Golfing with Jacob

It was Sunday, and I was up a little after 730am. I felt good and was happy to be greeted again by clear skies. I started some coffee then took to the Internet where I read about a host of college football scores and then about the Vikings game scheduled for later that afternoon.

It wasn’t too long before I was enjoying some coffee ahead of a run. I’m thinking that Mindy slept until about 9am, the kids even later. Jacob had Evan spend the night. All three were up late. Mindy and I spent a little time on the deck in the cool but comfortable sunshine before the kids got up. She brought Eiknarf out, too. I walked her in the backyard so she could take care of business. Already another boat load of leaf fall after mowing Saturday afternoon.

Mindy started breakfast burritos just before I left on a run. The kids were just rolling out of bed as I readied. Jokingly invited them along. No takers. I ran in long running pants and a thin long sleeved wicking shirt. I ran the usual three mile track. Nice, lovely, gorgeous – you pick.

Back at the house, I enjoyed a breakfast burrito then headed to the basement to see if there was more I could do prior to throwing stuff away. There wasn’t much I could do. I was down there for only a couple minutes.

Jacob and Jake were going golfing with Kenny and I that afternoon, so both headed out back to practice while I showered. We didn’t have a set tee time, but figured to be leaving around 1pm. I talked with Kenny immediately after my shower which had to be about 1145pm, we agreed to ready and depart as soon as we could ready all of our gear.

I made arrangements to swap vehicles with Mindy so I could drive. I’m thinking we left just after 12noon. Mindy & Bella were heading out too, where she wasn’t entirely sure. At one point she had designs on going into school to do some prep stuff, but nixed that notion even before we left. I knew that wouldn’t hurt Bella’s feelings. She didn’t want to go.

It’s a good 25-30 miles to Split Rock, our course of choice. It’s almost always walk-up and golf. Surprised to find the lot about as full as I’ve ever seen it, especially given that it’s October.  They were still able to get us right on, but there was a group or two teeing off in front of us, and then a couple we let go in front of us. We figured with the boys, we’d be holding them up all day.

This  was only the second time Jacob’s ever golfed. The last being 16 months prior, and then only nine holes. They both struggled mightily, but this we figured to be the case. I wasn’t playing that well either, though. Like always, my drives were spot on. The rest of my game … erratic. We still had fun with the boys. Jacob even chipped one in from well off the green. Did it the last time out, too. Don’t know that I’ve had a chip in all season.

We let the boys share a cart after hole #10. That made more sense since their balls were usually fairly close to one another. At on point Jacob drove the cart into the woods. I ran after them pleading that they not move. There was a deep ravine just ahead of them. Yikes!  I righted the cart but then turned it back over to them to navigate.

I could tell that they were losing interest on the back nine. But they hit some of their best shots there too. Because our pace was slow, we never did have to wait. And happily, we didn’t hold up those behind us much either. We finished just after 530pm. I had a few ugly second shots on the course, that nasty banana slice that I thought I’d gotten rid of end of last season.

Talked with Mindy from hole 15 and then again on our drive home. She shared that my dad was joining us for dinner – lasagna. Shared that she and Bella went shopping spending some of Bella's birthday money. I knew that made Bella happy.

Dad was already there by the time we arrived home, which was just after 6pm. We dropped Kenny and Jake at their place first. The house smelt good – the lasagna. Yum. Wasn’t long before we were seated for dinner. Dad seemed in good spirits. I had my fill of lasagna. After my own, I fed on some of what Bella and Jacob didn’t finish. Jacob’s not particularly fond of Italian.

As usual, during and after clean-up, I got really sleepy. A full belly of food does it to me every time. I took to the sofa where I watched football highlights while Mindy and dad enjoyed desert, Mindy’s homemade apple pie. It wasn’t long before I was snoozing. I woke just as dad was heading out the door for home. I remember glancing at  the clock. It was 715pm.

Over the next hour, and before SNF football, I took to my computer where I read about the day’s NFL games. Lo and behold, the Vikings actually won a game. Won big, too, even if it was against the Arizona Cardinals. They won 34-10. They lead 28-0 in the 1^st quarter.

I was happy to spend the rest of my evening relaxing watching SNF football, Green Bay vs. Atlanta. I found myself routing for the Packers. I genuinely like Aaron Rogers. Seems like a ‘stand-up’ guy. Awesome quarterback too. Mindy and the kids were off to bed early on - around 9pm. I stayed up watching the game well into the 3^rd quarter. It was 1045pm before I headed for bed. The Falcons were ahead when I turned the TV off. Think it was 14-9. Moon was out, although more than a few scattered clouds about too.