Going on Safari - (more on the slip n' slide)

As planned, I was up Sunday morning at 5:30am on the nose. By design, it would very much mimic a work day morning. I started a pot of coffee then turned my full attention to exercise. Soon I was out walking Ykraps. I was thrilled to find completely clear skies and moderate temperatures just as forecasted. It looked like a beautiful day was in the offing. And just like a work day, I prepped and left for a run before 6:30am. I ran just three miles Though, through the subdivision, out Trabue, down Hague, and then back home. I was back home even before 7am. I moved quickly to shower and dress. I delivered coffee to Mindy bedside. After a shower I somewhat hurriedly whipped up an egg, brat, and cheese sandwich on wheat. A good breakfast is a must before golf. I proceeded to switch my clubs over from the BM’er into the Trooper. I was ready to depart by 7:40am. After saying good bye to Mindy I headed out. Perfect timing, Kenny was just walking down to meet me. We left right on schedule – 7:50am. We arrived at Tom Clark’s just after 8am. I loaded his clubs in the back of the Trooper and knocked on his door. In my subdivision you don’t dare leave your clubs out on the driveway, let alone leave your garage door open. Yikes! We left his place at 8:10am. On our drive up we passed what appeared to be a large dead animal in the road right at the stone fishing overpass. I also thought that I might get a speeding ticket compliments of Dublin just north of Rt 161. I wasn’t going but about 46 but the speed limit for a brief stretch is only 40mph. Turned out, the cop had more important fish to fry. He blew right by me. It didn’t take long to cruise up Riverside Dr to new Safari Golf Club. The new entrance is off of Powell Rd directly across from the Zoo’s new entrance. As we readied to head in to pay our green fees, I phoned Tommy. He was just turning in. Cool! Soon we were paid-up and ready to tee off. Sunday play was starting on hole #10. Not sure why exactly. Also, of note, today was cart path only after Saturday’s torrential rains. Understood. Hole #10 is a moderately long par 3 entirely over water tee to green. The starter pointed out that the heather/grassland hazards are considered protected environmental zones and not to be trampled. All player in turn get a free drop if their shots end up in the hazard. Hardly seems fair but OK. Three of us hit our tee shots into the water. Mine actually hit the edge of the green but trickled back into the water. Not a good start – took a five. Dammit! The next two holes my drives entered the grassy hazards on the left. The righthanders hit into the trees on the right and struggled mightily. I laughed off the free drop and bogeyed those two. My play didn’t improve and got worse. Finally, we hit the four new holes added to the course. And they are everything they said they’d be, beautiful but tough. They ate me alive, everyone else too. Undulating tight fairways, woods, & strategic water placement. Mid way through our round I suddenly found myself unable to hit my mid-irons. I was a mess. I played inconsistently through the round. I ended up with a 101. Sadly, that was tied for the lead, although there was a score keepers issue. We finished after 5 hours and 20 minutes. Ouch! We all, with the exception of brother Tommy, piled into the Trooper and drove home. We passed the same roadkill we passed earlier at the fishing bridge. On closer inspection, it appeared to be a huge beaver, and as big around as a basketball. I dropped Tom Clark at his place. Kenny & I were home by 2:30pm. I wasted little time readying to cut the lawn. I spent the next 1.75 hours whacking, edging, cutting, and blowing. Mindy notified me that it was almost 4:30pm Yikes. I needed to shower up for Sunday dinner. We left for dinner at 4:55pm. We arrived just after 5pm. Everyone else was already there. Hadn’t been to Sunday dinner since pre-Mexico. Dinner was ready sometime after 5:30pm. Sloppy Joe’s, pasta salad, & scalloped potatoes. All really good. After dinner, I snuck down to the lower level and took a satisfying nap on the love seat. I woke to the noise of Bella. Imagine that. I rejoined the family upstairs and eventually outside on the patio. Dessert was served around 7pm. Chocolate sheet cake. I had just one piece but really wanted more. Gotta watch my intake. We readied and left for home at 7:30pm. Gloria made another three references to the kids new slip n’ slide after I encouraged her to visit. I actually found it almost humorous, especially because she made a point to say it over in front of the entire family gathering, almost as if it’s an inside family joke. You know what they say? Can’t control anyone but yourself. I can only control how I respond. I chose to ignore it and let it roll of my back like water off a duck. We arrived home by 7:45pm. Collectively, we decided to have a family fire out back and roast marshmallows and make smores. We waited until about 9pm, however. It was cozy. Jacob and I split wood some logs from some trees I’ve cut down over the years. He was eager to use the hatchet and sledge. We hung out until dark when Mindy took the kids in. Kenny & Chrissy joined me while Mindy was in tucking in the kids. I lazily celled her to come back out and join us. She eventually did. I drank tow Honey Raspberry Ales. The first was better than the second. Not sure why? We stayed out until near 11pm. I got eaten up pretty good by mosquitoes. Mindy & I headed to bed promptly. I was really tired after getting up at 5:30am.