Golf & Dinner at the Big Fat

I woke a few times through the night with a very mild headache but did nothing to cure it. I should’ve taken Ibuprofen before bed. The four Friday night pints were my first alcohol since last Saturday night. When I finally got up at 7:10am I took three Advil before heading downstairs. The headache was gone somewhere between my exercise routine and returning from my walk with Ykraps. I sipped coffee at the PC for quite a long time not worrying much at all about the time. Just before 9am I figured I’d better log into work. Much to my dismay, there was plenty for me to get involved with. However, I decided to go do my run before becoming firmly entrenched. I ran four miles along Trabue and down Hague. It was a beautiful morning for a run. I was back at home after 9:30am and got settled in front of my laptop. I stayed busy with work for the next several hours stopping only to interact with Mindy before she left for her yoga class. She left around 11:00am having an errand to run before hand. She took her grocery list too, but was non-committal to whether or not she’d stop to shop before coming home. After getting work semi-under control, I headed out to cut the lawn. I lowered the blade another half inch since it was nice and dry. When it gets too long I have no choice but to cut it long. I’ve been able to reduce the cutting height by a half-inch the last two times. I stopped a time or two during the process to check in with work, but kept those delays to a minimum. I finished up around 2pm. I spent the remainder of the middle afternoon working. Mindy arrived home with groceries around 3pm. I helped her carry in the haul. I took a shower and then called Tom Clark to see if he wanted to try and play nine holes around 4:30pm. He was scheduled to work until 4pm but wanted to play afterwards. We made plans to meet at Thornapple. To that end, I was able to get work under control enough to where I could getaway. I arrived at Thornapple before Tom. And wouldn’t you know it, the sky clouded over and it began to sprinkle. Because their rates drop at 4pm, there was still quite a gathering at the number 1 tee box. By the time Tom arrived the four groups in front of us were already out on the course. We both walked, although Tom got a pull cart. Sissy! I went long and left. Tom went right off the tee. I was anxious to hit my new #4 Rescue from about 200 yards. I hit it OK, but slightly left and short. Two chips and two putts for a six. Hole #2 is a long par 4 with a creek about 70 yards in front of the green. I hit a decent drive, about 250 yds. We had a very slow foursome out in front of us. It looked to be two guys and their wives. The golf ranger drove up and said he was gonna tell them to sit and wait for us to play through. The group behind us played hole #1 three times while waiting. The ranger ended up being Doug Ruby, and old Westmoor Place peep from way back. Looked pretty much the same only 50-ish. Said brother David is well as is mom & dad. We talked for a while before we could consider hitting our second shots. I hit a lovely 3-wood just right of the green. I was most pleased, but did have to put one leg in trap to make my chip. I ended up two putting. Thanks to Doug, we played through the slow group on #3. As luck would have it, neither Tom or I hit decent shots. Good grief! He took a ten. I took a six. For the duration, I began to struggle a little but never completely lost it. And after that ten, Tom started shooting much better, too. I ended up shooting a 50. Tom shot a 51. He claimed me worried/nervous that he was gonna beat me on the front. OK, maybe a little. J We were making excellent time and moved onto hole #10 – the back nine. After all, the after 4pm rates are ‘play as many as you can’. I played really well on the back, but we could only get in 6 of the 9 holes before 8pm. I was 3 over (3 pars – 3 bogeys). I missed two makeable birdie putts (within 10’). I had to deal with two work matters during the back nine, too. I called Mindy who had just got home from visiting Laura at her sisters in Galloway. Mindy really wanted to see her new baby before she headed back to Jersey. Earlier in the day we had talked about grilling out, but ultimately settled on dinner out at the Big Fat. I was looking forward to it. Once at home, I took a quick shower while Mindy ran over to the neighbors to chat. And after my shower, I had to spend a good 45 minutes involved with work. It was now 9pm. We were getting a late start on dinner. In fact, we weren’t certain that the Big Fat Greek would be opened when we pulled up, but thankfully it was. As always, Maria was a gracious host. And Alexandra, who was our waitress, was as attentive as ever. I ordered the sea scallops and Mindy ordered their salmon, two of our favorites. I had two Jack & Cokes through the experience. The scallops were absolutely incredible. Do try them! It was after 10pm when we headed home. Mindy wanted to pay a short visit to Kenny & Chrissy. I poured a Jack & Coke and we walked down. Scott, an employee of Kenny’s, was there with his girlfriend, Jamie. She’s really cute – young. We had fun joking, talking for about an hour. I went home to make a second drink and to check-in with work. I was pleased to see the issue I had been dealing with all evening was finally resolved. Mindy and I were home before midnight and soon off to bed.