No Pain - No Worries

I could hear the irrigation system already running when I woke at 5:35am. I didn’t sleep all that well, the best sleep coming during the final hour. Often happens that way. Adding to my morning, I forgot to start coffee the night before. Crap. I hurried and prepped the coffee maker before starting my exercises. By the time my exercise routine was complete, it was fully daybreak. It was quite steamy outside and 72 degrees. Ykraps and I enjoyed our walk. Another nearby neighbor had an irrigation system put in yesterday. That’s two neighbors in the past week. It’s sorta neat seeing all of them running at about the same time. Speaking of which, I got the water bill on Tuesday but hadn’t yet opened it for fearing the number. Coffee was ready by the time I was back at home. It was just past 6am. I read some email, the headlines, and even did a little writing for my blog. I didn’t finish, however. There just wasn’t time. At 6:20am I moved onto mediation and stretching. During my routine, I found a way to stretch the aching muscles in my rear shoulder that offered a great deal of relief to an area prone to ongoing stiffness, most likely a byproduct of daily push-ups. Just can’t believe I went so many years without a good stretching regimen. I dressed and left for a run at 6:50am. I was behind schedule by 15 minutes but still no biggie. The run went extremely well. No pain, no worries. Nothing but happy thoughts! I was home by 7:25am. Like clock work, I went to the deck to towel away the heavy perspiration. That felt great. Inside, I placed the egg pan on the stove and put about a tablespoon’s worth of olive oil in before setting the burner to med-high. While the pan preheated I poured some orange juice and cut some veggies. While fetching my eggs, I spotted a zip-loc with Sunday’s leftover French toast inside. That sounded good. I pulled one slice to complement my eggs. It was 7:45am by the time I had breakfast in my belly. Off to the shower and to deliver Mindy’s coffee. After a shower I remembered to grab a pair of shorts for golf, but what I didn’t do was grab a lightweight shirt. Given the day’s forecast I could’ve used it. Downstairs, I transferred my golf clubs to the BM’er then returned inside to enjoy a cup of coffee on the deck with Mindy before departing for work. It was sticky and warm – about 72 degrees. I took a couple photos. I asked Mindy about going to the pool. She was noncommittal. I suggested that she take Rocky if they go. I left for work at 820am. Work was busy, plus it was meeting day. I worked straight through, but did eat my lunch from my desk. This was golf day. I always feel better not taking lunch since I leave early, although my boss has alluded more than once that it’s not necessary. But still… I closed my office door and changed into my shorts at 4:25pm. I walked out the door right at 4:30pm. It was hot indeed - about 90 degrees. It took 40 minutes to get from work to Split Rock. It was a nice drive with the top down. Bob B was already there. I carted with him, but went to get a cart for Bob I., who was till in transit. While loading my clubs, a couple girls who are part of a woman’s league that typically tees off right after us were chatting right next to me. I heard another girl from a distance holler over that she brought the helmet. I quipped that it might be a bit odd to wear a helmet on the golf course. In reality, it was a motorcycle helmet. Moreover, as it turned out, it was Jackie, brother-in-law Larry’s niece, who had the helmet. Small world. We were called to the back nine tee box at 5:20pm. I went second and hit the best of the three drives. Sadly, I duffed my second shot. It rolled only about 30 feet ahead. It’s a par 5, though, so I didn’t worry too much. I hit my third shot just short of the green. A simple sand wedge and I’d be putting for par I figured. Crap, I uncharacteristically hit my sandwedge way long and behind the green. It took 5 shots to get on the green. I two putted for a seven. Through the next eight holes I had four pars and three bogeys with an ugly eight sprinkled in just for good measure, but that was debacle. I four putted from 25 feet on the shortest par four on the course. Long story. The highlights of my evening were three shots in particular. One, I hit a fairway wood from about 240-250 out and rolled up just short of the fringe after a really bad drive. Two and three were both 3-iron shots on hole 18, a very difficult par 5. After another poor tee shot, I went 3-iron, 3-iron in leaving myself again just off the green. The pin was at the very back so I hit a sandwedge up leaving myself about 12 feet for a par. Unfortunately, I missed but tapped in for a bogey. I shot a 46. Not bad given a couple really bad breaks and not playing for three plus weeks. I kidded both Bob’s that my new putter and driver will shave a good eight strokes off my game. We’ll see, but I was only joking. Maybe two or three. But then again, they might add two or three. :) I talked with Mindy on my drive home. She was at Wal-Mart grocery shopping. Jimaken had the kids. Not sure that I would’ve chosen grocery shopping with my alone time, but hey, that’s just me. While talking, I missed my turn on Sharp Rd (the new way home). As an alternative, I took Rt 762 all the way to Rt 62. It takes you right past the Orient prison. I then picked up 71N at the Orient exit. I beat Mindy home by ten minutes. Jimaken was in the driveway with the kids. It appeared that they had just pulled up. He backed out to give me room to pull up and into the garage. I prepped tomorrow’s coffee and poured myself some Fanta orange soda. I was craving the sugar and fizz. I was also craving carbs. Something about playing in the hot sun causes me to crave fizzy, sugary pop and carbs almost every time. In any case, I drank two big cups of orange soda like water. Mindy pulled up with groceries minutes later. She requested Jacob and I help her haul everything in. She reported this being a big haul. She hadn’t really done any big shopping since before vacation. She requested I help unbag too. Crap, I hate that. She heated Bella’s leftover KC wings in the oven in a stoneware pan while putting away groceries. Jacob asked if he could have some. No, they mine! He had dinner with his Dad. While Mindy finished putting groceries away, I updated my blog and added a few pics. I also tracked my new driver and putter via the UPS webpage. Cool! Slated for Thursday delivery. I had a couple more glasses of soda through the evening. Mindy got the kids to bed around 930pm. After tucking in the kids I collapsed on the sofa. I was shocked to see that it was already 10pm. I turned on the TV looking for something interesting. Nothing. I hadn’t watched any TV since Mexico. I settled on Barack Obama discussing his health care initiative. I saw just a few minutes before I fell asleep, but found him quite engaging. I like him. Next thing I knew, I woke to a dark downstairs. It must’ve been 10:45pm or so. I hurried on up to bed.