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.