Golf Rounds for the Year is winding to a close....

It was C-O-L-D out there today!  I thought it was supposed to be a nice day.  Forecast, Sunny, high of 51.  I know, that's not summer weather, but this time of year, it's pretty good.  But, the sun finally came out on the 17th hole.  So, overcast, breezy, damp cold.  I didn't bring my hand warmers or ear covers because I figured I wouldn't need them today.  It was cold! 
We played Shawnee GC in our usual Tuesday golf group.  I shot my usual mid 80's score, with a 43 - 42 = 85.  He's decided not to change the handicaps all winter, so I'm stuck with my handicap.  I was playing well during the summer and I haven't played well since I was off for awhile, and when I came back I didn't get in enough rounds to get my handicap back up to where I'm playing now.  So, I'll suffer through the winter with a handicap lower than what I'm playing.  It'll be tough to win any money, so I'll just have to enjoy the fun of playing.  I walked 18 today.  I didn't get really tired, but my knees and hips started to hurt on about hole number 14.  I think going on 4 hours on my feet without sitting down at all is just a little more than my old arthritic joints can stand.  Once again I'll mention how benches are needed on the course LOCATED WHERE WALKERS CAN USE THEM!

Round 58 for the year.

Round 57 for the Year in the Bag!

The end of the year is coming fast!  Today was round 57 for the year.  With the weather, not too sure I'll get many more, if any, rounds the rest of the year.
I played Iroquois GC today in my usual Thursday game.  I shot a 43 - 41 = 84.  Didn't play bad, but several really bad shots cost me a lot.  I still haven't gotten my game back to where it was in July.  I can't play double-bogey free golf without any really terrible shots.
I hit good tee shots today...at least with my driver.  Can't say much for my par 3 tee shots.  As a matter of fact, they were pretty bad.  I hit one green in regulation out of 5.  One of those holes was one of my double bogeys.  That one I hit my tee shot in the sand, just barely got out of the bunker, and then didn't chip close enough to one putt. 
So, the end of the year is coming up.  My 57 rounds this year won't be matched next year.  I think my total rounds will be down quite a bit.  I don't plan on playing in extremely hot weather.  I've been told I shouldn't.  So, next year with the temperature over 90 or under 40 degrees, I'm sitting it out.  I hate to, but the Doc says it's just too much on the heart.  Even riding.  I plan on trying to walk on nice days, but I'm afraid in the middle of summer, I'll miss a lot of golf.

Another Post! So Soon?

I've been a little lax in posting lately.  Several reasons.  One:  I've been a little under the weather.  Me and Colds.  Not that I've been down, but I've curtailed my activities a lot.  Therefore, not much to write about.
Two: I've been really having a hard time getting pictures to come up on my blog.  Mainly pictures I take with my camera.  I've had several blogs lately that I've tried to enter, but couldn't get my picture to upload to my blog, so no entry.
I can import other pictures.  I think it has to do with the number of pixels in the uploaded item.

Anyway, I played round 56 for the year today.  We played Iroquois GC.  It was a little cold out there, but not really bad for this time of year.  I had one double bogey, on hole #13.  Other than that I played a pretty good round.  I shot a 40 - 41 = 81.  Our team won low team so I got $10.  I thought I played pretty well today, except for hole #13, and that was really only one bad shot.  Overall, the play today was good.  I put my 9-wood back into my bag, and took out my 5-iron.  That didn't help me today, because I really didn't have much use for it today.  But I think it may help me in the future.  I don't know when I'll get back out again.  Next Tuesday doesn't look good.  We're really getting into the time of year where any day you can get out is a plus.  I don't plan on pushing it this year.  If the day isn't pretty good, I'm going to pass.  The Cardiac Rehab people told me that I should avoid extreme weather conditions when exerting myself.  They said that means at temperature or heat index over 85 degrees, and temperatures under 40 degrees.  That limits a lot of my playing time, especially in the summer.  It's hard to find days under 85 degrees during July and August.
Anyway, I may not get in as many rounds in future years.  I'll just have to get more enjoyment out of the rounds I play.  Makes senses to me.

One Triple Bogey on Each Nine

I played round 55 for the year at Shawnee GC today.  It was pretty cold starting out. I wore my ear covers, playing gloves, and had two 'Hot Hands' in my pockets.
The sun was out and by the time we made the turn it was tolerable.  I took off my gloves.
I triple bogeyed a hole on each nine.  That tends to fatten up your score.  Other than those two holes, I didn't play too bad.  I shot a 44 - 42 = 86.  I hit nice 3-woods today, which doesn't always happen.  But, my irons were poor.  I chipped and putted well, and hit nice tee shots.  So, I think my biggest problem today, and what fattened up my score, was those pesky iron shots.  One problem is that I don't have a good 3, 4, and 5 iron.  The ones I got with my set were 'offset', and I pulled them really bad.  Couldn't keep from it.  So, I removed them and put in 3 irons from another set that I don't like, either.  So now I don't know what to do.  I just don't have a club to hit shots from 125-155 yards.  And that range comes up a lot on the golf course.
Anyway, my 86 today I'm sure won't win me any money, but it felt good to get out this time of year.  Thursday looks like it may be a good golf day, too.

Round 54 on a Windy Day!

It was a beautiful day except for one thing, it was WINDY!  And, it was blowing from the North and Northeast, blowing in very cold weather.  So, wind was a cold wind.  When there was a pause in the gusts, it really felt nice out.  Plus, with the wind blowing hard like that this time of year, leaves really blew around.  It was hard standing over a tee shot and over a putt with leaves scooting by.
I played OK today.  Not good, but OK.  I missed a couple of short putts, about 3-4 footers, that I should have made.  I ended u shooting 40 - 45 = 85 at Shawnee GC.  My handicap of 9 netted me a 76.  I'm sure this wasn't good enough to win any money today.  There's a slight chance that my 40, net 35 1/2 might win the front, but I would doubt it.  It usually isn't good enough to even be close, but with the wind today, who knows?  I did walk the 18 today, and it felt good to walk after eating all that turkey yesterday.  Of course, when I got home I heated up a nice left-over plate of turkey and dressing.

2 Rounds of Golf to Report

I played at Champions Pointe GC this past Saturday.  I've played it once before.  I played strict rules of golf, and I shot a 49 - 47 = 96.  Not so good.  I really hit the ball well off the tee.  The only problem was, they only averaged about 170 yard drives.  Man, on a par 4, 340 yard hole, a 170 yard drive leaves you, oh, let's see, about 170 yards to the green! If my drives go 170 yards, what's the odds of carrying that bunker in front of the green from 170 yards?  Not too good.  I hit into a lot of bunkers.  Got out of them pretty well.  I putted OK, but they didn't drop.  It seemed like a lot of my shots to the green were 'almost' good.  If I'd have carried it another 2 feet, or if it had been 2 yards further to the right.  So, all in all, the 96 wasn't that bad.  I was disappointed with the score, but it was mostly the length of my shots that killed me.  That was round 52 for the year.

Today I played my usual Thursday round at Iroquois GC.  Back to the ol' improved lies, gimme putts.  I shot a 45 - 38 = 83.  Putted well, but hit a lot of 'fat' fairway shots that wasted a lot of good drives.  This time of year the fairways have died out and the ball just doesn't sit up like it does in the summer.  I've never hit the ball well off 'tight' lies.  I've always been a 'sweep' hitter, not a 'dig it out' hit down on the ball hitter.  So I think that has a lot to do with it.  And, I think I've lost a lot of distance because I just don't get as loose as I do in warmer weather.  I mean, I've never hit the ball very far, and losing a little distance really makes a difference.
I found out our team won low team last Thursday, so I got $7 today for that.  I waited around today for several other teams to get in and we lost to the 3rd team in, so I left.  We averaged almost 3 strokes better than last week, but couldn't win.  You just never know what score will be low.

My thoughts on Tattoos

     

Sometimes, when you age, you might wish you just handn't gotten that tattoo that you are so keen on now.

Wow! 2 for 1 Again! You guys are really lucky.

The new deck is finished.  There's a lot of cleaning up to do and a few changes to how things are going to be stored under the deck.  Also, I've been told by Mary Lynn that new deck furniture is needed.  What?  \
Anyway, now that it is finished I can get the leaves raked up in the back yard.  This always requires getting my blower out and blowing all the leaves out of the ivy under the deck.




Now, for part 2:  I played my 51st round of golf today.  I shot a 42 - 43 = 85 at Iroquois GC.  I left before the other groups got in.  We had 5 groups today and we were the first out.  The group behind up was over 2 holes behind us, and when they got in, they said the group behind them was 3 holes back.  So, I didn't bother to wait around.  It still boggles my mind as to how these guys get so far behind!

2 Posts in 1 - Double your Fun!

These rounds of golf are starting to get  a little bit on the cold side.  I forgot to write a post about my round last Thursday at Iroquois GC.  Probably because I wasn't too proud of it.  I played OK, kinda like I've been playing lately, and shot a 42 - 43 = 85.  Not a bad score.  It was actually the best of my foursome......but, our team really did bad.  We came in last out of 4 teams.  But, this was round #50 for the year!

I played Weissinger Hill GC today.  I shot a 42 - 44 = 86.  I managed to beat my fellow players out of a couple of dollars. 

I played OK, but I was amazed at how short I was hitting the ball.  The weather has cooled off a lot, and today I'm not sure it got to 50 degrees before we finished.  The cool air just seems to keep my ball from going anywhere!  I was lucky to hit drives 160 yards!  I seemed to hit the ball well, solid, but they just didn't seem to go anywhere.  I hit more 3-woods on par 4's today than I have for a long time.  Of course, we played from the white tees there, but it's not that long of a course.  I think it's going to be a long, cold winter.

New Deck Coming Along Nicely

The new deck is looking good!  He'll have to come back one more day and finish up.  He still has to put up the stairway railing and said one more good day should do it.

Somehow I feel sure Mary Lynn has plans on what happens after the deck is completed.  The only think I know is that we need a new umbrella.

Halloween!

Erin dressed up as a 'Poodle'.   A yellow Poodle.  Haven't seen many of those, but this one sure was cute!  She even had her dog tags hanging around her neck with her name on it.

Close up of a panting poodle.

Then, you have Jillian as 'Punky Brewster'.  Erin could have played Punky Brewster and you wouldn't have had to paint on the freckles!  Pretty Cute!

Of course, then you have their Daddy, Mr. "Third Eye Blind".  Pretty good job of painting on your forehead while looking in the mirror.

Throngs Mob Auditorium Trying to see Premier of "Nearly Dead"!

Crowds of nearly hundreds flocked to Manual HS Auditorium last night for the Premier of the short film "Nearly Dead", starring fledgling actor Bob Tabler.  One Rave Reviewer gushed "It wasn't half bad!".  Another Reviewer gushed , "It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be."  And, the one review I liked best "Scoots was my favorite!".

We did have a crowd of about 200 people, and overall, I think everybody enjoyed it.  I should get a DVD of the movie within a couple of weeks, and be able to show all my friends and relatives who were dying to be there, but just couldn't make it.

John, Dan, and Karen, got their tickets from a 'Scalper' outside the Auditorium.  They thought they were getting prime front row seats, but turned out to be 'Upper Balcony' Cheapo seats.

I thought the Premier was a lot of fun, and I think everybody had a good time.  I'm looking forward to getting the DVD and watching it again.  I think the sound was a little loud last night and I couldn't understand some of the lines.  I hope they'll be clearer when I play it back on the TV.

If anyone would like to see it, let me know.  I'll make arrangements.  Also, I think there are plans to have another public viewing, so if you missed this one and would like to see it, I'll let you know when that will be.  And, by chance, if you'd like a copy of the DVD, I can do that for you, also.

Great Day at Churchill Downs!

Every Fall J. R. Harris reserves a couple of tables in the Matt Winn Room at Churchill Downs.  He has a lot of his family visit from up in northeast Kentucky, and this year he had extra seats, so a few of us golfing buddies decided to buy them up and make a visit to the track.
It was a nice day to be inside.  The weather was cloudy and cold.  Not much luck with the bets, either.  As the day wore on, the uncashed tickets were piling up in the middle of the table.

I went through 8 races without cashing a ticket.  Things were getting a little grim.  But, the 9th race my ship came in.  Now, I know my winnings aren't much to a big time player, but for me, looking at coming out about $50 down on the day, plus the cost of my ticket and dinner, this ticket was a life saver!  I cashed a ticket for $297!  This allowed me to pay my food bill, cover all my losses, pay for my ticket, give the waitress a nice tip, and still come out about $200 ahead!  I think it was a very nice day.

New Deck is Underway!

Our new deck has been started.  Should be finished by the end of next week.

When completed, it won't be much different than the deck we've always had, only new and in good shape!  It will be the same size and configuration.  the only real difference will be larger support beams, (6x6 posts instead of 4x4 posts), and a couple of extra support beams for the steps.  And, vertical guards around the rails.

The view from the back door.  Watch that first step!
I think when it's finished we'll have to have a deck warming party.

One built-in safety factor - I didn't build this!

Round 49 FTY goes into the books!

My game is giving me a headache!  Every part of my game today was good, at times, but terrible, at times.  The terrible times were often enough to have me shoot a 43 - 44 = 87.  I hit some nice drives today, and some really bad ones.  Some nice fairway shots, chips shots, putts.  But, some holes those shots were just bad.

I didn't have a lot of fun today.  I can't put into print the reasons, but I'd rather have been in a different foursome.

And, let me state this again, for all you golfers who ride in carts.  When you walk to the cart from the green, GET IN THE CART!  When you go to the back of the cart to put your head cover on the club you've just used, and then put it back in the bag, was that the last shot you were going to take today!  No?  Well PUT YOUR CLUB AWAY WHEN YOU'RE GETTING YOUR NEXT CLUB OUT!  And get in your cart to go to the next tee.  I'm so tired of seeing people come from the green with their chipper and putter in hand, go to the back of the cart, put the head cover on the putter, put it in the bag, put their little head cover on the chipper, put it in the bag, then get in the cart, ride 50 yards, stop, then go to the back of their cart again to get out a driver.  Couldn't all of that other crap have been done when you got out your driver!  Can't you sit in the cart seat holding your chipper and putter until you get to the next tee?  WAKE UP PEOPLE!

I'm sorry for this, but, once again, I really didn't have a lot of fun today.

I knew my Putting would get even with me

I putted so well last Thursday.  Gosh, that was a long time ago.  Today, I couldn't make a putt.  My long putts I left about 5-6 feet short, then couldn't make that.  Chipping on from beside the green, I made good chips to be 5-6 feet from the hole, very make- able, but couldn't make the putt.  I don't think I made any putts today.  The only putts that went in the hole was the ones they gave me.
I did play well today.  I got rid of my 'terrible' shots.  I don't think I hit a single terrible shot.  I hit a bunch of so-so shots, and should have been able to convert them into a par, but it was the putting that kept my score high.  I shot a 42 - 45 = 87 at Shawnee GC today.  If I'd have been putting today like last Thursday, it would have been a 74-75 easy.
Oh well, let's hope I keep hitting the ball well.  The putting will come around.  One thing, the greens last Thursday were fast.  Today, the greens were pretty slow and I just couldn't make myself hit the ball hard enough on those long putts.  I can't remember running one single long putt past the hole.
I did find out today that we won low team last Thursday.  So, that got me $9!  If I can just get my whole game to meet me on the course at the same time, I can get down into the 70's again.

Last Meet of Season for Erin Rose, and a Strong Finish!

Chance School Cross Country Team ran in the Woodford CountyMeet today.  This was their last meet of the season.  Erin has really improved her times over last year.  Of course, she's gotten a lot taller, and those legs have really grown!

I wish I'd gotten a better picture of her last run.  I took this one, then took another when she got closer, but I don't think my camera was ready for the 2nd shot.  So, Erin is on top the hill, on the left in red, with white sleeves.
I love watching her run.  She really puts a lot into her runs.  She has so much talent, if she was more competitive, she would be a force to be reckoned with in these races.  She has a very good pace, good stride, and really smooth running style. 

 Here's my Rosie Pie resting after her run and showing off her ribbon.  I can't believe the Cross Country Season is already over.  I enjoy watching Erin run.  Next year I'll be watching Erin and Jillian both run.  I think Erin has more running talent than Jillian, but I think Jillian will exhibit a stronger will to win. Jill may not beat a lot of people, but in that last 100 yards, she'll push to pass everybody she can. 

My putting was amazing today!

I just wish the rest of my game would have been good!  I really did putt well today.  Three holes in a row I made putts from 12 to 20 feet, a couple with a pretty good break in it.  Several really long putts today I left right on the edge of the cup for a gimme, which is nice.  And, the greens were really rolling fast today.  I made my putts of 3-6 feet, which if you aren't making really adds to your score.  I didn't play that bad today, but just can't shake hitting those 3-5 terrible shots a round.  I've always said, I can live with so-so shots, those 150 yard fat shots that end up about 5-10 yards off the green.  That's a so-so shot.  Those 150 yard shots that are still 90-100 yards from the green when they stop, now that's a terrible shot!
Oh well, today I shot a 41 - 40 = 81.  Not great, as my putting kept the score respectable.  This was round 47 for the year.

Grand Red Carpet Premier of "Nearly Dead"!

All my Blog Readers are invited to the World Premier of the movie "Nearly Dead", to be held at Manual High School Auditorium on Monday, October 29th, at 7:30 pm.  The doors will open at 7:00, plenty of free parking, and the auditorium holds 1200 people.  We'd love to fill it up.
In case you haven't heard the story line, it's a movie about 4 old geezers, right, who, while constantly antagonizing their nurses at the old folks home, find out about a world-wide Zombie attack and try to warn the nurses.  But, because of all their previous practical jokes, their warnings go unheeded until the Zombies actually are attacking the "Shady Grove Home".  The old guys fight them off and save the day. 
It's a little bloody, but it is a comedy that we hope will have you laughing.
My character, "Scoots", gets around on a scooter, and uses his scooter to his advantage while attacking the Zombies.  The movie length is approx. 20 minutes.

Round 46 FTY, and my 9-wood killed me

It used to be my favorite club.  My 9-wood.  When I'd get in trouble, I would pull out my 9-wood and BAM!  Pull off a super shot and save the hole.  Bobby Flood , when I'd pull out that 9-wood, used to say, "Watch out, Bob's dialing 911!"
But today, it was terrible.  Every time I hit that club, I hit it fat.  I use  it from 130-140 yards out, sometimes even further, but today, that 135 yard shot I needed went about 60 yards!  I mean, EVERY TIME!  I even put it in my bag and said I'm not getting it out again, but I did.  And, FAT!  I ended up shooting a 41 - 41 = 82 at Shawnee, with about 6 terrible 9-woods.  If I'd have hit decent shots with that club, I'd have been 76-77, easy.  So, the rest of my game wasn't bad.  A few poor shots here and there, and a lot of really good shots.  Overall, other than my 9-wood, I was pleased with my round.
I did walk the entire 18 at Shawnee GC today.  I feel pretty tired now, but walking 18 holes should make you tired.  That's a pretty long walk.  Filming that movie late Sunday, and not getting to bed until close to 2:30 am, I called my Cardiac Rehab Monday at 7:00 am and told them I wouldn't be in.  Then went back to bed.  So I missed my workout on Monday.  But, I went for a walk yesterday afternoon, and worked out a little with my free weights.  I'll be there tomorrow morning at 7.  I'm bumping up to '4' 10 minute workouts tomorrow, instead of the '3' I've been doing.

"Nearly Dead" Film is now "That's a Wrap!"

We finished!  The final scenes of "Nearly Dead" were shot at 2:00 am this morning.  It seemed like each night that we shot scenes we seemed to run until early the early morning hours.  I knew last night would run late because the main goal was to "Git'er Done!".

Main Players, LtoR:  J. R. Harris(The Colonel), Ron Chilton(Randal),George Jansing(Zombie),Bob Tabler(Scoots),Mike Mayes(Nurse Francois), Jon Malko(Video), Sonny Burnette(Ratchet),Diane Moon (Nurse Manly), Jon Maynard (Writer,Director).

Here I was 'bloodied' from my suicidal attack on the Zombies in my "Tank Scooter".  I was carrying a machete and had a running chain saw Duct taped to the front. 









Making this movie was a lot of fun and a learning experience.  I have a much healthier respect for the work "Actors" do when making TV shows are movies.  It's much like the military, where the main theme is "Hurry up and Wait".  You're always rushing around but end up sitting around a lot waiting for your turn to be in a scene.  While you wait you rehearse your lines, kill a little time, rehearse a little more.  Read lines with the people your next scene will be with.  Then, when filming, doing the same scene, repeating the same lines, the same way, over and over, so that they can film from different angles, with different close ups.  Then, the outside scenes we shot, just happening to be on the coldest night of the season so far.  Luckily, nobody got sick from the prolonged exposure to the elements.
When the final product is pieced together, edited, the sound added, we'll each get a copy of the DVD and I'll make sure all my friends and family members get to view the movie, if they want to.  Yes, it's a little bloody, but it is a Comedy! 
It's been fun!

The Fall 2012 Slyder Cup is History

The last Major Tournament of the Year, the Fall Slyder Cup, was held today at Weissinger Hills GC.  With all the other Fall Festivals being held, the crowds were rather small today.  However, Team Harris/Tabler held on to defend their Spring victory, for a 3 and 1 Victory over Goad/Rahn.

It was a close match throughout.  Harris/Tabler went up 3 with 7 to play, but Goad/Rahn came back to win the next 2 holes to trail by 1.   But then the Harris/Tabler Team righted the ship and over the next four holes went Half/Win/Half/Win for a 3 and 1 victory!

The Harold Goad/Barry Rahn Team got style points for their matching uniform, though. 

Harris/Tabler played from the Red Tees, and got 2 strokes a side, the Goad/Rahn Team played from the White tees.
We played holes 3 different ways, alternate shot, scramble, low ball.  So, we didn't have a score.  It was match play with holes being won or lost.
All our fans will have to be satisfied with Laverne and Shirley Reruns through the winter until we have our next Major Tournament, The Spring Slyder Cup (Date to be determined later).

Stuck in the middle of my golf comeback.

Am I ever going to get back to the way I was playing before July?  Who knows.  During a round I play well, at times, and play terrible, at times.  I just need to get those short spells of terrible golf under control.
It really seems to be a problem I've always had.  Just a few holes that kill your score, a shot here and there that you just wonder "What in the world were you thinking when you hit that?".
I played Iroquois today, shot a 42 - 42 = 84.  Really hit some nice shots today.  It was a beautiful day and I hit good fairway shots, most of the time, putted well, most of the times, and chipped well, most of the time.  My 10 handicap netted me a 74, which actually was 2nd lowest score on my team.  We need to average very low 70's in order to win low team money.  I would think we averaged around a 75-76.
This would be round 45 for the year.

LATE NOTE:  We won!  We actually finished with a 74 average, which was good enough to win.  So, I have $9 coming. 

Freezing on a Sunday Night!

We did a little more filming this past Sunday night.  Most of the filming, well ALL of the filming was done outdoors.  The temperature was in the mid 40's, and we were in our clothes we started filming in when it was warm.  So, we froze.  We did do filming in the garage, too, but that was unheated except for the lights.  During the breaks we hovered around the lights like you would a fireplace on a cold night.  The scenes we filmed Sunday night involved running from the Zombies towards the garage, just getting there in time to close the door.  Selecting our weapons from all the tools in the garage, then throwing the doors open and charging the Zombies.  We became overpowered by shear numbers of Zombies, and had to retreat back to the Nursing Home.
A lot of the Zombies had short sleeve shirts on, plus they were wet with he fake blood, so I know they were freezing, also.  We finished shooting about 1:00 am.
I think that is all the outside filming.  Of course, we had to do it on the coldest night.  We're trying to schedule the remainder of scenes to be shot either Thursday or Friday night.  Hopefully, we'll be able to finish.  I'd say we're over 3/4 of the way done.  It's been a fun experience, and I have a new respect for movies when I watch them and think about how certain scenes were shot.

Oops! Major set back in my golf game.

I really thought I was 'this close' to getting my golf game back.  But, as I've known for a long time, in golf, when you think you've got it figured out, that's when the game jumps up and bites your butt and you play like you've never touched a club!  So, today, I played like I'd never touched a club before.  At Iroquois GC I shot a 42 - 45 = 87.  I hit a few good shots, but I hit so many bad shots.  Really bad shots.  My fairway shots and chip shots, that I hit well Tuesday, just flew out the window.  I had a few good holes and that is the only thing that kept my score in the 80's.  Oh well, I also know that when you play really bad, that's when your game starts to improve.  Here's hoping.  This was round 44 for the year.  Oh, and I walked the front nine but decided to ride a cart on the back nine.  Iroquois GC is a little hilly for me to walk the whole 18.  But, the front nine is 'hillier' than the back nine.

First 18 holes walked in 3 months!

I played my usual Tuesday round at Shawnee GC today.  However, I did manage to walk the entire 18 holes.  That was the plan, but I also knew I could bail out after 9 and rent a cart.  I felt really good until walking up #16 fairway, and then I could tell I was pretty tired.  But, then, I've always been tired towards the end of a round.
It was a cool, wet day, and Brian was off today so he joined us.  Other than a couple of holes, I had a good round.  I was very pleased with how I hit my fairway shots and my chip shots.  They've been the shots that's been dragging me down, and I worked on them today and feel like I hit good fairway shots and good chips.  That is, other than that couple of holes.  I shot a 39 - 42 = 81 and Brian shot a 37 - 35 = 72.  We were the low Father-Son team out there today. (Well, the only).
I also got my $8 I won from last Thursday for part of low team at Iroquois GC.  Anyway, after today's round I'm feeling pretty good about my game and know that it's close to being back.  Any round now, and I could be down in the 70's again.
This was round 43 for the year.

Several more weeks to go

I've been going to Audubon Hospital Cardiac Rehab 3 mornings a week for 8 weeks now.  My Insurance pays for 36 visits, and today was my 24th visit.  So, 3 mornings a week, I have 4 more weeks.
When I go there I workout on 3 different machines for 10 minutes each, one after the other.  So, it's a 30 minute workout.  I don't know how they can tell if I'm doing better, or what, because I've done the same thing since I started.  I guess they just want to know that I'm getting some exercise.  While there, I have to wear a heart monitor and they track my heart rate.
Besides working out there, when I go to the Zoo I usually get a pretty good workout.  You can't go to the Zoo without walking up and down hills wherever you go.   And, I checked my hours at the Zoo for September and I have worked over 50 hours for the month.  With the Zoo walks and playing golf once or twice a week, I'd say I'm getting pretty good exercise other than the Mon-Wed-Fri morning Rehab workouts.   I just might be close to being back to 93%.
On another note, I got my shingles shot today.  One bout with shingles is all I needed to tell me that I don't want to go through that again.  The shot isn't supposed to keep you from getting shingles, but to make the shingles a little less severe if you do get them.  Whatever will help, I'm all for!  If you've ever had shingles, you know what I mean.

Still struggling on theGolf Course

I played Iroquois GC today on a wet Thursday.  We had about 3.3 inches of rain overnight, but it didn't rain on us on the golf course. 
I got pretty frustrated with my game on the front nine.  I shot a 45 - 39 = 84.  I hit really bad shots on the front nine.  I hit a few on the back nine, but managed to hit some really good shots, too.  So, that kinda made me feel a little better.  I hit my best drive of the day on hole #17, and probably the best drive I've hit in a couple of months.  I played the last 5 or 6 holes pretty good.  Maybe it's starting to come back.  Slowly, but maybe I'm starting to get that feel back in my swing.  I can't believe as bad as I've played the past month that my handicap is still at an 8.  My 84 today only netted me a 76.  To be low man for the day you need to be under 70 almost all the time.  I didn't hang around long enough today to know what won low man, but J. R. Harris in our foursome shot a 77 today with a 10 handicap for a 67 net.
Once again, I feel like I putted pretty well, overall.  A couple of short putts I kinda pulled it a little, but I've had a pretty good touch on the long putts, and have been able to make most 4-5 footers that are crucial in keeping your score down.
Round 42 for the year.  I played a total of 64 rounds last year.  Can I catch last years rounds?  We'll see.
Late note:  J. R. called me to let me know he won low man with his 67, and that we won low team with an average of 73.5.  He mainly wanted to brag about carrying us all day!

Doctor Visit gives me all A+'s on my Report Card

Sure, medical records are Confidential Information, but, hell, I'm bragging!  Besides, I've worked hard for over two months now, changing my diet, going to Cardiac Rehab at 7am 3 mornings a week and working out on treadmills.  Plus I've lost at least 15 pounds.  So, here are the results of my blood work:





Desired Level                Bob's Level

Total Cholesterol                                                           Less than 200                    97

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)                                  Less than 70                       39
  Bad Cholesterol

High Density Lipoprotein  (HDL)                               Greater than 40                   42
  Good Cholesterol

Cholesterol/HDL Ratio                                                 Less than 4.5                       2.3
 
Triglycerides (A form of fat found in food)                  Less than 150                     106

So....Thank You, .....Thank You.......I can hear the applause building.  Shucks, it was nothin.  Now, hopefully, when I go to the Cardiac Surgeon he'll take me off a lot of this medication I'm on.  Besides, the less medication I'm on, the less guilty I'll feel when I forget to take those damn pills in the evening.

Zoo Field Trip with Erin

My 2nd Field Trip Ever!  We had a good time.  The only problem was that it rained, and rained.  That wasn't so bad, but with my backpack, folder, their  lunch bag,   and putting the umbrella up and down and trying to handle that, along with taking pictures and checking the time on my cell phone so we would make our appointed times, not so easy.  Then, their assignment: List the continent on which each animal lived.  I let Erin use my folder so she would have something stable on which to write.  We also had a pencil.  I didn't have enough hands.
They worked hard on their list and really did a good job.  In the picture Erin is holding the black folder and thier assignment paper.  The only continent that was not well represented on their list was Europe.  We did have one entry for them, but the girls really tried to find more.  Then, we arrived at the front gate n time, but just then I realized I didn't have my folder.  And, the girls assignment paper was in it!  I'd put it in my folder to help keep it dry.  Oh NO!  My only thought at that time was that I must have left it on the table in the African Outpost Cafe where we ate lunch.  So, they watched the girls while I briskly walked all the way back to the Cafe and back.  No luck.  So, after all that hard work the girls did, they didn't have a paper to turn in.  It made me feel bad.  It also made me feel bad that I'd lost my folder with all my Docent information in it, along with my appointment calender.  Before leaving the Zoo I left my name and phone number at the front desk.  So if anybody turned it in they'd call me.  I felt pretty sure it would turn up, but wouldn't be comfortable until it did.
So, when I got home I hoped that the Zoo had already called to let me know my folder had been found.  But, no such luck.  After sitting and talking to Mary Lynn for a while and telling her all about the Field Trip, I remember that the girls checked to see how long their arms were, compared to a Gorilla at the Gorilla exhibit.  You know, the outline on the wall that you stand in.  And, they asked me to do it, too.  So I had to set everything down there, and stretch out my arms.  I thought, maybe, I just didn't pick everything back up!
Well, when I checked my email I had an email from another Docent at the Zoo, Clarice, who said she found my folder down at the Gorilla Exhibit today while she was doing SAZ, and had put it in the Docent Room by the hour book folders.  What a relief!  I thanked her by reply email.  It was just where I thought I might have left it.  I hate that the girls didn't have their paper, but at least I'm getting my folder back.

On the Rhino, not far from the front gate.  The Field Trip was just about over.  These girls were well behaved and pretty darn smart.  I think they had fun and learned a little, too.

Golf Towels - Golf Towels - Golf Towels

Last weekend when Julie visited from Columbus, at one point our conversation turned to golf, and some reason, golf towels.  I mentioned I had a blue-million golf towels in the basement, many of them brand new, never been used.  Mary Lynn and Julie both were of the opinion that "Why don't you use them instead of some of those dirty, stained towels you do use.".

Well, I counted my golf towels, and I don't quite have a blue-million.  I have a little over 50 towels, about half, the two stacks on the left, with eyelets that let you attach them to your bag.  The other half a combination of full bath towels, hand towels, and pieces of towels.  Probably a third of these towels, most with eyelets, are new.  Received at Golf Scrambles over the years.
What is the purpose of a golf towel?  I usually carry two towels with me, one on my bag, and one   towel to carry to the green with me.  I use these towels for a number of things.  Cleaning my ball, clubs, shoes; wiping sweat off my forehead, brushing away leaves from my line on the green, lying my clubs on around or on the green, wiping off my hands, club grips.  Multi-purpose.  This doesn't even include all the jobs the towel will have when you're playing in the rain.  So, with all these jobs, towels get stained with grass and mud.  Any towel you use will be permanently stained.  So, why use a brand new towel when you have used ones?  I mean, I wash them, and re-use them, and they're clean.  But, they're not unstained.  Some of my large bath towels I cut into 3 pieces, so they're a little shaggy on the edges.  But so what?  They're golf towels!  Am I the only one that sees no reason to use 'new' golf towels just because I have them?

School at the Zoo (SAZ)

I helped out with School at the Zoo today.  We had a group from Thomas Jefferson Middle School.  When classes attend SAZ they go for a week, Monday through Friday, hours usually about 9-2.  So, they have a full week of learning about animals, eco-systems, plants, etc.  Besides classroom work they get to go to different exhibits and many times the Keepers in that area will talk to them about the animals and be able to answer questions. 
Here, we went up to the Camels exhibit and the Keeper, (Adam)  was telling them all about the Camels unique adaptations to survive in its environment.  The talks are always interesting and I can always pick up a few things I'll be able to share with people acting as a Louisville Zoo Docent.

After lunch we went to the Orangutan Exhibit and the Keeper, Beverly, talked to the Class.  It's interesting to hear how they train them and why they train them. 

The whole week is fun for the students and they get to learn a little something, too.  They are given a test before the week starts, and the same test at the end of the week to see   how much they picked up  that they didn't know before.

During the classroom time, this group you see is divided up into 3 groups, so each class has about 12-15 students.  Each Class will have one educator with two Docents to help.  At the end of each day 3 of the education animals are brought out, animals that live in the habitat that was discussed that day.  Animals that they can touch and have the experience of knowing what they feel like.  Touching a snake, lizard, Ferret, or Chinchilla is a little more exciting than just hearing about one or looking at it.

Already up ot round 41 for the year

I played Iroquois GC today for round 41 FTY.  Still a struggle out there.  I did putt well today which managed to keep my score better than it should have been.  I made several long putts today and I really don't think I 3-putted at all today, which is very unusual. 
I'm just not nearly as consistent as I was.  I hit some good shots, but I think I hit just as many really bad shots.  I shot a 43 - 42 = 85.  Not a bad score, but take away a couple of those long putts I holed, and add a couple of 3-putts, and I'd be over 90.  So the game I'm playing right now is easily 15 strokes off my game of 2 months ago.  Oh well, working my way back.

Watching my RosiePie Run!

We went to Erin's Cross Country Race last night at Hite Elementary School in Middletown last night.  This was a pretty short race for Erin.  It was only a 3/4 mile run.  This race was also divided up by classes, so Erin only ran against 3rd graders.  As the kids got older, the races got longer.

Here, Erin is sprinting to the finish line.  She is #808 in red just coming from under the trees.  She finished her 3/4 mile run in 5:52! Pretty good time for a 3rd grade girl! (This post was corrected to show 5:52 running time)

A Visit from the North.....No!....Not Santa!

Julie (O.J.) came down to visit this weekend.  She was here for her 40th High School Reunion.  We set a time to meet at the Home Made Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen so that Julie could visit with as many relatives as she could while in town.  Pretty good turn out.  The UL football game took a couple of people away (Kevin and David).  But, Julie did play golf with David earlier in the day.

We had a nice time and got in a a little visiting time with the family.  Little Jilly got a little tired after eating her Big Cookie.

Everybody got their favorite treat!  Erin's ice cream looks pretty good, doesn't it.

Jilly chose a cookie instead of ice cream.  I'm not sure, but I think the cookie may have had a little chocolate on it.

And, this was such a good picture of 3 of my favorite girls I had to include it.

BubbaLou Scramble at Shawnee GC

I played in a Scramble at Shawnee GC today.  My 3 team mates are pictured to the left. L to R:  Bruce Richards, Tom Brown, Ray Graham.  We really played well as a team and finished 10 under, with a 30 - 30 = 60.  I didn't play well today, but I did manage to hit a few good shots that helped us.  We all contributed, but Bruce was our 'A' Player and played very consistent golf.  We didn't win any money, but it was fun and I thought we played well.