OLD hybrid bike instead of the Biketown Townie I was given since it is faster and easier to manuver. Most riders appeared to be using road bikes but there were plenty of hybrids as well.

The checkpoints had us riding bigwheels through a curvy route, stacking blocks up side of a wall to a height of 7 feet, squirting water into funnel worn by partner that collected water in a bucket, riding razor scooters, bouncing on big balloon balls over a muddy track, throwing frisbees, taking a dip in the Colorado River (very cool water), jousting traffic cones, and a few other odd tasks. We also had to perform a scene from Napoleon Dynamite - I was Kip training to be a cage fighter, Tory was Napoleon trying to headslap me. Lucky!

The race was a hoot, altho we lost tons of time waiting in line at one stop, and Tory and I got separated for countless minutes at another. Overall, 4 hours and 26 minutes. 20 - 25 miles, and we did every task.

But it was hot. The last thing was a wet body slide that I dropped awkwardly out of for about 2 feet. 15 minutes later my lower right back begins to hurt. Oh dear. I sit and eat a burrito, drink a cerveza fria, but the pain grows. As I am driving home the pain increases exponentially. I can't tell Sean I hurt myself on a slip and slide. As soon as I get home, I take 2 ibuprophen, take a hot shower, and lay down to nap. But I can't begin to get comfortable. Later we decide to go to emergency room.

After an interminable ride to ER, drugs are finally administered, tests run, and I have a kidney stone on the move. Ouch. Dreadfully painful.

Lithotripsy the next day, and the saga continues.

Assault Event photos

Here is a link to some photos online of Tory and me in the Urban Assault Event. Our pics start at the bottom of the first page. We're Team 82 so our pictures are in a set with other teams, 81-83.

Urban Assault Race

Link is to a story of the Urban Assault Race event here in Austin. Tory and I are in the video near its beginning. I have my back turned with a small blue backpack on, Tory is next to me wearing race id #82.

Good times.

Summertime Blues

Summer started this week. Boredom may set in quicker that ever. Evan slept until 12:30 pm Friday. I came home from work for lunch and he was still in bed. Tory is making a few bucks around here mowing some nearby lawns. The cash quickly burns a hole in his pocket as he runs to Guitar Center to buy something for his guitar. Samantha is off with a friend for the weekend at Lake LBJ. There will be about 30 girls out there, 25 high schoolers.

Need to get rid of van asap. BTW I was hit again recently, this time in the van. I was turning onto our home street when someone decided to pass me the left and hit the front of the van as I turned. I stopped at the curb, and the other car stopped too, but when I got out it drove away. I called the police, filed a report and insurance claim, and was paid by insurance, plus they let me keep the car. The van is almost unroad- worthy. Looking at buying another van probably. Boring.

Tory's hockey season ends

Last night was the end of Tory's hockey season. In a double elimination season finale tourney, his team lost the first game 6-5 with the other team scoring final goal inside of 2 minutes left in the game. They then won next game 5-3 in an elimination match, and then lost last night 4-3 in overtime to be eliminated. In the game they won, Tory took a hard slap shot off an ankle that sent him to the bench and out of the game - it was late with less than 2 minutes left, and the game was still in doubt, the shot was from the opponent's best player, so Tory took one for the team.

He was on a pretty good team, with mostly unselfish players that worked Tory into the game equally as possible. I'd like to see him play with most of them again. He had a goal and 3 assists in regular season play, pretty good for playing almost entirely on defense.

Just off the lift at Taos

BigFoot sighted in Taos

Tory and Samantha on the slopes of Taos, March 2005


Trying to get some pictures posted of ski trip. Not yet familiar with the process. This is one of the few fairly decent shots we have.

BikeTown Austin begins

Not only was I introduced to my new Townie 7 last
Friday afternoon (April 29 2005), but also came in
contact for the first time with the Bike Culture. It
might even be termed a religion. The believers were
there in black riding short pants and yellow and blue
jerseys, riding gloves, shoes, and other regalia. I am
not poking fun, but rather just observing, like a
visitor attending church for the first time. Everyone
was friendly, encouraging, and enthusiastic - the very
attributes you want in your apostles.

My trainer patiently helped me fit my helmet properly
as I clumsily fumbled with straps and clips, and went
over the rules of the road. He gave me realistic
advice on top of what is expected of bicyclists on the
street. I thank him for his help. To be honest, I
haven't worn a helmet much. I rode everywhere as a
teen and while attending college without it. But I
will abide by BikeTown's wishes and wear it
religiously.

It was unusually hot, and I felt sorry for the band
(Texas Swing Demons!?) playing outside City Hall
Friday. They baked as well as cooked. The politicians
worked Lance Armstrong in to just about every other
paragraph of their speeches.

Sean thinks the bike, the Townie 7, is a nice bike and
probably a great ride, just too ugly for her tastes. I
disagree. The color is actually a bit better than
expected from Internet pictures, a darker grey. And it
is a nice comfy ride. I will have to learn to like
fenders. Tires would need to be changed for trails I
think as the tread appears mostly for street use.

BikeTown Austin

I just received an email from Bicycling Magazine. I have been selected to participate in the BikeTown Program. I will get an Electra Townie bike of some model, helmet, lock, trip computer, and lights to use for the next 3 months. All I have to do is report to them how I use the bike and the changes it makes in my life. Piece of cake.

Should be fun.

On to Taos! Day 2 of ski trip

Monday, March 13, 2005 – After some French toast for breakfast, we begin to get ready to leave for Taos. Samantha and I take some pictures of her with “Flat Stanley”, a foot high cut-out of a little man that Samantha’s cousin Ashley Kumler has asked Samantha to take and photograph in different places, in front of the hotel and in the breakfast area.

Eventually all is packed and we leave Clovis at about 10:30 a.m. on a very chilly morning. We begin to see ice on sides of telephone poles and signs along the highway. Turning north on Hwy 84 at Fort Sumner (the REAL burial site of Billy The Kid) snow begins to lightly fall. The plains have snow in more places, and we’re beginning to get excited about seeing the white stuff. Within a few miles more the snow outside is covering everything. As we progress toward Las Vegas NM the snow falls off and on, hard at times, and the drifts on the ground are getting higher and at times the road looks to be getting narrower.

Its about thirty or so miles out of Las Vegas that Samantha informs us she has an urgent need. Outside there is nothing but snow and its coming down pretty hard and steady. Tension begins to accumulate again. We attempt a stop, but to no avail and get back on road. Luckily, there is a gas station at a highway intersection about 4 miles outside of town. What a relief – we are able to joke about the situation at last.

Las Vegas is under about 6 –8 inches of snow. The roads are brown, ice filled mushy mud pits. We stop and eat at a Wendy’s, Sean eats at Arby’s nearby. I notice we look very much out of place in our tennis shoes and jeans, when a busload of teens and a few parents come in, dressed kind of the same way. Yes, they’re from Texas too, going skiing at nearby Sipapu Resort.

Seventy-six miles are all that’s left between Las Vegas and Taos. Piece of cake. Except that its snowing hard and its windy. It takes us about four and a half hours travel those 76 miles and I was white knuckled most of the way. We had to stop for about 15 minutes at one point because an truck rig had slid off the road coming the other way and was lodged against a guard rail. I get out and knock snow off tire well so that the accumulated ice does not rub on the tires. Many snow plows go by and we get to go on. The road narrows to one lane. All I try to do is keep the yellow strip under the van and the red lights of the car in front of us in front of us. FINALLY, we get to Taos and collapse in the Super 8 hotel.

Later we go to WalMart and get some boots / shoes suitable for slushy type walking, and get a general feel for Taos. Taos was completely bathed in thick snow. We learned later 14 inches of snow fell on the mountain that day. Sorry Dad, we didn’t see the gentleman with the cat riding the dog, but not much was moving around that day.

We had some big ole burritos at the Guadalajara Grill. Back to the hotel and to throw snowballs at each other.

Tuesday is moving day.

Ski Trip Day 1 - To Clovis, NM

I am going to post a few entries about our trip to Taos. These may be a bit tedious for most but I want to type it up before it slips from my memory.

We pulled out of the driveway at about 10:30 am Sunday March 13. We pulled back into the driveway at about 10:31 to get a few items to snack on out of fridge and pantry. We left for sure a few minutes later. It was fairly warm, near 80 degrees when we left so we were dressed in shorts and tshirts for the trip. When we stopped for lunch a few hours later, it was noticably cooler, but not unconfortable.

We were able to drive all the way from Austin to Post, TX on a single tank of gas. I know this because we almost didn't get to Post. I took a nap after lunch and Sean drove. Upon waking I looked over at the gas guage, the needle was below a quarter tank with 30 miles or more to go. I brought this to Sean's attention but she did not doubt we would get to Post. Quickly it seemed the needle moved to E and then dipped below E and things got kind of tense in the car. We were in some pretty desolate country but there was plenty of traffic. Nevertheless we coasted into town and thankfully filled up vowing not to get that close again. After some McD's cones and sundaes we headed on again.

We made it to Clovis NM by dusk and stayed at the Hampton Inn. By now it was very cold outside and very windy. The temp was in mid 40's and wind chill at freezing. Being kinda tired we decided to get some light food and eat at the hotel. Samantha and I were the only ones to swim in the pool and hot tub. Sam can entertain herself easily in a pool. We had some fun and went back to the room. We had told ourselves (Sean and I anyway) that we would try to avoid the TV as much as possible, but we caved and let the kids watch a little. And what? Texas Hold 'Em Poker of course.

Tory began reading a book titled Angels And Demons by Dan Brown. Evan had the iPod in his ears most of the time. I tried listening to a book on tape called The Screwtape Letters, read by John Cleese but it failed to take hold. I settled on beginning to read novel I,Robot.

Lastly, Gann and GB would have laughed. Most memorable about Clovis was the smell that always seemed to be in the air. A mix of barnyard manure and Texas oil. We were glad to be rid of it upon leaving. On the way to the Grand Canyon when I was 8 (?), the grandparents, cousin Laurie and I also stayed in Clovis, and the smell was a running joke for the remainder of the trip. When I would remind Gann or GB of it in later years, they would get a good chuckle going.

Day 2 Snowy highways.