Deck Done - Gone Golfing

I was up early for a weekend, once again just ahead of 700am. It was Sunday, so it was my day off from calisthenics. I started coffee then took to the computer for a while. Among other things, I read about the Buckeyes epic collapse, and then spent some time downloading photos from Saturday. I had a few good ones from the night before.

I fooled around online until 830am when I decided it was time to do my run. I checked the temperature first. It was only 50 degrees but with brilliant sunshine. I wore a short sleeved wicking shirt with a pullover fleece. However, with the sun beating down, I was almost too warm.

I ran the typical abbreviated weekend run – 3 miles. I was back at home just after 9am. The rest of the family remained in bed, though Mindy joined me within the next 30 minutes. With the deck stain dry, but still tacky, I could see where I needed a 2^nd coat with much greater clarity. I planned to do that real quick and then cut the lawn. All of that, I might add, before leaving for 18 holes of golf around 1230pm.

As soon as the kids were up Mindy made homemade waffles. I declined any. Instead, I headed out to get started on the deck. It didn’t take but 30 minutes to apply a 2^nd coat to the high traffic areas and then cover a few other noticeable thin spots. With the improved applicators, this finish looks by far the best ever. 

Before moving on to cutting the lawn, I had to move all of the deck furniture out of the way and into the mulch beds. That took some doing. I was mowing by 10am. It was sunny but still seasonably cool (low 60s). That made the mowing so much easier. Even though the grass was really long out front, I lowered the blade about an inch from its highest setting. Otherwise, I’d need to cut again in 2 or 3 days, and I just don’t have the time for that.

 Mindy helped by jockeying the cars around to make room along the drive way for mowing and trimming. I finished up the entire yard, including mowing, trimming, edging and blowing around 1140am. I headed in for a shower. Once I was out of the shower, Mindy let me know that she was leaving for the grocery and that the kids would have to be left alone for a short while until she returned. Jacob maybe, but Bella? I don’t know dear. She thought better of it without me saying another word. She called Chrissy to ask if she would keep an eye on the kids after Kenny & I left for golf. I felt better.

Kenny & I planned to leave for golf around 1230pm to make our 120pm tee time at Phoenix. I made a ham & cheese sandwich, my first substantial food all day, just before we left. Kenny agreed to drive. I headed out front and sat on the driveway next to my clubs waiting on him to pull up.

We arrived just ahead of 1pm. Kenny insisted on getting both green fees. Thanks Kenny! We headed up to the putting green. There was a gaggle of golfers at the range but nobody on the tee box. Looked like it was fairly open. I held my breath that it would stay that way until we got up there. It did. There was a twosome out in front of us just hitting their 2^nd shots. Just before we teed off the starter asked us if he could stick a single with us. Why not? His name was Dennis. Said he was in town to play a soccer game and also to

drop his daughter at OSU.

Hole #1 is a blind par 5. As usual, I hit my opening drive right down the middle. I was eager to hit my new 5-wood that I bought the week before heading to NYC. I knew I couldn’t reach in 2 anyway. I went with the new 5 wood but topped it, landing it about 100 yards from the green. I hit my 3^rd shot on and within 20’. I two putted for a par. Kenny got a par, too.

For some reason, the 2^nd hole, a 171 yard par 3 always eats me up. I rarely hit a decent shot off the tee. You have to carry the shot about 100 yds over a field of heather. This time I hit a 5 iron on the green and only 15’ from the hole. I was most pleased. Kenny was inside of that. I three putted the extra fast green. Kenny birdied. Nice birdie, Kenny!

Holes #5 and 6 ate me up. Neither should be that hard, but I made them that way. I lost two balls on #5 hitting two reallybad shots into the thick heather. Oh boy! I had to take an eight. On the #6 par 3 I hit another shot out of bounds. I hit my next shot just off the green and eventually carded a double-bogey. I finished the front with a par and two bogeys.

We didn’t bother taking a break at the turn. We played on. I thought about checking the Viking score but ultimately thought better of it. I’d wait until I got home to see how they did. After almost no golf for two months, I struggled with my 2^nd shot accuracy. My driving was fairly consistent missing only a couple fairways all day long. Plus, I was hammering most of my putts long but on line.

My back nine was littered with double-bogeys and bogeys.  I got pretty lucky on #17, the par three that overlooks the clubhouse to the left, down a steep hill over a treacherous rocky ravine. I hit an 8-iron what I thought was dead on, but it hit just short and kicked hard left seemingly into the rocky ravine. Damn! Kenny commented that I passed the drop zone as we approached the green. But there it was, my ball, hanging on by a thread  atop a mound of weeds and grass, about 6 inches above solid ground and perhaps a single breath from falling into the rocky ravine. I hit my 60 degrees wedge within 10’. I missed the par putt but saved the bogey. It could’ve been way worse.

I easily carried the water on #18, hitting perhaps my best drive of the day. But like I did all day, I hit a poor second shot and then put my PW just off the back of the green. I three putted for yet another double-bogey. I shot a 49 on the front and a 49 on the back. Kenny took me by 5 or 6 strokes.

We finished by 445pm – record time for Phoenix – just a little over 3.5 hours. I was happy and surprised that we didn’t have to wait much if at all. Mindy texted that she was inviting my dad for dinner. I acknowledged and let her know that we were already on our way home, a full 45 minutes earlier than I predicted.

Kenny dropped me at home around 5pm, or just after. Mindy was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I had a small snack to tie me over until it was ready then went to my PC to check on the Vikings game, which was a final. Crap, they lost again. And just like week one, they were ahead at halftime. This time they lead 17-0 but still found a way to lose. According to the story line, it was the tale of two halves. Mindy shared that she drove by my dad’s house earlier after not being able to reach him by phone. He was on his tractor mowing his lawn.

Mindy went to fetch dad around 530pm. Seemed to be getting around just fine. We chatted a little ahead of our dinner being served. I joked about his white knee high hosiery. As I understand it, they’re supposed to promote good circulation.

I asked Mindy to broil my chicken for the last few minutes. Thus far it cooked covered on the stove in a grill pan. She really wanted to use the gas grill, but the deck was out of commission for at least another day.  And speaking of the weather, it had been sunny all day, but clouds were starting to move in and rain was predicted for later in the evening and lasting well into Monday. I was hopeful that the last day of my 4 day weekend wouldn’t end up a washout.

Dinner was good – chicken breast served over rice with a garden salad. Mindy had Chrissy pick us up a tray of the yummy Pillsbury brownies from Sam’s Club that I like after she called and offered earlier in the day. They would be dessert after clean-up.

Mindy took dad home around 7pm. Said he was tired. He’s still taking Oxycondone for pain. He's gotta be sporting a perpetual buzz. Mindy was gone longer than I expected.  I spent most of that time on the PC while the kids were outside playing.

At some point I decided it was beer time! I poured a centennial and then headed out on the deck. The full day of sun took care of any remaining tackiness. It was a gorgeous evening, about 68 degrees. Mindy got home around 8pm best guess. She joined me on the deck sitting on our new surround benches. Said the reason she was gone so long was that brother Bob, April and Evan stopped by dad’s after trying unsuccessfully to reach him via his cell phone earlier. He left it at home while he was at our house. They were worried and figured they ought to drive by to check on him. I don’t think I’ve seen April since Xmas.

We sat on the deck with the kids for about 30 minutes. Again, it was really nice. While I enjoyed a 2^nd beer, Mindy enjoyed a glass of wine. We headed inside around 830pm and tuned into the Sunday night football game on NBC – Eagles vs. Falcons. Both teams looked good.

Mindy and the kids peeled off for bed before 930pm. I stayed up, this being almost like a Saturday night. I even poured a 3^rd beer. I surprised myself staying up for the entirety of the game. At some point I went to the basement in an attempt to further visualize what I want it to become if we ever get off the schnide and start the finishing project.