Perfect Day

Happy 50th Birthday David Waters! I woke two or three times before 5:30am only to fall successfully back asleep. I didn’t wake for good until 5:45am – a minor oops! I didn’t fret. Instead, I just pushed through my early routine being a bit more aware of the time. I was back from walking Ykraps and waking and delivering Mindy’s morning coffee by 6:10am. For all intents and purposes, I was back on track. I did my usual meditation and stretching in the family room. I had that familiar knot in the left side of my neck and upper back causing some minor discomfort, but all the extra stretching that Mindy & I did last evening seemed to take the edge off. For that I was grateful. That’s the same spot/area that plagued me all winter long. For the second day in a row I wore long running pants and a long sleeved winter wicking shirt during my run. It was only about 52 degrees. I was quite comfortable throughout. Back at the house, I was happy to see Bella at the kitchen table dressed for school and eating her breakfast. Mindy & I briefly discussed our after work intentions. I hoped/planned to golf. Mindy reminded me that Rachel was coming to clean the house at 8:15am. She left for school after doing Bella’s hair. I was off to the shower. I was ready to go by 7:50am. I used the next 5 minutes to load my work gear and golf clubs into the BM’er. I rustled up a house key for Rachel, too. Soon, me and the kids headed out to the bus stop. Neighbor Becky was just readying to leave for school. Bella and Makayla paid her a visit. They absolutely love Becky. They conned her out of part of her breakfast – a bagel. All of us were hanging out in front of her house waiting on the bus. The bus pulled up around 8:15am. Mrs. Vanorder, the bus driver, had the notices she promised indicating the time change effective Friday, September 4th. We cheered! Starting Friday, the bus will pick the kids up at 8:03am. While we celebrated, Rachel walked up. Didn’t even see her pull up. She and I walked back to the house where I gave her a check and a house key. I had to ask her to move her car so I could back out of the drive. Off I went. I arrived at work at 8:37am. It was another lovely late summer – early autumn morning. The kind of weather I expect around my birthday – crystal clear deep blue skies, mild temps, but with warm sunshine. The workday was a busy one. I held a team meeting at 10am, attended a staff meeting at 11am, and then bolted off to the BMV to get my car tags renewed and a new driver’s license at 12:45pm. I tried the Hilliard-Cemetery Rd branch first, but there was a line about 10-12 people deep and only two workers. That looked and smelled like at least an hours wait. Nope – not me! I headed to the Bethel Rd branch instead. Much better. There were only five people in line and four workers. I was served in less than ten minutes. And unlike most other BMV visits, my clerk had a personality. She asked numerous repetitive questions about any conditions, handicaps, etc that might prohibit be from successfully operating a motor vehicle. Yes, a wife! She laughed and laughed. Shared she and her husband just celebrated their 43rd anniversary. I congratulated her. It cost me $176 for 3 tag renewels and a new driver’s license. Ouch! My new photo looks so much more like me than the other. In that photo I had a mustache and contacts in. I looked like a porn star. J I headed back to the office arriving around 2pm. This was team potluck day. I walked directly to the patio area where the grill was set up and where we had some team activities taking place: cornhole, euchre, Texas hold ‘em, and a scavenger hunt. Everyone looked to be having a grand time. I was extra hungry so I made myself a burger and grabbed a bunch of sides. I was asked to sit in on the Texas hold ‘em game for one of my team members. Prior to that, I hadn’t played it before. And while that was painfully obvious to the others, I managed to win three out of four hands. J I did my guy proud by growing his pile of chips. However, just before her returned, I lost a bunch on a bluff. The other guy was bluffing too but had a one card higher than me. That was fun! I headed back to my office just after 3pm while everyone else continued to enjoy themselves at the potluck outing. I took care of a number of work related matters leading up to my early departure for golf - 4:30pm. From an earlier email, I knew that Bob might be late, but it sounded like he’d still make it out. Also, I called Tom. He was in for sure. I was on my way at 4:35pm. I chatted briefly with Mindy just as I set out. I arrived at Split Rock around 5:10pm. Come 5:30pm no Tom, and no Bob. Tom arrived a couple minutes later while I stood outside the clubhouse talking with Courtney. Bob phoned a few minutes earlier – was just leaving work. There were two twosomes in front of us. I phoned Bob again while were on the tenth fairway to let him know that we had just tee’d off. By then, he was already on Thrailkill Rd. We planned to try and link up as we played along. I started really well – nice, straight drive about 240 yards and followed that with a nice 3-wood leaving me out about 40 yards on the par 5. I hit my 3rd shot within ten feet. I ended up parring the hole. I wasn’t so fortunate on #11. I hit my drive long, straight but slightly left and too far. It went into a small stretch of woods jutting out and protecting the green. Then, in a foolish maneuver, I hit my second shot (3rd with a penalty stroke) – a nine iron - over the trees without ever checking where I needed it to land. I misjudged it terribly hitting way too much club and consequently back into more trees. Now, I was hitting shot 5 from behind the green. I ended up with an eight. Number 12 is a 165 yard downhill/uphill par 3. It always plays a club longer than one might expect. I hit a 5-iron.pin high and only 9 feet out. The green is undulating and difficult. I three putted. Dammit! Hole #13 is a relatively short par 4 but with a creek and woods left and right from the tee box. Tom went right and I went left. But my drive hit a tree and took a fortuitous bounce back out into play, albeit a challenging lie on the right side of the fairway rough close to Tom’s drive. I used my Rescue wood from about 160 yards and needing to bend it slightly around a lone tree. With 2/3’s of a swing I managed to leave it just off the left edge of the green. Nice shot! I par’d it. We could now see Bob playing number 11. After finishing number 13 we crossed over to the #11 fairway and hit 150 yard shots in – closest to the pin buys a beer Friday night. We joined up with Bob on the par 3 #12 tee box. I hit my 5-iron again only this time on the right side of the green and about a 25’ putt with a whole lot of break in it. I three putted again. No change to my score. Tom fared much better. I changed his score. I ended up with a 7 on #14 - one of the easiest holes - after being in the green side sand in two. No excuses, but the sand was like mud. Consequently, I had to hit a second sand shot to get out. Suddenly, I was putting for bogey from 12’. Bad lead to worse, I three putted. Those are the things about my game I need to work on. I give up way too may strokes due to poor putting and slight mis-hits. A couple of those each nine and a respectable 42 ends up being a 46 just like that, which is exactly what I shot. I’m motivated to share our #18 story. This is a long, undulating, dog leg par 5. All three of us hit drives down the middle – Bob the longest. Both Tom and I hit incredible 3-woods in. Mine left me about 70 yards out – Tom only 20 yards. Bob second shot wasn’t too good but hit his third shot within 8 feet of the hole in what was a tremendous golf shot. I hit my pitching wedge within 12 feet. Tom placed his third shot on the back about 30 feet out. All three of us were putting for birdie. That NEVER happens! Tom went first and left himself some work – about 6 feet out. Me next. I hit a gorgeous putt that stopped just half an inch from rolling in. Ugh! Bob missed his birdie, too. He & I par’d it, Tom bogeyed. Still, and exciting finish. It was just after 8pm when we finished. Along my drive home, I got to witness an absolutely gorgeous sunset. I felt blessed to see it. I arrived home at 8:37pm. I wasn’t in the door ten seconds when Bella came running. She lost yet another tooth – this time on the bottom right. She was stoked. Knocked it out herself. Immediately, I could see the results from Rachel’s house cleaning. Mindy said she did another awesome job. I needed/wanted something fast to eat. I started snacking on Triscuits and cheese and chased them down with a Diet Coke. Mindy and I shared/compared stories from our day. Given the hour, it was already time to tuck in the kids. Bella was very chatty, still excited about losing another tooth. Among other things, she asked me if I thought that she was weird. Asking why, she said because she’s losing her teeth at such an alarming rate. No, not at all. I wanted popcorn, but knowing Bella, I figured I’d give her 15 minutes to fall asleep. Thinking the coast clear, I popped it at 9:15pm. And while the popcorn cooled, I took Ykraps out back for one last opportunity to pee. He went a few times. Back inside I was surprised to find Bella at the railing asking Mindy for some popcorn. Her sniffer apparently detected it even as she was falling asleep. Mindy gave in and took her a little. I enjoyed mine with a Jack & Coke all the while watching the new Fox hit, Glee. However, we actually saw the same episode in a sneak preview late in the spring. Good tactic Fox! Mindy headed to bed at 1005pm – just as the news was coming on. I didn’t bother turning the channel and watched the first 10-15 minutes or so. After not watching the news for about five years, I was almost offended by the obvious theatrics, sensationalism, and teaser techniques employed. I found it excessive and too rehearsed, almost like a drama series. I lost interest and fell asleep. I woke around 1040pm and headed up to bed.