That pesky 90 Monkey

The other day I heard these stop smoking commercials that talked about how everyone has a different kind of smoking monkey, stress monkeys, party monkey, peer pressure monkey. Honestly they do a good job of making you realize you can get help to stop smoking. Well I guess I shouldn't say that, I currently don't smoke so I guess I really wouldn't know if it worked at getting people to quit or not...how about, "they didn't get me to start so thats something"
So why am I telling you this? Good question. Recently, I got the 90 monkey off my back, I can't say he's gone because I doubt this will be the end of the 90s for me. Wait you have no idea what I am talking? Have been reading my blog? I'm a golfer and so I'm talking about strokes. My best round before that was a 93 and man, did it feel good to break that. Since i started it was one of my goals after breaking 95 which i done a while back but this one is different, as a matter of fact, I think now the monkeys looking for revenge

Since I broke 90 I have barely kept myself below 95- oh and I know he's there, mocking me, causing me to mess up. I swear every time I pick up a club I hear him saying " remember that time, the other day?"

So wait, I'm suppose to post?!?!?! Regularly?!?!?!

      SO the other day I started a blog.  It wasn't anything special...probably still isn't but I have a whopping 2 followers and I have been feeling sooo guilty lately for not posting to it.  So to that I say "Sorry".  It turns out that the world is in financial trouble, people need to refinance and I am their man.  I think it's because I'm hot but I cannot be sure. (Job 9:29)

     And why am I telling you this?  Mainly, cause I am hot!  My wife, who is not impartial at all, says it all the time.  Oh the other thing,  I will try to do better.  It may be tough though. See, it's golf season (yes I did golfed today and yes I did hit them straight, thanks for asking) and mortgage purchase season (if you know me and you are buying a new home I can help with financing) and then there is Time...Its just never seems to be on my side.  But I will try and do better.  At least I can say I did blog in March...

     The cool thing about blogging is the feeling that someone is listening, that they care.  I think when I look back on my life I will remember things differently than how they actually happened, but don't we all.  I will think I had a huge following and I was big in the blog-a-sphere, but then again, maybe I will be some-other day.

My Bucket list- more than a pail of empty dreams

So the other day I saw this movie called The Bucket List.  I enjoyed the comedic banter back and forth between the main characters and for a comedy it had quick a positive message.  But it got me thinking..."Should I have a bucket list?" I mean I'm not that old but the idea of making a list of things I need to complete before I die seem a little morbid but yet satisfying.  Writing down a goal also gives it credence and as we will soon find out, the ability for others to help and motivate you to accomplish them too.

So why am I telling you this?  I am on the verge of crossing the first thing off my list, that's why.  I was having a man-date with a buddy of mine and we were chatting about things, I agreed that it would be cool to do it and that it was already on my Bucket list.  He was integued and asked to see what else was on it.  As he looked through the list his eyes lit up and asked if he could help me cross something off the list.  I said, "of course".  I mean it's a list of things to do before I'm dead and since I'm still alive now seems like a good time to start.  So in a couple of weeks we will be going to get a straight edge shave at this place he knows that does it up right.  I'm pretty excited 1- to hang out with my buddy in a man's man type setting and 2- start crossing things off the list.

Like I said the act of posting a goal increases its chances of it being accomplished by almost 50% so I have decided to post the whole list and as I accomplish things I will come back and cross them off.  I don't see these as impossible (Matthew 19:26) just something worth accomplishing

David's Bucket List:
Play golf at TPC-Sawgrass
Play golf at Pebble Beach
Skydive
Bungee jump
See Duke play UNC basketball- Either location for now
Watch Vikes play at Lambeau
See soccer game in England
See soccer game in Ireland
Go to a Red River Classic game OK vs Texas
Attend comic-con
Attend comic con in costume
Get a straight edge shave
Play golf at the old course (St. Andrews)
Go down a hill in bubble
Richard Petty Racing
NYE at times square
Attend the Super Bowl


I think this is a pretty good list.  Some things like Skydiving and Bungee-Jumping have been assigned to my daughter for when she turns 18 (we would be doing these together) but could be difficult to accomplish (6'6" 280lbs is a lot of everything for a tandem jump) unless I can make some major life changes. I have left some space as to add things to the list from time to time as well as cross off items that I manage to complete.  But its not a race, I plan to live a long time and if I can accomplish some now, then I can share that experience with you, the other day.

It's the most horrible time, of the year! (you know the tune)

The other day my dad came to me and said, "We just got a family membership to the local golf course, you can play unlimited rounds"  The course was our city's executive nine course.  "Executive" courses are typically a 9 hole course where it's not full size but it progressively gets harder, I think this one is a par 27.  I was super excited and so I decided I needed to learn how to play.  I used mismatched clubs and garage sale drivers until about 7 years ago when I had borrowed my dad's clubs for a work tournament.  I called him to return his clubs and he informed me that I didn't have his clubs.  After I waived the thought of early Alzheimer's from my mind, I humored his request to swing by to let him prove that I was wrong.

Foot Joy rain jacket

I arrived at his house, and sure enough, he had gone out and bought a new set and bag, and informed me that the ones that I was in possession of must be mine.  Over the years I have continued to play, less at first, but have really picked up the # of rounds I play each year, last year I even joined a league.  I have never taken lessons but after upgrading my clubs about 4 years ago, I'm starting to feel like I know how to hit them and which club goes with each distance.  I don't think I could hit 5 balls close to each other on purpose but if someone told me I could never golf again...well, let's not talk about it

Arrived Wednesday

So why am I telling you this, well, simply, I WANT TO PLAY GOLF!  I desire to swing my clubs and walk the fairways, hear the flags snap, plopping of balls in water and the sounds of "fore" coming from my mouth.  To be honest, I love that you can step out on a course and see God's beauty.  The ability to see the sun rise on a dew covered green, or a deer cross a fairway in silence as you stand on the tee box. (Song of Solomon 2:11-13)   It truly is the best way for me to connect to the peace that God offers.

Free? Yes please

I know that many have loved the mild winter that we are having, and I admit that it has been nice to not have to shovel 200 ft of snow from my long driveway or worry about someone sliding into me on the road.  The issue is that I have been able to see grass for most of this winter but I haven't been able create a huge divots.  Then there are the e-mails and Facebook posts of courses opening, always when I have mountains of work to do, and then temperatures reach a balmy 40 degrees in January in Minnesota, just to taunt me..

Thanks baby!

So I have done what any well minded golfer would do, fill the void and frustration of this winter with golf purchases.  It started when my bride blessed me with a new golf suitcase for Christmas.  I have since filled it with a new jacket won off Ebay that I have wanted for 2 years(half price of retail).  Followed by new golf shoes that I have been drooling over for about 6 months.  This after managing to get my hands on a new set just 3 months ago from a free gift card.
They haven't even seen a blade of grass yet  So next season starts with; 2 new pairs of shoes, a new jacket and a new suitcase...
WOW but wait...there's more.  I am going to pick up my clubs from getting re-gripped today too, I had won a gift card at work so the final bill was $5.85!

So I think I can now get by the next 6-8 weeks of winter we are scheduled to have, as said by Punxsutawney Phil, the other day.