Lady Ga-Ga

I am programmed to leap from bed at 5:30am. Add Wednesday to the long list of successful wakings without the aide of an alarm clock. While brushing my teeth, I could see that the streets were shimmering with rain – not unexpected. Missing was the familiar sound of rain pounding against the roof and/or windows. A look out back confirmed that the rain had stopped. I completed the triple play – sit-ups, push-ups, and curls, and then headed out with Ykraps. It was comparatively warm – about 54 degrees. The street gutters were still streaming with rain water. The rain must’ve ended only recently. After our walk I poured myself some coffee then gave the weather forecast a more thorough once over since I was hoping to golf after work. The forecast called for the rain to end and skies to clear with a high temperature near 60 degrees. A check of the radar showed that the rain was exiting our immediate area and there wasn’t anymore coming our way. Before I knew it, it was 6:05am and time to deliver Mindy’s coffee. Afterwards, I did more PC time then headed to the family room for stretching and meditation. Gazing upward through the skylights, I could see a faint hint of daybreak seeping through the otherwise dark sky. That served as further proof that the days are lengthening and that the skies must be clearing. I dressed and left for my run at exactly 6:37am. After some groin stretches on the front steps and porch I was off. The western sky was brighter than to the east, another indication that the weather was improving. It took a while longer for daybreak to unfold due to the cloud cover in the east, but it was apparent just before the three mile marker. I finished my run feeling strong. Mindy was just finishing my eggs. Bella was nibbling on her breakfast. Jacob was already done and in his room. Mindy and Bella eventually left just before 7:30am. I finished my eggs and fruit then picked up the kitchen before heading off for a shower. The sky was solid blue to the west but there wasn’t any sunshine dappling the landscape. This I observed from the master bath window. The sun, I reckoned, was still masked by the storm clouds still moving out of town. I was down stairs by 7:50am and scurrying to get everything ready for work and evening golf. I had to run back upstairs to fetch my Viking’s pullover. I also packed my camera. Jacob headed out in front of me, but I met him at the stop a minute or so later. The boys were pleased to see that the substitute bus driver was still doing their route. They speak very poorly of Mrs. Vanorder. Today I probed deeper as to why. They spouted off a silly reason. She apparently split the pair in an effort to reduce or eliminate horseplay. I wasn’t too far behind the boys with my own departing. I left the house at 8:12am. Gas I noticed was back under $2.00 per gallon - $1.96. I didn’t need any though. I arrived at the office by 8:26am. Work was busy from go, at least after coffee time. I was at full throttle until 3:00pm. I planned to leave the office for golf at 4:30pm after confirming plans with Bob Imber. It would just be the two of us. Bob B. was on vacation this week. I left Tom Clark a VM inviting him to join us, but didn’t really expect to get a response in time. My boss stopped in just before 4:30pm. We talked for a few minutes before I finally headed out. It was 4:35pm when I made my way to the elevator. Like a few coworkers forewarned, the sky was clear, the temperature fairly warm, but it was awfully windy. I didn’t care. I was going golfing! I arrived at Thornapple at 4:55pm. I didn’t see Bob’s van. I changed into my golf shoes, warm Reebok wicking shirt, and Viking pullover. I was very comfortable. After peeing, I made my way to the putting green where I took three quick and accurate putts. Next, I spent some time chipping from 5-10 yards off the green. That’s always time well spent. Bob arrived around 5:15pm. I saw that Tom C. responded via text message. I responded asking his proximity. Never heard back. Bob & I tee’d off hole number 1 just before 5:25pm. I bogeyed, but felt pretty good about it after hitting a short drive. Hole number 2 is a par 5 where the green is protected by a creek. I was on in four after wasting one tapping out from behind a batch of trees along the way. I was putting for par but missed. I ended up four putting for a stinking eight. I admit it, that performance got to me. Hole number three ended up even worse. It’s a par 4 with a pond protecting the green. I mis-hit my drive and lost it in the sun. We found it only 50-100 yards out and slightly right of the tee box. I then proceeded to duff my 3-wood two times. The third I hit nicely but it rolled just into the pond protecting the green. I couldn’t buy a break. I hit a nice sand wedge but still 3-putted for a nine. That was one I would rather forget. Hole number 4 is a 175 yard par 3 with the green guarded closely by a huge oak tree from the right. And there’s a pond to the not-so-immediate left. I topped my five iron a little but still ended up just off the green. Bob went far right. No one behind us, we decided to hit another ball. Often, we’ll circle back and play the hole twice anyhow. This time we thought we’d save ourselves the trouble of driving back to the tee. This time I hit an ideal tee shot to the left side of the green with a slight draw towards the hole. I bogeyed my first tee shot, can’t remember what I did with the second, better shot. Hole number 5 is a par 4 slight dog leg right, but if you can drive over a trap resting at about 250 yards out, you can take some distance off the hole. Bob hit a beautiful drive left of the trap probably out about 275 yards. My drive rolled up well short of the trap. I hit a five iron in but it landed just off the green left. I made my chipping practice payoff. My chip from about 35 feet hit the flagstick squarely leaving me about a one foot putt for par. I thought it was gonna go in. Perhaps a smidge quick. Hole number 6 is a par four with another pond protecting the green. I crushed my drive straight down the middle leaving myself about 120yards to the hole. Bob actually out drove me by about 20 yards but more to the right. My nine iron into the wind was hit well but landed on the left fringe but pin high. I missed both my birdie and par putt, and took a bogey. I wasn’t putting very well at all, but the greens are a little rough from a recent aeration. My initial putts were decent but the second 3-4 footers killed me this time out. Hole number 7 is a par four that runs along a road (name escapes me) with several mature pines along the right. The fairway is very narrow. I hammer a drive straight down the pipeline leaving myself about 150 yards to the hole. I hit a lovely 6-iron in leaving myself a 12 foot up hill birdie putt. I missed the birdie but got a tap in par. Nice work, Jimmy! Hole number 8 is another 175 yard par 3. For whatever reason, it always plays one club length longer than you might expect. Remembering this, I hit my 4-iron but left it a little right ultimately stopping the right fringe. I three putted again for another bogey. Hole number 9 is a scary looking par 5 – about 530 yards. I hit a decent drive but not long enough to comfortably hit a fairway wood over the creek that guards the green from about 150 yards out. I hit my 7-iron instead. I didn’t waste a single yard either. It rolled up just short of the creek bank leaving me another 170 yards to the green but straight away. I went 4-iron instead of five. I got ahead of myself and pushed it hard left over the road and into the bean field across the street. Shit! I do that every once in a while. Screwed the pooch there, for sure. I found my ball and laid out roughly where I crossed the out of bounds stakes. I hit my sandwedge on but still about 9 feet out. I was now laying in five instead of three like I had hoped. I two putted for a double-bogey. Final score – 50. I wasn’t too disappointed given the eight and nine, plus all the easy putts I missed. Generally speaking, 45 or under I am quite pleased. Bob shot a 47. His putting was on today despite the rough greens. We chatted for a while in the parking lot. We got a big laugh when Bob spotted my street shoes in the parking lot, which I had just tossed out of the Trooper to change into. He asked if they were mine. Hmm? Why do you ask? He went and fetched his own. They are the exact same shoe. Dude, don’t tell anyone! J We headed separate ways. Mindy was at home enjoying the peace and quiet. She hadn’t eaten but said she was gonna make herself some hot dogs. I was hungry too. I wasn’t home three minutes when Jimaken returned with the kids. Mindy made herself two hot dogs, but one was bad. She made more, one for Bella and two more for me. I tricked mine out with leftover taco meat, shredded cheese, sweet relish, and mustard. Yummy! This was a bath night for both kids. Jacob took a shower and Bella a bath. While Mindy saw to all of that I updated my blog. I tucked the kids into bed around 8:20pm. We planned to watch Idol elimination night. However, it didn’t come on until 9pm. I caught the tale end of Lie to Me before hand. Idol was entertaining. David Cooke, last year’s Idol winner, performed as did Lady Ga-Ga. She was a bit weird, and not very talented for my money. Meanwhile, Megan, the blonde bombshell was sent packing. I can’t say she didn’t deserve it, but for my money two others were worse. That’s Idol. We saw the beginning of the 10pm news but headed to bed by 10:05pm. Watching the news is not something we do often, if at all.