My Golf Career Is Over!!!
138. I shot 138 yesterday at Iron Valley. Last year at the same course I shout 97.
Over 30 strokes in penalties did me in. But ultimately it was my lack of playing that all but guaranteed a horrible round. It was only my 2nd round of the year. And that round was a 110 at the short and easy Manor Golf Course.
This is so hard to stomach, but it makes sense. I started playing at 13, played in high school, and from the age of 24 to the age of 36 I played a lot of golf, like twice a week from the first thaw in March to the first snowflakes in late November. Once Kate was born, and my career path changed, I no longer had the time or passion for the game.
This is not a game you can expect to play well without repetition. Some years I’ve played less than 5 times. It is hard to do something you once were pretty darn good at. What can you think of that you no longer perform as well?
138. 79 on the front nine! That barely beats my score the first time I ever played 9 holes of real golf, 34 years ago, when I had an 81.
Better stick to team sports and share the misery of ineptitude!
4th of July Getaway: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Every 4th of July since 1996 Lori & I have spent the 4thof July at her folks place on Smith Mountain Lake in VA, about 40 minutes South of Roanoke and Lynchburg. It is a grueling, unpleasant drive for an hour on the PA turnpike, 4 to 5 hours on Rt.81 and then an hour on local roads twisting and turning to we get there. It’s worth it! The refreshingly cool lake waters are just a short walk down the steps from the lower deck of Dave & Marcia’s house.
The kids were down since the Saturday before the 4th, and Lori and I came down Friday the 3rd. Lots of sunning, reading, floating, splashing, boating, eating, eating and more eating. Marcia makes 3 huge meals every day, with more than just a little help from my brother-in-law David. (Somehow I dragged my butt out to jog 3 miles each day!)
Weather has been great. Only 1 rainy day. We used that day to go to “The Bridge”, home to a ticket arcade, where Kate and Nathan played skeeball and other games to win tickets to trade in for fabulously wonderful prizes that would be overpriced in a Dollar Store.
We spent time inside playing Clue, Monopoly, Shut the Box and Farkel. Ever played Farkel? It’s a simple yet really fun dice game.
Four days is the right amount of time here, as we were just at the shore for a week in mid June. The kids will be back in a month for more Nana & Pops time. Nathan cashed in on his first ever attempt at water skiing. Nana and Uncle Davey each gave him 20 bucks to get him to try it. He is quite the negotiator!
Lori read The Quickie by James Patterson. I finally finished Younger Next Year by Dr. Henry Lodge. The Daves and I spent many hours watching Wimbledon tennis. Crushed by Roddick’s tough loss. No HBO in our house, so I caught Knocked Up one night. Hilarious!
It’ll be tough to depart Tuesday morning, but always good to be home too.
QVC the Place For Me?
I’m blogging from the “cyber cafe” inside the QVC campus in West Chester, PA.
A few months ago, my high school pal Trina asked if I’d be interested in helping her husband, Jeff, sell their coiled garden hose product on QVC. Brother Weems and coiled garden hose, a match made in heaven, right?
Since they live in Oregon and it’s a plane ride and atleast a one night stay overnight to do a 5 minute show here, why not send someone else, namely me, who lives an hour away.
So after weeks of intensive training in hose technology and QVC sales philosophy, I’m here awaiting “showtime”, at about 4:30 today. Hopefully it’s just the first of many successful visits!
(Don’t expect me to be Billy Mays, RIP, it’s not that kind of presentation. Nor will I be ShamWeems, like the ShamWow guy. The host runs the show, I’m to be like a guest in their house)
…several hours later. Click the link below or paste to your browser: (then click on “video”)
Sure was bright outside…they could’ve told me we’d be out in bright sunlight!
Who’s Your Daddy?
This is a letter I wrote 4 years ago in one of my monthly letters/newsletters to clients family and friends as Father’s Day was approaching. It was called, “Who’s Your Daddy?”
I hope you had a chance to thumb through my new newlsetter recently. What was your favorite “Dad-ism?” Many a road trip anywhere resulted in a threat of, “Do you want me to pull over?” (Heck no Dad! Hurry up and get us to Woolworth’s so I can spend my 15 cents allowance!) I also remember how my Dad loved to sing while awaiting dinner to be served…”Mares eat oats and does eat oats and kids’ll eat ivy too…” I’d like to hear that one on American Idol!
I’ve had a lot of time to think about my Father. Last month marked 30 years since the single worst day of my life, the day my Dad died. Heart attack. He was 56. It’s a good thing God gave us an infinite supply of tears, because otherwise I’d surely have exhausted my lifetime supply by the age of 13.
Al Williams was a “shop” teacher, I think it’s “tech ed” now. He was the Driver’s Ed instructor and tennis coach too. I’m darn glad that he and my Mom didn’t quit at 7 kids, or else I wouldn’t be here.
My Dad took me to the town library quite often, even though I only ever checked out Harold and The Purple Crayon or Curious George Goes To The Hospital. He found a station on the radio for me that broadcast every single NY Knicks basketball game! He took me to see the Harlem Globetrotters one year, that may be my all-time favorite Christmas gift. I forgot to bring the coupon I clipped off the Alpha Bits box good for a free game of bowling, but Dad still let me bowl an extra game anyway. He taught me 5 card draw poker, and it was okay if 2’s, 4’s, 7’s and one-eyed Jacks were wild. There was never a summer supper that wasn’t followed by a game of 21 on the backyard hoop, or a round of mini-golf on my makeshift 18 hole course carved out in our tree-cluttered half acre of crabgrass and dandelions.
He was not Super Dad. He wasn’t Ward Cleaver or Mike Brady. He was just MY Dad. I miss him now, like I missed him then, like I always will. I tried to praise my Mom once for her positive, easy-going attitude. She laughed and said, “That was your Father.“ That was my Father.
The passing of my Dad has shaped my life more than anything else. I learned a long time ago what it takes many a lifetime to figure out. Each day you have on Earth is a brightly wrapped gift with a bow and your name on it. Tear it open with the unbridled joy of a child on Christmas morning. Be forever grateful for every such gift, for one day…there won’t be one with your name on it.
Sincerely,
Brian
Monty Python The Next Generation: Kate & Nathan?
I don’t know when it started, but for a long time Kate & Nathan would use a British accent and say, “Perry, may I have a wiener?” Now, for the first time, the whole world can see this nonsense! Woo-hoo! (They made me do it)
Memorial Day Work-end
It wasn’t all cook-outs and beer this year. It was a 4 day assault on the yard. Everything green, brown or colored got hacked, whack or trimmed. Then it was mulch-a-mania, that rite of passage every spring where I cover all my gardening and yard mistakes with more and more mulch. I don’t even know what mulch is. I’d really like to know where it goes…I mean it disappears after a year or two, WHERE DOES IT GO???
Lori ripped out the gardening boxes on the side of the house. We inherited them and a bonafide Better Homes & Garden yard that I’ve done nothing but destroy with Round Upin the last 14 years. I’ll grow some grass there in the Fall.
I really had some fun with a hammer on the deck today, bashing out piece after piece of lattice. Good’s Disposal will have to send their whole fleet to haul off all this junk. The deck is wide open now, I feel naked when I’m out there. For all this back-breakin, booty bendin, pushin & pullin, I must proudly admit…I feel great. Thank you P90-X!!! All those lunges and push ups and core excercises have me well-equipped for anything physical. Seriously!
We squeezed in a little fun. We hit The Deck in Ephrata last night, followed by ice cream at Boehringer’s (CMP with Chocolate Almond Amaretto mmm) and the fireworks in Adamstown. Got up at 6 this morning to take Kate to Dave’s Diner. She works there a few times a year, bussing tables. She made 33 bucks! See the fireworks:
Lori said, “You know what’s missing? You kmow what we didn’t do?” We had no answer. “A long ride in The Big Red Car.” she said. Ahh yes, my beloved 1960 Sunliner. I had it for 12 years. Sold it last September. Insert sad emoticon here.
American Idol: Supercalifragilisticextraridiculosis!!!
The cute guy with guitar wins? I STILL don’t even know his name!Adam backlash bigtime. Would love to see the actual vote count, wouldn’t you?
Otherwise great show. The Kara & bikini girl bit was brilliant. (Seacrest’s line, “What’s New?” was classic) Adam with Kiss superb. Kiss! Can’t believe they don’t need oxygen….those heels put them several hundred inches above sea level. Cute guy with guitar and Keith Urban very good.
Was that Cyndi Lauper or Joan Rivers? Steve Martin with Country hunk and Tattoo Girl….what was that all about? She needs an arm transplant.
Unsung hero: blind guy! He was in all the dance numbers! Take away Shawn Johnson’s Dancing With The Stars trophy and give it to him. The dude is blind!
Danny is still my man. Sounded great wif Lionel Richie. Queen LilTifah was terrific. Had she sang like that when it counted she’d have gone farther.
Was it Fergie with Black Guy Pees? Weird name. Prefer her as a blonde.
Matt, Anupe, the blonde red-haired girl and the Cuban guy are already forgettable. If they’re lucky they’ll end up wrestling crocodiles on Survivor or Flavor Flavs Ho O’ The Month on VH1.
Solid season! Weems…out!
American Idol Final!
I would’ve liked to have seen a little more hard edge from Adam. I mean, come on, this is IT…last chance to leave us wowed.
Being a soul man, I of course have something to say about a couple of the song choices. A Change is Gonna Come is a landmark tune by Sam Cooke. Actually released AFTER his unfortunate passing (that’s a whole other juicy story), While Adam has great range and can sing with much fervor and perhaps passion, he lacks the intangible soul this viewer requires when hearing this song.
Ditto Kris on What’s Going On. Recorded by Marvin Gaye during the Vietnam War it was a trailblazing commentary on the world wrapped up in an easy on the ears pop package. Per Kris it was kind of a happy go lucky, lazy meandering effort as if it were just another James Taylor Top 40 hit from the same time frame.
The performances on the “single” song co-penned by Cara D(whatever) didn’t blow me away. I don’t know that the song is suited for either of them. These kind of formulaic super sincere earnest belt it out tunes are better suited for Gomer Pyle with Sgt. gaping slackjawed at the utterance.
These dudes both have talent. As do Danny and Allison and Matt and down the line. We’ll see what happens. Even if it’s tied on substance, Adam crushed everyone on style. He actually put some effort into it for every performance. It’s a singing competition, but it’s show business too.
Gotta think its Adam, and that’s the call…same as it has been for weeks…Duh! Weems