Golf - A Nice Walk Spoiled

Hello, my friend the Blog. It's Friday, the day of rest for a marathoner. Am I glad to say that again. Me, a marathoner. Running is my saving grace, glad to be active again. On to golf. What a great game. The Open Championship showed that a fifty-three year old can be competitive. Thanks, Greg Norman, it was your finest hour as a professional golfer. I played last Monday with my junior-high basketball coach, a wonderful man, Alvin Cohen. Just 'Coach' to me. Forty-seven years in my life, what a great friend. And, he's a player. On the same day I met my old junior-high Principal, Chuck Caruso, and Fred Dickman, Highland Park's former basketball coach. What a morning, meeting people you haven't seen in almost fifty years! It's getting me ready for my late-August high school reunion. Back to golf. I actually played fairly well. My short game stinks from not playing but my interest in getting back to my former playing level is there. Golf, a game for a lifetime. I am so happy Lauren is getting into the game. She could really be good if she takes a lesson or two, learns the GRIP, understands that it is a GOLF SWING not a golf HIT, and practices. We will likely hit some balls together again. Thanks, kid, glad you see the light!

Switch Gears

It's been a while since my last ramble. Some things have changed, but most important things remain the same. I do want to share with you that I finally ran almost five miles without stopping. For a man who has completed 8 marathons this should not be a big thing. But it is. I may have broken the mental hangup that has negatively impacted my running since my surgery in June, 2007. I signed on for the Grand Rapids (MI) Half-Marathon in mid-October. It is time to get ready. My weight has remained the same for four weeks but it too is changing. I'm getting close to that magical two hundred pound level. If I can break the ice, a steady downward move may be in store. Patrick has raised my level of concern. He is leaving for a driving vacation to Hilton Head with five other guys. I trust him to make the right choices, but I remember almost falling asleep in a return drive to Iowa under the same conditions. He also is a victim of brand marketing. Lacoste, Polo, Apple, Nordstrom and Abercombie & Fitch relieved him of a few hundred dollars when Columbia, Chaps and Kohls would have saved him 70%. He'll learn, the hard way. I am beginning to see the day the discretionary cash to Patrick drys up, for his own good.
Lauren also disappointed. She picked up her fourth, maybe fifth, speeding ticket since she started driving. I can clearly see the day that Dad stops providing auto insurance for her. If prospective employers do background checks she could really suffer. She will then understand the error of her ways. Finally, the two F's remain foremost in my mind. My Father and my financial challenges. May the Lord provide direction to all of us. Peace. Ricky

Safely Back

A quick ramble to thank the Lord for a safe trip home to Glen Ellyn. Helga, my old-faithful interstate cruiser, made the 1350 mile trip without incident. My visit with my Dad was a good one. He's doing about as well as can be expected. Florida was hot and humid so my exercise discipline disappeared. If I am going to be ready for my high-school reunion in late August, I have to get back on Plan. Next weight target is 200 pounds. Planning, patience and perserverance will make it happen. Thankfully, there are no Waffle Houses in Chicago. No real progress on the crunch time that is lurking. Keep working on what's next in your future, Fatman.